Chapter 401

Killing them all is the worst possible strategy.

Besides, Zhuge Liang received news that Ying Su is returning soon!

On the other side, Cheng Ze returned home and relayed Zhuge Liang's request to Cheng Xionglin.

The father and son conferred and decided to make the act more convincing, so they invited Ji Lin over.

"Ji Lin, do you know that if we contact those nobles and it is discovered, our Cheng family will be ruined!" Cheng Xionglin said with a worried expression.

"My lord Feng said that once the matter is accomplished, he will certainly not forget your family's kindness!" Ji Lin said hurriedly.

"Did my lord Feng mention what benefits there would be?" Cheng Xionglin asked.

"This..." Ji Lin was at a loss.

When he came, Feng Qiji had not mentioned any benefits at all.

Just now, he had merely spoken those words off the cuff.

"We are contacting nobles to raise an army and rebel; this is a matter of losing one's head!"

"Taking such a huge risk, receiving only a 'thank you' in the end will not do!" Cheng Ze said from the side.

"Ze'er, do not be so rude! My lord Feng is our relative; although we do not share the same surname, the glory of the Feng family is the glory of the Cheng family!"

"Now that my lord Feng is in trouble, how can we not care?"

Cheng Xionglin glared at Cheng Ze.

"Father, the Emperor does not send hungry soldiers; even if we do not want benefits, what about the others? We are my lord Feng's relatives and can take risks for him, but other nobles will not think this way!"

"If they intended to raise an army, they would have already followed Wei Pao and the others; those remaining now are all hesitant and undecided."

"Without major benefits, how can we persuade them?"

Cheng Ze said.

Cheng Xionglin deliberately frowned, then looked at Ji Lin: "My son has a point; without a clear statement, how can we persuade other nobles?"

"My lord Feng sent me out in a hurry, so I forgot to mention some details. I believe my lord Feng, General Meng, and several Young Masters will not forget your Cheng family!"

The steward said.

"We believe it, but others do not," Cheng Xionglin said.

"How about this: first promise them some benefits, then I will immediately return to report to my lord Feng and make the benefits for everyone concrete; what do you think?" Ji Lin said.

Cheng Xionglin thought for a moment, then said: "Very well, I will first tell them that once the matter is accomplished in the future, rewards will be distributed according to merit; the smallest reward will be an official post in the court. Do you think this is acceptable?"

"This is a good idea!" Ji Lin said: "I will immediately send someone back to explain to my lord Feng; please also contact others immediately."

"You are sending someone back? Did you not come alone?" Cheng Xionglin said indifferently.

"Several people accompanied me; to avoid attracting the attention of the authorities, they are hiding elsewhere and have not shown themselves," Ji Lin said.

"Hmm, caution is indeed necessary." Cheng Xionglin nodded: "Ze'er, go prepare immediately. I will write a letter; take my letter and my lord Feng's letter to the Lin family in the Eastern Commandery. You must first test their attitude before revealing the truth. If they have no intention of rebellion, do not say anything; be careful they do not sell us out!"

"I understand, Father." Cheng Ze nodded: "The Lin family in the Eastern Commandery should not be a problem; they have intermarried with our Cheng family, so they are relatives by marriage."

"Although that is true, it is better to be cautious," Cheng Xionglin said.

"I will be careful," Cheng Ze said.

"By the way, you and Ji Lin go together; say that Ji Lin is a person of my Cheng family." Cheng Xionglin looked at Ji Lin.

He said this to show that he was truly willing to do business for Feng Qiji.

Bringing Ji Lin along would allow Ji Lin to witness the entire process of Cheng Ze persuading others.

If he did not mention it, Ji Lin would have some doubts.

But with him saying this, Ji Lin was completely reassured about the Cheng family.

"I will not go; someone from the Lin family has seen me, and if I go, I might be recognized," Ji Lin said hurriedly.

