Chapter 327 Be bold for a while
Xu Zhenying was also constantly reflecting on himself during the Northern Expedition.
She thought that there might be companions on the road of rebellion, and there might also be betrayal. She was not from this world, she did not belong to this world, so she could naturally use the perspective of an observer to push the progress of the world line coldly and ruthlessly.
However, Jiang Yongkang's betrayal still made her heartbroken.
She didn't know how Jiang Yongkang let Li Zhaodi go that night, but now she thought that it might be her indecision at the time that gave Jiang Yongkang a strong reason to push her to rebel.
But it is undeniable that Jiang Yongkang took advantage of his feelings for Li Zhaodi and used the fact that she rebelled with him.
For so many years, Jiang Yongkang never mentioned a word about it. How did he manage to keep these secrets?
She was so distressed by Li Zhaodi's death, but Jiang Yongkang comforted her while watching coldly.
This gave Xu Zhenying a strong sense of crisis.
Even though she seems to be in power and has unlimited glory now, there are still people who take advantage of her and smuggle their own agenda.
Just like Hu Wei back then, and Jiang Yongkang today.
Xu Zhenying did not leave just like that. Before she left, she told Zhang Qiuchan that if Jiang Yongkang made any unusual moves, she could kill him first and report to him later.
Then she discovered her more hypocritical and heartless side.
She felt that Jiang Yongkang was ruthless, but she was equally ruthless.
It turns out that in my heart, anything can be discarded.
Have I really become a slave to power?
Have I really become a lonely person who has no relatives and friends?
Xu Zhenying felt unprecedented distress and kept reflecting on these issues along the way, but there was no result no matter what.
Xu Zhenying went around from the east of Fengxiang Prefecture to the northern border, and naturally could not avoid Xinzhou.
While Xu Zhenying was still on the road, the news of the peace talks in the northern border had already spread throughout Xinzhou.
Ever since the Xinzhou prefect secretly read in the newspaper that Xu Zhenying was going to negotiate with Zhao Yi, he felt something was not right.
Judging from the map, it is impossible for Xu Zhenying to pass through the city of Bianjing, so there is only one way, which is to go through Xinzhou.
In other words, his Xinzhou is the only way.
In order to curb local military forces, the late emperor limited the number of guards in each state to a maximum of 10,000.
Xinzhou is close to the north, with Bianjing City in front and the northern border behind, so the defense is naturally lax.
In the past two years, the Great Zhou Dynasty has been plagued by frequent wars, so Xinzhou's original establishment of 5,000 people has been reduced to 2,000.
"If Xu Zhenying comes, we will really have nowhere to hide!" The prefect Huo Zheng had already deduced the ending of Xinzhou from the newspaper. At this moment, he sighed with a worried look on his face.
The staff member came forward and said, "Prefect, Xu Zhenying will definitely pass through Xinzhou. If we don't kill her then, His Majesty will inevitably accuse us of treason and letting the enemy escape. But if we kill her, we will also be courting our own destruction."
Magistrate Huo suddenly realized, "That's right. If we let Xu Zhenying escape from Xinzhou alive, the imperial court will not forgive me! Master Zhou, do we really have to surrender?"
The aide smiled bitterly. "Lord, do you think we have any other options? Xu Zhenying is heading north to negotiate. If the negotiations are successful, General Zhao Yi will definitely surrender. The Northern Territory and Xinzhou are closely related. If the Northern Territory becomes Xu Zhenying's possession, how can Xinzhou remain unaffected?"
Magistrate Huo held onto a last glimmer of hope and said, "But what if their peace talks fail?"
"If the peace talks fail, war will definitely break out! Then the soldiers from Jinzhou Prefecture will have to pass through Xinzhou, and Xinzhou will be engulfed in flames. Instead of surrendering then, it's better to surrender now, which will show more sincerity!"
Magistrate Huo lamented in despair: "Heaven is going to destroy me!"
The staff had no choice but to console him, saying, "Sir, the Great Zhou Dynasty's fortune has run out, and it's definitely not something you and I can turn the tide. Furthermore, the one in Jinzhou Prefecture, though a woman, possesses immense talent. Your Excellency, doesn't you hate the officialdom of the Great Zhou? You always say you want to do something practical, but you're constrained. Now is a golden opportunity! If the Lord of the Prefecture offers the city, coupled with your long-standing reputation, there's a good chance you'll stay here!"
