Chapter 54: Victory Is the Foundation of Negotiation

Time rewinds to the day before the capture of Jinling City. Wang Feng’s agents delivered a message to him: Yuan Shiren has already learned about Wang Feng. Interestingly, he considers the Wang Feng from Hanjang City and the Wang Feng from Guidé County as two different people.
“What’s going on? Have you investigated?” Wang Feng asked.
“When we were looking into this matter, it seemed like a shadow was following us, like a mysterious force! We couldn’t understand why this power suddenly vanished. No matter how hard we searched, we couldn’t find it. Originally, we thought it was Yuan Shiren's intelligence agents, but after so many days, we’ve confirmed that this force doesn’t belong to Yuan Shiren and his son; it seems to belong to the court.”
“The court? That’s right! This Yuan Shiren has been thinking about overthrowing the court, so the court won't listen to him anymore. If he doesn’t tell Yuan Shiren my true identity, then it all makes sense!” Wang Feng suddenly thought of the key point.
“If that's the case, then we can be bolder and act here on a larger scale, diverting Yuan Shizhen's attention to Nanjing!”
The Jiangnan Alliance Army (Southern Army) is, during this changing situation, solely focused on advancing towards Nanjing.
Now, the eyes of both the South and the North are focused on the Jinling city.
The coalition formed by three armies has completely lost the semblance of a united force.
Everyone wants to seize the opportunity to claim the first merit in the Southeast; the Southern army is closing in on Zhonghua Gate, the Town Army and the Li department are approaching Xuanwu Gate, while the Iron-Blood Army faces Qilin Gate.
三支军队已经完全互不联络，林彦俊这个司令，更是被徐明浩和胡汉三挟制得，问不了事。
王峰把持着天保城的炮台，却坚持不向城内发射一炮，谁也不知道他在打什么主意。
The Jiangfang Army is also firmly holding onto Nanjing, showing no intention of abandoning the city or fleeing.
Countless people have already complained about Wang Feng's actions in front of Xu Minghao and Hu Hansi, especially Huang Yi'ou, who had just been released from military law and was the most agitated.
Wang Feng naturally had his own plans in mind. Even if he doesn't open fire, he has ways to take down Jinling City.
He was thinking beyond that—after taking Jinling City, what would be the next step?
这点是他现在最头疼，也是最没有确定主意的事情。
说实在的，只要掌握好手中的实力，凭他这些日子的功劳声望，争个江北都督绰绰有余！
可是一个只能当到后年冬天的都督，有什么意思？
整合会党的势力应付二次南下的北洋军？想到那一盘散沙，大乾帝国的皇上还没退位，就开始争权夺利的同志们，他觉得还是摇头比较快。
有的时候，知道历史的大概走向，自己却有一种无能为力的感觉。这两天，他每天都在前沿沉思着踱步，一走就是一天，谁也不知道这位年轻的副司令怎么了，眼见着，整个人就瘦了下来。
In the dim light of dawn, Wang Feng walked around the camp with his hands behind his back, and no one dared to disturb him.
Every day now, the operations department issues orders for the trench to be on alert throughout the night, and the soldiers are in the trenches, remaining vigilant for any possible counterattack from the enemy at dawn.
Only Lv Si was still following Wang Feng. Ever since he resigned from his position as the leader of Wang Feng's guard, he had been instructing the training regiment. In the past few days, he hadn't fought a single battle and had been mocked by Chen Jianghe and the others. These past two days, he was again circling around Wang Feng, hoping to undertake the mission of attacking Jinling City.
王峰却没有半点顾虑到吕四的意思，他只是呆呆的看着天保城出神。
时间慢慢过去，太阳从紫金山后，几乎是突然的蓬勃跃升而出阳光，给天保城镶上了一道金边。
那铁血军的旗帜，就在这耀眼的光芒中，骄傲的飘动。王峰伸出手，去似乎就想抓住那阳光，最后他的手终于扶在了帽檐上，几乎就象在向那初升的太阳行军礼一样。
他长长的吐出了一口气，象是做出了什么决定，整个人都轻松了起来，他回头朝吕四笑道：“走！咱们见个人。”
这人是从水西门的水关，被两江总督署的卫队，秘密护送出来的。
张仁骏那老头子和他谈话时，只是不住的在叹气，神情也萧索得很。
张季直特地派这个人来金陵城里活动，而王峰在为他找关系，进城前也经过他给张仁骏带去了条件：铁血军保证做到一、决不从天保城向金陵城开炮，防止地方糜烂，百姓遭殃。二、保证张仁骏及其家属的生命财产安全，派人护送他返乡，过去的事情，既往不咎。
However, Zhang Renjun needs to achieve the following points: First, do everything possible to only allow the Iron Blood Army to enter the city. Second, the protection of the treasury and armory should be entrusted solely to Wang Feng's troops. Third, strive to maintain local peace. Fourth, the above conditions can be communicated to Tie Shan, but must be kept strictly confidential from Zhang Dabian's Jiang Defense Army.
Zhang Renjun seemed indifferent, smiling wryly as he eagerly promised. When they parted, he grasped the contact's hand with deep emotion: "Little brother, we've known each other for so many years. My life and fortune are all entrusted to you. Please go back and inform Commander Wang that I'll do everything as instructed!"
