Chapter 738: Rumors

Han was finding the situation rather troublesome.

Jin Jue's strategy was certainly steady, but Zhao, their supposed ally, had started playing tricks. They had agreed to attack Yan together, yet after taking Jinzhou, Zhao had shown no movement for a long time. When pressed, its excuse was that it was still making preparations for a full-scale offensive.

How long were those preparations supposed to take?

Zhao was tying Han down with it.

"Why haven't they sent troops yet? What the hell is Jin Jue doing?"

Wu Gongling had just received reports from the various forces he had sent out. He studied the markings placed on the map for a while, then lost his temper. Turning back, he roared at the men from Han's three major sects.

There was no question that he was having a wonderful time killing Luo Zhao's scattered, exhausted troops, who lacked the strength to fight him. He had inflicted enormous losses on Luo Zhao's forces and seized a considerable amount of grain as well.

But Luo Zhao's more than two million men had scattered. Wu Gongling's own force was limited. He could not possibly divide his men into an equal number of detachments and hunt down every group. A substantial number of Luo Zhao's troops were inevitably going to escape.

Reports from the various pursuit forces showed that this was exactly what had happened.

Wu Gongling had made up his mind to attack Song because he was choosing the softer persimmon to squeeze. He was counting on Jin Jue to attack Song as well.

But Jin Jue still showed no reaction.

Once Luo Zhao's surviving troops had eaten their fill and regrouped, they would still outnumber Wu Gongling's men. Then it would be Luo Zhao's turn to come settle accounts with him.

Wu Gongling had kicked Luo Zhao while he was down and gone after him with the intention of destroying him. There was no chance Luo Zhao would spare him afterward. How could Wu Gongling not be furious?

He once again felt the way he had back when he first rebelled in Cangzhou and was tricked.

They had agreed that Nanzhou would rise in rebellion together with him. In the end, his family alone had caused trouble, and he had been chased into frantic flight like a homeless dog. Now the same signs seemed to be appearing again.

He had no choice but to become nervous.

Xiang Tianguang, Elder of Wushang Palace, sighed. "Zhao has broken faith and still refuses to send troops. Jin Jue's forces are tied down by the troops in northern Yan. Wait a little longer."

"Faith?" Wu Gongling exploded. "Has Jin Jue's brain flooded? When the states contend for supremacy, which one isn't acting for profit? Can you take 'good faith' seriously? He didn't even account for that beforehand, yet he still dared stir up this mess?"

"Luo Zhao of Song is an idiot, and Jin Jue isn't much better. If I were the emperor of Han, I'd have cut his head off long ago. What use is keeping an idiot like that?"

Cao Yong, Elder of Baichuan Valley, said gravely, "Great General, watch your mouth. Angering Jin Jue will do you no good."

"Bah! You think I'm afraid of him? He's nothing!" Wu Gongling pointed back at the map. "I raised troops in Cangzhou and turned Yan upside down. Now I've fought all the way into Song. Look for yourselves. If this keeps going, I'll have conquered half of Song by myself."

"I've fought from Yan all the way into Song. Now look at what that turtle Jin Jue has done. After all this time, he's still facing off against Yan. He can't even deal with one Shao Dengyun, yet a man like that gets to be Grand Marshal of Han?"

He turned to the group. "Why don't you go back and tell the Han emperor to give me Jin Jue's position as Grand Marshal? Put Han's armies under my command. Within three months, I'll take Song. If I fail, I'll offer up my head!"

Cao Yong said, "Complaining is one thing. Enough is enough. Don't go on forever."

"Fine!" Wu Gongling said. "I won't complain. Let's talk about something practical. If this continues, half of Song will practically be in my hands. When Song is finally conquered, does the credit belong to Jin Jue or to me?"

"Fine, his rank is higher. I won't fight him over the credit. But when rewards are assigned by merit, there should at least be some fairness, shouldn't there? My brothers and I have risked our lives for Han, fought all the way from Yan into Song, and established such enormous merit. Just how much territory are you planning to give me as a reward?"

