Chapter 46 Persuading Yu Yunwen

  Thank you for oksen friend's reward!

  Yue Yun looked up and saw that it was not Yu Yunwen, but who else? He was overjoyed in his heart and hastily invited him to sit down: "Mr. Yu, please take a seat!" And he brought over a chair for him.

  Yu Yunwen, however, seemed somewhat embarrassed and said with a hint of modesty: "Young Master Yue, I am grateful for your great kindness in allowing me to meet with the divine doctor Xu and diagnose my father's illness. Although we have not yet been able to completely cure his disease, it has nonetheless greatly improved. As Chuzhou is a war-torn region and over a thousand miles away from Shu, my father has been away from home for many days and misses our hometown dearly. Therefore, I have no choice but to bid you farewell and escort my father back to Sichuan."

  "Mr. Yu, you're leaving too?" Yue Yun's face revealed a disappointment that was hard to conceal. He had made so many efforts, just to keep Yu Yunwen by his side to help him plan and strategize. But in the end, Yu Yunwen still wanted to leave him and go back home.

  Yu Yunwen also felt a bit uneasy, and he bowed again to say: "I understand the intention of Master Yue's recruitment. I am willing to work under you. However, my father is still ill, and I have concerns... I fear that I may not be able to devote myself fully to providing strategies for you... Moreover, the war between Song and Jin has subsided, and I reckon there won't be another war in a few years. Therefore, my role would indeed be limited..."

  At this point, Yue Yun could no longer bear it and shouted loudly: "Mr. Yu, do you know? If Song and Jin make peace, our Yue family army will be finished! My father will become the sacrifice of the peace talks between Song and Jin!"

  Yue Yun also finally decided to go all out.

  "What? Young Master Yue, are you saying that if the Song and Jin negotiate a peace treaty, your esteemed father will meet with disaster?" Yu Yunwen's face changed color at this.

  Yue Yun then told Wei Liangchen and Hu Fen about the joyful matter he had encountered at Zui Xian Lou, and inferred that Wei Liangchen might have reached a certain tacit understanding with Wuzhu. He returned to report the results of the negotiations to the imperial court, and the content of their talks was likely to be sacrificed as a condition for the Yue family army.

  Of course, Yue Yun turned those things that originally happened in time and space into his own inferences and predictions, and made some minor changes according to the current situation.

  Yu Yunwen also furrowed his brow upon hearing this, although he was knowledgeable and resourceful, he had not expected the imperial court to demolish the Great Wall in order to seek peace.

  But Yu Yunwen was indeed Yu Yunwen, and after a moment's thought, he immediately said: "Young Master Yue doesn't have to worry too much. In my estimation, when Wuzhu and Wei Liangchen negotiated, they must not have known that Wan Yangong had been killed, so the conditions they agreed upon were only based on the situation before the battle of Chu State. Now that the battle of Chu State has ended and Wan Yangong has surrendered, once this news reaches the Jin Dynasty, it will surely cause a huge stir in the imperial court, and with the Jin people's style of doing things, they will definitely not swallow this insult. They may not launch another attack to avenge their defeat, but they will certainly demand that our Great Song dynasty cede a large amount of land and pay indemnities. In this case, it is uncertain whether the peace talks can be smoothly passed in the imperial court."

  It is said that those in power are confused, while onlookers see clearly. Yu Yunwen's analysis was like a fog lifting from in front of Yue Yun's eyes. Although the heavy stone in his heart had not yet fallen, he no longer felt as anxious as an ant on a hot skillet.

  He immediately asked: "Then, according to Mr. Yú's intention, how should we respond now?"

  Yu Yunwen furrowed his brow and pondered for a moment, then shook his head with a bitter smile: "Young Master Yue, I'm just a humble scholar in common attire, far from having the extraordinary abilities of Zhuge Wuhou, who could predict the future with a mere calculation. If there were any movements from the imperial court or Qin Gong's side, perhaps I could come up with some countermeasures. But now, everything is calm and peaceful, without even a hint of what Xun Shi and Wei Liangchen discussed. I'm truly at a loss for how to respond!"

  Yue Yun hastily stepped forward, tightly grasping Yu Yunwen's hand and said sincerely: "Yuwen, at present my Yue family army is facing a severe crisis. My father and I are confronted with numerous difficulties and urgently need your strategic planning. Only then can we hope to overcome this difficulty. I still hope that you will not stand by idly!"

  He knew this was the best opportunity to move Yu Yunwen. In these few days of contact, he also understood Yu Yunwen's character and knew that he was a man who valued relationships and righteousness. Although he indeed attached great importance to his old father, he would not sit idly by and watch his friend be in danger.

  Yu Yunwen's facial muscles twitched slightly at this time, and then he half-opened his mouth without answering. His eyeballs were rolling rapidly, obviously thinking deeply.

  Yue Yun also secretly thought that Yu Yunwen valued filial piety the most, and she had already tried her best to help him by finding Xu Shuwei to treat his father's illness. However, unfortunately, his father needed a large amount of ginseng to fully recover, which made it impossible for Xu Shuwei to do anything.

