Chapter 378: Exchanging Captives

Jiangzhou City.

Murong Che had just returned from that drunken banquet.

He returned to his own quarters.

He had just rubbed his temples.

The manservant responsible for attending to him appeared behind him.

"How did it go?"

Murong Che, soaking his feet, suddenly asked.

The manservant whispered, "Rest assured, sir, the brothers have already made arrangements! One thousand men have already been equipped with Fire Pills... distributed throughout the city! It is just that Luo Huo is indeed quite suspicious; we tried several times, but were unable to send a letter out. Carrier pigeons and birds would also expose us..."

"Then let it be; do what one can and leave the rest to fate..."

Murong Che sighed and began to close his eyes to rest his mind.

One thousand men...

This was the private army he had cultivated in Jiaozhi over these years!

These men were also assigned to him by the Academy!

He knew that in Wangbei Academy, he was merely a small fry, just a small chess piece. The vast Wangbei Academy was a grand chessboard.

A chessboard that could contain a hundred rivers—how terrifying was that?

Therefore.

Since ancient times, these Wangbei followers had all taken pride in being able to join the Academy, even struggling for it their whole lives, and would not hesitate to sacrifice their lives for it.

The long-standing Wangbei Academy had many miraculous aspects.

It encompassed Literature, Mathematics, Engineering, the heavens and earth, mysteries, minor paths, and the Great Dao...

How could one not be obsessed with such a place?

Yes.

He was just a tiny chess piece.

But enough to pry open a Longyan. He fiercely wiped his face.

He, this seemingly ordinary chess piece, was going to defy the heavens, change his fate, and achieve victory!

After resting for a while.

Today was the day for the handover of the two hundred thousand Jiangzhou commoners who were to be released.

Murong Che, who currently enjoyed the deep trust of Luo Huo, was naturally responsible for this matter.

Riding a horse, leading troops, and escorting captives took another half a day.

According to the terms of the treaty, these two hundred thousand Jiangzhou captives would be handed over fifty miles outside Jiangzhou City. On the Longyan side, the person responsible for the handover was Jiang Xuan of the Yong'an Army.

Looking at these two hundred thousand captives about to be released, they were disheveled, unkempt, men and women, women and children, and the elderly; at this moment, they were all cheering and jumping for joy, and some were even crying from happiness. For more than two months, they had suffered greatly, and today they had finally regained their freedom. The taut nerves of some were suddenly released, naturally presenting all sorts of human conditions.

"What are you crying for! Move faster!"

"Be careful, or I'll kill you if you dawdle again!"

The whips of those Southern Barbarians landed on them from time to time.

Murong Che sat on his horse, knowing that he could not manage so much.

He suddenly thought in his mind.

Although he had already arranged everything here in Jiangzhou City—having completed all of this with the help of many Wangbei followers.

However...

He suddenly thought of that Prefect Liu who was currently in Shuzhou.

The world-renowned Prefect Liu.

Could he understand his scheme?

Or rather...

Could he add fuel to the fire in the great blaze about to be ignited in Jiangzhou?

He suddenly laughed out loud.

Prefect Liu...

The husband of his junior sister was a great general under his command.

Then you must not let me down!

Jiang Xuan saw the two hundred thousand captives escorted by the Southern Barbarian army from afar.

As well as Murong Che walking at the very front.

Was that him?

Jiang Xuan chuckled.

The two armies finally began to confront each other.

According to the treaty, this time, Jiang Xuan was to bring fifty thousand in gold to exchange for these two hundred thousand captives. The armies stood in confrontation five miles apart.

And then.

Both sides exchanged various documents, signed the treaty, and confirmed the fulfillment of the contents.

This procedure was naturally to be handled by the people in charge from both sides.

Murong Che, with his guards, rode over.

Jiang Xuan also set out at the same time.

The two appeared simultaneously in the middle of the two armies' confrontation.

Murong Che was young, handsome, refined, and dashing.

Jiang Xuan was in high spirits, his military uniform neat, his bearing extraordinary.

