Chapter 98

Seeing this scene, the surrounding "cellmates" immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

But soon, someone looked at Su Qiao with reluctance and said,

"Lord Su, I didn't expect this day to come so quickly."

"Say no more, Lord Su; we respect you as a true man. If there is a next life, we will listen to your stories again!"

"..."

Hearing the "cellmates'" words, which sounded almost like a farewell,

Su Qiao suddenly came to his senses.

He looked excitedly at Commander Commander Jiang Huang and asked,

"Director Commander Commander Jiang, this food is...?"

After Commander Commander Jiang Huang snorted twice, he thought: That old Zhu bestowed the food, so why be so tsundere and refuse to admit it?

How am I supposed to make this up?!

Commander Commander Jiang Huang couldn't help but sigh and say,

"Why ask so many questions? Just eat quickly."

Commander Commander Jiang Huang's expression was grave, while the surrounding "cellmates" kindly explained the situation to Su Qiao.

"Brother Su, you are just leaving a few days early; wait for us old brothers on the road, and in some days we will join you on the journey."

Hearing this, Su Qiao's face immediately revealed a hint of joy.

"Hahaha, then I borrow your auspicious words."

"I, Old Su, will take my leave first!"

Thinking that he would soon be able to return home, Su Qiao immediately became excited.

His eyes constantly scanned the wine and dishes before him as he clicked his tongue and said,

"Aiya, Director Commander Commander Jiang, you brought so much that I can't finish it all by myself."

"If any of you brothers don't mind me, shall we share a meal together?"

The surrounding "cellmates" were stunned upon hearing this.

They had heard of treating guests to meals, but this was the first time anyone had treated guests to a "last meal before execution."

The surrounding "cellmates" stared at the large table of wine and dishes before Su Qiao and swallowed hard.

Some of these people had already been imprisoned in the Imperial Prison for over half a year.

They did not receive the "special care" that Su Qiao did.

Moreover, most of them had long since seen through life and death.

In an instant, the gaze of everyone in the Imperial Prison focused on Commander Commander Jiang Huang.

Commander Commander Jiang Huang hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping himself.

This food was bestowed by Old Zhu specifically for Su Qiao.

It wasn't his place to say anything about it!

Seeing Su Qiao's determined expression, Commander Commander Jiang Huang could only wave his hand helplessly.

The Imperial Prison immediately turned into a sea of joy.

Su Qiao looked at Commander Commander Jiang Huang standing aside and smiled, saying,

"Director Commander Commander Jiang, don't just stand there; watching me eat makes me unable to swallow."

"Come over and eat some with us."

Looking at Su Qiao with a helpless expression, Commander Commander Jiang Huang had no choice but to personally step forward and open the cell door.

Su Qiao was not the type of person who talked excessively.

After all, there were few entertainment activities in this era.

The only thing one could do for fun was chat.

This was especially true for someone like Su Qiao, who was imprisoned.

Not having conversations with the bars of the Imperial Prison already counted as being mentally normal.

Commander Commander Jiang Huang raised his wine cup and helplessly toasted Su Qiao.

"Lord Su, I, Commander Commander Jiang Huang, am a rough man."

"I truly admire your foresight and vision; I just don't understand why you repeatedly oppose our Emperor."

"To be honest, with your talents, if you had sincerely assisted in governance, you would undoubtedly have secured a position as a regent in the future."

Su Qiao raised his wine cup, smiled, and waved his hand, saying,

"Enough, enough; what foresight and vision?"

"Wasn't it just keeping His Majesty entertained to pass the time?"

"Do you really think that having imperial clan members die on the battlefield and then executing a few civil and military officials could turn Great Ming from danger to safety?"

From beginning to end, Su Qiao had treated all of this merely as stories fantasized by Old Zhu, who was bored and idle in the rear palace.

He never expected that in Great Ming, more than two hundred years later, an entire generation of the imperial clan had already died.

Similarly, Su Qiao, with wine down his throat, also failed to notice

that Commander Commander Jiang Huang before him had frozen stiff on the spot.

"It... it can't be done?"

The moment these words left his mouth,

the entire Imperial Prison immediately fell into dead silence.

This was especially true for Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang, who was hiding outside the Imperial Prison, eavesdropping against the wall.

My Zhu family's two hundred thousand-plus descendants have all died on the battlefield.

"You're telling me you made all this up just to tease me?!"

"Where is my blade?!"

With that, Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang rose, intending to charge into the Imperial Prison to fight Su Qiao to the death.

But then he thought better of it.

"Wait, that's not right!"

"Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Youjian did indeed say as much over there."

"The situation in Liaodong has truly and firmly stabilized!"

Commander Commander Jiang Huang casually glanced at an Embroidered Uniform Guard in the distance, seemingly without a second thought.

With just that single expression, Commander Commander Jiang Huang sat back down, frowning deeply as he asked Su Qiao,

"Lord Su, something isn't right. Yet, your strategy does seem flawless on the surface."

Su Qiao couldn't help but lift his wine cup and smile.

"Indeed, it truly is flawless."

"But you must think further."

"After the imperial clan members die in battle beyond the passes, then what?"

"'Governing a great state is like cooking a small fish.'"

"Surely, once the Great Ming is rid of powerful enemies beyond the passes, it won't automatically enjoy ten thousand years of unity, will it?"

Hearing this, Commander Commander Jiang Huang shook his head and whispered,

"I do not understand."

Su Qiao held his wine cup, clicking his tongue in thought.

"Let me pose the simplest question."

"Director Commander Commander Jiang, consider this: suppose all of this actually happens."

"Do you think those powerful enemies beyond the passes, whether the Northern Northern Northern Yuan or the Jurchens, could withstand the thunderous strike of all Han Chinese that would follow?"

Commander Commander Jiang Huang stated decisively,

"Naturally, they could not withstand it."

Su Qiao nodded slightly.

"There you have it."

"After eliminating the external threat, then what?"

"The shame is avenged, and everything returns to square one."

"The civil and military officials of the Great Ming can once again indulge in song and dance amidst rising prosperity. They will embezzle as they always have. What difference does it make if you replace one batch of officials with another?"

"They are merely a layer floating on the surface."