  Ginseng is mostly grown in the Changbai Mountains of Liaodong, what ginseng does the Song Dynasty have? Even if merchants smuggle some from the Jin State, they are sold at sky-high prices. Fundamentally, there aren't many people who can afford it, let alone Yu Yunwen's father who needs a large quantity of ginseng.

  That's right, I forgot. Ginseng grows in Liaodong, which is the territory of the Jin State. This can be a good starting point for me to persuade Yu Yunwen, who is known for his "filial piety".

  Yue Yun's expression turned serious as he said, "Mr. Yu, I know you're concerned about your father's wind-cold illness. According to Dr. Xu, this disease requires a large amount of ginseng to be cured completely. Is that true?"

  Yu Yunwen sighed and nodded: "This is indeed the thing that allows Wen to entangle, if his father's body is safe and sound, what harm will Wen have in selling this seven-foot body to the young master of the Yue family?"

  Yue Yun heard this, smiled slightly and said seriously: "Yun Wen, if you can stay by my side as my military advisor, I will definitely find a way to get a large amount of ginseng for your father to cure his injury!"

  Yu Yunwen was taken aback after hearing this, and he shook his head saying: "Young Master Yue, I know you have good intentions, but ginseng is only produced in the deep mountains of Liaodong, which is part of the territory of the Jin State. What method do we Song people have to massively excavate it?

  Yue Yun smiled faintly and continued, "For the time being, it is impossible, but my Yue family army has taken it upon itself to recover the Central Plains and revive the country. Alas, now that treacherous officials are in power, our northern expeditions have been repeatedly forced to withdraw despite great victories. If Mr. Yu can help us overthrow the treacherous official Qin Hui and let loyal officials who advocate for the northern expedition take control of the imperial court, then our Great Song will surely launch another northern expedition, striving to defeat the Jin State in one battle and directly attack their Huanglong Mansion. At that time, finding some ginseng would be a trivial matter."

  He paused for a moment, then continued: "Moreover, I can guarantee that as long as our army's finances are a bit more relaxed, we will definitely find a way to buy ginseng from the Jin country for your father. After all, our army is stationed in Jingzhou and Xiangyang, which is a land of fish and rice. In recent years, due to war and Yang's rebellion, the people have been impoverished. A few years later, the financial situation will definitely improve."

  Yue Yun's words were truly shocking, making Yu Yunwen look at him with new eyes. He was moved, but also secretly shocked, for he had never thought that Yue Yun would have such a big ambition, wanting to overthrow Qin Hui and change the layout of the Song Dynasty court.

  Yu Yunwen thought that if these words were to spread, Qin Hui's power would make it easy to deal with Yue Yun. Yet Yue Yun had said all this to him, showing that he was truly being frank and sincere with him.

  "I know what you're thinking, sir. You must be thinking, 'How can I, Yue Yun, be so arrogant?' Do I have the qualifications to compete with Prime Minister Qin Hui?" Yue Yun continued, "Qin Hui has been seeking to make peace with the Jurchen-led Jin dynasty since he took over as prime minister from Zhao Ding several years ago. Unfortunately, the Jin people are untrustworthy, and last year's treaty was completely abolished due to their internal conflicts and changes in leadership. This year, they attacked our Great Song again. If it weren't for my father and generals Han Shizhong, Liu Ke, Yang Yanzheng, and others who defeated the Jin army, I'm afraid our people would have become slaves of the Jin by now. But Qin Hui, that treacherous prime minister, has been deceiving the emperor, ordering our troops to retreat when they were about to launch a counterattack after their victory. When my father wanted to retake the old capital of Bianjing, Qin Hui even sent twelve golden plaques and dispatched eunuch Cao Gonggong to deliver an imperial edict, forcing our army to withdraw. As a result, our Great Song suffered a defeat without being defeated, while the Jin dynasty won without winning. Sir, you are well-read in poetry and books, with exceptional abilities that are rare in this world. Can you really tolerate Qin Hui's treacherous actions, which put our Great Song in danger of destruction?"

  Yu Yunwen's face finally changed at this time, he really didn't expect that Yue Yun would say such a thing.

  It is worth noting that Yu Yunwen, although not serving as an official, was also very concerned about the war on the front lines and had some understanding of the situation in the court. He naturally knew that Yue Yun's words were not empty. And he was indeed very dissatisfied with Qin Hui's policy of surrender. However, the cake painted by Yue Yun was a bit too big - waiting for the pro-war faction in the court to regain power and fight back to the Huanglong Mansion of the Jin State... it would be a matter of who knows what year or month.

  Yue Yun also guessed what Yu Yunwen was thinking, and he waved his hand, saying lightly: "I know what Mr. is thinking, and my previous words were indeed somewhat boastful. Yue Yun can swear here: although it cannot be done immediately, I will do my best to achieve it! Moreover, Mr. must have also seen that Yue Yun is not a stubborn conservative who does not know how to adapt. If Yue Yun ever has the opportunity to make some small fortune or finds a way to purchase ginseng from Jin Guo, he will definitely give priority to purchasing for your respected father!"

