Dust motes danced in the air, the house both inside and out was quiet, as if no one were there. Search: \(、Complete、Book、God、Station、) to read quality literature for free. The spring air was slightly chilly, with a hint of moisture that seeped into one's skin. Fan Hongji stood there, observing the people in the room, scrutinizing each of their faces. Luo Ye glanced at the two heads on the table, then calmly shifted his gaze away. Ning Yi stood smiling outside the door, appraising Fan Hongji, then surveying the expressions of everyone in the room. Just as Fan Hongji seemed about to speak, he began.

"Haha, Envoy Fan, you are truly courageous, admirable indeed."

"Oh?" Fan Hongji turned his head, smiling as he looked at Ning Yi who walked in. "What makes you say that, Mr. Ning?"

"If those two warriors were truly from Xiaocang River, how could Envoy Fan come here like this and expect to leave unscathed?" Ning Yi walked to the table, patted the wooden box, and said with a smile.

Fan Hongji also smiled. "Haha, Mr. Ning, you flatter me. That's not how I see it. If these two warriors were truly from your ranks, and your faction were so unwise, I fear that in this great upheaval of the world, Xiaocang River would hardly escape unscathed. Or… perhaps there would be nowhere to retreat."

"As we said before, we'll only know after we fight."

Fan Hongji's gaze sharpened as he looked at Ning Yi for a moment, then said, "So, these two are indeed warriors from Xiaocang River?"

Ning Yi's eyes swept over everyone in the room, and he said, one word at a time, "Of course not."

"But judging by the expressions of your subordinates, they don't seem to agree."

Fan Hongji spoke slowly and deliberately. Ning Yi then shook his head, his gaze gentle.

"Envoy Fan, I understand the thoughts of Lord Gushen and Dean Shi. But you bringing two heads like this, and placing them in front of a group of young men who play with knives, anyone would feel challenged. And frankly speaking, your country captured nearly two hundred thousand people in Bianliang. While it's true that the Wu Dynasty is incompetent, I don't wish to be enemies with your country. But if there were a way to save these people, even through ransom, I would be very willing to do so. Envoy Fan, as I said yesterday, although Xiaocang River has the bottom line that Chinese people should not surrender to foreign powers, we are very willing to engage in trade. You see, your Jin country captures hundreds of thousands of people in a single battle. If you were really willing to trade, you would profit handsomely."

Just as Fan Hongji was about to speak, Ning Yi leaned closer and patted him on the shoulder. "Envoy Fan, you are a Han who holds a high position in the Jin court. Your family must have influence in the north. You see, if this business were done by you, and we joined hands, wouldn't it be a wonderful thing?"

Ning Yi was about to continue when the other party waved his hand. "Mr. Ning, you are indeed eloquent. However, Han Chinese prisoners are also not allowed to be traded to foreign countries. This is a decision made by our Great Jin, and it cannot be changed. Therefore, Mr. Ning's kindness is unfortunately rejected. As for these heads…"

"Hey, who says decisions can't be changed? There must be a compromise," Ning Yi interrupted him. "Envoy Fan, look, we are killing the Wu Dynasty emperor and now reside in this remote northwest corner, seeking a good reputation. You capture Wu Dynasty prisoners, use the men for labor and the women as prostitutes, which is certainly useful, but there will come a day when they are useless. For example, if a prisoner is beaten and cursed, loses a hand or foot, or is close to death, they are useless to you. You name a price, sell them to us, and we will give them a decent end. The world will give me a good reputation, and you can earn another profit. You see, if you don't have enough people, you can capture them in the south. The Jin army is invincible, prisoners are easily obtained. The Marshal Nianhan, Lord Gushen, and Dean Shi, will likely be interested in this proposal. If Envoy Fan can facilitate this, I will certainly reward you handsomely."

Fan Hongji frowned. "...You even want those with broken hands and feet, close to death?"

"Of course, we prefer those who are healthy, but everything is difficult in the beginning. Our ambitions are not great, we can take it slowly."

"Mr. Ning, this matter is not within my authority. Let's talk about these heads first. If these two are not from your ranks, I shall…"

The atmosphere in the room, which had been tense, became somewhat strange. Fan Hongji, also a remarkable man, brought the topic back and was about to take the two heads. At that moment, Ning Yi reached out and pushed the box containing the heads. "Leave the heads here."