Xiang Tianguang said in a deep voice, "Without Jin Jue pinning down Song's one million elite troops on its northern frontier, what would you have used to take so much territory? What belongs to you will not be shorted. What doesn't belong to you, don't indulge in fantasies."

"Pingping! Madam, do you see?" Wu Gongling shouted toward Hui Qingping nearby. "No matter how hard your man works himself to death for the Tiannü Sect, it's useless. These people just use the Tiannü Sect as a spear!"

Then he turned toward Qi Bisang, Elder of the Tiannü Sect. "Elder Qi, I'm the Tiannü Sect's son-in-law. That means I'm one of your people. I'm fighting for the Tiannü Sect's interests here. We've practically taken half of Song already. Jin Jue will only come afterward to pick up the easy gains. We've paid such a huge price. Shouldn't we get a larger share?"

He slapped the back of one hand. "Splitting it evenly would make no sense! If the Tiannü Sect still insists on turning its elbow outward at a time like this, then I simply can't understand you."

"If you women don't know how to grab benefits when they're sitting right in front of you, then I can only say women are women. Those who squat to piss will never amount to anything. Why bother struggling? You might as well dissolve the sect early, go marry men, and have children. At least you'd all get to enjoy the pleasures between men and women."

"I don't mind having more women. Elder Qi, I'm quite interested in you too. Marry me, and you and Pingping can stand as equals. Bring a few more sisters with you while you're at it. I'll treat everyone the same. However many you bring, I can afford to keep them!"

"Go spew your dog-fart somewhere else!" Hui Qingping finally exploded.

He actually dared say such things in front of her. There were limits to what anyone could endure.

"Shut your filthy mouth!" Qi Bisang was furious too and rebuked him sharply.

The man was openly trying to sow division between them. They had never seen anyone this brazen.

Was he tired of living?

Cao Yong's expression darkened.

Xiang Tianguang said grimly, "Keep talking nonsense and I'll tear your mouth off."

"Heh. A pack of people who can't tell good from bad." Wu Gongling snorted. "Fine. Since none of you like hearing it, pretend I never said anything. Maybe if I get angry enough, I'll simply conquer Song by myself. What the hell do I need Jin Jue for? Let's go."

He turned, called Shan Dongxing, and simply walked away.

Shan Dongxing hurried after him, giving him a meaningful glance.

The stream of vulgar filth from Wu Gongling's mouth had certainly been unpleasant.

Qi Bisang had cursed him too.

But once she calmed down and thought about it, there seemed to be some reason buried inside all that crude talk. Perhaps this truly was the moment to bargain and seize more benefits.

Seeing her reaction, Cao Yong coldly reminded her, "That bastard is trying to sow dissension among us. He pretends to be acting for the Tiannü Sect's good, but in reality he wants to use your hands to fight for more territory on his behalf."

Qi Bisang's gaze flickered.

...

Whatever they thought, Wu Gongling did not care.

He had plenty to occupy him anyway.

He took the opportunity to recruit more men.

Wu Gongling ordered the forces he had sent in every direction to spread "rumors."

Luo Zhao had suffered a crushing defeat.

Song was about to collapse.

If the people of Song wanted safety, they should come join him.

War would soon rage endlessly across northern Song. If they came south, he could guarantee their safety. There would be food to eat and fields to divide among them. The earlier they came, the more they would receive. First come, first served.

He did not care whether he actually possessed the things he promised.

First trick the people into coming.

They could worry about the rest afterward.

More outrageous still, he spread rumors that once Song was conquered, he would become the emperor of Song. He encouraged Song's people to bring grain and wealth when they came to join him. Anyone who came over would be considered to have rendered merit and could be given official posts.

More absurd yet, one of his forces captured a band of refugees. In order to survive, the refugees expressed willingness to submit.

Wu Gongling immediately ordered them escorted to an undefended city in the rear. He directly appointed a schoolteacher among the refugees as County Magistrate, left them a portion of grain to sustain themselves, and ordered Tongxian Pavilion to leave several cultivators and about a hundred soldiers behind to maintain order.

He then told the new County Magistrate to arrange for the refugees to begin farming.

