Munitions Empire-Chapter 1116 - 1037 Dongqing Changes Its Flag
When snow began to flutter from the sky, a troop from Fengjiang arrived beneath the walls of Dongqing City. These troops did not rush to attack; instead, they sent an envoy to deliver a decree to the city’s defense commander.
Indeed, it was a decree. Emperor Zhao Yu of the Dahua Empire had appointed the city’s defense commander, Liu Jie, as Great General, hoping he would open the city gates to welcome the troops from Fengjiang.
This appointment of Great General seemed quite arbitrary. Knowing that Zhao Chen had surrendered, Liu Jie thought Zhao Chen would become Great General under Zhao Yu.
So, he asked the envoy, a diplomat from the Great Tang Empire, about the credibility of this matter.
The diplomat from the Great Tang Empire, due to his diplomatic immunity, came to deliver this message. Smiling at Liu Jie’s question, he responded directly, "Zhao Chen has already been sent to our country, so General need not worry."
Hearing this answer, Liu Jie paused for a moment and then realized that this could be a great opportunity for him: If he allowed the passage for Fengjiang’s troops, he would undeniably secure a favorable position in Zhao Yu’s government.
As for that Zhao Chen he was worried about, he probably wouldn’t come back to compete for positions in this lifetime: he guessed that Zhao Chen was taken by the Great Tang Empire as a way to vent their anger, who could blame him for resisting so stubbornly? Of course, or perhaps, who could blame him for being a Zhao?
"Since you guarantee it, Sir, I will trust this decree. I also think that the former Emperor’s attitude towards Your Majesty was inappropriate, but alas, I am insignificant and have no say… Now that Your Majesty hopes to return to the Imperial Capital, I shall obey the decree and grant passage…" Remarkably, Liu Jie adeptly altered his address.
It made sense, considering the ongoing conflict at the Imperial Capital. Whether it’s Zhao Ji or Zhao Jie, whoever wins, he would have to change how he addresses them. How could he do that without some practice in advance?
As for having another Zhao Yu, that’s even simpler. Accepting two is accepting, and accepting three is the same. This matter and keeping a harem really aren’t fundamentally different.
When you feel that one wife is insufficient and you need to add a concubine, you’ve already broken through mental shackles, and there would be no guilt in having a third or fourth.
"Rest assured, General, you will definitely not make the wrong choice," said the diplomat from Great Tang with a smile, then pushed a check toward him. "With continual warfare in Dahua recently and soaring prices, I’ve brought some local products from Great Tang for you, General. Please do accept them with a smile."
After glancing at the amount, Liu Jie felt he had truly lived a dog’s life. He had embezzled and oppressed both his subordinates and superiors until now, nearly at sixty years of age, and yet he hadn’t been able to embezzle so much money…
Swallowing his saliva, he stuffed the local products into his pocket, fully becoming one of Zhao Yu’s people from the Great Tang.
The rewards were immediate and apparent. Liu Jie not only threw open the city gates for Fengjiang’s troops to pass through his defensive area but even contributed all the ammunition and oil supplies from his district.
Do not underestimate the resources of Dongqing: in the north of Dongqing lies Heishui City, currently the only oilfield in Dahua, where all crude oil produced is necessary to be transported to Dongqing for processing.
Thus, Dongqing owns the most advanced and largest oil refinery and various chemical plants in the Dahua Empire; their industrial scale is massive and critical.
Now with Dongqing’s surrender, Heishui City wouldn’t put up any significant resistance: their garrison is pitifully small. It has always been the safest hinterland of the Dahua Empire and never needed much military presence.
This also led to Heishui having no choice but to follow Dongqing’s lead in defecting to Zhao Yu after Dongqing changed allegiance. Heishui is connected to Dongqing only by a single railway, and if they didn’t surrender, their supplies would be instantly cut off, leaving them without any means at all.
Without firing a single shot or shell, Dongqing changed allegiance and became rightfully part of the Fengjiang army: they too received their own rewards, promptly getting a monetary reward provided by Zhao Yu.
Having been mingled with the Great Tang Empire for so long, Zhao Yu also possessed some admirable traits. He valued commitment, ensuring that the rewards promised to the military and officials were not perfunctory, as he urgently needed them to fight loyally for him; having sold themselves to him, they must be paid adequately.
This is why he owed so much money, having whetted the soldiers’ appetites without corresponding profit channels.
It should be noted, ever since the start of the civil war to now, Fengjiang’s army hadn’t had any income. They were purely relying on financial support from the Great Tang Empire, which only persisted because the Great Tang Empire was flush with cash.
Not only supporting Fengjiang, but the Great Tang Empire had also paid incalculable sums for hiring soldiers from other countries.
Liu Jie’s surrender was so swift that neither Zhao Jie nor Zhao Ji was mentally prepared. When they heard that Fengjiang’s troops were already constructing a camp just tens of kilometers away, they were utterly dumbfounded.
