Chapter 710 - 15: A Game of Wits, Gu Jin Breaks the Deadlock

He has already affected the interests of too many people.

With his background.

It’s not enough for everyone to willingly submit to his coercion.

Regarding this secret letter, although it is not known whether this is another test by Wang Yingchen, after all, the person who delivered the letter did not even reveal their identity, Gu Jin naturally proceeded with the matter, but indeed did not openly exert effort in it.

For him.

Having this secret letter was actually enough.

Right after this incident, Gu Jin immediately utilized the hidden guards that the Gu Clan had long embedded among various nations and contacted scholars within Northern Han.

—Especially Liu Jiyuan.

That’s right, Gu Jin, though he had greatly defeated Liu Jiyuan, did not take his life.

This kind of person is just a troublemaker.

Leaving him alive might lead to many other thoughts, and how could Gu Jin let Liu Jiwen succeed?

Liu Jiyuan was originally a very tyrannical person.

Especially after his defeat again.

Although he is named emperor, he now completely has no status at all.

For a person like him, this is indeed torture.

Gu Jin wants to use these people to stoke the flames, pushing forward the undercurrents within the Liao, which indeed could be said to be the best way to break the current situation.

The entire plan was quite smooth.

But unfortunately.... Zhao Kuangyin’s health is indeed deteriorating under the current situation.

Song Army’s main tent.

Looking at Zhao Kuangyin, whose face was deteriorating and who could barely get up, Gu Jin’s expression also grew increasingly complex.

"Huaiyu....."

"Can I, die on the battlefield?"

Zhao Kuangyin endured the pain brought by his body, staring intently at Gu Jin and said, "In this life, can the Central Plains be unified?"

If it weren’t for Gu Jin.

With Zhao Kuangyin’s temperament, he would definitely choose to launch a large-scale attack directly.

Just like in the original history.

Of course, this does not mean that Zhao Kuangyin had not made any progress compared to the original history, after all, in the original history, Zhao Kuangyin was repeatedly defeated in his Northern Expeditions and eventually died along the way.

But given the current situation.

The national power of the Great Song might even conquer the entire Northern Han through force.

But the main issue is that national power should not be wasted like that.

The territory of the Liao is far larger than that of the Great Song.

Even if this battle allows the capture of the entire Northern Han, the price paid by the Song Army would be high, and the reaction it triggers can only be one thing.

That is, it may take a hundred years for the Great Song to unify the whole world.

It is because of this consideration that Gu Jin has never chosen to attack aggressively.

And this has become Zhao Kuangyin’s regret.

He wants to unify the Central Plains.

He wants his life to end on the battlefield, at least not die in vain.

Hearing this, Gu Jin couldn’t help but sigh softly, but simply clasped his hand in respect to Zhao Kuangyin and said seriously, "Your Majesty, rest assured."

It’s not that he lacks confidence and can’t make promises.

On the contrary, he is now far more confident than before.

But how long the time required will take... Gu Jin cannot be sure.

Zhao Kuangyin’s health is too poor.

One might say he is now like a candle flickering in the wind, about to extinguish, holding on with only a single obsession.

What answer can Gu Jin give?

That statement is actually already sufficient!

...

The situation of the entire world is quietly changing amidst the constant maneuvering between both sides.

Wang Yingchen targets the Song Army;

Gu Jin focuses on the internal contradictions within the Liao.

Both sides deploy their strategies, one wanting to discern truth from falsehood, the other wanting to stimulate underlying conflicts.

The people of all factions are indeed changing profoundly.

Especially in front of emotionally volatile people like Liu Jiyuan.

Every word they say can directly hit Liu Jiyuan’s sore spot, causing him to lose more logic, thinking almost every day about how to take revenge, how to reclaim his territory.

And when this kind of emotion spirals out of control.

People like Liu Jiyuan will start to harbor many different ideas.

"An evil person’s racking of brains is not as effective as a fool’s sudden insight."

