"It's true that I am a corrupt official." Fang Zhiyi nodded.
"Oh, you're still a surrenderist."
Fang Zhiyi shook his head: "But I'm not a surrenderist."
"Oh? Every time we negotiate with the Hu people, aren't you the one who cedes land and pays compensation? Fang Zhiyi, have you drunk too much?" someone laughed.
Fang Zhiyi smiled calmly, "Young General Wei has driven the Hu people back outside the old capital. Today, the Hu envoys are coming, and I'm not at court. So, everyone, guess what the outcome will be?"
Everyone was stunned.
"You think too highly of me, Fang. These secret guards are watching me day and night. How could the Emperor not know that I'm corrupt? Do I need the Emperor's approval to eliminate dissidents? Do I have the right to slam the table when I cede land and pay compensation?"
Someone immediately stood up and accused him, "Fang Zhiyi! Stop spreading rumors and misleading the people! You actually want to blame these filth on His Majesty! I'll chop you up!"
He looked around for his sword, but forgot that he was already an old farmer.
"You are not stupid, you just don't want to believe that your emperor is the culprit of everything." Fang Zhiyi shook his head and sighed.
Everyone was furious.
Duke Wei suddenly coughed and said, "Everyone, please sit down."
Everyone had to give the old Duke some face. When everyone quieted down, Wei Guogong spoke: "My son has been fighting against the Hu people. Fang Zhiyi has been providing him with food, fodder and weapons all the way. He knows that he has no one around him to rely on, so he privately asked me to send people disguised as a merchant caravan to deliver food."
He glanced at Fang Zhiyi deeply and said, "But please be careful with your words, Prime Minister. My Wei family is a loyal and honest family and cannot bear to hear any comments about Your Majesty's feelings."
Fang Zhiyi smiled and nodded: "I invited you all here today because I want to ask you for a favor."
He stood up and said, "When the Hu people occupy our land, the people of our dynasty are worse off than dead. At best, we are slaughtered, and at worst, we are used as food. I'm sure you have heard of this."
Everyone's heart sank.
"Don't you feel ashamed to rely solely on a young man from the Wei family to fight against the Hu people and restore Great Yan?"
"If you hadn't stopped us, why would we have laid down our arms and returned home?" Someone couldn't help but sigh.
Fang Zhiyi looked at him: "What will happen if I don't stop it?"
"I know you all look down on me, and it's the same today, but things are different now. I have money, and with money I can fight wars. You are all free now, but I wonder if you old generals can still take advantage of me?"
Fang Zhiyi's words were tinged with sarcasm: "Or are you not as good as a youngster from the Wei family?"
"What did you say!"
"Fang Zhiyi, although we have retired from the army, we are still subjects of the Great Yan. Now that the Hu people have retreated, how is it different from rebellion if we raise an army privately?"
Fang Zhiyi sat down after hearing this: "Have the Hu people retreated? I'm afraid you are all living in a dream."
As he spoke, Fang Zhiyi's confidant Abao came running in. He took a look at the people present and felt a little frightened.
"Sir! The Emperor has agreed! All of the North will be ceded to the Hu people, and an additional compensation of 300,000 taels will be paid. The Wei army will be severely punished, and... and..."
Everyone's eyes widened.
"what else?"
"Hand Wei Kaiyuan over to the barbarians!"
The hall was silent.
"How is it possible, Your Majesty? Is Your Majesty confused?"
"Didn't we win? Why?"
"Old Wei? Old Wei?"
Duke Wei came to his senses and turned to Fang Zhiyi: "Since Prime Minister Fang could foresee this day, what do you want to do?"
"Invade the Hu people's territory in one fell swoop and destroy their entire race!"
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