When he saw Murong Che, Jiang Xuan's eyelids actually couldn't help but twitch; was this the man... who planned to use a single fire to burn down the thousand-year-old city of Jiangzhou?

This idea... although it borrowed from the Viscount, the scale was much larger than the Viscount's burning of Mang Mountain.

A ruthless man!

This was a ruthless man!

Murong Che was also observing Jiang Xuan.

Looking at Jiang Xuan, then looking at the so-called great generals under Luo Huo...

Just in terms of bearing, they were not even in the same league!

This Jiang Xuan possessed vitality, spiritual energy, sharpness, and dominance!

Seeing a leopard's spot allows one to know the whole animal.

How could this Prefect Liu be any worse?

"General Jiang's name is like thunder to the ears; Murong Che has admired you for a long time!"

Murong Che was very polite, cupping his hands and smiling.

Jiang Xuan also laughed: "Mr. Murong is the number one Strategist under Jiaozhi; for forcing Longyan to make concessions this time, you deserve the primary credit!"

Both sides exchanged pleasantries, made small talk, and engaged in a round of professional flattery.

Afterwards.

They finally went through the entire procedure from just before.

Signed.

The treaty was signed after all.

Jiang Xuan waved his hand and shouted: "Fifty thousand gold, bring it over!"

Cart after cart of gold; the Southern Barbarians watched, their mouths watering.

Then they counted and confirmed that the fifty thousand gold was correct.

Only then did Murong Che's side give the order to release the people.

Two hundred thousand captives were crying and shouting; the spectacle was simply indescribable. Once the release was announced, these people, regardless of whether they had injuries or what their condition was, ran toward this side with joy.

This side was Hell, and that side was freedom.

War... is just this cruel.

In war, the ones who suffer the most are these commoners.

Two hundred thousand; just running over took a period of time.

"If only there were no war, how good that would be..."

The two were watching from the side when Murong Che suddenly said calmly.

Jiang Xuan was stunned.

Because these words were spoken in very standard Longyan language.

And when this Murong Che gave orders just now, he used the Jiaozhi language.

What did this mean?

Was he hinting at something to him? Or was he testing him?

Jiang Xuan glanced at the people beside Murong Che; they were excitedly counting the gold.

He also smiled: "Haha, Mr. Murong, you have a heart as vast as a valley! If it were not for the two armies being at war, Jiang Xuan would certainly drink with you and toast to our hearts' content!"

A strange smile appeared on the corner of Murong Che's mouth: "Tomorrow, perhaps?"

Jiang Xuan's whole body jolted.

There was something fishy!

Sure enough!

This guy was testing him!

Thinking of this, Jiang Xuan had a flash of inspiration, deliberately looked at the sky, and said: "Tomorrow's weather is truly excellent, a clear sky for ten thousand miles; it is truly rare good weather for the Chuan Shu land. Mr. Murong, you must tell your King, the weather is dry and the air is parched, you must be careful with fire..."

"You..."

Murong Che trembled all over instantly, his complexion changing drastically.

This moment.

He was truly shocked by Jiang Xuan's words.

Did he know something?

Or was it that...

That Prefect Liu, who was close by in Shuzhou, knew something?

He hadn't spoken yet.

Jiang Xuan, as if talking to himself, looked smilingly at Jiangzhou City: "Your King made a relatively rational choice... If he continues to forcibly occupy Jiangzhou and does not leave, my Viscount will be angered, and this entire Jiangzhou City, truly, will cease to exist..."

Shock!

Murong Che was almost shocked enough to fall off his horse.

Jiang Xuan gave him a meaningful look and laughed: "Mr. Murong, see you tomorrow!"

At this time, the two hundred thousand captives finally arrived at the Longyan Army's side.

Jiang Xuan shouted once and rode away.

This?

Murong Che was still left dumbfounded at this moment.

After a long while, he took a deep breath.

Could it be that Prefect Liu... has truly guessed his intention?

What kind of person is he, exactly?