This saying proves exceptionally true under such circumstances.

Liu Jiyuan first continuously sent gifts to Wang Yingchen.

Hoping Wang Yingchen would directly issue orders.

But seeing that Wang Yingchen did not agree, he then turned to sending gifts to the emperor Yelv Xian, earnestly asking him to save Northern Han, even directly proposing to become a vassal of the Liao.

If this were during Yelv Jing’s rule.

Yelv Jing would have definitely agreed to this matter.

But Yelv Xian is different.

This emperor, who was the invigorator of Liao in the original history, was completely unconcerned with all of this, even helped Wang Yingchen stabilize domestic contradictions.

Ultimately, this made Liu Jiyuan feel despair.

And under such emotions, he set his sights on those extremely greedy members of the Liao’s royal family and generals.

No emperor would perhaps do such a thing.

Even Liu Jiyuan himself would not dare to do so if not lost in reason.

Privately contacting the royalty and generals of other countries.

No matter how you look at it, for him, it is a move that would lead to national ruin.

Even if he repelled the Song Army.

Yelv Xian and Wang Yingchen would absolutely not tolerate him further.

But Liu Jiyuan did it anyway.

For him, as long as he could kill Liu Jiwen, he could even disregard his own life.

And this behavior is also very effective.

Let’s not forget, these generals of Liao, and many within the royal family, long endured.

Even if Wang Yingchen established very comprehensive laws.

There would still be someone under such circumstances, boldly choosing to take the risk!

Liu Jiyuan is a successful catalyst, stirring up various contradictions within the Liao.

Wang Yingchen is not the Gu Clan.

Even for the Gu Clan, Gu Jin needs to repeatedly engage in external battles, and internal consolidation to stabilize his position.

Let alone Wang Yingchen.

What he has done internally was indeed sufficient.

But he lacks military achievements!

Regardless if it was the former Liao or the present, military achievements remain a crucial factor!

And this is precisely the opportunity Gu Jin has been waiting for!

....

"Issue the order immediately."

"Do not engage the Liao Army, the troops immediately retreat to Taiyuan!"

In Taiyuan, having just received the news, Gu Jin immediately stood up, and at this moment, his eyes also changed.

"Understood!"

The armored soldiers instantly rushed out.

In no time, a group of generals quickly gathered, all having received news that the Liao Army was in motion.

As soon as they stepped into the hall, they immediately petitioned to fight.

"Grand Tutor! These Liao barbarians have finally come out, I am willing to be the vanguard and surely defeat the bandits!"

"I am willing to be the vanguard!"

"..."

The sounds of battle cries incessantly echoed.

These generals have also been holding their breath, now finally seeing the light, how could they not be excited?

"No!"

Gu Jin directly waved his hand, suppressing all the voices of the generals: "In this battle, no one is allowed to fight, violators will be executed on the spot!"

His expression was incredibly stern.

Upon hearing this, the generals all showed puzzled expressions.

Weren’t we waiting for the Liao Army to act?

Now that we’ve finally gotten the chance, why not act?

"Grand Tutor!"

Even the usually calm Yang Ye could not hold back.

Northern Han is his homeland, how could he stand by and watch his homeland be engulfed in flames for a long time?

He immediately stepped forward, loudly saying: "Such a golden opportunity, rare in a thousand years!"

"If our army can swallow the Liao Army in one fell swoop, we can break through the defenses and directly hit their heartland—Grand Tutor, if not now, then when?"

Hearing this, the generals nodded in agreement.

Their faces filled with unwillingness.

But Gu Jin’s expression remained incredibly calm, just like that meeting the gaze of everyone, saying indifferently: "Fishing—"

"To fish, aim for the big catch."

He not only aims to conquer the entire Northern Han.

He also wanted to eliminate Wang Yingchen!

This is definitely the best opportunity right now!

....

(Ps: Begging for monthly tickets, hoping for your support, the author is immensely grateful.)