Chapter 394

Among the other nobles, many shared the same idea.

When they held the advantage, they thought only of grabbing more.

But now that they were at a disadvantage, many felt that paying ninety percent in taxes for three consecutive years was not unacceptable.

However, since Wei Pao, Meng Tian, and Feng Qiji these three held firm attitudes, determined to fight Ying Su to the bitter end, the others found it difficult to say anything more.

On the other side, Cheng Ze arrived at the Prime Minister's residence once again.

After he relayed the ultimatum from Meng Tian and the others, he saw Zhuge Liang's expression turn ugly.

Cheng Ze had long been mentally prepared for this reaction.

Had he been the Prime Minister, he too would not have accepted the other party's ultimatum.

178. The Ultimatum

"Do they know that issuing an ultimatum to the Emperor will enrage him? By then, far from leaving them ten percent, Gaobuhao Society might confiscate all their lands into state ownership!" Zhuge Liang said.

"This humble one also feels General Meng has no sincerity for negotiation; it's just that my status is low, I cannot speak up over there, and can only run errands to deliver messages for you," Cheng Ze said.

"Even if I immediately send someone to report to the Emperor, by the time the Emperor makes a decision and sends someone to notify me, nearly ten days will have passed; yet they have given only ten days, which truly puts me in a difficult position."

Zhuge Liang said.

"Should I go back and talk to them again, changing the deadline to fifteen days?" Cheng Ze asked.

Zhuge Liang thought for a moment and then said, "No need; I will immediately send someone to report to the Emperor, and I estimate they should be able to return by the tenth day."

"Then this humble one will go back and tell them right away," Cheng Ze said.

"You have worked hard," Zhuge Liang nodded.

As soon as Cheng Ze left, Zhuge Liang immediately sent people to notify the other three Regent Ministers and also invited the Retired Emperor Ying Zheng to the main hall.

At the same time, Wang Li and Li Xin also arrived.

Fu Hao did not come because she needed to guard Xianyang City.

It could be said that all the key figures Ying Su had left in Xianyang City were now present.

Then, Zhuge Liang relayed the ultimatum from Feng Qiji, Meng Tian, and the others.

707 "What? Are they joking? Daring to issue an ultimatum to Us?" Ying Zheng flew into a rage.

He referred to himself as 'Us,' subconsciously still considering himself the Emperor of Great Qin.

However, the others did not find this particularly strange, as this First Emperor often did so.

And Ying Su, mindful of family ties, did not dwell excessively on such details.

"Of course we cannot accept such an ultimatum! But we must make preparations; I believe Wei Pao, Meng Tian, and the others have the possibility of taking a desperate risk."

"If they truly fight us to the death, it will be a disaster for our Great Qin!"

Zhuge Liang said.

"Does that Meng Tian have the guts?" Ying Zheng asked.

"It is hard to say," Zhuge Liang said: "Sometimes when driven to a desperate situation, one loses reason, and at that time, anything becomes possible."

"I agree with Prime Minister Zhuge's view," Xiao He nodded: "Meng Tian and they have nearly a million troops; if all these people go mad and act recklessly, it will be a tremendous disaster!"

"In that case, why don't we strike first!" Li Xin said.

"Back when they were attacking the city, we should have killed them all!" Wang Li said.

"Previously, when they besieged Outside Xianyanggong, the reason I did not order a pursuit was because I intended to absorb their army for our own use."

"Now the situation has changed, so our strategy must change accordingly."

Zhuge Liang explained.

"Let us not discuss past matters; let us now talk about specific countermeasures," Xiao He said.

"Let me go; give me a thousand cannons, and I will definitely defeat Meng Tian!" Wang Li said.

"Let General Li Yuanba go with me to eliminate them!" Li Xin said.

"I believe in the abilities of you two generals, but that place is Huashan, where the terrain is extremely treacherous; the cannons cannot exert their full effect; furthermore, although General Li Yuanba is divinely brave, he is ultimately only one person—if the enemy hides deep within the dense forests and mountains, General Li will have no way to deal with them," Zhuge Liang said.

