Chapter 787 – Breakthrough, The Beautiful Negotiator (11)
For several days, Jiang Pengji’s camp fell into a stillness so eerie that Fu Wang couldn’t shake off the suspicion that they had pulled a “golden cicada shedding its shell.” As noon approached, though, the Messenger arrived right on time, like a periodical visitor you can’t escape.
At first, Fu Wang entertained some mischievous thoughts, but as the visits continued, both he and his Vice General began to grow wary.
Fu Wang had a handful of Vice Generals underneath him; besides three who were trusted confidants, the others were Meng Clan’s spies embedded within his ranks.
As time passed, these spies grew increasingly skeptical of Fu Wang’s immobility.
“When will the General make a move?”
As the days dragged on, several Vice Generals on surveillance duty could hardly contain themselves anymore.
Fu Wang spent his days indulging in feasts with soldiers, arranging for beautiful women to entertain them, seemingly oblivious to the thirty thousand enemy troops camped outside Jiamen Pass.
“What’s the hurry? A mountain man has his own secrets; don’t disturb my enjoyment,” Fu Wang said, about to set down a wine jar, when one Vice General stepped forward to voice his concerns. Fu Wang, feeling irritated, flung the empty jar at the man’s feet, shattering it into pieces. “Scram!”
Swallowing his rage and humiliation, the Vice General reluctantly retreated.
The gathering broke apart unhappily, and just then, another message arrived from the Messenger: Liu Xi’s envoy was back!
The cycle repeated itself for a full week, both sides appearing calm on the surface, while underneath, tensions bubbled, the air thick with impending conflict.
Waiting for Jiang Pengji’s side to let down their guard, Fu Wang finally signaled someone to meet with a spy—a spy he had previously captured.
If it hadn’t been for Jiang Pengji, who would have thought that the seemingly downtrodden Wolong County held such potential?
After confirming the codes and learning about the situation in Jiang Pengji’s camp over the past few days, the message swiftly reached Fu Wang.
He furrowed his brow in silence, his finger drumming against the table, a far cry from his daytime fury.
“Is it true Liu Xi hasn’t made any moves?”
He found it hard to believe.
Thirty thousand soldiers stood at Jiamen Pass; there had been no attacks or attempts to escape. What on earth did they plan to do?
The spy responsible for the liaison remarked, “It does seem strange. Could it be that Liu Xi wants to stall for time until supplies run low within the pass?”
Fu Wang chuckled silently at the notion; it sounded utterly ridiculous.
The longer they delayed, the worse the situation became for Liu Xi.
Jiamen Pass received constant supplies, but Liu Xi’s camp was dwindling daily. She was the one who couldn’t afford to stall.
However, dragging things out didn’t seem like a sustainable strategy.
With neither side making a move, the conflict couldn’t ignite.
The spy said, “General, Liu Xi has been sending envoys repeatedly to make nice. This is clearly a tactic to annoy us. Rumors within Jiamen Pass suggest that soldiers are beginning to believe you’ve accepted Liu Xi’s terms and are considering surrendering to her…”
When three men tell a tiger that it has a beastly nature, people start to believe it.
Fu Wang’s position within the Meng Clan was already awkward, with several spies around him, some of whom had long harbored discontent.
If he allowed the rumors to grow, without needing the enemy to raise a finger, these whispers alone could prove fatal for Fu Wang.
“Don’t panic. The more we rush, the easier it is for us to fall into their trap,” Fu Wang said coolly. “Do you think Liu Xi rose to her current position by sheer luck? If she were truly inept, how could so many heroes bow to her? We need to keep our cool and wait for the right moment. If we strike, we must seize her throat!”
Fu Wang was raised by a pack of wolves; delivering a fatal blow to enemies was his instinct.
Before making a move, he restrained his inner impatience, refusing to be easily swayed by emotion.
The spy suggested, “General, since that’s the case, shall we keep a close watch on Liu Xi’s every move? Should anything occur…”
Fu Wang shook his head, “No need. The deeper we embed our spies, the harder it will be for Liu Xi to notice. Frequent contact will raise her suspicions. If we’re exposed, not only will this pawn be lost, but we’ll also find ourselves at a disadvantage.”
Key pieces must be played in the most critical positions.
“Understood, General!”
Fu Wang rubbed his temples, fatigue apparent in his voice. “You may leave now.”
The room fell silent; Fu Wang unfolded a scroll on the table, revealing a breathtaking portrait of a stunning beauty.
He caressed the image with his rough fingers, as if some mysterious force was easing the deep furrows on his brow.
The woman in the painting was the only one over the years who had found her way into his embrace, only to be snatched away before his very eyes.
Meanwhile, amidst the flurry of soldiers at work, several tunnels leading out of their camp had been dug open.
Under the watchful eyes of the guards at Jiamen Pass, Jiang Pengji discreetly stockpiled large amounts of flammable wood in various tents, all executed with impeccable order.
“Rumors swirl within Jiamen Pass, many believe that Fu Wang is inclined to surrender. With the public’s confidence wavering, I’d say the timing is almost ripe…” Yang Si gazed towards the direction of Jiamen Pass, his calm eyes concealing swells of unrest. “We’re nearly ready here, but Fu Wang has been showing an uncanny patience, seemingly intent on dragging this out. If this drags on, we might not have the luxury of time. My Lord, I suggest we add some fuel to the fire, forcing Fu Wang to act…”
Jiang Pengji turned to Yang Si, “Add fire? How do you propose we do that?”
“Fu Wang has repeatedly mentioned beautiful women. Why not…”
“You plan to have Hui Jun use the beauty trap?” Jiang Pengji frowned, decisively interrupting, “Absolutely not!”
She would rather stretch this out a few more days than pursue that path.
Yang Si understood her hesitation; under the current circumstances, who qualified as the ideal woman?
Given Fu Wang’s numerous references to Hui Jun, who could possibly be more suitable?
Yang Si opened his mouth but didn’t press further.
Nevertheless, Hui Jun was no sheltered flower; after eight days of inaction, she had certainly noticed something amiss.
Due to her role with the troops, she’d disguised her beauty, blending seamlessly among the medics.
The one thing marking her as different was that she didn’t share sleeping quarters with the average medics but rested near the main tent instead.
“My Young Master… I heard the commander at Jiamen Pass is one Fu Wang?”
Jiang Pengji was quite informal in her demeanor; Hui Jun kept herself informed about external political and military matters.
“Yes.”
Hui Jun bit her lip, contemplating. “I’ve heard Fu Wang has a penchant for beautiful women?”
Jiang Pengji’s eyes shot open in surprise, nearly startling Hui Jun.
“Who told you all this?”
Hui Jun steadied her heartbeat, quietly responding, “From the injured men of Wolong County.”
Jiang Pengji pressed her lips together. “A bunch of gossipers, moaning and groaning while barely holding on to life.”
Hui Jun found it both amusing and exasperating.
After a moment, she subtly tugged at Jiang Pengji’s sleeve. When Jiang Pengji looked up, Hui Jun knelt gently beside her and softly offered, “Young Master, wherever I can be of use to you, I’m more than willing to serve you like a loyal dog.”
