The Rebellious Officials and Traitors of the Late Han Dynasty

Chapter 547: The Fourth Capture of Meng Huo
Qin Chengji suddenly showed a trace of embarrassment on his face, and smiled bitterly: "I can't hide it from the military advisor. I just don't understand why we have to use this method? We can completely defeat Meng Huo and then send officials to govern Nanzhong."

He did not explain where his worries came from, but Zhuge Liang understood the reason.

Zhuge Liang poured a cup of tea for Qin Chengji and said, "Your Highness, have you ever thought about why the previous dynasty also conquered Nanzhong but was never able to truly pacify it?"

"Because... they only used force?"

"That's right." Zhuge Liang nodded. "Military force can suppress the rebellion temporarily, but it cannot eradicate the rebellious spirit. Meng Huo has a very high prestige among the tribes in Nanzhong. If he can be made to sincerely submit, the tribes in Nanzhong will naturally surrender. On the contrary, even if Meng Huo is killed, it will only provoke greater resistance."

Qin Chengji was thoughtful: "So the military advisor captured and released three times for a reason..."

"In order to let Meng Huo know that we can easily defeat him, but we are willing to give him a chance." Zhuge Liang's voice was gentle but firm. He smiled and said, "The first capture is to show military strength; the second capture is to show strategy; the third capture is to show benevolence. Haha, wait until the other party is convinced."

After Qin Chengji heard this, a thoughtful look appeared on his face, and he quickly said, "According to what my father meant, if he is not beaten enough once, then beat him a second time, and keep beating him until he is convinced!"

Zhuge Liang was stunned when he heard this, and soon he gave a bitter smile. This view really fits Qin Shou's personality. How could a guy who only knows how to use force know what benevolence and righteousness are?
What’s hateful is that the world was taken over by such people.

All of a sudden he thought of Liu Bei, who was also a benevolent and righteous man. However, in the end he did not get the world, and even his own offspring were not saved. All his women were taken away by the current emperor. It can be said that his life was extremely miserable.

"Your Majesty's words are very reasonable."

Zhuge Liang's eyes flashed with a hint of gloom, but he soon chuckled. He was a smart man, knowing the position of Qin Shou in his son's heart, so he naturally would not speak ill of his father in front of Qin Chengji.

Qin Chengji nodded, but then frowned again: "But the soldiers in the army..."

"Your Highness," Zhuge Liang said solemnly, "A general should have a long-term vision. The soldiers only see the battle in front of them, but Your Highness needs to think about the long-term stability of Nanzhong. His Majesty sent you here to test you."

These words hit Qin Chengji's heart like a heavy hammer, and he understood something instantly.

"Thank you for your advice, military advisor." Qin Chengji bowed solemnly and said, "I know what to do."

At dawn the next day, war drums roared. Meng Huo led the coalition forces to attack again. According to Zhuge Liang's plan, the Tang army pretended to retreat and led the barbarians into a valley. After the enemy troops entered, ambushes were set up everywhere, and rolling logs and rocks fell from the sky, causing chaos among the barbarians.

Qin Chengji personally led his elite troops to attack Meng Huo's central army. The two horses met, and within ten rounds, Meng Huo was knocked off his horse by Qin Chengji and captured again.

"Meng Huo!" Qin Chengji looked down at the tied-up Barbarian King and chuckled, "Our army captured you three times and released you three times. Why do you still not repent?"

Meng Huo raised his head and glared, roaring: "Kill me if you want! The men of Nanzhong would rather die in battle than surrender!"

Qin Chengji remembered Zhuge Liang's instructions and said in a deep voice: "Okay, I will let you go again. But you must remember that the majesty of the Tang Dynasty cannot be underestimated, and the heart of benevolence and righteousness cannot be betrayed!"

When these words were spoken, not only Meng Huo was stunned, but even the surrounding Tang army soldiers were in an uproar.

"Your Highness!" Wang Ping shouted anxiously, "Absolutely not!"

Qin Chengji looked around at all the soldiers and said in a firm voice: "Pass on my order to release Meng Huo and his men back to the mountains!" After Meng Huo was untied, he looked at Qin Chengji with a complicated expression, said nothing, and hurried away with the remaining troops.

The resentment in the army was even worse. That night, several generals jointly requested a meeting and expressed their dissatisfaction bluntly.

"Your Highness, the soldiers fought bravely but let the enemy escape time and time again. This battle is so frustrating!" said an old general with scars on his face sadly.

Qin Chengji sat in the tent, his eyes swept over each general: "Have you ever thought about why we are here?"

The generals looked at each other.

"It's not for killing, but for pacifying Nanzhong." Qin Chengji said slowly: "It's easy to kill Meng Huo, but to prevent Nanzhong from rebelling again, we need to win over the people's hearts. We are not fighting people, but their hearts. If we don't beat them to their hearts, how can these people submit to us?"

"Generals, it is easy to kill Meng Huo, but it is difficult to make him convinced." Zhuge Liang also explained: "Meng Huo is deeply loved by the people of Nanzhong, so if we can conquer him, Nanzhong will be stable for decades. In these decades, we can govern Nanzhong calmly."

"But Your Highness."

"Everyone," Qin Chengji interrupted, "I know you have resentment in your hearts. But please believe that within three months, the outcome will be clear. By then, Nanzhong will be pacified, and you will all be heroes."

Seeing the prince's firm attitude, the generals had nothing to say and could only retreat in disappointment.

After everyone left, Qin Chengji breathed a sigh of relief. He walked out of the tent, looked at the starry sky in the south, and silently prayed in his heart that Zhuge Liang's strategy would really work.

What he didn't know was that at this moment, Meng Huo was standing on a distant hill, also looking in the direction of the Tang army camp, with complex light flashing in his eyes.

The night in Chang'an city is as dark as ink.

In the study room of the East Palace, the candlelight flickered, reflecting the uncertain face of Crown Prince Qin Chengqian. He held tightly in his hand a war report that had just been sent from Nanzhong, and his knuckles turned slightly white due to the force.

"Release him again? This is the third time!" Qin Chengqian slammed the battle report on the table, causing the teacup to clink. "What on earth is Chengji thinking? And that Zhuge Liang, is he deliberately trying to drain the military power of the Tang Dynasty?"

There were light footsteps outside the study, followed by a respectful eunuch reporting: "Your Highness, Lord Jia has arrived."

"Please come in." Qin Chengqian suppressed his anger and straightened his clothes.

The door opened slightly, and an old man with gray hair and beard walked in slowly. Although Jia Xu was over sixty years old, his eyes were bright and his demeanor was calm and unhurried. He bowed and saluted: "I, your old minister, pay my respects to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

"Mr. Jia, there is no need to be so polite." Qin Chengqian personally stepped forward to support him and signaled the eunuch to leave. Then he invited the other party to sit on a chair aside and sighed, "I disturbed you late at night because the war in the south made me unable to sleep or eat."

Jia Xu glanced at the battle report spread out on the table and understood clearly: "Your Highness, are you worried about the Second Prince's third release of Meng Huo?"

"That's right!" Qin Chengqian couldn't help but get excited again, "Our army could have wiped out the barbarians in one fell swoop, but Chengji listened to Zhuge Liang's words and repeatedly let the enemy go. There have been criticisms in the court that this is raising a tiger to cause trouble!"

(End of this chapter)