Chapter 114: The Victory News Reaches Sheng'an |
Wei Wusheng could clearly see what was in Song Shi'an's heart.
He had mentioned it before.
But Wei Wusheng hadn't responded.
And now, he still couldn't respond.
"Of course, these are all brothers who've fought alongside me through life and death," Wei Wusheng deflected with these platitudes, once again evading the topic.
Song Shi'an fell silent.
The two continued drinking.
But as they drank, Wei Wusheng's expression suddenly grew heavy.
Looking at those Forbidden Army soldiers Song Shi'an was working so hard to win over for him, he murmured, "Shi'an, it's because Father Emperor doesn't like me."
Because Wei Wusheng had never denied that he wanted to accomplish great things.
He wasn't unwilling to open his heart to Song Shi'an, nor did he distrust this sworn brother with whom he'd made a blood oath.
All of it, everything, had only one reason—he was Wusheng.
"But my father didn't like me either, before."
And to this eternal dilemma, Song Shi'an's gaze aligned with his, also looking toward the Forbidden Army, as he said matter-of-factly.
"..."
Just this one sentence left Wei Wusheng's mind blank.
Slowly, he turned his head to look at Song Shi'an, who was also looking at him.
Song Shi'an wore a composed smile.
While young Wei was solemn and serious.
"Then just do enough to make Father like you. Isn't that right, Your Highness?" Song Shi'an continued smiling.
Do you really think 'Wusheng' is inauspicious, that it's an obstacle to your advancement?
Your old man is just a damn scumbag.
Back then he had many sons, including beloved legitimate sons, and he was still in his prime. Your mother Consort Chen was his most beloved concubine—judging by your looks, Consort Chen was probably a top-tier beauty herself.
So the name Wusheng was just him venting his anger at losing a beautiful woman.
How much genuine affection do you think exists in the imperial family?
Now it's different—the legitimate eldest son is dead, his most beloved son is dead, the Prince of Jin has to compromise with the aristocratic families. The Emperor of Yu would love for you to be this fierce Wusheng!
Though admittedly, he definitely doesn't have thoughts of making you heir yet.
But having achieved such heavenly merit, he must use you against Ji Yuan.
If you truly become powerful enough that half the realm was conquered by your hand—
Why would you still be worrying about inheritance laws?
Just rewrite the damn inheritance laws.
"Then Shi'an," pressing down on Song Shi'an's hand, Wei Wusheng asked seriously, "what should I do right now?"
To this, Song Shi'an made a fist and gently tapped it against his own chest, speaking two words: "Loyalty. Sincerity."
These two words set Wei Wusheng thinking deeply.
Looking into Song Shi'an's eyes, he pondered carefully.
Thinking about the process by which the other had 'reconciled' with his father, he experienced a moment of enlightenment.
That's right—loyalty and sincerity.
Don't pursue the heir position, don't cultivate power bases, don't form factions for selfish gain as your goal or method.
If Wusheng wanted to turn things around, he could only keep doing one thing wholeheartedly, continuously—relieving the sovereign's worries.
"We must purely do everything His Majesty wants done, for His Majesty."
Song Shi'an spelled it out clearly.
The remaining sentence, he didn't say.
Which was:
Power will naturally arise from this process.
Wei Wusheng once again picked up the jug and poured wine for both Song Shi'an and himself.
The two men raised their bowls with one hand, touched them lightly, and while gazing at each other, drank down the Lang liquor.
From now on, they would never need to confirm each other's stance again.
Going forward, they just needed to be doers.
The two of them thus continued their low-voiced scheming there on the county office floor, amid the clamor.
Song Shi'an said, "This time after winning the battle, do as Your Highness previously promised His Majesty—personally return to Sheng'an first and 'surrender yourself' by relinquishing everything."
"Mm." Wei Wusheng nodded, letting Song Shi'an continue.
"I'll follow after Your Highness, bringing some personal guards—also counting as returning to the city alone," Song Shi'an said.
