Chapter 416
Chapter 416
“Hah!”
Zhang Chong couldn't help but sigh in frustration. Although the brand of him being part of the Crown Prince's faction and Governor Zhu Rong's clique was unchangeable, he absolutely did not want to become Shen Lang's enemy. Making an enemy of someone like Shen Lang was nothing short of a nightmare. Shen Lang was a man who needed no power, no status, no office, no money—so how could one possibly fight against someone like that, who would use every ounce of his cunning to devise a way to kill his opponent?
For instance, in this battle, to Su Nan, Shen Lang and Zhang Chong were just one of many adversaries to be defeated. Su Nan’s vision encompassed the entire political landscape, considering Chu, Yue, Wu, and Jiang, aiming to secure money, soldiers, and territory. Unlike him, whose attention was divided among many things, Shen Lang had devoted his entire being solely to killing Su Nan.
“Sir Zhang, you have rendered a great service. His Highness might appoint you directly as the Central Commander of Tianxi Province.”
Previously, Zhang Chong had only aimed for the position of Sub-Commander of Yanzhou. But now, having achieved great merit and with his reputation in Baiye Commandery at its peak, it was perfectly fitting for him to become the Central Commander of Tianxi Province. The current Central Commander, Yang Yongnian, was undoubtedly finished. However, if Zhang Chong were to take that post, the brand of him being in the Crown Prince's faction would be seared even deeper. To live a virtuous life alone, regardless of one's affiliation? That was impossible. If he remained in the Crown Prince's faction, he would inevitably face Shen Lang as an enemy in the future. A man cannot be indecisive. To hope to remain in the Crown Prince's faction yet not become Shen Lang's enemy? That was impossible. Thus, even though Su Nan was not yet dead, Shen Lang wanted to discuss the matter with Zhang Chong first.
But once he left the Crown Prince's faction, Zhang Chong, a civil official, would be unable to advance a single step. Of course, after this battle, the King would trust Zhang Chong immensely. But in the world of officialdom, the King's trust alone was not enough to achieve real results. Zhang Chong didn't care whether it was the position of Prefect or Central Commander. What he truly desired was a position of creation, not destruction. Zhang Chong did not enjoy employing deadly tactics against everyone he met, as Shen Lang did.
After a long while, Zhang Chong finally spoke.
“Didn't Commissioner Bian always tell me to come to Yanzhou and serve as the Sub-Commander? Then I think it's best I go to Yanzhou.”
“Yanzhou is merely a special autonomous prefecture with only three commanderies, and its area is only half that of Tianxi Province. Besides, the official rank is slightly lower.”
“At least I won't have to be your enemy, will I? But if I do that, I'll become a traitor to the Crown Prince's faction.”
Zhang Chong did not finish his sentence. The King would eventually grow old, and in the future, when the Crown Prince inherited the throne, Zhang Chong, as a traitor to his faction, would not have peaceful days. He might not even be left alone. Even if Zhang Chong went to Yanzhou, Bian Wu couldn't protect him for a lifetime. In fact, when Crown Prince Ning Yi ascended the throne, both the Bian and Zhong clans would face a sudden shift in their circumstances. Just then, a voice came from outside.
“Lord Prefect, Lord Yang, the Central Commander of Tianxi Province, has arrived.”
Shen Lang and Zhang Chong looked at each other, exchanging mocking glances. Then, Zhang Chong struggled to get up.
“Quick, quick, help me up. I will go see Commander Yang myself.”
An earnest voice came from outside.
“How could you say such a thing? Sir Zhang is a hero of the state, gravely wounded and not yet recovered. You must not rise.”
The door opened, and a large shadow walked in. It was Yang Yongnian, the Central Commander of Tianxi Province. This was Shen Lang's first time meeting him, and he certainly made a good impression. He had a square face, a valiant-looking short beard, sharp, upswept eyebrows, and large, prominent eyes, with a high, straight nose. Judging by appearances alone, he looked more righteous than Count Jin Zhuo. If such a man lived on modern Earth, he would surely be typecast as an upright character.
Moreover, his background was impeccable. His father had been a trusted confidant in Ning Yuanxian's residence before his ascension and had rendered great service. After Ning Yuanxian took the throne, the Yang clan was enfeoffed as counts, making Yang Yongnian not only a nobleman of good standing but also a talented individual who had passed the second-grade imperial examinations, skilled in both civil and military arts. But unexpectedly, this man, who with his thick eyebrows and large eyes looked like he would die for righteousness, had betrayed them and secretly colluded with Su Nan.
After Su Nan's recent rebellion, the Central Commander of Tianxi Province had seemed to vanish. The King had sent three edicts ordering him to lead his troops to quell the rebellion. In response, Yang Yongnian had reported three times that his illness was critical. When Su Nan wrote a proclamation denouncing the State of Yue and spread it to the world, it was posted all over Tianxi Province. It was even posted outside the Central Commandery, yet Yang Yongnian, after feigning anger a few times and having it torn down several times, simply caught a few of the people who posted it and let the matter drop.
When the King once again urged him to lead his troops to suppress the rebels, he reported that he was bedridden and at death's door. However, he firmly stated that as soon as his health improved, he would personally lead a great army to quell the rebellion. After that, he stubbornly feigned illness and did not move from his bed. So, was Yang Yongnian Su Nan's dog? Probably not.
He was indeed an official of the Su Faction, and even a vanguard among them. In the past, Su Nan was a giant in the court, but after his relationship with the King soured, Yang Yongnian became completely silent, no longer daring to proclaim himself a vanguard of the Su Faction at every turn. However, his relationship with the Su Clan was absolutely inseparable, and they were indeed too close. Like two intertwined trees that had grown into each other's flesh, they could no longer be cut apart. Any attempt to do so would leave both of them bleeding profusely, so Yang Yongnian had no desire to try.
