Chapter 138 It's time for us to make our move after the imperial court offers us amnesty.
The busy time in Songyang County always makes people forget their troubles.
Lu Zhiyun is a case in point.
He trained troops with Huo Qubing and Bai Qi every day, so busy that he didn't even have time to relax, and he didn't pay much attention to the court's aggressive moves.
Zhuge Liang was the first to notice something was wrong.
That day, he was discussing with Jiang Ge and Zhao Kuangyin the expansion of honeycomb briquette production in a side hall of the county government office when he suddenly saw Du Fu walking quickly towards him with a solemn expression, carrying a newly printed proof of the People's Records.
"Magistrate, Prime Minister, Brother Zhao, take a look at this." Du Fu spread the proofs on the table and pointed to one of the oral messages from a merchant from a neighboring county: "The court has imprisoned General Lu's family and announced it to the world, denouncing them as heinous traitors."
Lu Zhiyun was currently supervising the new recruits' training in the backyard and was unaware of this matter. Jiang Ge's face immediately darkened: "The imperial court is making an example of someone to scare others."
Zhao Kuangyin snorted coldly: "A defeated general is certainly guilty, but to bring disaster upon his family and clan is unbecoming of an emperor." He recalled that after his Chenqiao Mutiny, he had not exterminated the Later Zhou royal family, and he couldn't help but feel more contempt for the current emperor.
Zhuge Liang gently waved his feather fan, his gaze profound: "I'm afraid it's more than that. I anticipate the court will take further action. Perhaps a large army will be deployed, or perhaps..."
Before he could finish speaking, Huo Qubing strode in from outside, his face grim: "Just now, during our patrol, we intercepted a suspicious merchant caravan and found several secret letters on them." He placed the letters on the table. "The imperial court has strictly ordered the surrounding prefectures and counties to block all roads leading to Songyang, especially salt, iron, grain, and silk, which are not allowed to flow into our county."
Jiang Ge unfolded the secret letter, his brows furrowing more and more as he read: "It seems the imperial court is determined to trap us."
"Not necessarily." Zhuge Liang smiled slightly. "If we really wanted to launch a full-scale attack, why would we send out this message first? This move seems more like a bluff, or buying time for other schemes."
Just then, Bai Qi walked in, a hint of mockery on his usually cold face: "Several unfamiliar faces have arrived outside the county government office. They look like peddlers, but they have been observing the city wall defenses and patrol patterns. I have already sent people to keep an eye on them."
When Lu Zhiyun learned of his family's imprisonment, he was on the training ground instructing new recruits on gun formation.
A merchant from Songyang who had just returned from a neighboring county was unaware of the news and casually mentioned it during a chat.
"I heard that the traitor Lu Zhiyun's elderly parents have been imprisoned, and his entire clan has been thrown into jail too. It's truly tragic..." The merchant shook his head and sighed, "The imperial court is going to exterminate nine generations of their family..."
Lu Zhiyun was struck dumb, and the spear in his hand fell to the ground with a clatter. His face turned deathly pale instantly, and he staggered a few steps, almost unable to stand.
"General Lu!" The adjutant beside him hurriedly helped him up.
Lu Zhiyun pushed aside his deputy, his eyes bloodshot, and suddenly drew his sword, ready to commit suicide: "I've ruined my family! How can I have the face to live on in this world!"
Just then, Huo Qubing, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, grabbed his wrist with such force that Lu Zhiyun was unable to move: "Foolish! Do you think you can save your family by dying? You're playing right into the court's hands!"
Zhuge Liang and Jiang Ge also rushed over. Jiang Ge immediately said, "General Lu, rest assured, now that you are a member of Songyang, your family is Songyang's family. We will definitely find a way to rescue you!"
Zhuge Liang nodded: "The court's move is intended to unsettle the general and shake the morale of our army. The more composed the general is, the less the court will be able to do anything about it."
With tears welling in his eyes, Lu Zhiyun knelt on one knee: "I am incompetent, and I have brought shame upon my family and Songyang! If you will not abandon me, I am willing to lead a squad of elite warriors to infiltrate the capital and rescue my family. I will never implicate Songyang!"
Zhuge Liang helped him up, saying, "There's no need for that. This matter requires careful consideration." A glint of shrewdness flashed in his eyes. "Perhaps the court will soon present us with an opportunity."
