Chapter 702: Army at the City Walls |
To kill them and settle old scores? Lu Zheng stared dumbfounded at Meng Shan Ming, trembling inwardly. To kill six hundred thousand prisoners at once? Wouldn't that breed hatred?
Not simple revenge, but a profound vendetta. The people of the Song Kingdom would feel a deep-seated shame that could not easily be washed away. How could the Song Kingdom not hate the Yan Kingdom after this?
However, there were reasons for everything, reasons Meng Shan Ming had explained to Gong Ling Ze. He also wanted to cripple the morale of the Song Kingdom's warriors! To make them lack the courage to attack again.
So there was such a way to put pressure on morale!
He understood that many factors had to be considered. No wonder Marshal Meng put such pressure on the three sects...
The vast army began to depart from Luoshan Mountain. Under escort, the prisoners pulled the Yan Kingdom's military supply train.
The ground was still damp, though it had dried considerably. But this continued to affect their speed.
It was a heavy burden for the prisoners to carry. They were still hungry. Meng Shan Ming had refused to give them provisions, only ordering that they be given water. One could imagine how hard it was for them.
Every prisoner was wounded. Some were missing an ear, an arm; each had scars on their cheeks. Blood flowed from everyone.
"Lord Dao, news has arrived from Gong Sun Bu. News from the red-faced monkey also came at the same time."
On the mountain, Guan Fang Yi brought two letters.
Niu You Dao first looked at Gong Sun Bu's letter. There was nothing particularly special in it. It merely reminded him that the Yan Kingdom's forces had left Luoshan Mountain.
Then he looked at Yuan Gang's letter. Only the two of them understood each other's handwriting. Therefore, Niu You Dao knew it was secret information.
It was Gao Jian Cheng's reply from the capital.
Gao Jian Cheng's reply had arrived late. But this was the cost of secrecy. First, their letters went to Yuan Gang. And then, Yuan Gang sent them. Therefore, a delay was normal.
Niu You Dao carefully read Gao Jian Cheng's letter.
Gao Jian Cheng mentioned the six hundred thousand prisoners. But he mentioned them rather casually, as if not attaching much importance to them.
Then, he said that Niu You Dao could decide for himself whether or not to kill the six hundred thousand.
However, the killing of six hundred thousand prisoners would not be a trivial matter for Meng Shan Ming's reputation. The reputation of a murderous maniac would seem like a trifle compared to that.
If they were not killed, provisions would be needed. And this could be used for negotiations.
If they were to be killed, it wouldn't be so obvious. They could simply wait for the right moment after negotiations.
And these negotiations could be used not for the imperial court's benefit, but for the benefit of Meng Shan Ming and Shang Chao Zong.
Gao Jian Cheng believed that they could demand provisions from the Song Kingdom under the pretext of the prisoners. As soon as this became known in the Song Kingdom's capital, the officials there would divide into two factions. Some would be in favor of providing provisions, while others would be against it.
More precisely, the Yan Kingdom's capital had already presented these demands to the Song Kingdom. And for the Song Kingdom, these terms were harsh. After all, Meng Shan Ming could simply receive the provisions and then kill the prisoners. This was the reason for the debates within the Song Kingdom's imperial court.
And for Meng Shan Ming, there were many benefits here.
If he killed them, and when the imperial court questioned Meng Shan Ming, he could simply say that the provisions were insufficient. Who asked them to delay or give so little? This way, he would shift the responsibility onto the imperial court.
On the other hand, Meng Shan Ming could, on suspicion of insincere intentions from the Song Kingdom, kill the prisoners. This would weaken the morale of their opponents.
And ultimately, after the prisoners perished, in the Song Kingdom, the court officials who had advocated for providing provisions would reproach those who refused to do so. They would blame them for the deaths of six hundred thousand prisoners. This would cause discord in the Song Kingdom's capital.
In essence, Gao Jian Cheng wanted to pin the blame for the evil deed on others. To avoid unnecessary trouble. After Gao Jian Cheng's reply, Niu You Dao smiled. He noted that this man, who had served in the imperial court for so long, was already a master of many delicate tricks.
Niu You Dao, however, stuck to his own principle: to entrust matters to those who knew how to handle them. Therefore, he immediately ordered Gao Jian Cheng's thoughts to be relayed to Meng Shan Ming.
Of course, he couldn't reveal that these were Gao Jian Cheng's thoughts. He made it seem as if they were his own.
The two garrisons were not far from each other. Gong Sun Bu, upon receiving the letter, handed it to Meng Shan Ming.
The carriage was moving along the road when Gong Sun Bu passed the letter through the window to Luo Da An. Lu Zheng was acting as the coachman at the time.
After reviewing the letter Luo Da An had handed him, Meng Shan Ming sighed, "Lord Dao is indeed Lord Dao. Even within the imperial court, he has his own intricate schemes."
He admired him. Although he was excellent in battle, he was not skilled in court affairs.
