Call of the Heroes of Chaos in Another World

Chapter 2112 Wu Zetian's Envoy to Xicang from Hexi: Where to Go When You're at Your End?

In chaotic times, alliances and counter-alliances are commonplace.

While Wang Yingkan was busy causing trouble in the Northern Barbarians, he did not forget to send someone to contact Dou Jiande's forces in the Great Wu.

On the Zhao Song side, Lou Huanlian was dispatched to resist the government.

Meanwhile, the Great Wu forces also appeared on the territory of Xicang.

The person from the Wu Dynasty in Xicang at this moment was none other than Wu Zetian, who was originally sent as an envoy to Zhongcang.

Before the decisive battle in Henan, Wu Zetian had already left Tianjing. A wise person avoids dangerous situations, so she naturally wouldn't join in the chaos that was happening in Tianjing at that time.

If Zhongcang can win that decisive battle, she can simply return to Tianjing.

However, it was clear that Zhong Cang had failed to win that decisive battle, so naturally there was no need for her to return to Tianjing.

In times of war, envoys are not to be killed!
However, she was an envoy of Zhongcang, not an envoy of the Han Dynasty. If she fell into the hands of the Han Dynasty, she would have no basic protection.

After that, she arrived in Xicang.

In other words, if she wanted to return to Dawu, she would either have to pass through Zhao Song or enter Xicang, cross the Yellow River, and then enter Dawu.

However, the latter path is no longer so easy to take, as two of the four minor dynasties are in the hands of the Han Dynasty.

After the Battle of Henan, the Han Dynasty had become extremely powerful. With the policy of using Zhongcang to balance the Han Dynasty no longer feasible, the Wu Dynasty was preparing to support the Song and Yan Dynasties to balance the Han Dynasty in the next stage.

However, as long as there is profit to be made, it doesn't prevent them from taking advantage of the Zhao Song dynasty. Moreover, while Wu Zetian's presence here is certainly not what the Zhao Song wants, it hasn't reached the point where it could threaten the Zhao Song's fundamental interests.

After all, even if Wu Zetian appeared here, could she still stop the Song Dynasty from destroying Xicang?

For the Song Dynasty, the Hexi Corridor was their fundamental interest. As long as the Great Wu Dynasty did not interfere with their complete acquisition of the Hexi Corridor, everything else could be put on the negotiating table.

Wu Zetian had also been in Xicang for some time, and like Lou Huan who had arrived in the Dazhong Dynasty earlier, she was not in a hurry.

Even if Xi Cang revealed her purpose too early, it wouldn't matter much until he was completely desperate. Only when he was at his wit's end could she possibly achieve her goal.

Now, after Gu Jiantang defected to the Song Dynasty, Xicang has completely collapsed, with only one prefecture and 20,000 troops remaining. Xicang has no hope of turning the tide.

Ultimately, with Han Gui dead and Gu Jiantang defecting to the enemy, the only capable generals left in Xicang were Ying Xiong and Zhou Yiming, who had only recently emerged.

Therefore, Wu Zetian should reveal her true intentions.

After all, at least at this time, Xicang still had a prefecture. By the time Zhao Song's army was completely at the gates of the city, it might not be too late.

Wu Zetian's goal in coming to Xicang was none other than the Xicang court itself. More precisely, it was Emperor Huangfu Jimin of the Xicang court.

This woman, as the son of Huangfu Mingzhao, possesses the most legitimate royal bloodline of the Great Cang royal family. What she values ​​is precisely this legitimate royal bloodline in Huangfu Jimin.

For four hundred years, the Great Cang Dynasty has stood, and countless people in the Cang region have cherished the Cang Dynasty in their hearts.

Huangfu Jimin was just a child, but during his escape, he still had a group of people who helped him to re-establish the court. During the Song-Cang War, countless people from all over the country came to help Cang.

What Wu Zetian needed was the influence and prestige that came with him as the last legitimate member of the royal bloodline of Da Cang.

She wanted to keep Huangfu Jimin around, perhaps to use him against the Han Dynasty in the future. Of course, he could also be used against the Song Dynasty when needed.

Due to the necessity of the Han Dynasty's rise, the Great Wu had no choice but to support the Great Song. However, these two powers were too close to each other, making it even more necessary to guard against them.

Therefore, Wu Zetian's trip was actually a case of acting first and reporting later. She went directly to Xicang with these thoughts in her mind without reporting to the Great Wu Dynasty.

