Chapter 400

"How can we know unless we try? That relative of mine is quite intelligent, and his eldest son is also very capable; we can have them contact other nobles in my name."

"As long as we gather another two or three hundred thousand troops and then attack Outside Xianyanggong, we can force them to return to protect Xianyang, and at that time we can take the opportunity to escape," Feng Qiji said.

Meng Tian smiled, thinking, You are thinking far too simply?

Yet he himself could not come up with a better plan; if he disagreed with Feng Qiji's proposal, it would appear that he was not of one mind with them.

Thinking this, Meng Tian agreed.

Soon, Feng Qiji wrote a letter in his own hand and handed it to his retainer, Ji Lin.

Meanwhile, Meng Tian found five experienced soldiers to go together with Feng Qiji's retainer.

That evening, the six of them walked toward the mountain's exterior under the cover of night.

Huashan is vast; even with many soldiers, the officials could not seal it off completely.

They blocked two main roads, while other areas were merely patrolled by patrol teams.

Therefore, large forces of tens of thousands could not easily leave, but small units could leave relatively easily.

Even so, the six people remained extremely cautious.

They first came to the edge of a small path and then hid in the grass, motionless.

Only after an incense stick's time had passed, and no unusual movements were heard nearby, did they quietly step onto the small path.

After walking for a while on the road, a scout suddenly stopped and made a hand signal.

Everyone immediately stopped and hid in the grass by the roadside.

After a short while, the sound of horse hooves was heard coming from ahead.

A cavalry unit quickly passed along the small path.

After the patrol team left, Ji Lin and the other five finally returned to the small path.

Thus, stopping and going along the way, they finally reached a place far from Huashan as the sky was about to brighten.

But they still dared not relax their vigilance.

Because the management of Great Qin was extremely strict; common people could not move about at will.

If one needed to travel far, one required a travel permit issued by the township, specifying where one was going and why.

If one moved about outside without a travel permit and was discovered by the authorities, one would be immediately arrested.

So Ji Lin and the other five dared not take the main roads, choosing only small paths instead.

Fortunately, Ji Lin was a local and very familiar with the terrain here; by the afternoon of the second day, they finally arrived at the Cheng residence.

At the Cheng Manor, Cheng Xionglin and Cheng Ze wore solemn expressions.

They had just met Feng Qiji's subordinate and had seen Feng Qiji's letter in his own hand.

Now they were in a dilemma.

One must know that Feng Qiji's current identity is that of a rebel; if caught, it means beheading.

Anyone connected with Feng Qiji would suffer collective punishment.

Their Cheng family, being Feng Qiji's distant relatives, originally could not escape involvement.

Fortunately, some time ago, acting as "envoys" for both sides, they had met Zhuge Liang, and Zhuge Liang had stated that their Cheng family would not be implicated.

But now Feng Qiji pulls this move, wanting their Cheng family to step forward to gather other nobles to lead troops and attack Outside Xianyanggong; isn't this pushing them into a fire pit?

The more Cheng Xionglin thought about it, the angrier he became; he slammed the letter heavily on the table.

"Feng Qiji is too excessive!"

"When he was Prime Minister before, he gave us no benefits; now that he is in trouble, he remembers us?"

"Not to mention whether we can gather two hundred thousand troops; even if we could, how could we attack Xianyang City?"

"They want us to go to our deaths to attract the government's attention, creating conditions for their escape."

"Such selfish behavior is truly rare!"

Cheng Xionglin cursed.

"Father, speak quietly; beware of ears behind the walls!" Cheng Ze quickly reminded.

Although Feng Qiji's subordinate was arranged to stay in the guest room, now only the two of them, father and son, were in the room.

Although this is the Cheng Manor, one cannot rule out that there are spies arranged by Feng Qiji.

If what they say is overheard by Feng Qiji's spies, then it would be disastrous.

"Ze'er, what do you say we do?" Cheng Xionglin asked.

