Chapter 700: Fighting Chao Li (Part Fourteen) [Two-in-One]
Wei Shou, who was being targeted by Chu Yao, sneezed loudly.
His brows furrowed like a Psyduck's. He clutched his bushy beard with one hand, while tightly gripping the transfer order Zheng Qiao had given him. The seven-day mourning period for Jiang Ao had barely passed when Zheng Qiao parachuted in someone to replace him. This newcomer didn't immediately launch a blatant attack, but he clearly resented Wei Shou's defensive stance and was quick to anger.
The deputy general advised Wei Shou: "Jiang Ao's death in battle caused a great loss to Chaoli Pass. The city has not yet recovered. The new garrison commander should not launch a rash attack. General, please rest assured for now."
If it weren't for the elite troops at Chaoli Pass being wounded last time, the newcomer would probably have also sent troops to show off his power. It was a stroke of good luck amidst misfortune. But Wei Shou slammed his things on the table and said, "Why would I be in the mood to worry about this or that?"
The subordinate official asked in bewilderment, "Why is the general frowning?"
Wei Shou sighed deeply and said, "I'm worried about Chu Liangliang... that bastard Chu Wuhui on the other side... I fell for his trick before, and he took my wife away when I was careless. Zheng Qiao sending Jiang Ao to force Chaoli Pass to attack was part of his plan. What's even more infuriating is that Jiang Ao died, how could Zheng Qiao not be suspicious? This time he ordered me to go back..."
The subordinate official understood a fraction of what he said.
"Is the general worried that the king will punish him?"
Zheng Qiao was a man who would go mad every now and then and had a penchant for killing. But if you looked closely, those he killed were either Confucian scholars with only a reputation but no real power, all talk and no action, or people he had thoroughly offended—people whose hatred wouldn't lessen even if he didn't kill them, so he simply killed them. He never killed martial artists with real military power or courage.
Even if the other party has committed a crime serious enough to warrant beheading.
As for indiscriminate killing, rape, plunder, corruption, bribery, and selling official positions, as long as these were not openly committed, he could turn a blind eye. If they were exposed, the consequences would be more bark than bite. To put it bluntly, as long as the military generals did not pose a substantial threat to his life, everything could be treated with leniency. This somewhat resembled a policy of co-governing the Geng Kingdom with his generals.
Therefore, the officials were not worried that Wei Shou's life was in danger.
Wei Shou said, "The problem doesn't lie with Zheng Qiao."
The subordinate was bewildered again: "Then on whose person?"
Wei Shou was furious with his dim-witted subordinate. He tapped his fingers on the table, emphasizing, "The problem lies with that bastard Chu Wuhui! Damn it, this tactic is so familiar. He did the same thing to my short-lived godfather back then. Now he's using it on me, he's definitely up to something else... and my wife is still in his hands!"
His brows were furrowed even deeper than Psyduck's.
Wei Shou really understood Chu Wuhui too well.
If you're not careful, you won't even know how you got killed.
The subordinate muttered in a very low voice.
"In the end, what the general is worried about is still the lady."
Wei Shou paced back and forth irritably: "Otherwise what? Back then, Madam fell in love with that bastard Chu Wuhui at first sight. So what if he's good-looking? Are his shoulders as broad as mine? Is his chest as hard as mine? Is his skill in bed as good as mine? He was just a virgin back then. With his high standards, he'd probably still be single. Madam, Madam... I'm worried he'll seduce Madam!"
The subordinate official thought this was unlikely.
If Chu Yao had responded to his wife back then, what chance would his general have had? There's no need to worry about it now, more than twenty years later. But he also knows that his general's mind is 90% his wife and 10% his brain tissue.
"I'm starting to panic..."
The subordinate official recalled Chu Yao's demeanor and thought to himself, "If he were a woman, he would also prefer the gentle and refined Chu Yao to the general: 'You are just being anxious when facing a formidable enemy.'"
Wei Shou's intuition has some merit.
However, it wasn't because of the rival he thought he had in love.
Shen Tang had to admit that Li He was an exceptionally skilled persuader. He had clearly done his homework before coming, having researched Shen Tang's public image. What was her public image? A gentleman with an excellent reputation, a prefect who loved his people like his own children, and a brave and fearless warrior.
Whether dealing with or persuading someone, the key is to cater to their desires, or in other words, to pinpoint their weaknesses. Just as you use love to deal with someone obsessed with romance, power to deal with a greedy person, and profit to deal with an opportunist, how do you deal with Shen Tang?
A gentleman cherishes his reputation.
The prefect showed compassion for the common people.
Warriors uphold justice.
All Li He needs to do is to bind feathers, common people, justice, and Zheng Qiao together, which will easily break down Shen Tang's psychological defenses.
He was the first to challenge: "May I ask you a question, Mr. Shen?"
Shen Tang waited for him to spout nonsense: "Mr. Li, please ask."
"I've heard that you, Shen Jun, came from humble beginnings, yet you were appointed as the Prefect of He County at the tender age of twelve?" Li He lowered his voice, his gaze fixed on Shen Tang. Shen Tang noticed that the other man had the potential to be a voice broadcaster, but when his deep voice reached his ears, it made his slightly sleazy face seem more pleasing to the eye.
