Chapter 88: Ji Yuan

Illegitimate Son of a Noble House

His hands sank into the wooden bucket of water, scrubbing back and forth with force.

He lifted his hands, looking at his palms. Those transparent water droplets glinted brilliantly in the sunlight before gradually turning crimson...

Cold sweat from his forehead traced down his cheek, dripping into the water with soft plops, creating ripples.

He continued washing his hands, faster and faster.

Suddenly, a hand reached out before him.

"Holy shit!"

Song Shi'an jumped in fright, instinctively throwing an elbow.

It struck Xinyue directly in the face, knocking her back several steps.

Covering her mouth and nose with one hand, Xinyue looked somewhat pained, though she remained silent.

"..." Still covering her mouth and nose, Xinyue shook her head without speaking, then handed him the hemp cloth in her other hand.

"Thanks." Song Shi'an took the cloth and wiped the water from his hands.

The towel showed no trace of color.

Yet he could still smell it—that scent of blood from his own hands.

That bastard Zhang Ting, really.

Couldn't he have bled a little less?

"It's like this the first time." After composing herself, Xinyue said to Song Shi'an.

"I'm fine."

Song Shi'an shook his head, speaking with utter conviction: "Blood has to be seen. When Ji Yuan arrives, even more people will die. I must adapt quickly. I can't let any wavering emotions affect my judgment and actions."

This world was certainly not gentle.

Anyone could die.

And most deaths would be unnatural.

War, plague, famine, floods—these were the 'ways of heaven' that people could not avoid.

He had to shed these useless hesitations as quickly as possible.

In any situation, any environment, Song Shi'an was always the one who pushed himself hardest.

That sword strike was meant to put him on the same starting line as everyone else.

Besides, ordering a killing and killing personally were two different things.

Young Wei also needed to go through this step to grow.

Right now, he was just too comfortable.

Light and shadow—both should be touched.

"When you killed someone for the first time, was it like this too?" Song Shi'an looked at Xinyue.

Xinyue looked back at this curious man and said, "I forgot."

You forgot my ass.

You just don't want to say.

If you don't want to say it, fine.

No wait, I'll keep asking.

"Since His Highness has always been in the palace, and you're so experienced—could it be that His Highness had you do some killing and robbing?" Song Shi'an asked with an innocent, curious expression.

Xinyue didn't answer.

"Fine, I won't ask anymore."

Song Shi'an looked away from her, acting distant.

"His Highness has never ordered me to kill anyone."

Once Song Shi'an stopped pressing, Xinyue actually spoke up: "I only started following His Highness when I was fifteen."

"Only started last year?" Song Shi'an asked in surprise.

"I don't know how you guessed that, but it's been four years now."

Xinyue seemed completely unconcerned about revealing her age.

Naturally, Song Shi'an's playful attempt to turn this into a compliment about her youth had no effect whatsoever.

Though it wasn't that ancient women didn't care about such things—she simply didn't care.

"Before I was fifteen, I ran escort jobs with a group." Not particularly reluctant, Xinyue brought up her past.

"Oh wow, an escort."

Song Shi'an thought no wonder she had that martial world air about her.

"Northern Liang produces a lot of pelts, but they sell for much higher prices in Great Yu, so merchants frequently travel the borders. We protected their goods."

Speaking of this period, Xinyue said matter-of-factly: "Once we encountered fierce bandits. Everyone in our group was killed except me. Then I delivered the goods to Sheng'an by myself and handed them over to the employer. I met the Sixth Prince on the street and followed him."

"Your life has been quite exciting." Song Shi'an felt the mysterious aura around this woman had grown even deeper.

You're like some damn Western cowboy.

"Yours is more exciting."

Xinyue looked at Song Shi'an.

"Both exciting, both exciting."

Song Shi'an clasped his fists in salute.

"What are you talking about that's so exciting?"

Just then, His Highness came over with a smile.

"Discussing some insights on killing people." Song Shi'an also smiled as he bowed to him.

"I had Zheng Tong handle it—announcing that Zhang Ting was executed for collaborating with the enemy, and filing the evidence. As for Duke Zhang and the others, I've ordered them held in prison." Wei Wusheng said.

Originally these matters should have been Song Shi'an's responsibility.

But having just experienced such a momentous event, Wei Wusheng gave him time to recover.

"Your Highness." Song Shi'an suggested, "Anyone who wants to express sympathy or visit Duke Zhang should be allowed to go. Just don't let them speak to him or pass out any written messages."

"Is this to spread word that Duke Zhang isn't dead, to shut those people up?" Wei Wusheng asked.

"Exactly." Song Shi'an nodded. "We... I killed Zhang Ting. Outsiders will definitely spread rumors that we killed Duke Zhang too. Since that's the case, let him make more appearances to show that order still stands."

Using 'collaboration with the enemy' to kill Zhang Ting was already quite tenuous—they couldn't let this atmosphere of panic expand.

Actually, there's only one gold standard for determining whether someone has truly suffered harm under tyrannical power—whether they're allowed to appear.

If they insist the person isn't dead but refuse to let them show their face, there's a ninety-nine percent chance they're already dead.

After all, no one wants to be at a disadvantage in public opinion.

"Your Highness!"

Just then, a newly promoted military officer hurried over, clearly having urgent matters to report.

But seeing there were quite a few people present, he hesitated.

"Speak. They're all our own people." Wei Wusheng said unconcernedly.

So he reported: "A small boat came down the Chishui River under General Luo's banner and docked. The man is a centurion, but he refuses to enter the city. After I met with him privately, he said General Luo requests that Your Highness return the naval forces to Langya."

"What do you think?" Wei Wusheng asked Song Shi'an.

