The Second Master of the Red Chamber

Chapter 923 The Alliance of Blackhill Mountain (Part Two)
While Zhao Sheng was unfolding the map, Jia Lian said:
“We, the Great Wei, will definitely take back Jianzhou, and we will station troops there year-round.”

However, as I said before, I will give you a way out if you surrender unconditionally.

I'm giving you two choices right now.

"Either you seek a new place to settle on your own, whether you go to the Haixi Jurchens or the Tatars. With your own strength, you should be able to seize a new place to settle, even by force."

Luo Jue Anchang remained outwardly calm, but in reality, he had already realized that the Han army might make harsh demands when he considered seeking peace.

It was impossible for them to seek refuge with the Tatars.

Firstly, the relationship between the two ethnic groups was not harmonious, and secondly, their customs were different from those of the Mongols, so they might not be able to adapt to the desert winds and sand.

Third, if they were to submit to the Tatars, they would inevitably be controlled by them.

He had planned that if all else failed, he would lead his people north into the territory of the Haixi Jurchens.

The Haixi Jurchen tribe was far weaker than the Jianzhou Jurchen tribe, so he wasn't afraid they wouldn't agree.

The reason why he had never set his sights on the other side before, but instead had his sights set on Liaodong of Wei, was quite simple.

Just as the Wei people looked down on Jianzhou, he also looked down on the territory of the Haixi Jurchens.

Poorer and colder.

"The second option is to follow the route I've given you and go to a secluded paradise..."

Of course, whatever you choose, I will give you a month to gather your people.

"During this month, although we will also advance towards Jianzhou, as long as you do not do anything that violates the alliance, I will also keep my men in check and prevent them from killing indiscriminately."

Jia Lian certainly wouldn't leave these Jurchens in their place.

As long as these Jurchens remain, the imperial court can never truly recover Jianzhou.

Emperor Taizu initially wanted to take Jianzhou without bloodshed, which is why he offered the Jurchens substantial benefits to persuade them to join the Great Wei with their entire clan.

The aim was to assimilate the Jurchens with Han culture.

However, it turned out that the Taizu Emperor had oversimplified the situation; these Jurchens were exceptionally xenophobic.

Not only did they guard against the imperial court in various ways, but they would also immediately rebel as soon as they saw the court declining or no longer offering any benefits.

Jia Lian certainly wouldn't repeat the same mistake.

If we want to recover Jianzhou and restore the Liaodong territory of the Taizu era, the only way is to kill or drive away the Jurchens.

Even if this place becomes a desolate wasteland after the Jurchens are driven away, we are willing to do so.

As long as no large-scale foreign tribes form here, they will not pose a threat to Liaodong in the short term.

When the population of Han lands explodes in the future, and more land and resources are needed, people will naturally come here to exercise actual rule.

Upon hearing Jia Lian's terms, Luo Jue'an thought to himself that this fellow was indeed ruthless, leaving them no room for maneuver.

Perhaps the only advantage of this peace talk over withdrawing on one's own is that it has granted a one-month grace period.

With this month, he can gather as many of his people as possible and temporarily leave this land.

That's right, it's only temporary.

No one willingly accepts being driven from their hometown.

However, given the current situation, he had no choice but to make a strategic retreat for the sake of the survival of his people.

When we grow stronger, perhaps the State of Wei will change on its own, and it is not impossible that it will make a comeback.

As for Jia Lian's suggestion to follow the route he provided to some secluded paradise, he scoffed at it.

He didn't believe in any Shangri-La, nor did he believe that Jia Lian had such good intentions.

However, since the map was already set up, he still looked at it out of curiosity.

Hand-drawn? It looks quite new!

Moreover, it was completely unfamiliar, unlike any map he had ever seen before.

Jia Lian introduced, "This is a general geomantic map of this continent. The Grand Prince can take a look."

Luo Jue Anchang asked in surprise, "Our continent?"

Does this imply that there are other continents?

Jia Lian did not explain to him, but pointed to the land in the east of the map that resembled a rooster and said, "This is where my Great Wei is located."

Luo Jue Anchang frowned.

As far as he knew, the Great Wei was a vast and enormous country.

Why is such a small area circled on this map?

It looks to be about one-fifth or one-sixth the size.

Thinking that Jia Lian was unlikely to deliberately downplay the size of his country, he did not question him, but instead looked at the map carefully.

Because he had the Great Wei as a reference, he immediately located Liaodong.

