Chapter 1102: Always Little Gains, Big Returns

Chen Wuji also knows how good Jianshui City is, especially after seeing Zheng Zhongcai's map, he likes it immensely.

But liking something doesn't help if you can't get it.

"My lord, Pingding Prefecture!"

Xu Zengyi, in an extremely soft voice, told Chen Wuji a name.

Chen Wuji instantly understood Xu Zengyi's meaning, he stared at Xu Zengyi in bewilderment, "Sir, Pingding Prefecture doesn't even have one stroke of the eight characters yet, our people are currently acting as mediators among its four fragmented factions, where would we get the strength to attack and occupy Jianshui City?"

"Moreover, a very important point is, even at its peak, Pingding Prefecture might not necessarily be Tang Xiaoning's match, let alone now that it's been torn apart, going up there to deliver vegetables is about all it's good for."

His envoy in Pingding Prefecture serving as an envoy is enough to prove they now hold a certain status among those few factions in Pingding Prefecture.

But, to put it bluntly, it's merely a certain status.

They are still not enough to command any faction in Pingding Prefecture.

Xu Zengyi, who has always urged Chen Wuji to be conservative, this time is even more radical than Chen Wuji.

His eyes flashed with sharp light, he said to Chen Wuji in a very confident tone, lowering his voice: "My lord, a scholar dies for one who knows him!"

"What the envoy has been doing in Pingding Prefecture is killing, threatening, and at least so far, Deputy Officer hasn't seen any benefit promised. As long as my lord issues one order, gives them some promises of benefits, Pingding Prefecture's several factions, Deputy Officer dares to assert, will definitely have half choose to surrender."

"Their remaining choices are few, nothing more than aligning with one faction or being annexed, Shangfang Commandery now offers them no chance for slow development. Moreover, since they are now willing to let my lord's envoy act as a mediator, it proves they have started to fear death, they fear my lord's envoy, they fear my lord."

"My lord only needs to bestow one-tenth or two-tenths of what Tang Xiaoning desires upon them, at least half of Pingding Prefecture's factions will then be usable by my lord, and when the time comes to plan the attack on Jianshui City, it will be very promising, nothing more than another instance of little gains, big returns!"

"Only, the difference is, this time they have behind them a great mountain like my lord, the chance of victory is at least eighty percent!"

Chen Wuji's heart stirred violently.

Not because Xu Zengyi's calculations were exceptionally meticulous, but because of Xu Zengyi's earlier words.

Nothing more than another instance of little gains, big returns……

The killing power of those words was somewhat great, and it also let Chen Wuji instantly see the chance of victory.

This year is the full third year since he raised his troops.

Three years, having fought so many battles, whether in speed or result, it somewhat carries the meaning of fire burning the wilderness.

But all this time, he has always played little gains, big returns.

Now looking somewhat larger, he turned and began to contend with neighboring states, launched a national war, yet still little gains, big returns.

But, whether for Pingding Prefecture or Yunning Prefecture, he is now truly a colossal being.

If not for geographical constraints, how to attack these two places would be the worry of those below, only the choice of who to send and the final result would reach him.

According to Xu Zengyi's logic, he uses envoys to remotely control and integrate Pingding Prefecture's forces, then plans to take Jianshui City, the chance of victory is indeed quite large.

If they can take Xu Song's territory, they will basically have already bitten into the corner of Jianshui City's walls.

"Following Sir's meaning!" Chen Wuji said no more, only stating one result.

"Here!"

After a pause, Chen Wuji added, "Sir, don't be stingy."

Xu Zengyi smiled slightly, as a response.

Between them, there has long been sufficient understanding, often no need for many words, a glance suffices.

"Zheng Zhongcai, go tell Tang Xiaoning, deadline half a month to give me an explanation, otherwise, just wait for this old man's troops at the city gates. Half a month later, I will sentence him to chariot execution!" Chen Wuji leaned in his chair, speaking lightly.

"Yes……yes yes yes."

Though the words were light, in Zheng Zhongcai's ears they sounded like thunder exploding, the cold sweat he had just dried off instantly returned.

……

Several days later, Chang Jingxuan and Yuan Dingcheng led a hundred selected soldiers from the various battalions of the central army, embarking on the southern expedition, they will inspect localities in the roles of counselor and secretary.

Although their identities are counselor and secretary, they hold the authority of an imperial censor in their hands, with the power to mobilize locally fewer than two thousand troops, and have the privilege of expedient action.

Chen Wuji kept his promise with himself, this year he definitely cannot return home for New Year, but the matters that need to be done he still must do, some places he hasn't visited in two years, he needs to check.

That is, within a few days before and after Chang Jingxuan and Yuan Dingcheng's departure, San Niang sent a letter from Hezhou, saying they took time to specifically return once to Xishan Village, bringing Chen Wuji the village's grown fruits and vegetables and this year's newly smoked meat jerky, now they have smoothly set off, they will likely arrive at Zhangye City in about twenty days.

The arrival of this letter made Chen Wuji so excited he couldn't sleep well for several nights.

Unconsciously, in this world he has already developed a deep longing for home.

Those emotions, usually hidden deep in his heart, unseen and unnoticed, can be instantly ignited by a slight touch of some related thing, and then spiral out of control.

Even having reached this position, he still misses Xishan Village, misses its mountains and waters, misses spending a simple, quiet year there.

Only, this thought of his, in the coming years, will likely be an unattainable luxury.

Chen Wuji was excited for several days, he ordered all soldiers to exchange year-end gifts with their families when the year's end approaches, soldiers prepare New Year supplies for their families, send them together with family letters, then ask their families to send back what they like or like to eat.

Soldiers communicating with families via letters and sending gifts has always existed, although the process is complex and the journey somewhat longer, but basically every two or three months, soldiers can receive family letters or gifts sent from home.

Chen Wuji has always placed extreme importance on the courier system, the completeness of the courier system on his territory, its construction standards, currently should be the top in the entire Great Yu, without competitors.

Wherever he goes, the courier system is always ranked first in construction.

To get rich, first build roads—this is not just a slogan, but a classic.

Chen Wuji has always upheld it as a guiding principle!

Courier system, intelligence, roads, in Chen Wuji's hands have always been equivalent to strong military and peaceful people.

Because of the completeness of the courier system, even if Chen Wuji does not issue this order, soldiers' due gifts and family letters would still be sent, but Chen Wuji still did this extra thing.

He believes that, as the year's end approaches, proposing such an activity is meaningful!