Chapter 359: Treating Each Other with Sincerity

Upon hearing this, the Prefects and commanders were all struck dumb.

Although they still harbored misgivings in their hearts, they could no longer refute him.

They still had to show respect to Pei Yanran. Pei Yanran was not only the spiritual leader of Chuan Shu, but she was also exceptionally talented and well-versed in the Art of War.

Furthermore, what she said was not without reason.

For this battle of encircling the mountain, one must first probe the enemy's strength and weaknesses. In this vast Mang Mountain, one naturally had to first locate the main camp of the Southern Barbarians. But at this moment, they could not enter the mountain, so how were they to probe?

Pei Yanran had already made it clear.

Once close-quarters combat begins, one can listen to the enemy's war drums; the strength or weakness of the troops' momentum reveals the location of the enemy's main camp. This is a very common Method in the Three Strategies and Six Tactics for fighting in the mountains. By listening to sounds to discern positions, one can use echoes to probe the enemy's strength and weaknesses. Observing the birds in the mountain forests can further reveal where there are many people and where there are few.

These are all crystallized wisdom of ancient warfare.

Pei Yanran used these words to refute them, and they had no way to respond.

At this moment.

This Qin Zhangfeng was a great general in the army, in command of the entire force. They could express their opinions, but they could not be overly persistent. That is how it is in the army; military orders are like mountains.

There must be someone to command the overall situation, otherwise, wouldn't it fall into chaos?

"General Qin... no matter what, the children of Chuan Shu are not afraid of death, but we cannot be sent to our deaths!"

"General Qin, we have many new recruits..."

These men spoke with earnestness, their eyes red.

It turned out they were still worried that their own troops would be used as cannon fodder by Qin Zhangfeng.

Hearing these words, Qin Zhangfeng was also moved; he stood up tall and made a bow: "Rest assured, my lords. Zhangfeng is here to save Chuan Shu, not to harm anyone. In the eyes of Qin Zhangfeng, everyone is a brother! Zhangfeng will certainly do his utmost to minimize combat losses; this is the promise of the Liangzhou Army!"

"Good!"

These Prefects also knew what kind of disaster would befall Chuan Shu if the Southern Barbarians began to flee. Although fighting by encircling the mountain did not sound very wise, if it could truly succeed, it would yield the greatest results.

These men left one after another.

Once the military order was issued, the Chuan Shu army began to set up camp in all directions around Mang Mountain, following the formations in the Art of War and making various fire and water prevention measures.

By nightfall, if someone were to look down from the sky, the entire perimeter of Mang Mountain was already filled with lines of fire dragons, their momentum like a rainbow. An army of one hundred and fifty thousand was no joke.

Qin Zhangfeng stood on a hill, quietly watching the direction of Mang Mountain, lost in thought.

"Qin Dage, there will be a fierce battle tomorrow; do you not intend to rest?"

Pei Yanran walked to his side and called out softly.

Qin Zhangfeng nodded.

Pei Yanran looked annoyed: "Are you annoyed with Yanran?"

Qin Zhangfeng was taken aback and said with a smile: "Why would I be annoyed with you?"

Pei Yanran gave a light huff, her beautiful eyes rolling playfully, and she lowered her head, murmuring: "Qin Dage must be annoyed with

Yanran for being a person from Wangbei Academy. You might even feel that you and the Prefect Liu are both pawns in Yanran's hands, right?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Zhangfeng looked into the distance without speaking.

Pei Yanran waited for a moment, and seeing that Qin Zhangfeng did not speak, she became anxious herself. This matter was truly somewhat awkward. That was why this time, Pei Yanran insisted on following the army to Qin Zhangfeng's side—to explain it clearly. If this matter could not be explained clearly, it would eventually become a rift between the two, difficult to eliminate.

"Qin Dage..."

Pei Yanran gave a bitter smile, just about to speak.

Qin Zhangfeng interrupted her, turning his head to look smilingly at that stunningly beautiful face: "Do you want to see the Han the young master gave me?"

"Ah?"

Pei Yanran was dumbfounded.

Had she not already seen the letter from that day? Kill one, win over one... but then, her eyes lit up: "Qin Dage, you mean Prefect Liu gave you two letters?"

Qin Zhangfeng nodded with a smile, then took that letter from his person and handed it to Pei Yanran.

Then, he continued to look at the vast mountains with an expressionless face.

Pei Yanran opened it with suspicion.

She looked down.

At this moment.

Her delicate body trembled instantly, and a helpless, bitter smile appeared on her face.

The content of the letter was very simple.

It was still just two sentences.

Only, it was even more concise than the previous one.

"Ask Yanran if she is from Wangbei."

"If she admits it, keep her; otherwise, kill her!"

When Pei Yanran saw these two sentences, she suddenly felt her entire body go cold. So it turned out that a few days ago, she had already walked before the gates of hell...

But...

This Prefect Liu...

This Prefect Liu?

What kind of person is he exactly? Why... why is he so terrifying?

Afterwards.

She suddenly looked at Qin Zhangfeng's back, looking at this man, his broad shoulders, and his solid figure.

Following that, tears streamed down her face.

So it turns out...

The reason he hadn't asked her about the Wangbei people these past few days was because he was also showing his guilt toward her? If she hadn't admitted that day that she was from Wangbei, she believed that Qin Zhangfeng would have obeyed the military order and killed her without the slightest hesitation...

Yes, he would have done that.

Do not doubt it.

