Chapter Ten: Jin Yuan Seeks Kinship

  In the Hexi City government, Lei Meng received Yang Tian's report and put down his worried heart. If he fought a few more battles, the other side would definitely send a large number of masters to launch a sneak attack, and at that time, those guns and cannons would be somewhat powerless, falling into a passive situation.

  He gathered several people from the west of the river, including Luo Yangtian, Huang Chu and Meng Fan, to the city master's mansion to discuss the defensive matters. Huang Chu suggested: "General Lei, now we have many cities but few soldiers, why don't we recruit more troops?"

  Lei Meng sat in the main seat with a frown, deep in thought and speechless. He was worried that useless soldiers would cause trouble at critical moments.

  Luoyang Tian seemed to have noticed Leiming's concern, he stood up, bowed his hand to Leiming and said: "General Lei, are you worried that those new recruits will mess up our formation when they fight?"

  Lei Meng nodded slightly and said, "This is one of the reasons. Actually, it's mainly because there aren't many people in these few cities, we can't afford to have too much turmoil. If we recruit too many soldiers, then there won't be many people left for production."

  Everyone fell silent, this is a hard wound, there are few people near the border.

  Moreover, we can't clearly know if the people recruited later are reliable or not, and whether they will be spies of Huang Tian or Jin Yuan. So, if we don't have to recruit, then we won't." Lei Meng added, gazing into the distance.

  The atmosphere suddenly sank, and the hall fell silent.

  "Haha, haven't we already won? Even Emperor Hu Tian has admitted defeat. Will Jin Yuan, with his longer supply lines, not give up?" Meng Fan asked with a smile, breaking the gloomy atmosphere.

  "Hehe, that's true. This isn't a good news report for everyone, why is it like facing a great war? Everyone relaxes." Lei Meng also suddenly opened up his mind knot, who cares what kind of person comes to stir up trouble. Those who can be killed will be killed, if they can't win then there's no way, only running away, anyway he has fled before.

  Thus, the matter of strengthening the city's defenses was put aside. Huang Chu conveyed the order to the three cities: Haotian sought peace, and Haoyue City would be under Leiyin's jurisdiction. The people of the three cities, who had been frightened by the war, cheered and celebrated when they heard the news, for which war had ever ended with just a scare?

  Inside the Jin Yuan Imperial Palace, Wang Ding was furious in the study. He kicked over the desk and chair, scaring the guards standing outside the door so much that they didn't dare to breathe.

  "This is utter rubbish! Haotian is really rubbish, to have surrendered so quickly and let out the heavily fortified city of Haoyue!" Wang Ding paced back and forth in his study. With a loud crash, he kicked over a chair that had fallen to the ground. "Hmm? No, this doesn't add up. There's something wrong with this city! Leiming and Yang Tian are both very capable men, truly two tigers! One mountain can't contain two tigers, one mountain can't contain two tigers, haha!"

  He muttered these words to himself and then loudly shouted at the door: "Pass on the order for Wang Jinxi, the Imperial Prince, to come to the Council Chamber to see me!"

  "Yes!" The guard outside the gate ran quickly and transmitted the order.

  Wang Ding kicked the door with one foot, "Pah! Broken door, shattered with just a light kick! Got me covered in wood shavings!" He crawled out with a dirty face, cursing non-stop, and after lightly patting off the dust on his body, he quickly walked towards the round moon gate of the small courtyard.

  Wang Dinggang sat down in the council hall. Wang Jinxi, dressed in luxurious attire, rushed in and bowed: "Long live Your Majesty!" Wang Ding stood up and supported him, saying: "Oh dear, my uncle, don't be so formal, it's really embarrassing for me."

  "Etiquette must not be neglected, the Emperor is the supreme ruler of the nine regions!" Wang Jinxi had been a king for forty years and had met countless people, he knew that Wang Ding was a hypocrite who dared not to slacken his words.

  Wang Ding supported Wang Jinxi to sit down, looking at his gray and white hair and round and white face. He straightened up and said: "This time, I'm afraid it's because of my uncle's trouble coming over. In fact, I have something that I don't know how to decide on, so please teach me."