他神色很是感慨：“我们这些老人也该滚蛋了，以后的天下是王司令这样的人中豪杰的舞台了，他这个人做事很了不起。”
联络人微微一笑，并没有把他的话怎么放在心上，只是殷殷和张仁骏告别，从水关出来的时候，满是志满意得。
王峰？只是可以利用的一股实力罢了。
A group of officers crowded into Wang Feng's small tent, with officers above the battalion level from three regiments and their attached units gathered together.
Everyone's expressions showed a bit of suppressed excitement; over the past few days, the officers had been a bit gloomy due to Wang Feng's eccentricity, all thinking about attacking Jinling City, yet no one dared to bring it up.
Just watching as the Zhenjun and Nanjun launched several ineffective attacks, all of which were repelled by the remaining Jiangfang army relying on their stronghold, with no retreat available.
Today, seeing the commander regain his spirits and stride into the tent, everyone couldn't help but quietly cheer in their hearts.
这位司令虽然年轻，但是在他们这些他一手提拔出来的青年军官心中，已经颇有信仰。
一夜带队光复汉江，辞去汉江都督这个职位不做，跑到前线来和张大辫子拼命！虽然话不是很多，但是算计起人来，真是又狠又准。
到了前线，两拳头就把张大辩子打懵了。自己也能和士兵同甘共苦，同样一天两顿，一起吃大锅菜，在铁血军中，他的威信，已经慢慢建立了起来。
王峰扫视军官们一眼，微笑道：“你们不是想打进金陵城么？好！吴参谋长，现在宣读命令！”
所有军官都刷的起立，胸膛高高挺起，眼睛都盯着吴文才，恨不得把他手里的公文夹抢下来。
吴文才脸色严肃：“本次进攻金陵城区计划如下！12月3日凌晨三时，一团以二营、三营自水西门水关入城，今夜十二时以前，必须到达南湖位置！进城后，以二营为左区队，控制两江督署藩库。三营为右区队，控制鸡鸣寺，清凉山，鼓楼，五台山等制高点！一团一营为预备队，控制水关西门。教导团以一营、三营自麒麟门入城，一营为左区队，控制前明皇城一带。三营为右区队，控制小营马标炮标。二营为预备队，控制麒麟门！二团及军部直属分队为总预备队，视情况接应。本次作战限12月3日晨五时，各部队必须完成作战任务！”
The officers all thought they had misheard, watching Wu Wentai heavily close the folder.
Without specific troop deployments and no arrangements for firepower, can they really just swagger into Nanjing from two places so casually?
Wang Yangming exchanged glances with several officers and was just about to speak.
Wang Feng raised his hand to stop them: "No need to ask, keep tonight's operation a secret! Send out patrols to the southern and town military directions, blocking all information! Tonight, how will the two places connect? When we depart, the chief of staff will explain everything! The orders have been given, everyone get moving!"
After saying all this, everyone vaguely understood that this commander, who had countless ideas in his mind, had contacted some unknown giant in Jinling City! With time being so urgent, the officers hurriedly dispersed, leaving only Wang Yangming, who hesitated for a moment before turning back and asking as he was about to leave.
“Commander, you haven’t contacted Zhang with the big braid, have you?”
Wang Feng smiled and said, “There are some things I still have principles about.”
Wang Yangming quietly saluted Wang Feng and jogged away.
The Ximen Water Gate has always been jointly defended by the supervisory office's guard and the River Defense Camp, controlling several small steamers that are prepared for when the officials need to make a quick escape.
The supervisory office has almost deployed half of the guard's personnel here, over four hundred of them are well-armed. The River Defense Camp, along with the soldiers on the city wall, has two sentry posts with more than one hundred seventy personnel.
The weather has gradually gotten colder, and after the soldiers of the Jiangfang Army finished their dinner at eight o'clock, they were driven to the city gate, each looking listless.
The river wind blew in, causing them to shiver with cold, and some of the bolder ones started to curse loudly.
“我们在徐州蹲得好好的，两条铁路，一条运河，咱们弟兄吃用不尽，现在他娘的跑到金陵城来喝西风！”
顿时就有人附和：“王统领和何统领都死球了，咱们靠着这座城守个屁！内无粮草，外无救兵的，到了那天，老子脱了号褂子，望哪里一藏，张大帅咬我的鸟去？”
There are also some petty thoughts: “He’s cuddling with a woman, sleeping soundly, while my brothers and I are on night watch, not even a drop of alcohol! That woman lets me sleep for a night, and I’ll be at ease serving him.”
哨官听到这些对话，也就当没有听见，只是在盘算自己在徐州的小妾，有没有偷人。
正在这里不尴不尬的时候，就见督署的一个队官，带着几十个弟兄走上了城墙。
Everyone seems to be holding a drink, and the smell of meat wafts far away in the cold night. The soldiers have stopped their conversations, eyes shining as they look at those people.
That officer laughed and said, "What are you guys still staring at? The army knows how hard everyone has been working and specially prepared a reward for you all. What are you waiting for? Dig in!"
The soldiers of the Jiangfang Army cheered and surged forward, as both the sentries and the cavalry engaged in a chaotic scramble. They repeatedly expressed their gratitude to Zhang Zhijun, but of course, there was no shortage of vague curses directed at their own commander.
The official looked at the two guard officers of the Jiang Defense Army who were enjoying the biggest portions of food and drink, merrily feasting away. He gave a slight cold smile, then pulled out his pocket watch to take a look, a hint of an unnoticeable tension appearing on his face. He gazed towards the outskirts of the city, where the night still lay hazy and indistinct.