Chapter 119 Alliance (Part 4) So, the reason everyone is sitting here today is...

Council chamber.

The feudal lords who came from all over the country to the alliance sat together. He Qinglan sat in the middle position on the left, with Ning Huai'an and Zhu Youchuan sitting behind her.

She held a cup of tea in her right hand, blew on the tea leaves, and took a leisurely sip.

Jinzhou's tea business over the years has not been for nothing, nor have its teahouses been opened for nothing. At the very least, the method of brewing tea with pure water has spread throughout the country and has been welcomed by people from all walks of life.

Lu Hong's strategist, Liang Shanguang, introduced each of the feudal lords present, helping those who had never met before to get to know each other.

When He Qinglan was introduced, everyone's eyes fell on her.

Everyone has heard the legend of Jinzhou to some extent, but there are even more skeptics, and some are jealous that she, a mere woman, actually obtained the entire city of Jinzhou.

After Liang Shanguang introduced her, someone gave a mocking laugh and said sarcastically, "Governor of Jinzhou? I heard you can provide unlimited food for all the people of Jinzhou?"

Despite the chaotic stares from everyone, He Qinglan continued drinking her tea without changing her expression.

The person who asked the question stiffened slightly. He was about to say something when he saw Zhu Youchuan, who was sitting behind He Qinglan, smiling gently. "The people of Jinzhou are still alive and healthy thanks to the Goddess's kindness."

He openly and directly used the term "goddess," confirming the rumors about He Qinglan.

The crowd dismissed it: Haven't there been countless instances throughout history of people creating miracles for themselves? This one imitated a fox's howl, that one slew a white snake, this one was born amidst a sky full of rosy clouds, that one was born with divine light illuminating the delivery room…

But someone like He Qinglan, who calls herself a goddess and claims she can provide food for the people under her rule…

"Governor He is truly capable, managing to gain the support of the people of Jinzhou and become the governor of Jinzhou. I am quite envious." Someone sighed with feigned regret, "I have worked hard for more than ten years, and I am only a prefect of a county."

Those who resented He Qinglan chimed in, "Who told us we're just ordinary people, unlike Governor He who can conjure up food for the people?"

"Oh? I wonder if Governor He would be so kind as to show some favor to the people of my prefecture?"

"Haha, you should really beg Governor He, after all, she is a goddess."

These people chatted and laughed, completely unaware that they had offended He Qinglan.

Lu Hong and Sun Yannan exchanged a glance, neither of them speaking up to stop them, but instead looking at everyone with smiles on their faces.

They were all waiting to see He Qinglan's reaction.

Ning Huai'an was furious. He was about to get up and teach these people a lesson.

Zhu Youchuan raised his hand, pressed down on his wrist, and shook his head.

Ning Huai'an was shocked. "What do you mean?"

With a "clang," He Qinglan placed the teacup on the table.

Ning Huai'an and Zhu Youchuan looked up.

The young woman had a cool and aloof look in her eyes. "We're sitting here today not to jointly attack Lu Wei, but to target me, the governor of Jinzhou?" she said, her tone puzzled.

Everyone: "..."

He Qinglan's gaze swept over Lu Hong and Sun Yannan, and the corners of her lips curled up slightly. "Why didn't you two make it clear beforehand? You made me misunderstand and bring the army and weapons."

Lu Hong's smile froze.

Sun Yannan hurriedly said, "Governor He, you..."

Ye Huika spoke up at this moment, "Governor He, please don't mind. You are so young yet you hold a state in your hands. Everyone admires you and wants to learn from you how to do as well as you. We certainly won't target you out of jealousy. We are not such petty people."

She covered her mouth with her right hand, chuckled, and looked at Lu Hong and Sun Yannan, "Am I right, Governor Lu and Governor Sun?"

Having been singled out by Ye Hui, Lu Hong could no longer remain silent.

He laughed loudly, "Madam Ye is right. We have nothing but respect for Governor He. We hope that Governor He will have some guidance when he has time."