Before long, the imperial envoy offering amnesty arrived.
A procession of about fifty people, carrying the banner of "Imperial Envoy's Offer of Amnesty," arrived in a grand procession outside the city gate of Songyang County.
The leader, Gao Wenyuan, the Vice Minister of Rites, was dressed in a scarlet official robe, holding a staff, and had an arrogant expression.
"Where is Jiang Ge, the magistrate of Songyang County? Quickly open the city gates to welcome the angel!" the attendant shouted.
The soldiers guarding the city wall had already received their orders and responded neither humbly nor arrogantly: "Please wait a moment, envoy, while we inform the county magistrate."
Gao Wenyuan frowned, clearly displeased that the door had not been opened immediately to greet him, but remembering the important mission he was on, he had no choice but to endure it.
A moment later, the city gate slowly opened. However, to the surprise of the delegation, there was no welcoming procession at the gate, only a line of soldiers on both sides, with Du Fu standing there with a few civil officials, smiling.
"I am a minor official of Songyang County, and I am here on the orders of Magistrate Jiang to welcome the imperial envoy." Du Fu bowed respectfully, his manners proper yet without any hint of servility.
Gao Wenyuan snorted coldly: "Jiang Ge has quite the airs, not even coming to greet the Holy Envoy in person?"
Du Fu smiled and replied, "The magistrate is currently handling important matters and has specially ordered me to invite the envoy to rest at the post station. Tonight, the county government will host a banquet to welcome the envoy and relieve him of his travel dust."
Although Gao Wenyuan was displeased, he had no choice but to nod reluctantly, remembering the purpose of his trip.
Under Du Fu's guidance, the delegation was accommodated in a newly built post station within the city. This post station was clean and comfortable, but lacked luxurious decorations, quite different from the post stations in the capital.
The mission members secretly observed that Songyang City was orderly, the market was bustling, and the people had rosy complexions, which did not look like they were trapped in an isolated city. They were all secretly surprised.
A banquet was held at the county government office to entertain the envoy who was offered amnesty.
Jiang Ge sat in the center, with Zhuge Liang, Zhao Kuangyin, Huo Qubing, Bai Qi, Yuchi Jingde and other civil and military officials on his left, and Du Fu and other officials on his right.
Lu Zhiyun claimed to be ill and did not go out, in order to avoid any unforeseen complications.
Gao Wenyuan attended the banquet with several attendants. He found that although the dishes on the table were not luxurious, they were very exquisite, mostly local specialties, and cooked in a proper way.
After a few rounds of drinks, Gao Wenyuan got down to business.
“Magistrate Jiang,” Gao Wenyuan raised his cup and said, “I have come here on His Majesty’s orders to relieve the predicament of Songyang. His Majesty is wise and knows that you have many difficulties in starting this uprising. He is willing to be lenient and grant you amnesty.”
Jiang Ge remained calm: "Oh? I wonder how the imperial court intends to offer amnesty?"
Gao Wenyuan took out a bright yellow imperial edict from his sleeve: "His Majesty has decreed that if you are willing to submit, Magistrate Jiang will be appointed as the Military Governor of Jingnan, governing three prefectures; Mr. Zhuge Liang will be appointed as the Prefect of Jiangling; Mr. Du Fu will be appointed as a Hanlin Academician; and the rest will all be granted titles and rewards."
Upon hearing this, the banquet fell silent.
Military governors, prefects, and Hanlin Academy scholars—these are all enviable high-ranking positions with generous salaries. In an ordinary rebel army, such conditions would be enough to cause internal divisions.
However, the people of Songyang County exchanged glances, then let out low sneers. They were all heroes and valiant men, and naturally looked down on such a lowly official position.
Huo Qubing sneered, "The imperial court is quite generous, only thinking of bestowing official titles and making promises after suffering a defeat?"
Yuchi Jingde bluntly stated, "If such a promise had been made three months ago, perhaps some people would have been tempted. But now..." It's a lie; in reality, no matter how time changes, they will not be tempted by official positions.
Gao Wenyuan's expression changed, and he suppressed his anger: "What do you all mean by this? Do you think our official positions are too low?"