Because it concerns this Chuan Shu, it concerns the common people of Chuan Shu.

He would kill with his own hands the woman he loves most...

Fortunately, she admitted it.

So, this blockhead, was he reluctant to question me only because he had once harbored murderous intent toward me?

Pei Yanran's eyes grew hot; she could no longer hold back, took a step forward, opened her arms, and under the moonlight, hugged Qin Zhangfeng tightly from behind, choking with sobs: "Qin Dage..."

Qin Zhangfeng's whole body stiffened, instantly becoming like a piece of wood.

But he did not refuse, did not break free...

Pei Yanran broke into a tearful smile, pressed her face tightly against Qin Zhangfeng's broad back, and said sweetly: "Fool, you trust Yanran, how could Yanran not understand you?"

She took a deep breath, her face filled with both joy and worry: "In fact, it is difficult to enter Wangbei Academy, and even harder to leave. This time, Yanran exposed my identity, which has already violated a great taboo of the Academy, but Qin Dage, do not be afraid. Once I return to accept my punishment, if I am not dead, I will come to marry you..."

"What? Let me see who dares!"

Hearing these words, Qin Zhangfeng turned around abruptly, a dense murderous intent flashing in his eyes.

At this time.

The mountain roads of Chuan Shu.

Green mountains and clear waters, with mountain songs echoing melodiously.

Three people, each riding a donkey, were walking along leisurely.

"Young Master, back then when you were the Prefectural Governor, did you also enter Yinzhou riding a donkey like this?"

Jiang Xuan asked with a hearty laugh.

Liu Zheng smiled and nodded: "But Yinzhou is barren, where would there be such green mountains and clear waters? The land of Chuan Shu is truly fertile; one relies on the mountains to eat from the mountains, and on the water to eat from the water."

"In Yinzhou, we could only steal water from the heavens, and rely on the mountains to borrow grain!"

Liu Zheng was indeed filled with emotion.

It was the same territory of the Dragon Flame Nation, yet the gap was truly quite large. In these few days, walking through this Chuan Shu, every casual place was lush and green, filled with wild vegetables and wild fruits. He even felt that the people of Chuan Shu had no need for farming at all; they could fill their stomachs just by eating these wild vegetables and fruits from the mountains.

This was the gap.

This was why so many people would flock to this piece of land.

Jiang Xuan suddenly asked: "Young Master, how did you know that Pei Yanran was a member of the Wangbei Academy?"

Liu Zheng laughed and said: "It is very simple. These people from Wangbei Academy like to treat the world as a chessboard; this is similar to the personality of Qingyang Xiansheng. Think back, when this Chuan Shu fell into chaos, who was the first to ask for help from Liangzhou?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xuan and Pei Qianyun suddenly realized.

That is right.

Although it was Niu Guishan, sent by the Prince of Shu and Yan Lin, who asked for help when Chuan Shu fell into chaos, at that time, Liangzhou had not yet stabilized, and Liu Zheng originally did not want to send troops.

In the end, it was because of a letter from Pei Yanran that Qin Zhangfeng could no longer hold back.

For the sake of his brother, Liu Zheng naturally would not refuse.

So...

In this entire grand strategy, the one who truly played a decisive role was still this Pei Yanran.

Afterwards, when Xie Yang occupied Shuzhou, the countless knights-errant and common people who had been accumulating strength were also because of this Pei Yanran.

When looking at problems, Liu Zheng liked to start from the big picture and an objective perspective.

Without mixing in any personal emotions.

This was the difference in vision.

First, even if Pei Yanran were a living Bodhisattva who cared for the common people, she was not an official, nor was she of royal blood; for her to ask Qin Zhangfeng for help in such a way was, in fact, somewhat illogical.

Second, the fact that Qin Zhangfeng was able to take Shuzhou on the first day, and almost without shedding blood, was largely due to the help of those knights-errant and common people whom Pei Yanran had been "bewitching" all along.

Otherwise, with only thirty thousand Imperial Guards, Qin Zhangfeng would still have had a fierce battle after entering the city.

Third, this Pei Yanran was known as the number one talented woman of Shuzhou. If she did not know of the existence of Wangbei Academy in Chuan Shu, that would be one thing. But if she knew, would she not try to find a way to search for it? In any era, this type of literary young woman is always someone who likes to stir things up.

Therefore, when Xie Zhen mentioned the people of Wangbei Academy.

In Liu Zheng's mind, there naturally appeared this woman who had played music on the high tower for several days and, by her own strength, influenced the public opinion of the entire city.

An expert!

This was an expert!

That was why he sent a letter to Qin Zhangfeng.

If she admitted to being from Wangbei Academy, then it would be fine. Liu Zheng had not yet taken these people who pretend to be mysterious seriously.

But if she did not admit it...

For the sake of the big picture, she would have to be killed!

Even if it meant killing the wrong person!

The overall situation could not be disrupted!

He knew that Qin Zhangfeng would definitely understand him.

What surprised Liu Zheng was...

That Pei Yanran actually admitted it frankly, which also made him feel relieved. His Qin Dage's happiness was still preserved.

"Young Master, we are a hundred miles away from Mang Mountain!"

Just at this moment, Jiang Xuan said excitedly.

Liu Zheng's eyes also lit up.

Pei Qianyun could no longer hold back and was eager to try: "Young Master, Qianyun will go take a few heads first! Lord Jiang, protect Young Master, Qianyun will be back soon!"

"Good!"

Liu Zheng chuckled.

At this time...

The great battle should have just begun.