The aide continued to spill the beans on what he had heard, "And it's said that Jinzhou Prefecture's mathematical prowess far surpasses that of the Zhou Dynasty, and that they even promote a spirit of truth-seeking and pragmatism. Isn't the Lord of the Prefecture deeply fascinated by mathematics? And there's also a certain Mr. Fang Zhi there, a man whom the Lord of the Prefecture considers a close friend. Even if the Lord of the Prefecture can't become an official, at least he can still be a master of mathematics. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
Magistrate Huo had vaguely heard about the situation in Jinzhou Prefecture, and he also knew that officials who surrendered would basically have a good future after passing the assessment. After much thought, he gave up his reluctance to leave the Great Zhou Dynasty.
"Master, you're right. The fall of the Great Zhou Dynasty wasn't achieved overnight. The edifice is about to collapse, and neither you nor I can turn the tide. Moreover, in order to prevent Xinzhou from becoming a battlefield, and for the sake of hundreds of thousands of Xinzhou residents..." Magistrate Huo seemed a little ashamed, but he finally made a decision, "Just surrender!"
The advisor's face lit up with delight. "Since the Lord has decided to surrender, why don't we make things even better? We'll raise the flag of Jinzhou Prefecture in advance, and then send some people to pick up His Highness halfway into the city. That way, His Highness will remember us."
Magistrate Huo was a little unsure. "Wouldn't this... seem a bit too flattering? I heard Xu Zhenying doesn't like officials wasting money and labor. I'm afraid it might backfire."
The staff member smiled and said, "That's easy. When the time comes, we'll spread the news of our surrender and then suggest that some wealthy families contribute. Then we'll get some red silk in the city and set up some waist drums, gongs, and other things at the entrance. This will look festive and solemn, and it will also show that the people welcome Your Highness into the city."
"Okay." Magistrate Huo was indeed delighted. "Hurry and do it!"
Xu Zhenying never expected that just by asking Old Lin to hype up the news of the peace talks in the north in the newspaper, he would cause panic not only in Bianjing City, but also in several prefectures further north of Bianjing City.
Although newspapers were strictly prohibited from circulating in the north, officials of the Great Zhou Dynasty had to rely on newspapers if they wanted to know about the outside world, the news of Jinzhou Prefecture, the weather and geography, etc.
This thing spreads quickly and is never concealed. People dare to write anything on it.
The newspapers exaggerated the news of the defeat that the Great Zhou Dynasty tried so hard to cover up. As a result, the high-ranking officials in Bianjing City were all in danger, and they also knew more clearly that Bianjing City was now in a precarious situation and could collapse in an instant.
The news of the peace talks in the North inadvertently exacerbated the spread of panic.
Among the high-ranking officials of the Great Zhou Dynasty, every one wanted to use a magnifying glass made in Jinzhou Prefecture to read the information in the newspaper word by word.
Newspapers were quietly circulating throughout the Great Zhou Dynasty, so the news could not be concealed.
When Xinzhou took the initiative to hang up the flag of Jinzhou Prefecture, many people thought: This day has finally come.
Even the chief editor Lin Han did not expect that just publishing a piece of false news in the newspaper would lead to the Xinzhou prefect surrendering voluntarily.
When he saw the banners of Jinzhou Prefecture on the Xinzhou city wall, Mr. Lin was filled with emotion: "Here we are conquering the enemy without fighting. In my life, I, Lin Han, have never had such a happy time using paper and pen as swords."
Xu Zhenying said, "Mr. Lin, this is the power of public opinion. It can make a person live, it can make a person die, it can also turn black into white. It's a double-edged sword. If used improperly, it hurts others and yourself. If used well, it can be invincible, comparable to an army of 100,000."
Mr. Lin felt that the editorial department had a heavy responsibility, and he also understood why Xu Zhenying sometimes did not even read the military newspaper, but had to repeatedly confirm the content in the newspaper.
There are also the news elements that Xu Zhenying always emphasizes.
True, objective, comprehensive and accurate.
There can't be any personal emotions.
This time, Elder Lin spoke sincerely, bowing his head to accept the instruction. "Yes. I will be careful with my words and actions in the future, and make good use of the newspaper as my precious sword."
Xu Zhenying had already walked quickly forward and entered the city wall amid the cheers of the people of Xinzhou.
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"How ridiculous! How ridiculous! Xu Zhenying has gone too far!"
In the tent in the northern border, several of Zhao Yi's men had just finished reading the latest monthly report and were so angry that they couldn't help but throw the report to the ground.
One of the young officers, named Wudi, frowned. "General Zhao, Xu Zhenying won't leave us any room for retreat! If this newspaper is published, won't the people of Bianjing already believe we're joining her in rebellion?"
Bai Ci'en also frowned slightly.
He really didn't expect Xu Zhenying to be so relentless, not giving them any room for negotiation, and forcing them to board her pirate ship.
Although they were considering surrendering, there was a huge difference between voluntary surrender and forced surrender.
