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“Xiao Qi, what exactly do you mean?”
Cui Zhang, in his youthful vigor, was originally just going through the motions, intending to take firearm technology from Qingzhou. Now, Xiao Qi had suddenly disrupted his plan.
Xiao Qi looked at Cui Zhang and sneered, “It’s Wei’s cities that are being ceded. Of course, Prince Cui wouldn’t feel the pinch, but while you don’t, the Prince of Wei certainly does.”
Wang Xi, hearing this, immediately smiled sarcastically, “Xiao Qi, I don’t know if it’s your ignorance or the Prince of Wei’s ignorance. You mustn’t forget, if it weren’t for the Prince of Yan and the Prince of Zhao persuading His Royal Highness King Qi, you wouldn’t even have the chance to talk now.”
“Secretary Wang is absolutely right.” Cui Zhang echoed.
Zheng Hao then said, “The two of you are truly exceptional at distorting the truth. The boundaries of the vassal states of all the princes were established during the reign of the late Emperor, clearly stated in the imperial edict. Now, King Qi is annexing the Prince of Wei’s cities. How is this any different from rebellion and treason?”
Xiao Ming looked at Zheng Hao at this moment and said, “If I am committing treason, then what crime is the Prince of Liang’s collusion with foreign tribes to seize Chang’an? What crime is the Prince of Liang’s collusion with Jin merchants to sell large quantities of goods to the barbarians!”
“Your Highness, mind your words. The Prince of Liang has always been loyal to Great Yu Empire and has never engaged in such conduct,” Zheng Hao bowed.
Xiao Ming’s eyes narrowed. This so-called truce agreement was nothing but a piece of scrap paper to him. He was going through so much trouble merely to lull them into a false sense of security and secretly strengthen himself.
However, this negotiation clearly exceeded his expectations, with the situation developing in an unpredictable direction. He couldn’t help but sigh, ‘Man proposes, God disposes.’
Cui Zhang and Wang Xi looked at Zheng Hao simultaneously. The matter of the Prince of Liang colluding with the barbarians was known to all, and this Zheng Hao truly had the audacity to lie with his eyes wide open.
Since things had come to this, Xiao Ming no longer bothered to save face for Xiao Qi and Zheng Hao. After refuting Zheng Hao, he looked at Xiao Qi and said, “Don’t think I don’t know what the Prince of Wei is plotting. Xiao Qi, do you know who the Prince of Ning is?”
As soon as the words “Prince of Ning” left his mouth, the room immediately fell silent, and Xiao Qi’s face changed drastically.
Xiao Ming continued, “When the late Emperor executed the Prince of Ning for treason, only one young son disappeared. That person must be you, mustn’t it? What does it mean that the Prince of Wei has kept you by his side and raised you all these years?”
“Also, six years ago, the Prince of Wei and the powerful Wang family of Qingzhou colluded and attempted to assassinate me. In the Battle of Jizhou, the Prince of Wei sent such a weak army, probably hoping to see me defeated by the barbarians. With all this, I not to mention taking two cities, what if I were to take the entire Wei territory? Is the Prince of Wei still qualified to possess imperial land?”
Xiao Qi’s face immediately flushed, then paled upon hearing this, while Wang Xi and Zheng Hao looked at Xiao Qi in surprise. Only Cui Zhang’s eyes flickered, because this was precisely what the Prince of Yan had intentionally revealed.
The reason for this was that the Prince of Yan wanted to prevent Xiao Ming from ever reconciling with the Prince of Wei.
“What? Did I hit the mark?” Xiao Ming sneered repeatedly. He said, “Since all four envoys are in Qingzhou today, this must be made clear. This time, I wish to cease hostilities, but the Prince of Wei refuses. In that case, do not blame me for being merciless.”
Cui Zhang and Wang Xi exchanged glances, which immediately put them in a difficult position. Wang Xi continued, “Xiao Qi, a wise man knows when to adapt. At this time, Qi is strong and Wei is weak. Relying solely on verbal skills will not win the war.”
