Qing Yao

Chapter 394 Attacking the Heart
It's not hard to understand why salt merchants dress like nouveau riche; it's the same principle as returning home in glory.

People risk their lives to smuggle salt, aren't they just after money?

With money, one naturally wants to wear silk and satin, drink wine from large bowls, and eat large chunks of meat; otherwise, what is the point of this life of risking one's life?
There were a dozen or so other people standing around in the hall, who appeared to be leaders of various ranks.

Some of them had fierce faces and were clearly not to be trifled with, while others looked as honest as old farmers in the fields, but the occasional glint of shrewdness in their eyes revealed that they were by no means good people.

"What did that guy surnamed Zhao send you here for?"

As Xie Hongwu, who was sitting in the center, asked the question, he repeatedly played with a gleaming dagger in his hand, as if he could not show his power without doing so.

Chen Zhijie had already calmed down by this time. He stepped forward and bowed calmly, saying, "I have been ordered to come and discuss with you the matter of collecting the remains of our fallen soldiers and treating the wounded."

These words immediately caused an uproar in the hall.

A burly man with a fierce face suddenly stepped forward and shouted angrily, "That corrupt official has driven our brothers to their deaths! How many of our brothers have he arrested? How many of our brothers has he killed? Now he wants to collect the bodies and save people? Dream on!"

"Yes, we can't let them collect the bodies!"

"If you want to collect the bodies, then tell the corrupt official to release our brothers who were arrested!"

"."

The leaders were outraged and began to clamor, with some even threatening to have the soldiers collect Chen Zhijie's body.

Chen Zhijie remained unfazed, and only after the bandits' clamor subsided did he slowly speak: "Gentlemen, you must understand one thing: in battle, each fights for their own master, and there is nothing to complain about in life or death."
You are thieves, and it is only right for the soldiers to catch thieves. But whether you are a soldier or a thief, you are all born of parents. Who doesn't have parents to worry about, and who doesn't have a wife and children waiting at the door?
Lord Zhao has sent me to discuss with you all the proper way to collect the remains of the fallen soldiers and give them a proper burial. This is not only a matter of benevolence and righteousness, but also a way to comfort the living. Why don't you all do this favor and accumulate this merit in secret?

After saying this, Chen Zhijie suggested that the officers and soldiers could also return the bodies of the dozens of salt bandits who had been killed earlier.

"Accumulating good deeds in secret?"

Xie Hongwu narrowed his eyes, the dagger twirling between his fingers, and sneered, "If I were to accumulate such bad karma, my brothers would be disheartened."

No sooner had he finished speaking than several bandit leaders chimed in, essentially saying that if the government troops were so capable, they should come and snatch the corpse themselves; they wouldn't give them any special treatment.

"Rest assured, everyone, my master will not let you accumulate this good deed in vain."

Chen Zhijie raised his voice slightly to suppress the bandits, "So that you may all know that Lord Zhao said that if you allow our army to collect the corpses and treat the wounded today, all the brothers of your stronghold who are captured by our soldiers in the future will be pardoned and released once!"

Before he could finish speaking, the bandits were stunned, and then a chorus of whispers arose, clearly indicating that the offer of pardon and release was too tempting.

In the midst of fighting and killing, death is one thing, but who dares to say they won't be captured?

The two salt bandits who had been glaring angrily at Chen Zhijie now had shifting and flickering eyes, undoubtedly moved by the condition Chen Zhijie had offered.

In a way, this "preferential treatment" is equivalent to giving someone an extra life!
Even Xie Hongwu was moved, but it seemed inappropriate to agree so readily.

Having observed everyone's expressions, Chen Zhijie knew the time was right and changed the subject: "If you insist on not allowing it, my master has another message for you. I wonder if you would like to hear it?"

"speak!"

Xie Hongwu gave a slight snort. Chen Zhijie nodded and said in a deep voice, "Lord Zhao said that if you all do not agree, he will make sure that within a hundred miles of Jiushan Mountain, not a blade of grass grows and no one or livestock survives, even if it means rivers of blood!"