  Wang Jin was shocked in his heart. This nephew, who had always been extremely arrogant and opinionated, when did he become so humble and even ask for advice? He looked at what he said and asked with a face that didn't reveal half a hint of doubt: "Your Majesty's thoughts are vast and your strategies are broad, I'm afraid it's not something that this old minister can provide guidance on."

  Wang Ding turned around and sat back in his own seat, raising his feet and sincerely saying: "The imperial uncle has always been wise and resourceful. As long as you have planned something, which time has it ever failed!" He calculated that Wang Jinxi would eat his flattery.

  As expected, upon hearing Wang Ding's words, Wang Jinxi's eyebrows relaxed and he said: "Hehe, it can't be that severe. However, let this old minister offer some reference opinions. What kind of trouble has Your Majesty encountered?" Wang Jinxi asked the question in a very proper manner.

  Wang Ding's heart was secretly delighted, but his face pretended to be sorrowful and said: "I had an agreement with Huang Tian to send troops to attack the Lei Ming army and divide the three cities west of the river. Unexpectedly, our 80,000-strong army set out from Wujijiang and just arrived outside Baihe City, without even shooting two arrows, was defeated by more than 10,000 soldiers of the Lei Ming army using things called guns and cannons, resulting in countless deaths and injuries."

  "What's that thing coming?! It's so fierce! If it keeps attacking, we're done for!" Wang Jinxi exclaimed in shock.

  "Yes, if they keep attacking like this, it will be a big problem." Wang Ding also let out a sigh.

  "What about Haotian?" Wang Jinxi was still okay and hadn't fainted, but suddenly thought of Haotian who had also agreed to attack.

  "Hao Tian? I heard that Hao Tian's 100,000-strong army was defeated outside Hexi City, and even the famous general Feng Feifan died without a trace! And they also took down Hao Yue in one move." Wang Ding pretended to be regretful, slightly lowering his head, but in fact, he was secretly delighted with Wang Jinxi's progress.

  "What!" Wang Jinxi suddenly stood up from his chair, his face seemingly even paler, Feng Feifan's death in battle was as unbelievable as the moon falling from the sky.

  "What happened to Haotian later?" He quickly suppressed his shock and asked again.

  Wang Ding looked up at Wang Jinxi, who was still calm and composed despite the shock, and said with a hint of disappointment: "The heavens have collapsed, proclaiming to the world that I am seeking peace by yielding the throne." After finishing speaking, he stared intently at Wang Jinxi's face, not missing a single expression that revealed his inner thoughts.

  Wang Jinxi took a deep breath and slowly exhaled before furrowing his brow and saying, "This is troublesome!" After finishing speaking, he surprisingly lowered his head and began pacing back and forth in the hall.

  After a while, he looked up at Wang Ding and said, "Is Your Majesty worried that the Thunderbolt Army will turn around and attack Jin Yuan?"

  Wang nodded and said, "There is such a worry. As long as they have enough manpower, they can advance to Yuan."

  "That's what I'm saying. We can't let them have the city again, once they gain more manpower, our troubles will be even greater?" Bringing up the destruction of Lei Ming was no longer possible, it was fundamentally impossible to defeat him, Wang Jinxi didn't have the nerve to say surrender directly, but expressed it in a roundabout way.

  "What good strategy does the Emperor's uncle have?" King Ding asked with a frown and sincerity.

  Wang Jinxi lowered his head in contemplation for a moment, then raised it again to see that his eyes had spirit. His face showed joy, and he said: "Jin Yuan let the city surrender and seek peace, we might as well also learn from their method, and make peace! The majority of the Lei Ming army are people from Jin Yuan. Many must be thinking of their hometown...

  King Ding was overjoyed. He interrupted, "Good, good idea! I don't have any other sisters, only Wang Fu is my younger sister! Let's marry her off then! And while we're at it, let's bring those soldiers' families along and mix some of our people in..."

