bestfiction Chapter 216 The Southern Countries Return 1
Chapter 216 The Southern Countries Return 1
Peng Deqing's words made Zong Yanli sigh. After pondering for a long time, he said, "In that case, let him follow Meng Qi."
Since the battle with Quya of the Northern Army, Monk has now become a great success.
She is more capable than Shi Potian back then. Since Shi Potian failed to teach his own children, let her brothers teach them together!
Peng Deqing had no dissatisfaction with Zong Yanli's arrangement. He knew that Zong Yanli was doing this for Shi Gan Dang's future. The 15-year-old boy had thrown himself into the army despite the death of his father and mother. If Zong Yanli drove him away again, the child would really have nowhere to go.
Zong Yanli had almost finished discussing the matter with Peng Deqing, so he asked Peng Deqing to take Shi Gan Dang to arrange the camp, and by the way, he called Meng Qi to mention the matter to him.
Monkie naturally said nothing. Everyone felt sad and sighed at the appearance of Shi Gandang. The person Jinda mentioned the most back then was Shi Potian. The two of them were brothers and friends. Now that Shi Potian's son had joined the army, Fu Jiashi naturally came to see him eagerly.
After arranging Shi Gan Dang's destination, Zong Yanli felt relieved and warned Meng Qi, "Since he is a soldier, he must not be treated leniently just because he is the son of Shi Potian. If he wants to see the eagle spread its wings, he must be trained more."
"Monk, you should train his will to be a general well on a daily basis, and don't let him go to the front line for the time being." Zong Yanli lowered his eyes slightly. The child was only fifteen years old.
Perhaps at this moment Zong Yanli herself had forgotten that she had also gone to the battlefield at the age of fifteen.
Monk agreed to everything and understood what Zong Yanli meant.
After Zong Yanli finished arranging things here, he turned around and looked for Zhan Haoyue, Zhuang Chengbi and others, and began to make careful preparations to persuade the State of Jin.
During the Qingming Festival, it drizzles.
In the military tent, Zong Yanli looked at the heater in Gongsun Pu's arms, his eyes tinged with worry. Pei Liang and Huo Wenqi sat beside him, the tea on the table exuded a faint fragrance. Zhan Haoyue and Zhuang Chengbi had rested for many days and were fully rested.
"Mr. Zhuang, what did you see and hear during your visit to Jin this time?" Zong Yanli sat upright in the main seat. She had taken off her military armor and was now wearing a military robe and a short shirt, looking capable and simple. She sat there with one hand hanging on her knee, shaking a teacup in her hand, and looked sideways at Zhuang Chengbi and asked in a calm voice.
"Although Jin is in a weak position, its heart is strong." Zhuang Chengbi thought for a moment and talked about what he saw during his trip to Jin.
After entering Jin, he did not directly seek a way to make a name for himself, but instead saw the cultural style of Jin.
Look at the people in the towns under the rule of Emperor Jin. After many battles, the people of Jin still respect and are grateful to the Emperor Jin. This shows that the monarch has never exploited the people and has a heart that loves the people.
Later, he met Yu Jinghui and joined his team as a counselor. He saw that although the military discipline in the army could not be called that of a fierce general, it was still necessary to manage and restrain the soldiers under his command and have the ability to supervise the battle. It was difficult for an ordinary general to find a brilliant talent like Wu Taishi in the past.
"It's a pity." Zhuang Chengbi said a lot, then sighed and said: "If Jin is given another ten years, it will definitely become a powerful country."
"The Jin Emperor would not want to see the country destroyed." Gongsun Pu, who was leaning against the table, said in a slightly gentle tone, "The persuasion of the refugees should make the Jin Emperor bow his head."
"How confident are you, Mr. Zhuang?" Zong Yanli raised his eyebrows and looked at Zhuang Chengbi and asked.
Zhuang Chengbi hesitated for a moment, as if thinking. After a long while, he raised his head and said with a smile, "I am 70% sure."
Zong Yanli clapped her hands and cheered, put down the teacup in her hand, sat cross-legged, and then began to talk in detail about the matter of sending Zhuang Chengbi to Jin as a special envoy. After thinking for a long time, she called Bai Xiuyun and ordered him to escort Zhuang Chengbi to Jin to meet the Emperor of Jin.
Then he went to see his father, and after discussing with his father, the father and son wrote a memorial together.
Soon an imperial decree was issued, sending Zhuang Chengbi as Daqian's special envoy to the State of Jin to negotiate peace.
On the day when Zhuang Chengbi set out with the imperial edict, Zong Yanli led all the soldiers to see him off in person. Standing beside the carriage, Zong Yanli bowed to Zhuang Chengbi and said, "Send him off, sir. We are waiting here for your good news!"
"This journey is extremely dangerous, please take care of yourself, sir." Zong Yanli bowed down.
Zhuang Chengbi bowed in return, and with a full heart, he turned around and boarded the carriage. Bai Xiujun beside him also bowed to Zong Yanli and said, "General, rest assured. I will definitely escort Envoy Zhuang back safely."
