Mistakenly Connected to the Jade Flower Branch

Chapter 240 Persuading Surrender

Nianyao wanted to ask something more, but Xu Sheng interrupted her: "Actually, whether Yunting returns or not is not up to us, but up to Yunting himself. There's no point in us discussing it any further. Right now, we have important business to attend to, so let's hurry up and leave, lest General Jin get impatient waiting."

Nianyao asked, "One last question, did you remind Yunting about it?"

Xu Sheng said, "No."

Nianyao blurted out, "Why?"

Xu Sheng said solemnly, "Chief Xue, keeping one's word is the most basic quality of a person. You just asked the last question."

Qin Jiu quickly advised, "Let's go first, we can talk about this later."

Nianyao said to Qin Jiu, "I don't know how someone like him can lead troops? He gets sarcastic and impatient after only three sentences. If Luo An were here, that would be great."

Xu Sheng, unusually, didn't respond and strode forward.

Halfway up the mountain, there was a wide, flat area with a road in the middle. People lined up densely on both sides, each looking fierce and menacing, with bows drawn and knives in hand.

Fortunately, all three were worldly-wise and remained calm, continuing forward. At the end of the road were a few steps. Above the steps was a large council hall, packed with people, with Jin Hu seated at the head of the table.

Xu Sheng stood in front of Jin Hu, unfolded his folding fan and shook it: "Master Jin, we have come from afar, and we are not even offered a seat. This is not the way to treat guests."

Jin Hu held the wine jug, tilted his head back and took a big gulp, then waved his hand and said, "Sit."

In this large council hall, besides the grand chair that Jin Hu sat in, there was only one chair to his left. Sitting on it, three steps away, made one feel at a disadvantage.

Xu Sheng said with great courtesy, "Chief Xue, you must be tired from walking. Please have a seat!"

Xu Sheng put his hand on her shoulder and pushed and pressed her down. Nian Yao fell solidly into the chair with a thud.

Xu Sheng moved extremely fast, and Nian Yao had no time to react.

Since she was already seated, she decided to make the best of it. Knowing that she couldn't get up again in this situation, Nianyao simply crossed her legs, leaned slightly to one side, and adopted a nonchalant and irresponsible manner.

Jin Hu said, "Chief Xue, it's been a long time."

Nianyao said, "Let's not beat around the bush, General Jin. You are aware of the current situation. The Lord of Xiling is trapped, and you did not go to his rescue. Whether you were unwilling or unable to go, in the eyes of the Lord of Xiling, you are a traitor."

"If you want to become a mountain king, that's even more impossible. Of course, I'm not here to discuss the state of the world with General Jin; I'm here to avenge my brothers. Where is Ji Kongming? Hand him over!"

Jin Hu said, "Your Highness has come because of a personal grudge against the Great River Gang?"

Xu Shengyi said sternly, "The Dahe Gang has deep ties with Nanyue. The affairs of the Dahe Gang are almost equivalent to those of Nanyue. How can Nanyue stand idly by when our brothers from the Dahe Gang are murdered?"

Jin Hu said, "Then Chief Xue can go back in peace. Ji Kongming is already dead."

Nianyao frowned slightly: "General Jin, this is a serious matter, and we cannot be dismissed with just a few words from you."

Jin Hu said, "Please follow me, all three of you."

Jin Hu stood up, pushed open the back door, and walked out. The backyard was a huge training ground, surrounded by all kinds of weapon sheds.

Jin Hu raised his hand upwards and said, "Chief Xue, please take a look."

Nianyao looked up and was almost startled. Hanging at the very top of the flagpole was a human head—it was Ji Kongming. Presumably for easier identification, his hair had been completely shaved off. The bald head and wide-open eyes made his face appear even more terrifying and grotesque.

Nianyao took a few steps back, lowering her head, not daring to look any longer: "General Jin, you killed him?"

Jin Hu said proudly, "That's right, what use is there in keeping a treacherous villain like him around?"

Nianyao said, "Didn't General Jin kill him because he felt he was no longer of any use?"

