Chapter 426: Chapter 410: Real Brothers
After dinner, Ruyi was taken away by her wet nurse and maids to bathe and sleep. Xie Jue and Xie Xun headed to the study to drink tea, play chess, and talk. The New Year was nearing, and official duties were not busy. It was more a time to discuss family matters. The last time Xie Xun and Xie Jue met was in August, during the autumn harvest in West State when Xie Xun came by. Visiting Xie Jue and Ruyi was convenient, and now, their time spent together was rare, making them cherish these moments more.
Xie Jue left the Shadow Guards back in Capital City and naturally knew the dynamics there. Ever since Feng Shu was conferred the title of Chen Fei, she had been residing in Yingchun Palace, living in seclusion. Yuwen Jing was more astute than the late emperor, but his methods were far more ruthless. He exercised strict control over Capital City, selecting the new martial scholar champion and several outstanding young generals from the imperial exams and dispatching them to Jiangnan and Zhongzhou for training. These individuals, having received imperial favor, were steadfastly loyal to Yuwen Jing.
Both Xie Jue and Xie Xun were aware that Ningzhou’s most challenging moments were imminent!
In these two years, both sides had refrained from military movements, instead focusing on recuperation and rebuilding. Ningzhou’s rebellion against Yanyang was inherently baseless, and Lin Helin had capitalized on this fact. As long as Yuwen Jing avoided folly and chaos, ensured that officials managed their duties, and maintained a clear reputation, Ningzhou would lack the opportunity for an uprising. The longer the conflict dragged on, the more stable civilian life became, and the harder it would be for Ningzhou to mobilize troops. Conversely, if the court launched a campaign against Ningzhou, it would be considered completely justified.
Two years ago, amidst the suffering of the people, would have been the best time to deploy forces. Unfortunately, at that time, the Twelve States were mired in poverty, grappling with difficult lives, and lacked the grain supplies and military provisions needed to support such a campaign.
Two years ago, Xie Jue was even more eager than Xie Xun to engage in this war. If they had mobilized forces upon returning to Ningzhou, they could have swept across the flatlands without resistance. Zhongzhou would have had no means of stopping the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry. However, Xie Jue calculated the military provisions at the time and found that although they had half a year’s reserves, in a real battle, they could only sustain for three months. If Zhongzhou and Jiangnan’s stationed forces all rallied against them, they would be compelled to carry out a large slaughter. Jiangnan and Zhongzhou could withstand for at least six months, ensuring that the entirety of Yanyang faced collapse.
Should Sannan and the Beiman barbarian forces intervene, they would stand no chance. The entirety of Yanyang would plunge into chaos, leaving them as eternal criminals in Yanyang’s history. Xie Jue desired revenge—but not in this manner. Such vengeance would only drag the common people into turmoil, rivers running red with blood. Though there was a seasonal advantage to initiating a campaign, there was no geographic or human support.
Both he and Xie Xun chose the most challenging yet least deadly path for revenge.
The risk in this approach was that, if Lin Helin successfully persuaded Yuwen Jing to act as a benevolent ruler, curbing his cruelty and violent tendencies, peace would prevail, commerce would thrive, and the nation would flourish. In such a scenario, they would find themselves in an even more awkward position.
Rebellion? They would undoubtedly be condemned by the people of the world, deemed unjust.
No rebellion? Who could say how long Lin Helin could sustain this collapsing dynasty?
If the Twelve States stood firm for another two years, the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry would be prepared for war against Yanyang, possibly entering a protracted campaign. Whether a practical opportunity presented itself was a significant concern for Xie Xun.
"Could it be that he truly intends to be an enlightened monarch? I don’t believe it!" When Xie Xun brought up Yuwen Jing, there was hatred in his tone, though it no longer stemmed solely from personal grievances.
"A crumbling edifice, sustained briefly by sheer will, cannot endure indefinitely." Xie Jue stared at the chess pieces on the board. Xie Xun’s moves weren’t as refined as Xie Jue’s, yet they were competent enough. Xie Jue remarked, "The Yuwen Dynasty has already deteriorated beyond repair. At present, it relies solely on Cousin’s personal efforts to move forward. He has restructured the cabinet, reformed land and taxes, and expanded the imperial examinations to recruit scholars from across the nation. While Yanyang appears to be gradually thriving, it is merely a fleeting illusion. Such a colossal entity, no matter how tirelessly Cousin dedicates himself, will reach a day when he can no longer sustain its momentum."
