Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

Chapter 216 Wan'er Offers a Plan

Flying Tiger Pass, the vanguard camp of the Xingqi Army.

The temporary headquarters was the former residence of the garrison commander of Feihu Pass. Although it had been ravaged by war, the main structure still remained, and with a little renovation, it revealed the exquisite features of a Jiangnan garden. However, at this moment, all those coming and going were soldiers in full armor with solemn expressions. The air was no longer filled with the aroma of sandalwood and tea, but with the stagnation brought about by gunpowder smoke, sweat, and tense military affairs.

Chen Xing did not linger in the safer and more comfortable Jiangbei camp. After confirming that the landing site was secure and the military situation at the front was under control, he crossed the river by boat under the escort of an elite Imperial Guard and went to the front lines in person. At this moment, he was in the study of this temporary headquarters, listening to the latest military reports from generals such as Chen Wei and Shen Qing, and reviewing some important memorials transferred from Chang'an.

Han Meng's urgent report on the situation in Qingxi Town, along with the plain silk map with delicate handwriting, was sent to Chen Xing's desk as an urgent document.

"Lin Wan'er?" Chen Xing unfolded the map, his gaze sweeping over the clear and accurate topographical markings and concise notes on the figures, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. He was not completely ignorant of the scholars of Jiangnan; the Censorate had long kept records of them, and he had also heard of the name "Qujiang Talented Woman" Lin Wan'er. However, he never expected to come into contact with her in such a situation and in such a way.

"This map is exquisitely drawn; only someone well-versed in geography and attentive to worldly affairs could have created it. These annotations, though brief, are quite insightful." Chen Xing handed the map to Jia Wen beside him. "Jia Qing, what do you think?"

Jia Wen took the map, examined it carefully for a moment, and a glint of shrewdness flashed in his narrow eyes: "Your Majesty, this woman is extraordinary. The map's value is secondary; what is rare is her insight into the power dynamics and public sentiment in the Jiangnan region. 'The Zhao family of Danyang can be treated with courtesy and pacified,' 'The Zhou family of Qu'a may have a tough stance.' These seem simple, but in reality, they require a considerable understanding of their family history, interpersonal relationships, and even the personality of their leaders. General Han Meng reported that she remained calm in the face of danger, possessing both courage and insight; judging from this map, it is indeed credible."

Chen Xing tapped his fingers lightly on the table, pondering, "The land of Jiangnan is different from the barbarian tribes of the North and the warlords of Xiliang. The gentry are deeply entrenched, the local gentry wield enormous influence, and the common people are largely controlled by them. Simply conquering them militarily may easily gain their territory, but it will be difficult to win their hearts and minds, and it will also leave endless troubles in the future. If there were someone who is familiar with the inside story and has some prestige among the gentry, and could analyze the advantages and disadvantages for me and offer advice, it might be possible to achieve twice the result with half the effort."

Jia Wen nodded: "Your Majesty is wise. The strategy of the southern expedition inherently includes the principle of 'winning hearts and minds.' This woman comes from a noble family and is exceptionally talented. If Your Majesty can employ her, she will be of great use in winning over the gentry and stabilizing the local populace. However... we still need to observe her intentions and whether she is truly loyal."

"Summon her to see me," Chen Xing decided. "Since she offered the map willingly and said she wanted to reduce the suffering of the people, I will give her a chance to speak. Hasn't Han Meng already escorted her to a nearby safe village? Send a proper team to invite her; do not neglect her."

"Your humble servant obeys the imperial decree."

Two days later, a small sedan chair made of blue cloth, escorted by several Imperial Guard knights, arrived outside the Flying Tiger Pass camp. Lin Wan'er was still dressed in a simple dress, with only a light touch of powder, which concealed the fear and fatigue of the past few days, making her appear even more elegant. She alighted from the sedan chair and looked around. She saw the camp stretching as far as the eye could see, with banners fluttering and black-armored soldiers patrolling back and forth. Although the discipline was strict, there was no overwhelming ferocity as she had imagined. Instead, there was a calm and powerful sense of order. This calmed her somewhat uneasy heart a little.

Led by an official who appeared to be a clerk, Lin Wan'er passed through numerous guard posts and arrived at the study of the temporary headquarters. After giving her permission, she took a deep breath, composed herself, and stepped inside.

