Chapter 859 Thunder and Rain

The day agreed upon for the challenge passed peacefully amidst the heavy rain.

Heaven, in fact, was being quite considerate, intending to wash away the bloody stench after you lot below had created a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood. Sadly, those below didn’t provide the opportunity.

But neither side felt particularly awkward.

The next day, envoys from the Yan army arrived, requesting another meeting, but the protagonists of this meeting were not the commanders-in-chief of either side.

The Qian representative was Zhao Mugou, the minor flag-bearer from last time, now the main figure, simply because the Yan representative was Zhao Yuannian.

Now,

the flag-bearers of both sides stood facing each other.

The Qian's side had a burly man with a thick beard, whose true identity was Zu Xin Yue, the actual commander of the Qian army behind them.

As Zu Zhuming’s adopted son, his reputation wasn't particularly high. The coastal areas of Jiangnan in Qian and the northern lands were too far apart.

But the way he stood there, even without wearing a general's armor but clad in ordinary soldier's leather armor, still gave a sense of deterrence and oppression.

Zhao Yuannian didn't recognize Zu Xin Yue, but he was taken aback upon first seeing him.

Fortunately,

the Prince "cared" for him.

Although he didn't have Sword Saint accompany him personally, he still dispatched his personal death soldier, whom everyone in the main camp called "Mr. Ming."

Compared to Zu Xin Yue, Ah Ming's seriousness only lasted for a brief moment. He planted the flag in the ground, yawned, and silently pulled out his wine skin, beginning to drink.

Zu Xin Yue sniffed. His ancestors were "pearl divers," and he had spent most of his childhood in the sea, making him exceptionally sensitive to the scent of fishiness.

The flag-bearer opposite him wasn't drinking water or wine, but blood, human blood.

Zhao Yuannian and Zhao Mugou greeted each other as envoys of their respective armies.

Then, they greeted each other as members of the royal family.

In terms of seniority, Zhao Yuannian was of Zhao Mugou’s grandfather's generation, so Zhao Mugou performed a grand salute.

After the ceremony,

Zhao Yuannian glanced at Zu Xin Yue, who was pretending to be a flag-bearing soldier,

and smiled,

"Are you planning to kill me?"

"Yes."

Zhao Mugou admitted it frankly,

"As a member of the royal family, you betrayed your country and sought glory, abandoning your ancestors. After learning that you were coming to negotiate, Chancellor Han said that if the situation allowed, he would kill you, which would be considered cleaning up our Zhao family."

"And now?"

Zhao Yuannian looked at Zu Xin Yue and asked,

"Are you going to do it?"

Zu Xin Yue didn't speak.

Ah Ming continued to drink his wine.

Clearly, they weren't planning to make a move.

"My Great Qian is a land of etiquette; why would you plan to do such a thing?" Zhao Yuannian said with emotion.

Zhao Mugou smiled, "Speaking of etiquette is for those below to observe, so that those above can be more at ease."

Zhao Yuannian tilted his head and said, "Are you serious?"

"Yes."

"Do you usually talk to people like this?"

"No, usually I pretend to be stupid."

"Then why aren't you pretending now?"

"I'm tired of pretending."

"You've only just begun, haha."

"That Prince of the West over there, when he hadn't risen to prominence, he must have bowed to princesses, princes, and superiors, but what about now?"

"The Prince is different; his position is now unshakeable. What about you?"

"I don't know."

"You don't know?"

"Yes, I don't know, but I have a feeling that I won't have to pretend anymore in the future."

"Are you tired of living?"

"Maybe."

"At such a young age, you're saying such old-fashioned things."

The two Qian royal family members fell into silence.

This silence brought a kind of pressure.

The day before,

Chancellor Han and the Prince of the West sat here, but they merely went through the motions in tacit agreement, without actually discussing anything.

But both principals had schemes in their hearts, so they didn't feel anything was amiss.

But today, these two were equivalent to two small dogs released by the commanders after untying their leashes. The pressure in their hearts was not to disgrace their respective sides.

The problem was, they hadn't been instructed to discuss anything when they came.

So, after the initial greetings, what should they do next?

"Persuade me to surrender?"

Zhao Mugou asked.

"Are you persuading me to surrender, or am I persuading you?" Zhao Yuannian asked.

"This is the land of Qian, and your surname is Zhao," Zhao Mugou said matter-of-factly.

"If my Prince surrenders, would you open a path and allow my Prince to safely return to the Yan Kingdom with his army?"

"Probably... maybe, wasn't that how you came last time and how you left?"

"Then what did my Prince come here for this time? Could it be just to take me away?"

Zhao Yuannian pointed to himself.

"Then why isn't your Prince attacking?" Zhao Mugou asked, "Your Prince originally intended to continue south, and we are all clear about that. The reason why you stopped is because you are worried about this force of ours and the Qian army behind it.