It wasn't that he was foolish, but simply that he didn't attach much importance to such matters. He didn't want to get entangled in them. Besides, a person's abilities were limited. During Ning Wang's lifetime, he had only dedicated his time and energy to military affairs. Court matters were Ning Wang's concern. Now, he also didn't need to worry about the imperial court's affairs.
And Niu You Dao, despite not being versed in military matters, gave him complete freedom of action. And he helped whenever possible. Unlike the three sects, who could only rejoice and admire.
There was always someone behind the scenes who, at the most critical moment, eliminated all dangers. He understood this well.
For example, the matter of the rebellion. When danger was so close, and the imperial court was ready to attack Shang Chao Zong. Only Niu You Dao noticed this and, at the last moment, ordered Shang Chao Zong to be separated from Meng Shan Ming and the hundred thousand cavalry.
He ordered Shang Chao Zong to face the danger alone. Everyone found it difficult then. Meng Shan Ming wanted to lead the troops, but Niu You Dao sent someone to stop him.
And now, thinking back, to some extent, Meng Shan Ming understood and believed that Niu You Dao had been right. With the full hundred thousand cavalry and Meng Shan Ming present, the imperial court wouldn't dare do anything to Shang Chao Zong.
On the other hand, the fallout from the killing of Shi Sheng, who was beheaded on Shang Chao Zong's orders, could be said to have already been resolved. He thought of Niu You Dao and concluded that Niu You Dao was a rational and cool-headed person. And if Shang Chao Zong had not fallen under his influence, the consequences of everything might have been terrifying.
If it weren't for Niu You Dao, it would be difficult to imagine a bright future for Shang Chao Zong. In many instances, Niu You Dao stopped Shang Chao Zong from making bad decisions.
In the distance, a massive bird appeared. And from the window, Zhang Hu's voice rang out: "Marshal, the Song Kingdom's people have arrived. They want to ascertain the number of prisoners."
Meng Shan Ming closed the secret letter and said in a cold tone, "Notify all units. Let them count. Also, inform the people of the Song Kingdom that if they want to retrieve the prisoners, they must bring provisions..."
Negotiations between the two kingdoms began, but they did not halt the Song Kingdom's troops' march on the capital. A vanguard of five hundred thousand Song Kingdom soldiers had already reached the Yan Kingdom's capital. They had surrounded the capital!
The Yan Kingdom's capital was sealed, and all defensive measures were put in place. The common people within the city bustled about, helping the soldiers set up defenses. Looking at such determination from the populace, one could tell that the capital was defended by more than just two hundred thousand soldiers.
And the common people, seeing the warriors, found hope.
Outside the city, cultivators accompanied Qian Lian Sheng to meet with the Song Kingdom's army.
Qian Lian Sheng persuaded Luo Zhao not to attack the capital for now. To await the conclusion of the negotiations. If the negotiations proved unfavorable, then the Song Kingdom's troops could attack the capital.
The Song Kingdom's troops shouted and roared, putting pressure on the defenders!
No one dared approach the imperial court of the Yan Kingdom's capital anymore. For in the Harem courtyards, numerous corpses were being burned.
Everyone knew why so many concubines had died. And although this news was hard to contain, Tian Yu ordered everyone not to gossip about it. And those who whispered would be executed!
Shang Jian Xiong had not yet returned to the harem courtyards; he hadn't even returned to his own bedchamber. He was consumed by fear, due to the besieged capital.
Outside, the enemy army continuously shouted. And Tong Mo, Shang Jian Xiong, and the others discussed the negotiations. There was nothing for it; regarding the negotiations, they had to take Shang Chao Zong's opinion into account. Shang Jian Xiong could not afford to disregard Shang Chao Zong's military authority now. After all, he was now the Commander-in-Chief!
Military power was the very thing court officials hated the most. And at the same time, feared the most. Therefore, court officials constantly sought to impose every possible restriction on military power.
Only at this moment did they not dare provoke Shang Chao Zong's wrath. Otherwise, the results of all negotiations would be useless.
Earlier, he had hoped that Shang Chao Zong would attack the Song Kingdom's forces. But now, he truly feared that Shang Chao Zong would obstruct the negotiations.
As Shang Jian Xiong saw it, Shang Chao Zong had a motive for this. Meng Xuan arrived and, disregarding the guards, immediately burst inside.
Shang Jian Xiong rose from the table and stammered, "Head Meng, have the three sects on the front line decided everything?"
Meng Xuan pondered, finding it awkward to speak. He simply couldn't bring himself to. After all, he himself had previously guaranteed them that the three sects would prepare everything for the negotiations.
However, there was nothing to be done. Gong Ling Ze's reply was reasonable. And what was important was that Meng Shan Ming and his troops were now crucial to them. And the three sects now needed to worry about their own interests. Therefore, they could do nothing to Meng Shan Ming now. Otherwise, the consequences would be difficult to imagine!
Seeing his reaction, Shang Jian Xiong and the others tensed.
Meng Xuan finally replied, "Your Majesty, the Song Kingdom's forces will likely not besiege the capital for long. Everyone must now prepare their defenses and hold them firmly!"