RPAGF Chapter 233 Bargaining
Chapter 233 Bargaining
Chapter 233 Bargaining
Wang Wenzhou raised his wine glass and said, "Father-in-law, your drinking capacity is truly amazing. I admire you greatly. I'd like to offer you another toast."
After saying this, Wang Wenzhou drank it all in one gulp.
Gao Yingxiang picked up his wine glass, took a sip, and was very puzzled. What exactly did Wang Wenzhou mean? After sitting down, he didn't talk about serious matters and instead changed the subject.
Li Zicheng could no longer sit idly by. His army of over 200,000 was temporarily stationed in Hezhou, where there was no immediate danger, but they couldn't stay there indefinitely. The imperial court would surely send a large force to suppress them. Every extra day the army remained encamped increased the danger.
"Wang Wenzhou, what brings you here today?" Li Zicheng asked impatiently.
Wang Wenzhou said with a smile, "Brother-in-law, I wrote a letter to inform you before I came. I want to marry Xiaolanlan. I wonder what you and my father-in-law think?"
"Bang!" Li Zicheng slammed his fist on the table, angrily saying, "Wang Wenzhou, don't be so shameless! Don't think you've got my Lan'er all figured out! Even if I kill you, my Lan'er will still have no trouble getting married!"
Wang Wenzhou smiled and said, "Although I am the prefect of Hanshan, as you all know, the imperial salary is really too low. Unlike you, brother-in-law, I am not a big businessman. You can make hundreds of thousands of taels of silver by conquering a county. I can only scrape together one million taels of silver for the bride price, even if I sell everything I own. What do you think, father-in-law?"
"Bah!" Li Zicheng cursed, "Wang Wenzhou, don't try to play the poor card with me! Your actions in Hanshan over the past six months are well-known far and wide. I often read the *Hanshan Weekly* to pass the time. You want us not to attack Hanshan? Fine! We're all family! Five million taels of silver!"
"Hey, hey, hey..." Wang Wenzhou said disdainfully, "Brother-in-law, do you have any shame? Do you think Hanshan is so easy to beat? Didn't I drive back Liu Zongmin, one of your men? One and a half million taels of silver, take it or leave it, we'll see each other on the battlefield!"
Gao Yingxiang suppressed a laugh. He glanced at Wang Wenzhou, shook his head with a wry smile, and thought that if all the officials of the Ming Dynasty were like Wang Wenzhou, he would have already stormed into Beijing and sat on the throne.
"Hmph!" Li Zicheng said disdainfully, "My three armies number 40 men. How many soldiers does your small city of Hanshan have?"
Wang Wenzhou proudly said, "To be honest, brother-in-law, Hanshan City currently has a population of one million. Before we came here, the people were united in their resolve, vowing to live and die with Hanshan. If the enemy army attacks, all the people of Hanshan will be soldiers. Brother-in-law, don't be greedy, lest you end up breaking your teeth before you even get to eat the meat!"
Li Zicheng sneered, "Brother-in-law, you're supposed to be a righteous official who cares for the people. You're encouraging the people of Hanshan to become cannon fodder? Do you live up to your reputation as a righteous official? Four million taels of silver, not a penny less! See you on the battlefield!"
Wang Wenzhou laughed and said, "Brother-in-law, that's not how you do business! Do you think your sister is made of gold? When I got married last time, her family gave me a dowry of over a million taels of silver. You have to let me get something out of it too, right?"
"Bang!" Li Zicheng slammed his fist on the table in anger, shouting, "Wang Wenzhou, you poor wretch, you can't even afford the bride price, yet you want to get married? Who would marry you if you have no money? Would they beg with you? 400 million taels, not a single penny less!"
Wang Wenzhou thought for a moment and said, "Two million taels of silver, but you have to do me a favor. I have to get something out of it. You know the Hanshan Garrison, right? The four garrisons in Hanshan have a total of more than 20,000 men. The commander, Xu Yingjie, is a fool. He's been eyeing my wife. I have to kill him."