"If you return alone too, won't that be somewhat dangerous?" Wei Wusheng was a bit worried.
At least on the surface, it was still Wei Wusheng shouldering everything.
Why confess voluntarily?
"The eight-hundred-li emergency reports from the front also said my father was arrested and thrown into the Court of Judicial Review long ago, and is still 'bearing his crimes.' We must be forthright."
Looking at Wei Wusheng, Song Shi'an said fearlessly, "Both Your Highness and I count as ringleaders. So we need to return to the city separately, relinquish all power successively, and wait for the maneuvering in court to conclude."
"What about the others? Qin Kuo, the Forbidden Army, and everyone else?" Wei Wusheng asked.
"First have them garrison here and rebuild. Even without official appointments, we must implement our plans," Song Shi'an said. "For the sake of resisting Qi, the military farming and restoration of Shuofeng are urgent. Liang Prefecture will definitely send us civilian laborers and troops."
"What about after our case is concluded?"
"After the case concludes, since we're innocent, we must have merit," Song Shi'an said forcefully. "If there's merit, then rewards must certainly be given."
"Good. I'll submit a memorial requesting promotions," Wei Wusheng nodded. "Let Qin Kuo become Prefect of Shuo Commandery, and Zhu Qing become General Who Pacifies the North."
Both were Senior Third Rank positions.
The greater half of Shuo Commandery that had been supported by Southern Liang would be reorganized as one commandery, with the administrative seat established at Shuofeng.
Military and civil authority—grasped together.
"The magistrates of the remaining three counties should also be replaced with people from the Forbidden Army," Song Shi'an said seriously.
A complete reshuffle.
When that time came, even if Wei Wusheng was no longer in Northern Liang, whoever became Inspector and Governor-General of Liang Prefecture wouldn't be able to actually control this strategic location.
What we defend becomes ours.
Military authority won't be surrendered, official seals won't be surrendered, command won't be surrendered—we're not surrendering a damn thing!
"What about Wang Dalong?"
Wei Wusheng asked.
"His background is clean. Apart from the Forbidden Army, he's the only one worth winning over," Song Shi'an said. "Not only should we mention him before His Majesty, in these next couple days Your Highness should also interact with him more."
"But he's quite loyal to Luo Ting..."
"Then make him equal in rank to Luo Ting, commanding another army."
As soon as these words were spoken, Wei Wusheng once again marveled at Song Shi'an's wisdom.
Loyalty—that's from subordinate to superior.
How can there be loyalty between equals?
Moreover, even if they didn't win him over to young Wei's faction, he'd been trapped at Shuofeng Pass for so long, and afterward His Highness still spoke up for his promotion. In outsiders' eyes—wouldn't that mean he'd made some private deal with young Wei?
Even if he wasn't in young Wei's faction, he'd become young Wei's faction.
"What about Zhao Xiang and Ran Jin?" Wei Wusheng asked about these two.
"Your Highness, remember—loyalty," Song Shi'an reminded him.
"..." Wei Wusheng slowly nodded, understanding. "Don't praise Ran Jin, but censure Zhao Xiang instead."
Both Ran Jin and Zhao Xiang had lost battles. Why would you speak well of them? Wouldn't that make it obvious you're trying to win over the meritorious nobility?
If you don't want to compete for the heir position, what are you winning over meritorious nobles for?
Ran Jin was one thing—losing wasn't primarily his responsibility, and he contributed in the later victory, so it balanced out.
But Zhao Xiang—enumerate his crimes in detail and completely drag him down!
Song Shi'an extended his hand, grasping at the air. Then, placing his hand over Wei Wusheng's, he slowly opened it: "What Zhao Xiang vacates can only become Your Highness's."
Zhao Xiang's father, Marquis Xun, had long since left the military and now held some idle positions.
According to the logic of inheritance, when he retired, Zhao Xiang moved up.
