After the rebellion was successful, I realized that this place was the Red Mansion

Chapter 16: Surrender or Fight
Jia Lian became increasingly cautious and replied, "I dare not conceal the truth from Prince Qian, but my family has very strict etiquette and respect for the relationship between men and women. I have never seen the two young ladies of the Xue family in person. I have only seen them from a distance a few times. They are both beautiful and graceful. As for their talents, I really don't know."

"Ah."

Chu Yan casually asked a few more questions, and when he saw that he had nothing else to say, he called for his personal guard to bring his horse over, and after mounting it, he said to Jia Lian, "You can go back."

Jia Lian immediately regretted it.

Just now he had been worrying about one thing: should he surrender King Qian?

Being able to have a direct dialogue with His Royal Highness Prince Qian, who leads the rebel army, is a golden opportunity that comes only once in a lifetime. As long as he says that the Jia family is willing to surrender, perhaps the lives and property of the people in the two mansions can be saved.

But he was full of concerns. First, he was not the one who made the decisions for the Jia family. Second, the master and Zhen Ge'er might not agree.

Helpless, Jia Lian had to bow and send Prince Qian off respectfully.

"Your Highness King Qian!"

When Chu Yan was about to leave, a man suddenly ran over from a distance and shouted towards him. When Chu Yan turned around, he saw that he was being stopped by the guards.

"Your Highness Prince Qian, I, Xie Gui, have something I want to tell you!"

The man nodded and bowed, and kept bowing and saluting, fearing that his reckless behavior would offend King Qian, but he was helpless, because if he didn't come out, King Qian would leave.

Chu Yan glanced at Jia Lian, who didn't dare to look at him any longer, and quickly took his leave and hurried back.

"Are you from the diplomatic mission?" Chu Yan asked Xie Gui while riding on his horse.

"Yes, it is!"

Xie Gui hurriedly smiled and said, "I have been entrusted by someone to come and tell King Qian something. Many ministers in the court are willing to surrender to King Qian, but I still have some concerns..."

Chu Yan understood the meaning behind his words and said with a smile, "Go back and tell him, and tell the others, that as long as they are willing to surrender and no one in their family works for the court, I will not kill them."

"Yes, yes, King Qian is merciful!"

Xie Gui then took out a letter from his sleeve and handed it over respectfully.

The personal guard beside Chu Yan took the letter, showed him the cover first, then tore open the seal himself, and handed it to him only after confirming that there was nothing else inside.

Chu Yan finished reading it quickly. It was a letter from Prince Zhongshun. Xie Gui just passed it on and didn't know that it was Prince Zhongshun who secretly delivered the letter.

Chu Yan said to Xie Gui, "Go back and tell the owner of the letter that I will not pursue the past. I will reward them based on their merits after I enter the city!"

Xie Gui bowed repeatedly, feeling relieved and much more relaxed.

After bowing and respectfully seeing Prince Qian off, Xie Gui returned to the delegation. When he saw Jia Lian outside the tent, Xie Gui exchanged glances with him but ignored him.

He didn't know why Prince Qian was looking for the Jia family, but he thought the Jia family would not dare to inform on the matter. There were many ministers in the court who advocated surrender, and he came here on behalf of all the ministers!

What Xie Gui didn't know was that Jia Lian was thinking about something else. He guessed Xie Gui's intention of meeting Prince Qian alone, which was nothing more than telling Prince Qian all about some shameful deeds and secret rumors in the capital, in order to win Prince Qian's favor and protect the family after Xie Gui entered the city.

The princes and ministers in the court have all taken sides, what should the Jia family do?
At the moment, Jia Lian can be said to be shouldering the life and death, prosperity and glory of the Jia family. When Prince Qian comes back, he will have another chance to communicate with Prince Qian!

It was a matter of life and death, so he had to be cautious.

For a moment, he was like an ant on a hot pan, pacing back and forth in the open space outside the tent. Some people in the delegation wanted to come forward and talk to him, but Jia Lian didn't dare to say much and waved at them.

After a while, he entered the tent. If the court surrendered, he would have no worries. He would give advice to King Qian directly and select the girls in his family who were willing to enter the palace and send them to the palace to serve the new emperor. Maybe he could even become successful in the future because of this.

But if the imperial court fought to the death and stopped the Qianwang army...

After listening for a while, Jia Lian left again.

