Yan Sikong sent a memorial to the capital by express horse, and soon received a response. As they expected, Emperor Zhaowu was furious at the conditions set by Feng Ye. After discussing with the ministers, he also listened to Yan Sikong's opinion in the memorial and agreed to clear the name of the Feng family, but did not say how to do it. He also agreed to hand Xie Zhongren over to Feng Ye for disposal, but did not say when to hand him over, so that Yan Sikong could continue to deal with Feng Ye.
As for the matter of supporting Chahar and opening the horse market, Meng Duo and Zhu Lanting in the court seconded the proposal, and Zhao Fuyi also supported it. Just as Yan Sikong had expected, it went very smoothly.
The imperial court will send the Left Vice Minister of Rites to the Chahar tribe to negotiate peace. It also plans to incorporate Datong and Qianzhou into one prefecture, led by a governor, and introduce agriculture and animal husbandry to Hetao to revive this fertile and dying land.
In the past, Qianzhou only had a prefect but no governor, and Datong should have had a governor. However, after Feng Jianping's death, the court deliberately suppressed Datong's old subordinates and did not appoint a governor. The separation of military and politics completely weakened the power of Feng's army. Now, Wang Anke, the prefect of Datong, is the most natural candidate for the governor of Datong and Qianzhou.
Wang Anke was a very discerning person. He knew who was in the limelight in the court. After taking office, he first discussed with Yan Sikong how to open the horse market and restore Hetao to its former prosperity.
Yan Sikong looked at the situation in Datong and Qianzhou and knew that most of it was under his control. However, if he wanted Feng Ye to take over these two places with the least sacrifice, it was not enough at the moment.
It is useless to rely on words alone. There are only two possibilities to make the imperial army defect to the rebels: one is to surrender after being defeated, and two is to have a legitimate reason to do so.
To incite rebellion in Datong and Qianzhou, both are required.
The so-called just cause means that there is a reason and a way out. Whether it is to enforce justice, to restore order, or to purge the emperor, there must be a reason for fighting. The pretext for the Wolf King Rebellion to go to war is to purge the emperor, to quell the national crisis, and to eliminate harm for the people.
However, the eunuchs' party has fallen, and the emperor's side has been cleared, so this title has begun to gain strength. The best title at the moment is the handsome chess piece in Yan Sikong's hand - a more legitimate candidate for the throne than the current crown prince - the eldest prince, King of Chu Chen Yi.
As long as Chen Yi was there, Chen Chun could be falsely accused of having rebellious intentions towards the throne, and there would be a reason to launch an attack. Most importantly, Chen Yi could call on local vassal kings to join him in the cause. Without Chen Yi, once the fiefdoms grew to the point of threatening the Chen family's kingdom, Emperor Zhaowu would call for a loyal army, and those sons and grandsons of the emperor would rise up to attack him.
Chen Yu is the key to whether they can live in the capital.
This is also the reason why Yan Sikong, who has nothing, dares to negotiate terms with Feng Ye.
After careful consideration, he felt that the time was not ripe and he could not rashly declare his intentions to Xue Ronggui or Yu Shenglang, otherwise he might alert them. He should force them to make a choice between death and treason, and then strike back to break down their defenses.
——
Just as the peace talks with Chahar were showing some signs of progress, news came from the front line. Feng Ye angrily accused the court of delaying and having no sincerity in issuing an edict of peace, and he wanted to attack Maoren again before winter.
The officials of Qianzhou were so frightened that they rushed to deliver the letter to Yan Sikong that day. Yan Sikong calculated the time and knew it was time to meet Feng Ye. This time, they had to make a big move and take Qianzhou. Otherwise, once winter came, the weather would be extremely cold and it would be difficult to transport food and grass. Feng's army would probably not be able to hold on.
So Yan Sikong returned to Qianzhou with his eight hundred guards. He comforted Xu Yong and others, but he kept a gloomy face, which made people realize that he was also unsure.
Xu Yong asked anxiously, "Can Lord Yan persuade General Xue to dispatch troops to aid Qianzhou?"
Yan Sikong sighed, "This matter is not decided by General Xue."
Yu Shenglang explained: "Reporting to Prefect Xu, General Xue is not unwilling to come to the rescue, but is waiting for the result of the peace talks between the court and Chahar. If the peace talks fail, he will mobilize troops, and Chahar will take advantage of the opportunity to attack. How can he afford it?"
"When will this come to fruition?"
"Negotiations with those vulgar and greedy barbarians have always been full of twists and turns." Yan Sikong said in a deep voice, "This matter will definitely be negotiated. Chahar is weak. If we support it, we can unify Mongolia and get a lot of benefits from the trade. But when it will be accomplished, no one can say for sure. There is no point in being anxious."
Wu Mang said: "Feng Ye will not wait for us to settle the border and transfer troops from Datong to fight him. He has been sending scouts frequently these days and is ready to make a move. I am afraid he is already angry."
"I have to go to the Wolf King's camp again to calm him down." Yan Sikong took a long breath, "If we can delay until the court and Chahar reach an agreement, we can immediately transfer troops from Datong. It will definitely be very cold by then. In this way, Feng Ye will not dare to act rashly and will most likely withdraw his troops."
"But Feng Ye has seen through our thoughts. It was clearly written in the letter, accusing us of delaying."
