Chapter 249

Central Army Camp.

"My Lord, the Pingle Prefect is asking to see you outside the tent!"

The news brought by the personal guard made Li Mu slightly stunned.

He mixed in the circle of nobility and was not familiar with the civil officials. He had no friendship with the Pingle Prefect.

As far as he knew, after Pingle Prefecture fell, the Pingle Prefect disappeared.

As a local official, losing a city and territory was a serious crime. At a time like this, not rushing to find someone to operate for survival, but running to the battlefield to sway—it was obviously abnormal.

"Don't see him!"

Li Mu refused immediately.

The threshold of his camp tent was not high, but it wasn't for just anyone to enter.

If there were no changes, he would naturally give some face to a Prefect of a large prefecture like Pingle.

But now this Pingle Prefect was a criminal official whose head could fall at any time; even if there was a backer in the court, his official career was over.

A loser destined to be eliminated by the officialdom was not worth paying attention to at all.

"My Lord, this Pingle Prefect brought heavy gifts and followed a mysterious person."

The personal guard reminded.

There is no love or hate without reason in the world.

Under normal circumstances, there was no need to socialize with a Prefect who was about to finish.

If he was willing to "krypton gold" (spend money), it would be different.

Raising an army was very expensive, and land development also needed money. With such a large setup, Li Mu's wallet was not rich either.

As long as the money was in place, everything was negotiable for some small, non-principled favors.

"Bring him in!"

Li Mu thought for a while and said.

Regardless of what he was plotting, let's see the person first.

If he just wanted to fake his death to escape and avoid the court's liquidation, he didn't mind reaching out to help.

If he wasn't found by the court in the future, it was his good luck. If he was caught by the court one day, it was his fate.

If he wanted to find him to operate for acquittal, then stay on the side where it's cool. Rules are rules; how could they be easily broken?

"As you command!"

In the blink of an eye, the Pingle Prefect was led in. Looking at the meatball in front of him, Li Mu seriously doubted how this guy mixed into the position of Prefect.

Although the Great Dayu Dynasty didn't have clear regulations on the appearance of officials, "judging people by appearance" had been around since ancient times.

In the imperial examination, there was the saying of "Beautiful Tanhua." If one's appearance was too alternative, even if one could pass the Jinshi examination, one wouldn't be reused by the court.

This meatball Prefect in front of him was the image of a corrupt official in a play. Under normal circumstances, the Ministry of Personnel wouldn't put them in the position of Prefect.

Being able to have this situation, there must be a story behind it. Either this Prefect Zhao had a good official reputation and made real political achievements, or there was someone behind him.

When the rebels attacked earlier, he neither blocked the rebels nor died for his country; it was obvious he wasn't a diligent person.

Then this Prefect Zhao could sit in the position of Prefect only because there was someone behind him.

"Prefect Zhao, visiting late at night, what is the matter?"

Li Mu asked straight to the point.

He wasn't interested in Prefect Zhao's background. There were only a few families that could be ranked in the court.

Although he couldn't offend them, he didn't need to be too afraid.

A Prefect who committed a crime and wasn't treated as an abandoned son was lucky; he simply didn't have the qualifications to represent the faction behind him.

"Commander Li, actually, it's not that I want to see you, but a distinguished guest wants to visit you; I'm just leading the way.

To show sincerity, I specially offered ten beauties and two boxes of jewelry worth 200,000 taels of silver."

Prefect Zhao said tremblingly.

Buying a path with money also needed someone to lead the way.

Carrying the banner of the Bai Lian Holy Kingdom to come over, it was estimated that before they got close to the camp, they would be hacked to death by the soldiers.

Even if they were lucky enough to see Li Mu, if the matter was put on the table, even if they sent more money, it wouldn't be accepted.

Unable to find a suitable middleman, Prefect Zhao was pushed out.

The news of his surrender to the Bai Lian Holy Kingdom hadn't spread yet. In the eyes of the outside world, he was still an official of Great Dayu.

Although he hadn't had dealings with Li Mu, with the title of Prefect, he at least had the qualifications to let people report it.

"Hehe..."

"Just to meet, you offered such heavy gifts; it's really a big deal!

However, 'no merit, no reward'; I have self-knowledge, and the threshold of my central camp isn't that high."

Li Mu resisted the temptation and refused.

One can loot money in the officialdom, but one absolutely cannot accept just any money.

Such a large price—let alone just meeting him, even arranging to see Emperor Yongning could be arranged.

Li Mu didn't think there was a free lunch in the world. People spent such a large price; they must have a plan.