The court still refused to surrender, but was discussing how much of the court could be saved if it surrendered. What would happen to the assets of the many princes and nobles?
If the two sides fought for a few days and then agreed to negotiate, how much would the court have to pay to make Prince Qian withdraw his troops?
No wonder Prince Qian left. In Jia Lian's opinion, Prince Qian was determined to fight, and no amount of money or property from the court would make him withdraw his troops!
What was discussed in the tent was just King Qian's subordinates doing their bit to be prepared for any eventuality.

After waiting for two hours, near dusk, Jia Lian finally saw the tall Prince Qian riding back on a horse.

He avoided everyone's sight and bowed to King Qian from a distance.

"what's up?"

Chu Yan summoned him to question him. "Prince Qian, this morning my eldest sister in the palace sent a letter saying that the Queen ordered several eunuchs to prepare three feet of white silk for each of the concubines..."

Jia Lian’s words surprised Chu Yan a little. The queen was so chaste and loyal that she actually wanted to die with her husband for the country?
This won't work!
Chu Yan would not allow Emperor Yongning to die for his country!

Other people in the capital can die, but he cannot die!

"Go and call Xie Gui secretly." Chu Yan ordered a personal guard named Dai Wei beside him.

Dai Wei nodded and went to the tent where the delegation was resting. He pretended to ask if they needed anything and glanced at Xie Gui.

After a while, Xie Gui came to Chu Yan on the pretext of going to the toilet.

"Go back and tell him to save the emperor's life!"

Chu Yan's expression was dignified as he gave Xie Gui a direct order: "Remember, no matter what method you use, tell the eunuchs in power in the palace to keep an eye on the Emperor, Empress, and the concubines. Don't let them burn themselves to death or hang themselves!"

Xie Gui's heart tightened and he quickly agreed.

After he left, Chu Yan was still thinking about the pros and cons of the matter.

The emperor was dead. The good thing was that he could enter the city and ascend the throne directly, cutting off some people's last hope. But the bad thing was that the Shun Dynasty royal family in various places would continue to resist. If a few more princes in the palace escaped, there would be endless troubles.

In addition to the royal family, there were also some loyal ministers who gathered the remaining troops of the Shun Dynasty under the banner of revenge for Emperor Yongning.

Therefore, the best outcome is that the emperor surrenders, Chu Yan appoints him as the Duke of Anle, and then orders all places to surrender!
After a few years, when the world is at peace, you can do whatever you want with him.

After finishing his thoughts, Chu Yan stood up, walked into the commander's tent, and sat back in the main seat under everyone's gaze.

"Everyone, how is the discussion going?"

Chu Yan asked with a faint smile on his face.

Prince Beijing and others did not dare to say a word.

"In that case, let's have a fight."

After Chu Yan finished speaking, he said to Chu Ming, "Send the guests away."

Chu Ming stood up and bowed to him, then gestured to the Shun Dynasty delegation sitting on the left, "Everyone, please!"

Shui Rong, Zhuang Jin, Wang Ziteng and others stood up and bowed to say goodbye.

Chu Yan's eyes fell on Wang Ziteng and he laughed, "You came here and didn't accomplish anything. It wouldn't sound good if you told others about it. So, let me give you a piece of advice."

Everyone was confused.

"When we attack the city the day after tomorrow, you must not go up to the city walls. This is not a threat, it is a true advice."

Chu Yan said with a smile and gestured to Chu Ming to see the guest off.

No one dared to say anything more and left the tent in an orderly manner, preparing to return to the capital.

Chu Ming specially escorted them to the front of the camp, with a smile on his face, and said, "Please wait a moment, everyone. I want to show you something."

Wang Ziteng and others looked over.

Chu Ming ordered his men to remove the oilcloth from a huge object behind the earthen wall outside the camp and show them what was inside.

"this……!"

Wang Ziteng and others stared in amazement.

Covered by the oilcloth was a pitch-black cannon with a barrel nearly three meters long. It was black and shiny, emitting an astonishing deterrent force!
Next to the cannon, there are dozens of iron shells. Just from its size and the position of this huge cannon from the city wall, you can know how amazing the destructive power will be when the shells fall on the city wall!
Wang Ziteng looked into the distance again. Behind the earthen wall of the camp, there were dozens of similar cannons, like tigers crawling on the ground, waiting for the day after tomorrow. When King Qian gave the order, they would fire at the capital!

"You still have one day to consider whether to surrender or fight. Everyone, I will not see you off."

After Chu Ming finished speaking, he bowed and said goodbye, then rode back to the camp.

(End of this chapter)