knife

Chapter 305 True Purpose
Both sides are seasoned veterans, so they naturally avoid many unnecessary tests. Directly stating their attitude is the most effective way to gain the other's trust.

"Is Governor Li also planning to take control of the interior?" Zhang Songlin asked.

Li Dachui nodded and said, "It's not preparation, it started a long time ago!"

He pointed to Wu De sitting to one side and continued with a smile, "Moreover, I already have very reliable partners inside the pass!"

“Commander Wu is indeed a very reliable partner, but if I may be frank, compared with some other forces, his strength is still too weak!” Zhang Songlin said, “Commander Wu is good at intelligence and now has a certain amount of troops, but to contend for the world, this alone is not enough.”

"So, we still want to join forces with Minister Zhang!" Li Dachui laughed. "What we don't have, Minister Zhang does. We can complement each other's strengths and weaknesses, making it a perfect match."

Zhang Songlin slowly tapped the table with his index and middle fingers, staring at Li Dachui, and said meaningfully, "But Protector Li, why should I choose you? Since you've come to me, you must know that I have some things that not only you need, but many others do as well. I'm not like that pedantic scholar Zhou Hong, who, apart from writing some decent articles, is utterly incompetent at doing anything else."

“If we only look at the immediate situation, Linghu Ye and his group do indeed have more advantages than I do. He occupies the strategically important Hedong and Hexi regions, has experienced and skilled warriors under his command, and as a powerful and influential family, he has a strong foundation within the Guanzhong Plain. As far as I know, he has even received support from some other prominent families, such as the Yang family of Hongnong.” Li Dachui said, “But Minister Zhang, if you cooperate with them, will you gain more than you have now?”

Zhang Songlin's fingers, which were tapping the table, paused in mid-air before finally falling back down after a long while.

"And looking further ahead, don't you think we are the future?" Li Dachui said with a smile, "The area beyond the Great Wall is now unified, and millions of people will be under the rule of the Beiting Protectorate. The only country that can pose a threat to the Beiting Protectorate is currently plagued by internal strife, with its three princes fighting amongst themselves. In a few years, the Northern Yuan will also be ours. Once the Northern Yuan is pacified, I, Li, will definitely lead a large army into the south. Do you think that at that time, neither Linghu Ye nor any other force can stop my million-strong army?"

“Since Protector Li is so confident, why should he care about the few measly things in my hands?” Zhang Songlin forced a smile.

Li Dachui said, "Minister Zhang, I imagine you haven't been idle this past year or so, studying the situation beyond the Great Wall. In my dealings, I always prefer to make as many friends as possible and as few enemies as possible. No matter how powerful the enemy is, I always have the ability to create situations where I outnumber them in certain areas and win one victory after another. And these victories, accumulated little by little, eventually lead to great triumphs. For me, Minister Zhang is icing on the cake, not a lifeline."

Zhang Songlin's expression darkened slightly.

"With Minister Zhang, I can make many arrangements and take the initiative in advance to lay a good foundation for future victory. Without him, I would still do these things, only they would be more difficult and tortuous!" Li Dachui said calmly. "Unity benefits both sides, while division harms both. However, for Minister Zhang, the losses will probably be greater."

Zhang Songlin remained silent, lost in thought.

Wu De continued, "Minister Zhang, by cooperating with Protector Li, you are already in an invincible position. Regardless of victory or defeat, the Zhang family will be safe and sound, because Protector Li still has the Northern Court as a safety net. At worst, he will simply become a king in his own territory. But if you gamble everything and choose another side, you will be fine if you succeed, but if you fail, you will surely die without a burial place."

At this point, Zhang Songlin's heart skipped a beat.

"Minister Zhang, to put it bluntly, in the struggle for supremacy, if I weren't the one to win, anyone else who won would have to treat me with utmost respect. But that wouldn't be the case with you, Minister Zhang!" Li Dachui laughed. "What you hold in your hand, Minister Zhang, is a condiment, not a necessity. A meal without condiments is bland, but it still solves the problem of hunger. Of course, if possible, I would also like condiments, because I not only want to be full, but I also want to eat well!"

Taking a deep breath, Zhang Songlin said, "Governor Li, you've convinced me, but I still have one more question to ask."

"Speaking!"

“I can indeed give you these things, but your army is far away beyond the pass, and it’s too late to help you in your immediate crisis. Also, I’m afraid Commander Wu’s men can’t handle them either. How will you protect these things?”

"I never intended to take it all at once!" Li Dachui said. "I only need what I need!"

Wu De added, "The Black Ice Platform can also hide many things for unforeseen circumstances."

"Where's the rest?"

“We still need to leave something for the court, otherwise Minister Zhang won’t be able to explain it to the emperor and Minister Wei, right?” Li Dachui said with a smile.

"The imperial court is in grave danger; perhaps soon we won't even need to give an explanation!"

“Minister Zhang, you can’t say that!” Li Dachui shook his head like a peddler’s drum. “As the Minister of War of the Great Qin, you have to think of a solution for the Great Qin!”

