The moment they met Li Jun's gaze, they felt unable to lift their heads, their knees buckled, and they involuntarily knelt down on the ground. Li Jun had always despised people who lacked backbone, which deepened his disgust for these men.
"Why are you here to see me instead of following that traitor Peng Yuancheng?" he shouted rudely.
“Peng Yuancheng is ungrateful and treats us petty people harshly and without kindness. That’s why we’ve come to abandon darkness and embrace the light…” one of the more eloquent men said obsequiously.
"I see. So, where is Peng Yuancheng?"
"I've brought him here." The officer opened a package he was carrying, and a mangled human head rolled out. Li Jun looked closely and saw that it was indeed Peng Yuancheng, his hair and beard bristling, his expression still carrying an arrogant and unruly anger, but he couldn't hide the desolation at the corner of his lips.
Although Li Jun was somewhat prepared, he was still taken aback when he saw Peng Yuancheng's head. After examining it for a long time and confirming that it was genuine, he waved to the guards and said, "Take Peng Yuancheng's head out and display it to the public!"
The surrendered generals were relieved to see Li Jun "accept" their gifts. If Li Jun had reprimanded them loudly, they would likely have been in grave danger. Sure enough, Li Jun asked calmly, "Where did you men eliminate Peng Yuancheng?"
The quick-witted officer recounted the events, glossing over their massacres and looting, but seemingly quite proud of how they forced Peng Yuancheng to commit suicide, explaining it in detail. Li Jun listened and nodded, then said, "You've done a great service by eliminating Peng Yuancheng, but since you followed him in committing atrocities, I can't let that go unpunished. Tell the clerk your family names one by one, then you may leave."
"What should we do with them?" Wei Zhan asked in a low voice, seeing through Li Jun's thoughts.
“Kill them. They followed Peng Yuancheng in rebellion and then betrayed him. Such disloyal and inhumane people would only cause trouble if left alive. Kill them all, but considering that they sent a great gift, treat their family well.”
Upon hearing Li Jun's cold, hard words about "trapping and killing," Wei Zhan felt a chill run down his spine. He glanced at Li Jun and replied, "Yes."
Peng Yuancheng's first victory was brought to the walls of Yuyang City. By this time, the overall situation was largely settled. Peng Yuancheng's remaining troops in Yuyang, led by Guo Yunfei, were still putting up a stubborn resistance, while the other cities had all defected. Upon seeing that the Peace Army had indeed brought Peng Yuancheng's first victory, Guo Yunfei roared and fainted. Soldiers hurriedly revived him. He looked around; not a single person showed the slightest sign of relief.
"I have received great kindness from Commander Peng, who entrusted me with important matters before his departure, so I cannot surrender," Guo Yunfei said slowly. "You all have elderly parents and young children to support. If you die in this city with me, where will your families be? Therefore, you should surrender."
The men around them exchanged bitter smiles. They were not unreasonable people; now that Peng Yuancheng was dead, they were like eggs in a collapsed nest, with no way to escape. Surrender was truly the only option.
"Wait, Mr. Guo!" Seeing Guo Yunfei slowly walking into the city, everyone knew he intended to commit suicide. One of the generals couldn't bear it and said, "Although Lord Peng is dead, Madam Peng is still alive. Why don't we entrust the important matters of the city to her? Although she rarely leaves the house, she is quite insightful. I heard that when the Lord raised his army, she repeatedly advised him against it, but he did not heed her advice, which led to his defeat." Guo Yunfei's heart stirred, and he said, "You are right. If I die, who will take care of Lord Peng's wife and two sons? Everyone, please wait on the city wall. I will go and hear Madam Hou's instructions. If there are no unexpected events, I will persuade Madam Hou to surrender the city in exchange for peace."
"No need. Madam has already heard about the city lord's matter. She said that as a woman, she was too weak and unable to avenge her husband on the battlefield, and because her two sons were still young, she could not follow her deceased husband to the afterlife. She has no interest in asking about anything else and leaves everything to Mr. Guo's decision." The old servant of the Peng family happened to arrive and conveyed Madam Peng's words.
