Chapter 81: I Only Want Shuofeng |
Shuofeng City, with its combined military forces and civilians numbering in the tens of thousands, wasn't easy to completely take over. After Wei Wusheng entered the city, he personally supervised the entire process, offering reassurances throughout. He worked straight through until midnight before he could finally take a brief rest.
Suddenly remembering what Zheng Tong had told him, he brought Xinyue along and personally went to the prison office chamber to visit Song Shi'an.
Upon entering, he saw Song Shi'an with a huge pile of case files spread open and arranged on the desk, reviewing them one by one.
"What's all this, Shi'an?" Wei Wusheng asked curiously.
Seeing Wei Wusheng, Song Shi'an looked up and answered with a smile, "These are all the criminal case records from within Shuofeng City."
They represented the judicial ecosystem of this place.
At the same time, they could basically reflect the entire political ecosystem of Shuo Commandery.
The rules.
"If this Zhang Gong is such a headache, why not just use the army to completely take control?" Wei Wusheng said. "Anyway, we're right here in the city—we could requisition all the grain and household members."
"That's naturally the simplest method, but as a means of governing commanderies and counties, it absolutely cannot be done," Song Shi'an explained.
The logic was actually quite simple.
Song Shi'an wasn't going to make a quick score and run.
After defending the city, he still had to return to the court.
This world, when you got down to it, was still jointly ruled by the great clans.
Indiscriminate attacks—that was the way of Huang Chao.
Never mind the childish notion of killing one to warn a hundred, wiping out Zhang Gong's entire family to intimidate the others.
Great Yu only had six prefectures—kill a prefectural inspector's uncle-in-law just like that?
Looking through all of history, there wasn't a single case of exterminating someone's entire family without cause that yielded positive results.
Never mind randomly pinning crimes on people, declaring anyone who opposed you as "collaborating with the enemy" and having them all killed.
That was called white terror.
What about killing just one person?
Still wouldn't work.
The thing Cao Cao regretted most in his life wasn't killing Lü Boxie, but killing the famous scholar Bian Rang, which caused all of Yanzhou to rebel, leaving him with only three cities. He nearly got killed by Lü Bu and almost had to seek refuge with Yuan Shao.
Young Wei's current strength was far inferior to Cao Cao who had occupied an entire prefecture.
Zhang Gong's strength as the leader of Northern Liang's foremost aristocratic family also far exceeded that of the mere famous scholar Bian Rang.
"Moreover, Shuofeng is just one county. We can definitely maintain complete control over this city with high pressure, and mobilize all of this city's resources."
Seeing that Wei Wusheng had such ideas, Song Shi'an reminded him again, "But if Your Highness wants to resist Qi, you'll definitely need to mobilize half of Shuo Commandery entirely for our use. Our attitude toward Zhang Gong and other powerful clans is actually our attitude toward all of Northern Liang's aristocratic families. The people outside the city are watching."
Although it was only half of Shuo Commandery, this was a major commandery.
This half alone was equivalent to one and a half of the other commanderies in Liang Prefecture.
Wei Wusheng nodded, acknowledging his point, and also joked with a smile, "Then since Shi'an says this, you must already have a strategy?"
"I basically have one." Song Shi'an closed a case file, the corner of his mouth curving into an arc. "Even someone as domineering as Zhang Gong still insists on having proper justification for everything he does in Shuofeng. So regarding this person, I have a general understanding now."
"Then I won't ask further questions. Do as you see fit," Wei Wusheng said with absolute trust in Song Shi'an. "Everything—I'll support you."
Thank you, Young Wei.
"With Your Highness's words, I can rest easy," Song Shi'an slowly bowed in salute.
At this moment, a prison clerk came to report. Upon seeing the Sixth Prince, he immediately knelt on one knee in salute: "Greetings, Your Highness!"
Wei Wusheng raised his hand slightly, saying, "Whatever the matter is, speak directly to Lord Song."
"Yes." So the prison clerk addressed Song Shi'an instead, "Zhang Gong has sent someone to invite Laoye to gather at the Zhang Estate."
Hearing this, both Wei Wusheng and Xinyue became alert.
"Why didn't he come to speak in person?" Song Shi'an asked.
Hearing this, the prison clerk opened his mouth with considerable difficulty, "Zhang Gong said that the Zhang household members are afraid Laoye might cane the messenger again, so they'd just relay the message at the yamen entrance. If it's inconvenient, then they'll arrange for another time."
Zhang Gong was quite the wit.
"Very well, I'll go right now. Go relay that I need to make some preparations."
Without a moment's hesitation, Song Shi'an immediately agreed.
After the prison clerk left, Wei Wusheng said with great concern, "Will this trip be dangerous?"
"Your Highness need not worry, absolutely not," Song Shi'an said with complete certainty. "Zhang Gong is a clever man. He knows I'm Your Highness's trusted confidant. If he dares kill me now, Your Highness will surely kill his entire family. This visit is simply to discuss matters."
Seeing Song Shi'an so absolutely certain, Wei Wusheng didn't want to obstruct him. However, he still didn't want to take any risks, so he said, "Then Xinyue will accompany you."
