Chapter 120 Alliance (Part 5) What wish did the goddess make to the heavens? ...
“I don’t understand,” a young man said, arms crossed, expressing his bewilderment to his companions. “Why are they targeting He Qinglan? Isn’t Lu Wei our common enemy? Didn’t we come here to attack the imperial court?”
Upon hearing his words, one of the other leaders of the Xuantai Lake uprising twitched his lips, while another raised his hand to his forehead.
Well, having a brother who's awesome at fighting but not very bright is a real headache sometimes.
Only the strategist Lü Feng, pitying his simple-minded nature, kindly explained things to him.
"Because they can't accept a woman who is stronger than them."
"He Qinglan, a woman, controls an entire prefecture, commands a strong and well-equipped army, and enjoys the deep support of the people of Jinzhou. Some men who are less capable than her are jealous of her, yet they are powerless against her and can only grumble a few words. If they anger He Qinglan, they will feel at ease."
The young man, Guo Lang, opened his mouth wide in surprise, "Huh?"
He couldn't understand, "What's the point of winning verbally if you can't win by skill?"
Lu Feng said sarcastically, "It's not just a war of words. Zheng Jiming and Sun Yannan also want He Qinglan to supply them with food, support their troops and civilians, don't they?"
However, He Qinglan was not someone to be trifled with; after all, he was the governor of Jinzhou.
“That’s not right,” Guo Lang thought, remembering that Ye Hui, the leader from Ningzhou, was also a woman. “Ye Hui from Ningzhou wasn’t targeted.”
The only female leader, Fang Liniang, laughed, "Because Ye Hui is Cao Ruheng's wife, no matter how powerful she is, she is only in charge of the Cao family's business. He Qinglan is different; she is in charge of her own family business."
Guo Lang only half understood. What was the difference? Weren't they both powerful women managing a state?
Fang Liniang smiled sarcastically. What's the difference? The difference is that He Qinglan's existence has hurt the ridiculous pride of some men.
She sighed, "Men."
The leader, Yu Wenjiang, laughed and teased, "Li Niang, I haven't offended you." There's no need to attack all the men.
Fang Liniang raised her eyebrows and giggled, "Big brother, you know me. I never meant to mock you. I have always respected you."
A burly man with a dark face changed the subject, "I heard that He Qinglan can conjure up countless grains, is that true?"
Upon hearing this, Yu Wenjiang's expression turned serious. "Judging from what He Qinglan, Sun Yannan, and Zheng Jiming said today, it's probably true."
Unless the three of them were deliberately putting on an act to deceive everyone today.
This is unlikely.
Everyone gasped.
Guo Lang stammered, "She...she...she really is..." His eyes widened like saucers: "God...Goddess?"
Yu Wenjiang remained silent.
He didn't know how to answer, after all, he hadn't seen He Qinglan conjure up grain with his own eyes, but what Zheng Jiming said was true, the soldiers of Jinzhou were indeed strong and healthy because they were fed with grain, and the horses of Jinzhou were tall and majestic! This was something he had seen with his own eyes.
“Speaking of which, I heard something before.” Lu Feng pinched his chin with his right hand as if recalling something. “Before He Qinglan had taken over the entire Jinzhou, Sun Yannan sent an envoy to He Qinglan to discuss cooperation, but He Qinglan refused.”
When Yu Wenjiang and the others heard about this for the first time, they asked with great interest, "And then what?" Sun Yannan wouldn't just give up like that, would he?
Lu Feng continued telling the story he had heard, "Sun Yannan naturally wouldn't give up. On the one hand, he joined forces with Hu Lin, who felt threatened, and on the other hand, he exchanged Chaozhou for Lu Hong's refusal to attack Jinzhou, preparing to take action against He Qinglan."
"Unexpectedly, no sooner had Sun Yannan led his troops away from Maozhou than Lu Wei led his troops to launch a surprise attack on Maozhou and Liangzhou. Sun Yannan had to turn back halfway and engaged Lu Wei in battle in Liangzhou."
As we all know, Sun Yannan couldn't beat Lu Wei, so he sought help from Lu Hong.
Lu Hong knew that once Sun Yannan was defeated, Lu Wei's next target would be him, so he sent troops to aid Sun Yannan.
The three forces fought for several years, and Lu Wei ultimately emerged victorious.
Lu Feng said, "During this period, He Qinglan defeated Hu Lin, obtained the entire Jinzhou, and became the new governor of Jinzhou."
The burly, dark-faced man revealed a thoughtful expression. "From what you're saying, Lu Wei's attack on Liangzhou was orchestrated by He Qinglan?"
Lü Feng laughed and said, "I didn't say that."
Fang Liniang smiled gently, "You didn't say it that way, but isn't that what you meant?"
No one was surprised.
If He Qinglan didn't have some ability, how could he have become the governor of Jinzhou?
Lu Feng steered the conversation back on track, asking everyone a question, "Why do you think Sun Yannan is so determined to get He Qinglan?"
The group exchanged glances, their faces showing confusion.
Yu Wenjiang suddenly realized something and tentatively asked, "Do you think Sun Yannan did it because he knew He Qinglan could supply food in unlimited quantities?"
Lü Feng nodded. "Don't you think this is the most likely reason?"
Otherwise, what was Sun Yannan after? Was it He Qinglan's beauty?
really.
Sun Yannan's dispatch of envoys and troops is more likely due to He Qinglan's special abilities.