Upon receiving news that Yuyang, the last city to rebel, had surrendered, and that Peng Yuancheng's trusted lieutenant Guo Yunfei and Peng's wife were awaiting punishment in Yuyang, Li Jun fell into deep thought. Deep down, he wished he could tear Shi Ze and Guo Yunfei, who had advised Peng Yuancheng's rebellion, to pieces. Now that Shi Ze was dead in the chaos of battle, and Guo Yunfei was at his mercy, it would allow him to vent his hatred. As for Peng's wife, whom he had never met, he hated Peng Yuancheng to the core and felt he should take revenge on her.
But reason told Li Jun that if he sought revenge now, the seeds of hatred in Yuzhou would be stubbornly sown, and might even be passed down to the next generation. He sighed deeply. As the commander-in-chief of an army, he could not consider matters solely based on personal likes and dislikes. There were some things that, even if he personally disliked them, he had no choice but to do.
“Mr. Wei, go to Yuyang and convey my order.” Li Jun had to send someone of sufficient caliber to Yuyang to win back the hearts of the people. Without hesitation, he chose Wei Zhan. “Guo Yunfei will act as the city lord of Yuyang. All officials and personnel will remain in their positions for the time being. Their positions will be determined based on their abilities and performance after some time.”
"Then what about Peng Yuancheng's family?" Wei Zhan asked, not letting the question go unanswered.
"Heh..." Li Jun chuckled bitterly and said, "If I said I sold Peng Yuancheng's wife to a brothel, would you believe me?"
"If that's the case, then Wei Zhan will resign."
Li Jun waved his hand wearily and said, "I think so too. If I can't even tolerate Peng Yuancheng's wife and children, how can I possibly stand in this vast world with so many enemies? Send Madam Peng back to the Peng clan and tell the clansmen to wait for her. Peng Yuancheng's two sons..."
When the topic turned to Peng Yuancheng's two sons, Li Jun remained silent for a while. He thought that it was too soft-hearted to not eliminate the root of the problem. He had survived the massacre and had grown up with this deep hatred. If he let Peng Yuancheng's two sons go, who knew if they would avenge their father in the future?
“If they want revenge, let them come.” After a moment of contemplation, Li Jun suddenly smiled slightly. “If they can defeat me, then I have no right to talk about any grand ambitions. If they come looking for revenge but are killed by me instead, then they have nothing to complain about.”
Wei Zhan bowed deeply, expressing his respect for Li Jun for not taking revenge on the orphans and widows, before heading to Yu Yang to handle the aftermath. That very night, Li Jun met with a messenger sent by Feng Jiutian from Kuanglan City. The messenger brought not only the heads of Jiang Runqun and the others, but also a secret letter from Feng Jiutian.
Li Jun had absolutely no interest in the heads of Jiang Runqun and the others; aside from displaying them as a show of force, this pile of trash served no other purpose. That night, by candlelight, he read Feng Jiutian's letter, which stated:
"Nine Heavens Above: Commander, are you well? In the past six months, the situation has changed drastically. Commander, you have been on a distant expedition to Chen State, while the traitor Peng has plotted rebellion in Yuzhou. In just a few months, you have lost more than twenty of your key generals, such as Xiao Lin, Su Xiang, and Shang Huaiyi, as well as more than 50,000 elite soldiers and hundreds of thousands of households of refugees. Although Yuzhou is now somewhat at peace, the generals are old and the soldiers are exhausted, and the people are restless. It is truly a case of storm brewing and the wind filling the high towers."
"I have been thinking about this day and night, and I know that these three things are the root of my pain. After much reflection, I know that if I do not learn from the mistakes of the past, I will not be able to escape the same fate. Therefore, I am not afraid of offending anyone, so I am writing this letter with five points, hoping that you will consider them carefully."