"Because his surname isn’t Yuwen!" After Second Brother placed a piece, Xie Xun followed suit, saying, "Cousin and our maternal grandfather both want to prop up the Yuwen Royal Family, taking it one step at a time. Yet he belongs to the clans, whose interests are inherently opposed to the Imperial Family. Unless the dynasty is overthrown, nobody can touch the foundations of the clans. What’s more, Cousin himself is the leader of the clans. If he truly undermines their interests, the clans will no longer be united with him. Although the land reforms were enacted, the clans have found ways to modify and evade the decrees. He has never succeeded in implementing the new policies entirely across the Twelve States. As long as land and taxes remain unfixed, and civilians fail to obtain land, all notions of prosperity and stability remain illusory."
Conflicts masked by temporary prosperity will inevitably erupt.
Over the past two years, Xie Xun had matured significantly, grasping the situation with clarity. Having grown up in Capital City, entrenched in the vortex of power, Xie Xun had once relied heavily on his father and brother, choosing to steer clear of politics. In those days, when he discussed military reforms with Elder Lin, he had already seen where the court was heading—towards inevitable collapse.
"Indeed, Cousin’s surname is Lin, not Yuwen. Yanyang will never fully align with his intentions to implement new policies. Yuwen Jing, inherently violent, now feigns the role of a benevolent and wise ruler under Cousin’s pressure. But a facade is, after all, a facade. The mask of virtue will eventually be torn apart. Before then, let us quietly observe and await the opportunity!" Xie Jue placed a decisive piece, securing his victory over Xie Xun. "Zhixu, don’t be impatient. The geographical and human factors are already favorable; the right time will come naturally."
Both Xie Xun and Xie Jue actually admired Lin Helin’s current cabinet. That it could uphold the Yuwen Dynasty and present a brief image of prosperity had taken them by surprise.
An entity as vast and fragile as a centipede will resist complete breakdown even in death. The world understood that clinging to stagnant traditions without change would only ensure that the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry crossed into Zhongzhou, heralding a new dynastic era and a complete reshuffle of leadership. Given the new reforms promoted by Xie Xun and Xie Jue in Ningzhou, all of Yanyang’s clans feared their ascension to the throne, forcing them into concessions. This, at its core, was why Lin Helin had managed to stabilize the court swiftly.
However, the clans’ concessions were temporary—they would never endure forever!
"Ayu’s attendant, Xiaoqi, how’s the investigation going?" Xie Jue asked.
"Nothing unusual. Nuanyang has been observing covertly and hasn’t reported any abnormalities, except..." Xie Xun’s expression darkened slightly, sneering, "except that the lad harbors wild ambitions—that’s all."
Xie Jue furrowed his brows. Xiaoqi’s possessiveness toward Fengyu was indeed excessive. Even when Fengyu showed closeness to Ruyi, he resented it, let alone anyone whom Fengyu held dear in her heart.
Xie Jue scattered the chess pieces as he gathered them, separating the black and white pieces into their respective containers. He raised his gaze to study Xie Xun sitting opposite him.
In these transformative years, the once-spirited young lord had now become the commander of the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry—handsome and composed, exuding an effortless authority. Decisive and strategic, he was courageous and shrewd. Furthermore, he possessed striking features—a tall and elegant figure, alluring and refined brows. Xiaoqi’s ambition to contend with his brother over a woman was hopeless, unless Fengyu lost her mind or his brother’s heart wavered, committing some betrayal against her.
Otherwise, it was indeed wishful thinking.
Xie Jue lowered his eyes, separating the chess pieces. Thoughts of Fang Chuning surfaced—nowadays, Xie Xun bore an increasing resemblance to Fang Chuning.
"Second Brother, let’s play another round." Xie Xun had grown addicted and requested another match. However, he noticed Xie Jue fiddling with the chess pieces in silent contemplation. Even after calling out several times, there was no response.
Xie Jue’s face tilted downward, its jade-like and frosty complexion partially obscured by the lamplight. Flawless, unmarred, the defined fingers of his hands toyed with the black piece, accentuating their slender and pale elegance. Xie Xun mused that his Second Brother truly deserved the title of the most beautiful man in the world—perfect in every way. If only his temperament were a bit better, he would be even more flawless!
"Second Brother?"
"What?"
"Another game!" Xie Xun said with a grin. "Back in the military camp, you loved playing chess with Fang Chuning. My chess skills have improved, and without him, I can still keep you company in a match!"
Xie Jue, "..."
Ah, brothers truly knew how to twist the knife.
He suspected Xie Xun’s intent was deliberate, but gazing into Xie Xun’s clear eyes, he began doubting whether he might be overthinking.
"You..." Xie Jue took a deep breath, "Alright, one more game."