Han Qian laid everything out openly, and Yao Xishui and Li Chong exchanged long glances.
The secret entry of Prince Liang Yong into Wan City, combined with the thirty thousand troops currently marching from Fangcheng toward Wan City, were very likely disguised as Liang’s most elite Xuanjia Capital forces. This posed an enormous crisis for Great Chu, but for the临江侯Mansion’s Dragon Sparrow Army, wasn’t it also an unprecedented opportunity?
If the Third Prince led the Dragon Sparrow Army to hold the Dan River, the immense prestige he would gain would formally qualify him to compete with the Crown Prince and Prince Xin for succession, not to mention numerous other practical benefits.
More critically, having concealed such vital intelligence, the Dragon Sparrow Army could never find an excuse to withdraw. And if they honestly informed Du Chongtao and others, the Dragon Sparrow Army would be even less able to withdraw.
After all, Great Chu could not abandon the entire Jing-Xiang region.
Ultimately, the only possibility was that the Third Prince would be stationed in a relatively safe location while the Dragon Sparrow Army would still have to step forward and fight.
Therefore, no matter what, they would inevitably have to take this gamble.
Of course, once Yao Xishui understood all this, she also became clearer about why Han Qian had suddenly changed his attitude toward them.
Beyond Han Qian hoping Zhou Shu’s forces could participate in defending along the Dan River, more importantly, if the Liang army completely controlled the Jing-Xiang region and watered their horses on the northern bank of the Yangtze River, Jinling would consequently be powerless to control Tan Prefecture.
At that time, even if Tan Prefecture didn’t raise its own banner, it would effectively become independent. And next, Tan Prefecture would directly control Chen and Xu Prefectures without any room for negotiation, expanding its own heartland.
In truth, Han Qian had even fewer choices than they did.
“I’ll go see Chai Jian,” Yao Xishui said through gritted teeth. Ultimately, it still had to be Chai Jian and her sworn father Zhang Ping who made the decision.
Li Chong nodded.
No matter what, they had invested too many resources in the Dragon Sparrow Army. Even though Li Zhigao’s betrayal had already caused them devastating losses, it was still better than the Dragon Sparrow Army’s complete annihilation.
“Since that’s the case, there’s no time to waste,” Han Qian stood up, about to ask Yao Xishui to depart first. But after standing, he pondered for a moment and said, “Perhaps it would be better if Miss Yao and I went together to see Commissioner Chai—it would save us from running back and forth.”
“That would be best…” Yao Xishui instinctively replied, but then suddenly realized that Han Qian actually hadn’t found persuading them particularly difficult. He had even planned from the start to directly approach Chai Jian and her sworn father Zhang Ping for discussions. The reason he had summoned her and Li Chong was merely because he wasn’t certain whether Evening Red Tower had any connections or entanglements with Liang.
Clearly, regardless of what Li Zhigao had done before, he ultimately hadn’t told Han Qian everything he knew.
If Han Qian had just confirmed they had connections with Liang, perhaps the moment they stepped out of this room would be when their heads rolled.
“…” Yao Xishui hadn’t expected Han Qian to be so sinisterly calculating, setting traps for them at every turn. Her almond-shaped eyes glared at him furiously.
Han Qian, however, paid no attention to Yao Xishui’s terrifying glare. He summoned Tian Cheng, Xi Chang, Guo Nu’er and others to give instructions, and also sent someone to notify Zhou Dan. Then he called for Zhao Kuo, asking Zhao Kuo to accompany him on the journey.
……
……
Chai Jian, together with Zhou Shu, had the Third Battalion’s soldiers stationed in the camp that Guo Liang had temporarily occupied before abandoning.
After Han Qian arrived, he had Zhao Kuo continue forward with two escorts to rush to Xu Prefecture to deliver a letter, while he and Yao Xishui entered the Third Battalion’s camp.
“…”
Zhou Shu and Chai Jian exchanged long bewildered looks when they saw Han Qian following Yao Xishui into their military camp.
Zhou Shu, Vice Commander of the Third Battalion and younger brother of Works Section Advisor Zhou Yuan, had a far more rugged appearance than his seemingly delicate brother Zhou Yuan, and was also a famous brave general in the army.
