Chapter 786 – Breakthrough: The Beautiful Diplomat (Part 10)
Power and money have always gone hand in hand.
With money, you can buy power; with power, you won’t worry about money.
The Big Man understood this truth all too well, but staring at the two massive chests before him, his greedy heart just couldn’t contain itself.
Because sometimes, no amount of power can procure such an abundance of silver.
He knew all too well that the promises from the Meng Clan were nothing but hollow illusions, yet his greed overshadowed any caution. He wanted it all, and driven by that greed, he took the risk. Deep down, he felt a flicker of remorse for the death of the Wolong County governor, but it was just that—an insignificant flicker.
Jiang Pengji raised her hand to have the chests closed, interrupting the Big Man’s thoughts, and asked him once more, “Are you sensible, or are you not?”
The Big Man’s heart sank, and he forced a bitter smile, saying, “If I’m sensible, I might at least secure a lifetime of wealth and glory. If I’m not, then Zhong Langjiang surely won’t tolerate someone like me who has killed his lord. But will Zhong Langjiang really uphold his word and not turn his back on me?”
Jiang Pengji coldly retorted, “You trust the Meng Clan, yet now you question me?”
Realizing he had misspoken, the Big Man dared not utter another word.
In his current predicament, he had zero room for bargaining.
“People are the knives, and I am the fish,” he thought, feeling utterly helpless.
“If you just open your eyes a little, you can see what kind of morals the Meng Clan possesses. You’ve committed treason; would the Meng Clan still dare to use you?”
With her lashes slightly lowered, Jiang Pengji’s dark eyes seemed to peer into his very soul, forcing the Big Man to instinctively avert his gaze.
After a moment, the Big Man gritted his teeth and resigned himself to Jiang Pengji.
There was no other choice for him.
Jiang Pengji knew his secret; if she revealed that he had betrayed the Wolong County governor, there would be no place for him in this world. Just thinking about that scenario sent chills down his spine, and he could only comply, agreeing to cooperate with Jiang Pengji.
Having grasped his weak point, Jiang Pengji was not worried about his deceit.
To achieve her goals, she didn’t mind using a few tricks, but the Audience wouldn’t tolerate any nonsense.
Many viewers expressed their frustration, believing that Jiang Pengji’s actions were akin to courting disaster.
Could a traitor who betrays their lord and is double-faced still have any credibility?
Was Jiang Pengji not afraid that the Big Man would flip and stab her in the back?
“Once disloyal, always untrustworthy.”
[Fairy Queen’s Crimson]: Host, be careful! If that guy flips on you, it would be terrible.
[Yamada Mia]: In modern society, that guy wouldn’t even be usable. Changing jobs is one thing, but to conspire with outsiders to kill the boss, who’s also the spouse’s uncle, is just intolerable! He’s literally biting the hand that feeds.
[Zhuang Sheng Xiaomeng]: To say it bluntly, once disloyal, always untrustworthy. Even though the host is magnanimous, not everyone deserves forgiveness. This Big Man is clearly a false loyalist—don’t let your guard down, or you might end up in deep trouble.
The Audience expressed their worries.
They understood Jiang Pengji’s motives for winning over the Big Man for the greater good, yet felt restless, fearing he might turn on her.
Jiang Pengji cast a cold glance at the Big Man kneeling before her and sent a message in the live chat.
[Host V]: I only mentioned keeping him on as a wise man after success, but I never said there wouldn’t be an accounting afterward. You don’t have to worry.
Even if she had swayed the Big Man, Jiang Pengji would not trust him even a little; there would be no shortage of precautions.
Upon receiving that reply, the viewers all breathed a sigh of relief.
For two consecutive days, the camp was eerily quiet, with Jia Gate maintaining a truce, both sides looking at each other with disdain.
After Meng Hunyun returned, he reported the outcome of the operation to Jiang Pengji.
“My lord, in my opinion, Fu Wang is not doing well under the Meng Clan; there should be an opportunity to sway him.”
If they could pull Fu Wang over, the reward would be substantial.
Thinking of this, Meng Hunyun’s gloomy mood lifted immediately.
If they lost Fu Wang, the Meng Clan would suffer greatly. What could be more enjoyable for Meng Hunyun than seeing the Meng Clan take a hit?
Jiang Pengji remained noncommittal, while Feng Zhen inquired further, “What do you mean by that?”
Meng Hunyun explained, “Fu Wang is surrounded by spies. When I saw him, there were not only eavesdroppers outside the hall but also hidden people inside. Though they appeared as loyal guards, Fu Wang’s attitude towards them clearly reflected disdain and caution.”
Feng Zhen shook his head, his wariness not easily assuaged.
“Meng Xiaowei, what you see with your own eyes can sometimes deceive you. Even if we assume Fu Wang is indeed in a difficult spot and surrounded by spies, the Meng Clan has spoiled him for so long—what reason does he have to betray them and join our lord?”
They previously noted that Fu Wang had been rampant yet had always been catered to by the Meng Clan.
If Fu Wang were to switch sides to Jiang Pengji, would she meet all his unreasonable demands and requests?
In other words, while Fu Wang had a motive to switch, he had no reason to do so with Jiang Pengji.
Suddenly, Meng Hunyun broke out in a cold sweat and became clearer-headed.
“Military Adviser, are you suggesting…”
Feng Zhen shook his head, “If Meng Xiaowei truly thinks he can win over Fu Wang and covertly sway him, he might just fall into Fu Wang’s trap.”
Meng Hunyun immediately apologized for his rash actions.
Jiang Pengji raised her hand for him to rise, speaking calmly, “This isn’t your fault. Zishi is merely presenting one possibility… Although from this, it appears Fu Wang is not to be underestimated. We must remain vigilant… In warfare, there’s no room for sentimentalism; it’s not just a battle of martial strength, but also of wits. If Fu Wang were a mere brute, the Meng Clan wouldn’t have tolerated him until now…”
It’s always good to have a second thought.
Meng Hunyun nodded repeatedly, indicating he understood.
However, he still felt a sense of regret; if only they could win over Fu Wang, it would be a massive boost for their lord.
One Fu Wang was nothing; the key was his elite forces, which made Meng Hunyun covetous.
Currently, Wanzhou was lacking both civil and military officials.
Bringing in one Fu Wang could also mean several thousand elite troops—what a lucrative deal!
Jiang Pengji said, “In the next few days, send people to Jia Gate for various reasons. Since you have some rapport with Fu Wang, we can use that as a pretext to establish a connection. We need the Meng Clan to remain wary of him while not distressing Fu Wang. If his situation worsens, it will be easier for us. Should he show any inclination to switch sides, we can guide him subtly, lowering his defenses…”
Getting a famous general to lower his guard is a slim chance.
As long as they could mislead him for a moment, making him relaxed, Jiang Pengji would have everything in her grasp.
In the end, it was not just about martial competition, but also about who had a deeper strategy and whose heart was darker.