After thinking it over, Song Shi'an said: "We have no general skilled in commanding naval forces, and Shuofeng has no water fortress to defend against raids. Not being able to use them well is one thing, but if Ji Yuan seized them, that would truly be dire straits."

"Then send them back."

Wei Wusheng decided decisively: "While we're at it, let's also send back the roughly thousand soldiers disabled in the recent battle."

"Excellent, excellent."

Song Shi'an strongly approved of this suggestion and genuinely felt that Young Wei had matured.

In ancient warfare—no, in all warfare—casualty statistics for wounded and killed are counted together.

It may seem that deaths are more severe, but in terms of military campaigns, the wounded are actually more damaging to combat effectiveness than the dead.

When one soldier is wounded, at least one or two soldiers are needed to care for him, so you directly lose two to three fighters. But having lost combat capability, they still consume provisions.

Why not just abandon the wounded then?

Looking at regular armies throughout the world, none do this.

If selling your life for a general means being abandoned when wounded, left to die on the spot, then for soldiers there are only two paths to survival:

One, fear battle to avoid injury.

Two, fuck your life.

"General Luo wants our naval forces, so we have no reason to refuse our wounded either." Wei Wusheng joked.

Seeing Young Wei had also become devious, Song Shi'an couldn't help but laugh: "Since when did they become ours?"

Both of them couldn't help but laugh.

And the somewhat oppressive atmosphere from earlier had improved considerably.

Looking at Song Shi'an, this man who had pushed himself to the point of near-pathology, Wei Wusheng said: "Shi'an, don't take everything Duke Zhang said to heart."

"Hm?"

Song Shi'an looked puzzled.

"About how emperors and the Wei family will discard you once you're used up and such."

Wei Wusheng looked directly into his eyes and promised earnestly: "As long as I live, I will always protect you."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Song Shi'an nodded with a slight smile. "I believe you."

"What about the impeachment matter? Is there any way to handle it?"

Wei Wusheng was most troubled by this.

"The Song clan and Cui clan won't all be detained and thrown into the Court of Judicial Review. But they'll probably be suspended for a while, especially the Song clan." Song Shi'an said.

"As long as nothing major happens, everything will be resolved when we return." After Wei Wusheng finished speaking, he asked again, "As for the joint impeachment letting His Majesty know your role in the power seizure... is there any way to cover it up somewhat?"

"Your Highness, it doesn't matter anymore. Let it be."

Song Shi'an had come to terms with it.

Open cards, then open cards it is.

The downside is no more pretense.

But there are upsides too.

Your Majesty, watch—repelling Ji Yuan, this overwhelming achievement belongs to me.

...

Black clouds press upon the city, threatening to crush it.

This fortified northern frontier city, under the decade-plus command of General Han Yuan Who Defends the North, had its walls raised by two additional zhang, thickened by six chi inside and out, with moats dug so deep that if filled with water, large ships could sail through them.

Nearly a hundred thousand Qi troops surrounded the city on all sides, encircling it completely, not even water could leak through.

With ample arrows, they poured down like rain.

Catapults arrayed in formation rained meteors upon the city.

The soldiers atop the walls had not a moment's rest, desperately defending against the enemy.

If even one breach was made, enemy forces would surge through like a broken dam, destroying everything in their path.

Shouts and battle cries shook the heavens.

Qi blood and Yu blood flowed endlessly, staining the very earth red.

Reflecting the glow on the horizon's edge.

On a hillside, a man in scaled armor sat alone, hands resting on his knees, calmly gazing at the fierce battle raging at Wuwei.

At that moment, a man in official robes, the Military Advisor Chen Xing, laboriously climbed the slope, somewhat out of breath: "Your Majesty."

Seeing him, Ji Yuan smiled faintly and said: "Minister Chen, sit here. There's a breeze."

Chen Xing sat beside Ji Yuan. After catching his breath somewhat, he said: "Reinforcements have come from the false Yu. They've already reached Shuofeng. As Your Majesty predicted, they truly refuse to abandon Northern Liang and have even changed commanders to replace Zhao Xiang."

"Who leads them?" Ji Yuan asked.

Chen Xing said: "Wei Wusheng."

"Wei?" Hearing this surname, Ji Yuan pondered, "Someone from the imperial clan?"

"He's a prince of the false Yu."

"He has such a son?" Ji Yuan had no recollection. "Aren't his sons named Wei Yixuan and Wei Yiyun? One Prince of Jin, one Prince of Wu."

"Wei Wusheng is his sixth son. Because he supposedly killed his mother consort at birth and was born breech, Wei Ye has always been extremely disgusted by him and never enfeoffed him as a prince. So this is his first time commanding troops. I believe he's only twenty-one." Chen Xing explained.

"Then he's here to settle the people's hearts."

Ji Yuan saw through to the essence with a single phrase.

"Originally that was the case—he even only brought a thousand Forbidden Army troops." Looking at Ji Yuan, Chen Xing said seriously, "But according to scouts ahead, Wei Wusheng seized military authority and provisions from Langya and brought them all to Shuofeng."

Hearing this, Ji Yuan was also stunned for a moment. Then a trace of surprise appeared: "He has such a bold son?"

"Besides him, there's another young man about the same age called Song Shi'an, a bastard son from a prominent family who passed the jieyuan exam and apparently came of his own accord." Chen Xing speculated, "The military coup seizing power in Langya was probably his idea."

Ji Yuan fell into contemplation.

Chen Xing, however, was pleased: "Two inexperienced children holding power, and having seized authority through separatism—they must be under tremendous pressure from the rear. Your Majesty, heaven aids Great Qi!"

"No."

Ji Yuan slowly shook his head and judged: "Quite the opposite. The nature of the situation has completely changed."