Chapter 1545: Negotiation
Chapter 1545: Chapter 1545: Negotiation
After venting, Luo Ying’s intelligence returned, and he began discussing the defense of the city with them: "All hidden infiltrators left by the Rong people in the city must be completely uprooted, continue to clear out the bullies and wealthy oppressors in the city, as well as the arrogant sons of the scholarly families. If we don’t take advantage of this period to clean up these disgusting things, after we leave, Beicang Prefecture will be a city in crisis, full of holes, and the Witch Army could make a comeback and continue to infiltrate the city."
"Gather the beggars in the city, have them watch the people in the city for us. If anyone dares to communicate with the outside, capture them immediately and behead them."
"The four city gates are the focus of the defense. Divide our men into five groups: four groups to guard the city gates, and the remaining one to patrol inside the city."
Luo Ying held the map of Beicang Prefecture and gave out many instructions.
Lord Ghost, Pang Hai, Mr. Chi, and others listened and nodded in agreement, saying: "Yes."
Luo Ying continued, "That old chap Wu Mang is not easy to deal with. I estimate he might set us up as we leave the city, so we must plan the withdrawal route well and leave him a trap to tie him down."
They discussed in the study all night, and it wasn’t until dawn that everything was agreed upon.
"Go and execute the plan." Luo Ying yawned, got up, and went outside the study to blow an eagle whistle, but the three hunting eagles were nowhere to be seen.
It had been almost three days, and it appeared that the three hunting eagles either hadn’t found Tuogude, or had already been killed by him.
Luo Ying’s face darkened, and he was in a bad mood.
Lord Ghost comforted him, "Da Rong has been a great peril for generations, it is impossible to make them disappear overnight, take it easy."
"Easy my ass, if we keep taking it easy, the land left by our ancestors will be gone!" Luo Ying said: "They’ve already migrated the Rong people into Longshan Prefecture, do you realize what this means? Once they take root in Longshan Prefecture and fully get used to farming, it will be difficult to drive them away."
What worried Luo Ying the most was: "The internal instability of Great Chu, the continuous natural disasters, due to the tax issues, even the south is unstable. The bank started by the Dou Family and Ouyang Family can only be a temporary solution, it cannot save Great Chu."
It’s like a severely ill person, giving him ginseng only keeps him barely alive, slowing down death, but it can’t cure him.
Luo Ying was right, Lord Ghost couldn’t refute him.
After a while, Luo Ying added: "Whatever happens to Great Chu eventually, it no longer concerns us. Let’s go, I’m going back to sleep, summon me for urgent matters only, don’t bother me with minor things."
With that, he left the study, called the people guarding the courtyard gate, and had them escort Lord Ghost back indoors to rest.
But, does it really not matter?
The ancestors of several families followed Emperor Jingwu in founding the country, the land of Great Chu could be considered achieved by their efforts, and now that the Rong people want to seize their land, no one would agree.
...
The names of Central Plains and Central State are similar, and the two places are very close to each other, but the Central Plains has a much higher status than Central State, because the Central Plains was the birthplace of the initial dynasty, and the noble families, which held an important position in successive dynasties.
If you are to talk about the difference between the two places, it is that Central State is near the south, while the Central Plains is near the Zhili Road and the Capital; Central State is impoverished, whereas Central Plains is wealthy, full of noble families, and has a longer history.
And Wu Mang is the Commander of the Central Plains Commandery, leading the troops across all the prefectures of Central Plains. Upon receiving the letter sent by Wu Po, he immediately gathered the troops and rushed over with a large force.
However, fearing that Luo Ying would kill Wu Po and his son, he dared not bring his troops into Beicang Prefecture, and instead, rode in alone to negotiate.
When Wu Po saw Wu Mang coming, he almost cheered, but upon seeing he was alone, his face turned green. Dissatisfied, he said, "Uncle, why did you come alone, without bringing troops? How can we fight Luo Ying and the others without troops?!"
Wu Mang acted as if he hadn’t heard, dismounted, walked to Wu Po, raised his horse whip, and lashed Wu Po across the face.
A sound thrashing ensued, causing Wu Po to wail for his father and mother: "Uncle, please calm down, calm down. I have been diligent in guarding Beicang Prefecture, but the Rong people were too cunning, having planted the Yang Family as a hidden agent generations ago!"
Generations ago, what does this have to do with me? Why are you hitting me?!
Wu Mang was about to explode with anger, not responding, he gave Wu Po a fierce beating, then grabbed Wu Po’s son, Wu Chengqi, and beat him too.
Wu Chengqi cried out in pain, pleading, "Granduncle, I’m just a Chief Commander, not the City Guardian General, why are you hitting me?!"
Beat my father, he’s the main general of the garrison in Beicang Prefecture.
The more he pleaded, the harder Wu Mang beat, finally stopping after beating Wu Chengqi half to death.
Wu Mang, panting heavily with rage, pointed at the father and son, "Two useless wretches, Great Chu almost perished because of you, and still don’t know your mistake?!"
"We realize our mistakes~" The father and son weakly admitted, afraid for their lives.
Seeing their incompetent looks, Wu Mang regretted deeply: "I never should have let you guard Beicang Prefecture!"
He had allowed Wu Po to guard Beicang Prefecture, and even brought Wu Chengqi into the garrison as Chief Commander, with personal motives.
He was old, injured in battles when young, unable to have children, so he had to groom his brother’s sons.
Originally, he thought that although Beicang Prefecture was near the Northwest, there were the Seven Prefectures of Northwest as a buffer; the Rong people were strong, but wouldn’t invade so quickly, and if they really did invade, being nearby he could quickly come to their aid.
Little did he know how useless Wu Po would be. Despite his protection, things still went wrong.
If not for Luo Ying’s early intervention to drive away the Rong people, not only Wu Po but even he would have been beheaded by the Emperor!
Vice General Jin stepped forward to advise: "Old General, stay calm, the Rong people’s scheme this time can indeed be called ingenious, this is something no one could have foreseen, fortunately, the Rong people have been driven away. Now our most important goal is to retake Beicang Prefecture, we mustn’t let the bandits occupy it for long, otherwise, the Emperor will surely be enraged."
The Rong people infiltrated Beicang Prefecture, unnoticed by the garrison, but discovered by the outlaw bandit group, who drove the Rong people away and occupied the city.
And the bandit leader is a most wanted criminal of the court.
If the Emperor learns of this, he will likely be infuriated to death!
Wu Mang knew that retaking Beicang Prefecture was indeed the most important matter now, but Luo Ying had once been the Vanguard General, a character seasoned in battle, full of tricky schemes. Taking back Beicang Prefecture from him would not be easy.
"Uncle, save your nephew~" Wu Po clung to Wu Mang’s trouser legs, crying out in distress.
Wu Mang kicked him away, angrily shouting: "Shut up, you fool!"
But as angry as Wu Mang was, he couldn’t not save Wu Po, as he was his own nephew.
"Send a message to Luo Ying, I want to enter the city to negotiate with him." Wu Mang ordered Vice General Jin.