Chapter 729: Congratulations, Lord Dao and Prince, on becoming Relatives by Marriage! |
Everyone now understood why their Commander-in-Chief had broken his word and not attacked the Yan Kingdom alongside the Song Kingdom. It turned out to be a conspiracy.
However, they still doubted that what had just occurred was entirely according to the Military Advisor's design. They did not yet know how much effort their Commander-in-Chief had invested in Wu Gun Lin.
One commander asked skeptically, "Military Advisor, if Meng Shan Ming withdraws his forces, he will certainly eliminate Wu Gun Lin along the way. Wu Gun Lin is in danger."
Jin Jue smiled and calmly replied, "Gentlemen have been constantly urging me. Why have I still not attacked the Yan Kingdom or moved troops to assist the Song Kingdom?"
He looked at the map and, pointing to Bingzhou, said, "All of this is for the stability of Bingzhou. Meng Shan Ming will not touch it for now. If he wants to attack it, I will organize a large-scale feigned attack on the Yan Kingdom. Then Meng Shan Ming will have a choice: either stabilize the situation in his kingdom or come to stop us? Which is more important?"
Everyone exclaimed approvingly, and one person clapped his hands, saying, "Exactly, then Meng Shan Ming will not attack Wu Gun Lin. He will have to pull his troops north towards us."
Jin Jue said, "When Wu Gun Lin headed for Bingzhou, his life was already in my hands! If he obeys, I will help him survive! If he dares to disobey, I will immediately withdraw my troops, and Meng Shan Ming will deal with him without any external pressure. Wu Gun Lin will obey our Han Kingdom. If I tell him to attack the Song Kingdom, he will attack. He has no choice!"
Everyone listened attentively and agreed with him. Involuntarily, they began to exchange glances, analyzing their previous thoughts. Initially, they had not understood this general.
Jin Jue looked at everyone and said seriously, "I know what you gentlemen were thinking. If a kingdom's strength is robust, it should not be squandered pointlessly. In a battle between kingdoms, the victor is not necessarily the one who triumphed in the actual combat. The warrior who defeats the enemy without engaging in battle is truly the best outcome!"
...
Those who were meant to arrive had finally done so. The vast army of the Song Kingdom reached the Dong Yu River.
Throughout their journey, the forces of the Southern Domain constantly harassed them. They lost no less than a hundred thousand warriors, causing their morale to plummet completely.
The cavalry of the Southern Domain also suffered losses. It's impossible to attack without losing men. Therefore, they sustained over 10,000 casualties, both dead and wounded!
And this was a necessary price to pay. After all, for nearly 10 days, they had harassed and attacked the Song Kingdom's forces. And the provisions for almost three million warriors were quite substantial.
And these provisions were becoming increasingly critical!
Meng Shan Ming was already awaiting the Song Kingdom's army on the opposite bank. They had already set up fortifications and structures to make it difficult for Luo Zhao to cross the river.
Luo Zhao was extremely worried. Furthermore, his supply lines had been cut. Moreover, the enemy had already carried out a purge within the Song Kingdom. This meant that timely supplies would not reach him. Therefore, if they didn't perish in a deadly battle, they would die of starvation.
Luo Zhao surveyed the river, searching for opportunities to cross.
The Yan Kingdom's forces also conducted inspections along the riverbank. They could not allow Luo Zhao to utilize the Boiling Dragon Gorge. Meng Shan Ming would not permit it.
Knowing that his vast army was on the verge of destruction, Luo Zhao felt immense pressure. No one could imagine the enormous burden he carried.
Fortunately, cultivators helped him stabilize the Qi in his body. Yet, even with their aid, he had noticeably thinned and withered over these past few days. Although he was still quite young.
He couldn't calm down at all. For days, he hadn't truly slept, and red veins had appeared in his eyes.
Previously, when he had advanced into the Yan Kingdom, he had been an entirely different man.
Did he regret it? To say he regretted the strategy he had chosen would be a lie.
But Luo Zhao regretted having underestimated Meng Shan Ming. And now, Meng Shan Ming's lesson would be etched in his memory for a lifetime!
Such was the situation at the Dong Yu River. Two immense armies were arrayed on opposite banks, belonging to rival kingdoms.
...
In a mountain forest, Niu You Dao was currently examining a letter concerning the secret negotiations between the Yan and Song Kingdoms.
During negotiations, there was no need to mention the military actions or their results. Nothing could be gained from the outcomes of battles.
Meanwhile, Qian Lian Sheng, the Song Kingdom's ambassador—who had previously cursed Shang Jian Xiong—waited with bowed head. He had attempted to gain an audience several times, eventually being granted one with Tong Mo.
Earlier, when the Yan Kingdom's capital was in danger, Qian Lian Sheng had spoken like a lion. Now, Tong Mo spoke to him like a lion, conversing with indifference and disinterest.
