Chapter 564

The news that Lu Ping'an spoke of was, for Chen Wuji, a genuine unexpected delight.

This news will be of great help to his upcoming contact with Yang Yu.

Without saying more, at least it can add some precaution, so as not to sell out that ruthless person who schemed for half the court and nearly got the powerful minister Ruan Xiang killed.

"How many troops do you have in Wenkou Town, and how many have you left in Qingzhou? What is your strength?" Chen Wuji then asked, and for some reason he suddenly wanted to eat a roasted sweet potato, a pity this era doesn't have one.

Eating sweet potato while chatting with Lu Ping'an about these things would be very enjoyable.

"What I said earlier wasn't lying to you; Wenkou Town has thirteen thousand troops, and the two Daying camps have equal strength." Lu Ping'an said, "As for strength, I'm a bit unsure about that."

"In my view, my Bīngmǎ is fairly capable of fighting; they have won battles and suffered defeats, and for me to control Nan Jun counts as some meritorious service."

"However, among those thirteen thousand, many are newly conscripted troops—about four thousand! The forces in Qingzhou are fewer, only five thousand, and the remaining troops are scattered among the various prefectures, each with three or four thousand."

Chen Wuji was startled by Lu Ping'an's answer.

Too genuine!

He still speaks as genuinely as before.

But this time, Chen Wuji believes everything he says is true.

Continuing to conceal things and play games of truth and falsehood actually brings him no benefit; a person skilled in scheming should be able to figure that out clearly.

"Fine, since that's the case, let's talk about the alliance." Chen Wuji said with a smile.

Lu Ping'an raised his head in surprise, "At this point, do I still have the qualifications to discuss an alliance with you?"

"Of course there is." Chen Wuji smiled warmly, "If you can get your subordinates to surrender and let Qingzhou City open its gates wide to me, I'll give you a leisurely official post to spend your twilight years; what do you think?"

Lu Ping'an furrowed his brows slightly, his expression somewhat puzzled, "You really won't kill me?"

"Why must I kill you?" Chen Wuji countered.

"I actually dislike fighting and killing, but some things, many times, are not up to us, like the story of someone who didn't intend to become emperor, yet his subordinates draped the yellow robe over him."

Lu Ping'an looked at Chen Wuji with a bewildered expression, "Why haven't I heard of this allusion?"

"Read more books, or perhaps you've read too few!"

Lu Ping'an: ……

This guy.

"I can accept your condition; I don't want any official position from you, just let me live, don't seize my property, and let me be an idle commoner." Lu Ping'an said.

"I just can't guarantee whether such an order will be effective; I can only try it."

"Sure, whenever, it's up to you." Chen Wuji readily agreed, then asked, "Do your subordinates know that you intend to deal with me?"

Lu Ping'an's expression was slightly embarrassed, "Of course they know; this is military strategy, how could the commanders not know?"

"Since they know, we can't deceive them; we must divide and transform them." Chen Wuji said after a moment's thought.

"Why don't you think carefully: among your subordinates, who are more likely to obey you and also accept surrender? And who are the stubborn faction, with greater ambition, possibly even harboring designs on your position?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Ping'an immediately felt terrible.

This damned thing, its thoughts are really complicated.

Thinking of this, he suddenly thought of Yang Yu.

In an instant, Lu Ping'an suddenly felt a sense of helplessness.

Before becoming a Prisoner of the Steps, he utterly looked down on Chen Wuji and Yang Yu, and he was extremely overconfident, believing that with his strength, destroying Chen Wuji and Yang Yu was merely a matter of time.

But now, reality's surging blow struck him, and he suddenly understood many things he had previously failed to grasp, or rather, things his arrogance had overlooked.

His left and right neighbors are both ferocious old foxes with mouths full of fangs, damn it.

This is truly the most terrifying strength!

"I need to give this serious thought." Lu Ping'an said seriously, "Because before tonight, my understanding of those subordinates of mine may have been narrow; I need to reconsider."

Chen Wuji was a little surprised, "Why would you say that?"

"Because just now I seemed to have seen a bit of myself clearly." Lu Ping'an said this without embarrassment, but rather with some regret.

He has had too smooth a life, so smooth that he took many things for granted.

That blow should have come earlier; it could have been lighter, and could have come several more times.

Chen Wuji chuckled.

Damn it, such an outrageous thing, and he actually ran into it.

Even the grand Lu Jinglve actually had an awakening in this situation and saw himself clearly.

How should this situation be described? It's roughly akin to the pre-battle breakthrough of protagonists in xianxia novels.

"Sure, take your time thinking; it's just right that someone fills the blank of my boredom while you think!" Chen Wuji looked up toward Chen Li and the escorted Qiu Yu walking in from outside the Big Tent.

He had seen the border city Chen Wuji before, and Qiu Yu had also been drenched.

But such a beautiful Qiu Yu, he was seeing for the first time.

"Family Head, she's willing to speak!" Chen Li stepped forward and whispered in Chen Wuji's ear.

Chen Wuji nodded, put tea leaves into the boiling teapot, poured a cup, stood up and handed it to Lu Ping'an, saying, "Lu Jinglve, you can relax and think slowly; I said our alliance is only now truly beginning."

Lu Ping'an stared at the teacup for a while, then suddenly gave a wry smile, "I actually don't know what to say; anyway, thanks for this cup of tea."

"Drink it after it cools a bit; your mouth isn't suited for scalding tea right now."

Lu Ping'an: ……

Chen Wuji poured himself a cup, sat down again on the folding stool, and then looked at the spirited Qiu Yu, who made one's heart take a liking at first sight; she was indeed good-looking, with a fine figure.

Lu Ping'an brought many girls today, all quite pretty, but Qiu Yu is undoubtedly the outstanding among them.

Chen Wuji looked and suddenly noticed a problem.

Chen Li had interrogated for so long, yet this woman has no injuries—how did he manage that?

"I think you must have another identity, right?" Chen Wuji asked.

Qiu Yu knelt on the ground with a blank expression, shook her head, "I have no other identity; I'm merely an aide under Lu Jinglve's command, but this, General Chen, you should already know."

Chen Wuji glanced at Chen Li, "It seems you haven't told the truth to my central army Bīngmǎ envoy."

"I've seen someone who looks a lot like you; she obeyed the orders of an old thing, bringing a group of women into my army, trying to win over the generals under my command."

"Do you know the Lao Deng holding a snake-shaped cane?"

"Qiu Yu's expression shifted slightly; although she appeared composed, her gaze fixed on the ground suddenly showed violent ripples, like a tranquil pool disturbed by a thrown stone."