Chapter 1056

Nan Jun's reputation skyrocketed, shining brightly across the entire Great Yu.

The higher Nan Jun's prestige rose, the worse the reputations of Ruan Yuchang and Yan Yan became.

Wherever people gather, if anyone praises Chen Wujì, someone is sure to insult Ruan Yuchang and Yan Yan.

Recently, a rather intriguing incident surfaced: the former premier Ruan Yuchang couldn't even protect his own ancestral grave; thieves, under the cover of night, looted it entirely, leaving not a bone of his Ruan forebears untouched.

This incident's fresh buzz rivals Chen Wujì's recent triumph of retaking Yima River—both are this month's top stories, which in later ages would dominate the trending charts.

While Ruan Yuchang's notoriety now harms his own ancestors, Chen Wujì's fame brings many advantages—lately, increasing numbers of scholars have packed up and headed south, including many outstanding figures from the hundred schools of thought.

Unfortunately, Chen Wujì is completely unaware of any of this.

He mounted his warhorse once more, left the beloved Yima River, took command of the three-front forces, and marched toward the Uyghur southeastern cities, heading for the surrender city.

The Uyghur lands contain many cities with similar names, each backed by an ever more interesting story—every one a realistic testament to the Uyghur's endurance and burden-bearing.

This also shows the deep scheming of successive Uyghur kings.

They pose as obedient grandsons, deceiving the Central Plains dynasty out of its grain, weapons, and land, then using various means to tell their own people how humiliated they are, thereby strengthening unity.

In fact, successive Central Plains dynasties have never treated these sincerely tributary vassal states poorly.

They provided grain and wealth, helped establish a political system, and spurred economic and cultural development.

The Central Plains dynasty only needed these vassal states for wartime auxiliary troops and laborers; aside from that, there was virtually no exploitation or coercion.

But it's clear that for vassal states like the Uyghur, telling their subjects that this is the situation is far from the truth.

Forced by circumstance, they choose to kneel and act like dogs, yet they never give up the fantasy of first climbing onto their master's neck and then devouring him bite by bite.

It is said that the first target of the right-wing army, the surrender city, contains several stone tablets inscribed with numerous accounts of how the Uyghur were harshly treated and coerced by the Great Yu court.

Chen Wujì intends to, upon entering the surrender city, first examine the stone tablets, then kill people according to what is written there—since the Uyghur themselves wrote those accounts, if he follows them, the Uyghur should have no objection.

Report!

General Xie has taken the surrender city and submitted a memorial pleading guilt.

The scout's horse hooves kicked up fresh dirt as he galloped madly forward.

Chen Wujì reined in his warhorse, his expression somewhat bewildered, "What the heck did this guy do?"

Xu Zengyi and Chen Li, hearing the sound, also rode up from behind.

Congratulations, my lord! We've taken a city in just seven days of marching! Xu Zengyi said, clasping his hands and smiling.

Chen Wujì took the report turned over by Chen Wushuang, "Sending out troops in no more than seven days—this speed is indeed fast; Xie Fengxian being able to conduct the siege like this is rare. But the problem is, he used such swift speed to capture the city, yet then submitted a memorial pleading guilt—what do you think he's up to?"

Chen Li gave a low chuckle.

Xu Zengyi pressed his lips and said, "My lord, without surprise, the methods General Xie used to take the city are certainly not very moral—indeed, somewhat vicious and cruel."

Chen Wujì didn't rush to open the memorial, but waved it in his hand, "Let's play a little game—let's guess what specific methods he used."

Surely there were thunderclap bombs! Chen Li said.

Xu Zengyi nodded, "Thunderclap bombs are certainly indispensable, but certainly not the only thing. Near the surrender city there is a river, but the city's terrain is extremely high; flooding would be extremely difficult, so the only options are fire attack or poison attack."

I lean more toward fire attack—first throw fire oil, then smash thunderclap bombs; the surrender city can be taken!

Chen Li said, "Looks like I need to guess in a different direction."

Since Mr. Xu spoke of fire attack, I'll try something different—let's go with poison attack! In ancient siege warfare there is a smoke-screen tactic: simply release smoke upwind to smoke out and force the defending soldiers, then seize the chance to storm the walls.

But this method has many drawbacks; it's better to directly use poison gas for greater speed. As for what poison to use, I won't elaborate—there are many kinds, ranging from those that merely cause dizziness to those that can be fatal.

Our forces can send people to ignite hundreds of wet grass piles upwind and around the city, using poison smoke to exterminate the entire city.

Chen Wujì stared at Chen Li, stunned for several seconds.

Uncle Eleven, this move indeed seems to harm heaven's harmony.

The liberated Uncle Eleven seemed to have also liberated his methods along with his strength.

He actually said such a vicious move so lightly and casually.

He always seems to advocate benevolence and righteousness, yet the people around him—whether kind or scheming—always strike without restraint; if they used a lethal poison, wouldn't the entire city's populace be doomed to extinction?

Whether it harms heaven's harmony depends on what poison we use; if it's merely a stupefying poison, it's no problem—it will only make our advance smoother. Chen Li said calmly.

「……」

This tactic truly comes down to personal morality.

Let's see what tactic Xie Fengxian actually used, which earned him such great merit yet he first submitted a plea of guilt. Chen Wujì said as he opened the memorial; after just a glance he burst out laughing.

It looks like the teacher's skill is a step above; Xie Fengxian used fire attack, exactly as the teacher said—he exhausted all the fierce fire oil carried by the army, used up more than half of the thunderclap bombs, and in one go burned the surrender city to half ruins, taking it without bloodshed.

Xu Zengyi humbly laughed, "It's not that I'm a step ahead; Chen Eleven surely thought of it too, but I seized the initiative, so he could only fall back and consider other ways."

Chen Li clasped his hands, "The teacher's humility makes me feel uneasy sitting or standing."

Xu Zengyi rolled his eyes, "I really am too talkative."

Let's talk about General Xie's plea of guilt—should he be rewarded or punished? Chen Wujì asked.

His original intention was to not blame him, but to reward him greatly.

But he also worried a bit that setting this precedent would make those people act without restraint in the future.

After all, among his subordinates, few are truly skilled at proper tactics, but when it comes to crooked methods, just a flick of the mind yields a heap of practical ideas that harm heaven's harmony but not human harmony.

Xie Fengxian's fire wasn't just about taking the surrender city; he truly burned down most of it, including buildings and inhabitants.

My lord, he should be rewarded! Xu Zengyi said firmly.

The surrender city clung to its last defenses, refusing to surrender; our forces had no choice but to resort to this measure.

Chen Wujì: ……

Good, good, good—still it's the art of speech, right!

My lord, while you need not punish General Xie, you should order him to pick an auspicious day to hold a ritual, to liberate the souls of the dead in the city so they may rest. The guilt of the city's garrison for refusing to surrender—our forces having done this much is already the utmost benevolence and righteousness.

"……"