The once vast Liaodong region still occupies a very small area on the map.

He pointed to the peninsula, which was about the size of a thumb, and asked in confusion, "Is this Korea?"

Jia Lian nodded with a smile.

Luo Jue Anchang remained silent.

While North Korea is indeed not large, it looks far too small on this map.

As a Jurchen leader with dreams, he had naturally seen many maps.

The most numerous of these were maps of Liaodong in the Wei Kingdom, because that was his dream.

He had also read others, such as those from the Great Wei, as well as some from the Tatars and Oirats.

However, without exception, the Korean Peninsula serves as an important reference in all of these maps.

Unexpectedly, this reference point that he had long been accustomed to suddenly became so small.

So he looked north and saw a vast expanse of white land with no markings whatsoever. He asked, "Do all these places exist?"

It's no wonder that Luo Jue'anchang was short-sighted.

A geomantic map can only be drawn by someone who has gone to survey the land.

In the frigid north, where there is no one to spare for a thorough exploration, only the most shrewd person would have the time.

Therefore, Luo Jue Anchang suspected that Jia Lian had deliberately forged the map to deceive him.

Jia Lian ignored him as well, pointing to Siberia and saying, "Aren't you always coveting my Liaodong Plain?"
There is also a vast plain here, or rather, a continuous stretch of plain.

This place has fertile land, abundant water and grass, and most importantly, it is incredibly vast.

So vast is the Liaodong Plain of my great Wei Dynasty that it is utterly insignificant in comparison.

Perhaps not even one-tenth.

"How can it be!"

Luo Jue Anchang instinctively retorted.

How vast was the Liaodong Plain of the Great Wei? So vast that even he dared not take it all at once, but instead sent his son to negotiate with the Great Wei court, daring to ask for only half at a time.

It can be said that the entire flat land of Jianzhou combined is far smaller than the Liaodong Plain.

Such a vast plain, the place where he dreamed of grazing his horses, was actually insignificant compared to this unknown plain.
This is a scam, it's definitely a scam.

Is Jia Lian a fraud?
Yes, no.

He had never been to Siberia, but he had seen it on a map.

That was indeed a magical land; apart from the cold, perhaps there was nothing wrong with it.

Were the Jurchens afraid of the cold?
Obviously not.

So, maybe that place really is their chosen land.

However, whether the Jurchens go or not, it will not be a loss for Jia Lian.

Anyway, he's too far away to intervene.

Let alone now, even in future generations, developing this place would be extremely difficult.

In short, there's no harm in letting the Jurchens be guinea pigs to test the waters. "Nothing is impossible."

The vastness of this world may far exceed the imagination of the Grand Prince.

You may take what I said today as a suggestion. As for whether or not to go to this place, you can consider it at your leisure in the future.

However, if you are willing to go to this place as I suggested, perhaps there is still a chance for us to truly turn hostility into friendship.

"how to say?"

"Does the Grand Prince know anything about the Russians?"

"I know a little about these hairy guys; I've heard they come from a very far away place."

But they must be very powerful to have come from so far away.

"It is indeed very powerful."

They are people from another continent…

Jia Lian felt that what he said made no problem; after all, the person himself considered himself European.

Upon hearing this, Luo Jue'anchang looked at the map, then at Jia Lian, and exclaimed in horror, "Their kingdom isn't on this geomantic map?"

Jia Lian smiled and nodded.

This map of Asia, which he drafted from memory, does not include Europe.

Luo Jue Anchang felt a chill run down his spine, especially when he looked at the pitifully small Korean Peninsula on the map.

Imagine how far the Russians would have to travel from outside the map to get to Liaodong...

Never mind, he can't imagine it.

"So, what the general means is that these Russians from outside the continent have already developed a desire to possess our continent."

The general said we could turn swords into plowshares, meaning he wanted to unite with our Jurchen people to fight against the Russians?

"It can't be considered a fight against it."

Although the Russians are powerful, they are not yet at the point where our Great Wei needs to unite with foreigners to resist them.

We Wei people are naturally inclined to prefer warm places because they are good for farming, and we look down on this harsh and cold land in the north.

But while we look down on it, we also don't want to see those white monkeys take these places away for no reason.

So if you Jurchens are interested, you might as well take over these territories first.

If that's the case, and if you ever clash with the Russians in the future, perhaps our Great Wei can offer you some assistance.

Because Jia Lian spoke with such conviction, Luo Jue'anchang actually believed some of it.

