Chapter 251
Chapter 251
Inside the Count of Jinhai's Estate.
The heir, Tang Yun, knelt on the floor, weeping.
“No, it can’t be… Father, must we really do this? Perhaps the situation won’t turn out that way. The Jin Clan taking Raging Tide City is a slap in the face to the King; His Majesty won’t let them be. Surely we don’t have to walk into the jaws of death? Let’s wait a little longer. Let’s just wait…”
Count Tang Lun gave a bitter smile, tapping his forehead.
“If we wait any longer, our entire family will die, and our clan will vanish without a trace. Our King is exceedingly intelligent, but also merciless. He will undoubtedly unleash his fury. But it’s hard to say upon whose head it will fall.”
“But it was the Count of Xuanwu’s Estate that brought down the New Policies, wasn’t it? They were the ones who expanded their power in the chaos. Our Tang Clan has always stood by the King’s side. Why would his anger fall upon us? Wouldn’t that dishearten his loyal subjects?”
“Wasn’t the former king of the State of Nanguo loyal? And what was the result? He fell into our King’s trap and died a miserable death. Afterward, the King raised Prince Gong in the capital, but sent a host of officials to Nanguo to usurp his power. When it comes to being let down by the King, has anyone been more betrayed than Prince Gong?”
“Still, the King’s anger should rightfully fall upon the Jin Clan. Why our family?”
“The Jin Clan has already taken Raging Tide City and now commands eighty percent of the pirate fleet led by Qiu Tianwei. Raging Tide City is isolated at sea. Without a navy, how can anyone attack them? Even if the King wishes to, it would take at least a year and a half to build the ships, and he would need to prepare an army of over thirty thousand. Do you think the Jin Clan will simply sit and wait for death while the King makes his preparations?
To the north lies the State of Wu. Years ago, Bian Wu defected from Wu to Yue with an army of a hundred thousand and the territory of three commanderies, changing the course of the war and causing Wu’s great defeat. The State of Wu has yet to fully recover from that loss. Do you think the King would allow the State of Yue to suffer Wu’s tragedy?”
The heir, Tang Yun, fell silent. Moments later, Count Tang Lun of Jinhai let out an even louder wail.
“We are fighting against time. Zhang Chong’s secret dispatch must have already reached the capital. If you go to the governor’s office now and report me, it won’t be too late. But if you wait until the cavalry of the Blackwater Terrace storms our estate, it will be. The King’s wrath will annihilate our family.”
“Th-then what about my brothers?”
Count Tang Lun was silent for a long moment. Indeed, what about his other sons? If he told them to flee to another country beforehand, they could survive. But should he? If he let his other sons escape, the Tang Clan’s sacrifice would be in vain.
The King had lost face this time; many people would have to die to fully appease his anger. If he killed the entire Tang Clan, leaving only Tang Yun, the King might one day recall this event with a twinge of shame and offer Tang Yun some compensation. But if Tang Lun sent several of his sons fleeing to the State of Wu, it would be true treason. In that case, the King truly would not spare the Tang Clan.
“Don’t tell any of your brothers. Go alone, in secret. Go to the governor’s office and report us.”
Tang Yun flinched, his body trembling, his face once again streaked with tears. His father intended to sacrifice the entire family just to save him. Tang Yun’s heart felt as if it were being torn apart.
“After you report us, you are to go to the capital immediately and pledge your allegiance to one of the princes.”
“To whom should I pledge myself?”
Count Tang Lun was conflicted. The Crown Prince? Or the Third Prince?
“Decide for yourself. Your father cannot see that far. Just remember one thing: do not make an enemy of Shen Lang or the Count of Xuanwu’s Estate ever again.”
“Why? Isn’t it because of Shen Lang that our family has been pushed into this corner? I will kill him! I will tear him to shreds and annihilate the Jin Clan!”
Just then, Count Tang Lun slapped his son across the face. Caught completely off guard, Tang Yun was sent flying. The Count of Jinhai then roared in anger.
“You fool! If Shen Lang hadn’t warned us, you wouldn’t have survived either!”
“Am I just supposed to swallow this grievance?”
“Even if you seek revenge, you must know who your true enemy is.”
Tang Yun was stunned, then burst into tears once more.
***
That night.
Tang Yun, the heir to the Count of Jinhai's Estate, left his home and rode through the night, rushing toward the office of the Provincial Governor of Tiannan. It was already the middle of the night, but Grand Governor Zhu Rong was not yet asleep. How could he be? He read and reread the secret dispatch from Zhang Chong, his body rigid, his mind as cold as ice.
The Jin Clan had taken Raging Tide City. From this day forward, their power would soar to the heavens; they could no longer be suppressed. The blade of the New Policies could no longer be held over their heads. Zhang Chong, that sharpest of blades, had not broken after facing the Jin Clan, but it had been severely chipped. Zhang Chong was Zhu Rong’s most trusted subordinate, yet he had been defeated by the Count of Xuanwu’s Estate in Nujiang Commandery.
Was he not strong enough? No, he was exceptionally strong, but that son-in-law of the Count of Xuanwu’s Estate was simply monstrous. Although Zhu Rong had not been part of the battle, he could clearly see the situation. It was a duel between two master strategists. In the end, Zhang Chong’s moves had been half a step behind Shen Lang’s. This was not just Zhang Chong’s defeat; it was Grand Governor Zhu Rong’s defeat as well.
If Zhang Chong was the vanguard pushing the New Policies, Zhu Rong was the commander-in-chief. He had successfully dealt with the Count of Dongjiang’s Estate. If he had succeeded with the Count of Xuanwu’s Estate as well, the New Policies could have swept across the entire State of Yue. Like a hot knife through butter, or water melting snow, the remaining old aristocratic families would have been unable to resist.
