sjar Chapter 703: A Last Resort
Chapter 703: A Last Resort
Chapter 703 A Last Resort
Wang Wenzhou said with a smile, "Old Xiong, actually I'm not here to see you, I'm here to see Zhang Xianzhong. Old Zhang? Which one of you is Old Zhang?"
Zhang Xianzhong quickly stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting to Wang Wenzhou, and said, "I am Zhang Xianzhong. May I ask what business you have with me, Lord Wang?"
"Haha!" Wang Wenzhou said with a laugh, "Old Zhang is indeed a handsome and extraordinary man! Old Xiong, I've come to your doorstep today, it would be too impolite of you not to treat me to a meal! Old Zhang, let's have a drink and chat later."
"Pfft..." Xiong Wencan was both amused and exasperated. Wang Wenzhou, that mad dog, was too shameless.
"Lord Wang, please come in quickly!" Xiong Wencan hurriedly ordered, "Someone, quickly prepare wine and dishes!"
Xiong Wencan was very annoyed. He had gathered so many subordinates to discuss serious matters, but Wang Wenzhou, the mad dog, came and started clamoring for drinks. He was utterly shameless!
With the food and drinks prepared and everyone seated, Xiong Wencan was once again dumbfounded. This mad dog, Wang Wenzhou, only got his food and drinks from pretty girls.
Zuo Liangyu had been secretly observing Wang Wenzhou. Seeing Wang Wenzhou's lecherous nature pleased him greatly; a man with hobbies was a true hero, and with both being heroes, it was easier to talk. Zuo Liangyu planned to get to know Wang Wenzhou better. He disliked his superior, Xiong Wencan, although he knew that Wang Wenzhou's relationship with Zhu Youjian wasn't good.
Even so, Zhu Youjian still couldn't bring himself to kill Wang Wenzhou. Zuo Liangyu wanted to try and see if he could use Wang Wenzhou to get rid of Xiong Wencan. He wasn't a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) and couldn't take Xiong Wencan's position, but someone else would definitely be better.
Wang Wenzhou, with Gao Guiying in his arms, took a sip of wine, looked at Zhang Xianzhong, and said with a smile and a curse, "Old Zhang, I heard you've come to accept amnesty?"
Zhang Xianzhong nodded and said, "When I was young, I was reckless and did some things that were wrong to the country and the people. Now I feel the Emperor's great grace and I am determined to submit to the court."
"Heh!" Wang Wenzhou sneered, "Old Zhang, you really don't know how to write the word 'death'? What's wrong with rebellion? I'm planning to engage in rebellion! The Ming Dynasty is on the verge of collapse, and war is raging everywhere. Are kings and nobles born with special privileges?"
Xiong Wencan could no longer contain himself. This mad dog, Wang Wenzhou, had been disrespectful to the Emperor from the very first meeting, constantly threatening rebellion. How could this be tolerated? I am a high-ranking official in charge of the military affairs of six provinces. If I do not take action, what will the Emperor think when this reaches his ears?
“Wang Wenzhou! Stop talking nonsense! You are the Earl of Xinjian of the Great Ming Dynasty, how can you say such treasonous things?” Xiong Wencan said coldly.
"Haha!" Wang Wenzhou sneered, "I told you! Go ahead and kill me if you dare! Let me tell you the truth, Zhu Youjian begs and pleads with me every day to behave! He even sent a princess and a prince to Hanshan as hostages for me. I'll call Zhu Youjian a pig, what can you do about it? I dare to curse him even to his face!"
"Sigh..." Xiong Wencan sighed. Although he had never met Wang Wenzhou, Zhu Youjian had consulted Xiong Wencan before he planned to attack Hanshan. Wang Wenzhou had over 100,000 elite troops in Hanshan, more elite than the Ming army. The Ming Dynasty was not at peace at the moment, and if Wang Wenzhou really rebelled, the Ming Dynasty would probably be in imminent danger.
This is precisely why Xiong Wencan opposed attacking Hanshan. Ultimately, after much consideration, Zhu Youjian decided to appease Wang Wenzhou. Xiong Wencan couldn't understand what Wang Wenzhou was up to in Sichuan.