"The first matter is that when Yuzhou was first pacified, the commander neglected the foundation and launched a long and arduous expedition. Although Jiutian and others tried their best to persuade him, they could not change his mind. Although the commander listens to the opinions of his subordinates and staff, he is happy with those who agree with him and argues with those who disagree. This is not the way to achieve great things. I hope that from now on, the commander will listen to all sides and be tolerant, and dare to blame himself for his mistakes. If he corrects his mistakes, our army will never encounter such a desperate situation again."
"The second matter concerns the ambition of the commander-in-chief. Is it merely to govern Yuzhou? With his military prowess and martial skills, Yuzhou is not difficult to pacify and prosper. However, if the commander-in-chief's ambition lies in conquering the entire world and taking over the Divine Continent, then he must cultivate both military and political skills, and diligently pursue both martial and civil affairs to achieve great things. I have never heard of anyone who has achieved great things solely through heroic military prowess. The Khan of the Four Seas was unparalleled in bravery and military strategy, yet he neglected political strategy, leading to his death and the destruction of his country. This is a lesson for all ages. Since taking over Yuzhou, the commander-in-chief has personally handled all military affairs, large and small, while delegating all political affairs, regardless of their urgency. He rejoices at the mention of war and is troubled by the mention of politics. How can this last long? From ancient times to the present, I have never heard of anyone who has exhausted his military might without losing his country. The commander-in-chief should take this as a warning to appease the people who are eagerly awaiting his return."
"The third matter is that the world is vast, encompassing the four seas and reaching the eight corners of the earth. Customs and traditions vary, and landscapes differ from place to place. Although the civil and military officials under your command are all of the best in the time, their abilities are insufficient. They are barely enough to govern a few prefectures, let alone the whole world. Although you have spoken of recruiting talent and respecting wisdom, you have not taken any action to recruit the virtuous and capable. In today's world, heroes are rising up everywhere, and the old barriers are about to collapse. The pillars of the future have yet to rise. Not only does the lord choose the virtuous and capable, but the virtuous and capable also choose their lord. If you do not act decisively and resolutely in recruiting talent, then the wise and virtuous will all be used by others. In the long run, you will regret it too late."
"The fourth matter is that the ruler's governance is without any established rules. Rewards, punishments, taxes, and other matters are all determined by the ruler's single word. This is not the way to achieve long-term stability. As the ancients said, 'A country without constant laws cannot have a peaceful people, and a family without rules cannot have a stable people.' The most urgent task is for the ruler to order the enactment of laws to set things right and eliminate evil. When laws are established, the people will know right from wrong; when order is established, the people will know what is urgent and what is not. Punishing the wicked and rewarding the loyal and virtuous will all be based on laws, and promotions and demotions will all be governed by laws. In this way, the people of Yuzhou will be at peace, the people will be happy and prosperous, refugees from all directions will travel day and night to come to Yuzhou, and the officials and commoners within the territory will work diligently day and night. Within three years, Yuzhou will be well-governed."
"The fifth matter concerns the strategy of 'befriending distant states while attacking nearby ones' that the Commander once devised for the Peace Army. While the Commander may have spoken without intention, Yu Sheng listened with great interest. Whenever he discussed this matter with Jiu Tian, he would often applaud the Commander's brilliant strategy. Since there is such a strategy, why doesn't the Commander follow it? Jiu Tian believes that the strategy for conquering the world and annexing all sides involves not only the iron horses and swords of war on the battlefield, but also the verbal sparring of diplomacy. Liu Guang instigated Peng Yuancheng, Jiang Runqun, and others to rebel with Gongsun Ming's words, while the Commander retreated safely to Yuzhou with Wei Zhan's eloquence. These are all achievements of diplomacy. The Commander is skilled in military affairs, so when encountering a crisis, he does not consider using strategies other than military tactics to resolve it. This is both the Commander's strength and weakness. I hope that from now on, the Commander will make good use of eloquent debaters to compensate for the lack of military strategy."