Dongjiang was reckless, while Xuanwu was patient and resilient. By taking down these two old families first, the rest of the nobility would have been left powerless. But now, the New Policies had suffered a crushing defeat before the Count of Xuanwu’s Estate. What was to be done? Should he continue to push the New Policies? Which family should be the next sacrifice? And who would succeed Zhang Chong as the blade of the New Policies, cutting down their enemies? Having been defeated by a tough opponent, should he leave them be for now and pick an easier target?
If this were a mere emotional squabble, it would be fine to continue. But this was a political struggle, and one must consider momentum. Once the momentum was lost, one had to rebuild strength and recover before fighting again. It was like driving a car and hitting an obstacle. In such a situation, one had to reverse for dozens of meters before accelerating forward again. If one tried to push straight ahead right after the collision, there wouldn't be enough power to move forward.
Ultimately, the New Policies had to be paused for the time being. Of course, on the surface, they would pretend to be proceeding with even greater ferocity, but in reality, they had no choice but to stop. Zhang Chong would have to take responsibility, and so would Zhu Rong. Of course, Zhu Rong wasn’t worried about his own position, but he was worried about Zhang Chong.
‘Is my sharpest blade to be broken just like this?’
Zhu Rong knew the King’s character well. In truth, Zhang Chong had done nothing wrong in this battle; he had even rendered a service. But the King would undoubtedly see it as Zhang Chong having lost, thereby causing him to lose face.
“What should I do? How can I protect Zhang Chong?”
Zhu Rong’s head was about to split. His advisor, Yan Wuqi, spoke.
“The King will be furious, and he will need to vent his anger. Tang Lun alone will not be enough. Ultimately, his greatest fury will be directed at Zhang Chong for losing to a mere live-in son-in-law like Shen Lang and making the King lose face. Our King is very intelligent, but he is also petty and extremely merciless… To save Zhang Chong, another major incident must occur to divert his towering rage. If that happens, Zhang Chong might have a chance to survive.”
Yan Wuqi’s own family had been annihilated due to the King’s unpredictable wrath. Thus, in front of Zhu Rong, he never hid his discontent with the former King. After the King had exterminated the Yan Clan, he had later felt a sense of shame and arranged for a few of the Yan Clan’s descendants to be appointed to official posts.
Just then, a servant from outside announced.
“My lord, Tang Yun, the heir of the Count of Jinhai’s Estate, requests an audience, claiming he has a grave secret to report.”
Governor Zhu Rong nodded.
“Let him in.”
A moment later, Tang Yun rushed into the room, knelt before Zhu Rong, and said,
“Grand Governor, I am here to make a report. My father, in his desire for revenge against the Jin Clan, colluded with the pirate Qiu Tianwei and privately gifted Gold Mountain Island to the pirates. Furthermore, he mobilized our family’s private soldiers to pose as pirates and, knowing it would bring worldly condemnation, attacked the Count of Xuanwu’s Estate’s Misery Islet.
I, Tang Yun, as a scholar who earned his rank by royal decree, have strived to be both loyal and filial. But now, for the sake of the nation, I must forsake my family; for the sake of the greater good, I must turn my back on my kin.”
After speaking, Tang Yun pressed his head to the floor and remained motionless, his two hands holding up a blood-written letter from his father. Grand Governor Zhu Rong took the letter and glanced at it. He asked,
“Was this your father’s idea?”
Tang Yun remained kneeling on the floor, silent.
“This will not be easy. Fortunately, you came just in time. Had you been even an hour later, you would have had to go to the capital and beg for forgiveness before the King himself.”
Instantly, a cold sweat broke out across Tang Yun’s back.
‘Just as Father said. The Tang Clan was nearly annihilated.’
“Very well. Rise and follow me to the capital.”
An hour later, Grand Governor Zhu Rong left Tiannan Province, escorted by several hundred cavalrymen on his way to the capital. This was a major political crisis. Soon, thunder and lightning would strike the State of Yue, and countless heads would roll, lives would be lost. Or perhaps, could it all pass over peacefully, as if nothing had happened? That depended on everyone’s efforts and the King’s will. Let it be the latter!
The war in the State of Nanguo was not going as smoothly as expected. Prince Gong, as if possessed, had brought in a large army from the Four Barbarian Tribes, creating a bloodbath. The battlefield had become a river of blood. The State of Yue could not, in fact, withstand too much turmoil.
***
The capital of the State of Yue. Inside the magnificent royal palace.
King Ning Yuanxian held Zhang Chong’s secret dispatch in his hand. The supreme monarch’s long, narrow face was contorted in a frown. He had read only two pages before he could no longer bear it and tore the dispatch to shreds.
*Crash!*
He then kicked the table in front of him, sending it flying. Instantly, all the eunuchs and Blackwater Terrace officials in the palace fell to the ground, not daring to even breathe loudly. After shredding the dispatch, the King looked at the scattered pieces on the floor and said coldly,
“Pick them up and piece them back together. If a single piece is missing, I will hold you all accountable.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Several eunuchs hurried forward, gathered all the torn fragments, and carefully pieced the report back together. The complete dispatch reappeared before the King. With a face livid with rage, the King read Zhang Chong’s dispatch again, and then tore it apart once more. The supreme monarch then let out a furious roar.
“Treason! The Jin Clan has committed treason! That damned turtle has finally stuck its head out and committed treason! Zhang Chong, you useless fool! Men! Have Zhang Chong escorted to the capital and thrown into the Blackwater Terrace’s prison! Summon Zhu Rong and Nangong Ao. We must assemble a great army and quell this rebellion!”