Jin Hu didn't argue: "That's true, but in the end, it helped Chief Xue put his mind at ease. Chief Xue, shouldn't you show your appreciation?"

Nianyao was very unreasonable: "General Jin, killing your enemy is the only way to get revenge. Why do you expect me to do something in return for overstepping my bounds?"

Jin Hu looked Nian Yao up and down, quite surprised. Xu Sheng and Qin Jiu both smiled to themselves.

Before Jin Hu could speak, Nian Yao continued, "General Jin, if I remember correctly, you played a significant role in the deaths of hundreds of brothers in Yuezhou. Without your support, Ji Kongming wouldn't have dared to do it."

Jin Hu subconsciously touched the sword at his waist: "The three of you came here today not only for Ji Kongming?"

Nianyao said, "I have said that I came here to avenge my brothers."

Jin Hu nodded and turned to Xu Sheng: "What does Your Highness mean?"

Xu Sheng deftly deflected the question: "What Chief Xue means is what I mean."

Jin Hu wasn't easily intimidated: "Chief Xue, if you're seeking revenge for your brothers, three people probably won't be enough, will they?"

Nianyao said, "Of course it's not enough. Since Your Highness is standing with the Great River Gang, the Great River Gang must also give Your Highness face. General Jin, General Xue went to Yanshan to persuade us to surrender, and now Your Highness is personally visiting us. I wonder if General Jin has thought this through?"

Jin Hu's gaze shifted between Xu Sheng and Nian Yao: "Rumors in the martial world say that General Xue has disappeared in Yanshan. Chief Xue, Yanshan is innocent. In relations between two countries, envoys are not to be killed. If Your Highness uses this as a pretext to frame Yanshan, I, Jin Hu, will not accept it even if I die."

Jin Hu's tone softened, and Nian Yao wisely stopped there: "As long as General Jin is willing to discuss it, everything is negotiable. Your Highness, is that right?"

Xu Sheng laughed heartily: "That's right, it's windy in this courtyard. General Jin, let's go back and have a drink and chat."

Jin Hu led the three back to the council hall, his attitude having changed. Xu Sheng didn't stand on ceremony, sitting down opposite Jin Hu and ordering a pot of wine from him.

Nianyao had no choice but to stand on either side of Xu Sheng's chair with Qin Jiu, cursing inwardly, "Crossing the river and then burning the bridge, despicable villain."

Xu Sheng began to analyze the general situation of the world with Jin Hu, from the death of Batu in Mobei and the internal division to Nan Fei leading troops to drive out Bei Rou, from the pregnancy of the concubine of the Crown Prince of Dongyang to the surrender of Kunzhou, from the internal corruption of Xiling to Jin Hu being confined to the border for many years...

Nianyao stared at Xu Sheng, secretly admiring him. There were many things she didn't know, yet Xu Sheng seemed to know them all, and he could explain them logically and with evidence.

Finally, Xu Sheng spoke with utmost sincerity: "General Jin, those who understand the times are wise. Now, both Nan Yue and Dong Yang have their own ambitions, and Xi Ling's fate is sealed. General Jin is both brave and resourceful; it would be a pity if you were to try to become a bandit king."

If General Jin is willing to surrender, I can immediately appoint him as the Grand General of the Southern Yue Border Defense, with ample provisions and no deductions. General Jin knows how profitable the Dahe Gang's business is. Now that the Dahe Gang wants to cultivate land on various islands, they will have no worries about food in the future.

Life is fleeting, like grass in autumn. What is the purpose of living? Isn't it simply to have enough to eat and wear? How has Xiling treated General Jin and his brothers all these years? Don't General Jin and his brothers feel wronged when they think about it?

Don't you feel wronged? Of course I feel wronged! That final, simple rhetorical question struck a nerve with Jin Hu. They were called bandits in Yanshan precisely because their pay and provisions were embezzled, weren't they?

Xu Sheng is truly incorrigible. He used to covet the Dahe Gang's money, now he's eyeing their supplies! Does he think the Dahe Gang is so easy to bully?

Nianyao cursed Xu Sheng a hundred times in her heart, but still wore a smile on her face, as if she completely agreed with what Xu Sheng said.