Chapter 132: with translation of chapter title

Su Qin's northward journey was fraught with hardship, peril, and unknown challenges.

At that time, the Zhongyuan region was in extreme turmoil, even more chaotic than the Warring States period; constant feuds among states, flames of war raging, and the people lived in dire straits.

Su Qin, placed in such an environment, had to face not only harsh natural conditions but also various complex interpersonal relations and political struggles.

In this turbulent era, military governors and prefects of all sizes were as numerous as carp crossing the river; they called the wind and rain on their own territories, taking turns to shine, making things exceedingly lively.

Although nominally they still acknowledged the Later Tang Court as orthodox, in fact they had long regarded themselves as local emperors; each ruled independently, neither buying into the other's authority, and none submitting to anyone else.

Among them, some rose to high position relying on family power and background, others on their own military exploits and talent; but regardless of origin, once they held power they became greedy and overbearing.

Within their domains they imposed arbitrary levies and oppressed the people, completely disregarding the Court's edicts and the populace's lives; moreover, they often clashed over territory and interests, sometimes even sparking war.

To have them set aside their mutual hatred and suspicion, unite, and undertake a 'for the country and the people' good deed is nearly as hard as climbing to heaven.

Su Qin's first stop was the Later Tang capital, Luoyang.

He did not go directly to see those warlords who held Military Power, but first came to see the Later Tang Court's emperor, Li Siyuan's adopted son, Li Congke.

He knew that to raise a coalition with proper justification he must first obtain the Court's 'righteous cause' mandate.

Yet when he met this doomed emperor, his heart turned cold halfway.

Li Congke, though also angry and fearful of Shi Jingtang's rebellion and the Khitan threat, had only a handful of Central Imperial Guards, barely enough to suppress rebellions in the vicinity of the capital, let alone launch an expedition against Shi Jingtang and the Khitan.

All he could give Su Qin was an empty document—a sternly worded but utterly useless edict of condemnation.

"Master Su, it's not that I don't want to send troops; the treasury is empty and our forces are insufficient!" Li Congke complained with a worried face, "Now the only plan is to rely on all the warlords, unite their efforts, and face the national crisis together."

Su Qin snorted coldly inside but kept a calm face: "Your Majesty need not worry. The Wang Family, harboring a heart to aid the state, has long made thorough preparations. Funds, grain, and arms pose no problem. Your Majesty need only issue an edict to command the world, and that will be the greatest support for the coalition."

Having obtained the banner of 'Heaven‑mandated Punishment of Rebels,' Su Qin immediately left Luoyang and rushed nonstop to his next destination—Weibo.

The Weibo military governor, Fu Yanzhen, was a renowned general of the age; his Weibo elite troops were famed nationwide. More importantly, his territory lay close to Shi Jingtang's Hedong and the Khitan's southern invasion route.

Once war broke out, he would be the first to bear the brunt and also the most crucial force.

Inside the governor's residence, the battle‑scarred veteran Fu Yanzhen was sizing up Su Qin with a doubtful expression.

"You say the Wang Family of Jiangnan is willing to freely provide arms and grain to help us resist the Khitan?" Fu Yanzhen's voice was full of distrust, "Is there really such a good thing in the world? What does the Wang Family want?"

Having spent a lifetime on horseback, he had seen more schemes and tricks than Su Qin had read books; he absolutely did not believe anyone would hand out such a great benefit for no reason.

Su Qin gave a faint smile, calmly drew something from his bosom.

It was a finely crafted short dagger; its sheath was simple, but the hilt was inlaid with a huge luminous pearl.

"Commander Fu, please look at this dagger."

Fu Yanzhen took the short dagger and casually drew it.

"Whoom"—a dragon's roar.

A flash of cold light swept through; the whole hall seemed to brighten for a moment.

Fu Yanzhen, a connoisseur, sucked in a cold breath at just one glance.

The dagger is forged entirely from hundred‑fold refined steel, its blade bearing fine, water‑like patterns; at a glance it is clearly a superior weapon.

He casually swung it at a bronze incense burner on the nearby table.

"Crack!"

A crisp sound.

The incense burner, like tofu, was split cleanly in two!

Yet the dagger's edge showed not a single nick.

"Fine blade!" Fu Yanzhen's eyes lit up instantly. His troops, though brave, their weapons, compared to this dagger, are nothing but fire sticks.

"Commander Fu," Su Qin's voice rang out calmly, "this dagger is the most mass‑produced, most ordinary standard weapon from the Wang Family Weapon workshop; we can produce a hundred thousand of them."

"A hundred thousand?!" Fu Yanzhen's hand trembled.

"Not bad," Su Qin said with a confident smile, "besides the daggers, there is matching armor made of the same refined steel; ordinary bows cannot pierce it within fifty paces, and we can also supply a hundred thousand sets."

Fu Yanzhen's breathing began to quicken.

