1627 Rise of the South China Sea

Chapter 3847

Shi Chengwu's words sent a chill down Lu Congshan's spine. He realized that Shi Chengwu was, after all, a general of the Haihan Army, and the methods he would use in such negotiations were not limited to tempting offers, but also included ruthless threats of force.

Of course, given Shi Chengwu's status, such a threat wouldn't just remain verbal; he truly had the ability to carry it out.

Lu Congshan did not want to become the target of Haihan's generals' attention, so he shook his head and denied it, saying, "I have no intention of being an enemy of the general, otherwise I would not have come to Tongling County to meet with the general."

Shi Chengwu laughed and said, "It is truly a blessing for the people of Jiujiang that Lord Lu has such awareness!"

Now that Lu Congshan had made his stance clear, the remaining issues were simply the specific terms of cooperation and the methods of implementation. Shi Chengwu had made thorough preparations before his arrival and immediately presented a detailed plan for Lu Congshan and Yue Shizong to review.

According to Shi Chengwu's plan, the best way to take Jiujiang would be a peaceful transition. This would require Lu Congshan to completely control the situation in Jiujiang before the Haihan Army arrived, so that the Ming troops stationed in the area could withdraw from the front line or prepare to surrender in advance.

The garrison in Jiujiang Prefecture was mainly composed of the Jiujiang Guard, which was originally directly managed by Nanjing. Now that Nanjing has been transferred to Haihan, the Jiujiang Guard has been transferred to the Jiangxi Provincial Military Command in Nanchang, which is the command center for the entire Jiangxi region.

However, Lu Congshan was only a prefect, and it was difficult for him to directly intervene in the deployment and command of the Ming army. He then explained the difficulties to Shi Chengwu.

Shi Chengwu had anticipated this situation and stated that it wouldn't affect the overall situation, as long as Lu Congshan provided detailed information on the Ming army's garrison deployment and the commanders stationed there. Once this intelligence was obtained, the Haihan Army would formulate a corresponding battle plan.

Of course, if Lu Congshan believed that the generals leading the troops might be susceptible to bribery and defection, he could make the corresponding attempts, but he would not allow too much buffer time.

Lu Congshan asked, "If I may be so bold as to ask, if the commander of Jiujiang Guard refuses to cooperate, what does General Shi intend to do?"

Shi Chengwu said, "If persuasion fails, then we will have no choice but to surrender by force. As for the specific methods, it's best if Lord Lu doesn't know."

Lu Congshan dared not ask further and could only nod in agreement.

Shi Chengwu continued, "Lord Lu's primary task is to ensure that no chaos arises in the area when the army arrives in Jiujiang. When the prefectural and county governments hand over power to our army, the government's treasury, granary, and all kinds of documents in the government offices, especially household registration, land deeds, house deeds, case files, local chronicles, etc., must be preserved intact and not lost or damaged. There must be no large-scale banditry, looting of supplies, murder, arson, robbery of money and grain in the area."

These requests actually sounded reasonable, and Lu Congshan didn't refute them, but just nodded repeatedly in agreement.

Shi Chengwu said, "Local stability is far more important than military occupation. What I want is a complete and stable Jiujiang, not a ruin destroyed by war. If you can help me achieve this goal, I will definitely guarantee Lord Lu's future."

The process of persuading Lu Congshan was far easier than Shi Chengwu had anticipated.

This was partly due to the pressure of the situation, as the other party already had the idea of ​​seeking a way out in Haihan; and partly because Shi Chengwu's status and position indeed carried considerable persuasive power. If Yue Shizong had come to Tongling County alone to meet with Lu Congshan, the effect would likely have been less than ideal. Even if they were old acquaintances, it would have been difficult to convince Lu Congshan to make a decision after only one meeting. At this point, a banquet to foster closer relations should have been arranged, but both sides knew time was of the essence and needed to return to their respective jurisdictions as soon as possible after completing their business. They had no time to consider anything more than eating, drinking, and merrymaking.

The three discussed the cooperation plan and subsequent contact methods overnight, and Lu Congshan bid farewell early the next morning and embarked on his journey back to Jiujiang.

Shi Chengwu only gave him a month to prepare. During this period, he needed to make arrangements in all aspects and try his best to hand over a complete Jiujiang to Shi Chengwu. Even though he was the prefect of Jiujiang, this was not a simple task.

Lu Congshan needs to coordinate the complex relationships in the local area and deal with various people who may become stumbling blocks during this month, especially the Jiujiang Guard, which he cannot fully control.

If this armed force is not dealt with in advance, war is very likely to break out when the Haihan army arrives in Jiujiang.

Of course, there was another very important thing: to transfer his own assets to Nanjing in advance through Yangtze River shipping and trade.

It's unlikely that Lu Congshan can liquidate the large amount of real estate he holds under various names in such a short time. All he can do is transfer his valuables such as gold and silver out of the country. After all, as long as the packing and shipping process is discreet, these items are unlikely to attract attention.

Moreover, Shi Chengwu promised to handle this matter as a special case, providing a dedicated channel for Cheng Yunya, the second-in-command of Lufaxing and a confidant of Lu Congshan, to receive and safeguard the property locally. If the property needs to be converted into cash to purchase real estate, the government will also provide assistance.

Shi Chengwu even considered that Lu Congshan's Lufa hairstyle would attract attention from all sides, so he provided a more secure means of transportation. The East China Sea Fleet stationed in Nanjing would send personnel disguised as merchant ships to Jiujiang to meet him and then escort him to Nanjing.

If Lu Congshan needs to arrange for his family to leave the country first, this plan can be followed, and someone in Nanjing will be responsible for making proper arrangements.

Regarding the relocation of family members, Yue Shizong, having been through similar experiences, also gave Lu Congshan some advice.

For Ming officials like them who intended to pledge allegiance to Haihan, the step of transferring their families was indispensable. Otherwise, if the secret police discovered anything amiss, the first thing they would do was confiscate their property and arrest them, putting their entire families in danger. As long as their families were sent to Haihan, they would have both pledged their allegiance and eliminated any worries, allowing them to act boldly.

Lu Congshan took this advice to heart, so he planned to arrange for his grandfather to feign illness upon returning to Jiujiang. He would then use the pretext of sending the elderly couple back to their hometown to recuperate to smuggle them out of Jiujiang. Afterward, he would use excuses such as caring for the elderly or visiting relatives in their hometown to send the family members away in batches.

As for Shi Chengwu's promise to have the Haihan Army escort him throughout the journey, Lu Congshan decided to take advantage of it. After all, if the Haihan people wanted his cooperation in Jiujiang, they would have to make proper arrangements for his family first, and he would definitely do his best to ensure their safety.

Once the handover of Jiujiang Prefecture is smooth, whether it's going to Nanjing for a family reunion or bringing family members back to Jiujiang, it will no longer be a big problem.

Lu Congshan even thought that with his talent, it wouldn't be difficult for him to obtain a minor official position in Haihan in the future. Why should he be content to work as an assistant in the small town of Jiujiang? He should strive to take a position in Hangzhou. If Yue Shizong could do it, he certainly could too.