Chapter 444: with translation of chapter title

Although the emperor personally appointed Chen Wuji, the title is Brigade Commander.

But ultimately, is he a Negotiation Colonel or a Brigade Commander—who would go to him to verify the imperial edict?

As long as he holds that token in Qin Zhanhong's hand, even if Chen Wuji says the emperor made him Prefect, others would still believe him seventy or eighty percent; the credibility of the Imperial City Department still carries great weight in Dayu.

"Old Xu, this matter is extremely risky; who do you think can go?" Chen Wuji asked.

If he could take Guangyuan Prefecture without bloodshed, that would be best, but after thinking it over, he actually couldn't think of a reliable candidate.

Chen Bushi had done similar things before, thoroughly rectifying all branches of the Chen clan, but this was internal family affairs, and Chen Bushi at the time also held half the position of clan head, so even if the branches had long since fallen out, there were still handles to grasp.

Letting him go to Guangyuan Prefecture, with Chen Bushi's eloquence, Chen Wuji would have no confidence in his heart.

His San Shu, when he scolds people, is indeed very proper, but his means of persuasion are often to stab a knife in.

"I'll go!" Xu Zengyi said, raising his head.

Chen Wuji raised his hand and pressed down, saying, "Don't get excited; there's still a lot of stuff outside waiting for you—what are you going to go for? Think again."

Xu Zengyi, however, insisted: "I'm the most suitable to go."

"Back when I followed the rebellion, I did this kind of thing plenty; I have experience and sufficient reasons to persuade them. Letting someone else go, I'd actually be less at ease."

Chen Wuji ignored his words and asked, "How about letting my San Shu or Li Run go? You going yourself, who will handle planning outside? Put that idea aside for now."

"My lord, the early persuasion to surrender and the later fighting are not contradictory." Xu Zengyi said.

"For this matter, I'm the most suitable to go. I'll stay in Guangyuan Prefecture for a few days, first get to know their situation, then pick a target, prescribe the right remedy, and in the end it might indeed require inside‑outside cooperation; by then I'll have done most of what I need to do, so my lord need not worry about lacking a strategist in wartime."

Seeing Xu Zengyi insist, Chen Wuji had no choice but to agree, saying, "You have successfully convinced me."

"Venturing into such a dragon's pool and tiger's den, your safety is the top priority; I'll detach some men from my personal guard to accompany you."

Xu Zengyi shook his head: "Too many people are not advisable."

"Would a dozen or so be okay?"

"That's still too many; it wouldn't be covert."

"Then you decide!"

"Three or four are enough."

"Fine, when do you set out to come here and pick up the men?" Chen Wuji, unable to argue further, simply compromised.

Xu Zengyi thought a moment: "Tomorrow will do; this matter should be handled swiftly."

"Chen Wushuang, come in!" Chen Wuji shouted toward the outside.

Chen Wushuang, standing at the door like a green pine, heard the call and stepped inside with a stride.

"Negotiation Colonel!"

"Later select three or four of the strongest personal guards; tomorrow go on a distant trip with Mr. Xu. Remember, everything must prioritize Mr. Xu's safety."

"Yes!"

Xu Zengyi's expression was calm; he calmly accepted Chen Wuji's arrangement.

After Chen Wuji settled, he spoke again calmly: "My lord, at this point we can prepare to use troops against Hezhou."

"Fighting on two fronts, our strength requirements might be overly demanding!" Chen Wuji was somewhat surprised, not expecting Xu Zengyi to propose such a tactic at this time.

"Let's not discuss whether your mission to Guangyuan Prefecture will succeed; assuming the worst case, both Guangyuan and Hezhou have strong cities, and if they don't come out to fight us in the field, our chances of victory are slim."

"As for Guangyuan Prefecture, we need not mention it; however, the Snake Staff Elder of Hezhou is someone who understands military affairs."

"He can withstand enemies several times his number with a thousand troops, and he stubbornly held Yunan City."

"The Snake Staff Elder can naturally do the same."

"With several thousand troops, one absolutely cannot gnaw down a strong city that possesses even more troops."

"My lord has misunderstood me." Xu Zengyi, whose pale face had regained some color, curled a smile: "My meaning is merely to harass; the Negotiation Colonel using troops in Hezhou can make those Guangyuan commanders lower their guard, which is favorable to my negotiations."

"Ah, I see—you almost gave me a start." Chen Wuji felt slightly relieved.

"If it's just harassment, the mountain retreat route I prepared earlier could come in handy: with a single detachment of odd troops, we'll go via the Mountain Middle Path, launch a surprise attack on Hezhou, take some advantage, then withdraw."

Xu Zengyi pondered a bit, then advised: "When dispatching this detachment of odd troops, you might consider slightly increasing the forces; who knows, we might have a chance to seize Hezhou by surprise."

"If I'm not mistaken, Gu Wenjie and the Snake Staff Elder's attention should now be on Qing County and on Lao Yang; they wouldn't expect us to take the Mountain Middle Path and strike them unexpectedly."

Chen Wuji nodded: "In this battle I will personally lead the Bīngmǎ forward."

"Qian Fugui's unit will stay near Guangyuan Prefecture to support you; Lao Yang will guard Qing County, leaving sufficient Bīngmǎ to defend Yunan and Xishan Village, and I will bring all the other soldiers."

Xu Zengyi frowned slightly: "My lord, this way it seems you don't have much Bīngmǎ left!"

"He said it was like bringing a bit more, so why does it keep seeming fewer the more we calculate?"

"One thousand five hundred is enough." Chen Wuji said.

"Five hundred fully armored personal guards and a thousand elite troops under Chen Bao's household—this is presently the strongest army in all of Yunan; in terms of strength, there's no need to deliberately pursue numbers."

Seeing Xu Zengyi there, apparently thinking about something else, Chen Wuji continued: "I'll entrust all affairs of Guangyuan Prefecture entirely to you to arrange; let Qian Fugui set aside the Ningyuan matter for now and first support you."

"...... Okay!"

This time Xu Zengyi did not insist further; he readily agreed.

Chen Wuji laughed and self‑mocked: "We now actually have a foundation; we're even able to fight on two fronts. Come on, let's go get a bite to eat—my family's tavern is about to open in a couple of days; as the strategist, you should come early to show your support."

"When is this happening?" Xu Zengyi asked in surprise.

"Just these few days."

Huo Sanniang and Shen Youwei said they didn't want it, but in fact they cared more about the tavern than anyone else.

These days, whenever they had free time they scouted locations in the city, and finally they settled on the Li family's tavern, which was formerly the Li Si Fencha tea house.

After the Li family fled en masse to Hezhou, all of their property in the city was confiscated by Qin Feng and turned over to Xianya.

After Chen Wuji inquired with the Xianya clerks, he had already paid the silver and obtained the deed.

Although he is now acting Prefect, he cannot just take things from Xianya for nothing; he must not take them without payment.

When it's time to pay, one still has to pay.

Qin Feng, that black-hearted guy, directly priced this tavern at nearly ten thousand taels of silver.

That is, Chen Wuji now has a little bit of savings; otherwise, he'd probably only be able to drag this matter on a bit longer, then earn some silver for a while before talking again.

Chen Wuji and Xu Zengyi walked and talked, entering the former Li Si Fencha, which has now been renamed, but hasn't yet hung up its sign for the Jade Lady Restaurant.