On the way, she sent someone back to Dawu to report her plan and also requested that Dawu send people to meet her.

It was precisely because Wu Zetian had set her sights on the emperor that she dared not reveal her intentions prematurely. Only when Xicang was on the verge of collapse did she dare to expose her true purpose.

No matter what, if the Xicang army were to be defeated and the emperor were to fall into the hands of the Zhao Song dynasty, he would have absolutely no chance of survival. In fact, very few people in the Xicang court would likely fare well.

The blood feud inflicted on the very day the Song Dynasty was established meant that the two sides were irreconcilable enemies. Even if Zhao Kuangyin was willing to let go of this hatred, could his subordinates do the same?
In fact, if the benefits were sufficient, Zhao Kuangyin could have let go of even the deepest hatred. After all, it was his family who died, not himself. For a monarch, whether or not to let go depends solely on whether the underlying benefits are sufficient.

However, it was not only his own family members who died, but also the families of so many of his ministers.

Therefore, this hatred cannot be changed by interests. No amount of profit can compare to the will of the people. If he lets this matter go, his subordinates will likely turn against him.

The matters Wu Zetian wanted to discuss could certainly not be discussed with the Emperor of Xicang, who was merely a child. Although he was nominally the emperor, all matters of state were decided through discussions among a few ministers.

Therefore, if Wu Zetian wanted to talk, she would talk to Xiao Ruolin, Ying Xiong, Huangfu Qing, and Sima Wude.

Even Huangtian has no say in these matters. Ultimately, the power of Xicang does not lie with Huangtian; he is not the one who holds power in Xicang.

He was able to command a group of people in Zhongcang because Huangfu Guyuan granted him that authority. Similarly, in Xicang, if the authorities didn't grant him that authority, he wouldn't be able to command anyone.

Wu Zetian's proposal to have the group from Xicang join the martial arts sect sparked some hesitation among Xiao Ruolin, Ying Xiong, Huangfu Qing, and Sima Wude, but they were also tempted. They understood, of course, that once they joined, Huangfu Jimin, Xiao Ruolin, Ying Xiong, Huangfu Qing, and Sima Wude would truly be at the mercy of others.

Their lives and deaths depend entirely on Da Wu's will. At that time, they will certainly not be free. The purpose of their existence is nothing more than to become a pawn of Da Wu.

However, if they don't go to Dawu, those insignificant people under Xicang might have a way to survive. But once Zhao Song completely invades, they will probably all be skinned alive by Zhao Song.

The war between Zhongcang and the Han Dynasty was at least a battle between two armies, leaving room for surrender. However, the war between Xicang and the Song Dynasty was a blood feud, and the generals of the Song Dynasty were unlikely to give them the opportunity to surrender.

Going to Dawu would mean being subject to restrictions at every turn, but it's still better than dying at the hands of the Zhao Song dynasty.

Only by surviving can they have the opportunity to make a comeback, assist His Majesty in establishing a new dynasty, and restore the four-hundred-year-old land of Da Cang.

Not to mention, they didn't go alone; they brought their entire team with them.

They still had 20,000 troops left. Although the families of these 20,000 troops were all in Hexi, and it was unlikely that many of them would go with them to a foreign land, if they were lured with benefits, it would be no problem to take at least half of them.

The Great Cang region still possesses some resources, although most of them were inherited by the Central Cang region. However, this doesn't mean the Western Cang region has nothing left. They can still contribute some gold and silver.

If you pave the way with money, aren't you afraid you won't be able to take these ordinary soldiers with you?

Yes, during the negotiations, when the two sides were deadlocked, Wu Zetian once again backed down, allowing the troops they brought to Da Wu to remain under their control and not be separated.

This completely won over the hearts of the Xicang Chaotian side.

In this alternate world of apocalypse, although the saying "political power grows out of the barrel of a gun" doesn't exist, they still understand similar principles.

As long as they can control even a small number of soldiers, their lives won't be completely in the hands of others. At least, they'll still have the strength to fight to the death.

As for Wu Zetian, even if she agreed to their conditions, how many people could they take away?
Even if 20,000 people are all taken away, does that mean they can escape the control of Da Wu?
Furthermore, what use is having soldiers without food?

