Chapter 622 – Urgent Report from Chenzhou, the Kingdom’s Call for Help (Part Six)
The Book Boy said, “Sir is not foolish, it’s just that Zixiao and the others are too cunning… Knowing Sir can’t resist delicious food, they deliberately bait you with it. Sir, how about you take some time to sneak away to learn culinary arts? Once you master it, we can escape…”
Yang Si’s mouth twitched.
His taste buds had been spoiled by the chef from Fengyi County. If he left here, wouldn’t he starve to death?
It’s either starving or exhausting yourself to death?
A tough choice indeed.
As a foodie, Yang Si decisively chose the latter; starving was just too torturous.
Due to the “Call for Help”, not only was Jiang Pengji’s plan thrown into disarray, but even the strategists and military generals under her were busily engaged, and even An Huan, who was acting as an insider in Chengde County, was affected. He received news from his informant and thought Jiang Pengji was delivering supplies again.
But An Huan was a cautious man; he had already received a batch of supplies previously, which were still leftover. How could she possibly send more?
Upon realizing this, An Huan’s first reaction was that his cover had been blown.
Not trusting the situation, he had several sworn brothers secretly protect him while he went to meet the informant.
In the end, nothing was revealed; An Huan’s identity remained intact, and the informant was here to inform him that plans had been moved up.
An Huan, suspicious, asked, “Why can’t we wait until spring to launch an attack?”
The informant replied, “I’m not entirely sure, but I vaguely heard it has something to do with the emperor’s decree to ‘Aid the King’; this news has spread like wildfire.”
An Huan wasn’t skilled in strategy, so he couldn’t immediately connect how ‘Aid the King’ linked with Jiang Pengji’s plan being advanced.
He didn’t press for details, knowing full well the informant’s job was merely to meet him, with limited knowledge of the inner workings.
After pondering for a while, An Huan felt an itch of excitement.
He quickly summoned several brothers to discuss, trying to contain his exhilaration, his face slightly contorted.
“This ‘Aid the King’ call is a tremendous opportunity for us brothers.”
If Jiang Pengji kept her promise and granted An Huan one-tenth of her financial resources, he could use that share to ‘Aid the King’ and snag some benefits.
Many of his sworn brothers were rough-and-tumble types. They respected An Huan’s wide knowledge and were grateful for his sincerity.
When An Huan said this move was profitable, they believed him wholeheartedly.
The burly man first expressed joy for An Huan, clasping his hands in congratulations, but then he showed a hesitative expression.
“But… big brother, aren’t we still lacking enough people to bribe? Wouldn’t Fengyi County be dissatisfied?”
An Huan replied, “War isn’t as simple as just launching it; they still need to prepare soldiers and supplies and draft battle plans… It’s going to take some time. Plus, the entire march might need about half a month. As long as we brothers unite our efforts, we need not worry about getting this done. However, despite the urgency, we must also not raise any suspicions from the Red Lotus Sect; caution is key!”
The burly man listened intently, nodding with absolute trust in An Huan’s words.
“Don’t worry, big brother! Us brothers handling things, why would you worry? We’ll definitely handle it perfectly, leaving no trace behind.”
An Huan displayed a look of gratitude; the thatched hut was filled with camaraderie among brothers, a warm and joyous scene.
Meanwhile, Huang Song was steadily expanding his territory, unprepared for the “Aid the King” decree, just like Jiang Pengji.
Though he was born a eunuch’s son, Huang Qin as the emperor’s confidant had accumulated considerable wealth through selling offices and titles. His family’s resources were robust, and his father, who enjoyed business, left him a hefty fortune.
With finances and Huang Qin’s backing, Huang Song’s power steadily grew, boasting an army of over ten thousand.
Upon receiving the “Aid the King” decree, he was quite perturbed.
Incited by Feng Jue, Huang Song had already given up on being a virtuous minister. If someone labeled him a traitor, he would have no rebuttal. Faced with such circumstances, he felt a bit anxious; wouldn’t responding to the decree be stepping into a trap?
If not for having rebellious intentions, what would a mere county magistrate from Zhai County need such a large army for?
Feng Jue scoffed, “What are you afraid of, Lord? If it comes down to it, you have Liu Xi backing you. If it’s investigated, they’ll approach him first, and then you. The royal family is a mess, issuing a decree for help, craving strong troops to fend off Changshou Wang… Your army of ten thousand is a blessing; how could it be a liability?”
Huang Song was left feeling awkward.
Yeah, why was he so anxious and guilty?
Liu Xi was blatantly conquering Fengyi County, seizing Shangyang County from the Feng clan, and now he was eyeing Chengde County…
In the blink of an eye, the entire Wanzhou was about to fall into Liu Xi’s hands.
Here he was, Huang Song, barely grasping a single Maode County.
If they were to investigate wrongful conduct, Liu Xi would be the largest traitor, while he could only be seen as a small-time flag bearer.
“So… should we respond to the ‘Aid the King’ call?”
Huang Song was different from Jiang Pengji.
Although Jiang Pengji occupied two counties, Shangyang County had yet to fully submit, posing a risk. To neutralize this, she had to seize Chengde County first, augment her forces before returning to deal with the local gentry in Shangyang to keep them from causing trouble.
In contrast, Huang Song had fewer concerns.
Cheng Jing stated, “I believe the ‘Aid the King’ opportunity is a great moment to display our Lord’s loyalty and kindness; we should definitely participate.”
Cheng Jing’s opinion aligned closely with Jiang Pengji; it was a perfect platform for talent recruitment.
The ‘Aid the King’ decree wasn’t the main focus; rather, it was Huang Song showcasing his abilities and virtues to attract talent.
Simply put, it was a chance to advertise himself.
Feng Jue concurred, and other strategists in the government hall also supported this view.
Resolutely, Huang Song made the decision.
‘Aid the King’?
Let’s go!
In an instant, various factions had their own thoughts, stirred by this decree; public sentiment began to fluctuate.
While other factions gathered troops in preparation for ‘Aid the King’, Jiang Pengji was already initiating her final wartime preparations.
“Here’s the intelligence sent back by the informant; take a look.”
As the battle was imminent, Jiang Pengji and Wei Ci returned to Fengyi County, leaving the administrative matters of Shangyang County to Feng Zhen and Feng Jin.
Don’t let this guy’s constant complaints about a work stoppage fool you; his work was coming out quite beautifully.
Feng Zhen was free-spirited and treacherous, adept at maneuvering through people’s minds.
Having him deal with the local gentry in Shangyang County was the perfect fit.
As for whether he would exhaust himself?
Haha, she believed in an old saying—trouble lasts for a thousand years; Feng Zhen was certainly one to live long.
Besides, Feng Jin was also there to help him out, so he wouldn’t overwork himself.
“Though the Red Lotus Sect is just a rabble, a swarm of ants can still bring down an elephant. When a dark mass of people gathers, it gives one a headache.”
Jiang Pengji, with her hands tucked in her sleeves, sat at the head of the table, her hair adorned with unraveled snow from her hurried arrival.
She had just rushed to Xiangyang County and convened an urgent meeting, without even a warm meal to eat.
“Liu County Magistrate seeks a quick resolution; our first battle must be handled carefully. If we can strike swiftly and decisively to take a city, the Red Lotus Sect’s morale will undoubtedly plummet.” Yang Si bowed, “If we drag it out or find ourselves at a disadvantage, morale could be severely impacted. The Red Lotus Sect, being numerous and spirited, can potentially prolong the battle, putting us at a great disadvantage.”
Jiang Pengji wasn’t bothered by Yang Si’s titles, “Based on your opinion, where should we start this first battle?”
