Chapter 1831 – Born Ruler
Just when Feng Zhen’s second brother was trying every trick to compete with Pandan Nuan Nuan for affection, the situation in Beiyuan began to clarify.
Feng Zhen used his smooth-talking rap to persuade the Guard Commander of Beiyuan, making the two factions appear as if they were at odds, while secretly exchanging flirtatious glances.
The public opinion that was seeded started to brew and eventually exploded to its maximum intensity.
Under Feng Zhen’s guidance, the Guard Commander sent out a Confidant disguised as a Common Person to incite rumors and further propel the narrative.
The gossip spread from the military to the populace, and then back to the military, causing chaos in both circles.
The Guard Commander watched everything unfold, feeling anxious while nurturing a hidden ambition.
Sure enough, everything proceeded as Feng Zhen’s messenger had indicated, precisely.
However—
He still worried about long nights leading to too many dreams, constantly asking Feng Zhen when they would take action.
Feng Zhen patiently guided him, finally allowing the Guard Commander to put his racing heart back in its place.
One day, the usually unfriendly Deputy General suddenly came to him for a drink, speaking in a tone that seemed to have ulterior motives.
The Guard Commander felt a chill in his heart and suddenly recalled Feng Zhen’s advice, sharpening his foggy mind.
Step by step, he followed Feng Zhen’s instructions to pry secrets from the Deputy General, successfully drawing out the other’s true feelings.
The Deputy General said, “Regarding the General’s dissatisfaction, may I ask what you’ve been up to these days? I’ve been watching and remembering it all. You see the current situation, the Yi Clan is brutal and unreasonable; we, as brothers, can’t be selfish, but we cannot stand idly by while the Common People are treated like dirt.”
The Guard Commander sneered inside.
This Deputy General’s political stance was opposing him; he loved to cling to the powerful and bully the commoners.
How shameless for the likes of him to wave the banner of “for the common people’s benefit,” truly without an ounce of shame.
“Oh? And what do you propose?”
The Deputy General whispered, “General, have you made contact with them over there?”
The Guard Commander knew exactly who “them” referred to, and if the Deputy General discovered any clues, it was deliberately leaked by him.
However, the Guard Commander still needed to play dumb, testing if the Deputy General was genuinely intending to rebel.
The Deputy General smiled and said, “There’s no need to be afraid, my feelings align with yours. I can’t stand the Yi Clan’s tyranny; I want to demand justice for the people of Beiyuan and support the rightful ruler. But you’re too cautious, alone, you cannot control the border situation…”
The Guard Commander smirked, “And what do you plan?”
The Deputy General replied, “I’m willing to be the General’s spearhead and achieve your long-held aspirations.”
Anyone with eyes could see that Beiyuan could not hold out much longer. Who understood the military rations and supply situation better than soldiers?
Beiyuan couldn’t withstand the enemy’s 250,000 iron hooves!
Many opportunists had already begun seeking new patrons, and Jiang Pengji was undoubtedly the sole target.
Yet despite their desire to ally, they had no means, scratching their heads in frustration, with the Deputy General among them.
Just when he was troubled by this, he noticed his superior—the Guard Commander—making moves, seemingly forming a connection with Jiang Pengji.
Thus, he took the initiative to approach, hoping to create a line of connection and hitch a ride on the coattails of success.
Beiyuan wouldn’t be able to hold soon; those who first sided with Jiang Pengji would inevitably carry more weight.
When Jiang Pengji forcibly broke through Beiyuan’s gates, these captives would become prisoners.
It was better to plan an escape route early, so they could land high-ranking positions on Jiang Pengji’s side.
At the very least, they could protect their current status.
The Guard Commander then asked, “What proof do you provide?”
The Deputy General leaned in and whispered a few words, and the two exchanged knowing smirks.
The Deputy General’s allegiance was a signal; more and more people began to switch sides.
Seeing that the time was ripe, under Feng Zhen’s guidance, the Guard Commander held a banquet, inviting all the important military leaders to drink and discuss serious matters.
After a few rounds of drinks, the Guard Commander took advantage of the alcohol to berate the Yi Clan’s cruel and unreasonable rule, causing everyone to fall silent.
“Gentlemen, why not follow me and rebel against the Yi Clan!”
Drawing his sword, the Guard Commander glared at everyone, his eyes blazing red.
Those who had been in on it quickly echoed him, while several leaders loyal to the Yi Clan became enraged, drawing their swords to accuse the Guard Commander of treachery.
However, before their protests could finish, they had their heads chopped off by those beside them.
A banquet that was lively just moments ago now flowed with blood, heads rolling on the ground.
The Guard Commander sent someone to collect the heads as a gift for the next day’s opening of the city gates.
A coup d’état unfolded silently. When the lower-ranked soldiers awoke, the banners on the city wall were replaced in unison.
The flags fluttered in the wind and snow, the unfamiliar clan crest standing firm on Beiyuan’s land.
Soon, news of the border falling reached Beiyuan like it had sprouted wings.
Taking advantage of her army’s morale, Jiang Pengji sent troops to rapidly conquer three cities, breaking the spirits of the Beiyuan army. At this time, public opinion in the realm had also matured; more and more Common People learned about the world outside and could no longer endure the Yi Clan’s atrocities.
Jiang Pengji strictly enforced military discipline, and after breaking the city, news spread that she neither burned, killed, nor plundered, nor slaughtered the captives. More and more Common People gathered to demand the city soldiers open the gates and surrender to Jiang Pengji—
“Lady Jiang is not here to attack Beiyuan; she has come to eradicate the Yi Clan’s poison and save us commoners!”
The oppressive policies of Beiyuan sharply contrasted with Jiang Pengji’s benevolent governance in Dongqing.
The Common People’s nerves had been pressed to their breaking point, and now, with Jiang Pengji attacking Beiyuan, all of it rebounded!
The soldiers guarding the city were mostly the elderly, weak, sick, or disabled; they could barely withstand the emotions-running wild Common People!
Following Jiang Pengji as she conquered three cities, every town she reached saw the Common People opening the gates to surrender.
Occasionally, there was resistance, but it was like cutting through tofu.
With an army of 250,000 charging forth, their swords pointed straight at the Beiyuan capital!
Beneath the seemingly harmonious surface, undercurrents of discord surged.
Jiang Pengji would not let the aristocrats of Beiyuan off easily, so she sent people to blend in with the Common People, stirring up their grievances, inciting them to storm the aristocrats’ homes and loot. The soldiers mixed in took the opportunity to harvest heads as well. By the time Jiang Pengji received the call for help and rushed over to provide “aid”, the rioters had long since scattered. The unluckiest had their entire army wiped out, while the luckier ones were left with just a few cats and dogs.
“Our Leader is becoming more and more emperor-like in her methods.”
After a half-month siege capturing half of Beiyuan, tens of thousands of enemies were killed, and among them, sixty percent were supposedly of the Beiyuan aristocracy.
Without witnessing it in person, Feng Zhen could hardly imagine how cheap the term “aristocracy” had become.
Each household consisted of hundreds or thousands of people.
Were these folks in Beiyuan all breeding pigs? How could they reproduce so much?
What left him astonished was their Leader—she showed no mercy and dealt heavy blows, ultimately shifting all the blame onto the refugees, leaving no evidence to suspect her. After all, they had oppressed the Common People so harshly, it was only reasonable for the Common People to turn their anger against them.
Qi Guanrang said indifferently, “She is indeed a born ruler.”
One of a kind!