Once they enter Dawu, where will their provisions come from?
Therefore, based on this alone, the Great Wu can control the lifeline of this force!
Moreover, for the Great Wu, they wanted to establish the Cangshi banner and use it to balance the situation in the eastern part of the Great Wu. This court could still retain a portion of its power, which would even be beneficial to them!
Just as Xiao Ruolin, Ying Xiong, Huangfu Qing, and Sima Wude were considering whether or not to go to Da Wu, Huang Tian made another suggestion: to go to Zhennan.

Before coming to Xicang, Huangtian went to Zhennan. His purpose was nothing other than to seek a way out for the legitimate royal family of Da Cang.

For Xiao Ruolin, Ying Xiong, Huangfu Qing, and Sima Wude, the reliability of the Zhennan Ma family was naturally stronger than that of the Da Wu family. The young emperor had even received help from Ma Qianli during his escape.

But apart from this reliability, there's nothing else.

After all, if they were to go to Zhennan, they couldn't bring a single soldier with them. They would either have to cross the territory of the Zhao Song Dynasty or the territory of the Han Dynasty. Therefore, a few individuals might be able to sneak through, but any large force that appeared would be surrounded and annihilated.

If they didn't have any troops, the initiative would fall entirely in Ma Qianli's hands. Even if Ma Qianli supported the emperor and established a new court, they would have no power whatsoever.

Moreover, whether they take the route of the Han Dynasty or cross the Zhao Song Dynasty, it is questionable whether they can safely reach the territory of Zhennan!
The young emperor will definitely be protected by experts like Huang Tian, ​​but what about the rest of them?
Therefore, Xiao Ruolin, Yingxiong, Huangfu Qing, and Sima Wude were actually hesitant about which of these two paths to take!
Wu Zetian was not one to give up easily until she achieved her goal. Therefore, she proceeded to persuade Xiao Ruolin, Ying Xiong, Huangfu Qing, and Sima Wude in turn.

In contrast, although Huang Tian presented them with a choice, he did not interfere too much with which path the Western Cang Dynasty chose.

Just as Wang Xu did not go to see Wang Yu, Huang Tian, ​​under unavoidable circumstances, was also unwilling to have much contact with the people of Xicang.

Even when he was in Zhongcang, he didn't go to see Huangfu Guyuan. Instead, he had Huangying send a message that the only people in Zhongcang who directly contacted him were a few people like the Nanbei Yamen.

Wang Xu and Huang Tian were different from Zhao Huangchao and Zhao Gongming.

The things Zhao Huangchao did at Longhu Mountain only affected Longhu Mountain; Zhao Gongming didn't do anything unnecessary.

However, both Wang Xu and Huang Tian were involved in the behind-the-scenes maneuvering of the Four Schools' debate back then. If their involvement were exposed, revealing their connection to that event, it would truly shake the world. Otherwise, why would Huang Tian have always worn a mask and concealed his identity?

Therefore, it's best to minimize contact with people like them.

Furthermore, if these people were to meet the emperor, would they be required to perform the formal courtesies of a subject upon meeting him?

Although they are elders, they are not the emperor's biological parents or grandfather. When they meet, they should still pay their respects.

Therefore, even for this reason, we should try to see each other as little as possible! If there is no need to see each other, then we should simply avoid seeing each other altogether.

Moreover, from Huangtian's perspective, both paths do indeed have their advantages and disadvantages. Although Ma Qianli is more reliable than Da Wu, he is only somewhat reliable, and that doesn't change the fact that the initiative will ultimately fall entirely into Ma Qianli's hands!

Without any military power as a backing, they couldn't possibly gain any say! Or rather, whether the emperor's words carried any weight or the court's authority depended entirely on Ma Qianli's decision!
The heavens would not truly place all their bets on Ma Qianli's absolute loyalty.

For Huang Tian, ​​his bottom line was to preserve the legitimate bloodline of the royal family, and only then could he consider restoring Da Cang.

As for preserving this last remaining legitimate bloodline of the Great Cang, Huang Tian was confident in choosing either path and had prepared a backup plan.

Therefore, he left the decision-making power to Xiao Ruolin, Ying Xiong, Huangfu Qing, and Sima Wude, the powerful figures in the Western Cang court.

Ultimately, it's because he has no real power in Xicang, and the last part of Xicang's troops are not under his control. If he were to forcefully make this decision, it might cause internal strife.

He can offer suggestions, but he cannot make decisions on behalf of these individuals.