Chapter 783 – Breaking Through, the Beauty’s Persuasion (7)
Upon hearing this, the crowd’s interest piqued.
This Fu Wang was certainly intriguing; why did he wear two faces, one for the public and another behind closed doors?
Who was he wary of?
Jiang Pengji sat at the head, deep in thought, a small question flickering in her mind—
“After Fu Yang’s death, were his former subordinates dealt with by the Meng Clan or did the court reclaim them?”
A spark of realization surged through Meng Hunyun’s brain, suddenly illuminating the situation.
“The old subordinates of Fu Yang are still in Fu Wang’s hands,” he asserted decisively. “I remember quite clearly that those subordinates were initially clandestinely controlled by the Meng Clan, but later, for some unknown reason, they were reassigned under Fu Wang… Is the lord suspecting that Fu Wang has defected to the Meng Clan, perhaps with hidden motives?”
Jiang Pengji chuckled, “I never said that. In battle, it’s crucial to avoid being swayed by emotions. Regardless of Fu Wang’s character or whether there’s hidden truth in his defection to the Meng Clan, to us, he is simply an enemy. Since he is an enemy, there’s no need to delve into his grievances.”
Humans are sentimental creatures.
Once they feel someone operates with ulterior motives, it’s easy to inadvertently develop sympathy, pity, or even acceptance toward that person.
In ordinary circumstances, it may not matter much, but in battle, it can be fatal.
“What’s most important now is how to get past the Jia Gate Pass. We are outnumbered and cannot force an attack; we can only rely on clever strategies.”
In terms of combat strength, Jiang Pengji alone could effortlessly overpower Fu Wang, but as the enemy general, there’s no way Fu Wang would engage her in a one-on-one duel!
They held a strategic advantage at the Jia Gate Pass. If they stayed firmly entrenched with a cautious defense strategy, Jiang Pengji couldn’t afford to wear them down.
Feng Zhen said, “My lord, if Fu Wang indeed has hidden motives in joining the Meng Clan, we might find a way to persuade him to defect. No matter what those hidden motives are, at least it indicates he’s not completely aligned with the Meng Clan; they may appear united but their hearts may not be in sync, which we can exploit.”
Jiang Pengji raised an eyebrow, signaling Feng Zhen to continue.
“There happens to be a plan here that might just work.”
Feng Zhen wore a self-assured smile, as if he had it all under control.
“Let’s hear it.”
Feng Zhen elaborated, “The lord can send someone to persuade Fu Wang while secretly monitoring the infiltrators among the remnants of Wolong County, watching for when they make contact with the city. Fu Wang would presume we’re unaware of the infiltrators, making it highly probable they’ll employ the same tactic again—poisoning and a night attack. On the night of the attack, we would once again send envoys to build rapport, easing Fu Wang’s suspicions. When the enemy mounts their night charge, we would set a trap to catch them off guard. If we can capture Fu Wang alive, that would be splendid.”
Jiang Pengji considered this deeply.
Feng Zhen’s tactic was indeed astute, with a high likelihood of turning the tables on Fu Wang.
However… even a night ambush would come at a heavy price.
Counting Liu Zhi’s troops, Jiang Pengji’s side numbered only thirty thousand, hardly enough to bear the losses.
She knuckles rapped on the table, her expression cold, as she pondered. “Zishi’s plan is quite good, but… I wish to add something.”
Feng Zhen gestured respectfully, “I’m all ears.”
“Setting a trap to eliminate enemies in the darkness of night will indisputably lead to heavy casualties,” Jiang Pengji spoke plainly, yet her words sent shivers down spines, “Thus, we need to get creative with our trap. We will send men to dig tunnels leading out of camp, secretly transporting highly flammable materials hidden within the tents. When the enemy arrives… we’ll set them ablaze! We will have elite soldiers hidden in the tunnels, and when the enemy’s formation is in disarray, we’ll spring forth to annihilate them… What do you all think of that?”