"I, Feng Jiutian, am unworthy, yet I am highly regarded by the Commander. I am ashamed that I have made no contribution whatsoever. I have only these five strategies for the Commander to consider carefully. If the Commander believes that even one or two of them may be feasible, it would be a great fortune for me. Your subject, Feng Jiutian, kowtows."
Li Jun examined the letter repeatedly for a long time. Although the wording was extremely polite, the accusations against him in Feng Jiutian's letter still made him feel aggressive. He stared at the character "臣" (your subject) at the end of Feng Jiutian's signature for a long time, then suddenly threw the letter far away on the ground. He paced back and forth in the tent for half a day, then went over and carefully picked up the letter again, read it carefully once more, sighed, and threw it on the table. Although the strategies in the letter all targeted his shortcomings, every word was precious and every sentence was wise, he still couldn't suppress the pain of having his wounds reopened. If there were outsiders present, he would never have shown it like this, but now there were only a few people in the tent, all of them his confidants, so his youthful temper was inevitably revealed. What young man in his early twenties isn't hot-tempered?
But a slender hand reached out and picked up the letter he had tossed on the table. Li Jun was startled. Ji Su should have been back in camp resting by now. He had been reading the letter carefully, his mind filled with the contents of Feng Jiutian's letter. Why hadn't he noticed the extra person in the tent?
"Ah!" Following the hand, Li Jun saw Mo Rong's face, which was both happy and annoyed. She smiled slightly at him, and in the blink of her eyes, Li Jun felt that the torches and candles in the tent had lost their luster.
The two slowly extended their hands and gently clasped them together. The guards in the camp, suppressing their laughter, discreetly slipped out. As they exited the tent, they paused, noticing Ji Su standing there, seemingly lost in thought, her eyes sparkling. Upon seeing them, she gently gestured to her lips with her finger, signaling them to be quiet, before slowly departing. For a moment, the tent was warm and cozy, while a slight chill could be felt outside.
"Why are you here?" After a long while, Li Jun finally asked in a low voice, the words "Sister Mo" being unconsciously omitted.
"How could I not come when I heard you were in trouble?" A bitter smile appeared on Mo Rong's lips. Even if Li Jun was alright, could she really stop coming forever? She buried this thought and then said, "But it seems I'm late."
"It's not too late, it's not too late," Li Jun replied hastily, but refused to let go of Mo Rong's hand.
"Congratulations, this Feng Jiutian is indeed a remarkable person." Mo Rong withdrew her hand, handed the letter to Li Jun, and turned slightly, her movements still light and graceful. Li Jun felt a surge of desire to pull her slender waist into his arms, but this thought frightened him. His hands seemed to be frozen by some kind of magic, unable to move an inch.
"Take a good look at this letter, and then think about what to do. I'll go talk to Sister Ji Su first." Mo Rong walked nimbly to the tent entrance, then turned back and smiled at Li Jun, who was standing there looking lost. "She seemed to be outside just now."
Li Jun didn't ponder the deeper meaning behind Mo Rong's last sentence. He only felt that the frustration after the blow and the shame after reading Feng Jiutian's letter lessened after Mo Rong's smile, and he felt that he had regained his confidence and vitality. Staring blankly at the spot where Mo Rong had just stood, he smiled, picked up his pen, changed one word in Feng Jiutian's letter, and muttered to himself, "Apart from this one word, anything is fine."
After changing the word, he felt much better, and the drowsiness that had plagued him for the past few days finally returned. He stretched and left the letter on the table before returning to his bedroom, which was separated by a curtain.
The guards came in and blew out the candles and extinguished the torches. Moonlight quietly shone through a small window in the tent, illuminating the half-folded letter. The character "臣" (chen, meaning subject) had been altered by Li Jun with ink.
It is true: If Heaven had feelings, it too would grow old; the vicissitudes of life are the true path of humanity.
Volume 4