Sun Yannan cleared his throat and said to the others, "We are gathered here today to cleanse the court of corrupt officials and get rid of the villain Lu Wei for His Majesty! We should all work together and not start arguing among ourselves before we have eliminated Lu Wei."

Several people who resented He Qinglan reluctantly agreed and said nothing more.

Although they did not believe that they were less capable than He Qinglan, she did indeed have tens of thousands of troops under her command, and they dared not truly anger her.

As soon as Sun Yannan spoke, they immediately went along with it.

He Qinglan didn't react much, but Ning Huai'an was furious.

The young man clenched his fists tightly. These scoundrels had offended the goddess in public, slapping the face of the entire city of Jinzhou.

He couldn't accept that it was over: the guy who offended the goddess hadn't even knelt before her and apologized!

Ning Huai'an glanced at Zhu Youchuan: Can you tolerate this? You're just going to put up with it like this?

Zhu Youchuan smiled in response: Of course not, the Goddess has been in Jinzhou for years and has never been treated like this! The Goddess is magnanimous and doesn't hold it against them, but we, as her subordinates, cannot let it go so easily!

Write down the debt first, and settle accounts with them later.

Lu Hong began his speech, listing Lu Wei's crimes one by one.

He became increasingly agitated as he spoke, successfully touching the hearts of everyone present and igniting their anger.

He Qinglan sat calmly, listening to Lu Hong's indignant accusations, while casually producing a cup of kumquat lemonade and taking a sip with composure.

Noticing Ye Hui sitting next to her looking at her, He Qinglan turned her head and handed her a bowl of osmanthus syrup that suited her taste. Ye Hui didn't refuse and took it.

After Lu Hong finished speaking, he called on everyone to "purge the court of corrupt officials." He declared righteously, "We must rid the Great Wei of this wicked villain, Lu Wei! And return the empire to His Majesty!"

The crowd shouted, "Kill Lu Wei! Eliminate the traitor!"

"We must not allow Lu Wei to continue controlling His Majesty!"

"We must save His Majesty!"

"We must rid the Great Wei of these traitors!"

After igniting all emotions, Lu Hong announced the formation of an alliance, and everyone declared war on Lu Wei to attack Shengzhou!

The first step is to appoint a leader.

The group exchanged glances. There were so many lords, but they knew in their hearts that, in terms of strength alone, the leader of the alliance would be either Lu Hong or Sun Yannan.

Ye Hui tilted her head and whispered to He Qinglan, "Governor He also has the strength to contend."

He Qinglan remained unfazed. "The same goes for Governor Cao."

The two didn't say anything more.

Someone spoke up first and recommended Lu Hong, listing Lu Hong's advantages: good background, strong power, and control of three states.

Immediately, someone else recommended Sun Yannan, listing his merits one, two, and three.

Then, others also expressed their opinions.

“I think Governor He is also suitable to be the leader of the alliance.” A male voice suddenly rang out, silencing everyone.

The proposal came from Zheng Jiming, the prefect of Que Ling County. He was a middle-aged man with a beard and a smile, as cunning as a fox.

Someone then countered, "The Governor of Hezhou is just a woman..."

Zheng Jiming asked with a smile, "Have you ever been to Jinzhou? Have you seen what Jinzhou looks like now under the rule of Governor He?"

He ignored Lu Hong and Sun Yannan, saying, "The fact that Governor He, despite being a woman, has gained the support of the people of Jinzhou and became the governor of Jinzhou in just a few years is enough to show her outstanding abilities. This is one of them."

"The governor of Hezhou can provide the people of Jinzhou with an unlimited supply of food, and the soldiers and horses of Jinzhou are stronger than those of other places, which is the second reason."

"Jinzhou's weapons and firearms are very powerful, and I believe they will play a significant role in the upcoming war. This is the third point."

Ye Hui was very surprised. She looked at Zheng Jiming, then at He Qinglan, and asked in a low voice, "What benefits did you give him? Why is he talking to you like this?"