"Commander Li, rest assured, I only ask to meet. Regardless of whether the matter is successful or not, these gifts are yours.

If it can be negotiated, it's naturally another price. You can rest assured that today's matter will absolutely not be leaked!"

Looking at Prefect Zhao's sworn guarantee, Li Mu couldn't help but laugh.

He really thought he was afraid of leaking secrets!

Not wanting to see the visitor was because he guessed the other party's identity.

In the whole world, the only ones willing to spend a large price to see him at this time were the rebels of the Bai Lian Sect being chased.

Others might fear being impeached by the Censors for colluding with rebels, but Li Mu was completely different. Looking at the entire Great Dayu Dynasty, who didn't know he was the vanguard of pacifying the rebellion?

He successively recovered the entire two Guangs, as well as multiple prefectures in Huguang and Jiangxi, cumulatively wiping out over a million rebels, reversing the decline of Great Dayu on the battlefield.

The Emperor and the civil and military officials in the court wouldn't suspect him of colluding with rebels.

Even if there were rumors, everyone would think it was a "divisive tactic" used by the chaotic party because they were afraid.

Even if the Censors impeached him, they would only impeach him for being arrogant and domineering, hoarding troops, and at most forcibly adding the crimes of deducting military pay and being extravagant and lustful.

"Since there is such sincerity, let's meet!

However, for the sake of safety, necessary measures are still needed; I hope Prefect Zhao and the distinguished guest you see will be considerate."

After speaking, Li Mu gave an eye signal, and Fu Sanqi, who didn't know what happened, was tied up by the personal guards and escorted in.

"Lord Li, this is a misunderstanding!

We are really here to talk business, absolutely not deliberately..."

Before Prefect Zhao finished speaking, he suddenly found that there was an extra rope on his body, and then he was pressed to the ground.

"Alright, you have seen the person.

Since I have time now, if you have any heartfelt words, hurry up and say them!"

Li Mu said with a smile.

As a person who keeps his word, since he accepted the gift, the meeting had to be held.

But ultimately, the status was different; he, a court official, seeing a rebel, certainly couldn't be negligent.

"Commander Li, 'not fighting, not knowing each other.' This Chancellor came here this time to send you a great wealth!"

Fu Sanqi said neither humble nor arrogant.

This scene was completely within his expectations.

Li Mu is an official, they are thieves. If he received them with a smile, that would be the problem.

"Oh!"

"Could it be that the pseudo-Emperor wants to surrender?"

"Rest assured, the current Emperor is wise; if the pseudo-Emperor can turn back, His Majesty will deal with it leniently.

As long as you are willing to lay down your weapons and surrender, I guarantee not to kill a single person!"

Li Mu said calmly.

All the promises were true. If the pseudo-Emperor could surrender, Emperor Yongning would definitely deal with it leniently.

From cruel punishments like "lingchi" (death by a thousand cuts) and "five horses tearing the body," it could become "three feet of white silk" or a pot of poisonous wine; it could all be negotiated.

As for prisoners of war, he wouldn't kill them either. As for whether the court would kill them, that was unknown.

Considering the need to recruit other rebels, it was estimated that they could live a few good days for a short time.

"Settling accounts after autumn" was also a matter after the rebellion was completely pacified.

"Lord Li, you are joking.

Since ancient times, I have never heard of anyone who rebelled and proclaimed himself Emperor not being liquidated after being recruited.

This Chancellor is not afraid of death, and it is even more impossible to surrender.

Coming here today is just to hope that Lord Li will slow down the pursuit and buy a way of life for the brothers.

From now on, for every day the army under Lord Li rests, the Holy Kingdom is willing to pay 500,000 taels of silver or equivalent wealth.

If Lord Li's subordinates can stop in Huguang and not enter Guizhou, the Holy Kingdom is willing to offer 5 million taels!"

Fu Sanqi said with full confidence.

In his view, such a huge sum was something no one could refuse.

Relying on the bit of salary of Great Dayu, even if one didn't eat or drink for a thousand years, one couldn't accumulate such a huge sum.

"It sounds good, but if I finish you off, isn't this money still mine?

Since it's all mine, why should I take the risk of losing my head to do this deal with you?"

Li Mu said without changing his expression.

Not being moved by the huge sum of 5 million taels would be a lie. But such a large amount of silver—just transporting it would require arranging a convoy, and holding it was too hot.

"Wealth moves people's hearts."

Once the news leaked, there would be chaos within the army. Li Mu didn't think that if he, the boss, took so much, the subordinates below wouldn't have thoughts.

