Chapter 283

"General Ning, please don't be angry. Why not listen to me for a few words first?"

"Speak!" General Ning's tone was unkind.

"Everyone knows that our Ming Army defeated the Xiongnu, but does General Ning know what position the person who led eight hundred cavalry deep behind enemy lines and beheaded Hunxie holds in the Ming Army?"

General Ning didn't know what this question had to do with him, but he still answered, "Naturally, he holds an important position!"

"He is our major captain! Luo Feng!"

"Such a fierce general is only a major captain?" General Ning was surprised, with a bit of skepticism.

"That's right! The one guarding Shuang City is Major Captain Bai Ting! And Yin City is Major Captain Jiang Ze! They all hold important positions and are deeply trusted by the commander, and their merits are enough to convince the masses.

If General Ning joins, you would become a major captain; how would you convince the masses?"

General Ning's momentum lowered a bit. "Compared to those few, I am naturally insufficient, but isn't there a position higher than a middle captain?"

"Han Xiao, the former Vice General of the Prince of Zhenbei, has been on the frontier for more than ten years and is now the commander's right-hand man. Strictly speaking, he should be a bit lower than a major captain and much higher than a middle captain. Can General Ning compare to him?"

"This..."

General Ning's momentum lowered a bit more. He naturally knew Han Xiao, the former right-hand man of the Prince of Zhenbei. It could be said that if it weren't for the Prince of Zhenbei, he would be a general of the Zhenbei Army. Such a person was naturally stronger than him.

But a middle captain could only command five hundred people; how could General Ning accept such a large gap?

Seeming to see the struggle in the other party's heart, Wang Hou's subordinate lowered his voice and said, "General Ning, I might as well be blunt! How long have you not been paid? The so-called garrison or general is just a name without substance, but joining our Ming Army means you can receive military pay every month.

Besides! Go out and ask around now, who doesn't praise our Ming Army? Do the people still remember you? As long as you join us, you can immediately hold your head high and be a man. Even if you go home, your parents will praise you for doing a great job."

"I know all these things you said, but..." General Ning was hesitant; he just couldn't get over this hurdle in his heart.

Wang Hou's subordinate continued to persuade: "General Ning! Why do you have to limit yourself to the number of people you manage? Although you are only a middle captain now, there is infinite room for promotion. In the future, as the Ming Army grows, you will at least be a city guardian!

Here, this is your end point, but in the Ming Army, this is just your starting point!"

Having said this much, he believed that General Ning was not a person who didn't know the severity of the situation, and he would weigh the pros and cons himself.

This was indeed the case. General Ning thought about it carefully. The attitude of the Great Qian was extremely disgusting, and he didn't feel good being a general either. His soldiers asked about military pay every day.

Although there were twenty thousand soldiers, General Ning wasn't sure if he could command them if something really happened.

And he felt aggrieved, so it would be better to surrender to the Ming Army. According to the current momentum of the Ming Army, unifying Beijiang was only a matter of time.

Rather than letting the other party come to his door, it would be better to join voluntarily; perhaps he could even exchange it for an official position.

Moreover, the reputation of the Ming Army was currently good to the extreme. He was afraid that the Ming Army would arrive at the city gate during the day, and he would have his neck cut off by his subordinates at night as a token of surrender.

After thinking about it this way, General Ning was not so resistant to this matter.

Seeing this, Wang Hou's subordinate struck while the iron was hot. "General Ning, to tell you the truth, the Governor of Beiting Jun and General Shi have already contacted our commander, but it hasn't been announced to the public yet!"

"What? Old Shi, that ladybug, actually moved faster than me?" General Ning knew he couldn't hesitate anymore. If he was late, it wouldn't be called surrendering, it would be called being forced, and he would be made an example of.

"Brother, say no more, I agree to this matter! It's not for the position of middle captain, mainly because I like the Ming Army, and I particularly... appreciate it!"

The two looked at each other and smiled; it was clear that this matter was a done deal!

At this time, a guard came forward to report.

"General! Governor Liu is outside asking to see you!"

General Ning frowned. "What does Governor Liu want with me?"

He didn't have much contact with Liu Heng on a daily basis, mainly because Liu Heng was too greedy for money and wouldn't give up even a fraction of his interests. General Ning always believed that this person couldn't achieve great things, so he had the intention to stay away.

"It seems to be... about the Ming Army!" The guard glanced at Wang Hou's subordinate, somewhat hesitant.

Wang Hou's subordinate smiled. "Since General Ning has a distinguished guest visiting, I won't bother you anymore!"

"Eh!" General Ning raised his hand. "He doesn't count as a distinguished guest here, at most he's a fart. Brother, sit down, let me see what his business is!"

Liu Heng ran into the room in a hurry. "General Ning, it's bad, it's bad! The Ming Army is attacking, we should make preparations early!"

General Ning was stunned. "What does Governor Liu mean by this? Ning doesn't quite understand!"

Liu Heng didn't care that there were others around and explained in a hurry, "That Ming Army has sent a team of people who are rushing to my Shuo Fang City!"

"Is that so?" General Ning stood up. "How much longer until the Ming Army arrives?"

Liu Heng thought the other party already understood his meaning. "Tomorrow morning!"

"Good!" General Ning waved his hand. "Prepare a banquet to welcome the Ming Army. I just don't know if it's the Ming Army commander or someone else coming this time?"

Liu Heng thought he had misheard, and seeing General Ning's expectant look, he knew he really intended to banquet the other party.

"You... you are a general personally appointed by the Great Qian Imperial Court, how can you banquet thieves?" Liu Heng was so angry that his fingers were trembling.

"Ridiculous! The Ming Army defeated the Xiongnu, beheaded the Chanyu, and made a great contribution to Beijiang. They are much better than a good-for-nothing like you, yet you keep calling them thieves. Take a hit from me first!"

General Ning rolled up his sleeves, the veins on his arms bulging, and he raised his fist, ready to hit Liu Heng.

Liu Heng fled in a panic, still saying things like "brute" and "insulting to the literati" as he ran.

After Liu Heng ran out of the military camp, General Ning stopped, then turned and asked, "Brother, I don't know if it's the commander or..."

"It's our Ming Army's Captain Bai!"

"Then I'll have to trouble you, brother, to introduce me!"

"Naturally!"

Seeing General Ning's attitude, Liu Heng knew it was impossible to get the other party to send troops. Now he could only protect himself!

Since that was the case, he would just run away. Although losing money made his heart ache, as long as his life was still there, it would be fine!

Thinking of this, Liu Heng no longer hesitated and hurried back to the Governor's residence to start packing.

Although the ready cash had been spent, there were still some jewels in the residence, which could be exchanged for some silver after being sold.

Just as Liu Heng was packing his luggage, someone suddenly came from outside.

"My lord, what are you doing?"

Liu Heng turned his head and looked, suddenly coming up with a plan. "I saved your life, now I have something I need your help with!"