Zhuge Liang lightly waved his feather fan and spoke leisurely: "Not so. I have a question for you, Attendant Gao. His Majesty has appointed Magistrate Jiang as the Military Governor of Jingnan, who will govern three prefectures. But I do not know which three prefectures? Are these prefectures currently in the hands of the court, or do we need to take them ourselves?"
Gao Wenyuan was momentarily speechless: "This...of course..."
"Of course we're supposed to fight for it ourselves, right?" Zhao Kuangyin replied, his eyes filled with sarcasm. "The court is trying to get something for nothing. They're using the guise of amnesty to send us to pacify the regions for the court?"
Jiang Ge slowly rose to his feet, his gaze sharp: "More importantly, if I accept the position of military governor, can the policy of equal land distribution and tax exemption implemented in Songyang County continue? Will those people who have been allocated land become tenant farmers again? Will the exempted taxes be collected again?"
Gao Wenyuan frowned: "Of course! All land under heaven belongs to the king, and all people within the realm are his subjects. The land tax system is the foundation of the nation; how can it be changed arbitrarily?"
An uproar immediately erupted at the banquet.
“Then please return!” Jiang Ge said resolutely. “The people of Songyang County would rather die than surrender! We rose up not for high positions and generous salaries, but to ensure that the people have land to cultivate, food to eat, and clothes to wear! If we accept the amnesty but then break these promises, how are we any different from those corrupt officials?”
Seeing that his attempts to bribe him had failed, Gao Wenyuan turned to a strategy of sowing discord.
The next day, he requested a private meeting with Zhuge Liang. In the reception room of the post station, he said meaningfully, "Master Zhuge is a man of great talent, known throughout the land. Why associate with these bandits and only damage your reputation? His Majesty values you highly. If you are willing to submit, not only will the position of prefect be vacant, but you can also enter the court as prime minister and realize your ambitions."
Zhuge Liang smiled calmly: "What I seek is not high office and generous salary. If it were for my personal future, I would not have come to Songyang County in the first place."
"Doesn't the gentleman consider his family?" Gao Wenyuan hinted, "Your family members can also serve in the court..."
These people from Songyang County seemed to have appeared out of thin air, and nothing could be found about them, but Gao Wenyuan felt that no one would be uninterested in the idea of one person gaining power and their entire family benefiting from it.
Zhuge Liang's expression turned cold: "My family affairs are none of your concern, Vice Minister."
When his first plan failed, Gao Wenyuan sought an audience with Zhao Kuangyin, attempting to persuade him by appealing to the principle of "heroes appreciating heroes": "Brother Zhao, your bearing is extraordinary; you are clearly no ordinary person. Why condescend to serve here? If you are willing to submit, His Majesty will surely give you an important position..."
Zhao Kuangyin laughed heartily: "I am used to being undisciplined and cannot stand the constraints of the court. Why don't you stay in Songyang and take a look, Vice Minister? The honeycomb briquettes and public bathhouses here are much more interesting than the intrigues in the capital."
Gao Wenyuan then tried to contact Huo Qubing, Bai Qi, and others, but was met with a cold reception.
Finally, he even went to Du Fu, citing the mutual respect between scholars, and persuaded him to return to the right path.
Du Fu said with deep feeling: "I, Du, served in the court for many years and saw only the rich feasting and drinking while the poor froze to death on the streets. Although I did not have a high position or generous salary in Songyang, I saw the people living in peace and contentment, with the young cared for and the elderly having a proper end. This is the right path in my heart!"
Gao Wenyuan stayed in Songyang County for several days, secretly sending people to investigate and try to find an opportunity. However, what he saw and heard only made him more and more alarmed.
He saw that the people spontaneously organized patrols to guard against spies from the imperial court;
He saw the craftsmen working day and night to produce military equipment and agricultural tools;
He saw children reciting their lessons in the school, but what they were learning was the principle of "equal distribution of land and exemption from taxes, and the world belonging to all";
He saw that soldiers and civilians alike used the same medicine, without distinction of social status;
He even saw women playing a role in various industries, whether it was weaving, practicing medicine, or studying...
What shocked him even more was that no matter how he secretly spread rumors and tried to sow discord, the people of Songyang remained united.
"I heard the imperial court is going to offer Magistrate Jiang a high-ranking position!"
