Free Web NovelChapter 2332: Chapter 2307: Sincerity
Bai Shan also regretted that Jiechen wasn’t there, and he said to Manbao, "If we had someone like Jiechen in our hands, there would be so much more we could do."
Some people don’t need to be very smart, as long as their combat ability is high enough. When in the hands of someone who knows how to use them, they become a formidable weapon.
Manbao asked, "Do you want to use Jin Kui’an? He’s rebellious and doesn’t get along with us. What if he turns against us halfway? It’s too dangerous."
Bai Shan said, "The risk is high, but he is indeed useful. Isn’t he after the treasure of Balzhuo? This shows he’s greedy. I can hook him with wealth first."
This isn’t difficult at all, as General Guo has so many good things. Bai Shan had no qualms about using the other’s possessions.
Bai Shan turned his head to look at her and said softly, "The letter has been delivered into Wang City. General Li couldn’t find the right person to enter the city, so I might have to go in once."
General Ashina took away most of the people, including eloquent civil officials, thinking that since Wang City had been captured, General Guo only needed to clean up the aftermath and hold the city, preventing reinforcements from Kucha and the Turks from reclaiming it.
The King of Kucha was able to defend Wang City for forty days; General Guo, being better at defense, could certainly hold it for even longer.
Who could have thought that before General Guo could clean up the aftermath, the city would be lost?
So, at that time, General Ashina left the city defenders and tools behind and took the rest of the people away.
In the past two days, Manbao was not only treating people’s injuries but also talking occasionally with the wounded soldiers, learning some truths. She did not stop Bai Shan and only said, "Take care."
Bai Shan nodded.
After saying that, Manbao thought that one sentence was not enough, so she asked, "Do you want me to go with you?"
Bai Shan immediately said, "If the medical tent can spare you, it would be best if we went together."
Manbao said, "I thought you would persuade me not to go, saying it’s too dangerous."
Bai Shan laughed, "Originally, I didn’t plan to invite you, but if we include Jin Kui’an, I’ll be more confident."
He said, "And you have Uncle Zhou with you; if you go with us, the plan will only proceed more smoothly."
Manbao then also felt that it would be better for her to go. Keke could be quite useful in war.
"How should I go?"
Bai Shan pondered, "Disguise as a soldier?"
She obviously couldn’t go with her identity as an imperial physician to Wang City as an envoy for negotiations.
Even if the King of Kucha didn’t have doubts initially, he would suspect something.
However...
Bai Shan rolled his eyes, coming up with another idea, "It’s not impossible; just say you’re entering the city to seek medicine."
"What medicine?"
Bai Shan smiled, "If General Guo surrenders to Kucha, he must have an excuse. Initially, I thought of the fear of punishment for losing the city, but now it seems there’s an even better reason beyond that."
Manbao: "Seeking medicine?"
Bai Shan nodded, "Think about the excellent wound medicines that might be inside Kucha. Once inside, seek medicine, saying it’s for General Guo."
Manbao began to ponder, "I think the best wound medicine is Chinese ginseng, but General Guo’s arrow wound isn’t well placed. Instead, we might request some rare medicinal herbs that replenish qi and sustain life. We likely don’t have them with the army, but Kucha city might."
For example, ginseng, which is an excellent tonic for qi.
Bai Shan urged her, "Quick, write down the list. Write down anything precious, don’t fear they don’t have it, as long as they believe we’re in need and desperately seeking it."
Manbao rushed back to write the list.
The messenger who entered the city returned with news that the King of Kucha was willing to meet General Guo’s envoy, but they were allowed to bring only a limited number of people, no more than twenty.
Meanwhile, the number of people dispatched from Wang City to monitor them increased, but due to the barriers, they couldn’t get close enough to gather any information from the camp.
But they circled around the camp, returning to inform the King of Kucha, "Their casualties are severe, and there’s a strong medicinal scent in the camp. From high ground, I saw many injured soldiers lying on the open ground in the camp, even unable to fit into the tents."
Additionally, "The river downstream has a bloody smell, all flowing down from upstream, indicating a lot of severely injured people."
The King of Kucha was delighted. The Western Turkic generals next to him rolled their eyes and suggested that the King of Kucha send troops to wipe them out directly.
The King of Kucha then looked at his scout, smiling with the Turkic general, "Since they are willing to submit to me, why not give them a chance? There’s no rush in this matter."
Turning his back, he called the scout over for a conversation, asking, "Did the person bringing the peace proposal truly say that as long as I agree, Guo Xiao will return the goods taken from the palace?"
The scout replied, "He said he would return what he currently has in his possession, but he still needs to request some things from you."
The King of Kucha sneered, "It’s nothing but high posts and great rewards; as long as he is loyal, I will naturally grant them."
The Western Turks, when taking action, would not say they would demand food, funds, and resources from us. Once they attack Guo Xiao’s camp, whether the gold, silver, and treasures taken by Guo Xiao end up in our palace or the pockets of the Western Turks is uncertain.
Therefore, the King of Kucha did not want to use the Western Turks.
Especially now, they are aggressively causing trouble in the city every day, making not only the ordinary people but also his trusted ministers rather displeased.
The King of Kucha said, "Send them a message to arrange an envoy for negotiations tomorrow."
With a hint of intention, he added, "I need to see their sincerity."
The scout acknowledged and conveyed the message to the Jin camp.
In the camp, Manbao was directing the injured soldiers to come out of the tents to bask in the sun.
It was cold in the mornings and evenings now, with just a bit of sun during midday. Some lightly wounded soldiers could definitely come out for a sunbath, which would be beneficial to their physical and mental health.
Upon receiving the King of Kucha’s message, General Li was pacing back and forth anxiously, calling them over: "There’s still no news from the army. If we enter the city tomorrow, I’m afraid the plan cannot proceed."
Bai Shan said, "This is the fourth day. If nothing goes wrong, they should have caught up with the army. We’ll try to delay once in the city. As soon as the army arrives, we’ll attack the city; with inside and outside coordination..."
"But how do we pass messages to you?" General Li asked, "The Left Prime Minister’s family, who initially suggested opening the gates for us, have been imprisoned. Our contacts inside the city can’t be reached."
Though Bai Shan and his party might contact them inside, they still couldn’t communicate with those outside, so...
How could inside and outside coordinate without outside news?
Bai Shan smiled slightly, "There’s no need for General Li to worry about that; we have our ways to receive outside information. One thing, once the army arrives, raise a flag in the camp..."
Although Manbao didn’t explicitly say it, from the bits and pieces, he knew that if Uncle Zhou were to appear in this world, he could only be eighty miles away from her.
Kucha city isn’t small, and if they are on the other side of the city gate, they might only receive news from the camp here, nothing further away.
Bai Shan discussed this in detail with General Li, considering various scenarios. Eventually, General Li had two boxes of treasures brought up, all gleaming gold, silver, and jewels, clearly of high value.
This was the sincerity Bai Shan was bringing along.
