Chapter 461: Chapter 445: Conspiracy
The clash between Han Ziqi and Fengyu didn’t escalate into a bloody incident, and as intended, they finally met Xie Jue, who hadn’t left the mansion. Han Ziqi didn’t greet him. However, as the Princely Heir of Sangnan, he knew who Xie Jue was. This was something only the King of Sangnan and Han Ziqi knew within the Sannan Royal Family. If given the chance, both the King of Sangnan and Han Ziqi would kill Xie Jue to eliminate any future trouble.
However, killing Xie Jue wasn’t so simple.
Han Ziqi had sent men to assassinate Xie Jue. Upon learning Xie Jue’s identity, he immediately dispatched spies to kill him. His enmity with Xie Xun back then stemmed from the assassination attempt being exposed, with assassins and spies being relentlessly pursued by Xie Xun all the way to Liuzhou. The assassination of Xie Jue was far too risky and complicated. The Marquis Zhenbei also had no interest in letting Xie Jue return to Sangnan. After a negotiation between their side and the King of Sangnan, the matter was left unresolved.
Later, when the Marquis Mansion was destroyed, both the King of Sangnan and Han Ziqi felt threatened, fearing that the Xie brothers would be hunted down by the court. Xie Jue revealed his identity and claimed succession to Sangnan.
Sangnan and Yanyang are not the same!
The Sannan Royal Family has an extremely powerful clan-based and ancestry-focused system, where neither the royal household nor individual rulers hold absolute authority. The clan acknowledges bloodlines, and the ancestral rituals respect lineage as well. Only when the direct bloodline is completely severed would a successor be chosen from the clan. The current lineage of the King of Sangnan constantly feels insecure, fearing what would happen if the clan learned the truth about Xie Jue’s lineage.
"In a moment of frustration, I had a minor dispute with Third Miss. I didn’t expect it to alarm even you two. I offer my apologies to Third Miss here and now," Han Ziqi said, able to yield when needed. Though he bowed to Fengyu, his gaze briefly swept to Xie Jue, showing no excessive boldness, as he quickly looked away. Xie Jue rode forward.
The wind and snow grew fiercer, making it almost impossible to keep one’s eyes open. Han Ziqi had to lift his head to look at Xie Jue.
Xie Xun leapt off his horse, pulling Fengyu close by the arm protectively. "Are you hurt?" he asked anxiously.
Fengyu shook her head, unwilling to stir up further trouble. "Just a small quarrel, nothing serious."
"Han Ziqi, if you want to do business, then do business. Resorting to violence the moment negotiations fail—are you a bandit or robber? Who said we must sell to you? Only a bandit would force a sale!"
Han Ziqi chuckled lightly. "Lord Xie, your side deliberately stalled discussions in West State, pretending to be open to negotiations, and now you’re going back on your word. And this is supposed to be reasonable?"
"And what can you do about it? We have the goods, and you don’t." Xie Xun spread his hands. "Aren’t you just enduring it for now? When the plague struck Yangzhou years ago, didn’t you force unfair terms during negotiations for open trade? What’s that if not profiteering?"
Han Ziqi remained silent, speechless.
Seeing the argument as a waste of time, Xie Jue dismounted and walked directly up to Han Ziqi. "If Sangnan wants to wage war against Jiangnan, the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry won’t assist you. Go back and tell the King of Sangnan—I have no interest in a speck of land like Sangnan, nor do I care to collaborate with you."
Han Ziqi, humiliated and aghast, sputtered, "A speck of land?! You..."
Xie Xun, on the other hand, was thoroughly enjoying himself. His Second Brother’s sharp jabs, as long as they weren’t directed at him, were always entertaining. "Is Sangnan as vast as the twelve states of Jiangnan? If not, then what else could it be but a speck of land? Twenty thousand supplies—can you even field an army of twenty thousand?"
Fuming with anger yet suppressing his temper, Han Ziqi asked, "You truly have no interest in Sangnan?"
"None." Xie Jue replied coldly. "The matters of Sangnan are irrelevant to me. Is that clear?"
Though nominally cousins, the two shared no acknowledgment of kinship and were natural adversaries. For years, the King of Sangnan had kept the secret of Xie Jue’s lineage under wraps due to the Marquis Zhenbei. Xie Jue, as a son of the Marquis Mansion, held a prominent position in Yanyang and had no reason to go to Sangnan. Moreover, revealing his identity wouldn’t benefit either party.
Now, with the Marquis Mansion gone, everything had changed.
The King of Sangnan had sent Han Ziqi to West State under the guise of negotiating iron mining rights but, in truth, aiming to discuss a collaboration with Xie Jue. Unexpectedly, Xie Jue, despite knowing he was in the city, never met him, forcing Han Ziqi into a desperate move.