In fact, both he and his brother Zhou Yuan, along with Chai Jian, were all core members cultivated by Evening Red Tower, who later went to serve under Marquis Xinchang Li Pu. Chai Jian had even married Li Pu’s second daughter.
Li Zhigao, however, was truly the son of a former general under Li Yu and Li Pu. Only after his father’s death was he adopted by Li Pu, making his connection to Evening Red Tower actually one layer removed.
Just moments ago, Zhou Shu had been lamenting to Chai Jian about the wolfish ambitions of Li Zhigao and Han Qian, racking his brains on how to deal with these two men. Who could have imagined that the very next moment, Han Qian would follow Yao Xishui into their military camp, bringing such shocking news?
Although Han Qian had already burned the portrait he’d had sketched at the first opportunity, neither Chai Jian nor Zhou Shu doubted his account.
It wasn’t because Yao Xishui had seen the portrait with her own eyes.
After all, a portrait alone didn’t prove much—Han Qian’s secret agents could have seen Prince Liang Yong Zhu Yu somewhere else.
Nor was it because Han Qian had the courage to enter their military camp that made them think this way.
Only if Prince Liang Yong was in Wan City could it explain why the Liang army’s vanguard, upon first arrival, would attack Canglang City and Iron Crocodile Ridge at any cost.
The Liang army simply hadn’t anticipated that in these two unremarkable locations of Canglang City and Iron Crocodile Ridge, the garrison’s combat capability and fighting spirit would be so formidable.
Having hit an iron wall, the Liang army quickly slowed their offensive. Chai Jian and Zhou Shu had once thought the previous fierce attacks were due to the Liang vanguard commander Han Yuanqi’s arrogant underestimation of the enemy, and only after hitting the iron wall did he know to follow proper procedures.
Now it seemed that all this was because the Liang army realized their assessment of the combat strength of the Dragon Sparrow Army defending Canglang City and the Iron Crocodile Ridge line was mistaken, so they deliberately adjusted their rhythm to lull this side into complacency.
“After all this fighting, we’re all still grasshoppers tied to the same rope. Commander Zhou, Commissioner Chai, what are your thoughts on my suggestions?” Han Qian asked with a cold smile.
“Lord Han, do you truly think past grievances just don’t exist?” Chai Jian stared at Han Qian with an eerie expression.
“What past grievances?” Han Qian asked, playing dumb. “Could it be that Commissioner Chai still harbors resentment because General Li and I advised you to give up control over His Highness? Could it be that Commissioner Chai and Commander Zhou truly have such narrow minds that even now you cannot appreciate General Li’s and my wholehearted intentions? Could it be that even now, Commissioner Chai hasn’t felt the slightest bit of relief, hasn’t thought that if not for General Li’s and my earnest persuasion, how much worse the situation would have deteriorated?”
“…” Chai Jian was speechless, truly not expecting Han Qian could twist right and wrong so brazenly.
However, although Han Qian’s original intentions weren’t as noble as he claimed, Chai Jian had to admit that it was Han Qian and Li Zhigao who had inadvertently disrupted the Liang army’s first conspiracy, thwarting their intentions, which created the current opportunity.
“If you still cannot let go of past matters at this time…”
Han Qian unbuckled the saber from his waist and threw it with a clang onto the desk before Chai Jian, saying:
“Today I, Han Qian, have walked into the trap myself. Kill me, cut me up—do as you please.”
Having said this, Han Qian then stood up, walked over to retrieve his saber, turned around and handed it to Yao Xishui, saying: “If you truly wish for my blood to be spilled here today, it would be best if Miss Yao did it herself—at least I could retain a romantic notion in my final moments.”
Seeing Han Qian’s theatrical display, even Xi Ren felt he was overacting. She thought to herself that if she were Yao Xishui, she would draw the blade and stab this bastard full of holes.
Yao Xishui trembled with rage, truly wanting to draw the blade and stab this bastard.
“Speaking of these things is pointless. Just as Lord Han said, we are all grasshoppers tied to the same rope. We should still discuss how to handle what comes next,” Chai Jian ultimately possessed some degree of a great general’s bearing and wouldn’t let Han Qian’s few words disturb his composure. He thus continued the conversation at his own pace.
