Chapter 2804 - 2803: Longshou Peak’s Persuasion to Surrender

Chapter 2804: Chapter 2803: Longshou Peak’s Persuasion to Surrender

Song Yuchan and Yan Qing shouted happily from behind, "Wuu Yong is also our senior brother, a disciple under the Master of Liangshan Island!"

"My apologies, my apologies!"

Upon hearing this title, Lin Chong immediately bowed to Wuu Yong.

Wuu Yong returned the salute and politely said to Lin Chong, "Duke of Wu, there’s no need for this formality; we have familial ties. Back when I was in the Capital City, I was the instructor for Princess Yuhua for a few days. I left in haste later and wonder how Princess Yuhua is doing now?"

Lin Chong clenched his fists tightly, lamenting tearfully, "My poor niece, along with her mother and brother, was harmed by that muddle-headed emperor. Their lives are now unknown, and they may already have descended into the Netherworld."

While on the road, Lin Chong received news that the Crown Prince and Princess were pursued and fell off a cliff.

Wuu Yong pinched his fingers, closed his eyes to divine for the Princess, and calmly said to Lin Chong, "General Lin, do not worry. Both the Princess and the Crown Prince have great fortunes; perhaps they have already been rescued."

"What?"

Lin Chong exclaimed excitedly, "Is what the gentleman says really true?"

Wuu Yong smiled lightly, "My method of divination comes from my benevolent master. Although it is far from my master’s level, it can still somewhat reveal the secrets of heaven. The Princess and the Crown Prince have extraordinary blessings, beyond the compare of ordinary people."

"Let it be so!"

Lin Chong nodded happily, breathing a long sigh of relief.

After so many days, he finally heard some good news.

Song Jiang instructed the group, "Alright, let’s discuss things another day. Military affairs are like fire and water; they cannot be delayed. We will now go up the mountain to persuade Brother Wuu Zhi, and after he surrenders, we shall celebrate with drinks!"

The group accepted his orders with clasped fists, with Lin Chong continuing to station at the bottom of the mountain, while Song Gongming led Wuu Yong, Wu Song, as well as Yan Qing and Song Yuchan up the mountain.

Longshou Peak is steep and perilous.

There is only one path up the mountain.

All other places are sheer cliffs.

This place, in coordination with Yang Valley Pass City, can be said to be an advantageous sword from above.

Unfortunately, once Yang Valley Pass City is lost, this place becomes a dead zone.

Even so, on the way up, Song Gongming inspected the defensive arrangements here.

This mountain extends in various directions, with checkpoints set up everywhere.

Layers of defense and steps of obstruction.

All military forces maintain strict discipline, each fulfilling their duties without showing any signs of chaos.

In the distance, people can be seen drilling wells to search for water.

Song Gongming continuously praised, "Brother Wuu Zhi truly is a descendant of military strategists. Every important position on this mountain has been fortified with checkpoints and barriers. If we were to forcefully attack, I don’t know how many troops would be lost."

Wuu Yong nodded and said, "General Wuu Zhi once resisted an attack by a million Demon Soldiers, earning fame across the world. It’s a pity this time he was harmed by treacherous officials, holding this dead place. Otherwise, we might not have been able to take Yang Valley Pass City."

Song Jiang lamented, "Treachery brings ruin to the state. Even the most loyal and courageous cannot utilize their talents in such a court. How could such a country not fall? How could such a court not perish?"

"Brother speaks the truth!"

Wuu Yong concurred, "The parasites of a nation are equivalent to millions of enemy troops. Throughout history, all the great nations of the Southern Observation Continent have perished due to internal disaster!"

"Prosperity causes suffering to the people. Ruin causes suffering to the people!"

Song Gongming looked back at the base of the mountain, where the entire view of Yang Valley Pass City could be seen.

Within the city, because of last night’s chaotic troops, smoke still billowed everywhere. Who knows how many people suffered last night.

As they approached, they had already sent a letter up the mountain.

The checkpoints did not obstruct them, allowing them to easily enter the marshal’s camp on Longshou Peak.

Just as the group entered, someone yelled, "Bold rebels, how dare you come to my camp to cause chaos? Where are the axemen, seize them!"

