Chapter 309: Chapter 299 Favoritism
Xie Xun read the letter Xie Jue had written to Fengyu. Even though he was not well-versed in commerce, he could comprehend that if everything went smoothly, the Twelve Provinces were bound to unite, and the Yuwen Royal Family would never sit idly by.
Xie Jue said, "If I were Yuwen Jing, I wouldn’t allow the Twelve Provinces to develop freely—I would surely seek to balance them. There are two main options: first, deploying troops. The Twelve Provinces’ city defenses are weak. He would likely command Zhongzhou’s stationed troops to move against the Twelve Provinces. Second, cutting off trade. The Twelve Provinces are rich in minerals, yet their agricultural and economic produce are comparatively sparse compared to Jiangnan. However, Jiangnan requires the Twelve Provinces’ minerals. If trade is disrupted, it would destroy the livelihood of tens of thousands of ordinary people, inevitably inciting public resentment. It’s highly likely Yuwen Jing will have Zhongzhou take military action against the Twelve Provinces. You should instruct Lin Xiao, Zhang Boxin, and Zhou Liyu to lead eighty thousand men and repair the Liangma Road, finishing it before the winter planting season. With no wars in Beiman, when Fengyu and Lin Qingshan in Yunzhou discuss trade, you should also discuss military deployment with him. Regardless of whether Lin Qingshan agrees to align with Ningzhou, we must first create the reality of occupation, gradually encroaching upon the Twelve Provinces. While the initial steps are difficult, once Yunzhou is secured, the rest will be relatively straightforward."
He rarely spoke at such length, and Xie Xun poured him a cup of chilled tea to soothe his throat. The tea was laced with mint for alertness. Xie Xun had never disappointed him in matters of military and governance.
Xie Xun said, "Second Brother, I’ve considered what you said already. We don’t need to wait until the Liangma Road is repaired; I plan to progress with both the roadwork and troop deployment simultaneously. Lin Qingshan is related to the Lin Family. If our uncle and cousins don’t give their approval, he won’t surrender. During the campaign against the bandits, I noted his accent—our uncle and cousins haven’t sent him any messages, and he, too, is in a bind. He’s the type who would sacrifice everything to ensure the people’s stability and livelihood, so I’ll try to persuade him. I’ve inspected Yunzhou City’s defenses—they’re in complete disrepair. Yunzhou cannot support additional troops, nor can the city sustain the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry."
Xie Xun stood and walked to the desk in the center of the room, upon which sat a topographic model of Yanyang. He planted the Iron Cavalry’s banner in Jiaozhou. "The primary battlefield for the Twelve Provinces should be Jiaozhou."
When Xie Xun returned from Jinzhou, he toured all cities in the Twelve Provinces. The governor of Jiaozhou even requested his help suppressing bandits there. What was most intriguing was that Jiaozhou had ten thousand stationed troops, while the mountain occupied by bandits only had two thousand bandits. Jiaozhou didn’t need their assistance in eliminating bandits, yet the governor provided six days’ worth of supplies and awarded them one hundred thousand taels of silver—the most generous governor in the Twelve Provinces.
Xie Jue raised his eyebrows slightly. Xie Xun continued, "First, Jiaozhou can provide reinforcements to Yunzhou. Second, it can safeguard Jinzhou. Additionally, it can block Zhongzhou’s troops from advancing into West Continent. If Ayu seeks stability, Jinzhou and Jiaozhou should be the main focus; Yunzhou isn’t significant."
"Do you know why I insist on stationing troops in Yunzhou?"
Xie Xun lowered his gaze and did not answer.
Xie Jue said, "With no active Beiman conflicts, we can freely coordinate within our borders. Your strategic deployment plan is optimal, but if Beiman initiates war, I need the Twelve Provinces to provide immediate reinforcements. While Yunzhou’s city defense is weak, its geographical location is well-connected. If Yanyang engages us militarily, Jiaozhou will become the primary battleground. However, if all troops are concentrated in Jiaozhou, reinforcement to Ningzhou would be too slow should Beiman wage war."
"Will Beiman wage war?" Xie Xun’s expression darkened. "If Beiman goes to war while Zhongzhou also mobilizes troops, we’ll be trapped in a two-front conflict."
"War is unpredictable; no one can say for certain." Xie Jue said, "We must prepare for both scenarios. No matter how much we despise the Yuwen Royal Family, Beiman must not breach Ningzhou’s defensive line."