Li Zicheng and Gao Yingxiang exchanged glances. If all the officials of the Ming Dynasty were like Wang Wenzhou, how wonderful that would be! They would be perfect teammates for us rebels.
Wang Wenzhou said viciously, "I've already found the hiding place of Xu Yingjie's troops. That bastard has no good intentions; he'll come out and reap the rewards after you attack Hanshan. No way! Here's the deal: we'll attack from both sides and wipe out Xu Yingjie. I'll announce to the public that these people are you in disguise, and then I'll gain some merit. The 200 million taels of silver will be your military expenses for this expedition. And since Xiao Lanlan will marry me, we'll all be family, so there's no need to prepare a dowry for her!"
Li Zicheng laughed and cursed, "Wang Wenzhou, you are truly shameless!"
Wang Wenzhou frowned and said in an unfriendly tone, "Brother-in-law, you're going too far. We're all family. It's not good to be sarcastic all the time!"
Li Zicheng glanced at Gao Yingxiang, who nodded.
Li Zicheng declared, "One price, 300 million taels!"
Wang Wenzhou said with a smile, "Brother-in-law, we're family, don't be so petty! Let's each compromise and settle for 250 million taels!"
Li Zicheng nodded helplessly: "Fine, you idiot!"
……
Jilong Mountain is located about 40 li northwest of Hezhou City. It is named Jilong Mountain because it is shaped like a chicken coop.
Xu Yingjie's troops were stationed here at this time.
Xu Yingjie raised his wine glass and said happily, "Hezhou City has been captured, and in a few days, the enemy troops will attack Hanshan. Brother Yang's plan is truly brilliant! If we had stayed in Hanshan, we would have been in a dilemma in this situation."
"Haha!" Yang Shan laughed and said, "Why should we help Wang Shazi take the blows? If Wang Shazi abandons the city and flees, the young master can impeach him, and Wang Shazi will definitely lose his official position and title. If Wang Shazi doesn't flee, he will definitely be torn to pieces by the bandit army."
"Haha!" Everyone burst into laughter. Wang Shazi, you've finally met your match!
Ma Deyun suddenly said, "I have always believed that it is difficult to live in chaotic times. But now I realize that it is in chaotic times that heroes have a place to use their talents!"
"Hahaha!" Everyone burst into laughter again. In chaotic times, human life is cheap as grass—this only applies to ordinary people. For some, profiting from national disasters is a lucrative way to get rich.
Xu Yingjie asked, "Have you found the burial pit where the rebels dumped the bodies? If the rebels burned the bodies, how can we report the number of people beheaded to the imperial court if we can't get the bodies?"
"Haha!" Sun Feng laughed and said, "Young Master, rest assured, I have found a mass grave. The bodies haven't been burned. When we dig them out and dress them in bandit clothes, that will be our achievement!"
Ma Deyun raised his wine glass and said happily, "Your subordinate congratulates Young Master on your great victory!"
Sun Feng and Yang Shan quickly offered their congratulations: "Congratulations on your promotion of three ranks, Young Master!"
Xu Yingjie took a sip of wine and said with a smile, "The three of you have also made great contributions to this great victory! Rest assured, my three brothers, I will definitely report this to His Majesty!"
"Hahaha... Thank you, Young Master!" The three talented men laughed and thanked Xu Yingjie.
Lin Qing, a former friend of the three great talents, was now traveling alone towards Liaodong.
That day, Lin Qing slaughtered Gao Guilan's entire guard in an attempt to kill Wang Wenzhou. However, he failed to kill Wang Wenzhou, Gao Guilan survived, and her father, Lin Mu, was killed by Wang Wenzhou. Lin Qing could no longer stay with Gao Yingxiang's rebel army. He realized there were still Tartars in Liaodong, and his only option was to defect to them.