He seemed already to see his tens of thousands of Weibo elite troops, if equipped with such gear, becoming a terrifying force!

"You… what exactly do you want?" his voice grew hoarse.

Su Qin withdrew his smile, his expression turning grave.

"What we want is simple. Commander Fu, please look at the map."

He walked to the large map hanging on the wall and pointed at the location of the Yanshan Mountains.

"This is the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, the northern gateway of Zhongyuan. Shi Jingtang, in pursuit of his imperial dream, wishes to hand this gate over to the Khitan himself."

"Once the gate is opened, the Khitan iron cavalry can ride south at any time. Then who will be the first to bear the brunt?"

Su Qin's finger tapped heavily on Weibo's territory.

"It is you, Commander Fu!"

"What the Khitan want is not merely land, but plunder and slaughter. Wherever they pass, only scorched earth remains. Commander Fu, your lifelong efforts, the foundation you have built, and the million people under your rule will all become fish on the Khitan's knives."

"When the lips are gone, the teeth feel the cold—I need say no more."

Fu Yanzhen's face darkened as if water could drip from it.

Every word of Su Qin's struck a chord in his heart.

He certainly understood the reasoning, yet to risk his life for an illusory 'All‑Under‑Heaven' against the mighty Khitan still made him hesitate.

"Even if I agree, the other warlords may not follow. Then I would be left alone to face the Khitan's main force—wouldn't I become a fool?" Fu Yanzhen raised the most practical concern.

"Commander Fu, rest assured," Su Qin, as if he had anticipated the question, replied, "You are not fighting alone."

He then drew another list from his bosom.

"The Tianping Army military governor, An Chongrong—this man has always been brave and holds a generations‑old grudge against the Khitan. I have already sent him five thousand sets of 'Wang Family' equipment; he has promised that, once war breaks out, he will strike the Khitan from the eastern flank."

"The Zhangyi Army military governor, Shi Hongzhao—this man is greedy for wealth and profit. The Wang Family has already promised him fifty thousand taels of gold after the war if he sends troops, and he is already tempted."

"And furthermore…"

Each time Su Qin spoke a name, Fu Yanqing's complexion shifted a bit.

He never expected that this seemingly frail Jiangnan scholar, before coming to see him, had already secretly won over so many people.

"As for provisions and military pay." Su Qin finally dropped a bombshell: "My Wang Family is willing to bear half of the allied army's expenses! All grain and funds will be transported by my Wang Family's fleet via the canal directly to Liyang storage. Commander Fu, you only need to send troops; everything else, you need not worry about!"

Fu Yanqing was completely moved.

Some contributed money, some contributed equipment, and some fought alongside him. All he had to do was lead his brothers into battle.

If victorious, he would become a great hero defending home and country, with unrivaled reputation.

If defeated… it seemed there would be little loss, after all the equipment wasn't his.

This deal is profitable no matter how you calculate it!

"Good!" Fu Yanqing slammed the table, made up his mind, "I'll do it!"

"However, I still have one condition."

"Please speak, Commander Fu."

"Your Wang Family must first send over ten thousand sets of equipment. Once I see the goods, I will dispatch troops immediately!" Fu Yanqing said, shrewd and calculating. He still felt uneasy, fearing it might be an empty promise.

Su Qin laughed heartily.

"Commander Fu, you greatly underestimate my Wang Family's sincerity."

He clapped his hands.

Outside the door, a Wang Family guard came in holding a box.

Su Qin opened the box; inside was a pure gold tiger tally carved with a fierce tiger.

"Commander Fu, this is the troop-mobilizing tiger tally of my Wang Family's large fleet. With this tally, you can at any time dispatch a Wang Family fleet moored at Bainai Ferry (Yellow River crossing). On board are the ten thousand sets of equipment you need."

"Now, can you rest easy?"

Fu Yanqing looked at the gleaming gold tiger tally, then at Su Qin's confident face, and completely set aside all his doubts.

He rose to his feet and solemnly clasped his hands toward Su Qin.

Thus, relying on the Wang Family's abundant financial and material resources, and Su Qin's eloquent tongue that never wears out.

A Anti-Khitan Alliance led by Wei Bo Jiedushi Fu Yanqing, which encompassed several powerful garrisons in the Zhongyuan region, was formed in just a short Era Name Deadline.

Vast amounts of equipment were continuously transported northward by water.

The Zhongyuan soldiers, accustomed to crude Weapon, upon receiving the exquisitely crafted, peerlessly sharp Wang Family Weapon, all shouted excitedly, morale soaring to unprecedented heights.

Meanwhile, far away in the Liao upper capital, Yelü Deguang, who was dreaming of becoming the "father emperor," and Shi Jingtang, still in Hedong awaiting "good news," remained completely unaware.

They never imagined that, to their south, the Jiangnan they had always looked down upon had quietly prepared a "feast" for them.