Who put the yellow robe on me?

Chapter 186 Choose 2 from 1

Lord Ji stood in the center of the hall, dressed in a gorgeous Western robe. Although he wore a respectful smile, a subtle glint flickered in his eyes. "As a rebel general, what qualifications do you have to negotiate here?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Xianyu Linyuan suddenly stepped forward, his eyes like knives, piercing Master Ji: "Master Ji, aren't you handing over the gateway to the Western Regions to someone else?"

Lord Ji's face darkened, and he looked back at Xianyu Linyuan coldly: "General Xianyu, you are already a prisoner of Daliang, and you still have the nerve to point fingers here? What qualifications do you have to object?"

Xianyu Linyuan's face flushed red, and he was furious. "Although I am a captive of Daliang, my heart is with the Western Regions! You betrayed the people of the Western Regions, how can I sit idly by and watch!"

His voice was loud and clear, stirring the entire general's mansion, as if he wanted to vent all the anger in his heart.

Just as he was about to continue, General Zhong Wenbin suddenly slammed the table and stood up, shouting in a deep voice, "General Xianyu, please be aware of your status! You are now a surrendered general, not a senior official in the Western Regions!"

Xianyu Linyuan was shocked by the voice, his eyes flashing with anger and struggling, but he finally closed his mouth and stepped aside.

An awkward silence fell for a moment, with only the crackling of candlelight and the faint breathing of the crowd echoing in the air.

Lord Ji turned around and faced Jiang Chen again, his face returning to a respectful expression. "Your Highness, Prince of Yan, what are your thoughts on the peace terms we have proposed?"

Jiang Chen smiled slightly, with an unfathomable light in his eyes: "Master Ji, as for the issue of the city, there is no need to rush to discuss it. I brought these two here today to let you make another choice."

Lord Ji was shocked, but he didn't show it on his face. However, his heart beat faster involuntarily.

He vaguely felt that Jiang Chen's true intentions might be much more complicated than he imagined.

The Thirteenth Princess, Jiang Sirou, had been sitting nearby. Unable to resist her curiosity, she leaned forward slightly and asked, "Sixteenth Brother, what choice are you talking about?"

Everyone in the general's mansion also looked at him with puzzlement, waiting for Jiang Chen's explanation.

Jiang Chen stared at Lord Ji with a sharp gaze, his tone calm but with a hint of irresistible majesty: "Lord Ji, there are two surrendered generals here, both of whom are important military officials in the Western Regions.

What I need you to do is choose one of them. The one you choose can return safely to the Western Regions; the one you don't choose will be executed immediately."

He paused, his voice deeper and more powerful, "And the one who returns will get to exchange for another city."

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire General's Mansion fell into complete silence, and even the air seemed to freeze. Everyone looked at each other, each wondering what Jiang Chen was up to.

Xianyu Linyuan and General Mammon looked at each other, with shock and helplessness in their eyes.

They thought the outcome was already decided, but they didn't expect to face such a choice.

Lord Ji frowned, a complex mix of emotions swirling in his heart. He understood that Jiang Chen was forcing the Western Region to make a choice, and this choice would undoubtedly cause an uproar within the Western Region.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, a forced smile on his face. "Your Highness, Prince of Yan, your conditions are a bit harsh. How can we exchange our cities in the Western Regions for the lives of just two people? If so, I beg Your Highness to execute them both!"

Jiang Chen smiled faintly, his eyes gleaming with a hint of sharpness. "Lord Ji, do you think you still have the right to bargain now that you've arrived in Liangzhou City? I hope to hear the decision of the King of the Western Regions, not your personal opinion."

Before he finished speaking, Zhou Liangwei had already put his hand on the hilt of the knife and took a step forward. His eyes were like lightning, staring at every move of Lord Ji, as if he would immediately take action if he made any unusual movement.

Lord Ji felt the oppressive atmosphere around him, and a cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

He understood that he was now in the enemy camp and his life would be in danger if he was not careful.

He forced himself to calm down and said slowly, "Your Highness, Prince of Yan, I will truthfully report your conditions to the King. But please understand that such a decision is not mine to make alone."

Jiang Chen nodded slightly, his tone slightly softened: "Very good, I'll give you three days, I hope to get your response."

Lord Ji bowed and said, "Thank you for your grace, Your Highness."

Late at night, Lord Ji was placed in the guest room of the General's Mansion. He sat by the window, looking at the dark night sky outside, his mind full of thoughts.

"What exactly is Jiang Chen's intention in doing this?" he muttered to himself, with a hint of anxiety in his eyes.

He knew that if he chose one of them, it would inevitably arouse suspicion and dissatisfaction within the Western Regions.

And if he doesn't make a choice, Jiang Chen probably won't let him go easily.

……

Time flies, and three days have passed in the blink of an eye. Lord Ji and the King of the Western Regions have exchanged letters, and they must have confirmed the final result.

Lord Ji came to the general's mansion again with a serious expression.

Jiang Chen had already been waiting in the hall, and all the generals had also gathered together. The atmosphere was extremely tense.

Xian Yulinyuan and General Mammon were also taken to the general's mansion, as if waiting for the final verdict.

Jiang Chen smiled slightly and motioned him to sit down: "Master Ji, the three days are up. What is your decision?"

Lord Ji took a deep breath and said slowly, "Your Highness, Prince of Yan, I have communicated with the King of the Western Regions through letters. After careful consideration, the King has decided to return General Mammon."

As soon as this statement came out, everyone turned their attention.

Xianyu Linyuan stood aside with no expression on his face, as if he had already anticipated this result.

Jiang Chen nodded, his tone calm: "Okay! Very good! In that case, I will follow the agreement and release General Mammon in exchange for a city."

Lord Ji bowed and said, "Thank you for your understanding, Your Highness."

"Someone come here!" Jiang Chen shouted to the guards.

"Here!" Deng Yunde and Zhou Liangwei stepped forward respectively.

At this time, Xianyu Linyuan also closed his eyes silently. Although he did not understand the final decision of the King of the Western Regions, it no longer mattered.

Next, what awaits him is the fate of death.

"Untie General Mammon and have Xianyu Linyuan take him away and execute him immediately!" Jiang Chen said to Xianyu Linyuan with a stern face.

Moreover, Jiang Chen gave Zhou Liangwei a look.

Zhou Liangwei said: "Yes! Your Highness!"

It seemed that Zhou Liangwei and Jiang Chen had reached some kind of tacit understanding, and then Zhou Liangwei and Deng Yunde took Xianyu Linyuan away.

Jiang Chen turned his head and smiled at Lord Ji: "Lord Ji, you can take General Mammon away! But I have one condition!"

Lord Ji frowned and said, "Your Highness, please speak."

Jiang Chen's eyes were sharp and his voice was deep: "After General Mammon returns, he will need to help us dismantle the resistance forces in the Western Regions. From now on, the Western Regions will become a vassal state of Daliang, paying tribute every year and helping Daliang complete its unification."

Lord Ji's expression changed, and he thought to himself that something was wrong.

But now he was in a difficult position and could only bite the bullet and say, "Your Highness, I'm afraid this condition is a little difficult to accept."

Jiang Chen sneered: "Master Ji, you no longer have any choice."