That night in the Capital City, Fang Chuning asked, if stepping over his corpse was the only way to leave the city, would he kill him? In truth, Fang Chuning was referring to Beiman. When Xie Jue witnessed the fall of their father and saw their eldest brother pierced by countless arrows, realizing that their elder sister and mother had also perished in the Capital City, his hatred overpowered reason.
If he could kill Fang Chuning, he certainly wouldn’t hesitate against Jiangnan’s stationed troops. He showed no mercy toward his comrades—what would happen if Beiman raised armies?
Xie Jue had to admit that on the night of their family’s destruction, his heart was consumed by hatred. All he wanted was to take Xie Xun back to Ningzhou, waiting for the day when they could storm the gates of the Capital City. The city their family had defended for five generations as Marquis Zhenbei would one day be shattered under the feet of the Marquis Mansion’s descendants.
He was fully aware of what Fang Chuning was truly asking, yet he still coldly refused him.
Thus, Fang Chuning had begged him not to let Beiman cross Ningzhou. If Beiman breached Ningzhou, the flat plains beyond would lead to countless civilian casualties and destroyed homes.
Xie Jue did not respond.
But when he knelt before the ancestral tablets of Marquis Zhenbei and Xie Zhang, he understood clearly: he and Xie Xun were bound to rebel, to exact vengeance, yet they would still uphold the Marquis Mansion’s creed—to defend Ningzhou to their deaths.
"Truly ironic, isn’t it?" Xie Xun said with bitter self-mockery. "Forced into family ruin and homelessness, yet if Beiman launches a massive offensive, we must defend Ningzhou, shielding them from harm while they sit in the high halls, enjoying glory and wealth. Meanwhile, our blood will stain the battlefield."
"It is indeed ironic!" Xie Jue said coolly. "But what choice do we have?"
"So, before Beiman even senses Yanyang’s rebellion, Yuwen Jing must die!" Xie Xun’s gaze turned vicious, his hatred for Yuwen Jing laid bare. "I will reorganize the defenses of the Twelve Provinces."
"If Beiman truly starts a war, we will not be caught in a two-front conflict." Xie Jue remarked. "When you plan defenses against Beiman’s invasion, focus only on allowing the Twelve Provinces to provide reinforcements as quickly as possible."
"Second Brother, do you still hold out hope for Yuwen Jing?" Xie Xun sneered. "If Beiman raises armies and he once again sends troops to attack Ningzhou, Yuwen Jing will surely be condemned by the public. He dared to kill his own father—what wouldn’t he dare do?"
"You’re wrong!" Xie Jue replied calmly. "Yuwen Jing was able to orchestrate the siege against our father and eldest brother in the Capital City because he had the authority to command the Forbidden Army and Jinyi Guard. Outside the Capital City, he loses that advantage. Although General Chen Ming of Zhongzhou supports the Royalist faction, the military authority is now in Fang Chuning’s hands. Do you know who sent Fang Chuning to Zhongzhou?"
"The Grand Marshal?"
"Our cousin!"
"But our cousin doesn’t involve himself in court politics."
"After our uncles escorted the ancestral tablets back home and the noble families were slaughtered, if he were truly indifferent, the noble families’ assets would’ve become Yuwen Jing’s treasury already." Xie Jue said flatly. "I want Chu Ning to head to Jiangnan because I don’t wish for him... I don’t want him entangled in this mess. Our cousin insisted on positioning him in Zhongzhou—then don’t blame me. He will regret it."
Xie Xun detected a trace of ruthlessness in Xie Jue’s indifferent tone. His Second Brother, who always concealed his emotions, seldom showed such outward signs of his feelings. Xie Xun thought back to how Fang Chuning had inexplicably gone to Jiangnan before his Second Brother left the Capital City.
His eldest brother had said that Fang Chuning had argued with his Second Brother.
Looking back now, it was clear that his Second Brother had intentionally provoked Fang Chuning, deliberately sending him away so that he would not get involved.
"Second Brother, do you fear Fang Chuning so much? Do you doubt I can defeat him?"
Xie Jue glared at him coldly, finally breaking his composure. "What is wrong with you? You’ve been competing with Fang Chuning since childhood!"
"Then why did you send him to Jiangnan?" Xie Xun had long wanted a chance to face off against Fang Chuning. "I’m not afraid of him."
For the first time, Xie Jue was left at a loss for words by Xie Xun’s question.
"Do you have anything else? If not, leave already." Xie Jue preemptively ended the conversation. "I have a headache."