  Wang Jinxi was as if struck by five thunderbolts. His head buzzed. He could no longer listen. Until Wang Ding walked forward and shook his arm, he asked blankly: "Isn't there anyone else?"

  "Hmm... Wang Fu is my sister. I can rest assured that she will carry out the task; Wang Fu is also of royal blood, and it's only natural for her to serve Jin Yuan. Moreover, without this familial relationship, we would have had to face Lei Ming's slaughter sooner or later..." King Ding said with a heavy heart.

  "Ugh!" A stifled groan, Wang Jinxi forced himself to swallow a mouthful of bitter blood. What a wonderful idea this was! That damn Wang Ding had never let anyone off easy!

  "I'm leaving!" Wang Jinxi gritted his teeth and said, stumbling out of the hall.

  "What about Wang Fumei's business?" King Ding stretched out his hand and beckoned to Wang Jinxi, asking loudly.

  "Don't you worry!" A loud shout came from outside the door by Wang Jinxi.

  Wang Ding smiled to himself and muttered, "This will solve the problem." He wasn't worried that Wang Jinxi would object because he knew that Wang Jinxi was a man who cared about his reputation and was willing to make sacrifices for the country.

  The next day, Wang Ding sent an envoy to Hexi to discuss peace and handed over a letter stating that he would give up Wuji, marry the princess, send his family members and so on. After handing over the letter, the envoy hurriedly left, because the main dish was not him, but King Wang Jinxi.

  Lei Meng held the letter, looking left and right, completely bewildered. This Jin Yuan's request for peace, surrendering the black chicken would be enough, why did he still want to marry the princess?...

  He walked into the hall with his hands behind his head and ran into Huang Chu coming towards him.

  Huang Chu saw Lei Meng's furrowed brow and chuckled: "What's making our great leader General Lei Meng frown?" The people were happy, everything was going smoothly, and the past half month had been a success, causing Huang Chu to laugh along with Lei Meng's witty remarks.

  "Here, take a look." Lei Meng handed over the silk fabric in his hand.

  Huang Chu saw that it was a white silk handkerchief and carefully took it over, unfolding it to read it carefully. His eyes grew wider and wider as he read the total amount.

  Lei Meng saw him dazed for a long time, then shook him and asked: "How is it? Mr. Huang?"

  Huang Chu came back to his senses and said: "This matter, this matter is worth celebrating! Haha!"

  Lei Meng glared at him and sat down on a nearby chair, asking: "What do you mean by that?"

  Huang Chu stroked his own grey and white beard, pleased with himself for half a day, saying: "Marrying the princess, General Lei will become the son-in-law of the emperor. With General Lei's abilities, he will be second only to the emperor, above all others!"

  Lei Meng furrowed his brow and said: "Those four cities to the west of the river, uh, just naturally became part of Jin Yuan?"

  Huang Chu smiled slightly and said: "It can also be said that Jin Yuan has merged with the three cities of Hexi."

  Lei Meng bowed his head and thought for a long time before asking: "Will General Luo and the others be willing? Will the soldiers from Jin Yuan be willing?"

  "Haha, good! General Lei is indeed a man of great sentiment!" Huang Chu was overjoyed and laughed, saying, "I was just testing you earlier, please forgive me, General Lei!"

  Lei Meng's mouth corner slightly smiled, in his heart secretly thought, such fake acting skills, how could they deceive him who had experienced the era of movies and TV flying everywhere.

  Huang Chu continued: "Jin Yuan's move is to separate General Lei and Yang Tian, Luoyang Tian, and also to bind the four cities of Hexi to Jin Yuan, making them enemies with Haotian... it's a delaying tactic..."

  The thunder rumbled and murmured, listening for half a day, said: "Mr. Huang, such profound and complicated principles, next time you use them, remind me. Now we should pay off the marriage in half a month." He knew those twisted and turned things, but was very annoyed.

  Half a month later, Wang Jinxi led the team of people and horses galloping westward along the river.

  PS: Thank you for your support, dear friends!