Hearing this, Xinyue's body stiffened for a moment, thinking of her previous act of defiance. But the next moment, after her eyes met Song Shi'an's gaze, she quickly made it seem as if she'd only been momentarily distracted and hurriedly said, "As you command, Your Highness."
To worry that His Highness might become suspicious and thus be unable to look Song Shi'an in the eye—that would be having a guilty conscience.
Xinyue understood that continuing to do her job well was the real loyalty.
"Good, then we'll go now."
Song Shi'an had expected Zhang Gong would come find him, because they had no choice when facing a completely crazed Young Wei and himself. But he hadn't expected that right after taking a beating, Zhang Gong would reconcile with him so quickly. Zhang Gong could indeed bend and stretch.
Politics was like that.
Only interests, no grudges.
So without bringing anything, Song Shi'an and Xinyue left the office chamber together.
Wei Wusheng, meanwhile, looked at all the case files in this room that showed signs of having been reviewed, filled with a sense of security.
---
Xinyue and Song Shi'an had just left the yamen when they found the carriage Zhang Gong had sent waiting at the entrance.
A servant from the Zhang household extended his hand with a smile, "Please."
Then the two of them boarded the carriage together and sat side by side.
"Did the Sixth Prince punish you?" Song Shi'an asked.
Xinyue shook her head, but still said somewhat dejectedly, "But I don't know what His Highness is thinking in his heart."
"A gentleman judges actions, not hearts. Judge hearts and there are no good people in the world," Song Shi'an comforted her. "Since His Highness hasn't said anything, don't privately speculate about his magnanimity. That would be unfair to His Highness as well."
Many times, people liked to guess what the other person was thinking, assuming they'd be petty or suspicious. Then they'd mold an innocent person into the villain they imagined them to be.
If you thought that way, then who was really the petty, suspicious one?
With one sentence from Song Shi'an, Xinyue's mental knot was untied. Looking at him, she slowly nodded, "Mm."
Before long, their carriage arrived at the Zhang Estate.
After getting off the carriage and being led by a servant, they quickly arrived at the main hall.
An elderly man of considerable refinement sat on the opposite side of a square tea table. On the table sat two teacups.
Seeing Song Shi'an, Zhang Gong slowly extended his hand.
After a slight bow, Song Shi'an also slowly walked over.
He sat down across from him.
Xinyue, with her sword, stood to the side, guarding Song Shi'an.
The servant also closed the door.
Late at night, under the full illumination of lamps throughout the hall, this ancient and elegant main hall was brightly lit.
"My servants don't know their place and offended Jingxiu. I ask your forgiveness."
Zhang Gong personally poured half a cup of tea for Song Shi'an.
"Zhang Gong even knows Shi'an's courtesy name?" Song Shi'an asked.
"Shuofeng is isolated, so naturally I didn't know. But with the army's arrival, I've learned a bit about the outside situation," Zhang Gong said with a smile.
Without making a sound, he'd demonstrated his iron grip—that he also had people within the Langya army.
But that was quite normal. He was the prefectural inspector's uncle-in-law and also the head of Northern Liang's foremost aristocratic family. It would be impossible if he didn't have some connections.
"Since you already know about matters outside, then Shi'an won't hide his purpose from Zhang Gong."
Song Shi'an first extended his hand, respectfully drinking tea, then spoke, "Shuofeng will definitely be defended to the death. The Sixth Prince has made his decision. No one can obstruct it."
"Who would obstruct defending Great Yu's territory?" Zhang Gong smiled. "This old man also hopes the Qi bandits will retreat and our nation's borders remain peaceful."
"Zhang Gong speaks well." Song Shi'an's tone was serious. "The rise and fall of the realm—every man bears responsibility. As a renowned scholar of Northern Liang and the prefectural inspector's uncle-in-law, I believe at this time, you should lead us all in defending our land and bringing peace to the people."
"Good, good, good." Zhang Gong laughed. "The rise and fall of the realm—every man bears responsibility. I heard even before coming that Jingxiu was a talented scholar who could compose verses on the spot. Now that I see you, it's indeed true."
"Then what does Zhang Gong think of this saying?" Song Shi'an pressed.
"Naturally it's good." Zhang Gong nodded, then looked into his eyes and asked, "So what can we aristocratic families do to resist Qi?"
Without hesitation, Song Shi'an said, "All the aristocratic families will donate all their grain to be uniformly distributed by the army. Of course, your survival will definitely be prioritized. Then all servants and family members of each clan will participate in constructing the city defenses. Except for respected persons like Zhang Gong, Madam, and Young Master."
Upon hearing these words, even Xinyue froze for a moment.
This was equivalent to having everyone perform corvée labor, while the aristocratic families wouldn't keep a single grain in reserve?
Hadn't Song Shi'an said they couldn't be reckless...
Were these words just said outright like this?
"Jingxiu."
Lightly, Zhang Gong smiled, looking at this remarkable jieyuan and asking with a reminder, "Have you thought about what happens after we defend the city?"
"No."
Song Shi'an answered without hesitation.
Zhang Gong's gaze gradually became serious. Staring at him, he asked with something of an interrogating tone, "Young man, what exactly do you want?"
Similarly staring at Zhang Gong, Song Shi'an raised his finger and lightly tapped it on the table surface, saying word by word: "I... only want Shuofeng."
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