Chapter 277: Chapter 272 Close Brothers
General Cui’s Mansion, family feast.
General Cui, whose name is Cui Xin, has one wife and one concubine, and he is the father of three sons and one daughter. His eldest son Cui Lanyao died in the last battle of the previous year, while Cui Lansong, the legitimate second son, is being groomed by General Cui as his successor. His concubine, who is his cousin, holds the status of a noble concubine and has given birth to one son and one daughter. The daughter, aged fifteen, has just come of age, and the youngest son, only six years old, is still in his tender years.
General Cui has a younger sister who is married to Prefect Li, with whom she has three sons. Their eldest son Li Qian serves as Deputy General under General Xu Zhou. Ningzhou’s military affairs are busy, and General Cui, as the general guarding the north city gate, has been living in a state of high alert, making it rare for him to have time to gather with his family.
During dinner, the atmosphere was tense. Cui Xiaomei complained about Xie Jue’s plan to abolish the State Mansion. This matter was being discussed by Xie Jue, Prefect Li, and the household steward. Xie Jue’s official decree had been delayed, and news from the Capital City revealed that Fang Chuning refused to mobilize troops, Feng Changqing and Su Yuejiao had removed their armor, and several military generals, even if still holding positions in court, were incapable of fighting this battle for Yanyang.
Half of Yanyang’s finest generals are stationed in Ningzhou, while the other half refuse to march. Even though Yuwen Jing holds Fang Chuning’s entire family hostage and grants him 200,000 troops, he still can’t gather sufficient supplies. After Xie Jue and Xie Xun defected, Jiangnan could no longer provide military rations. Furthermore, with Marshal Fang present, mass executions were not an option.
Originally, after peace talks, the nation was desolate and in need of rejuvenation. Yanyang couldn’t afford a war, Ningzhou City couldn’t afford a war, and if they were attacked on both fronts, the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry would be forced into a last-ditch fight.
No one wanted this battle!
Xie Jue wanted to streamline Ningzhou City’s local affairs and wait until Xie Xun escorted silver back to Ningzhou City to establish the new dynasty. The Ningzhou Prefecture is an administrative office appointed under the Yanyang Dynasty, but Xie Jue did not plan to continue using the old system.
Cui Xiaomei felt indignant as Prefect Li was scheduled for promotion to a capital post by year-end, just one step away. The entire family could relocate to the Capital City, and Cui Xiaomei had long desired to witness its splendor. Now, with the Xie Family’s rebellion, not only was the promotion lost, but Li’s official position was also at risk of being revoked. In Ningzhou City, Cui Xiaomei lived like a princess; her elder brother was the General guarding the city gates, her husband was the prefect of the city, and there was no vassal king in Ningzhou. The banquets she hosted were of the highest standard among the women and she was the center of attention in social gatherings.
Her daughter could marry the finest man in Ningzhou, and her son could choose the most beautiful and illustrious girl from the best families. The Cui and Li families had always been the most enviable households in Ningzhou City.
"The Second Young Master and the Young Marquis are overseeing Ningzhou City, so naturally, the old system must be abolished and the new policies enforced. If Li Dan proves capable, the Second Young Master will certainly value him."
"My husband has served as Ningzhou’s Prefect for three years. Even if he didn’t achieve major accomplishments, he worked tirelessly. How could the State Mansion be abolished with just a word and without any arrangement for its personnel? In recent days, the Second Young Master has been discussing affairs with Fengyu, who came from the Capital City. A young, unmarried girl exposing herself in public—what kind of conduct is that? Moreover, a girl who has barely come of age, what could she possibly understand? Could she be more familiar with Ningzhou City than my husband? Miss Feng San also has a marriage agreement with the Young Marquis, yet she’s constantly following the Second Young Master without any regard for propriety. The Second Young Master shows blatant favoritism; he doesn’t know Ningzhou City’s officials but prefers to involve an uninformed little girl in his deliberations. How could this command the respect of others?"
Li Dan looked distressed as he tugged her sleeve, "Enough, don’t say any more."
"Why shouldn’t I speak? You’re on the verge of being squeezed out of the State Mansion, and yet you remain hesitant, cowardly!"
"Hold your tongue!" General Cui roared in fury. "The Second Young Master is not someone you can slander or make up rumors about. I advise you to keep your mouth shut to avoid bringing trouble upon yourself."
Cui Xiaomei was startled and fearful after being shouted at, but she still felt indignant. Cui Lansong sneered and said, "Aunt, my father has been by the Marquis’s side for a long time. If he makes a mistake or stirs trouble, the Marquis can smooth over it with a few words. But the Second Young Master is the least forgiving of all. Even the Marquis couldn’t stop him if he chose to punish someone. I’ll warn you now: don’t gossip, or involve his family, or neither my father nor I could save you."
Li Dan hurriedly assured, "Brother-in-law, rest assured, I will keep her in check."
Cui Xiaomei indeed underestimated Xie Jue and Xie Xun due to their youth. In Ningzhou City, there was a group of veteran generals, and she had heard that the Young Marquis was challenged in the Military Hall by several of them. If these elder generals banded together, how could Xie Jue and Xie Xun possibly prevail?
The Marquis Zhenbei and Xie Zhang were dead, and who knew how many from the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry pledged loyalty to Xie Xun?
"The Marquis and the Eldest Young Master’s bodies are not yet cold, and the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry remembers this blood debt. The Young Marquis is the Commander-in-Chief of all three armies, and this is beyond dispute. He announced early on that any Ningzhou Iron Cavalry who refused to follow him in rebellion could leave freely or retire to civilian life. After one entire day, only a few dozen departed. That is the will of the troops. As long as his surname is Xie, the Iron Cavalry will remain loyal to him." General Cui said in a deep voice, "The Second Young Master is meticulously planning and overseeing the rear. He has his arrangements. You are a female, staying at home to support your husband and raise your children. Do not meddle in city affairs. Is that clear?"