The study was simply furnished, with the most striking feature being the huge map of Jiangnan hanging on the wall and the man in casual clothes behind the desk, who was reviewing documents. The man appeared to be in his thirties, with a handsome face and calm gaze, exuding an air of authority without anger. He overlapped with Lin Wan'er's image of the "Star Emperor" who rose from humble beginnings to sweep across the north, yet seemed even more reserved and profound.

"This humble woman, Lin Wan'er, greets Your Majesty." Lin Wan'er bowed gracefully in accordance with etiquette.

"Rise, please take a seat." Chen Xing put down his pen, his gaze falling calmly on Lin Wan'er. "Miss Lin, you have been frightened. General Han has already informed me of the situation in Qingxi Town. I have already seen the map you gave me; it is exquisitely drawn, insightful, and quite beneficial to the army. I am very pleased."

Lin Wan'er lowered her head slightly: "Your Majesty is too kind. My work was hastily made and is crude and unpalatable. It is already a great fortune that it can be of some use in matters of military and national importance. Your Majesty's royal army came south to rescue me from the enemy's clutches and further ordered your troops to not commit any offenses against the people. I am deeply grateful."

Chen Xing smiled slightly: "Saving the people from suffering is the duty of the royal army. I have heard that you come from a family with a long history of learning and are renowned for your talent, especially your profound understanding of the people and geography of Jiangnan. Currently, the situation in Jiangnan is chaotic, with the allied forces stubbornly resisting, and the people are filled with anxiety and unease. I wish to pacify Jiangnan, restore unity to the world, and allow the people to live in peace and prosperity. I wonder if you could offer me some advice?"

This question was direct, giving Lin Wan'er an opportunity to showcase her talents and, more importantly, to test her intentions and stance.

Lin Wan'er raised her head, her clear gaze meeting Chen Xing's for a fleeting moment before she looked away, her mind racing. She knew this was a pivotal moment that would determine the future of herself and her family. The emperor before her possessed extraordinary bearing, was a brilliant strategist, commanded a formidable army, and seemed poised to sweep across the land. In contrast, the Southern Dynasty was plagued by incompetent rulers and ministers, its allied forces harboring their own agendas, and signs of defeat were already evident. Perhaps, this truly was the opportunity to end the chaos and restore peace.

Without further hesitation, she rose and curtsied again, her voice clear and firm: "Your Majesty has inquired, and I dare to offer my humble opinion. Please take it as it comes."

"The land of Jiangnan cannot be fully conquered by force," Lin Wan'er stated clearly at the outset. "Its land is rich and its culture and education are flourishing, but its military preparedness has long been neglected. Aristocratic families occupy the prefectures and counties, intermarrying with each other in a complex and intertwined manner. What they value most are, firstly, family reputation, secondly, land ownership, and thirdly, a good name. They fear power but do not cherish virtue, and admire strength but are often hesitant. Your Majesty's heavenly army has suddenly arrived, and although they are intimidated by its might, they may not be truly convinced. If we insist on a forceful attack, even if we capture cities and seize land, they may outwardly submit but secretly collude, and when Your Majesty's army returns north, they will inevitably cause trouble again and disrupt the region."

Chen Xing remained calm: "In your opinion, young lady, what should we do?"

"In my opinion, we should employ a strategy of 'three parts military force and seven parts psychological warfare,'" Lin Wan'er said slowly, her voice becoming more composed, clearly indicating she was in the zone. "Militarily, we should crush the main force of the allied forces with overwhelming force, capture or force the surrender of leaders such as Xiao Jingyan, and destroy their will to resist. This is what we call 'establishing authority.' However, at the same time, we must supplement this with 'appeasement' and 'division.'"

She walked to the map of Jiangnan on the wall. Although it wasn't quite a breach of etiquette before the Emperor, Chen Xing indicated it was alright. She then pointed to several places: "Your Majesty, please look. Although the allied forces are led by Xiao Jingyan, they are by no means a monolithic entity. The vassal states of Jingxiang, Lingnan, Bashu, and Minyue have always been outwardly united but inwardly divided with the Southern Dynasty. This alliance is mostly for self-preservation, out of fear of Your Majesty's military might. Your Majesty could send eloquent individuals, or use the secret channels of the Censorate, to contact them separately, explaining the advantages and disadvantages. Promise to preserve their families and lands, and even grant them corresponding official positions and titles after the war, promising not to pursue their past crimes. Seeing that the allied forces are doomed, some of them will waver or even turn against the allies in order to protect their lives and families. This is 'division'."