"Hmm?" Fan Hongji turned his head, staring at Ning Yi, one word at a time, as if he had grasped something. "Mr. Ning, this could easily lead to misunderstandings."

"Whether there are misunderstandings or not, it doesn't matter much," Ning Yi waved his hand casually. "Since they are both warriors, they must belong to some faction in the south. It just so happens that Envoy Fan brought them here. I will inquire about them and promote them extensively, and then send their heads back. This will create goodwill. With goodwill, there will be interactions and business. Envoy Fan, there's no reason to take back a gift."

"If Mr. Ning takes them, I will have to report it truthfully when I return."

"Of course, you must report it truthfully, definitely report it. Envoy Fan, feel free to say that these people are from my Xiaocang River, or repeat today's events verbatim, it doesn't matter. Even if these people are really mine, it only shows my sincere intention to do business. Envoy Fan, why not take the opportunity to mention this matter?" Ning Yi put his arm around Fan Hongji's shoulder. "Come, Envoy Fan, this place is uninteresting. I'll take you to see the treasures brought from Bianliang City."

"You…"

Fan Hongji struggled, and Ning Yi led him out. Everyone only heard Fan Hongji say after leaving the door, "Mr. Ning, you are eloquent, but I fear it will be useless. I already said yesterday what the purpose of this army is. If Xiaocang River is unwilling to surrender, unwilling to hand over firearms and other items, whatever I say will be meaningless."

"I have the same words. If you want to fight, we will accept it. The Jurchens emerged from the Changbai Mountains, invincible with ten thousand men, but only seeking to survive. We are the same. If General Lou Shi is determined, we will certainly treat you generously. It is simple. But if there is a slight chance of turning things around, of course I would prefer it. Envoy Fan, don't嫌 me for being verbose. As long as your side is just, fair, and has goodwill, the matter of firearms is not impossible to discuss, right?"

"Oh…"

"It's just that we live in the mountains, and this item is the foundation of our Chinese army. If we really want to exchange it, the Great Jin must have sincerity, a lot of sincerity. Surely Envoy Fan can understand this? Haha, please come this way…"

The voices of the two gradually faded away, and the room remained quiet. Placed on the table, the heads of Lu Yannian and his deputy Qi Zhenbiao looked at everyone in the room. At some point, someone suddenly slammed the table. Qu Qing, who had been leading the lectures and discussions in the room, also did not speak. He stood for a while, then walked out. About half an hour later, he returned. Ning Yi also came over. He entered the room, looked at the heads on the table, and his expression was solemn.

After a while, he turned his head to look at everyone who was standing in the room. "Have your faces been slapped swollen?"

Among the crowd, a young man named Chen Xing bit his lip, then suddenly looked up. "Report! When that Fan surname took out the stuff earlier, I couldn't control myself. The sound of my fist clenching was probably heard by him. I request punishment!"

Someone else spoke up. "I also request punishment!"

"Mr. Ning, I'll go kill him. He's already seen through us anyway," someone else said.

"Like Xixia, we're going to fight anyway. Then let's fight! Mr. Ning, we may not be able to defeat Wanyan Lou Shi!"

"Better to die than surrender!"

Ning Yi's gaze swept over their faces, his brow furrowed, his expression cold. He turned his head and glanced at Lu Yannian's head again. "I asked you to have bloodiness, but you used it in the wrong place?"

He walked around to the table, sat down, and tapped the surface a few times. "What were the results of your earlier discussion? If we go to war with Lou Shi, will we win?"

"No," Luo Ye said. "It would be best to have more time."

Ning Yi looked at him. "Fighting Xixia was a strategic goal set long ago. No matter what we do to the Xixia envoys, the strategy remains unchanged. But now, because you were slapped in the face, you want to change your strategy and start the war early. Is this your loss, or theirs?"

His words were calm, and there was no answer in the room. Ning Yi continued, "The Jin country is mainly Jurchen. The Han Chinese who can hold positions in the court are not to be underestimated. Fan Hongji gave me a show of strength, that's right. It was embarrassing for me. The already dead Shopkeeper Lu makes me even more uncomfortable. But what did I tell you before? It's not about being a man who gets angry easily. A true man takes care of the people behind him. You are all military generals, each with hundreds of lives under your command. You can't joke about making decisions. You can't allow any impulsiveness. You must be extremely calm. Every bit of your calmness could save several lives."

