516 Middleman (2/2)
Zhong Heng used to be an inferior officer in the Central Plain. Later he offended the Wei family, so he was forced to serve the Dragon King. Unlike Gu Shenwei, he did not take revenge. All he wanted was to make peace with the Wei family.
Before the war, Zhong Heng was in touch with the Central Plain on and off. Xu Xiaoyi had noticed that. Even though he had never posed a threat to the Dragon King, Xu Xiaoyi still actively reported his activities to the Dragon King.
This time, Zhong Heng met the Dragon King as a lobbyist. He did not mention his meeting with the messenger of the Central Plain the night before.
Gu Shenwei was a little upset about Zhong Heng's concealment, but still, Zhong Heng had not crossed any lines.
”Golden Roc Fort lost 80,000 troops, so they are unlikely to take actions for another year or two. That's good news for us. But there's also some bad news. Facing such a great loss, the Supreme King now has no choice but to work with Norland. Otherwise, the Dragon Army could face a stronger enemy soon. We have to drag the Central Plain into it. We cannot let them benefit for nothing,” said Zhong Heng
Zhong Heng cleverly made it necessary for the Dragon Army to actively contact the Central Plain.
”Wei Song will never forget that I killed his son,” Gu Shenwei said, understanding the power of such hatred. It was the reason the Central Plain deserted the Dragon King a long time ago.
”I heard that there will be a new Commanding Officer in the Western Region,” said Zhong Heng.
”That's good news. Keep an eye on it, but don't take any actions,” replied Gu Shenwei.
Zhong Heng said no more.
Gu Shenwei was not eager to form an alliance with the Central Plain, for he had received another intelligence report.
Last year, Fang Wenshi had volunteered to head to Norland to be a lobbyist. While there, he sent a letter to Gu Shenwei confidently reporting that Norland did not fully support Golden Roc Fort. He said many powerful figures in Norland opposed forming an alliance with a killer organization. Besides, he was on good terms with several of them. As long as the Dragon Army won the war or kept the standoff situation with Golden Roc Fort, Norland would slowly change their stance.
When Fang Wenshi had written this letter, the war had not broken out yet. Gu Shenwei, of course, did not believe that Norland would abandon Golden Roc Fort based on this one letter. But the day before Zhong Heng's visit, he met with an important middleman of Norland.
Dugu Xian had spent most of his military time in Norland. His former motherland, Xiaowan, was a vassal kingdom of Norland.
Compared with the Central Plain, Norland had sent a more outspoken middleman. Dugu Xian said straightforwardly, ”A leader of 1,000 soldiers from Norland is in my residence. We are best friends, and we have helped each other on the battlefield. But now, we serve different masters. As for how to deal with him, I am awaiting your command. I will follow it without hesitation.”
”So far, Norland is not our enemy,” replied Gu Shenwei.
Dugu Xian had said those things to test Gu Shenwei's response. When he heard his answer, he was relieved.
”He asked me to send a message to you. I will repeat his words without my own opinion. Ever since you commanded me to serve as Left General, I strictly follow your orders.”
Later, Gu Shenwei felt strange about these meetings. Outspoken Dugu Xian had flattered him that day. But Zhong Heng, who knew the Dragon King very well, had stupidly tried to conceal his relationship with the Central Plain.
Everyone makes mistakes.
Gu Shenwei motioned for Dugu Xian to continue.
”Norland only forms alliances with the strong. Dragon King, you have proved that you are strong. Therefore, you have one month to decide to fight or cooperate. Your decision needs to reach Norland within a month. Basically, you have ten days to make a decision, at most, to get your answer there by the deadline,” Dugu Xian said.
This sounded like a threatening ultimatum.
Dugu Xian had to explain, ”People from Norland talk in this manner. Don't worry about it too much.”
Gu Shenwei had not given answers to either side. He was awaiting better terms and offers.
”Although the thousands of soldiers in the Dragon Army are enough to annihilate Golden Roc Fort, we are far from competing against a real strong power. But still, I have many choices. I could side with one party, work with both of them, or ignore them completely, and let Norland go to war with the Central Plain first,” Gu Shenwei pondered to himself.
”I should base my final decision based upon the benefits instead of personal opinion,” he continued thinking.
It was the first time that Gu Shenwei realized that a king was lonely. ”Ministers have many choices to survive, but a king only has one way or death,” he thought to himself.
Three days passed since Zhong Heng had become the lobbyist for the Central Plain. The King of the Kang Nation, Shang Liao, was recruiting troops on the northern shore of Xiaoyao Lake. Finally, he came to attend the memorial ceremony for the fallen soldiers.
Gu Shenwei decided to solve this imminent threat first. If he could handle Shang Liao properly, he could be a great help to the Dragon Army.
At the same time, a special guest from the distant west arrived. Like the Central Plain and Norland, he hoped to form an alliance with the Dragon King. His arrival sparked Gu Shenwei to come up with a good plan to handle Shang Liao.