On the other hand, Zhang Chao, who had previously killed Zhou Ping, seemed quite calm. "We were planning to surrender too. Her Highness Prince Zhao is simply trying to make this a reality. Since she has already announced it to the world, why not follow suit, General?"
Zhao Yi seemed expressionless, and no one knew what he was thinking.
Ever since he killed Zhou Ping last time and then dealt with Zhou Mian's confidants with lightning speed, everyone thought that Zhao Yi was ready to completely break with the court and even looked forward to becoming king himself.
But after doing all this, Zhao Yi acted as if nothing had happened. He didn't care about the changes in the city of Bianjing, nor did he pay attention to the imminent negotiation crisis. He didn't even give anyone a definite answer, which left everyone confused.
As a result, everyone in the northern military camp felt insecure, and many people had ulterior motives.
To be honest, more people still want to surrender.
After all, a fully paid army is invincible.
Jinzhou Prefecture is wealthy and treats its soldiers very well. If they surrender, the lower-level soldiers can at least receive their wages on time and in full every month. This alone is enough to tempt most soldiers from the Northern Territory.
The truth is, no one wants to fight a war on an empty stomach.
Defending one's country is indeed precious, but one cannot throw away one's life and death.
Bai Ci'en said, "This propaganda war is a common tactic used by the Jinzhou Prefecture. Once this newspaper is published, it will be impossible for us to continue to be loyal to Bian Jing. Now, whether to surrender to the Jinzhou Prefecture or declare ourselves king, it will take time to decide."
Zhang Chao seemed to have guessed Zhao Yi's thoughts, so he cautiously asked, "General, do you wish to discuss this with him and see if His Highness Prince Zhao is someone worthy of your trust?"
Zhao Yi looked up at this moment, and he looked around at his confidants who had followed him for years, even more than ten years. He also told the truth, "That's right. I have always heard of Xu Zhenying's reputation, but I have never truly seen her in person. Doesn't she want to take our northern border? Let's see if she has the courage to come!"
Bai Ci'en asked, "General Zhao wants to test Xu Zhenying's abilities?"
Zhao Yi sneered: "If she wants to be my master, Zhao Yi, she has to see if she is worthy enough!"
With Zhao Yi's words, everyone's anxious hearts finally settled down.
General Gu also said, "That's right! No matter how much people praise Xu Zhenying, I've never seen her in person! A little girl has really made a big fuss. I want to see if this girl has supernatural powers!"
The atmosphere in the room became slightly more lively.
"Report!" One of Zhao Yi's personal guards came forward, holding a letter. "A secret letter from Jinzhou Prefecture!"
The corners of Zhao Yi's lips twitched, and it was unclear whether it was a mockery or something else. "Your Highness Prince Zhao is really impatient. He won't give me even a moment to breathe."
Everyone looked over curiously.
Since the matter concerned the negotiations in the North, the atmosphere in the room suddenly became tense.
Meanwhile, Bai Ci'en, standing to the side, only saw the last line of the letter, which was signed "Xu Zhenying." He couldn't help but exclaim, "A handwritten letter from His Royal Highness Prince Zhao?"
This was the traditional style in Jinzhou Prefecture. They never included their position, courtesy name, or title in their signatures, only their surname and given name. Simple and direct, as if a single name could command the crowd.
Everyone in the room gasped.
Zhao Yi opened the letter first, glanced at the ten lines, and then frowned: "Your Highness Prince Zhao's handwriting... is so ugly."
Xu Zhenying sneezed several times from a hundred miles away.
Zhao Yi's comment instantly aroused the curiosity of everyone in the room. Everyone wanted to take a peek at the treasure of His Royal Highness Prince Zhao, so they rushed to pass the letter around. Then General Gu clapped his hands and laughed, "Great! I didn't expect His Royal Highness Prince Zhao's handwriting to be so similar to a dog's. Even my handwriting is better than hers. Interesting!"
Bai Ci'en had no choice but to explain, "In Jinzhou Prefecture, everything is pragmatic and truthful, and they don't care about literary style. They just need to be able to recognize the handwriting, and it doesn't affect their daily work."
Zhao Yi forced a smile and said, "They are nothing more than a bunch of grass-roots gangs with no foundation."
Bai Ci'en said, "No. Jinzhou Prefecture doesn't completely believe in Confucianism. They believe that writing is more of a form of communication, like a dialect, and it's enough to be mutually recognizable. Jinzhou Prefecture also advocates the study of arithmetic, physics, chemistry, etc. It is precisely because of this that they can create clocks, cement roads, firearms and other astonishing objects."
When it comes to firearms, no one dares to make fun of Xu Zhenying's dog-paddle handwriting anymore.
Yes, a person who can invent firearms, would care about whether the handwriting is beautiful?