Shen Tang nodded: "Yes."
Upon hearing this, Li He clapped his hands and praised Shen Tang as a young prodigy.
only--
He lamented that even the best wine needs advertising.
Even the finest steed needs a discerning eye to recognize its worth before it becomes known to the world. The same applies to exceptional individuals. Unfortunately, while fine steeds are plentiful, discerning eyes are rare, which is why countless talented people throughout history have died in obscurity.
Therefore, the patron who gave Shen Tang, this talented horse, the opportunity to display his abilities, should not be repaid with ingratitude.
Upon hearing this, Shen Tang glared angrily: "You bastard!"
She wanted to point her finger at Li He and passionately declare, "Do you think my act of following the greater good to punish the tyrant Zheng Qiao is repaying kindness with enmity?"
Li He was unfazed by her threatening posture.
Instead of avoiding her, he met her gaze directly, his small body brimming with immense courage and self-assurance.
He spoke passionately: "Everything I have said is true. As far as I know, the King has no personal grudge against Lord Shen. In fact, upon hearing that Lord Shen was attacked by bandits from Tianhai and Shangnan during his time as the Governor of He, the King specially transferred you to Longwu County, where you could better utilize your abilities. Moreover, the Ten Crows served as your whetstone. How can this not be considered a favor? I know that there are many misunderstandings about the King, but Lord Shen should not be among them. If the King did not appreciate Lord Shen, but instead colluded with the Ten Crows as rumored and led the betrayal of the country, why did he leave 20,000 elite troops at Yonggu Pass?"
Shen Tang was taken aback and pondered Li He's questions.
He opened his mouth and said, "I..."
Li He didn't give her time to think logically and asked directly, "Both publicly and privately, the king has treated Lord Shen well. How can your leading troops to attack him not be considered 'repaying kindness with enmity'?"
A virtuous person cherishes their reputation and would never want to be associated with such a label.
Shen Tang seemed a little short of breath, unable to utter a rebuttal. After a long while, she took a deep breath and said, "Admittedly, Zheng Qiao has shown me... some favors in promoting me, but he has acted perversely, harmed loyal officials, and previously condoned his generals' massacres and slaughters... His crimes are numerous. How can such a person be the ruler of the country?"
Li He shook his head in disapproval.
"Then it is Shen Jun's fault."
Shen Tang was stunned: "My fault?"
Li He nodded and raised his head, saying, "Of course."
Shen Tang was slightly annoyed: "Where did I go wrong?"
Li He said, “One wrong step leads to another. Lord Shen should know that Confucian scholars use their literary skills to disrupt the law, while knights-errant use their martial arts to break the law. Those martial arts masters from aristocratic families are no different from warlords who hold their own armies. Even the king cannot completely control their behavior. The king was a hostage in an enemy country when he was young, and after returning, he encountered infighting among his brothers. It was extremely difficult for him to even save his own life. He has survived to this day only because he has managed to balance the interests of all parties.”
Shen Tang's expression softened slightly, and she crossed her arms: "You mean... Zheng Qiao didn't know about these things?"
Li He shook his head again: "How could I not know?"
It's ridiculous to say that all of this is due to the servants' double-dealing.
Even if Shen Tang was completely fooled by him, she still wouldn't believe it.
Shen Tang snorted coldly: "Hmph, since he knows..."
Li He said forcefully and indignantly, "Lord Shen, even if you know, so what? Once the balance is broken, the first to be endangered will be the king himself. If the brave warriors under his command rise up and rebel against him, his head will be separated from his body in an instant!"
Shen Tang stood up abruptly, her back teeth grinding together, the soft flesh of her cheeks taut, making her dark eyes appear even colder as she questioned, "So you condoned their wrongdoing?"
Li He sighed helplessly, "We can only proceed slowly."
Then, his gaze fixed intently on Shen Tang, his eyes filled with fervent anticipation, he spoke eloquently: "It is precisely because of these difficulties that we need loyal and courageous ministers with righteous hearts to stand up, to purge the court of corrupt officials and eliminate the villains. The king secretly promoted Shen Jun with this intention in mind, but who knew that Shen Jun would be blinded by villains like Huang Lie? Alas, how can I not feel heartbroken?"
Shen Tang stood with his hands behind his back, facing away from Li He.
Her fingers were almost tangled together, reflecting the turmoil in her heart, a state of utter confusion and uncertainty. Li He keenly noticed that Shen Tang's usually ramrod-straight shoulders had slumped slightly. He raised his hand to wipe away the tears from the corners of his eyes: "Alas, it's not entirely Shen Jun's fault; he misplaced his courage."
Warriors uphold justice, but their greatest fear is that morality will become a joke.
Li He sighed deeply, his voice trembling with tears, and said mournfully, "However, the King has heard that Lord Shen has governed his territory exceptionally well. Whether it is the River Governor, who has been coveted by Wu Xian and others, or the neighboring Longwu, who has been constantly harassed, the common people live in peace and contentment. This brings him some relief. But..."
Shen Tang hurriedly turned around and asked him, "Just what?"