“That’s right. If I were you, I’d quickly sign the truce agreement to cede Tongzhou and Pengzhou City,” Cui Zhang echoed.
Zheng Hao also remained silent at this point. His presence here this time was merely to play the role of a troublemaker. He clearly understood that with only the Prince of Wei and the Prince of Liang left, they posed no threat to Xiao Ming at all.
Xiao Qi gritted his teeth. “This matter is significant. I need to explain it to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wei.”
Before he came to Qingzhou this time, the Prince of Wei’s idea was to reclaim Pengzhou City and Tongzhou. However, he hadn’t expected that the Prince of Zhao and the Prince of Yan were unwilling to see Xiao Ming grow stronger, and also unwilling to see him grow stronger.
Therefore, the clause in the truce agreement to cede Pengzhou City and Tongzhou City caught him somewhat off guard.
Xiao Ming said, “You may return, but don’t blame me for not reminding you: until the truce agreement is signed, Qi and Wei will remain in a state of war.”
“I understand.” Xiao Qi looked deeply at Xiao Ming and turned to leave.
At this point, Xiao Ming looked at the other three and said, “Gentlemen, since the Prince of Wei is being so unreasonable this time, if war breaks out again, you cannot blame me.”
Zheng Hao did not speak. Cui Zhang and Wang Xi nodded in agreement.
Instructing Zhan Xingchang to entertain the three, Xiao Ming turned and exited the government office. At this point, he immediately sent someone to call Niu Ben over.
Soon, Niu Ben appeared at the government office.
“Your Highness, are you preparing to attack Huaizhou?” Niu Ben asked.
“That’s right. This time, the Prince of Wei’s greed is perfectly in line with our plan. You immediately send someone to inform Lu Fei to attack Huaizhou City,” Xiao Ming said.
He had planned to trick the Prince of Wei in this negotiation, but he didn’t expect the Prince of Wei to walk right into his trap.
Now, even if he took Huaizhou, the Prince of Yan and the Prince of Zhao wouldn’t be able to say anything; they would probably only pressure the Prince of Wei to cease hostilities sooner.
Niu Ben was overjoyed upon hearing this. He said, “Your Highness, I will send someone to inform Lu Fei right away.”
With that, Niu Ben immediately returned to the military camp and relayed the military order to Pengzhou City.
The first negotiation halted due to the Prince of Wei’s obstruction, and it would take seven or eight days for Xiao Qi to return with news. For Xiao Ming, seven or eight days were enough to take Huaizhou City. During this time, he only needed to wait for the good news.
The next day, the Qingzhou military order arrived in Pengzhou City. Lu Fei, who was training new recruits, was overjoyed upon seeing the order.
“What’s wrong? So happy?” Luo Xin stepped forward to join the excitement.
Lu Fei said, “The military order has come! It orders us to take Huaizhou!”
“Really!” Luo Xin exclaimed excitedly. I had thought the war would temporarily stop, but I didn’t expect to be able to conquer cities and seize land again. Like many soldiers, the enthusiasm from the last bounty had not yet subsided. Now, the soldiers of the Southern Expeditionary Army all wanted to continue fighting.
Lu Fei handed the military order to Luo Xin. Soon, other generals were also attracted. Upon learning that they were about to attack Huaizhou, the generals whispered among themselves.
Having confirmed the military order, Luo Xin said to Lu Fei, “Should we bring the new recruits from Pengzhou this time? It’s worrying to leave these new recruits in Pengzhou; after all, they are not loyal enough yet.”
“You’re right. This time, let’s bring them along to boost morale and avoid leaving behind trouble. After all, to us, they are new recruits, but in reality, they are veterans.”
After occupying Pengzhou City, Lu Fei began to recruit soldiers. With the government’s land equalization policy, many of the former soldiers in Pengzhou City joined the Southern Expeditionary Army.
However, until these individuals were fully integrated into the Southern Expeditionary Army, Lu Fei did not dare to trust them completely.