Chapter 1068 The key is ability!
Listening to Murong Zhengshan's words, the smile on Wang Le's face froze. The next second, he wanted to tell Murong Zhengshan that he could come to Lin'an as he pleased and leave as he pleased, and no one could stop him...

However, seeing the half-smile on Murong Zhengshan's face, Wang Le hesitated for a moment, and finally decided to tell the truth:

"To be honest, Master Murong, the situation in Jiangnan is about to change. This is not a place for me to stay for long. After meeting you today, Master Murong, I will leave Lin'an!"

Murong Zhengshan nodded and said:

"A gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall. Although you, Mr. Wang, are not a gentleman, you can still seek benefits and avoid harm!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Le said directly:

"I wonder what you think of what I proposed last time, Master Murong?"

Murong Zhengshan shook his head and said:

"Boss Wang, do you think I, Murong Zhengshan, have lived too long?"

After Murong Zhengshan finished his leisurely sermon:

"A dragon has a reverse scale that will kill anyone who touches it. Mr. Wang, you told me this, I'm afraid you have no good intentions!"

Wang Le laughed and said something meaningful:
"Mr. Murong, you are too kind. I am sincere to you, how could I harbor evil intentions?"

“Moreover, in my opinion, true heroes and great men all have the world in their hearts and put the people of the world first. They will never be swayed by love affairs. How could they regard a woman with bloody hands as a sore spot? Perhaps a woman is just a plaything to him…”

"Besides, this matter is known to heaven, earth, you and me. Unless you, Master Murong, tell others about this matter, how else would others know it!"

Murong Zhengshan snorted coldly upon hearing this and then said in a deep voice:
"Boss Wang, you really are pretending to be ignorant even though you know the truth!"

Wang Le smiled indifferently and said:

"Mr. Murong, you and I are the same!"

"Anyway, I have handed the knife to you, the Murong family. As for how to use this knife, it is up to you, Mr. Murong, to choose!"

Murong Zhengshan took a deep look at Wang Le, who looked very honest and calm, and then spoke without any emotion:

"Boss Wang, I have a feeling that after we part today, the next time we meet will probably be in Yijing!"

After hearing this, Wang Le was stunned for a moment, then shook his head and said confidently:
"Mr. Murong, I know that your First Manufacturing Bureau is researching warships, but I'm sorry to say that this thing won't work without decades of accumulation!"

"The Fengwu Army's land skills are indeed amazing. In less than ten years, they have fought from east to west and from north to south. Now they are about to unify the Great Zhou. Your Marshal Ye is also going to become the emperor!"

"But this naval battle is completely different from a land battle. This is a deep water area that you are completely unfamiliar with!"

Wang Le paused for a moment, then pointed at himself and said in a very arrogant and domineering manner:
"And here I am the master!"

“Believe me! Your Marshal Ye won’t get a single fart from me at sea. The only thing he can get is the corpses of the Fengwu Army…”

After saying this, Wang Le smiled wantonly, and without waiting for Murong Zhengshan to reply, he turned around and left with an arrogant look.

Looking at Wang Le's arrogant back, Murong Zhengshan also fell into silence. After Wang Le walked out of the door, Murong Zhengshan's guard Lu Zheng's eyes flashed with murderous intent, and then he suggested to his master:
"Sir, this man is a nuisance. Do you want me to get rid of him?"

Murong Zhengshan was silent for a while after hearing this and said:
"Lü Zheng, how sure are you?"

Lu Zheng said without hesitation:
"Seventy percent!"

Murong Zhengshan was somewhat tempted to hear this answer, but after careful consideration, he shook his head and said:

"This is someone else's territory. We should make the best of it and try not to cause any trouble!"

Lu Zheng nodded and said nothing more. At this moment, Murong Zhengshan seemed to have thought of something and asked again:

"What happened to the people who were watching us?"

Lu Zheng thought for a moment and said:
"It has more than doubled, and no one in our house is allowed to leave!"

Hearing this answer, Murong Zhengshan couldn't help but sigh in his heart, knowing that his father-in-law Lu Jianchao was now treating him as a hostage. If anything happened to his brother-in-law Lu Houde who had gone out of the city to negotiate with the Fengwu Army, he would probably be buried with him.