Xu Zhenying is a genius, but no one is perfect, so she must have shortcomings.
Zhao Yi also restrained his expression and no longer dared to look down on Xu Zhenying because of his dog-paddling handwriting.
For a moment, the atmosphere in the room returned to a tense state.
Bai Ci'en said, "Xu Zhenying doesn't agree to enter the camp alone. Let's meet on the isolated island on Jing'an Lake. What do you think?"
The person in the room remained silent for a long time, as if he was thinking.
"That spot offers a wide view, and the island is small, making it difficult to hide. Any trickery from either side would be immediately apparent. It seems these guys did a lot of research to choose this location."
"That's right. The negotiation is imminent. She's on guard against us, and we have to be on guard against her too. I think this place is pretty good."
"But the letter also said that we should each bring two people. If something happens, we won't be able to react quickly. Two people won't be enough."
"What will happen?" General Gu, a man of short temper, was a supporter of surrendering to Jinzhou Prefecture. "We're going there to discuss cooperation, not to kill."
"That being said, we must be on guard." Bai Ci'en thought further, "We're afraid that Xu Zhenying will trip us up, and Xu Zhenying is also afraid of us. This mutual restraint is a competition to see who has the thicker elbow. When the time comes, we can call a few thousand people to hide in the mountains and forests behind, and then wave the flags, let the dust fly, and make it look like there are tens of thousands of troops. This will make it easier for the general to win favorable conditions for us during the negotiations in the front."
General Gu was puzzled. "What favorable conditions?"
"Jinzhou Prefecture cannot accommodate our 200,000 troops. We will definitely have to disband a group of soldiers. How to resettle these soldiers, how much resettlement fees will be paid, whether to dismiss them as soldiers or civilians, how much severance pay will be paid, and how many firearms will be given to us if we surrender? These are all things that need to be negotiated."
Everyone was now anxious. "What's the difference between demobilizing soldiers or civilians?"
"Jinzhou Prefecture has been growing and expanding over the years, and while they've only been short of soldiers, they haven't been disbanding early. However, as far as I know, their monthly salary per soldier is double ours. The subsidies for funerals, injuries, and disabilities far exceed the standards of the Great Zhou Dynasty. We currently have over 200,000 soldiers in the northern border. Based on Jinzhou Prefecture's standards for training military talent, I estimate we'll have to lay off at least half of them."
"How can that be? How can an army of 100,000 people resist the Tartars? We cannot surrender!"
"General Gu, don't be impatient. These matters can be negotiated. If you surrender, then the northern border will also be her territory, and she will not let the Tartars break through. However, we must consider the resettlement of the soldiers in advance. These soldiers have followed us through life and death, and now we are sending them back home. We must strive for preferential treatment for them."
"But will Xu Zhenying agree? After all, these are soldiers who have served the Great Zhou Dynasty before—"
“So this requires negotiation.”
It seemed that only at this moment did everyone understand the necessity of collective discussion.
They originally thought that the talks were just to discuss the ownership of power and whether they could retain their current positions, but they never thought that Xu Zhenying might lay off troops.
yes.
According to the standards of Jinzhou Prefecture, each soldier was proficient in both civil and military affairs, needed teachers, several times more food, and the same preferential treatment and pensions. These 200,000 soldiers directly increased Xu Zhenying's financial burden by at least doubled.
In addition, there are firearms that are worth ten thousand of their own, so disarmament seems to be an inevitable path.
Thinking of this, everyone felt a little uncomfortable.
Zhang Chao said, "It's a shame. These soldiers have been with us for so long, yet we've only cared about our own futures and haven't given a second thought to them. No wonder General Zhao has been unable to sleep these past few days. He's probably thinking about this disarmament issue."
General Gu sighed and said, "I used to worry about having too few soldiers. I always thought the more soldiers the better. I never thought that one day we would have to reduce the army."
Bai Ci'en said, "If we surrender, we will inevitably have to reduce our military strength. We don't need to support so many soldiers. Moreover, many veterans have fought for over a decade, and it's time for them to return home and reunite with their families. If His Majesty Prince Zhao is willing to allocate firearms to us, resisting the Tartars won't be a difficult task, and we won't need so many soldiers."
General Gu sighed, "How things have really changed. We fight with our blood. The people of Jinzhou rely on their brains and weapons. The world is changing so fast, I can hardly keep up."
Jinzhou Prefecture is like a huge ship swaying in the wind and rain.
And these people seem to be the abandoned children of the times.
If they don't catch Jinzhou Prefecture's tail sooner, they might really be left far behind.
"Since Xu Zhenying wants to talk, then I'll talk to her." Zhao Yi's eyes were firm. "Everyone says Xu Zhenying is a young talent. I'd like to meet her."
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