"Then next time we go to other nobles, I will bring you along; you and Ze'er can persuade them together, which will be more effective!" Cheng Xionglin indicated.

"We will see then," Ji Lin nodded.

The Cheng father and son acted the part very convincingly in front of Ji Lin, leaving Ji Lin with no reason to suspect them.

Thus, Cheng Ze pretended to make a trip to the Lin family in the Eastern Commandery.

Upon arriving at the Lin family and stating the matter requested by Feng Qiji, the head of the Lin family immediately changed color.

"Cheng Ze, are you not putting me on the fire?" Lin Lin Zhensheng said with a bitter face: "The situation is so tense now; if we make one mistake, our whole family will die! You may not understand this, but surely your father does?"

"I have no choice; who else can I blame but that my lord Feng is our relative?" Cheng Ze said: "If I do not come to find you, I cannot explain to my lord Feng."

"Now you can explain, but our Lin family will also be handed over to you!" Lin Lin Zhensheng said displeased.

"Uncle, if you do not wish to participate, please do not reveal this matter; just pretend I never came, how about that?" Cheng Ze said.

"Go back and tell your father that it is not that I do not want to help my lord Feng, but that my ability is limited and I cannot help," Lin Lin Zhensheng said.

"I understand; then I will return first." Cheng Ze said as he stood up.

After leaving the Lin family, Cheng Ze immediately headed to another wealthy household.

186, All Are Waiting and Watching

When Cheng Ze arrived at another household, he did not directly mention the matter of raising an army.

This family was different from the Lin family and had no connection with the Cheng family.

Unlike the Lin family and the Cheng family, who were closely related and would not report even if they disagreed with raising an army,

others might not be the same.

Let alone these people; did the Cheng family itself not report Feng Qiji?

So Cheng Ze merely chatted casually with the other party and then tested their views on nobles causing trouble.

Seeing that the other party was acting cautiously, Cheng Ze said no more and chose to rise and take his leave.

He did this entirely for Feng Qiji and those others to see.

Even while heading to the Lin family, he had already discovered that he was being followed.

Besides, the old fox Feng Qiji may have also planted spies within some of the great families.

Therefore, Cheng Ze must be very cautious and act as if he is truly going to persuade other nobles on Feng Qiji's behalf.

Ten days later, Cheng Ze had made no progress on his end.

Most nobles adopted a wait-and-see attitude.

They did not want to offend the new Emperor, nor did they want to offend Feng Qiji, Wei Pao, and others.

A few nobles expressed willingness to send troops, but with one condition: they would only act after other nobles had sent their forces.

This result also reached Feng Qiji's ears.

He was not surprised by it.

Those who were determined to resist the new Emperor to the end had already joined their ranks.

Those who had not participated were the ones with wavering resolve.

Meanwhile, unrest began to stir within the noble army itself.

The common soldiers, needless to say, had long since grown tired of this war.

Even among the middle and upper levels, some people's resolve began to waver.

Now, they had lost all confidence in achieving victory.

Ying Su's cannons and Li Yuanba were hurdles they could not overcome.

Besides these two, Su also had great generals like Li Xin, Wang Li, and Fu Hao.

And all the resources of Great Qin.

As long as Ying Su was willing, he could transfer troops from other locations.

By then, whether in terms of generalship, weaponry, or numbers, Ying Su's side would far surpass theirs.

At present, only two paths lay before them: first, find another way out and then get rid of the imperial soldiers;

second, slip away secretly.

For some middle and lower-level commanders, surrendering to the government might still offer a chance of survival.

However, slipping away secretly was not easy; if discovered, it would mean certain death.

Therefore, no one had yet attempted to flee in secret.

On the other side, outside the walls of Xianyang, a group of riders approached slowly.

Ahead, more than a dozen tall horses carried knights holding the banners of Great Qin.

"The Emperor has returned!"

The city guards saw them from afar and immediately began cheering.

Shortly after, the city gates swung wide open.