Chapter 381: Joining hands to seek common ground while reserving differences
"As far as your Highness knows, how many people are there in the Jiejiao tribe?"
"General, you are mistaken. In fact, the Jiejiao tribe is not a tribe, it is more like a union of tribes..."
"An alliance?"
"No, no, it's not like the alliance between Wei and Qi. It should be a fusion of each other for a common purpose, just like the relationship between the original Wei people and the descendants of Liang and Zheng.
●⌒,."
"Clan country?"
"Hmm... It can be understood that way. However, the Jie people have not officially established a country, so the more accurate name should be the multi-clan alliance of clans and tribes."
"Since it is a union, then the Jiejiao tribe is stronger than the ordinary Jie tribe, right? How does it compare with the Brown Horn tribe that our army attacked and destroyed yesterday?"
"I don't know this either. Let's estimate it as ten times that of the Brown Horn Tribe."
"Ten times? That's more than 200,000 troops... That's really a bit troublesome."
"Cavalry?"
"Well, if we estimate it ten times, the number of Yin Rong's cavalry may reach 50,000 to 70,000, which is a huge threat."
"It doesn't matter. I have already asked the Manufacturing Bureau to develop a new type of repeating crossbow for the Jie cavalry. I just need to find a suitable terrain..."
"Narrow canyon?"
"This has the best effect, but even on the plains, hundreds of repeating crossbows can have excellent effects... However, the cooperation of the Dangshan Army will be needed."
"I understand."
Beside the desk in the commander's tent, Zhao Hongrun and Sima An were looking at the map of Sanchuan drawn by Zhu Hai, the general of Chenggaoguan Pass, on the table and discussing the strategy for the war against the Jijiao tribe.
Looking at this scene, Dangshan Army General Wen Xu, who was summoned to the commander's tent, could not believe his eyes.
What's going on?
Wen Xu was obviously a little dumbfounded.
You must know that half an hour ago, their general and His Highness King Su, although they could not be said to be hostile to each other, did not show any intention of working together, but half an hour later, these two people were talking like they were talking to each other.
They discussed the strategy of conquering the Jiejiao tribe.
Isn't this becoming too fast?
"Wen Xu? Wen Xu?"
"ah?"
Wen Xu suddenly came back to his senses, only to find that his general was staring at him with a displeased look on his face. He quickly clasped his fists and apologized: "Mo... I just got distracted, general. Please forgive me."
Perhaps because he was dissatisfied that a steady general like Wen Xu would behave like this, Sima An frowned and stared at the former for a while before asking, "Are Ji Yan and Le Kui back?"
After sighing secretly, Wen Xu quickly replied: "We haven't returned to the camp yet. According to the usual practice, Ji Yan and Le Kui... After suppressing the Brown Horn Tribe, they probably dispersed their cavalry and explored the roads in all directions.
"
When he mentioned the word "suppression", his tone was a little stiff, and he raised his head and glanced at Zhao Hongrun secretly.
Seeing this, Zhao Hongrun understood what he meant by suppression.
Sima An also realized something from Wen Xu's attitude. He turned to look at Zhao Hongrun and said thoughtfully: "The Brown Horn Tribe...are the Jie tribe."
This general is really not good at words...
Shaking his head secretly, Zhao Hongrun thought about it for a while, nodded and said: "The Brown Horn Tribe also ignored the goodwill offered by the Wei Dynasty at the beginning. Therefore, the people of Sanchuan who are friendly to the Wei Dynasty are not in my heart.
It’s on the list, but...our top priority right now is the Jiejiao tribe.”
The implication is that this will not be the case next time.
"I understand." Sima An understood the deep meaning of Zhao Hongrun's words, nodded and said: "We, the Dangshan Army, will reduce unnecessary killings and preserve the physical strength of our soldiers to fight against the Jiejiao Tribe, our immediate enemy!"
Obviously, this general is not an "honest" person, at least he is "quite dishonest" in his words.
"We heard that we have ordered the construction of additional military camps. Our army will be stationed here for a few days for repairs. You are responsible for this matter. By the way, if Ji Yan and Le Qu find out any information, please come and report it immediately."
"yes!"
Wen Xu accepted the order with clasped fists and went out of the tent to convey the order.
"White."
"The end is here!"
"You go to assist Wen Xu, and also guard the surrounding areas of the military camp. If you are attacked by the Jie tribe, I, the general, will hold you accountable!" Sima An looked at Bai Fangming with a bit of inexplicable shame in his eyes.
Obviously, Sima An has not yet let go of the fact that this general secretly revealed his past affairs to Zhao Hongrun.
Darling, if you screw up this time, you will be dead...
Feeling the vague "fierce light" in his general's eyes, Bai Fangming shrank his head, nodded and bowed, and retreated with a sneer on his face.
Seeing the crooked general leaving the commander's tent, Sima An shook his head speechlessly, and then turned to Zhao Hongrun and said: "Your Highness wants our Dangshan Army to station here for a few days, is it to wait for the Shang Shui Army?"
"Hmm." Zhao Hongrun nodded, then frowned and said, "Besides, I always feel that there is something wrong with the Jijiao tribe's reaction."
A glint flashed in Sima An's eyes when he heard this, and he lowered his voice and said, "Your Highness is referring to the fact that the Jie people's resistance is too weak?"
"Ah." Zhao Hongrun nodded and said: "When the Heshou Talks were disrupted, the Jie tribe should have guessed that Wei Wei would launch an army to attack. What's more, I personally promised that the leader of the Jiejiao tribe would be better than Tatu.
