Chapter 116
Chapter 116
For ten days, Lin Zhuo acted like a completely rabid dog. He led the cavalry from the Yanshan Garrison, stirring up trouble along the borders of the Count of Xuanwu's fiefdom, constantly creating conflicts and incidents. He even openly moved the boundary markers and repeatedly led his cavalry to trespass on the Count of Xuanwu's lands. This led to dozens of clashes between the two sides' forces. Each time, Mulan, fearing a small skirmish would erupt into a full-blown war, forcibly restrained her soldiers. Seeing Mulan and the Count of Xuanwu's Estate acting so cautiously and yielding even when provoked, Lin Zhuo grew increasingly smug and continued his arrogant provocations.
In the past two days, using the pretext that the Count of Xuanwu's cavalry had crossed the border, he had them fired upon with arrows. Although no men were hit, eight of the estate's warhorses were shot and killed. Yet, the Count of Xuanwu's Estate still did not retaliate, which only made Lin Zhuo more determined to escalate his harassment.
"The Count of Xuanwu's Estate is finished. Hahahaha!"
Lin Zhuo wanted to share his triumphant mood. He returned home to drink with his father, rambling on about his elation. That night, he summoned the prettiest maidservant in the house to attend to him in bed.
"Shen Lang, the day the Count of Xuanwu's Estate is destroyed, I will tear you to shreds! Jin Mulan, you've always looked down on people from your high horse, haven't you? In the future, you'll have no choice but to enter the Entertainment Quarter. When that day comes, I will be your most loyal patron! I'll even bring the third and fifth young masters from the Count of Jing'an's Estate to dote on you."
Just then, the maidservant beneath him let out a sharp scream.
"Ah, ah... Young Master, you're bleeding."
Lin Zhuo looked down and saw a large sore on his private parts. It had burst and was bleeding continuously. It didn't hurt much, and he hadn't even noticed it before.
'What... what is this?'
Lin Zhuo was startled, and the alcohol instantly left him. His head felt like it was about to split open, a chill ran through his body, and he was consumed by an endless fear. He had a vague idea of what this was.
'This... this looks like syphilis. The most terrifying venereal disease in the world. It's incurable.'
***
Three days ago.
The King issued a royal decree, appointing the retired Marquis Zhenyuan, Su Nan, as the Grand Marshal of the Suppression Army, as well as Junior Guardian of the Crown Prince. To accept the King's will, Marquis Su Nan rushed to the capital. The King's appointment of Marquis Zhenyuan dealt a fatal blow to the Count of Xuanwu's Estate, while the New Faction celebrated the high appointment of a colleague.
Inside the Marquis of Zhenbei's Estate.
Prefect Zhang Chong and the Marquis of Zhenbei, Nangong Ao, were in a private discussion. Nangong Ao was the Grand Marshal of the North, one of the five military leaders of the State of Yue, and a master of supreme martial arts. He stood over 190 centimeters tall, with a build as solid as a mountain yet lean and long-limbed. He was like a pine when seated and a sharp spear when standing. His eyebrows were like coiled silkworms when he frowned and like two sharp blades when relaxed. His eyes were sharp and exuded an air of dominance. A powerful aura radiated from him, forcing those who faced him to retreat three paces.
Zhang Chong said to Nangong Ao.
"His Excellency the Governor is concerned that the Count of Xuanwu, if cornered, might lead his troops to defect to the northern State of Wu. This could potentially trigger a fierce war between our two nations. To prevent this, His Excellency will petition the King to increase the defensive forces along the Wu-Yue border."
"If the King issues a decree, the Grand Marshal of the North's headquarters will obey. Will General Zhu Lin, the General Who Pacifies the South, be the commander for suppressing the Nan'ou rebellion?"
"He most likely will be. The General Who Pacifies the South's headquarters is relatively close to Nan'ou, so there is no need to tire the troops with a long expedition. Your Lordship, your heir is twenty-five this year, is he not?"
"He is."
"I have long heard that Young Master Nangong Xie is unmatched in his valor, even surpassing Your Lordship in your younger days."
"You flatter me."
Among the young nobles of Tiannan Province, there were several top martial artists. In swordsmanship, Tang Yan of the Count of Jinhai's Estate, known as the "Martial Arts Fanatic," was number one. He was a direct disciple of the supreme master known as the Sword King of the South Sea, and had roamed the world with his master.
