Chapter 790
Zhao Sheng sat at the desk, listening to Mr. Cai, the strategist by the side of the Princess of Zhen, recounting his past. It was only then that Zhao Sheng learned that Mr. Cai was originally a counselor in the Left Prime Minister Li Mao’s residence of the Jin Kingdom. Later, because the Left Prime Minister offended the Princess of Zhen, he pushed Mr. Cai out to be dealt with by her. However, not only did the Princess of Zhen not punish him, she instead took him under her wing and always held him in high regard.
Cai Ziyuan knew that Bai Qingyan had the broad-mindedness to accommodate the world, so it was easy for him to guess that she intended to win over Zhao Sheng, including the Zhao family army under his command.
Cai Ziyuan held a cup of hot tea, smiling as he said to Zhao Sheng, “Perhaps General Zhao still thinks I am a persuader sent by the Princess of Zhen. But the Princess of Zhen has always been a straightforward person. She likes to speak her mind directly. The opportunity is right in front of General Zhao. If General Zhao doesn’t want it, the Princess of Zhen certainly won’t force it! After all, for the Princess of Zhen, with her intellect and her methods of training soldiers, she doesn’t need to rely on others!”
As he spoke, Cai Ziyuan slowly blew into his teacup, took a sip, and then continued, “Recruiting General Zhao is merely because the Princess of Zhen cherishes talents by nature. If she could get General Zhao’s help, she would certainly speed up the unification of the world. But if General Zhao is unwilling, it would only be a slight delay. The Princess of Zhen could still achieve it. After all, many are willing to sacrifice to see the day the world is united, to write their names into history.”
For Zhao Sheng, what he wanted was to see the day when the world was united and to participate in such a great cause, to have his name recorded in history.
Zhao Sheng remained silent all along. In fact, he no longer needed further persuasion from Cai Ziyuan.
Today, Zhao Sheng had met various commanders of the Zhao family army and commanders of the Liang Army and had already clarified his intentions.
At first, some people cursed Zhao Sheng as a traitor. But when Zhao Sheng spoke about the situation in the Liang court, the urgency of the plague in Liang Kingdom, how the Emperor was immersed in personal vendettas, ignoring the lives of the Liang soldiers and the people, those commanders fell silent.
Later, Zhao Sheng told the commanders of Liang what Bai Qingyan had said to him that day, planting the seed of worldwide unification in their hearts. He clearly explained the current strategies and progress of Yan and the determination of Jin Kingdom to destroy Liang as a foundation for future unification.
The commanders of Liang all understood that the Imperial Family of Liang did not have the ambition to unite the world or end the chaos.
Many Liang soldiers doubted if the Emperor of Jin, who sought immortality, had such ambition.
Zhao Sheng then clearly shared his own suspicions with his comrades, believing that the Princess of Zhen had the ambition and courage to unify the world. He had noticed her intentions and suspected that the full-scale attack on Liang by Jin was a result of her strategies.
The Princess of Zhen had stated clearly that if Jin wanted to unify the world, it must first capture Liang to eliminate the concerns from the north.
When Zhao Sheng told his comrades that he believed the Princess of Zhen would overthrow the Imperial Family of Jin and that she was preparing for the great cause, the commanders of the Zhao family army were the first to kneel, expressing their willingness to follow Zhao Sheng and serve the Princess of Zhen.
As generals, who wouldn’t want to be one of the heroes who pacified the world?
To put it selfishly, with Liang in its current state, even if it remained, these generals would have little chance of making a name for themselves.
In chaotic times, heroes emerge. If a new nation were established, following Zhao Sheng and the Princess of Zhen, they would be meritorious officials of the new country, remembered in history.
But if they stubbornly defended Liang, their names might not even appear in the history books.
Later, some Liang commanders expressed their willingness to follow Zhao Sheng. But there were loyalists in Liang who would rather die than submit, cursing Zhao Sheng and the mutinous generals.
However, after learning that Yan’s efforts to unify were progressing smoothly, Zhao Sheng became even more determined to follow the Princess of Zhen to pacify the world. He respectfully bowed to those who insulted him and, upon leaving the dungeon, first sought an audience with the Princess of Zhen.
All this, Zhao Sheng did not share with Mr. Cai. Zhao Sheng was never good at confiding.
When Bai Qingyan entered Zhao Sheng’s tent with Bai Jinzhi, Cai Ziyuan quickly put down his teacup and stood up to salute.
Bai Qingyan nodded at Mr. Cai and looked at Zhao Sheng. “I heard General Zhao wishes to see me.”
Zhao Sheng stood, adjusted his clothes, stepped out from behind the desk, and knelt on one knee before Bai Qingyan, saying loudly, “Zhao Sheng, willing to lead the Zhao family army, follows the Princess of Zhen to pacify the world.”
This result was expected by Bai Qingyan. From the moment she saw that map in Zhao Sheng’s luggage, she knew Zhao Sheng also had great ambitions and aspirations. It was just that the Emperor of Liang could not be called a heroic master, so Zhao Sheng had buried this ambition deep in his heart.
Zhao Sheng, by nature, was unwilling to admit defeat. When he learned that Yan had already begun unifying by destroying Wei, he naturally became anxious, wanting to seize this unparalleled opportunity.
Bai Qingyan stepped forward, helping Zhao Sheng up. “General Zhao went to the dungeon today to persuade the commanders of Liang to follow you?”
“If we are to follow the Princess of Zhen, I must show my sincerity,” Zhao Sheng said respectfully, looking at Bai Qingyan’s deep eyes.
Bai Qingyan nodded. “I suppose General Zhao was also cursed in the dungeon?”
“Just as Jin had the King of Zhen, Liang has its loyal and unyielding ministers. After all, the motherland of Liang is where we were born and raised. Our ancestors defended this place for generations. Now we must attack our motherland under the Princess of Zhen. Not everyone can overcome this in their hearts,” Zhao Sheng said.
“The world is one family. This is not about destroying Liang but about reunifying the country, making the people one family again, and ending wars.”
Bai Qingyan looked at Zhao Sheng. This was what she wanted Liang’s soldiers to hear, but she couldn’t say it herself.
“General Zhao, I, Bai Qingyan, swear to the heavens that no city we capture will harm any civilian. The Imperial Family of Liang won’t provide medicine for the plague. I will! The people whom the Imperial Family cannot protect, I will protect! If I break this oath, General Zhao may take my head.”