Li He said, "However, to be frank, Shen Jun's actions are ultimately only treating the symptoms, not the root cause. You have the ability to stabilize a prefecture, but you lack the absolute strength to quell the overall situation. If Huang Lie and his men succeed in slaying the dragon, I am truly worried for Shen Jun. In this world, abundance and prosperity are not a blessing, but rather a recipe for annihilation..."
All that's missing is to tell Shen Tang and Huang Lie that they're not good people.
Of course, Shen Tang also knew that Huang Lie was no good.
"...When the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked; this has been the case throughout history." Li He sighed sadly, his words sincere and moving. "I, Li, am watching with cold eyes. Once Huang Lie and his men succeed, internal strife will be inevitable... Although Shen Jun has a family fortune, he cannot single-handedly stabilize the situation. At that time, who knows how many more years of chaos will ensue, and the people will suffer. It is pitiful, lamentable, and tragic."
With that, Li He unleashed his final blow: "Shen Jun, you cannot protect your territory. Once the fighting begins, the peaceful life you enjoy now will be nothing but a mirage, and you will be plunged into endless warfare."
Upon hearing this, Shen Tang remained silent for a long time.
Li He knew his time was ripe. He leaned closer to Shen Tang and tempted her, saying, "How can a true man, living between heaven and earth, be misled by others into doing things that are ungrateful, wasteful of resources, and aiding the wicked? Punishing villains and upholding justice is the right thing to do!"
Shen Tang closed her eyes tightly, unable to make up her mind.
Li He noticed her indecisiveness.
Finally, he even used a pleading tone with Li He: "Mr. Li's words are truly thought-provoking, but this matter is not something that I, Shen, can decide alone. If Mr. Li is at ease, why not rest in the camp for a day or two, and let me think about it some more?"
Although Li He was worried that Shen Tang would be provoked by his subordinates, he knew that he couldn't push him too hard at this time, as that would only backfire.
He said, "Of course."
Shen Tang let out a long sigh.
Li He ostensibly came to join Shen Tang as a scholar, but his true purpose was to instigate a rebellion. If the allied forces discovered this, not only would Li He be in danger, but Shen Tang would also be at risk. She suggested that Li He hide in her main tent for the next two days and then give him a reply.
Li He naturally had no objection to this suggestion: "I and Mr. Shen hit it off immediately. It would be my great fortune if we could have a long talk by candlelight."
After a long night of candlelight conversation, they eventually fell asleep side by side.
However, Shen Tang used his terrible sleeping posture, dissociative identity disorder, and a history of murdering in his sleep as excuses to escape successfully. Li He, who was investigating Shen Tang, naturally knew this as well. He was just caught up in the act and forgot himself, and now he couldn't have gotten away with it.
Stepping out of the main tent, Shen Tang's gaze flickered for a moment before clearing again.
He went straight to Chu Yao's camp.
Several people were waiting there.
They all looked at Shen Tang in unison, and Shen Tang patted his chest and said, "Damn, it's a real shame that Li He isn't in a pyramid scheme. Is he some kind of vixen? He's really good at bewitching people..."
Although Li He cast a spell to prevent outsiders from eavesdropping, he couldn't stop Gu Chi. With Gu Chi providing simultaneous translation and broadcasting, Chu Yao and the others also knew what had happened inside the main tent. When Gu Chi said that Li He still possessed the "bewitching" charm of a scholar, they were genuinely worried for him. Anyone with a weak will or low intelligence would have been fooled by Li He in no time.
“This Li He isn’t a vixen, but he can make you bewitched, making him even more terrifying than a vixen.”
Chu Yao was pleased to see his lord: "My lord has a firm will; how could he be swayed by such a petty person's few words?"
Gu Chi just smiled and didn't say anything.
He had heard his lord complain more than once that Li He was too ugly and it was distracting. If Li He were any more handsome, younger, or had a more innocent look, coupled with the bewitching ways of a scholar, she might actually be fooled a little.
so--
Gu Chi seems to know his lord's XP.
Shen Tang took a sip of cold water to cool down her mind and said, "Next, we just have to wait for Li He to put on a real show of 'Jiang Gan stealing the book.' Let's wait and see."
This was a crucial step in forcing Wei Shou to rebel.
Chu Yao nodded, offering his services: "Yes, Chu Jie and I will go to Chaoli Pass later. If we can cooperate with Wei Yuanyuan to take Chaoli Pass from the inside, things will go much more smoothly afterward..."
Why bring Chu Jie along?
Because Wei Shou might fight him to the death when they meet, bringing Chu Jie, his henchman, along provides an extra layer of protection.
_(:з」∠)_
This chapter felt difficult to write. I hate the lobbyist roles in power struggle stories; they test the author's intelligence and eloquence. I'm usually a socially awkward person...
P.S.: The 2.1-meter desk is installed! It's just that I carelessly forgot about the desk height; it's 5 centimeters shorter than expected. Now, I'm waiting for the furniture risers to arrive so I can prop up the legs and tidy up the study. And there's the keyboard rack too; I need one for each of my 30+ keyboards.
(End of this chapter)
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