"Lord Wang!" Xiong Wencan said earnestly, "Your family of Xinjian Marquis has been a family of meritorious officials of the Ming Dynasty for generations. How could the Emperor send someone to assassinate you? I have also heard about your father's birthday banquet! It must be that the Tartars have not given up their ambition to forget our Ming Dynasty and have done something that is outrageous to both gods and men!"
"Haha! Tartars! You blame everything on the Tartars!" Wang Wenzhou said irritably, "I was almost killed by an assassin again a few days ago! Do you know how many assassination attempts I've faced since I became an official in the Ming Dynasty? My baby even died! It's too painful to talk about! Sister, have a drink!"
Gao Guiying quickly took a sip of wine and fed it to Wang Wenzhou.
Wang Wenzhou continued, "Let me tell you the truth, Lao Zhang! Zhu Youjian has no integrity. Think about how my father-in-law, Gao Yingxiang, died. Although I promised Zhu Youjian that I wouldn't rebel for the time being, I've already made contact with Huang Taiji and Li Zicheng. We'll start our uprisings together next spring!"
"Pfft..." Xiong Wencan spat out a mouthful of wine. Mad Dog Wang Wenzhou really dares to say anything! If this is true, the Ming Dynasty will be in big trouble!
Xiong Wencan glanced at his subordinates, who were all sitting upright, as if afraid of offending Wang Wenzhou.
"Sigh..." Xiong Wencan sighed and said, "Lord Wang, you're drunk! Stop talking nonsense!"
"Haha!" Wang Wenzhou hugged Gao Guiying and kissed her, laughing as he said, "Old Xiong, let me tell you the truth. My sister is Gao Guiying, Gao Yingxiang's eldest daughter. She and Lao Zhang are old friends. When she learned that Lao Zhang was going to be tricked to death by you, she specially persuaded me to come and talk to Lao Zhang! What kind of good deal is it that Lao Zhang can surrender and then take a sinecure in the capital?"
"Bang!" Xiong Wencan slammed his hand on the table and asked coldly, "Zhang Xianzhong, what exactly do you want?"
Xiong Wencan finally realized that Wang Wenzhou and Zhang Xianzhong must have communicated beforehand, and that Wang Wenzhou's trip to Sichuan was indeed to contact Zhang Xianzhong and plot something nefarious. Although he dared not detain Wang Wenzhou, much less kill him, he had to quickly write to Zhu Youjian to inform him of this matter.
Zhang Xianzhong said with a wry smile, "Lord Xiong, my brothers are all like brothers to me. After discussing it, we naturally want to accept the offer of amnesty. However, we don't want to be separated. Here's what we're thinking: you can designate a small county for us, and we'll all become ordinary people. Of course, the resettlement allowance can't be less! As you know, we all have families to support. If we weren't desperate, we wouldn't have rebelled."
Xiong Wencan thought for a moment. Although he didn't understand Wang Wenzhou's intentions yet, he knew that he had to appease Zhang Xianzhong and not let him be fooled by Wang Wenzhou into continuing his rebellion.
“Alright! I will grant your conditions! However, the imperial court cannot provide too much silver, but it will give each of you two acres of land!” Xiong Wencan said.
"Heh!" Zhang Xianzhong sneered inwardly. Xiong Wencan, are you trying to fob me off? In peaceful times, an acre of fertile land would only cost ten or eight taels of silver. Now, with war raging everywhere, people are paying more taxes than they earn from farming. Farming is losing money, and fertile land is even less valuable!
"On behalf of my brothers, thank you, Lord Xiong!" Zhang Xianzhong quickly expressed his gratitude.
Wang Wenzhou frowned, surprised that Xiong Wencan had agreed to Zhang Xianzhong's conditions so easily. What Wang Wenzhou didn't know was that Xiong Wencan's attempt to appease Zhang Xianzhong was a last resort. The imperial court was out of money! Recently, with ample military pay, the soldiers fought bravely, which had led to a period of victory. Now, without funds, how could the imperial army fight?