Han Qian smiled and fastened the saber back at his waist, saying: “I already said that I came to see Commissioner Chai and Commander Zhou to let you kill or cut me up as you wish. Please, Commissioner Chai and Commander Zhou, don’t be polite.”
“Apart from the Left Section and Xu Prefecture, Lord Han must not extend his reach too far, and must not undermine our credibility before His Highness,” Chai Jian said.
“Advisor Shen also doesn’t want me extending my reach beyond the Left Section—this really isn’t difficult. But His Highness’s trust still needs you to earn yourselves. Why would I go around sabotaging others for no reason? Wouldn’t I just be looking for trouble?” Han Qian said with a laugh.
“This also means that aside from what the Left Section and Xu Prefecture transport, all other supplies in Canglang City must be taken over by us. This also means the mountain stronghold forces need to be supervised by us. Do you have any objections to these?” Chai Jian further clarified the conditions.
“That’s also fine, but you need to settle accounts with me for the supplies the Left Section advanced previously. Otherwise, I don’t have the ability to fill a hole of over thirty million coins. Additionally, the salt trade was something I schemed painstakingly to obtain—I hope you won’t fight me over it either. To speak frankly, hidden in the mountains and waters of Jun Prefecture are about forty thousand fugitive household members from the mountain strongholds. Even selling salt, it’s only about two thousand stones annually. At present, it’s only of great use in leveraging the mountain stronghold forces. Later I’ll cut the salt price below three thousand coins per stone. In reality, the annual surplus will be at most two to three million coins—just enough to support the Boatmen’s livelihood. Surely you won’t snatch even this morsel of meat from my mouth?” Han Qian said.
If they hadn’t heard Han Qian say it himself, it would be hard to imagine the Left Section had subsidized over thirty million coins worth of supplies along the Dan River line.
However, Li Chong had been in Canglang City these past few days and knew that even if Han Qian was exaggerating somewhat, it was limited.
After all, the salt tax for the six thousand stones of salt transported from Xiang Prefecture’s Salt and Iron Bureau to Canglang City this time was directly paid by the Linjiang Money House with ten million coins to the Salt and Iron Transport Commissioner’s Office in Jinling.
It was with this stockpiled salt that Han Qian persuaded or enticed large numbers of mountain stronghold warriors to join the battle.
“Future salt trade can be left alone, but if the over five thousand stones of salt currently stored in Canglang City all belong to the Left Section, Second Brother here will have difficulty controlling the mountain stronghold recruitment—this batch of salt should also be under our management. At most, the salt funds the Left Section previously advanced can be properly verified and written off by the Granary Section,” Yao Xishui interjected, fearing Chai Jian wouldn’t see through the trap in Han Qian’s words.
The supplies the Left Section had previously subsidized were all easy to account for.
Since Chai Jian had decided not to interfere with the Left Section’s affairs anymore, they couldn’t arbitrarily encroach on the Left Section’s money and grain. But this recent batch of six thousand stones of salt, purchased with Left Section funds under the personal guarantee of the Third Prince and Shen Yang to recruit mountain stronghold warriors—how to account for this became the key issue.
The implication in Han Qian’s words just now was that if Chai Jian and the others wanted to take over this batch of supplies, they would have to settle with the Left Section at a price of three thousand coins per stone of salt.
“They say women have long hair but short insight. If we win this battle, based on military merit, how much reward will Brother Chai, Advisor Li, Commander Zhou and others ultimately receive? And if I hand over the mountain stronghold recruitment, I’ll only have four or five hundred convict soldiers to use. Put your hands on your chests and think—how much military merit am I yielding to you? Are you really going to haggle with me over ten million coins in salt profits? Could it be that all the effort I previously put into scheming for this, going so far as to turn several hairs white, isn’t worth this bit of salt profit?” Han Qian scolded Yao Xishui without courtesy.
The Left Section’s deficit over these past months had been too great. The over thirty million coins from Linjiang Money House’s fund collection had all been spent completely. Without these ten million coins in salt profits to fill the deficit, Han Qian would feel enormous pressure…