His gaze swept around solemnly, then relaxed slightly. "The Jurchens are the same. Wanyan Xiyin and Shi Li'ai have their eyes on us, and they won't let us off easily. But today, whether these two heads are ours or not, their decisions won't change. Wanyan Lou Shi will pacify other places and then come looking for us. If you kill Fan Hongji, they won't rush over tomorrow, but… we might be able to delay, to negotiate. As long as we can have more time, I'll kneel down to him if I have to. Just now, I sent them some paintings, calligraphy, and bronze pots, all priceless treasures."

"There's a trick to giving gifts," Ning Yi thought for a moment. "The ones we publicly give to them, they accept, and they might take them out when they go back. So I chose some smaller, but more valuable jades. In the next two days, I'll give them each a private, secret gift. This way, even if they take out the good things publicly, they'll still have a private heart. As long as they have a private heart, the information they report will definitely be biased. When you become generals in the future, you must pay attention to this point when identifying information."

Ning Yi was silent for a moment, and said, "Is there anyone among you who is willing to go with me to do this act of giving gifts and pretending to be grandsons?"

As soon as these words came out, everyone in the room began to speak one after another, volunteering: "Me."

"Mr. Ning, I'm willing to go!"

Ning Yi smiled. "Just kidding."

He stood up. "I'll say it again, you are soldiers, you must maintain bloodiness, but this bloodiness is not for you to let it cloud your minds and mess things up. Remember today's events in your hearts. One day in the future, I'll need you to get back my reputation. If the Jurchens aren't hurting, I won't let you off either."

"As for now, admit when you've done wrong, stand at attention when you've been beaten. Shopkeeper Lu's head and Qi Brother's head won't be buried for a few days, you all remember them well. We're not the ones in the most pain." He looked at the two heads. After a long time, he breathed a sigh of relief. "Alright, I and the brothers of Zhuji will do the acting of grandson, and I have only one request for you. In the next two days, when you see Fan Surname and the others, control yourselves…"

He knocked on the table and turned to go out.

“…Be friendly.”

In the following day, Ning Yi went again, discussing business with Fan Hongji, and took the opportunity to give gifts to those who came alone.

On February 29th, Fan Hongji left Xiaocang River. Ning Yi sent him off a long way. When they finally parted, Fan Hongji looked back at Ning Yi's sincere smiling face, and the emotions in his heart were a little difficult to categorize.

In fact, if he could really start a human trafficking business with these people, it would probably be good, and his family would profit countless. He thought to himself. It's just that Lord Gushen and Dean Shi might not allow it. For those who are unwilling to surrender, the Jin country has no need to keep them. Moreover, Lord Gushen's emphasis on firearms is not just a little bit of interest.

Lord Lou Shi's current management of Guanshan is a war god of the Jurchen clan. Even as a Han minister, Fan Hongji could clearly know the horror of this war god. Soon, he would sweep the Northwest and everything north of the Yellow River.

What a pity…

At this time, in various parts of the Northwest, not only Xiaocang River. The Jurchens also sent envoys to the various territories and forces belonging to the Zhe and Zhong families to persuade them to surrender. On the vast Central Plains, the three-way army of the Jurchens surged down, and hundreds of thousands of Wu Dynasty royalist troops gathered in various places, waiting for the moment of collision.

Soon, the collision arrived.

Yungzhong Prefecture.

Lu Mingfang weakly crawled out of his hiding place, quietly searching for food in the night. It was a dilapidated house, a messy courtyard. He was seriously injured, his consciousness was blurred, and he didn't even know how he got here. The only thing he grasped tightly was the knife in his hand.

The sound of footsteps and voices seemed to have passed by outside. Lu Mingfang took a breath and struggled to get up, trying to find something useful in the dilapidated house. Behind him, there was a creak.

The door opened, then closed again.

Lu Mingfang raised his knife with difficulty. His body swayed twice, and the figure came towards him, its footsteps light, almost silent.

"Don't be afraid, I am a Han Chinese."

The voice was soft and steady, and unusually, carried a hint of firmness, a woman's voice. Before he fell down, the other party had already come over, steadily supporting his hand and shoulder. In the moment before he fainted, he saw the side of that face in the faint moonlight. Beautiful, resilient, and calm.

This was the first time he met Chen Wenjun.

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