Silence fell over the group.
Their lord… was truly ruthless.
Feng Zhen frowned, “If we dig tunnels, the noise would be significant, and it would be easy to detect.”
Yang Si smiled, “That’s not hard; we can simply place the tunnel entrance inside the tents.”
Feng Zhen, meticulous and considerate, frowned again. “But even so, this would protect us from the enemy but not from the infiltrators. Our movements would be too bold; we couldn’t hide from their eyes. If the infiltrator alerts the enemy, our entire scheme would unravel. This approach is still too risky, unless we can expose the infiltrator and turn them to our advantage!”
Yang Si pondered for a moment, speaking, “As a former confidant of the Wolong County lord who secretly allied with the Meng Clan, it seems he’s not a person of firm principles. If he betrayed Wolong County for profit, he would certainly do the same to the Meng Clan for greater profit; this plan is feasible.”
If they could win over the infiltrator, their plan would be even more flawless.
“If you all have no objections, then it’s settled,” Jiang Pengji surveyed the room, asking, “Who is willing to persuade Fu Wang?”
In this era, it’s considered taboo for two opposing forces to harm envoys; while it might not apply to Jiang Pengji, it still imposed restrictions on these others.
During a negotiation, generally speaking, envoys faced no lethal danger, barring exceptional circumstances.
Meng Hunyun stepped forward voluntarily, saying, “I have had some previous acquaintance with Fu Wang and know him a bit; let me give it a try.”
“Very well, then go ahead and probe Fu Wang’s stance.”
Jiang Pengji had complete trust in Meng Hunyun, believing he wouldn’t betray her loyalty simply because he had dealings with his former master, and she nodded in agreement.
“I will not disappoint the lord’s trust.”
The camp hung a truce banner, signaling no intentions of attacking or breaking through, and the Jia Gate Pass remained quite tranquil.
Fu Wang, upon hearing that Liu Xi had dispatched an envoy, inquired closely about the envoy’s name, chuckling to himself.
Clad in half armor, with a few jars of unfinished wine at his side, he coldly smiled at his companions, saying, “I remember back then, Meng Hunyun was merely a clumsy oaf, unable to articulate his thoughts. Liu Xi actually sent this guy to negotiate with me? It’s downright laughable… No need to meet; just send him away to save face.”
His vice general flattered, “The general shares deep ties with the lord; no mere Meng Hunyun could sway that! I’ve heard that Meng Hunyun is nothing but a coward, his family repeatedly humiliated, his head green as the grasslands—a shame for any man.”
Fu Wang sneered, “So that’s why I wouldn’t want to see him.”
The vice general continued, “General, why not meet him anyway? At least give him a good ribbing and reduce Liu Xi’s momentum.”
Fu Wang fell silent for a moment, then casually grabbed a jar of wine, saying indifferently, “What’s so interesting about an unremarkable martial man? To be honest, that woman beside Liu Xi is truly stunning; her every smile and frown captivates the world. From the first glance, I was smitten.”
The vice general chuckled, eyes lowered in scorn.
Here he was, still daydreaming about women while commanding the troops—truly a poor leader.
Fu Wang’s temperament was unpredictable, often shifting from one extreme to another.
Just moments ago, he had dismissed Meng Hunyun, but now he called back the Messenger, “Forget it, bring him up; let me have a look.”
With that, he shoved aside an approaching dancer and turned toward the side hall.
Upon seeing Meng Hunyun, Fu Wang spoke first, “Liu Xi sent you to persuade me to surrender?”
Meng Hunyun lowered his voice, “Not at all. Thank you for your support back in the day.”
Thinking back to those times, he was merely the district commandant of Meng County. In a fit of rage, he had burned down the magistrate’s office, supported only by his fury, and without Fu Wang’s covert assistance, he would never have escaped Cangzhou, let alone met Jiang Pengji.
Fu Wang replied, “Sowing discord? What ties do I have with you?”