Zhang Songlin looked at Li Dachui with some confusion. "Luoyang is in complete chaos right now, with several factions in disarray. Even if the war ends, Luoyang will be destroyed!" Li Dachui said. "Whether Linghu Ye or someone else controls Luoyang, Chang'an can forget about getting any more support from Luoyang!"

“That’s exactly right!” Zhang Songlin said, “Chang’an, with its million inhabitants, was a dead end back then.”

"So we have to think of something!" Li Dachui looked at Zhang Songlin: "Minister Zhang, you're from Sichuan, right? That's the land of abundance!"

"What does Governor Li mean by this?"

“If Chang’an cannot be defended, the emperor will need somewhere to go!” Li Dachui said with a half-smile, “Minister Zhang is from Sichuan and has quite a few connections there. Why not suggest to the court that Sichuan be considered as an alternative? If things go wrong, the court can retreat to Sichuan for temporary accommodation in preparation for a future counterattack?”

"Shu is the territory of Prince Ji, Li Shen, and the Tang family!" Zhang Songlin shook his head and said, "I am just from a poor family. Although I have some influence in Shu, it is nothing compared to them!"

Li Dachui sneered: "Prince Ji, Li Shen, and the Tang family are short-sighted. They think that just because they control the Jianmen Pass, they can hide in their small territory in Shu and do whatever they want. They look down on the heroes of the world and are not far from death!"

Zhang Songlin looked at Li Dachui in shock, then at Wu De.

Wu De nodded and said, "To be honest, Minister Zhang, the Black Ice Guard is already plotting against Shu. The first step is naturally to take control of the Jiange Road. To this end, Governor Li will transfer some elite troops from outside the pass to act together with our Black Ice Guard. Once we take control of the Jiange Road, we will be able to advance straight into the Chengdu Plain."

Zhang Songlin exhaled a breath of stale air: "So that's how it is. What Governor Li needs from me is not what I currently control, but rather his ambition for the Shu region, isn't it?"

Li Dachui laughed, "I desire both fish and bear's paw. I'm a greedy man, unwilling to make choices, always trying to have both. Minister Zhang is precisely the one who can satisfy my desires. The Zhang family has considerable influence in Sichuan. Although they were a poor family, after becoming wealthy, they built roads and bridges, helped the poor and provided disaster relief, earning them a very good reputation in Sichuan. In recent years, Minister Zhang has also been working hard to infiltrate the officialdom of Sichuan, with good results. More importantly, several powerful and ruthless bandit groups in Sichuan have unclear and ambiguous relationships with Minister Zhang."

At this point, Zhang Songlin's face had turned several shades pale.

"After the Jian Ge Road changes hands, the Shu region needs to be thrown into chaos, and the Zhang family will seize the opportunity to rise!" Li Dachui said, "What Prince Ji Li Shen, what the Tang family, they will all become a thing of the past, and the Zhang family will take control of the Shu region!"

"Understood!" Zhang Songlin said, "The Shu region controlled by the Zhang family is naturally also the Shu region controlled by Protector Li."

“Of course, we’re partners!” Li Dachui laughed. “Controlling Jian Ge Dao will only take a short time, but completely taking control of Shu will probably take two or three years. But we’re not in a hurry, we can take it slow.”

“Then I can suggest to Prime Minister Wei and the Emperor that we go to Shu to expand our territory and build a retreat route for His Majesty!” Zhang Songlin said.

“That’s exactly right!” Li Dachui laughed. “Of course, this suggestion should be kept extremely secret. I suggest we only talk about it with Prime Minister Wei. There’s no need to tell the Emperor. He’s probably surrounded by a sieve, so there are no secrets he can keep.”

"Of course, when the time comes, the imperial court will issue an edict ordering me to go to Shu to seize grain and taxes to protect Chang'an, so that I can rightfully return to Shu to stir up trouble!"

"Minister Zhang truly understands me!" Li Dachui laughed heartily. "Minister Zhang, your initial return will likely be difficult, but once Jian Ge Dao changes hands, the rest will be a piece of cake. At that time, all the artisans and craftsmen you control should be moved to Shu. They absolutely cannot remain in the Central Plains and benefit others!"

"These matters will be arranged by the Black Ice Guard when the time comes!" Wu De said with a smile.

The three of them quickly devised a general strategy for overthrowing a powerful force. As for the details, those would need to be figured out gradually.

As Zhang Songlin saw Li Dachui and Wu De off, he asked, "Li Duhu, I have one more question: if you win in the end, what will I get?"

Li Dachui thought for a moment and said, "Minister Zhang, I don't want to make empty promises, but there is one thing I can be sure of: I have succeeded. At least you will have the opportunity to look down on families like the Hong family or the Yang family, if they are still around by then."

Zhang Songlin stopped talking, simply nodded, cupped his hands in a gesture of courtesy, and watched as Li Dachui and Wu De, accompanied by their son Zhang Rui, disappeared behind the screen wall in the front yard.

(End of this chapter)