Murong Zhengshan couldn't help but sigh with a wry smile when he thought of this. Seeing this, Lu Zheng thought that Murong Zhengshan was worried about his safety, so he also promised faithfully:
“If something really happens to you, Lu Zheng will protect you even at the cost of his own life…”·····································
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Sichuan, Chengdu

In Song Weijie's Governor's Mansion, Song Weijie and several trusted generals were discussing important matters. Looking around at everyone, Song Weijie announced with a serious expression:

"Weike sent a message from Yijing that the Fengwu Army has already started preparations for war and has begun to stockpile medicine and food. If we cannot reach an agreement with the Fengwu Army, the Fengwu Army will most likely choose to go to war next year!"

As soon as these words came out, several people in the conference room were shocked. After being shocked, some people looked terrified, while others looked serious. After looking at everyone's expressions one by one, Song Weijie said in a deep voice:

"Everyone can speak freely about whatever ideas you have, without any worries!"

Although Song Weijie said this, some of the people in the room lowered their heads in thought, while others seemed to want to say something, but when they saw that others didn't speak, they shut their mouths!
Feeling the deathly silence in the room, Song Weijie was very unhappy and could only take the initiative to call out:

"Zhang Zhe, what do you think?"

This Zhang Zhe was the one who wanted to stand up and express his ideas just now, but when he saw that no one else spoke, he didn't say anything in the end. Song Weijie just noticed his situation, so he called his name now!

Zhang Zhe, the current commander of Jianmen, who was in charge of 15,000 Sichuan troops, stood up under Song Weijie's gaze, hesitated for a moment and said:
"Governor, I think we should have a good talk with the Fengwu Army..."

Hearing Zhang Zhe say this, Song Weijie looked a little unhappy, but still said in a deep voice:

"You said to have a good talk with the Fengwu Army? Why don't you tell me in detail how to have a good talk with the Fengwu Army?"

"Emperor Ye of Yijing not only wants us to surrender, but also demands that we hand over the military and political power of Sichuan and Shu, and that the Fengwu Army enter Sichuan and Shu. He is only willing to give a few titles. Zhang Zhe, how do you think we should have a good talk with him?"

Feeling the anger in Song Weijie's words, Zhang Zhe panicked and said quickly:
"Governor, I was wrong. I was just talking nonsense. I will listen to you. I will do whatever you say!"

Hearing this, Song Weijie waved his hand in disappointment. Zhang Zhe immediately retreated as if he had been pardoned. Then Song Weijie looked at the first slightly plump middle-aged man on the left side of the hall.

This man's name is Huang Tong. He was appointed as the prefect of Rongcheng by Song Weijie just a few months ago. He is also a minister that Song Weijie relies on very much!
Huang Tong's heart sank when he felt Song Weijie's gaze. Judging from what Song Weijie just said, he might have already decided to fight the Fengwu Army to the end!

Therefore, although Song Weijie asked everyone to talk about their ideas now, it is very likely that he actually wants everyone to discuss ways to resist the Fengwu Army!
Honestly speaking, Huang Tong was not surprised that Song Weijie had such an idea. First of all, Song Weijie was obsessed with power. For the power in his hands, he almost gave up everything he had...

According to the Fengwu Army's method, Song Weijie would lose almost all of his power except for the title of Duke of Shu!
Obviously this was something Song Weijie could not accept. Based on Huang Tong's understanding of Song Weijie, this was almost the same as asking for Song Weijie's life!
Secondly, Song Weijie's Song family was originally a local tyrant in Sichuan and Shu. Since Song Weijie became the governor and cleared away the opposition in Sichuan and Shu, the Song family led by Song Weijie became the largest landlord in Sichuan and Shu. The Song family wanted to get involved in almost all money-making businesses in Sichuan and Shu!
According to the Fengwu Army, most of the Song family's property in Sichuan, including houses, fields, shops, and business shares, would not be protected.
They can only retain a small part of the property, and most of the property will be divided up by the Fengwu Army. The fields and houses will be distributed to the tenants, and the shops and business shares will be divided up by the Fengwu Army!
Song Weijie and the Song family paid such a huge price, but all they got was a hereditary Duke of Shu!