"Then what do you say we should do?" Li Xin asked.

"I believe we should immediately dispatch troops but advance without engaging, suppressing them within Huashan."

"As long as we besiege them for a period, their grain and fodder will be exhausted, and at that time we will win without fighting!"

Zhuge Liang said.

"Huashan is so vast; how can we surround it?" Li Xin asked.

"Although Huashan is vast, their marching routes are extremely limited; because Huashan is too dangerous, let alone a million troops, even the most experienced hunter cannot walk freely within Huashan."

"Therefore, it is unlikely they can leave Huashan from any other direction; they can only emerge from the path they used when they initially entered the mountains."

Zhuge Liang analyzed.

The terrain of Huashan was too treacherous; in many places, there were simply no roads.

Even the most agile person could not go wherever they wished.

Let alone nearly a million troops.

One must remember that not every soldier in an army is agile.

Some are physically strong and excel in power; they can fight on flat ground, but asking them to climb in the mountains is impossible.

Therefore, Meng Tian's army had extremely limited exit routes.

By blocking the several road intersections at the front, Meng Tian's army would basically be unable to get out.

"I believe the Prime Minister's strategy is feasible," Xiao He said.

"I also agree," Ying Zheng added.

Saying this, he added another sentence: "Let Li Xin lead the troops there, and let Li Yuanba go along as well."

Li Xin looked at Zhuge Liang; seeing that the latter raised no objection, he then said to Ying Zheng, "This subject will definitely capture the rebel Meng Tian and hand him over to the Emperor for punishment!"

"I believe in you!" Ying Zheng nodded, satisfied.

Li Xin thought, "Although I said this to you, the 'Emperor' I referred to is Ying Su, not you."

But he only thought this and did not dare to say it aloud.

Regardless, Ying Zheng is the First Emperor, the new Emperor's father, and the Retired Emperor.

Even though the Retired Emperor acts as the Emperor, Ying Su has no choice; as subjects, there is no need for them to struggle with the Retired Emperor over such a trivial matter.

"General Li, block the main passes; for some smaller roads, just send small units to patrol."

"If they attempt to break out via small paths and the number is not large, let them go once it is under several hundred or a thousand people."

Just as Li Xin was preparing to leave the great hall to make preparations, Zhuge Liang added a sentence.

"Let them go? Why?" Li Xin felt confused: "Are you worried there are too many small paths for me to guard? I can prepare a cavalry unit; no matter which small path enemies flee from, my cavalry can catch them!"

"I believe in your ability, but I intend to let them go on purpose."

"Let several hundred or a thousand people go; these few cannot stir up any waves," Zhuge Liang said.

"Although they cannot stir up big waves, isn't it better to kill them?" Li Xin still did not understand Zhuge Liang's intention.

"If we kill them all, that is equivalent to cutting off the rear route for the hundreds of thousands of troops in the mountains; they will no longer think of anything else but make up their minds to fight us to the death."

"By letting small units go, the others will know they still have a chance to live, so they will not easily make the decision of the battle to fight to the death."

Zhuge Liang explained.

"I understand!" Li Xin nodded.

The next day, Li Xin led the great army in full force toward Huashan.

Huashan is very precipitous; many places in the mountains have never been entered by anyone.

And the place where General Meng Tian and others were stationed was only equivalent to the outskirts of Huashan.

On the surface, it looks like Dashan is full of gaps everywhere and one can leave from anywhere.

But in reality, it is not so.

Only by taking the mountain paths left by predecessors is there a guarantee of being able to pass through.

Otherwise, first one would get lost, and second one would end up in dead ends like cliffs and precipices.

At that time, once supplies are cut off, combined with encountering bad weather, the result might well be the total annihilation of the army.

Therefore, General Meng Tian and others did not dare to wander around in the mountains at will.

This is also the reason Zhuge Liang believed they could be besieged.

179, Foot of Huashan

At the foot of Huashan, on a small hillside.