"Let's do it! Magistrate Jiang is our good magistrate no matter where he goes!"
"But after we're granted amnesty, they might take back the land we were allocated..."
"What? That won't do! Magistrate Jiang won't agree! Even if he does, we won't agree!"
The men Gao Wenyuan sent to the villages returned with a report: each village had a militia organization that was extremely wary of outsiders; the farmers were generally resentful of the news of the "imperial court's offer of amnesty," fearing the loss of their vested interests, and some even declared that they would rather die in battle than return their land!
After figuring out the true intentions of the envoys, Zhuge Liang proposed a strategy of turning the tables on them.
“Since the court wants to use delaying tactics, why don’t we go with the flow?” Zhuge Liang waved his feather fan lightly, his eyes flashing with wisdom. “We can pretend to negotiate with the envoy and put forward some conditions that the court finds difficult to accept, such as retaining the equal-field system and autonomy, to buy time.”
Django nodded: "At the same time, we should use this time to intensify our preparations for war, contact surrounding forces that sympathize with us, and expand our influence."
Zhao Kuangyin added, "We can also deliberately leak false information about internal conflicts to make the envoy think that his divisive tactics have worked."
Therefore, in the subsequent negotiations, Songyang County deliberately showed internal divisions: some advocated accepting the amnesty, while others firmly opposed it; the conditions they put forward became increasingly harsh, not only demanding the preservation of the existing system, but also requiring the court to cede more prefectures and counties, and to compensate for military expenses, etc.
Gao Wenyuan fell for the trap, believing that the strategy of sowing discord had worked, and kept sending "good news" back to the court, requesting an extension of the negotiation period.
However, on the tenth day of the negotiations, Django suddenly convened a public rally in the county government square.
Gao Wenyuan was "invited" to the meeting place, unaware of what was happening. He saw that the square was packed with people, all gathered there by the residents of Songyang County.
Standing on the high platform, Jiang Ge spoke eloquently: "Fellow villagers! The imperial court has sent an envoy to offer us amnesty, promising us high-ranking positions and generous salaries, on the condition that we abandon the equal land distribution and tax exemption, and that you all return to being beasts of burden! Tell me, can we agree to this?"
"No!" Ten thousand people roared in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.
"The imperial court has arrested General Lu's family members, trying to coerce us! Do you think we can submit?"
"cannot!"
Jiang Ge turned and pointed at Gao Wenyuan, whose face was ashen: "This Minister Gao, on the surface, came to offer amnesty, but in reality, he secretly sent people to investigate and spread rumors, trying to sow discord among us! What do you think we should do?"
An angry roar erupted from the crowd: "Get him out of here!" "Tell him to go back!"
Gao Wenyuan trembled all over, but forced himself to remain calm: "Jiang Ge! You...you're openly defying the imperial decree?"
Zhuge Liang stepped forward leisurely: "Minister Gao, we have seen through your delaying tactic. Please go back and tell the court: the people of Songyang County are of one mind, preferring to die a glorious death rather than live a shameful life. If you want war, then come and fight!"
Zhao Kuangyin went even further: "Tell those court officials that Songyang County will not fall for their tricks! Let's see who's the real deal on the battlefield!"
Gao Wenyuan and his delegation were politely escorted out of the city. They arrived arrogantly, but returned dejected.
Before his departure, Du Fu sent a newly published copy of the Minqilu (Record of the People's Advice), whose headline detailed the ins and outs of the surrender incident, and included a letter entitled "A Letter to the World" clarifying the propositions and stance of Songyang County.
"Please have the Vice Minister take this report back to the capital so that the officials in the court can also hear the voice of the people," Du Fu said, neither humble nor arrogant.
Gao Wenyuan, his face ashen, took the newspaper and left without looking back.
Watching the departing delegation, Jiang Ge softly asked Zhuge Liang, "Prime Minister, will our actions invite an even larger-scale encirclement and suppression?"
Zhuge Liang gently waved his feather fan, his gaze deep and far-reaching: "What's meant to happen will happen. But after this incident, the court should understand that Songyang cannot be easily conquered by force or trickery. Moreover..."
He smiled slightly: "The sights and experiences that I brought back with Vice Minister Gao this time may cause quite a stir throughout the land."
"It's time for us to make our move."
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