Therefore, for Song Weijie and the Song family, the conditions of the Fengwu Army were undoubtedly a surrender agreement!
Honestly speaking, if Huang Tong were in Song Weijie's shoes, he thought it would be difficult for him to accept the Fengwu Army's conditions!

But the key to the problem is not whether Song Weijie accepts the conditions of Fengwu Army, but whether Song Weijie has the strength to refuse Fengwu Army.

The reason why Marshal Ye dared to offer such conditions to Song Weijie was undoubtedly because Marshal Ye was very confident in the strength of the Fengwu Army. He was so confident that he didn't care what you, Song Weijie, thought or had any opinions, or whether you could accept them!

Of course, Marshal Ye should have this confidence. After all, most of the Zhou Dynasty has fallen into the hands of the Fengwu Army, and millions of people are subservient to him!
Even though the world still nominally belongs to the Great Zhou, and the emperor is the little emperor named Jiang Cong, anyone with a little common sense knows that the name of the Great Zhou is very close to extinction. As long as Marshal Ye wants, he can become emperor at any time!

But returning to the crux of the matter, do Song Weijie and even the entire Sichuan Army have the ability to reject Marshal Ye's conditions?
Thinking of this, Huang Tong couldn't help but sigh in his heart. In his mind, the answer was undoubtedly no!
Although Sichuan and Shu have geographical advantages, it is still overestimating their own capabilities to shake the entire Great Zhou with just one place. Perhaps Sichuan and Shu can rely on their geographical advantages to stop the invasion of the Fengwu Army at the beginning of the war, but as long as the war continues, defeat is only a matter of time!

Thinking of this, although he knew clearly what Song Weijie, who was looking at him at this moment, wanted him to say, in order to repay Song Weijie's kindness to him, Huang Tong did not want to deceive Song Weijie with flattering words. He took a deep breath and stood up and said in a deep voice:
"Your Excellency the Governor, I believe that my army should argue with the Fengwu Army based on reason, fighting but not breaking..."

Song Weijie was shocked and disappointed when he heard this answer. He thought that he had basically made his attitude clear in his question to Zhang Zhe just now!

So now he wants Huang Tong, his confidant, to stand up, just to make him support his pro-war stance, and then to unify everyone's thoughts!

However, Song Weijie never expected that although Huang Tong spoke tactfully and argued with reason, his idea was undoubtedly the same as Zhang Zhe's just now, that is, to continue negotiations with the Fengwu Army!

Song Weijie didn't understand why Huang Tong said that. He didn't believe that Huang Tong couldn't see what he meant. He had promoted him to the position of prefect of Rongcheng and entrusted him with important tasks. Shouldn't he stand in unison with him on such an important issue?
Thinking of this, Song Weijie felt a pain of betrayal in his heart. He couldn't help but ask himself, isn't there a single loyal and brave person among the people he promoted?

Now the battle with the Fengwu Army has not even started, but there are so many voices advocating peace. Then when the battle starts and the Fengwu Army's troops march towards Sichuan and Shu, will they prepare food and drink to welcome the royal army?
Thinking of this, Song Weijie couldn't help but feel a sense of betrayal. Just as he was wondering how his Sichuan Army could have raised such a group of incompetent people who were afraid of death.

Suddenly, his trusted guard walked into the meeting room quickly, came to Song Weijie, handed him a note, and whispered in Song Weijie's ear:

"Governor, secret report from Jiangnan!"

Song Weijie couldn't help but have a bad feeling in his heart, and immediately opened the note and took a closer look, only to see a line of words written on it.

"The Fengwu Army suddenly attacked the Jiangnan Army and caught it off guard, causing it to collapse. The Fengwu Army has now reached the city of Lin'an. Lu Jianchao was forced to agree to the Fengwu Army's conditions and Lu Houde has been forced to surrender to the Fengwu Army!"

Looking at the contents on the note, Song Weijie felt a chill in his heart, and his hands couldn’t help but tremble slightly. He expected that the Jiangnan Army could not beat the Fengwu Army, but he never expected that the Jiangnan Army would be so weak and be beaten like this in their home court...

(End of this chapter)