He suddenly felt a pang of shame.

His lifelong dream was to unify Jianzhou, then seize Liaodong from Wei and confront Wei.

But look at other people, they probably don't even take him seriously.

In their eyes, it was actually that Russian from outside the continent!

It's like if the Japanese and Americans were fighting, I would definitely side with the Americans; but if the Japanese were fighting with aliens, I would definitely side with the Japanese.

Upon learning that the Russians came from outside the mainland, Luo Jue Anchang immediately became hostile towards them.

No wonder he always thought those white monkeys looked different from them; they were barbarians from outside the mainland!
He certainly wouldn't reveal what was on his mind; he even suddenly laughed and said, "I have remembered the General's teachings."

However, I am curious, why does the General believe that our Jurchen people will inevitably clash with those Russians?

Perhaps we can join forces with the Russians in the future to fight against the Wei Kingdom?

Jia Lian laughed and said, "If that's really the case, then I'm quite impressed with your Jurchen people. You've actually managed to get mixed up with the Russians."

They are noble Europeans; it's not just a difference in habits and culture, their skin color is even different from ours.

If you can get them to accept you, I, Jia Lian, congratulate you wholeheartedly.

Luo Jue Anchang smiled.

Without realizing it, he found that his hatred for Jia Lian had faded considerably.

And he felt that his eyes had been opened by Jia Lian.

As for what constitutes a European, he didn't ask, because he knew Jia Lian wouldn't tell him.

He suddenly realized that the Jianzhou Jurchens had not lost this battle unjustly.

This young Duke of Wei certainly had something different in his mind than others.

"Now that we have agreed to the general's request, could the general return our wives and daughters to us?"

And my son, Murhazi, I don't even know if he's still alive.

Those who are dead are dead, and Luo Jue'anchang is able to let go of that.

But he naturally wanted to take back what was still alive.

Before Jia Lian could respond, Zhang Leng, who had been watching Jia Lian and the old thief chatting happily and was displeased, sneered, "You still want your wives and daughters?"

That's wishful thinking!

As Zhang Leng spoke, considering that Jia Lian was the commander-in-chief, he lowered his head and explained to Jia Lian:

"General, you must not agree to this."

According to the message from the Water King, these damned Jurchens killed all the civilians they had captured when they withdrew from Liaodong.

The Water King has ordered us that if we reach Jianzhou, we must repay blood with blood, and tooth with tooth!

"is it?"

Upon hearing this, Jia Lian's face turned cold as he looked at Luo Jue Anchang opposite him.

Luo Jue Anchang immediately felt like he was sitting on pins and needles.

This is something that is indeed beyond his control.

Originally, their invasion of Liaodong was only for money, food, and women; of course, young men could also be captured and used as laborers.

However, when they heard that the State of Wei had broken its promise and, while outwardly negotiating peace, had secretly sent a large army to attack them, many leaders killed some Han people to vent their anger.

Later, when he heard that the Han army had launched a surprise attack on their stronghold...

Firstly, it was to vent their anger, and secondly, they needed to return quickly to provide support, so they didn't have time to take anything with them.

Therefore, many leaders killed all the Han people they had robbed.

Facing Jia Lian's cold gaze, Luo Jue'anchang said, "At that time, when the two armies were facing each other, life and death were irrelevant to right and wrong."

Just like the great general, who slaughtered so many of our strongholds…

Jia Lian said, "What a fine analogy: when two armies clash, life and death are irrelevant to right or wrong."

you're right.

However, I think you've misunderstood, Prince. We don't have your wives and daughters in our possession.

We are just like you; we never leave anyone alive.

Therefore, your wives and daughters have either died in the battle between the two armies or have been separated from each other.

If you, Grand Prince, cannot find their bodies, I can send people to help you search for them.

As for your big son.

You can rest assured about that. Our Great Wei is, after all, a superior nation. Since he has entered our capital as an envoy, we will send him out of the capital and will not harm him easily.

However, the capital of our dynasty is far from here, and the journey is fraught with war and chaos.

Whether he will ultimately be able to return safely to your side is something that cannot be guaranteed.

Seeing that Jia Lian's gaze was becoming increasingly hostile, Luo Jue Anchang knew that the women who had been captured could not be saved.

However, given the circumstances, some women are no longer as important as the survival of the race.

It's understandable that the other side would refuse to release the prisoners now because he failed to restrain the tribal leaders from killing to vent their anger.

(End of this chapter)