Zong Yanli nodded slowly, and gave Bai Xiuyun a few more words of advice before stepping back and watching the line of carriages and horses leave the camp and head towards the State of Jin.
Although there are precedents of two armies not killing envoys during a battle, there are also cases where envoys are killed in anger and the two armies refuse to negotiate peace and fight to the death.
Zong Yanli could not guarantee that if the Northern Army and the Lu Army got the news, they would conspire to persuade the Jin Emperor, whether by coercion or inducement. If they really refused to negotiate peace, then Zhuang Chengbi's trip would be extremely dangerous. Taking many factors into consideration, Zong Yanli specially sent Bai Xiuyun to escort him to ensure that nothing could go wrong.
The journey into Jin was relatively smooth. Bai Xiujun saw a lot along the way following Zhuang Chengbi. As a general in the army, he rarely had the opportunity to travel outside like this.
Zhuang Chengbi was a good teacher. He was very knowledgeable and had his own opinions on what he saw. He also answered Bai Xiuyun's questions, and the two of them became very close along the way.
"My younger brother is about your age." He occasionally mentioned his family and asked Bai Xiuyun, "Is General Bai married?"
"Not yet..." Bai Xiujun was a little embarrassed. He and Zhuang Chengbi were resting in the inn. To ensure Zhuang Chengbi's safety, the two of them stayed in the same room. At this moment, Bai Xiujun was rubbing his handkerchief to wipe his face. He said vaguely, "The war is going on and I really have no time to take care of it."
"General Bai is not young anymore." Zhuang Chengbi thought for a moment and said, "I have a cousin who is in her prime, and my family is discussing marriage for her."
"She has outstanding looks and is very well-behaved. If this trip goes smoothly, I can be a lobbyist for General Bai. What do you think?" Zhuang Chengbi looked at Bai Xiuyun and said with a smile.
Bai Xiujun didn't know how to respond. He scratched his head, picked up the basin and stood up, saying, "Let's talk about it later..."
Zhuang Chengbi laughed and found Bai Xiuyun's embarrassed look very interesting.
After entering the capital of Jin State, Zhuang Chengbi did not meet the Jin Emperor smoothly. He was only invited to stay in the embassy. The Jin Emperor was quite polite to them and treated them with good wine and food but did not receive them directly. If Zhuang Chengbi was anxious to see the Jin Emperor, officials would come to deal with him.
After many days passed, Zhuang Chengbi could no longer sit still. It was not a good idea to just wait like this.
He knew that the Emperor of Jin might still have some grudges, either being dissatisfied with him or still having resentment towards Daqian, so he avoided him. However, he was also concerned about the people of the country under his rule, and he knew that if he rejected Daqian now, the fate of Jin would be very bad.
"General Bai, send someone to use some money to ask the palace servants in the palace about the Emperor Jin's movements."
"If you don't come to see me, I will go to see you."
Since Zhuang Chengbi had agreed to come to Zong Yanli to persuade the State of Jin to surrender, how could he just go back without doing anything?
He perked up and began to think about countermeasures. He first tried to bribe the palace servants in the embassy, and then asked Bai Xiuyun to go to the streets to inquire about the ministers close to the emperor, and try to visit them to get close to them and make it clear that they came here to establish friendly relations, not to oppress and exploit.
After a few visits, Zhuang Chengbi finally impressed the Emperor of Jin with his cleverness.
Zhuang Chengbi learned from Prime Minister Yu that the Emperor of Jin was boating in Yu Shui Lake today, so he straightened his clothes and rode there without stopping, and finally got to meet the Emperor of Jin.
The king of Jin was named Luo and had the given name Heng.
The Emperor of Jin was nearly fifty years old. Perhaps due to overwork, his temples were covered with white hair and his face looked old. He looked like a man in his fifties or almost sixty. His eyes were intimidating without anger. He was standing by the lake and frowned slightly when he saw Zhuang Chengbi coming, but he did not intend to drive him away.
"Your Majesty, please give me a chance." Zhuang Chengbi bowed behind the Jin Emperor.
"I'd like to just have a cup of tea." Luo Heng glanced sideways at Zhuang Chengbi, then glanced at Bai Xiujun who was following behind Zhuang Chengbi, and finally lifted his robe and stepped onto the boat.
Zhuang Chengbi glanced at Bai Xiuyun, motioned him to stay on the shore, and then followed Luo Heng onto the boat.
As the boat sailed on the lake, Luo Heng made tea while Zhuang Chengbi sat beside him, organizing his words. He had a long talk with Luo Heng about the situation under the world. He started with the world under his control and based it on people's livelihood. He then talked about Zong Yanli and expanded the danger to the northern countries.
From the moment Zhuang Chengbi said the first sentence, Luo Heng stopped adding water and pouring tea.
He questioned Zhuang Chengbi sharply and harshly. In the face of Wu State's successive annexations of Nankang and Qing State, Zhuang Chengbi did not show any weakness at all, and he never showed any softness when mentioning Nankang or his former homeland.
Zhuang Chengbi mentioned Qing State, Yuan Heng's death, the Qing State uprising army, etc...