"As for the local gentry of Jiangnan," Lin Wan'er's finger traced across Danyang, Wujun, and Kuaiji, "their relationships with the Southern Dynasty's royal family vary in depth. Your Majesty could issue a decree declaring that only the ringleaders will be punished, and those coerced into submission will be spared. Those gentry who voluntarily submit and assist in pacifying the people should be commended, and even employed according to their talents. Your Majesty could also hold imperial examinations, allowing scholars from Jiangnan to take the exams alongside those from the North, treating them equally. This would reassure the gentry and demonstrate fairness to the world. What they seek is merely the continuation of their families and a path to advancement; if Your Majesty can grant these, why must they fight to the death?"

"As for the common people," Lin Wan'er turned to face Chen Xing, her gaze earnest, "Your Majesty's strict military discipline, ensuring no one is violated, is the first step in winning the hearts of the people. After the war, order should be restored swiftly, taxes and corvée labor should be reduced or exempted in the war-affected areas, disaster relief should be provided, water conservancy projects should be constructed, and farming and weaving should be encouraged. The people of Jiangnan have suffered greatly from the war, and all they desire is peace and sustenance. If Your Majesty can grant them these, the hearts of the people will be won over, and the foundation of the nation will be solidified."

She paused for a moment, then took out another roll of slightly thicker plain silk from her sleeve and presented it with both hands: "This is the outline of the 'Three Strategies for Pacifying the South' that I recently wrote. The first is 'Intimidate them with military might,' the second is 'Appease them with titles and rewards,' and the third is 'Secure their livelihoods.' It includes an analysis of the major families in the main prefectures and counties of Jiangnan, as well as suggestions for possible candidates to be recruited. I request Your Majesty to review it."

Chen Xing took the silk and unfolded it for a closer look. The writing on the silk was clear and logical, with meticulous analysis, organically combining military strikes, political division, and economic appeasement. While not necessarily perfect, its grasp of the situation in Jiangnan and its insight into human nature were truly extraordinary. More importantly, this strategy revealed a pragmatic and rational approach aimed at reducing bloodshed and restoring order as quickly as possible, which coincided with Chen Xing's ideal of "unifying the world."

After a long while, Chen Xing put down the silk book and looked at Lin Wan'er with undisguised admiration: "What you say, young lady, is exactly what I wanted to say. This 'Strategy for Pacifying the South,' though written by a young lady from the inner chambers, is a mature and insightful piece on how to govern the country. It is a great pity that your talent has been buried in the chaos of war."

Lin Wan'er's heart trembled, knowing that the most crucial moment had arrived. She bowed deeply again: "In my humble opinion, it is already a great fortune to have won Your Majesty's favor. If I can use this meager wisdom to help Your Majesty pacify Jiangnan as soon as possible and save countless people from suffering, then all my learning in my life will not have been in vain."

Chen Xing stood up, walked to Lin Wan'er, and gave her a slight helping motion: "Lin Wan'er, listen to my decree."

Lin Wan'er immediately knelt down.

"I am grateful for your contributions in providing maps and strategies, and for your keen insight into the talents of Jiangnan. Effective immediately, I hereby appoint you as a 'Hanlin Academy Attendant,' to accompany me in military affairs, and to be in charge of official documents, pacification and liaison, and map compilation in Jiangnan. I hope you will devote yourself wholeheartedly and live up to my expectations."

Hanlin Academy Attendant! Although not a formal court official, she was a close advisor to the emperor, enjoying unparalleled prestige and the power to participate in confidential matters! For a woman, especially a woman from the former Southern Dynasty, this was an unprecedented honor!

Lin Wan'er's heart was filled with turmoil: the joy of encountering a wise ruler, the trepidation of the heavy responsibilities ahead, and the excitement of finally being able to display her talents. She prostrated herself, her voice trembling slightly but unwavering: "This commoner... Your subject, Lin Wan'er, accepts the imperial decree and expresses my gratitude! I will do my utmost to repay Your Majesty's kindness!"