Chapter 331: Chapter 321: Identity
Xue Yu did not expect Lin Helin to appear. Just as he was about to speak, Lin Helin raised his hand and said calmly, "Mr. Xue, you may leave now. Don’t let others disturb us."
"Yes!"
After paying his respects, Xue Yu exited the discussion hall. The oblique rays of the setting sun cast scattered shadows, and the autumn air carried a chill. Even after leaving the hall, Xue Yu was drenched in cold sweat. Whether Jiaozhou City was filled with flashing swords or calm tranquility, it was a matter for their brothers to resolve.
Lin Helin had not seen Xie Xun for seven years. Seven years ago, Xie Xun was still causing trouble at the Imperial College. Though their personalities and preferences were worlds apart, they shared a blood bond, and Xie Xun often stayed over at the Lin Residence. Their relationship had been quite good.
Lin Helin never expected Xie Xun would dare come to Jiaozhou alone!
In his memory, Xie Xun was the pampered young heir of the Marquis Mansion, raised by a stern and resolute father, an elder brother skilled in both literary and martial arts, and a second brother adept at strategic planning. Before stepping onto the battlefield, Xie Xun had been raised in luxury, heedless of suffering, and wildly flamboyant—a Little Tyrant famously notorious in the Capital City. Although Lin Helin had heard of Xie Xun’s youthful exploits and heroic deeds over the years spent traveling the land, he wasn’t surprised—the men of the Xie Family seemed born for the battlefield.
But now, the young man standing before him was no longer that flamboyant youth, nor did he resemble the young Marquis Zhenbei. The blood feud had shattered his dreams, yet it had also propped up his spine.
The reckless young heir from his memory had now grown into a poised commander of three armies.
They were brothers, yet separated by imperial power.
Ultimately, they could not converse as ordinary siblings would.
"Sit, Zhixu, accompany your cousin and chat," Lin Helin asked warmly. "How have you and Ting Feng been in Ningzhou?"
"Very well!" Xie Xun’s emotions were complex. "When did cousin arrive in Jiaozhou?"
As Xie Xun looked at the serene and refined Lin Helin, he realized his cousin had remained consistently elegant and dignified over the past decade. After years of traveling, his emotions were even more restrained.
Lin Helin did not reveal his joy or anger, and what did blood relations truly matter? Their identities and positions were vastly different; they were no longer brothers in the ordinary sense.
"Just arrived!"
Xie Xun knew all too well that he wasn’t skilled at interacting with civil officials, especially someone as calculating as Lin Helin. If only Second Brother were here—he’d definitely know how to negotiate with their cousin.
Observing Xie Jue dealing with the Ningzhou staff over the years had allowed Xie Xun to learn a thing or two. He had imitated Xie Jue’s reticent and reserved demeanor about seventy or eighty percent.
The more one said, the more mistakes one made. Especially when faced with someone as perceptive as his cousin; even a few words could allow Lin Helin to grasp the current state of Ningzhou. Xie Xun was exceedingly cautious, mingled with a sense of sorrow.
"Zhixu, Mr. Xue has already informed you of the pros and cons. Do you still insist on stationing troops in Jiaozhou?" Lin Helin proved to be even more forthright than Xie Xun had anticipated, avoiding emotional appeals and directly addressing the matter at hand.
Xie Xun carefully considered his next words—what would Second Brother say?
"I represent the court in these discussions. If you have thoughts, speak freely."
Xie Xun wouldn’t dare speak freely. "Was Lord Lin Zhi forced to death by you?"
"No!" Lin Helin replied calmly.
"If it weren’t for your family sending letters, how could Lord Lin Zhi have chosen to end his life at the city gates? If not for someone scheming behind the scenes, Lin Zhi’s death—followed by rumors alleging I’m to massacre Jiaozhou—wouldn’t have spread like wildfire. Lin Zhi’s life was lost, and I was painted as a tyrant deserving of punishment by the entire world. In our correspondence, Lin Zhi had already agreed to let my Iron Cavalry station in Jiaozhou. Without interference from the Lin Family, his death would have been avoidable." Xie Xun didn’t wish to explicitly accuse, yet his words were laced with implicit blades.
"If I’ve done something, I’ll admit to it!" Lin Helin lowered his gaze and chuckled softly. "In truth, whose letters sparked it is irrelevant. Pursuing the matter would be meaningless. Lin Zhi is dead, and the matter is closed—it was my doing. So, what can you do about it?"
"To me, it matters greatly." Xie Xun’s phoenix eyes burned brightly. "Was it the Lin Family’s doing?"
"It was," Lin Helin said.
"I see." Xie Xun chuckled faintly. "Cousin shall surely block my entry into Jiaozhou, even at the cost of severing commerce between Zhongzhou, Jiangnan, and the Twelve States? Disregarding the livelihoods of those in the Twelve States?"
"Why must Zhixu insist on stationing troops in the Twelve States? If you don’t raise an army, no one will sever trade routes. Aside from West Continent and Huangzhou, all cities and state mansions across the Twelve States are under imperial appointment." Lin Helin’s voice was steady and cold. "It is you who disregards the commerce and livelihoods of the Twelve States, seeking to ignite conflict."
"Since cousin has spoken so plainly, I won’t hide my intentions either: I am determined to obtain the Twelve States," Xie Xun declared forcefully. "Ideally, I will seize them without the cost of a single soldier. But if you obstruct me, I will resort to military action. Should Zhongzhou send reinforcements, I won’t be deterred."
"If you truly planned to attack militarily, you wouldn’t have come to Jiaozhou alone." Lin Helin chuckled lightly. "Zhixu, let me offer you some advice: send a letter to Ting Feng, have him come and discuss with me instead. I will wait for him here in Jiaozhou. How does that sound?"
"Whether I negotiate, or Second Brother negotiates, what difference does it make?" Xie Xun sneered, his displeasure evident.
Lin Helin said, "This is not the attitude of negotiation. Each discipline has its expertise. You may excel at commanding armies, but you’re ill-suited to manage internal affairs. You don’t even know what cards I hold or where to begin. All you do is attempt to intimidate with the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry."
Xie Xun chuckled, scrutinizing his confident cousin with a hint of amusement. "Cousin, perhaps I’m not as adept a negotiator as Second Brother, but I’ve learned one thing from him: anomalies signal deeper schemes. The two masters of the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry would never stay in the same city outside of Ningzhou. Why do you want my Second Brother here in Jiaozhou? What are your intentions?"
"Six thousand Iron Cavalry are stationed outside the city—do you fear I’ll harm you?" Lin Helin said, "Then you greatly overestimate your cousin."
"You can only negotiate with me," Xie Xun stated firmly.
Lin Helin paused in silence for a moment before nodding, "Very well, I’ll ask you: do you know your Second Brother is descended from the Sannan Royal Family?"
Xie Xun, "..."
"Even this detail eludes you—what foundation do you have to negotiate with me?"