"Damn it, threatening me! If that corrupt official surnamed Zhao had that kind of ability, he wouldn't have fallen into our hands today!"

Xie Hongwu suddenly stood up, his eyes flashing with a fierce light, as if he wanted to devour Chen Zhijie alive. The dagger in his hand was also slammed into the table.

Chen Zhijie showed no fear, meeting Xie Hongwu's murderous gaze calmly, and said, "I dare not presume to judge whether Lord Zhao is capable or not, but you should know that even if the government troops cannot break through for the time being, neither you nor any of you will escape alive."
With deep moats, high walls, and wooden palisades, surrounded by enemy forces, I dare to ask you all: how much grain do you have stored in this stronghold? Is your water supply sufficient? What are you relying on to hold this position, and how will you break through the government troops' blockade?

After saying that, he chuckled lightly, "At that time, with no reinforcements from outside and no food supplies inside, do you all really intend to starve to death here?"

These words were reasonable and touched upon the salt bandits' biggest concern—a lack of food.

The hall fell silent for a moment. The bandits were not simple-minded people; they were well aware of their predicament.
The reason for their stubborn resistance was simply to hope that the Qing army, unfamiliar with the terrain, would advance recklessly, thus giving them an opportunity to ambush them.

As long as the Qing army is defeated and withdraws, the sky over northern Anhui will still be sunny.

Who would have thought that the Qing army not only did not advance rashly, but instead dug trenches and built fortifications everywhere, setting up a posture to starve them to death. Anyone who saw this situation would feel their scalp tingle.

And who doesn't know the consequences of being truly trapped by the Qing army?

For this reason, Xie Hongwu sent men to feign defeat in order to lure the Qing army deeper into the territory. Although they succeeded, it did not seem to shake the Qing army's "established policy". Otherwise, the envoy would not have been so confident.

"You all formed a brotherhood to sell salt and gathered in the mountains and forests. All you sought was a way to survive and a bit of wealth. Why make a fatal confrontation with Lord Zhao because of a moment of anger?"

Today, allowing our troops to collect the dead and treat the wounded not only fulfills our duty of righteousness on the battlefield and demonstrates the magnanimity of you heroes, but also leaves you with a way to survive in the future. Such a win-win situation, why not do it?

Chen Zhijie continued to reason with him.

The bandit leaders looked at each other, but their previous confidence had vanished.

Xie Hongwu's expression shifted between light and dark. After a long silence, he finally asked in a hoarse voice, "Lord Zhao... does he keep his word? If you capture my brothers in the future, will you really release them?"

"Lord Zhao's word is as good as gold!"

Chen Zhijie declared emphatically, "If a high-ranking official of the second rank doesn't keep his word, do you all think Lord Zhao will still have the face to govern Anhui Province in the future?"

"If the corrupt official keeps his word, then we can agree to let them collect the body."

The person who said this was Chen Si, a salt merchant who had fled from Huaiyuan County to this place.

Upon hearing Chen Si's words, some of the others showed agreement, while others hesitated, but no one voiced any objection.

Xie Hongwu looked around and knew that his men had been persuaded by the man in front of him, but he couldn't make up his mind because he remembered his elder brother's instructions not to contact the government.

Seeing this, Chen Zhijie went a step further and directly persuaded them to surrender, saying: "Please forgive my bluntness, if you were to surrender to the government in dire straits, you might face retribution later. But now you have shown your skills and let the soldiers know that you are not men to be trifled with. If you continue to act with such righteousness and then express your willingness to submit, then in the eyes of Lord Zhao and the court, you will not be surrendering out of desperation, but rather coming to submit out of righteousness."

Not only will your past transgressions be forgiven, but you heroes will also be granted amnesty as victors, gaining a respectable status. Isn't this far better than staying here, constantly on guard against government troops, without food or water?

(End of this chapter)