In equestrian martial arts and the ability to command troops, the heir of the Marquis of Zhenbei's Estate, Nangong Xie, was considered the best.
"Grand Marshal Zhu Lin has heard of Young Master Nangong's bravery and skill in warfare. He hopes Your Lordship will lend your talent, allowing the young master to lead troops as the vanguard to suppress the rebellion in Nan'ou."
Although the new policies were causing increasing turmoil in the State of Yue, it was still a relatively peaceful time overall, making it difficult to earn military merits. The Zhu Clan asking the Marquis of Zhenbei's heir, Nangong Xie, to lead the vanguard was an offer for him to gain recognition. However, the Marquis of Zhenbei read a different intention in Zhang Chong's words.
"You want my son to lead troops into battle. Do you mean the northern army, or my family's private forces?"
Nangong Ao cut straight to the heart of the matter. Leading the northern army meant leading the forces of the State of Yue, which was perfectly fine. But leading his family's private forces into war was a powerful political signal.
'The Marquis of Zhenbei is leading his private army to pacify Nan'ou, so why can't you other old aristocratic families follow his example? Do you have no loyalty to the King, no love for your country?'
Thus, for the heir of the Marquis of Zhenbei's Estate to lead his private army into battle would set a bad precedent, earning them the resentment of countless old aristocratic families. He had already signaled his inclination towards the New Faction by sending his second son, Nangong Ping, to Zhang Jin and Xu Qianqian's engagement ceremony. Yet, the New Faction was now demanding he go a step further and position himself in direct opposition to the old aristocracy.
Prefect Zhang Chong asked, "Has your second son, Nangong Ping, not held the position of Palace Censor for over two years?"
"He has."
"As it happens, one of my chief administrators has been on leave due to illness for a long time, and the position has been vacant for over three months. I wonder if Your Lordship would be willing to let your second son serve under me?"
The title of Palace Censor sounded prestigious, but it was a powerless post of the junior seventh rank. To a commoner with no backing, even that position seemed high, but for the scion of a powerful family, it was a mere title. However, a chief administrator in the prefect's office was at least a sixth-rank official, with the highest being fifth-rank—a jump of three ranks in an instant. The Marquis of Zhenbei, Nangong Ao, frowned and hesitated for a moment before nodding.
"I will have my family's private army assemble and stand by, ready to march south to quell the rebellion at any time."
He agreed not because of the opportunities offered to his two sons, but because of the King's decree from three days ago. Marquis Zhenyuan, Su Nan, had been reinstated as the Grand Marshal of the Suppression Army. The State of Yue had no word for "domino," but this was like the first one falling. It was a fatal blow to the Count of Xuanwu's Estate, but also a dangerous signal to the Marquis of Zhenbei, Nangong Ao.
Who were the most powerful among the old aristocracy of Yue? The Duke of Weiwu's Estate, the Marquis of Zhenxi's Estate, and the Marquis of Zhenyuan's Estate. The Count of Xuanwu's Estate ranked fifth.
The fiefdom of the Duke of Weiwu was in Yanzhou, a highly complex region, making it difficult to touch. The fiefdom of the Marquis of Zhenxi bordered the western state of Chu and was a bulwark against it, so they too were difficult to touch. Therefore, by all calculations, the first target of the new policies should have been the Marquis of Zhenyuan's Estate.
When the winds of the new policies began to blow, Marquis Zhenyuan, Su Nan, feigned illness and requested to resign to gauge the King's true intentions, and the King granted his request. The once-prestigious Marquis Zhenyuan was thus removed from the center of power, seemingly resentful that the King had cast him aside. Moreover, worried that the King's first blade would fall upon his own head, he adopted an even lower profile, voluntarily reducing his private army from seven thousand to five thousand.
But the King's first blade fell on the Count of Dongjiang's Estate, and now the second blade was aimed at the Count of Xuanwu's Estate. Furthermore, Marquis Zhenyuan, who had been estranged for seven years, was suddenly reinstated to serve as the Grand Marshal of the Suppression Army. This was tantamount to the King asking Su Nan, "Don't support the Count of Xuanwu. Obey me, and I will give you a good position. How would you like command over tens of thousands of troops?" At the same time, it was a threat to the Marquis of Zhenbei: "Nangong Ao, if you don't obey, there is always someone to replace you."
He pulled one in to strike another, and to threaten a third. The decree appointing Su Nan as Grand Marshal of the Suppression Army achieved three goals with one move. The King was a master of such tactics, and against this backdrop, Nangong Ao had no choice but to accept Zhang Chong's request.
