Chapter 693 Third Party
Wei Xiaozhi naturally couldn't be fooled by the simple words of these three people.
Considering that they were on a ship, he didn't know who to tell if he wanted to, and the other party was more numerous and powerful, so Wei Xiaozhi certainly would not choose to confront them head-on.
Given Wei Xiaozhi's status and the degree to which he was respected among the Qingliu, Censor Jiang, who had been staying in the cabin, personally entertained him.
After several exchanges, Censor Jiang learned that Wei Xiaozhi and others felt that Duke Yun's use of the Yunzhou cannon was against the harmony of nature, so they wanted to go to Guangde Prefecture as lobbyists to persuade Gu Nanxi to abandon the use of the Yunzhou cannon.
Censor Jiang said bluntly: "Xiaozhi, is your purpose to ban the use of Yunzhou cannons, or do you pity the people and don't want them to suffer?"
"What's the difference?"
Censor Jiang poured a cup of tea for Wei Xiaozhi. He left Kyoto in a hurry and only brought a small bag of tea with him, which was barely enough to make a few pots of hot tea.
"If it's the former, you don't need to go to Guangde Prefecture. I can tell you for sure that you can't accomplish this. Who would want to use a bronze sword when an iron sword is out? Who would want to eat coarse grains when there are fine noodles to eat? It's against human nature to get this divine weapon and throw it away."
Wei Xiaozhi was not disappointed: "What if it's the latter?"
Censor Jiang's eyes sparkled: "Then I suggest you don't start with the Yunzhou cannon."
"Oh? Please advise."
Censor Jiang: "You can go and negotiate. Since you can't stop the Yunzhou Cannon from coming out, then find a way to reduce the chances of using the Yunzhou Cannon."
"Thank you for your advice." Wei Xiaozhi stood up and said goodbye.
When he could no longer see the group of scholars, Chen Yixuan pursed his lips and said with a hint of dissatisfaction: "Uncle Jiang, why are you still giving advice to this brat?"
After leaving the capital, Censor Jiang was in a very good mood, so he had some leisure to give some advice: "The best military operation is to attack the enemy's plans, the next best is to attack their alliances, and the worst is to attack their cities. Why resort to swords and guns when you can solve the problem with words?"
Chen Yixuan curled his lips. Even if they used knives and guns, what would happen? Who in the world could be a match for my godmother?
Jiang Guanghai patted Chen Yixuan on the shoulder and said with a smile: "You forgot that Godmother once said that all people in the world are brothers. In Godmother's eyes, the tens of thousands of soldiers under Li Aotian will also be her subjects in the future. This is also the reason why Godmother will not use Yunzhou cannons unless it is absolutely necessary."
"Godmother has already taken over half of Guangde Prefecture and the entire Henan County. If we push forward further, we will be met with desperate resistance from the imperial court. If the battle is delayed until the spring plowing season next year, it will be a huge loss for both sides."
“So, the best situation is to maintain the status quo.”
Chen Yixuan understood, but he still had doubts in his heart: "Can the deal be concluded?"
Censor Jiang chuckled, "Your godmother must be planning to stop. The court also wants to stop."
Chen Yixuan rubbed his head and asked, "Why did Uncle Jiang persuade Wei Xiaozhi to do this?"
"Hahaha, what a child." After laughing, Censor Jiang went out to find Lord Li to watch him beat his son.
Chen Yixuan was speechless. He always felt that when Uncle Jiang was talking about a child, he was actually talking about a fool.
"Alas, it is said that a woman will become stupid for three years after pregnancy. My sister-in-law is not stupid, but you are." Jiang Guanghai looked at Chen Yixuan lovingly.
Thinking of his tenth brother's willingness to sacrifice himself for his godmother's plan, Jiang Guanghai's patience returned: "The relationship between the court and godmother is either the east wind prevails over the west wind, or the west wind prevails over the east wind. There will always be a big king and a small king."
"In the past, Godmother was willing to make concessions to the imperial court. But now, Godmother's territory is so large, and the Emperor of Great Zhou is colluding with foreign enemies to harm Yunzhou. Godmother will never bow to the imperial court again."
"It's the same with the imperial court. They can kowtow to the Tartars, but they won't allow their godmother to climb over their heads, even if it's on an equal footing."
"Then the question is, if we want to negotiate, who will send an envoy first?"
Whoever sends the envoy first will be at a disadvantage and his reputation in the world will also be affected.
The Emperor of the Great Zhou is young and energetic, and he will never bow his head first.
In this case, a third party is needed to break the ice.
The best choice is to be an upright person who does not serve as an official in the court.
Chen Yixuan understood. This was like two neighbors quarreling and neither of them was willing to give in first. At this time, someone needed to come out to mediate.
After realizing this, Chen Yixuan's attitude towards Wei Xiaozhi and others became much better.
What if Wei Xiaozhi and the others get angry and run away? Where can we find a suitable third party?
The rest of the journey was very harmonious.
The boat entered Jianping County and no longer moved forward.
Everyone got off the boat and got on the carriage, planning to go through Qingping Town and then enter Xuanzhen County.
They had already found out that Qingping Town was a very poor town with very few people and not enough supplies, but it was close to Xuanzhen County.
The snow was vast and the dirt roads in the countryside were trampled into mud.
Old Madam Chen held her precious great-grandson in her arms and sat in the carriage, refusing to leave, for fear that her great-grandson would catch a cold.
Chen Yixuan, Wei Xiaozhi and others would lift the curtain of the car from time to time and look at the crooked team outside.
Those were the people nearby who were relatively well off. They hurriedly carried their remaining food on their backs, holding their children, supporting the elderly, and walking with one foot deep and one foot shallow.
Chen Yixuan was brave enough to catch up with a family that fell behind the team and used a handful of flour to find out the information he wanted.
Chen Yixuan jumped onto the carriage and took off his woolen gloves: “They are also going to Xuanzhen County.”
A scholar lifted the curtain and asked, "Is this true? Didn't the battle just end in Xuanzhen County? It is said that the scene was extremely tragic. How dare they go there?"
"I don't know. They said that almost all the people in the nearby villages have left."
Wei Xiaozhi frowned.
If these villagers were afraid of war, shouldn't they go south to Kyoto? Why did they go north to Xuanzhen County?
The scholars were also confused: "Don't they know how brutal the Yunzhou cannons are? How dare they go there?"
"I must have been forced to do it."
"No, this place still belongs to Jianping County."
"What do local officials do for a living? They don't even care about it."
Wei Xiaozhi had many questions in his mind, but he thought that he would just wait until he arrived in Xuanzhen County and use his own eyes to find the truth.
The further north they went, the more teams they encountered.
When they entered Qingping Town, everyone was shocked by the scene before them.
The town was crowded with people. Although most people were dressed in rags, looked very poor and were reluctant to spend money, the shops in the town were still doing a booming business.
Lord Chen paid extra money to book an inn for everyone to rest for a few days.
Wei Xiaozhi was a little tired, so he called the waiter: "What's there to eat? Give us something hot."
The others also sat in the lobby as if they had survived a disaster.
After sitting in the carriage for so long, my bones are about to be shaken apart.
Waiter: "Canned mutton, canned fruit, fruit wine, braised pork..."
Um?
Chen Yixuan: "Isn't this produced in Yunzhou?"
"Yes! Genuine Yunzhou canned food, absolutely no fakes!"
Wei Xiaozhi was confused: "Doesn't Qingping Town belong to Jianping County? How come there are things from Yunzhou?"
The waiter grinned and said, "We are in Cao's camp, but our hearts are with Han!"
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