From the side, little by little, like peeling off silk threads from a cocoon, the formation of the world's unity and the intention of establishing the Daqian country were revealed.
Grand Tutor Wu proposed three strategies to entrust his son to the care of others, but General Shao would rather die than surrender.
In the next conversation, Wu Jian'an sacrificed himself to feed the enemy, and Zong Yanli withdrew his troops to make way.
When Yuan Heng was captured, Zong Yanli personally sent him home.
Each and every one of those things, filled with blood and tears, were they not also filled with loyalty and sincerity! ?
Luo Heng was gradually moved by Zhuang Chengbi's words. He stared at the dying fire in front of him and the gradually cold tea. At this moment, he seemed to see the future of Jin State. He glanced sideways at the lake where ripples were gradually forming, feeling desolate.
After a long while, he said, "If I reject you today, and reject Daqian, how is that different from Emperor Qing?"
Luo Heng closed his eyes desolately, lowered his head and said: "I can't be the eternal emperor, but I don't want to be a foolish person."
At this point, the State of Jin finally submitted to Daqian, and the southern countries were completely unified.
On a hot day in midsummer, Zhuang Chengbi returned from the State of Jin.
The Jin army turned its weapons around and joined forces with Daqian to attack the enemy. While the Northern and Lu armies were still unable to react, Yu Jinghui took military supplies and food and surrendered directly to Zong Yanli. The Lu army was furious and chased after them. Upon hearing the news, Zong Yanli led his troops to support them, and war broke out again between the two sides.
"It feels so good! Hahaha!" Without the Jin army's city as a shield, Zong Yanli ordered Long Feiguang to bypass the Jin city and go around the back, cross the Juqu River and chase the enemy to the rear of Lingwen, and achieved a very remarkable victory by going out of the mountain and pacing the pass.
"General Yu!" Zong Yanli successfully met with the Jin army's commander, Yu Jinghui. Zong Yanli strode forward and bowed.
"General Zong Yan!" Yu Jinghui also stepped forward and bowed in greeting.
"This time, it is all thanks to General Yu for allowing our army to pass through." Zong Yanli invited Yu Jinghui into the tent to talk.
After Yu Jinghui entered the tent, he also met Sha Haoqian who came from Qing Kingdom, and Wang Yi from Gao Kingdom. Seeing the many generals in Zong Yanli's tent, he seemed to have some helplessness and admiration among his extremely complicated emotions.
Yu Jinghui felt relieved that the Emperor of Jin would agree to submit to Daqian, but at the same time he felt sad for his country!
When Bai Xiuyun escorted Zhuang Chengbi back, Yu Jinghui and Zhuang Chengbi met again. Both of them looked somewhat helpless, but also a bit happy like old friends meeting each other.
"Come on! Lift it up!" Under the scorching sun, Monk stood with his hands behind his back. The young man in horse stance in front of him revealed his strong body. He held a stone hammer in his hand and was sweating all over as he lifted the weight again and again under Monk's strict discipline.
"Who is that young general?" Zong Yanli remembered that Zhuang Chengbi and Yu Jinghui already had a good relationship, so he simply let Zhuang Chengbi continue to follow him. Today, when he was strolling around, he saw this scene.
"He seems to be General Meng's favorite disciple, right?" Zhuang Chengbi took a look and said with slightly raised eyebrows.
Yu Jinghui naturally recognized Monkie. Now that he had seen this young general, he seemed to have seen some shadows of powerful generals like Monkie in this young general. If the young man could grow up in time, he would surely become a powerful general who would shake the world.
Looking at Zong Yanli's camp, Yu Jinghui was more and more shocked. With such a deep foundation, it was no wonder that Jin was defeated...
"The general is back!" Zong Yanli returned from outside. In such a hot summer, she was also wearing military armor and a bronze ghost mask on her face. She returned from outside the camp sitting upright on a warhorse. No matter how many times Yu Jinghui saw her from afar, he could not hide his shock.
"The enemy intends to cut off our water supply. We will send more people to guard against it in the next few days." Zong Yanli stopped his horse, got off the horse and said, "The scouts have discovered the enemy's food transportation route. We asked all the generals to come to the tent after dinner to discuss matters."
Zong Yanli handed the reins to the soldier who came closer, turned to Gao Feilin and said, "The heat is unbearable. Ask the military doctor to prepare a soup to relieve the heat."
She paused and said, "Give me a bowl first!"
Yu Jinghui stood farther away, watching Zong Yanli lead the soldiers back into the tent. Zong Yanli would go in person even for such a small matter as inspecting the enemy situation. All his soldiers and generals were full of admiration and respect for him, and they followed his example one after another.
Zhuang Chengbi sighed slightly and said, "It is a great honor for Daqian to have such a commander..."
Yu Jinghui also had a complicated expression. At this moment he suddenly understood why Grand Tutor Wu was defeated by Zong Yanli.
"General Yu, come and show us your moves!" On the other side of the training ground, Sha Haoqian and Wang Yi were sparring with each other. When they saw Yu Jinghui and Zhuang Chengbi, they immediately called them over.
"Come on, come on, we old guys can still practice." Wang Yi laughed and got into position.