Three Years, Returning (2)

It was merely promising wealth and honor, not like he can’t afford to promise. Just, after obtaining, you also need to be able to maintain it.

That’s why, Li Hong Yuan let someone send a reply agreeing, but this kind of situation ultimately wasn’t worth trusting. If by chance it’s a trap, casually trusting would just harm one’s own people.

However, towards the people of the world, only very few can let Li Hong Yuan hand over his trust. To want to obtain benefit from his hands, one usually must let him see ten times the value first. To be able to make him offer up the ‘prize’ first, there’s probably just Jing Wan alone.

As such, when fighting Southern Qi, while passing through a city, before even attacking, the city gates already opened. The generals and officials in the city all filed out, bowing down to surrender, willing to take Li Hong Yuan as their new lord.

However, Li Hong Yuan simply didn’t appear. The remaining matters were handed over to the people below to handle.

Of course, not every place was like this. There also didn’t lack the type that was loyal and devoted to the country. If one were to count, the amount also wasn’t considered little.

At a stronghold, Li Hong Yuan and them finally encountered the most difficult opponent in this battle with Southern Qi. Relying on the geographic advantage, even if Qi Yuan’s side has three times the number, they were still unable to take down the place. Inside the large tent, the generals below were recounting this person’s identity. Turns out, he was a hard to come by talented general of Southern Qi. Just, this person was too honest and upright, getting framed. Although he didn’t lose his life, he still got dismissed from his position, forced to reside in the countryside. Southern Qi probably didn’t have anymore generals that can take on such a heavy role, thus had this person put to use again. Otherwise, Qi Yuan’s army would’ve long ran into him, and not wait until now.

In reality, without needing to say anything, after crossing swords the first time, Li Hong Yuan already knew who the opponent was, and because he knew, after failing to take down the city the first time, he just gave the order to temporarily withdraw. This person, he’d also fought in his past life. Speaking of which, this person was just like that West Xiongnu Daxian Wang. However, this person was even harder to deal with, the reason being that he didn’t have any ambitions. Even if getting treated unfairly by the ruler, he also didn’t have any resentments. That hot blooded passion was entirely given to Southern Qi’s mountains and rivers. As long as he was needed, he can don the armor and go into battle at any time.

A person with no selfish desires was the most difficult to deal with.

In Li Hong Yuan’s past life, on Southern Qi’s battlefield, more than half the time was spent battling with this person. In the end, Li Hong Yuan won, and Southern Qi for the most part was crippled. Thus, Li Hong Yuan withdrew from Southern Qi. But now, Li Hong Yuan simply didn’t plan on fighting the other party directly. It wasn’t because of fear, but rather, he didn’t want meaningless sacrifices. One has to know, for Qi Yuan’s soldiers, if there’s too many casualties, then his wife will need to deal with the aftermath, throwing out large amounts of money. It’s not easy to earn money.

Speaking of which, this person’s weakness was also quite obvious. In the past life, he couldn’t make use of it, but using in this life, it was just too simple. If planned well, it’ll be killing in one strike.

To put it bluntly, it was still because of having no ambition and no desire. Setting aside those of Southern Qi that have long started assisting Li Hong Yuan, just the people by his side, not all of them were like him, completely not afraid of death, believing that they should die for the country, even if it’s dying with honor. Moreover, being overly upright and plainspoken, when handling human affairs, there will naturally be many inappropriate areas. As such, getting stabbed in the back wasn’t anything strange.

Li Hong Yuan can also be considered someone that valued talented people, but towards those that will never be able to become his, there was no need to put in the extra effort. After having the matters arranged, he just went to sleep while lacking in interest.

Seeing their own emperor like this, the people below looked to one another, not knowing why towards this kind of person, his Majesty was instead not that concerned.

He Shi Hai who was originally unusually excited, preparing to go all out, seemingly got splashed with a basin of cold water, his boiling blood cooling quite a bit.

Forget it, ever since going to war with Southern Qi, even if there were losses, it was also because the people below were greedy for achievements, advancing prematurely, not acting according to Li Hong Yuan’s instructions. Those people have long been taken care of. Aside from this, his Majesty’s arrangements have never had any mistakes appears. Even if at certain times, it made one scratch one’s head, but looking back after the fact, one would only clap one’s hands and cheer.

Forget it, his Majesty certainly will have an understanding inside, so they should just carry on with their own matters.

TN: All

In a few days, Li Hong Yuan gathered the troops and headed out. When nearing the west of the city, the army spread out into position. Li Hong Yuan sat on horseback at the front of the formation. However, he didn’t have any plans on attacking the city.

Atop the city wall, that general looked down from above, his face filled with firm determination, having an overwhelming upright air. A pair of tiger eyes stared down at Li Hong Yuan. Just when he was about to speak, someone suddenly appeared behind him. His opened mouth closed again, his eyes carried disbelief. Turning his head, he glared in anger.

