Chapter 285 There are plenty of ways.
Shen Huaichen bowed respectfully to Aqige.
"Your Highness, I, Du, have been following you for the past few years."
The prince's appreciation for talent earned Du's great respect.
Du stopped hiding it.
The prince is now in a situation where he only has two paths.
They could either separate from the border towns and the northern barbarians and become independent.
Either accept your fate as the emperor's leeks (a metaphor for being exploited or exploited).
Your Highness, which option would you like to choose?
Aqige remained silent for a long time, just staring at Shen Huaichen.
Shen Huaichen was not intimidated and stared directly at Aqige.
After a long while, Achig shook his head with a wry smile.
"Sir, do you know what the Achilles' heel is?"
The border town appears united, but in reality...
Can those people really be trusted?
Shen Huaichen knew, of course, that those people were unreliable.
However, Shen Huaichen had plenty of ways...
"Your Highness, you are benevolent, but others may not be."
No one cares about hardship unless it happens to them personally.
Perhaps those people say they support you today, but they might betray you to someone else in the future.
"So, the current situation is not only putting pressure on you, but also on them," Shen Huaichen said solemnly.
"Push them? How?" Achig asked subconsciously.
Seeing that there was no one else in the tent, Shen Huaichen approached Aqige and shared his thoughts.
"Your Highness, in fact, we can use a delaying tactic."
"A delaying tactic? What are you thinking, sir?" Achig hurriedly asked.
Shen Huaichen didn't speak at first, then walked to the map in Aqige's tent.
"Your Highness, from the perspective of the capital, the best route for the Emperor to attack Dayu is to enter the city through Wuyun City."
Then they traveled south along the way, passing through thirteen border cities.
The emperor's plan is probably to travel the route, bringing along the troops you've recruited, while simultaneously displaying his imperial power.
Your Highness, your family is now in the Emperor's hands; you cannot afford to be defiant.
So, what Du meant was to pay money to buy peace of mind!
This time, I'll give him the troops.
But as for provisions, there was none left.
Your Highness, you should try to negotiate; you can't just give him whatever he wants.
Winter is coming soon. If we give them all the grain and fodder, what will the people of the border city eat?
If the people starve to death, then the border towns will become empty cities.
Therefore, we cannot provide them with food and supplies.
If they're so capable, let them try to seize Weiyuan Army.
Then, taking advantage of the emperor leading his army south, you should secretly send a team out to quickly bring your family members out.
In this way, your weakness will be gone.
As for those city lords, you let them do the same.
The first city the emperor's army will arrive at is Wuyun City.
What will happen to Dark Cloud City is what happens to all border cities.
Your Highness, if the Emperor is considerate of Wuyun City and only takes away his troops, it means he still considers you a brother.
You can be the one to be exploited this time, it's fine.
"What if he wants more than just troops? What will Wuyun City face?" Shen Huaichen looked at Aqige.
“Burning, killing, looting, and burning, Wuyun City will become a ruined city…” Achig murmured.
Shen Huaichen nodded.
"That's right, Dark Cloud City will become a ruined city."
What would the other city lords think at that time?
Offering food and supplies will lead to starvation, and not offering food and supplies will also lead to death.
Did they have any way out at that time?
Shen Huaichen's words immediately brought Aqige to his senses.
Yes! Since they're all doomed anyway, the only outcome for those city lords can be...
Achig immediately thought of the city of Regu.
Is this called using someone else to do the dirty work? Or is it called a feint attack?
Oh well, he doesn't understand anyway, so just listen to Mr. Du and you won't go wrong.
"Please help me devise a plan, sir! Achig will certainly remember your great kindness."
After Aqige finished speaking, he solemnly bowed to Shen Huaichen with a deep salute characteristic of the Northern Hu people.
Shen Huaichen stepped aside, refusing Aqige's courtesy.
This is just the first step.
He was determined to alienate the people of the border city from those in the Northern Hu court.
Only in this way can the border town be separated from the city.
......
Thus, at Shen Huaichen's instruction, Aqige summoned the city lords of the other eleven cities to discuss the matter.
"The emperor has issued an order, which is for the sake of our court, so we cannot sit idly by."
With more land available for grazing, everyone benefits.
However, we must also consider the people in the city and not let them suffer from poverty.
Is that so? I've come up with a compromise.
"It can both relieve the court's worries and protect our border cities," Achig said earnestly to everyone.
Seeing how serious Achig was, the other city lords all became serious as well.
"Your Highness, speak quickly! Are you going to personally write the memorial and go to the capital?"
Achig...
I'm not going to write a damn memorial.
If I were to write a memorial now, I doubt my sworn brother would even bother to read it!
Aqige shook his head and repeated what Shen Huaichen had told him.
"Soldiers... here! Soldiers are meant for fighting wars. Giving them away is our way of showing our sincerity to the court."
But the provisions... are not being provided.
It was already winter, and without food supplies, how could the people in the border town survive?
Therefore, what I mean is to send someone to the capital to clearly express our sincerity.
When the army arrives at the border city, they can simply take the troops with them.
The emperor's original intention was to strengthen the Northern Hu.
"We can't all go hungry!" Archie said.
Achig's words silenced the city lords.
They were a little reluctant to part with so many soldiers and horses, especially the horses, which had been acquired with real money.
However, they could not disobey the imperial court.
"Then...we'll do as Your Highness says, we'll provide the troops."
"At least in winter we won't have to feed them ourselves," the Lord of Dark Cloud City chimed in.
Achig nodded, and then specifically said to the city lord of Wuyun City, "Wuyun City is the first border city to welcome the army."
Old City Lord, you must be more respectful.
If someone says something unpleasant to you, just listen to it and let it go.
There's no need to get angry with them.
The city lord of Dark Cloud City nodded.
"Your Highness, rest assured, as long as you give us a way out, I certainly won't care."
I just hope they take their troops and leave!
Ah! As I get older, my thoughts become simpler. I don't think about those unnecessary things anymore; I just want to live a peaceful life.
Achig gave some instructions to the other city lords, telling them to go back and prepare their troops.
As soon as the city lords left, Achig immediately sent his personal guard with a group of men toward the capital.
Once the emperor leaves the capital, there will be an opportunity to bring his family out...
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