Now, the Yan Kingdom held the trump cards, and the Song Kingdom was forced to request negotiations.
To allow the Song Kingdom's forces to withdraw, the Yan Kingdom demanded one hundred million gold coins and one hundred thousand carts of provisions.
Yet another condition crossed all boundaries. This one had been added by Shang Jian Xiong. Other conditions could still be negotiated, but not this one!
This condition, truthfully, even surprised Tong Mo. He tried to dissuade Shang Jian Xiong, but the emperor stood firm.
Mu Zho Zheng had one deeply beloved concubine. Everyone in the court adored her.
And Shang Jian Xiong desired her precisely for his own harem—the Song Kingdom Emperor's concubine!
If Qian Lian Sheng agreed to this condition, it would be a humiliation for the entire Song Kingdom. In that case, he could not expect to return home alive. Therefore, he naturally refused. But he did make a concession, offering Shang Jian Xiong one of the emperor's daughters.
Shang Jian Xiong refused. Was this a joke? He wanted a woman of the same generation as Mu Zho Zheng, not his daughter.
Of course, Qian Lian Sheng knew that the Song and Yan Kingdoms would eventually have to stand together against the Han Kingdom. Thus, he tried to bargain.
However, Shang Jian Xiong refused, insisting only on that particular concubine. If the Song Kingdom wished to bargain, then let them bargain. If they weren't afraid that their three-million-strong army would starve to death, then they could continue.
Guan Fang Yi, looking at the letter, immediately glanced at Yuan Gang standing nearby. She understood that this message had come through Yuan Gang's channels. Thus, she said pointedly, "Congratulations, Lord Dao!"
Niu You Dao raised his head and asked, "For what?"
Guan Fang Yi replied playfully, "Congratulations, Lord Dao and the Prince, on becoming relatives by marriage!"
"..." Yuan Gang, standing nearby, thought he had misheard. He looked at Niu You Dao, wondering, *Had Lord Dao fallen for someone? I hadn't heard the princess had any other sisters!*
"Uh..." Niu You Dao also froze. He had no idea where such news could have come from. He immediately looked at the report in her hands and extended his own.
Guan Fang Yi stepped back and looked at the letter in Niu You Dao's hands. She nodded towards this letter.
Niu You Dao looked at the letter in his hands. It held no secrets, so he immediately exchanged it with her.
When he read the letter, he immediately understood that this news came from Shang Chao Zong.
The Song Kingdom, understanding that Shang Chao Zong had played a decisive role in the battles and knowing that Niu You Dao wielded significant influence over Shang Chao Zong, decided to simultaneously initiate negotiations with them.
They wanted to send a letter to Niu You Dao but didn't know his whereabouts. So, they contacted Shang Chao Zong, hoping that he would allow Luo Zhao passage. In return, they offered Shang Chao Zong a princess of the Song Kingdom. They also didn't neglect Niu You Dao, offering him a princess as well.
Shang Chao Zong immediately sent news here, inquiring. If Niu You Dao wasn't against it, then he would refuse.
For Shang Chao Zong, achieving his strategic objective was paramount. He was not swayed by gifts. Moreover, he could not allow the Song Kingdom to provoke the imperial court by using Shang Chao Zong as a pawn.
Niu You Dao smiled bitterly at this letter. If he had wanted to take a wife, would it matter to him whether she was a princess or not?
Smiling bitterly, he shook his head, "Tell the Prince that I am not interested."
Yuan Gang, standing nearby, reached out, wanting to look at the message.
Guan Fang Yi, having finished reading the letter, raised her head and said discontentedly, "This is truly laughable. Have we women become mere commodities for trade between kingdoms? Has Shang Jian Xiong utterly lost his conscience? Publicly wanting to take another man's woman as his wife! And he even hides behind the word 'kinship.' Is this how a sovereign acts? Whom have women offended, that they are sent off like mere objects? What a joke. Shameless!"
Niu You Dao sighed, "Were there not many instances of using kinship ties between kingdoms? Wasn't Shang Yao Lang given to the Zhao Kingdom precisely in this manner? When the Song Kingdom attacked the capital, how many concubines did Shang Jian Xiong kill? Now, it's time to wash away some of that shame."
Guan Fang Yi said sarcastically, "Can one wash away shame by coveting Mu Zho Zheng's woman?"
Niu You Dao said, "She is a lavish woman, adored in court and throughout the entire kingdom. In times of calamity, she can save the situation. If you love to wear the crown, you must also endure the pressure!"
Guan Fang Yi retorted, "You men are truly beasts!"
"Uh... why tar everyone with the same brush? That doesn't apply to me. I'm pure."
"You're saying it yourself."
"I'm only speaking the truth."
"You think so too. If you were made emperor, would you act the same way? Shameless!"