  Yu Yunwen was also moved by this. Although Yue Yun's official position was not high, his father Yue Fei was the Grand Preceptor of the Crown Prince, the Commander-in-Chief of the Army, and the Pacification Commissioner of Hubei and Jingxi Circuit. He had now occupied most of Henan Province, held military power, and was in a high and powerful position. At present, although he was being watched by the imperial court and Qin Hui, as long as the threat from the Jurchen-led Jin dynasty still existed, it was unlikely that the imperial court would dare to take action against him. Moreover, Yue Fei's proposal to recover the Central Plains had also gained his own recognition. With Yue Yun's help, he thought that his father's illness would be easier to treat.

  "What's more, Yunwen, do you really want your talents to be buried forever? Healing and serving the country are not contradictory. Although my father is often at war, our ancestor in Ezhou is still well taken care of by family members and servants. No one has ever said that my father is unfilial. Moreover, taking care of an elderly person, a group of people is better than one person, right? " Yue Yun said with some excitement: "Yunwen, I really hope to get your help, let's work together to achieve something big! A good man should have ambitions in all directions, how can he be content with a mediocre life at home?"

  Yu Yunwen also couldn't help but show a hint of embarrassment on his face, he found that the competitive heart he thought had been extinguished was starting to revive again.

  In fact, like all talented people, the heart that yearns to show off his talents in the world has never been extinguished. It's just that because of his old father's long illness and being deeply influenced by the "filial piety" theory of the Song Dynasty, he gradually lost his competitive spirit. But what Yuen said earlier completely dispelled his worries, making him feel that following Yuen together, whether for "filial piety" or just for himself, was the best choice.

  Yu Yunwen's face changed again and again, and it wasn't until after a long while that he finally said: "Young Master Yue, Yunwen believes you!"

  "Great!" Yue Yun was overjoyed when he heard this, and immediately grasped his hands tightly, saying: "Yunwen's talent is indeed the Zhuge Liang of our time. With your help, I feel like a tiger has grown wings! I believe that if we work together with one heart, we can definitely drive the Jurchen people out of the Central Plains and restore the great Han Dynasty!"

  Yu Yunwen shook his head and sighed, "General Yue, you're overestimating me. What virtue or ability do I have to be compared with Mr. Kongming?"

  "Better! Absolutely better!" Yue Yun said sincerely: "There are many fierce generals in my Yue family army, but those who have a clear head and can see the current situation clearly are really few. It's not that I disrespect my father, but he really hasn't seen it yet. The court is willing to agree to any humiliating conditions to make peace with the Jin people. Now he wants to protect the people of Central Plains, but the court insists on him withdrawing his troops, and he is worried about this."

  After finishing speaking, Yue Yun told Yu Yunwen about the "mass petition plan" he had come up with. Then continued: "Due to the urgency of the matter and not having suitable people around me to discuss it with, I acted hastily. Allow you to help me think through it, see if there are any loopholes in this strategy?"

  Yu Yunwen's face changed color upon hearing this, and he said with a sincere tone: "Young Master's plan is truly admirable, even I couldn't have thought of such a clever scheme. I predict that the court will choose one of two options: either to continue delaying the withdrawal of troops or to order General Yue to stay put. However, this petitioning affair will surely raise suspicions in the court, and although it appears to be a spontaneous action by the people, Qin Hui's cunning nature will likely lead him to guess that someone is behind it. Among the over 300 scholars who participated in the petition, nearly 100 of them have seen Young Master before, so it won't be difficult for them to deduce that Young Master is the one manipulating from behind the scenes. I estimate that Qin Hui, having suffered this loss, will not take it lightly and will likely plot against Young Master again; Young Master must remain vigilant!"

  Yu Yunwen's words made Yue Yun break out in a cold sweat, and he finally came to his senses, realizing that he was still lacking in political acumen. Although he had pushed Wang Tong forward to take the lead in organizing the matter, and pretended to be uninvolved himself, once this matter was settled, Wang Tong would return to his side as an aide. With Qin Hui's cunning, how could he not guess that Yu Yun was involved in this matter? He had been able to sit securely in the position of Southern Song Prime Minister for nearly twenty years, dominating the court and the people - he was no ordinary person.

  Yu Yunwen saw that Yue Yun's face had a worried look, so he continued to say: "Young master doesn't have to worry too much, after all, this matter has not violated the laws of the Song Dynasty. Although Qin Hui is dissatisfied with you and your father, before grasping evidence enough to convict, he dare not lightly take action. We can be careful and avoid giving him a handle, so we can temporarily ensure safety."

  Yue Yun was delighted and convinced, and after discussing some military matters with Yu Yunwen, he felt slightly relieved.

  It wasn't until then that the two of them realized it had unknowingly become deep into the night. Yu Yunwen bid farewell and returned to his room.

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  Finally got Yu Yunwen, why don't you all also cast your recommendation votes at the same time?