"Second Young Master, could I have a private word with you?"
"My Second Brother has nothing to discuss with you!" Xie Xun immediately refused.
"Fine!"
Both Xie brothers spoke in unison, catching Xie Xun off guard. As a victorious smirk appeared on Han Ziqi’s face, Xie Jue added, "Bring Zhixu along. Ayu, take the others to rest on the side."
"Understood, Second Brother."
Inside the West Wind Inn, Han Ziqi observed the Xie brothers vigilantly. He was unsure why Xie Jue had brought Xie Xun along, as this should have been a matter internal to Sangnan. With Xie Xun present, Han Ziqi hesitated on how to proceed.
Xie Xun, sipping tea with calm composure, remarked, "My Second Brother is already here. Say whatever you need to say and don’t waste our time."
Han Ziqi poured tea and, holding up the cup, said to Xie Jue, "By rights, I should call you ’cousin.’"
"If it’s business, then let’s talk business. Don’t try to force kinship. My Second Brother doesn’t need so many cousins." Xie Xun harshly slammed his teacup onto the table, warning Han Ziqi, "What kind of tea is this? It’s not even fit to serve my brother."
Xie Jue remained silent, neither agreeing nor objecting, while Han Ziqi showed indifference, drinking the tea himself before setting the cup down. "My father sent me to West State for two reasons—first, to discuss war readiness, and second, to negotiate collaboration with the Second Young Master."
"Speak." Xie Jue’s words were concise. While he had grown used to socializing and handling affairs over the years, he still disliked wasting words, especially on strangers.
Han Ziqi began, "Sangnan has remained a secluded territory for decades, enjoying relative peace and prosperity. Jiangnan thrives on commerce and agriculture, with abundant food supplies. However, Sangnan was originally carved out of Yanyang during its internal chaos years ago and has been paying tribute to Yanyang annually ever since. For decades, Yanyang has treated Sangnan as its vassal state, its territory. Years ago, as Marquis Zhenbei defeated Beiman, the Grand Marshal stationed troops in Jiangnan, intending to advance on Sangnan. We in Sangnan have lived with this looming threat, not knowing when the blade will fall. After decades of self-governance, we no longer wish to pay tribute to Yanyang. Sangnan is not Yanyang’s vassal state—it has its own territory, its own ruler, its own people. Sangnan wishes to wage war against Yanyang. When the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry defected from the Capital City back then, we should have seized the opportunity to invade Jiangnan. Unfortunately, Third Miss abruptly halted the supply of iron and munitions, severing Sangnan’s trade with the twelve states. This sudden move left us unprepared. Again, a month before the Yangzhou plague, we were ready to march, but the ensuing epidemic disrupted our plans. Fear of the disease spreading within the army restrained us. Thus, we’ve repeatedly been forced to wait. Now, with our forces stronger than ever, my father has sent me to West State to propose an alliance with the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry."
Xie Xun’s expression turned grave, barely restraining the surge of fury coursing through him. Xie Jue understood clearly. "You want the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry to cooperate with Sangnan in launching an assault, trapping the court from the north and south—my forces advancing on Zhongzhou while yours attack Jiangnan, to annex Yanyang?"
"Exactly!" Han Ziqi confirmed. "If the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry marches on Zhongzhou, the Jiangnan garrison will inevitably be dispatched to the Ningzhou Battlefield. Zhongzhou’s terrain is steep and defensible, difficult to capture. The Ningzhou Iron Cavalry has fought Beiman for decades, excelling at interceptive warfare. The open plains of the Ningzhou Battlefield have honed your forces through years of countering Beiman’s charges, but it’s not suited for positional warfare. Meanwhile, Jiangnan troops and those stationed in Zhongzhou are adept at positional conflicts. Your chances of victory in Zhongzhou and Jiangnan are slim under these conditions. However, if Sangnan can tie down the Jiangnan garrison, your odds of taking Zhongzhou improve dramatically. You’re short on grain, and we can supply it. We lack military equipment, and you have plenty. Together, we could supplement each other’s needs and seize all of Yanyang’s lands within a year."
"And then?" Xie Jue asked. "After annexing Yanyang, how will the land be divided? Who will take the Capital City?"
"Sangnan will send troops to help you seek vengeance and seize the realm. After that, as you’ve said, Sangnan is but a speck of land—we have no grand ambitions. All we ask is that after your vengeance is fulfilled and you claim the throne, you cede thirteen cities in Jiangnan to us. The two nations will coexist peacefully and jointly fend off Beiman."