Wuu Zhi emerged from behind the hall, and around the camp, axemen immediately rushed in, surrounding Song Gongming and his company.

Song Yuchan and Yan Qing, with Wu Song, hurriedly protected their father, shouting at Wuu Zhi, "What’s the situation? We came up the mountain with good intentions to persuade you, and you would kill us instead?"

Wu Song also hurriedly said to his brother, "Big brother, what does this mean? Brother Gongming risked his life to meet you, and this is how you treat him?"

Wuu Zhi, frustrated, clenched his face and said sternly, "I am not your big brother; I have no rebel brothers like you!"

"I really want to hit you!"

Wu Song muttered as he clenched his fists.

Song Gongming and Wuu Yong stood calmly in place, smiling and cupping fists at Wuu Zhi, "In the battle between two armies, emissaries are not beheaded. Even if General Wuu Zhi executes us, it will not save the tens of thousands of soldiers on Longshou Peak, nor defeat the two hundred thousand troops inside and outside Yang Valley Pass. Why doesn’t General Wuu Zhi dismiss the axemen, so we can sit and talk?"

Wuu Zhi sighed helplessly, raising his hand to let the axemen withdraw.

The atmosphere inside the military tent became much calmer.

Wuu Zhi gripped his military saber, speaking coldly to Song Gongming, "Brother Gongming, there’s no need to persuade me; I’ve decided to live and die with Longshou Peak. Even in death, I will not betray the Imperial Court like you."

Wu Song said to him, "Brother, why be so stubborn? Last night during the attack, it was I who killed Zhang Mengfang and others in the Mandarin Duck Tower. Even if you don’t surrender, the Imperial Court will implicate you and exterminate the Wu Family. Why not join us in raising the flag of righteousness, acting according to the will of heaven?"

Wuu Zhi reprimanded, "Silence! You are you, and I am me; the Wu Family is the Wu Family. What relation is there? The Wu Family has eaten the emperor’s provisions and received the grace of the son of heaven for generations; how can I turn against the Imperial Court and bring shame to our ancestors?"

"I can’t persuade him!"

Wu Song turned helplessly to look at Song Gongming.

Song Gongming praised Wuu Zhi, "Brother Wuu Zhi’s loyalty and courage are clear to heaven and earth. But have you considered that the son of heaven should educate and inspire virtue in all directions, with the people granting grace to protect the son of heaven. But now, when the son of heaven has lost his virtue and chaos spreads everywhere, with people scattered without homes, hungry and poorly clothed, corpses litter the land, lives are uncertain. In such a case, should the people not be allowed to find a living for themselves, nor rebel against the son of heaven?"

Wuu Zhi replied dumbfounded, "This is permissible, but I cannot. Even if the son of heaven loses his virtue, he has not mistreated the Wu Family."

Song Gongming continued, "Then will General Wuu act as the emperor’s pawn, standing in opposition to the people of the world? Will Wuu General let them die just to satisfy his own intentions? Wuu General’s loyalty and courage, is it small righteousness or great righteousness? You should understand that true righteousness seeks the welfare of the people. Loyalty to the sovereign and love for the country should also mean loyalty to the people. If one is loyal only to a tyrannical emperor, is he not aiding a tiger, helping a tyrant, and ignoring the lives of the people? How will General face his ancestors in the Netherworld?"

"This?"

"This?"

Wuu Zhi’s mind swirled, and he sat powerless in the chair.

Currently, the Imperial Court is muddle-headed and tyrannical, refugees scattered across the land.

He also knows and has seen this.

As Song Gongming said, if loyalty to the sovereign and love for the country neglects the people’s lives, that’s not loyalty; it’s flattery.

That’s not patriotism; it’s harm to the nation.

Song Gongming cupped his fists and knelt on the ground before Wuu Zhi, bowing solemnly and said, "We ask General Wuu Zhi, for the sake of the people, raise the flag of righteousness with us. Purge the court, strengthen the imperial governance, and restore brightness to the Great Songg."

"Please, General, consider carefully!"

Wuu Yong and the others followed, cupping their fists and kneeling on one knee.

Wuu Zhi, startled, hurriedly went up to help them, saying, "Brother, you put me to shame; this foolish brother agrees with you!"