"Well, I won't beat around the bush. During my visit this time, I noticed that all the troops of the Su Family have stopped their training and set up camp here, remaining motionless. May I ask, Marshal, what's the reason?"
Sure enough, Su Wan'er suddenly felt a twinge of unease. The strategy she and Si Junlin had decided on that day was to remain on the defensive against the National Advisor. But now that the man had come to their doorstep, what could she say? On the surface, it seemed like a battle between two armies, but in reality, only the Southern Border troops were launching occasional sneak attacks on the border, while the Su Family's army had remained on the defensive.
"National Advisor, please rest assured. The reason we've halted the war for a few days is to recuperate and gather strength. Our army is well - supplied with rations. In a couple of days, we plan to launch an all - out attack on the Southern Border, hitting the enemy's core. You'll surely see the results then." The matter of the peace - making marriage was only known in two border cities adjacent to the Southern Border. Si Junlin had even issued an order to block the news, so it wouldn't spread to the capital. In the eyes of the National Advisor and the people in the capital, the Southern Border and the Jin Kingdom were in a fierce battle. It was obvious that the National Advisor had conducted an investigation in the Jin Kingdom before he noticed the cease - fire. Now, she could only appease him and play it by ear.
"Recuperating and well - supplied with rations? Is this what a marshal should say? Now you're just idly consuming rations to bide your time. I wonder what's on your mind, Marshal." The National Advisor sneered, but he didn't seem overly dissatisfied. "However, I'm not here to make excessive demands. As long as the Southern Border is eventually incorporated into the Jin Kingdom, it'll meet both our wishes. I only have one request for the marshal this time. Please grant it."
Su Wan'er guessed that he probably wanted to see a brutal and devastating battle between the Jin Kingdom and the Southern Border before he'd be satisfied. "National Advisor, please speak. If I can help, I'll do my best. After all, His Majesty and I will still rely on the National Advisor in the future."
"Good. I'll be straightforward then. I hope that when the marshal captures the capital of the Southern Border, you'll execute all the elders of the four major families, their servants, and even their nine - generation kin. Not a single one should be left alive. This will fulfill my long - held wish and eliminate a future threat to the Jin Kingdom." The Grand Elder spoke as casually as if discussing the weather, as if the lives of hundreds of people meant nothing to him.
"I'm afraid I can't comply with this request, Grand Elder. You know that our Jin Kingdom always rewards the good and punishes the bad. How can we execute hundreds of people without even investigating their guilt?" Su Wan'er was initially surprised that the National Advisor didn't seem overly concerned about the war in the Southern Border, but why did he insist on eradicating the four major families? Not to mention that the outcome of the war was still uncertain. Even if they won and the four major families were captured, they couldn't be completely wiped out. She had fought many battles with her father since childhood, and the principle of the Su Family's army had always been to treat prisoners well. As long as the prisoners didn't commit extreme crimes, they were just soldiers fighting for their own countries and against the Jin Kingdom. Since they had become prisoners of the Jin Kingdom, if they could be useful to the Jin Kingdom, there was no need to be so ruthless.
"I've considered this. The Southern Border is different from other small countries. If the Jin Kingdom wants to completely rule it, we must wipe out all the people from these families. Otherwise, there will be endless troubles." The National Advisor seemed to have already thought of a reason to justify his request.
"Endless troubles? It's probably endless troubles for the National Advisor, isn't it?" Su Wan'er glared at him sharply.
"I heard a few days ago that the National Advisor secretly assembled troops in the capital. May I ask why?" It wasn't a good strategy to be on the defensive during a negotiation when one should be on the offensive.
"Marshal, you were in the Southern Border a few days ago. How did you hear this? And from whom?"
The National Advisor was indeed cunning. He immediately shifted the blame to General Su. Naturally, Su Wan'er had to explain. "It was the secret agents left by His Majesty in the capital who sent the news. Otherwise, does the National Advisor think he could secretly assemble all the city - guarding troops without anyone knowing?"
"This... It's just a rumor. How could I do such a thing?" The National Advisor evaded the question.
"I'm afraid it's not that you wouldn't do it, but that you've already done it. You just found that this plan wouldn't work." Su Wan'er naturally knew the situation of the troops in the capital. If you asked them to defend the country and fight on the battlefield, they would be obedient and well - behaved. But if you asked them to rebel, it would be a different story.
"Do you think I have no other means?" The National Advisor finally got angry. He no longer looked like a detached and peaceful elder.
"Of course not. The National Advisor, a highly respected veteran of two dynasties, surely has plenty of ways to deal with us newcomers. But today, I'd like to ask why you're so determined to destroy the Southern Border?"
"Marshal, you've misunderstood. When did I ever say such a thing? I'm just thinking about the future of our Jin Kingdom." The National Advisor seemed reluctant to admit his true intentions. Then he smiled amiably again.
"National Advisor, isn't it better to show mercy when you can?" Su Wan'er thought that since he had come all the way here and lowered his stance, he probably didn't want to abandon the Jin Kingdom or use tough measures to threaten them anymore.
"Show mercy? Why didn't they think about showing mercy to me? Why did they do such evil things? Why did they drive me out of the Southern Border and force me to practice such unorthodox skills?"
"You're an elder and a former prime minister. You surely have the heart to care for the people. The Southern Border is just a small country with a population of only a few hundred thousand. Moreover, the four major families have been in power for a long time, so most of the people are related to them. If you get your way, tens of thousands of people will be affected. Why do you have to do this?" Su Wan'er tried her best to persuade him.
"Let tens of thousands die. Even tens of thousands of people are like ants in a large country like the Jin Kingdom." The National Advisor didn't seem to care how many people would die. "Once the Southern Border belongs to the Jin Kingdom, we don't have to worry about these tens of thousands of people."
"But so many years have passed. These people are no longer the ones who harmed you back then. Why do you have to involve the innocent?" Nearly thirty years had passed, and everything had changed. Maybe the rulers of the four major families had indeed ostracized him and tried to kill him back then, but those people were already in the grave.
"Innocent? There's no such thing as an innocent person. With such a sinful surname and such sinful ancestors, shouldn't their descendants die?" There was a fierce and resentful look in the National Advisor's eyes.
"May I ask, National Advisor, do you still remember your own surname? If I'm not mistaken, the secret agents reported that your surname is Long." After killing Yu Wenshan that day, the secret agent had been following them until they saw Gu Jingtian and his entourage coming to pick them up. Along the way, the secret agent had told her almost everything about this National Advisor. It seemed that Si Junlin had also anticipated that the National Advisor would make further moves.