What happened, actually without needing to look, one can roughly guess.

Just, someone perhaps wanted to offer up this person as a gift when surrendering, but a brief battle broke out atop the city walls. Afterwards, a person fell down from the city walls. With a thud, he fell before Qi Yuan’s army, fresh blood seeping in all directions, his two eyes wide open, dying with grievance. Speaking of which, among the several thousand soldiers led by Li Hong Yuan, there weren’t any that haven’t seen a corpse before. However, seeing this person’s dead body, their hearts still couldn’t help but somewhat race. A loyal soul of an era just died like this.

Li Hong Yuan was an old well without ripples. This kind of thing, for him, completely didn’t have any influence. However, there still was a bit of an emotion inside. Just, it was disappointment. This person, in his past life, gave him quite a lot of trouble, but now, he just died like this. Southern Qi had over a hundred thousand soldiers stationed at this place. Even if there were those that turned, it was impossible for it to be all of them. He didn’t even resist, not even considering for those soldiers that were loyal to him, just dying for the country like this……..No, perhaps knowing that the situation can’t be turned around, directly dying perhaps was just his consideration for the soldiers under him.

The city gates very quickly opened, the people inside coming out. Someone came forward, wanting to have that person’s corpse dragged away.

“Have him respectfully buried with honors.” Li Hong Yuan surprisingly opened his esteemed mouth.

Upon hearing, Qi Yuan’s side all couldn’t help but look at him. This was the first time since entering Southern Qi. That’s why, his Majesty’s view towards this person sure enough was still somewhat different?!

The one from Southern Qi’s side that was walking towards Li Hong Yuan in large strides, who was also the other person that appeared atop the city walls just now, paused in his steps, his expression also somewhat rigid.

A ruler of a country being very fond of a loyal general was also expected.

The matters afterwards, when handling, also weren’t as simple as before. A loyal general leads loyal soldiers. The person that one revered just dying this sullenly, there naturally will be quite a few people whose eyes will redden, wanting to avenge him. Those of Qi Yuan should be killed, but those traitors of Southern Qi further should die!

Perhaps long predicting this, that’s why, Li Hong Yuan gave the order to temporarily not enter the city, letting Southern Qi’s side fight amongst themselves first.

Speaking of which, too many people have surrendered, and for the sake of being able to better govern Southern Qi in the future, these people naturally can’t be chopped. At the same time, they also can’t just rashly have them incorporated into their army, and afterwards, continue attacking Southern Qi. Thus, these people just became a bunch of freeloading ‘trash’ that they even have to waste manpower and resources on. Towards ‘trash’, a few dying was also good. In any case, it was also their own side doing the killing.

Li Hong Yuan had this kind of plan. The others could only pretend to not know, remaining silent.

Truthfully speaking, based on their understanding towards their own emperor, along the way, after every battle, it was all very peaceful. Perhaps, should say, his methods seemingly were too benevolent, which really was unexpected. Being benevolent wasn’t a bad thing, but without absolute intimidation, they might suffer a backlash.

Originally, in their eyes, even if his Majesty gave the order to carry out a massacre, it all wouldn’t be surprising.

And only He Shi Hai, that fool, foolishly asked him directly. Everyone all wanted to beat him up.

Li Hong Yuan lightly glanced at him, “Prior to beating, they are the people of the enemy country. After beating, they are Qi Yuan’s citizens. Qi Yuan’s territory in the future will be even more vast. There are quite a few vast but sparsely populated areas. Even now, the northwest also needs large amounts of manpower. If to have them all killed, in the future, will it be you leading the troops to go open up new lands and farm?”

Surprisingly, Li Hong Yuan actually answered his question. Just, from his words, one can also make out his ambitions. As for possibly suffering a backlash, did he not consider before? Naturally no, but for ordinary commoners, as long as there’s no one taking the lead, and as long as their days can still go on, who would even consider raising an army and rebelling? Once Li Hong Yuan killed off their leaders, he will then leave behind enough food for them to live off of, and afterwards, gradually scatter by the batch to migrate to other places. At the same time, on Jing Wan’s side, some people will also be organized to move to this side, and among these people, Jing Wan also specially arranged ‘educators’. To put it bluntly, it was just brainwashing, having the people originally from Southern Qi assimilated.

The couple frequently exchanged letters, discussing about many things, and not just affectionate words of longing.

And after this battle, the following battles were just increasingly smooth, the reports of victory coming in one after another.

Jing Wan held the already three years old little crown prince, “Tian Lin, your imperial father has seized control of Southern Qi’s capital and will very soon return.” Her expression was warm and gentle, faintly containing feelings of longing.