But why isn't he attacking?"

Hearing this, Zhao Yuannian sighed.

Zhao Mugou asked curiously, "Why?"

"I'm sorry."

"Hmm?"

"I haven't climbed that high yet. I don't have a part or know military secrets."

"Then what do you do there?"

"I talk about local customs, tell stories, talk about who's who and who's who in the Qian court, including what I said about you the other day. Your lineage is quite tragic."

Zhao Mugou shook his head, "You're more tragic now than I am."

"I thought I would be disappointed..."

"Aren't you?"

"How should I say it? When there's no turning back, people can become more relaxed. I once watched my father eke out his life, and I should have lived my life as mediocrely as my father, but now, I seem to have a new opportunity. I can really try to do something."

"Is it fun to betray your country, sell out your ancestors, and break your promises?"

"My family has been occupying your throne for hundreds of years, and we've been quite happy."

"..." Zhao Mugou.

"And your lineage has always been miserable, so, in theory, the talk of a crown prince, the talk of brother succeeding brother, can fool history books, but how could we, the royal family, really believe this?

Didn't my ancestor also break promises back then?"

"At least we all share the surname Zhao; the meat will always rot in the pot!"

"Oh?"

"What's wrong?"

"Here, it's just you and me, plus..."

Zhao Yuannian pointed to Ah Ming, then to the flag-bearer, and then smiled:

"In theory, I am now a defector, having severed ties with the Qian. Whatever I do, falling into Qian hands, would be unforgivable.

Why would you need to pretend to speak to a rotten person like me?

Shouldn't you curse me to your heart's content?

So, someone here is preventing you from speaking your mind."

Zhao Yuannian looked at Zu Xin Yue;

"Hehe, in theory, the flag-bearer should be someone you trust, and in front of someone you trust, what can't be said? So, it's not someone you trust, but someone who makes you cautious.

Oh...

Mr. Ming,

This flag-bearer brother, his identity is not ordinary, not just a military expert, but probably a big fish."

Ah Ming put down his wine skin and gently wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand.

Zu Xin Yue wasn't afraid, but instead was on full alert.

"So, now you're planning to break the rules?" Zhao Mugou asked.

"No, no, no..."

Zhao Yuannian raised his hand and shook it vigorously, then said to Ah Ming, "Mr. Ming, let's not take risks, shall we?"

Ah Ming hesitated for a moment and nodded.

"How do I address this brother?" Zhao Yuannian asked Zu Xin Yue.

"Just a humble name, not worth mentioning," Zu Xin Yue replied.

"Well, that's true, never mind, let's end it here today, shall we? Go back and tell Han Zui, if he knows what's good for him, he should withdraw his troops quickly. My Prince's temper isn't good."

Zhao Mugou also seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, and said sternly; "Tell your Prince, this is the Qian, he is now on the land of the Great Qian!"

Then,

the two rose, and again said goodbye first with the etiquette of two countries' envoys and then with the etiquette of the royal family.

Although the Fu Prince's mansion had betrayed the country, the Emperor had not yet issued an edict to strip the Fu Prince's lineage of its title, so Zhao Yuannian was still a member of the royal family.

The two returned with their respective flag-bearers.

Zhao Mugou said to Zu Xin Yue beside him, "My fault."

"Your Highness is too kind. It was clearly this subordinate who wanted to come proactively. It should be this subordinate's abruptness and recklessness. What does it have to do with you?"

"General Zu, why do you think that man didn't attack me?"

"The past few days have been continuous heavy rain, the roads are muddy, and the terrain here is low-lying. Our army is stationed on the slope of the low-lying area. The Yan people have many cavalry, which are difficult to maneuver."

"Is that the reason?"

"If not, it may be that the Yan Prince opposite us has seen through the reality of our army."

"Just... seeing through the reality of our army?"

Zhao Mugou didn't say this sentence directly, but kept it in his heart.

On the other side,

Zhao Yuannian, who was also heading back to camp, spoke up before Ah Ming could ask;

"Mr. Ming, it wasn't that Yuannian thought Mr. Ming wouldn't be as good as that bearded man opposite, so he stopped you from taking action."

Ah Ming didn't care, and said, "He's a tough opponent, and also a pure martial artist. If there were enough time, he would surely die in my hands, but the protective armies of both sides are not far away, even if we attack, there wouldn't be enough time to really determine life and death."

As a vampire, unless encountering means specifically designed to restrain himself, otherwise, in a proper battle, he could completely use his blood bar to smooth out everything.

Because there could only be one flag-bearer, Kaxi'er was naturally not there. If Kaxi'er was by his side at the time, Ah Ming would have had the opportunity to try to resolve the battle quickly.