There were not many refugees anyway.

They would not consume many supplies.

Wu Gongling carried on as though he were already building a real government.

Shan Dongxing, Acting Sect Leader of Tongxian Pavilion, did not know whether to laugh or cry at the absurdity.

Everyone knew Wu Gongling was a puppet of Han.

No one took his behavior seriously.

They treated it as a joke and let him entertain himself. The madman would say any wild thing and had done plenty of absurd things already. One more incident made no difference.

Sooner or later, reality would expose him and turn him into a laughingstock.

...

Inside the Imperial Study of Han's palace, Emperor Nie Zhenting bent over the desk reviewing memorials.

He was very young, not yet thirty, the youngest emperor among the Seven States. He had ascended the throne while still in his teens.

Jin Jue strode in and saluted before the desk. "This minister, Jin Jue, pays respects to Your Majesty!"

Communications with the front had always been inconvenient when conducted through letters.

Given the present situation, Nie Zhenting had urgently summoned Jin Jue back to the capital.

"There is no need for such formality, Grand Marshal." Nie Zhenting looked up, immediately set down his brush, and motioned for him to rise. Then he stood and came around from behind the desk, studying Jin Jue carefully. "Grand Marshal has labored at the front. You have truly worked hard."

Jin Jue cupped his hands. "This old minister is ashamed!"

Nie Zhenting pressed down his hands. "There are no outsiders here. Grand Marshal need not stand on ceremony. Before the late emperor died, he told me again and again that the Grand Marshal was a pillar of the state. So long as you remained, I would have no cause for fear even though I ascended the throne so young."

"Although the present war has seen setbacks, Han still stands in an undefeated position. That is entirely thanks to the Grand Marshal's planning. What cause is there for shame?"

Jin Jue shook his head. "Your Majesty praises this old minister too highly. I am ashamed to accept it."

Nie Zhenting said, "No need for polite phrases. Let us speak of the matter itself. Given the present situation, what exactly does the Grand Marshal intend? Is there a way to resolve it?"

Jin Jue said, "On the road back, this minister already thought of a countermeasure."

"Oh?" Nie Zhenting's eyes lit up. "Grand Marshal, speak freely. I am all ears."

Jin Jue said, "Two men's attitudes in Zhao are crucial. Grand Commander-in-Chief Pang Teng has long wished to wash away Zhao's humiliation at Yan's hands. With his bow already drawn, he will not willingly let the matter end halfway."

"As for Emperor Hai Wuji of Zhao, Jinzhou has long been a thorn in his heart for various reasons. Jinzhou has now been recovered, but the people who created that thorn have fled into Nanzhou. He will inevitably remain resentful."

"Zhao has massed troops against Yan but still hesitates to move only because arguments at court over the consequences have left it indecisive. Your Majesty need only apply a little pressure to help it make up its mind."

Nie Zhenting looked interested. "What sort of pressure?"

Jin Jue said, "Your Majesty can secretly send people into Nanzhou and spread a rumor in Hai Ruyue's name. Say that Hai Ruyue has sworn to Heaven that she will retake Jinzhou!"

Nie Zhenting looked doubtful. "That's all?"

Jin Jue smiled. "That's all. Once the rumor spreads, whether true or false, it will force Hai Wuji to make the painful decision to attack Nanzhou!"

The scheme cost Han nothing.

There was no harm in trying it.

Nie Zhenting therefore followed Jin Jue's advice and secretly sent men into Nanzhou to spread the rumor.

Once the rumor appeared, only a few days passed before Hai Wuji overcame the opposition at court and issued a final ultimatum to Nanzhou.

Nanzhou had three days to expel Jinzhou's troops.

Otherwise, Zhao would send troops to attack.

Nanzhou replied that Jinzhou's men were refusing to leave.

The three-day deadline expired.

Zhao received no satisfactory answer.

Grand Commander-in-Chief Pang Teng then led the army in a brazen assault on Nanzhou, crossing into Yan territory.

The forces of Nanzhou and Jinzhou joined together in fierce resistance.

[End of Chapter 738]