Chapter 3059: No Negotiation on the Ascension
"Could it be that the military advisor only wants to kill the military commanders, but wants to buy the hearts and minds of the civil officials?"
Xu Shizong's face turned even paler.
He covered his chest with one hand and panted, "We killed those generals because they had soldiers under their command. Moreover, these people are very familiar with the defense of Jinling City and the affairs within the imperial palace. If we leave them alone, as long as the situation stabilizes, they can easily create civil unrest in Jinling City."
“…”
"Killing them is to completely eliminate this crisis."
“…”
"But civil officials are different. Young Master, you have already conquered Jinling City. Once you conquer half of Jiangnan and ascend the throne, you will need civil officials to govern the country for you. If you kill these officials now, who will be willing to serve you in the future?"
"future?"
Zhu Chengjin heard nothing else but these two words.
He narrowed his eyes slightly and stared at Xu Shizong: "You mean, now, I can't ascend the throne?"
“…”
"Do I have to keep waiting like this?"
“…”
"Do you know what I've been waiting for all these years? Now, I've finally returned to Jinling City and finally taken back the Jinling Imperial Palace. I'm only one step away from that position, and you actually want me to wait?!"
He became angrier and angrier the more he spoke, and in the end he almost started to roar.
Xu Shizong was so agitated by his emotions that he kept covering his mouth and coughing, and even his back was a little bit unable to straighten up. Xiaoman beside him couldn't bear it and said softly: "Sir, our son is already very weak, please -"
"Asshole!"
Zhu Chengjin's eyes turned red as he roared, "We are talking, how can a lowly slave like you have the right to speak?"
After saying this, he shouted to the outside: "Drag him out and beat him to death!"
Xiaoman was terrified when he heard this. Xu Shizong also frowned and immediately turned around and shouted at the soldiers who were about to come in to arrest him, "Who dares!"
Most of those soldiers were led by him, and he was the one who fought in the battle to attack Nanjing. He had a high prestige in the army. When he spoke one by one, those soldiers did not dare to move and stood at the door in embarrassment.
Xu Shizong immediately turned around and said to Zhu Chengjin, "Sir, Xiaoman has no intention of disobeying your orders. It's just that I made it clear to you before we set out on this matter. We need to take a long-term view."
Zhu Chengjin looked at the soldiers standing outside who were afraid to come in, and the look in his eyes became even colder.
He said: "At that time, we said we would take a long-term view. Now, we have to wait."
“…”
"Then how long do you want me to wait?"
“…”
"When you conquer half of Jiangnan, who will ascend the throne?"
Hearing this, Xu Shizong's face turned even paler.
He covered his mouth and coughed, saying, "If I had such a heart, why would I come to help you, sir?"
His words left everyone speechless. Even Zhu Chengjin just gritted his teeth and squinted his eyes at him, but ultimately said nothing more. Only Nan Yan sat in her seat. Just now, she had been so upset that she couldn't even eat a grain of rice. But now, watching the two people arguing in front of her, she felt a little better and even wanted to pick up her bowl and chopsticks to eat something.
However, it can't be too obvious.
She listened to the two people arguing and just watched them quietly.
After saying that, Xu Shizong remained silent, but his rapidly rising and falling chest showed that he was in great pain. He kept covering his mouth to suppress the sound of coughing. Zhu Chengjin was silent for a long time, and suddenly rolled his eyes and put on a smile: "Okay, Military Advisor, I just said something wrong, I hope you won't blame me."
Xu Shizong glanced at him.
After a long silence, he said, "Sir, we have been in the same boat for a long time. I can't say that you can't live without me, but I can't leave you. Your success is my success, so I need you to believe in me."
Zhu Chengjin smiled and said, "Believe me, of course I believe you."
However, before Xu Shizong could speak, he continued, "But, the matter of ascending the throne is not negotiable."
“…”
"You should know what I want to take back."
Seeing him like this, Xu Shizong frowned and thought for a long time, then said: "I can help you with the matter of ascending the throne, but you must promise me that these civil officials will not be killed anymore."
“…”
"I'm not trying to buy their hearts and minds, but to stabilize their hearts and minds."
“…”
"We killed the military commanders because they were against us, so we had a legitimate reason. However, the influence of these civil officials is completely different from that of the military commanders. If you continue this indiscriminate killing, the people of Jinling City will be in a panic if the news gets out."
“…”
"By that time, the young master still wanted to ascend the throne, but the foundation of people's hearts had already collapsed."
A hint of anger appeared on Zhu Chengjin's face again.
At this time, what he couldn't bear to hear most was that he couldn't ascend the throne.
But facing Xu Shizong, he still had to be patient. After thinking about it, he smiled and said, "Okay, I can listen to the military advisor. The man can be spared, but the military advisor can start preparing for the enthronement."
"……good."
After Xu Shizong agreed to this, he turned back and waved to the soldiers standing at the door and those still outside, holding blood-drenched sticks. These soldiers then retreated, dragging the civil officials who were still alive but only half dead. Although they left, they left a horrifying mess of blood on the ground.
Xu Shizong coughed twice and said, "There's one more thing. I just received news that three groups of troops have gathered from several nearby counties and are heading towards Jinling City."
"What?"
Zhu Chengjin frowned: "Wasn't the news that came from Jiangbei only from your brother's side?"
Xu Shizong said: "That is Jiangbei."
“…”
"This time, it's the people from Jiangnan."
"Without an imperial edict, can they gather together?"
Xu Shizong said, "Jinling is the old capital after all. Moreover, during the previous melee, many of the troops guarding Jinling escaped from here. I think they went to other prefectures and counties, contacted the county magistrates there, and are now gathering troops to come to the rescue of Jinling City."
Zhu Chengjin sneered and said, "If that's the case, then why don't we just have the military advisor lead the troops?"
Xu Shizong's face turned even paler.
He said calmly, "It is my duty, of course. However, we have just captured Jinling City, and the situation within is unclear. Furthermore, I have to deal with the enthronement of the young master, so I am really too busy to spare any time."
"So you mean—"
"Master, Lu Guangwei is by your side. He has many elite soldiers and generals under his command. I believe that this battle can only be won by him."
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