Although Fengjiang’s army had yet to launch an attack, the two clashing factions inside the city immediately felt immense pressure, as overall, they truly couldn’t withstand Zhao Ji’s Fengjiang army.
Not to mention Zhao Chen’s 800,000
troops, even if only some of Fengjiang’s troops emerged, that would amount to at least 300,000… who among them could gather so many troops near the Imperial Capital?
Zhao Jie was somewhat discouraged: his claim was inherently tenuous, coming to the Imperial Capital was merely seeing an opportunity. The problem now is that the opportunity he saw has completely vanished.
If he continues to persist here, he is likely to be surrounded and eradicated by Fengjiang’s forces. This is definitely not the outcome he desires, thus he begins to consider the possibility of leading his troops back to Shanchong.
It is actually possible to leave. Although Zhao Jie has fewer troops in the Imperial Capital, they are extremely elite. As long as Zhao Jie decides to leave, they can immediately start retreating lightly.
Controlling the southern route of the Imperial Capital, he can retreat to Pingfeng at ease. What he is considering now is the situation after retreating to Pingfeng.
Although he will still control cities and regions such as Pingfeng, Jutian, and Shanchong, theoretically, he would have already become a local warlord by then, completely lacking the strength to confront the court.
This situation is essentially akin to slow suicide. Once Zhao Yu has dealt with Zhao Ji, he will head south to subdue such a dangerous separatist force.
With the aid of the Great Tang Empire, he would have no capacity to resist at all. By then, with mountains at his back, he would have no way to retreat.
To the south, he could forge a path to Shu City, but though it’s named the gateway to Shu, it has now become a passage to "enter Qin". Qin Country has already severed Dahua’s connections with Shu Country through previous attacks.
In this way, Zhao Jie would essentially be a sitting duck, left to be slaughtered by others.
Thus, Zhao Jie begins to ponder, wondering if there is any way to save his own life: he thinks of three options.
The first is to surrender to Zhao Ji now, forming an alliance with Zhao Ji to confront Zhao Yu. Given their mutual needs, unless Zhao Ji is foolish, he is unlikely to harm him in the short term.
The two staying warm together, although the situation is a bit tough, could still maintain a delicate balance, providing everyone a decent way out.
The second option is for him to immediately surrender to the Fengjiang side. Even though his ambitions have been exposed and Zhao Yu will certainly be wary of him, as long as he gives up military power and honestly remains a detached prince, he likely stands a chance to live.
However, the feeling of placing his life in the hands of others isn’t great, and Zhao Jie is not too inclined towards this choice.
The last option is to surrender to Qin Country: by then, offering troops and territory, the Qin side would definitely be very pleased. This choice is the safest and most secure, and Qin Country has no reason to trouble a sincere Zhao Jie.
Although this option is safe, like the second option, it means giving up military power and quietly living as a wealthy man. Zhao Jie’s dilemma is here: he is reluctant to give up the power in his hands.
Why doesn’t Zhao Jie have the option of surrendering to the Great Tang Empire? Because he does not yet know that Zhao Yu has already sold Guiguang to the Great Tang Empire.
The secret treaty signed by Zhao Yu would only be made public once he becomes Emperor of the Dahua Empire, otherwise many of his supporters will become dissatisfied with him.
In any era, the disdain for those who betray their country for glory is a natural reaction.
Zhao Jie, unaware that his controlled region borders the Great Tang Empire, naturally has no thoughts of surrendering to the Great Tang Empire.
While Zhao Jie is calculating his escape routes, Zhao Ji, inside the Imperial Palace, is as anxious as ants on a hot pan: Zhao Jie can run, but he isn’t even qualified to run.
If he leaves the Imperial Capital, then how many people would still support him as the so-called "Legitimate Emperor of Dahua"? Without even being enthroned yet, losing the Imperial Capital would turn him into a laughingstock, wouldn’t it?
Li Mingshun also does not advise withdrawing from the Imperial Capital, because once the Imperial Capital is lost, they would be extremely passive whether they retreat west or southwest. His standpoint is purely based on military considerations, without considering Zhao Ji’s perspective.
The Imperial Capital in the Dahua Empire is not simply a political center, but also a crucial transport hub facing the west.
It connects the important northwest four cities to the south, serving as the absolute rear for overseeing and suppressing Qin Country; it also controls the southwest three cities of the Dahua Empire to the southwest, serving as the transport route to communicate with Shu Country.
But if the Imperial Capital is lost, in terms of transport, it would be like splitting the northwest and southwest, making the remaining territories of the Dahua Empire disconnected.
That is to say, regardless of the direction Zhao Ji retreats to, he would instantly lose half of the remaining territories, a situation that is absolutely unacceptable, as it almost equates to the demise of the nation.
Therefore, in Li Mingshun’s view, even if Zhao Ji wants to negotiate peace with the Fengjiang’s forces, he must keep the Imperial Capital. This is the only chance, because once the Imperial Capital is lost, Fengjiang’s forces would no longer care to negotiate with Zhao Ji.