"I will voluntarily petition the King to send my family's private army to quell the rebellion in Nan'ou. The Count of Xuanwu is a man who understands the greater good and will not take action against the King. But should he lose his senses and act rashly, my army will be ready to march south at a moment's notice to crush any potential disaster and rebellion."
Zhang Chong immediately bowed in respect.
"Then I must thank Your Lordship for your troubles. I am moved beyond words."
Zhang Chong was overjoyed. With the Marquis of Zhenbei, Nangong Ao, willing to be a sword in the King's hand, things would proceed smoothly. With this sword, the King would become even more formidable. An old aristocratic family refuses to obey? The King could immediately issue a decree ordering them to lead their private armies to pacify Nan'ou.
The fate of an old aristocratic family's private army, placed under the command of Zhu Lin's generals in Nan'ou, was plain to see. Their blood would be spilled on the battlefield. Even a rebellion could be used as a political tool in the hands of a monarch. Moreover, with the Marquis of Zhenbei now fully on the King's side, any possibility of the Count of Xuanwu taking up arms in rebellion was eliminated.
No matter how formidable the three thousand private soldiers of the Count of Xuanwu's Estate were, could they defeat the tens of thousands of troops under the Marquis of Zhenbei? Thus, securing the agreement of the Marquis of Zhenbei's Estate meant they had already won half of this decisive battle.
***
The Prefect of Nu River Commandery, Zhang Chong, met with Shu Tingyu of the Hidden Yuan Society. Zhang Chong asked him.
"Once the dispute over Gold Mountain Island is settled, the Count of Xuanwu's Estate will lose the island completely. Will your society then be able to demand that Count Jin Zhuo repay all his debts and take possession of Wang'ai Island?"
"We most certainly will."
Zhang Chong hesitated for a moment, then asked.
"Young Master Shu, may I ask something? Your society has cooperated with the old aristocracy of Yue for many years. Why the sudden change in stance?"
Shu Tingyu's round, dumpling-like face still wore a smile, but his eyes held a sharp glint.
"You cannot prop up a wall with wet mud. The old aristocrats know the principle that they should not involve themselves in matters that could bring them danger, and they also know that when the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold. Yet, when the Count of Dongjiang's Estate was destroyed, not a single one of them stepped forward to help.
Now, a great disaster has befallen the Count of Xuanwu's Estate, and who has come to their aid? Marquis Zhenyuan, the leader of the old aristocracy and a relative of the Count of Xuanwu, what has he done? The moment the King issued a decree for his reinstatement, Marquis Su Nan rushed to the capital as if he couldn't wait a second longer.
Even if there was conflict between the Marquis Zhenyuan and the Count of Xuanwu, as the leader of the old aristocracy, the Marquis Zhenyuan's Estate should have sent someone to Jin Mulan's wedding. But not a single person was sent. Of course, Jin Mulan's wedding was sudden, but in the months since, shouldn't there have been some gesture? Did Marquis Zhenyuan even send a gift? The old aristocrats are like scattered sand, unwilling to help one another. If our Hidden Yuan Society continues to rely on them, we will only perish with them."
Zhang Chong smiled faintly. The old aristocracy was so weak it could be toppled with a single blow, and Marquis Zhenyuan, Su Nan, could be considered the chief culprit for this disaster. Just as a snake cannot move without its head, the leader of the old aristocracy had instead hidden his head like a tortoise, allowing the King to defeat them one by one. Everyone knows that when the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold, but being able to act on that knowledge is another matter entirely. If everyone truly understood such principles, the State of Qin would never have been able to conquer the other six states during the Warring States period.
Shu Tingyu hesitated for a moment before continuing.
"Your Excellency the Prefect, the new policies are not just aimed at the old aristocracy, are they?"
His words were profound. Zhang Chong suddenly realized something he hadn't considered. What would the King do after he had swept away the old aristocracy? He would separate civil and military power. By then, city lords and prefects would no longer hold military authority. The commandery-prefecture system was an inevitable trend, leading to unprecedented centralization of power, with the King consolidating even more authority.
But Zhang Chong pretended not to understand. That would be at least a decade away. By then, he would have entered the core of power, and even if he couldn't become prime minister, he would be in charge of one of the Six Ministries. What does it matter what happens to the world after I'm gone? Just then, there was a knock on the door, and Zhang Jin's voice was heard.