"Father, since they have shown no benevolence, do not blame us for showing no righteousness!"

"We must tell Prime Minister Zhuge about this matter, so as to show loyalty to the new Emperor!"

Cheng Ze said.

Cheng Xionglin thought for a moment and nodded.

To tell the truth, he originally did not want to betray Feng Qiji.

After all, they were relatives.

But what Feng Qiji did this time was far too unprincipled.

Wanting to push their Cheng family out to die; he did not have Cheng Xionglin in his heart at all.

If Feng Qiji had plainly said to let their Cheng family make a sacrifice, and then promised them some benefits, or if he had previously helped the Cheng family greatly, that would have been acceptable.

But Feng Qiji had never helped the Cheng family before, and now he has not promised them any benefits.

Just directly ordering the Cheng family members to die for Feng Qiji; isn't this treating the Cheng family members as if they were not even human?

Why should others be willing to die for you, Feng Qiji? What are you, Feng Qiji, that you are one level higher than the Cheng family?

"Ze'er, you go out under the pretext of contacting nobles, then find Prime Minister Zhuge; be sure not to be watched by Feng Qiji's people!"

"They could not have come out of the mountains with only Ji Lin; but now only Ji Lin meets with us, so the others must surely be guarding nearby."

"I believe Feng Qiji won't trust us either, so you must be careful when you go out!"

Cheng Xionglin said.

"I will be careful." Cheng Ze nodded.

"There is no time to lose; go now." Cheng Xionglin said.

Cheng Ze left the hall and returned to his own room.

He took out some paint and glue and other items, then began to apply makeup.

In a short while, he transformed from a young master into an ordinary middle-aged man with a beard.

He changed into a servant's clothes, found a trusted subordinate, and the two of them pushed a manure cart out of the Cheng residence together.

As soon as they stepped out, they were spotted.

However, those few did not follow them.

Because they realized only two servants from the Cheng residence had come out, and they were pushing a manure cart, so they did not bother to tail them.

Cheng Ze and his trusted subordinate pushed the manure cart to the fields, then, seeing no one around, entered the woods, and hurried toward Outside Xianyanggong.

185. Cheng Ze's Request

Arriving at the gate of the Prime Minister's residence, Cheng Ze declared his identity to the guards.

Since he had visited the Prime Minister's residence before, and Zhuge Liang had instructed the guards there to let him in.

Therefore, he was smoothly led in by the guards.

Upon reaching the hall and seeing Zhuge Liang, Cheng Ze reported that Feng Qiji had sent someone to deliver a message to the Cheng family.

"He is at his wit's end," Zhuge Liang thought with secret joy.

Feng Qiji's ideas were utterly unworkable; the fact that those people could conceive such a plan showed they had no other options.

"The Prime Minister speaks wisely; even if our Cheng family did as he says, it would not succeed." Cheng Ze said.

"Your Cheng family has done very well; I will request recognition for your merit from the Emperor." Zhuge Liang said.

"We dare not claim such honor; we are merely following the tide. If possible, please use our merit to slightly reduce the Feng family's guilt." Cheng Ze said.

"I understand your thoughts, but Feng Qiji has committed such a heinous act of rebellion that it is hard for him to escape punishment. At that time, I will explain your thoughts to the Emperor, and let the Emperor decide." Zhuge Liang said.

"Thank you, Prime Minister!" Cheng Ze said gratefully.

"By the way, there is another matter I need you to handle." Zhuge Liang explained his plan to Cheng Ze.

His strategy was simple: have Cheng Ze act according to Feng Qiji's demands, but when persuading those nobles, do not put in too much effort; just persuade them casually.

The main purpose of this was to give Feng Qiji and his group hope, so they would not act rashly out of desperation.

Although even if they acted rashly out of desperation they could not turn the world upside down, their several hundred thousand troops still held some value.

It would be best if those armies could be persuaded to surrender or captured.