Su Nan had greatly helped Yang Yongnian obtain his current position. After becoming Central Commander, he was smug and satisfied, thinking he was on equal footing with the Su Clan, and his attitude became arrogant. But after arriving in Tianxi Province to assume his post, he couldn't advance a single step. To the north, there was the formidable Zhong Yao, and to the south, the local ruffians of the Su Clan. Yang Yongnian's position as Central Commander was so suppressed by Grand Commander Zhong Yao that he could hardly breathe, unable to wield any real power. Left with no choice, he once again threw in his lot with the Su Clan.
With the Su Clan's help, the Central Commander finally gained some power and a voice, at least in the southern part of Tianxi Province. After that, the Su Clan's blatant plundering and infiltration of the officialdom continued unabated. Yang Yongnian had a hand in the slave trade and the smuggling of contraband between Yue and Chu. The Su Clan had dragged him in, entangling him so completely that they had become one. How could they possibly be separated?
Ultimately walking down a dark path, Yang Yongnian had hoped for Su Nan to win a great victory. That way, his own value would rise, and he could be enfeoffed as a marquis. But he had never imagined that Shen Lang and Zhang Chong would be so valiant as to crush the main force of the Su Clan's allied army. As he lay in bed, an unexpected disaster fell from the heavens.
Yang Yongnian had long debated whether he should now also rebel and flee, or if he could still salvage everything. After weighing his options, he concluded that he could still recover. And so, his critical illness that had him on the verge of death suddenly healed, and he immediately led four thousand troops to charge over. Thus, no matter how much he inwardly resented Zhang Chong and Shen Lang to the point of death, on the surface, he had to appear incomparably affectionate toward them.
Seeing Zhang Chong about to rise from his bed, Yang Yongnian quickly stepped forward to stop him. He grasped Zhang Chong's hand tightly, his eyes brimming with tears.
“Illness strikes like a landslide but retreats like spinning silk. This commander has felt this most deeply of late. I have been gravely ill for half a year, as if I have passed through the gates of hell. Sir Zhang, how did you come to this? When we met in the capital years ago, you were still so young and full of spirit. To think you have become so haggard!”
What nonsense. Years ago, when Yang Yongnian met Zhang Chong in the capital, he was the Central Commander of Tianxi Province, while Zhang Chong was an insignificant fifth-rank official in the Censorate. Yang Yongnian wouldn't have even glanced at him. As the saying goes, the rivers and mountains change in ten years; now, Zhang Chong was on the verge of promotion, while Yang Yongnian was on the brink of ruin.
“You must be Young Master Shen?”
Yang Yongnian looked at Shen Lang with a friendly expression, but Shen Lang merely raised the corner of his mouth in a semblance of a smile, his attitude extremely cold. Under normal circumstances, Shen Lang, a mere castellan, would not even be qualified to stand before a Central Commander. But now, Shen Lang sat there as if he didn't care, with no intention of rising to pay respects. Shen Lang was always so practical. Yang Yongnian, finding himself in an awkward situation of his own making, grew inwardly furious.
*Shen Lang, that fellow truly has the face of a petty man.*
But despite his anger, Yang Yongnian's smile did not falter in the slightest. Fortunately, Zhang Chong was a reasonable man and would not show him any displeasure.
“Upon hearing that Su Nan had rebelled, I was so shocked I nearly stopped breathing. I immediately saddled my horse and gathered my troops, preparing to quell the rebellion and support you, Sir Zhang. But alas, my unworthy body could not rise, and I nearly died in my sickbed. Now that I am slightly better, I have immediately led four thousand troops to suppress the rebellion.”
Zhang Chong said.
“Your Excellency is full of loyalty and righteousness! I, Zhang Chong, was finding it difficult to manage this great task alone. Now that you have arrived, I shall entrust the defense of Baiye Commandery City to you, Your Excellency.”
“How can you say such a thing? Are you not a great general of our time, Sir Zhang, skilled in both scholarship and arts? The defense of Baiye Commandery City should naturally be left to you. I will hand over all five thousand troops I brought with me to you, Sir Zhang. I have come here with the mind to be only an ear to follow your orders, not a mouth to give them.”
*Five thousand troops? Don't you think you're exaggerating? Even including the child laborers you brought, it wouldn't be five thousand.*
Just then, someone from outside reported again.
“Count Zheng Tuo of the Pacifying West General's Estate has arrived!”
The door was forcefully pushed open, and a very large shadow strode in majestically. Unlike Yang Yongnian's cautious demeanor, Zheng Tuo walked straight to Zhang Chong's bedside.
“Sir Zhang, how did you end up like this?”
Zhang Chong opened his mouth and laughed in disbelief. Zheng Tuo then walked over to Shen Lang and clapped him hard on the shoulder.
“You brat, you fight pretty well. You haven't brought shame to the Marquis of Xuanwu.”
The blow was so hard that Shen Lang's shoulder went numb with pain.
*You damn fool. Who are you trying to impress with that boisterous act, pretending to be a magnanimous elder? You're probably scared out of your wits, yet you act all high and mighty, making a racket.*
“Commander Yang, you're here too?”
Zheng Tuo clasped his hands in greeting towards Yang Yongnian, who returned the gesture. Zheng Tuo then sat down directly in a chair and continued.
“I've just come from a thrilling battle. I personally led sixteen thousand troops and pursued Su Zhan for several hundred miles, slaughtering his army until they cried for their mothers. The soldiers he managed to lead back to the Marquisate of Zhenyuan can't be more than three thousand at most.”
Another braggart. And unlike Yang Yongnian, Zheng Tuo didn't just exaggerate; he was also showing off his supposed merits.