He Qinglan lowered her eyebrows and gave a cold sneer.

Ye Hui understood immediately. Oh, so they're plotting against you. She leisurely took a sip of osmanthus dew, waiting to see the show.

The focus of everyone's conversation shifted to He Qinglan.

Some people mocked, "Do you really believe that the Governor of Hezhou can produce grain?"

Zheng Jiming: "Your Excellency is welcome to go out and see which army is stronger than the army of Jinzhou?"

Some people sarcastically asked, "You actually support a woman as the leader of the alliance? What, did you get some benefits from her?"

Zheng Jiming: "Governor He has agreed to do business with my Que Ling County. From now on, my Que Ling County will purchase tea, wine, ceramics and cloth from Jinzhou at prices lower than the market price."

Someone sneered, "Even so, Governor He only has one Jinzhou, while Governor Lu has three..."

Zheng Jiming: "What benefits can Governor Lu offer us as the leader of the alliance?"

He finally revealed his true intentions.

However, if the position of the alliance leader could be exchanged for He Qinglan's favor towards the soldiers and civilians of Que Ling County, and for her to provide them with food, then that would be a huge win!

Sun Yannan raised an eyebrow and asked with a smile, "If Governor He becomes the leader of this alliance, can he provide food for all the allied forces?"

Everyone was taken aback.

Zhu Youchuan's pupils contracted slightly: Sun Yannan is truly shameless.

However, this was not unexpected. He had tried to obtain the Goddess's granary but failed. He was also tricked by the Goddess and became embroiled in the war against the imperial court for several years.

He Qinglan calmly placed the juice next to the teacup.

She raised her eyes, her cool gaze sweeping over everyone present, and then said in a cold voice, "If you all announce to the world today that you acknowledge me as your master, I will protect the people of your jurisdiction as I have protected the people of Jinzhou."

"If you can't, then don't talk nonsense and think that you can make someone a sucker just by talking."

Ye Hui smiled slightly, and then He Qinglan spoke up, feigning doubt, "Are we really not gathered here today to target Governor He?"

Zhu Yunwei smiled and advised in a voice that was neither too loud nor too soft, "Madam, you are overthinking it. Governor He has neither controlled the court nor threatened the emperor, so why would you all target her?"

"Is that so?" Ye Hui's smile remained unchanged. "If you all feel that settling your personal grudge with Governor He and gaining benefits from Jinzhou is more important than uniting against the mainland, then Ningzhou will not participate. After all, I don't want to use Ningzhou's grain to support someone else's army."

Lu Hong then spoke up, “Madam Ye is too kind. The most important matter at present is to unite against the Lu and eliminate the traitors for His Majesty and Great Wei! I am deeply honored that Governor He has come to join the allied forces, and I have absolutely no intention of bullying Governor He.”

Sun Yannan feigned an apology, "Please forgive me, Governor He. I was in a moment of panic and did not intend to offend you." He sighed, "Governor He also knows that the people of Maozhou and Liangzhou are living in great hardship due to natural disasters and man-made calamities. I thought of the prosperous lives of the people of Jinzhou, which is why I took the liberty of asking for your help. If Governor He is unwilling..."

Zhu Youchuan flicked open his fan with a "whoosh," and said, "Governor Sun, the goddess said that if the two states under your jurisdiction are willing to acknowledge the goddess as their master, the goddess will ensure that the people of the two states are as well-off as the people of my Jinzhou."

He chuckled, "So, it's not that the goddess is unwilling to protect the people of Maozhou and Liangzhou, but rather that Governor Sun is unwilling to acknowledge the goddess as his master."

Zhu Yunze broke his silence. "Mao and Liang prefectures are the legacy of my lord's predecessor. How can my lord go against the wishes of his predecessor and serve another lord?"

Zhu Youchuan said, "In that case, Governor Sun will surely live up to the late lord's trust and protect the people in his jurisdiction!"

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Author's note: This week's list reaches 20,000!

3000/20000