"I have His Majesty's written order agreeing to clear the Feng family's name and handing Xie Zhongren over to him for disposal. Perhaps we can discuss this."
"Master Yan..." Xu Yong hesitated, "I'm afraid it will be dangerous for you to go there."
Yan Sikong smiled bitterly, "I was imprisoned by him the last time I went there. When you go to the enemy camp, you must be aware that you will never come back. What is there to worry about now?" He said earnestly, "If I fail in my mission and fail to hold Feng Ye back, it will be up to you to defend the city."
Yan Sikong's tragic scene made everyone worried for a moment, but there was nothing else they could do at the moment.
——
Yan Sikong set off the next day for his second mission to the rebel camp. This time, Feng Ye did not put him in jail. Instead, he treated him as an envoy and summoned the generals in the army to share a banquet with Yan Sikong.
At the banquet, the two of them acted out a drama. Yan Sikong eloquently persuaded Feng Ye to accept the imperial edict. When he took out the handwritten edict from Emperor Zhaowu, Feng Ye actually led the soldiers to kneel down to receive the edict. It seemed that Feng Ye was persuaded.
After the banquet, Yan Sikong was half drunk and was helped back to the tent by Wu Liuqi. Along the way, he was drunk and made a lot of speeches, saying that Feng Ye performed the etiquette of monarch and subject to His Majesty, and always regarded himself as a loyal subject in his heart. The soldiers who met him on the road heard it clearly.
After returning to the tent, Wu Liuqi helped him change his clothes and wash his face, and then he lay down on the couch before quietly leaving.
As soon as Wu Liuqi left, Yan Sikong sobered up. He was a heavy drinker and was not easily drunk. He had never been truly drunk in his life. He knew that Feng Ye would definitely come looking for him.
Sure enough, not long after, Feng Ye quietly opened the curtain and stepped into the tent.
Yan Sikong was wearing a pure white middle-length robe, with his black hair flowing down his back like a waterfall. He sat cross-legged on the couch, his face flushed, but his expression very calm.
"You are waiting for me." Feng Ye's words were not a question, but his tone was affirmative.
"Otherwise." Yan Sikong said indifferently, "Everything is going according to our plan."
"Really? But you've been gone for more than a month, which is too long." Feng Ye sat next to him, his eyes wandering over his face.
"I don't have a day to spare, you doubt me."
"Winter is coming soon. If you have evil intentions and drag me into winter, then all my efforts will be wasted." Feng Ye lifted a strand of his hair and played with it between his slender fingertips. "I have to be cautious about everything you do and say. I have to be suspicious of them."
"If you dare to plot against me, you are like plotting against a tiger."
Feng Ye sneered: "If I can't control you, how dare I do anything to you."
"Then you probably underestimated me." Yan Sikong glanced at Feng Ye, "My enemies have fallen one by one at my feet. I want to advise you not to have evil intentions."
A sharp light flashed in Feng Ye's eyes. Yan Sikong's arrogant look made his heart flutter. He just wanted to imprison this man a thousand times and ten thousand times. With his world-famous talents and skills, and his cunning and treacherousness known to everyone, the pleasure of conquering him alone is far better than conquering a city.
Yan Sikong also saw the throbbing desire in Feng Ye's eyes. He taunted, "The Wolf King is really young and full of energy. Now you have me to vent your anger on. When I was away, I'm afraid the Wolf King lingered in the Chu Pavilion and Qin Tower a lot."
Feng Ye narrowed his eyes dangerously: "Do you think I was drunk and dreaming during the three years I disappeared? Que Wang and I escaped from the capital with great difficulty, and spent nearly a year avoiding pursuers to reunite with my uncle. At that time, the Feng family army that was willing to follow us to the death was only a few hundred people. In order to hide our tracks, we hid in the mountains and forests, often without enough food, just waiting for the opportunity to make a comeback."
Yan Sikong was silent.
Feng Ye pinched Yan Sikong's chin and said viciously, "Back then, that dog emperor slaughtered more than 200 people in my family. I watched my father die in my arms, and I had no choice but to flee. And you, you are happily living with the princess of a golden branch and jade leaf. When I was struggling to survive, it was your day of unlimited glory. I haven't slept peacefully for more than three years, which resulted in the negotiation with the dog emperor today, and you had to fall into his trap!"
Yan Sikong's breathing became rapid, he clenched his fists, thinking about the unruly young master who fell from the clouds into the quagmire overnight, his family broken up, and he was displaced. He was worried and heartbroken for him every day, but now that the two of them had ended up in this situation, who should blame whom? At least, he was willing to risk his life and ten years of planning to rob the prison, he thought he had done his best.
He said softly: "Do you think I'll be fine? I... forget it, you won't understand."
"Yes, I will never understand, nor do I want to understand. I will never forget where you put me for revenge." Feng Ye turned over and pressed Yan Sikong down on the couch, his expression a little sly, "I don't need any fancy houses, singing and dancing, I just want you, my hatred, my suffering, I want you to taste it with me, after all, you are the greatest."
Yan Sikong closed his eyes, not wanting to look at Feng Ye's hateful eyes again. He was so familiar with those eyes, he could not forget the light flashing when they were full of love, so he did not want to engrave them in his mind now.
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