Even if he was willing to share the loot and could appease the subordinates, the officials in the court would also make things happen if they knew he obtained huge wealth.

"Haha..."

"Lord Li, you have fought so many battles with us; have you ever obtained huge spoils?

If the army is defeated, we can't take away huge wealth; we would rather abandon it in the wild than let the enemy take advantage.

There are so many places along the way where things can be hidden. If you have time, arrange for people to search slowly.

As long as your soldiers below don't hide it privately, it should take three to five years to find back a portion."

Fu Sanqi said disdainfully.

Every time the Bai Lian Holy Kingdom was defeated, they would throw away money. It was to block the pursuers and also to avoid letting the imperial army generals take advantage.

Fragmented silver—whoever picks it up is their own spoils of war. "Turning over spoils to the public" was only aimed at bulk supplies.

There were no marks on the silver; it was impossible to distinguish whether it was battlefield spoils or the soldiers' own property.

Except for a few generals who didn't act like humans, most would acquiesce to this behavior, including Li Mu.

Forcibly collecting silver from the soldiers was too hateful. As long as the amount wasn't too large, he would pretend not to see it.

If the rebels really threw the wealth they carried all over the world, there wasn't much he could collect back.

Human hearts cannot withstand testing; even if the soldiers below found huge wealth, they wouldn't necessarily report it, and might even try to cover it up.

"No matter, the meat will ultimately rot in my own pot.

This general has never been a greedy person; even if the money reaches my hands, it will ultimately become military pay for the soldiers.

Take them down and look after them well. After capturing the pseudo-Emperor alive, we will interrogate them together."

Li Mu shook his head and said.

It was impossible not to have thoughts, but ultimately, reason occupied the upper hand.

Letting the Bai Lian Sect enter Shu—the consequences were too serious. It might really subvert the Great Dayu Dynasty, which would be "losing the big for the small."

Moreover, the main generals in the army were mostly sons of the nobility, and their class stance determined that they wouldn't cooperate with the rebels.

After the interlude, Li Mu increased the intensity of the attack.

The Bai Lian Sect could bribe him, and naturally, they could bribe others. He could stick to his bottom line, but it didn't mean others could.

If Guizhou let the water go and didn't fulfill the obligation of interception, and really let the rebels kill their way into Shu, he would have worked in vain.

The roaring sound of artillery didn't stop, and the rebels responsible for the rearguard soon collapsed.

"Retreat!"

Looking at the remnants, Shi Qichuan helplessly gave the order.

Facts proved that setting up an ambush also required technology.

Just now was a negative example; they were ambushed on the enemy's only path, but unfortunately, the imperial army discovered them as soon as they approached.

The traps set hadn't exerted their effect yet, but the enemy sneaked into the flank and directly beat them dizzy.

Running for his life all the way, Shi Qichuan had already made up his mind to resign from his post when he returned.

This kind of rearguard work—whoever wants to do it, let them do it; anyway, he couldn't.

He hadn't enjoyed the great wealth yet, and he didn't want to die young.

"I gave 10,000 troops to guard the rear and delay the enemy's forward speed, not for you to fight a decisive battle with the imperial army.

How did you lose so quickly? Could it be that the enemy grew wings?"

Looking at the clan brother who came to plead guilty, Shi Rongxuan couldn't help but scold.

In less than two days, the 10,000-strong rearguard army was wiped out. With such efficiency, he didn't know what to say.

"Holy Emperor, although the imperial army didn't grow wings, it's almost the same.

The enemy's vanguard troops only carried some daily rations and had no logistical pressure, so their marching speed was naturally much faster than ours.

There were still remnants of gentry in the local area providing them with intelligence. Every move we made was under the enemy's surveillance.

Originally, we chose a dangerous place to prepare to fight an ambush and dampen the enemy's spirit.

Never did I expect that the imperial army received the news in advance and made targeted deployments.

As a result, as soon as the battle started, we suffered a big loss. If we hadn't retreated fast enough, the rearguard troops would have been wiped out!"

Shi Qichuan explained with his head hanging down.

Most of these were brain-filled. The battle was lost too fast, and he didn't know what caused the failure at all.

To shirk responsibility, he decisively chose to let the gentry remnants take the blame; anyway, the Holy Emperor couldn't go to the enemy to verify the truth.

"Trash!"

After scolding, Shi Rongxuan knew the bribery operation had failed.

If the deal had been reached, even if the imperial army chased up, they wouldn't be this desperate.

(End of chapter)