, saying that I, the king, will soon lead our elite troops from the Wei Dynasty to defeat the Jiejiao tribe... But since our army set out from Chenggao Pass, it has almost never been actively attacked by the Jie tribe, as if... they deliberately put our army into
The hinterland of Sanchuan..."
At this point, he and Sima An coincidentally said at the same time: "Liangdao!"
Maybe they didn't expect that the two of them had thought of something. Zhao Hongrun and Sima An looked at each other, and both felt a little surprised.
But to be honest, this situation is quite embarrassing.
After all, two men are "in tune with each other", which is not something to be happy about.
"Ahem...General, please say it first."
"…Hmm."
Sima An nodded, then lowered his voice and said: "Your Highness, our army's food route is along the Chenggao-Gong-Luo road, right?"
"General, are you worried that the Yi and Yi people in Gong and Luo will betray us?" Zhao Hongrun asked rhetorically.
Sima An sneered when he heard this and said: "He is a foreigner, so there is no betrayal, right?" As he said, he glanced at Zhao Hongrun, and said intentionally or unintentionally: "If you are someone, you will purge Gong and Luo when you march.
The two places are ruthless, but His Highness has a kind heart and does not want to kill innocent people indiscriminately, so there is nothing we can do about it."
Zhao Hongrun rolled his eyes, he naturally understood what Sima An meant.
"It doesn't matter. If the Yi people and the Yi people in Gong and Luo make the wrong choice and assist the Jie people and harm our army, then I will no longer show mercy... If you betray the trust of me, the Wei Dynasty, you will lose your power.
You must be punished!"
After hearing this, Sima An felt quite happy. After thinking for a while, he whispered: "Your Highness, in this case, you might as well use the plan to test the Yin Rong in Gong and Luo."
"Deliberately pretending not to know that the Jie people are trying to cut off our military supply route?" Zhao Hongrun asked with a frown.
I saw a hint of ferocity flashing in Sima An's eyes, and he lowered his voice and said: "If the Yin Rong in Gong and Luo are really friendly to the Wei Dynasty as His Highness said, then they will not help the Jie people to break up the country in any way.
We have food and fodder for our army; on the other hand, if they really do something detrimental to our army, I hope that your highness will not stop the general..."
Zhao Hongrun frowned and said strangely: "The general doesn't want the Dangshan Army to deliberately show weakness, right?... I'm afraid this is a bit illegal, right?"
Sima An obviously understood Zhao Hongrun's words and said seriously: "Your Highness, if the Yin Rong in Gong and Luo remain neutral when our army's war situation is unfavorable, or even secretly help our army, then the general will
I agree with His Highness's proposition. On the contrary... How can people who are like vacillating around on the wall be called our friendly neighbors in the Wei Dynasty? Even if those people do not sincerely assist the Jie people, they are just adding insult to injury when our army is weak.
I don’t think His Highness would trust people like this, right?”
"But it won't kill them all..."
Zhao Hongrun glanced at Sima An and said in a deep voice: "Let's do this. Anyone who betrays the trust of our Wei Dynasty will be killed or driven out of Sanchuan, depending on the severity of the crime."
Sima An frowned when he heard this, maybe because he felt that His Highness was still too soft-hearted, but the answer of killing or driving him out of Sanchuan would satisfy him.
"Then...it's settled."
"Oh! By the way, ask the soldiers to drive the Brown Horn tribe's sheep grazing outside into the camp. If we really believe it, the Jie tribe really secretly called Gong, and the Sanchuan people in Luo and Luo areas cut off our army's food and grass.
Let’s improve the food for the soldiers.”
"Then General, I really hope we got it right." Sima An responded with a half-smile.
But looking at the creepy look in his eyes when he spoke, it was obvious that he was not saying this because of the sheep.
At this time, a personal guard of Sima An walked outside the tent, cupped his fists and reported: "General, the tent has been set up."
"Hmm." Sima An nodded and turned to look at Zhao Hongrun.
It turned out that those newly built tents were prepared for Zhao Hongrun and his party.
But acceptance is acceptance, Sima An still has to say what needs to be said.
"Your Highness, do you really trust those people from the Qingyang Tribe that much?"
"The general regretted it?"
Sima An shook his head and said: "His Royal Highness King Su guarantees them, how can I just turn a blind eye? However, I will send someone to keep an eye on them."
Zhao Hongrun nodded and said: "Yes... the people of the Qingyang tribe are trustworthy, and the general will gradually change his mind."
"I hope... let's stop the discussion here for the time being, and wait until Ji Yan and Le Kui find out about the movements of the Jie people, and then we can discuss it in detail."
With that said, Sima An personally led Zhao Hongrun to the tent prepared for the latter, which was also near the Chinese army and not far from Sima An's commander's tent.
"Your Highness slept outdoors yesterday, please have a good rest."
In the tent prepared for Zhao Hongrun, Sima An said.
"Thank you, General."
"I don't dare." Sima An bowed his hands and exited the tent.
But when he left the tent, he stopped, looked back at Zhao Hongrun, and couldn't help but praise: "Seek common ground while reserving differences... What a statement as bright as a pearl."
Zhao Hongrun smiled reluctantly, feeling a little embarrassed. After all, he had stolen the core diplomatic ideas proposed by a great man in his memory, but it was undeniable that this was also the best way to resolve the disagreement between him and Sima An.
With the internal worries resolved, then it’s time to fulfill my “promise” to Nabitat!
Zhao Hongrun secretly guessed.
In his opinion, the Jiejiao tribe should have already been prepared.
Is it time to show up? Trying to be the hunter's prey... (To be continued.)