If Zhao Xiang retired, it would certainly be Zhao Xiang's son who moved up.
Taking advantage of this major defeat, they could cut off the old Zhao family at this generation and simultaneously uproot a meritorious noble!
"It's all suddenly clear."
This conversation was their Longzhong Strategy.
Wei Wusheng's direction was thus established.
"But Your Highness, and you—after leaving here, won't it be a shame about these people?" Xinyue, standing to the side, reminded them.
They simultaneously looked toward the brothers of the Yixin Society.
It was indeed a shame.
Though all were people they'd promoted, after all they'd be far away in Northern Liang, while Wei Wusheng and Song Shi'an would be in Sheng'an—they certainly couldn't cultivate the same affection and loyalty as keeping them close would.
But Wei Wusheng couldn't tell the Emperor he wanted to stay in Liang Prefecture.
Having troops, grain, and appointment authority—what, young Wei, you want to be deputy emperor or something?
The two engaged in contemplation.
Xinyue knew that at times like this, it was usually Song Shi'an who thought up some brilliant solution.
However, just then Wei Wusheng suddenly stood up, his expression earnest.
Song Shi'an was puzzled but also got up: "Your Highness, what's this about?"
Has our young Wei grown a brain too?
"Shi'an, come with me."
Wei Wusheng said nothing, only grasping Song Shi'an's left hand tightly and walking toward the crowd.
"Mm, alright."
Song Shi'an was puzzled but followed along.
Because these two big shots stood up, all the others immediately stopped drinking and rose to their feet, very consciously assembling before the two.
Lord Song and His Highness have something to say!
Very quickly, this dark mass of people gathered.
Tonight, they relied only on the bonfires scattered around the county office for light.
"Everyone, everything we promised you was decided by Lord Song and myself. The actual appointments still await the court. But!"
Speaking thus, Wei Wusheng raised Song Shi'an's left hand.
His own left hand also rose.
In the firelight, soldiers in the front rows seemed to see that both men had a long scar running across their palms...
"That day, Lord Song and I made a blood oath, vowing to trust each other completely and never betray one another."
Facing the crowd, Wei Wusheng declared in a resonant voice, "At this moment, Lord Song and I also swear by these scars that what we promised our brothers, we two will do everything to fulfill. How could we violate this? Unless we're both dead!"
It was possible that the Sixth Prince drew them a pie in the sky that the court wouldn't recognize.
But the Sixth Prince was willing to go this far.
The rest would repay this sincerity even unto death.
Zhu Qing slowly drew from his waist a small knife sheathed in leather.
This kind of personal dagger was standard issue for all Forbidden Army soldiers, used to portion hunted game and horse meat, or to slice off the ears of slain enemies to record battle merits. Through long use, they'd all been polished smooth and gleaming.
All the others also solemnly drew out their knives.
Three hundred men collectively raised their left hands, gripped their knives with their right, and cut down forcefully.
.........
A flying horse burst into Sheng'an, traveling without pause straight to the imperial palace.
As usual, this was an eight-hundred-li emergency military report.
But the difference this time was that the cavalryman bearing the military report had joy written all over his face.
He rode all the way to outside Xuanyu Hall before dismounting, presenting the military report to a eunuch.
In haste, the eunuch quickly climbed the steps and entered the hall.
Kneeling on both knees, raising both hands, he presented the military report: "Your Majesty, eight-hundred-li emergency."
The final step was handled by Chen Bao.
Taking it, he walked to the side of the Emperor on the dragon throne: "Your Majesty."
"You read it for me."
The Emperor had always suffered from eye problems, and these past days from reading too many military reports, it had worsened somewhat.
As for the war situation, actually, from earlier on, he'd already been able to make gradual predictions.
His emotions were calm.
Chen Bao opened the message tube, and after reading it, tears immediately welled up in his eyes. Then, wiping them away with the back of his hand, he said joyfully, "Congratulations, Your Majesty—the battle was won."