Ming Dynasty entry: I am Chongzhen, the greatest emperor of all time!

Chapter 50 Fan Jingwen's Verbal Battle with the Bandits

"Excellent! Lord Song is truly a pillar of the nation. If this plan succeeds, Lord Song will be the first to receive the credit!"

Zhu Youjian clapped his hands and cheered.

It’s not that the night attack strategy was so brilliant, but it served as a wake-up call to Zhu Youjian.

With elite system soldiers around, he can fully utilize the essence of guerrilla warfare learned from his previous life's teacher!

When the enemy advances, we retreat; when the enemy is stationed, we harass; when the enemy is tired, we attack; when the enemy retreats, we pursue.

Every night they attacked the camps of refugees and surrendered soldiers.

With the fighting power of these people, they would probably collapse in two or three nights.

Once the rebel army loses its numerical advantage.

Zhu Youjian didn't even need to wait for the Guanning Army to arrive. He could just use the system army to repel Li Zicheng with a hundred draws.

Just as he was about to call Wang Chengen to give orders to the 3,000-man battalion, he was stopped by Ni Yuanlu.

"Your Majesty, this is unacceptable! If we provoke the traitor Li and lead him to attack the city, with the reinforcements yet to arrive and the new army still to be built, we're afraid of unforeseen consequences, Your Majesty!"

Ni Yuanlu's words made Zhu Youjian stop what he was doing.

We do need to consider Li Zicheng's feelings.

If the harassment or coercion is too severe, and his subordinates add fuel to the fire, he might lose his temper and take it out on himself regardless of casualties.

"Then Ni Qing, what should we do about this matter?"

Ni Yuanlu smiled slightly, "Your Majesty, this is a simple matter."

"We only need to slightly modify the terms of the peace talks. We can select a skilled speaker to act as an angel and send him into the rebel camp. We can persuade them with both emotion and reason, clearly explaining why both sides are fighting and why Your Majesty refuses to negotiate. By stirring up internal strife among the rebels, we can both give the rebel Li a glimmer of hope and break his heart."

"Mr. Ni said it simply, but where can we find an envoy with such great talent?"

As soon as Zhu Youjian finished speaking, Ni Yuanlu bowed deeply and said sincerely, "Your Majesty, I recommend the military supervisor Fan Jingwen!"

Fan Jingwen: ???

"General Fan is well-versed in Confucian classics and skilled in writing. His words are meaningful, and he can distinguish between the past and the present. He is also loyal to the emperor and upright. He is the perfect choice for an angel!"

"Your mother..." If it wasn't in front of Zhu Youjian, Fan Jingwen would have almost cursed out loud.

This guy just dragged me along, saying he wanted to be my loyal subject, and the next moment he sold me out? ?
"Oh? Mr. Fan has such talent? I wonder if Mr. Fan is willing to go to the camp for the sake of the Ming Dynasty?" Zhu Youjian really didn't know that Fan Jingwen had this skill.

In his impression, Fan Jingwen was a corrupt scholar with little brains who was used as a gun by others and whose only decent skills were calligraphy and organizational skills.

But Ni Yuanlu would not make fun of such a big thing, and as long as an envoy went there, the situation would not be too serious.

If it really achieves the effect that Ni Yuanlu described, it would be a timely help.

It doesn’t hurt to try.

Fan Jingwen wanted to refuse directly. He had no experience in negotiation and was even more unwilling to negotiate with rebels.

However, Ni Yuanlu had already seen through his thoughts and only said one sentence, which made Fan Jingwen grit his teeth and agree.

"This matter is of great importance. If we do not send a gentleman of integrity and reputation, I am afraid that words of treason will be spread, damaging the foundation of our country, and even the rebels will look down on our Ming Dynasty!"

The meaning is very clear. If you, Fan Jingwen, a gentleman, don't go, then I can only send those treacherous officials who are corrupt and profit-oriented.

If the rebel army becomes a laughing stock and looks down upon the imperial court, then you, Fan Jingwen, will be the biggest traitor!

Zhu Youjian was immediately shocked by her beauty.

This is moral kidnapping! ? ?

Isn't this too smooth!? Sure enough, it takes a corrupt scholar to deal with this bunch of corrupt scholars!
"In that case, let Mr. Fan go on the mission. Don't wait any longer. Go there quickly while it's still early." Zhu Youjian made the decision.

Fan Jingwen left with a heroic look on his face.

Zhu Youjian also withdrew his attention from the peace talks. "My Lords, the structure of the Ministry of War..."

……

Fifteen miles outside the capital, inside the rebel army’s camp.

