Unrepentant

Chapter 5:Assistant Minister Gu's Strategy, Too Sinister!

　　Gu Hong Jian had already been well prepared to see Lin Si Ze and He Fang Ning lie down together in the evening, but to her surprise, He Fang Ning grinded the inksticks later that day before Lin Si Ze sent someone to see her off. He had then slept in his study for the evening.

　　The next day, news from the Hu prefecture arrived at the imperial morning court. The courier was brought to the main hall of the palace.

　　How unexpectedly quick was this? It was only September 16th...

　　This was quicker than Gu Hong Jian had predicted by five full days, making Gu Hong Jian extremely surprised. At that time, she couldn't help her heart being filled with evil intentions as she looked forward to Lin Si Ze's reaction upon hearing the news of her death.

　　Gu Hong Jian didn't expect the courier to announce the news, however, of a.s.sistant Minister Gu and Deputy General w.a.n.g having already conquered the Ji va.s.sal state and having sent the backup rations to the Hu Prefecture. Ji Feng appeared to have already been surrounded over there. Moreover, there were no rations. a.s.sistant Minister Gu and Deputy General w.a.n.g had already set up layer upon layer of heavy barricades and traps, only waiting continuously for the Ji Feng soldiers to be lured out to meet the enemy head-on——both sides had yet to face each other, the opposing side to break first would lose more than half their troops in all likelihood.

　　Moreover, Hu Prefecture neighbored the plague-filled Ke Prefecture. During the siege, a.s.sistant Minister Gu secretly caught plagued rats from Ke Prefecture and sneaked them into the city walls of Hu Prefecture.

　　According to a spy in the enemy ranks, many Hu Prefecture soldiers had already been infected with the plague.

　　Gu Hong Jian stared blankly for quite a while. She recalled that this was approximately a week before she died, so someone should have returned with the news.

　　Oh, right. She unexpectedly forgot; there was still this matter...

　　So, everyone still didn't know about her death. To the contrary, everyone believed she had already captured Hu Prefecture...

　　Truly ironic.

　　The courier spoke of this, but the numerous court officials' complexions were very good. After all, the Ji va.s.sal state soldiers were in a drought and had little provisions in addition to the plague infection. These prevailing advantageous odds were really tremendous.

　　There were also many people with poor complexions.

　　For example, Zhao Yun Yuan.

　　Everyone praised a.s.sistant Minister Gu for being so resourceful—the majority of them also said Gu Hong Jian was strategic and cunning. As a matter of fact, these two words really had only a fine line of distinction.

　　Zhao Yun Yuan completely untactfully stood up and said, "Your Imperial Majesty, wēi chén thinks Gu dà ren's strategies are absolutely improper!"

　　Lin Si Ze's expression hadn't changed since the courier gave his announcement. Everyone was motionless while they were listening to Zhao Yun Yuan. Lin Si Ze raised his eyebrow and said, "Eh? Scholar Zhao might as well speak straightforwardly."

　　Zhao Yun Yuan frowned and elaborated. "Gu dà ren's method... is too sinister! To go as far as to catch plagued rats and toss them into Hu Prefecture... Hu prefecture has more than just Ji va.s.sal state soldiers, it's clearly occupied also by Hu Prefecture commoners! And although Hu Prefecture is at the lower reaches of the Tanchon River, further beyond them are Ming Prefecture and He Prefecture. If Hu Prefecture breaks out with plague, it will inevitably spread through the Tanchon River to Ming Prefecture and He Prefecture... Although the Ming Prefecture and He Prefecture are currently the same as Hu Prefecture and not regarded as my Tianmin country's territory, they are bound to surrender and pay allegiance to Tianmin in the future... How can a.s.sistant Minister Gu..."