An unlimited supply of provisions—possessing her is equivalent to possessing an army of hundreds of thousands; no one could resist that.
However, He Qinglan was not someone to be trifled with, and Sun Yannan did not succeed.
"Very well," the burly, dark-faced man spread his hands, "So the strategist thinks He Qinglan is truly a goddess?"
He asked, "Should we go and seek refuge with her?"
Everyone: "..." Should they side with her?
"Why should we pledge allegiance to her?" Guo Lang asked.
The burly, dark-faced man explained, "Because we're short of food, as long as we follow her, everyone will be able to have enough to eat!"
A very strong reason, after all, their Xuantai Lake uprising army was not like other warlords, and often lacked clothing and food.
For a moment, everyone present hesitated.
One of the leaders frowned. "No...no way? Even if she really is a goddess descended from heaven, but...but who knows..."
Another leader scratched his head. "But that's an endless supply of food. If we follow her, we won't have to worry about food anymore."
"But if you go with her, you'll have to listen to her from now on."
"Is it worth it to rely on her for food? We don't know what kind of person she is or how far she plans to go."
In the end, Yu Wenjiang made the decision: "Why don't we learn from Ningzhou and not talk about whether to invest or not, but just build a good relationship with He Qinglan? Now we are allies, and we can cooperate in the future."
Fang Liniang thought it was a good idea and said, "If He Qinglan's great cause succeeds in the future, it won't be too late for us to join him."
If He Qinglan were to collapse prematurely, they would have a way to make excuses.
The following day, the Allied conference continued, with the theme of electing a leader.
This time it went very smoothly. No one deliberately caused trouble. After a heated discussion, everyone finally elected Lu Hong as the leader of the alliance.
He Qinglan had no intention of becoming the leader of the alliance.
This is what she said: "Even if I become the leader of the alliance, even if we make an agreement now, no one will follow it later. We will still have to fight to the death on the battlefield until the last victor remains."
So what's the point of fighting for the position of leader of the alliance? The leader of the alliance may not necessarily become the emperor of the new dynasty.
"I am not so generous as to provide food for people who are not under my jurisdiction." Want to eat my food? Sure, then acknowledge me as your master.
Zhu Youchuan thought it best to have the propaganda department staff publish a news article in the next issue of the newspaper: "Want to live a life of ease and comfort? Come to Jinzhou and seek refuge with the Goddess."
There will always be people who, filled with hope, will travel over mountains and rivers, heading straight for Jinzhou.
Ye Hui expressed her understanding, saying that she had done her best for Ningzhou and was willing to make any sacrifice.
But if others try to elevate her and make her work herself to death for the benefit of others, she will absolutely not agree.
Nobody's a fool.
Sun Yannan's attempt to test He Qinglan's bottom line and obtain free food was nothing but wishful thinking.
Afterwards, the alliance leader Lu Hong took charge, invited a geomancer to calculate an auspicious time, and set out pigs, cattle, and sheep as offerings, and placed incense and paper money on the table to worship heaven and earth.
Lu Hong stood at the forefront, holding an incense stick. The other feudal lords stood behind him, while the strategists and generals were further back. Soldiers brought by the feudal lords were on all sides.
The earth was silent.
Lu Hong read the proclamation aloud, then offered incense, "May Heaven protect us and help us eliminate the traitor Lu Wei!"
The feudal lords took turns inserting incense sticks into the incense burner.
He Qinglan stood in front of the table and calmly placed an incense stick into the ash.
The swirling smoke blurred her face, making it impossible to see her expression.
After offering incense, He Qinglan took a few steps back and returned to the group.
Standing beside her, Ye Hui spoke in a low voice, asking in a joking tone, "What wish did the goddess make to the heavens?"
The goddess turned to look at her, her gaze cold and aloof. "I will not grant wishes."
She said, "Dynastic changes have never relied on divine intervention, but rather on the efforts of ordinary people themselves."
Ye Hui was taken aback, then suppressed a laugh, "Hearing you say that, it just feels... hahaha."
He Qinglan remained expressionless, her gaze fixed on the other person's eyes as if they were inorganic.
Ye Hui covered her mouth with her fair fingers and coughed lightly twice. She suppressed her laughter and said seriously, "Indeed, if our ancestors could protect their descendants, there would be no change of dynasties."
Then the emperor would not be replaced.
After everyone finished offering incense.
Lu Hong held a rooster by the neck with his left hand and a long sword in his right.
Then, with a sharp sword, the chicken's head was severed, and its blood was used as a sacrifice to the alliance flag.
His expression was resolute, and his tone firm: "Starting today, we will send troops to attack Shengzhou!"
The resounding, synchronized voices were deafening and carried far, far away on the wind.
The news reached Shengzhou, which was not far away.
Lu Wei has led his army to this city at the border of Shengzhou and Liangzhou, where he held a meeting with his generals and strategists to make military deployments.
Everyone in the city sprang into action.
They were just waiting for the Prime Minister's order to charge into the enemy camp.
Standing atop the city wall, Lu Wei heard the voices of hundreds of thousands of soldiers and couldn't help but sneer, "A bunch of rabble, they think they can break through Shengzhou?"
Once I successfully quell the rebellion and eliminate all the rebels, I will be the greatest hero!
At that time…
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Author's Note: I'm experiencing writer's block! [crying emoji] [crying emoji] [crying emoji] I spent all night and afternoon writing this chapter! [crying emoji] [crying emoji] [crying emoji]
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