Fan Jingwen wore a plain silk official robe with crane patches, held an ivory tablet in his hand, and stood with his head held high in the central military tent.

The setting sun made the golden thread of the peacock patch on his chest shine brightly. The cold gleam of the swords and spears of the soldiers in front of the tent collided with the second-rank uniform of the Ming Dynasty, making him look tragic and heroic like a lone minister and a wicked son.

Niu Jinxing twirled his whiskers and sneered, "Master Fan has come here with a book of sages. Is he trying to emulate Su Qin and Zhang Yi?"

Laughter suddenly broke out in the tent.

"I am not imitating Su and Zhang. I will punish you according to the will of Heaven!" Facing the laughter of hundreds of soldiers and generals, Fan Jingwen was not afraid at all, but became more arrogant.

This has been made very clear.

Fan Jingwen is not here to negotiate, or rather, he can negotiate, but he needs to first state in what capacity he wants to negotiate.

Li Zicheng turned his head and looked at Prime Minister Niu Jinxing.

The latter's expression remained unchanged as he walked forward, his red sandalwood folding fan snapping open.

"The Book of Changes says, 'Tang and Wu's revolutions were in accordance with Heaven and in response to the will of the people.'"

"Now the holy lord has risen from the fields and inherited the prophecy of the twenty-eight constellations. Isn't this the will of heaven?" When he said this, he also deliberately emphasized the prophecy of "the eighteen sons will be the masters of the sacred artifacts". The personal soldiers outside the tent shouted in unison, and the sound shook the sky.

Fan Jingwen stood still, his tablet pointing southeast. "Mencius: King Hui of Liang says, 'Those who harm benevolence are called thieves, those who harm righteousness are called cruel. Those who are cruel and thieves are called tyrants. I have heard of the execution of the tyrant Zhou, but I have never heard of the regicide of a king.'"

Halfway through his words, he suddenly turned his tablet towards Niu Jinxing and said, "You slaughtered Kaifeng and burned Fengyang. Is there a trace of benevolence in your policies? The tragedy of refugees cannibalizing each other is even worse than the drought and locusts during the reign of Chongzhen!"

Niu Jinxing was speechless for a moment.

Song Xiance, wearing a blue cloth Taoist robe, stepped out holding the Yin-Yang Plate in his hand, "Ziwei is dark, Mars is guarding the heart, this is..."

"The great unification of the Spring and Autumn Annals is the true and proper path!" Fan Jingwen interrupted him. "Prime Minister Wen's 'Song of Righteousness' says, 'Heaven and Earth possess righteousness.' The current emperor has reigned for seventeen years, working day and night. How does that compare to your master's indulgence in wine and women?"

He shook out the "Imperial Ming Dynasty Ancestor's Instructions" from his sleeve, the red ink marks on the pages were still fresh, "Taizu's rule of 'raising a million soldiers without spending a single grain of rice from the people' is still in place, and brave men from the nine frontiers can arrive at any time!"

Seeing that the Prime Minister and his military advisor were unable to argue, General Li Guo quickly drew his sword, the cold tip only three inches from Fan Jingwen's throat, "You dog official, do you believe me?"

With a clang, Fan Jingwen placed his tablet on top of the steel knife. "The Book of Rites states, 'No punishment shall be imposed on an official.' I have come here with a special authority. General, are you planning to follow the example of the Xiongnu?"

He suddenly pulled out a jade sceptre wrapped in yellow silk from his bosom. "This is a rubbing of the seal and ribbon that conferred the title of Prince Shunyi during the Wanli Emperor's reign. What you are seeking is nothing more than this empty title."

Li Zicheng's pupils suddenly shrank.

"Peace talks must follow the court's rules."

Fan Jingwen slammed the rubbing down on the table, his voice as clear as stone. "One, no division of the land; two, no claiming vassalage; three, no pardoning the chief culprit. Your Majesty has said, 'I am not negotiating peace, I am recruiting!'"

Li Zicheng stroked the jade belt around his waist, which was a treasure from Prince Fu obtained after conquering Luoyang.

How dare this corrupt scholar enter the camp alone? Could it be that he still has someone to rely on in the capital?

"Master Fan, please go back." Li Zicheng suddenly waved his hand, and his personal guards brought a gilded tray. "Send this 'Collected Commentaries on the Four Books' to the emperor, and then..."

He paused, and ultimately did not dare to use the word "lonely," "It is said that the King of Chuang respects scholars."

Fan Jingwen snorted coldly, turned around and left without taking the book.

New author, new book, please read it! The author is so stupid!
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(End of this chapter)