"Mr. Ming, that Zhao Mugou earlier clearly didn't feel like an ordinary person. At least, he has a mind that young men of his age don't possess."

"Do you feudal princes like to compare minds?"

Zhao Yuannian immediately nodded and said, "The minds of our feudal princes are about who can pretend to be a pig and who can pretend to be stupid better."

"Alright."

"Picking up on what I said earlier, originally, Yuannian thought he had discovered the difference of that Qian flag-bearer from his tone, so the original intention was to hope that Mr. Ming would take action depending on the situation.

The reason why Yuannian changed his mind was because his Rui Prince lineage has a much harder life than my Fu Prince lineage, and under the current circumstances, how could he suddenly slip up and say the wrong thing?"

"You mean, he did it on purpose?"

"He deliberately revealed a flaw to us."

"So we shouldn't follow his lead?"

"Yes."

"I understand."

"Mr. Ming, although we don't know who the other side is..."

"No need to explain, just don't be used as a knife."

"Mr. Ming is wise. Also, that bearded man didn't even say his surname, proving that his surname is likely to directly reveal his identity. Among the martial artists of the Qian, there are only a few surnames that can reveal an extremely obvious identity, Zhong, Zu?"

"Not saying his name is to hide his surname?"

Ah Ming felt that Zhao Yuannian's analysis was a bit too simplistic.

"Sir, how many martial artists in this world can understand marching, fighting battles, arranging formations, and killing enemies, and at the same time, like our Prince, do other things flawlessly?

I'm not deliberately mocking them, but often at that kind of moment, they might not really think things through when they speak."

"Alright."

"By the way, Mr. Ming, after we go back later, will it be you or me who reports to the Prince?"

"You go."

"Thank you for fulfilling my wish."

"Aren't you afraid?" Ah Ming suddenly asked this question. Obviously, what he was asking about wasn't the previous meeting, but something else.

"I... I'm afraid, but being afraid is useless, haha."

The smile on Zhao Yuannian's face remained.

"In the Jin Dong Prince's mansion, there is a chief steward named Xiao Yibo. I think you and him are quite similar."

"Is that steward Xiao a confidant of the Prince?"

"You could say that he is, he can now barely be considered half family, he has been following since the Northern Feng County."

After hearing the description "half family," Zhao Yuannian's bones seemed to soften a bit.

In his perception, "family" refers to true "insiders," just like "Mr. Ming" and others.

However, out of habit, he still said modestly:

"What virtue or ability does Yuannian have to be mentioned in the same breath as Steward Xiao? Yuannian still has a long way to go before he can truly help..."

"Oh, we are also Xiao Yibo's father-killing enemies."

"..." Zhao Yuannian.

…

The rain,

stopped and then started again, started and then stopped again.

Zhao Mugou walked into the main camp. The furnishings of this camp were very simple, there were no sand tables or maps, but rather some books.

It wasn't that Chancellor Han deliberately wanted to put on the airs of a scholar in this camp to teach the Qian soldiers a lesson,

It was purely that this camp was rarely used, and military discussions were held in Zu Xin Yue's camp.

This time, Chancellor Han relinquished power very thoroughly, and did not interfere with military affairs, which was unimaginable in the previous Qian army.

"Old Chancellor."

Zhao Mugou saluted Han Zui.

Han Zui didn't speak, but turned a page of his book.

Zhao Mugou walked to the side and poured him tea.

Han Zui took the teacup, without looking up, and said;

"General Zu has already informed me of today's meeting."

"Nothing was discussed today, it seems that the Prince opposite doesn't want to talk about anything either."

Han Zui raised his head,

and smiled;

"I don't know what the Prince of the West opposite is thinking, but I understand what you are thinking.

Do you know,

if Zu Xin Yue dies,

then this military fortress, and the 30,000 Zu family army that it relies on, are likely to disintegrate directly?"

Zhao Mugou took a deep breath, a smile appeared on his face, and said:

"I know."

He still didn't hide or explain, but admitted it frankly.

"Do you know what this military fortress means right now?"

"It's like a nail, nailing down the Yan people."

"And once this nail is easily pulled out, the entire situation will be overturned."

"Old Chancellor, that's why I wanted to try doing this."

"Because of hatred?"

"Yes, because of hatred, because of dissatisfaction."

"You must have the big picture in mind."

"But why didn't Emperor Taizong think about the big picture when he seized my family's throne?

Emperor Taizong lost 500,000 elites in the Yan Kingdom, causing the martial vein of my Great Qian to be broken to this day. Did he ever think about the big picture?

We clearly lost the throne, but the Rui Prince's mansion still has generations of people dying violently, in various accidents. Has anyone ever thought about the big picture?

Why,

why,

I don't want any big picture, I only know that at that time, if I could have let the Yan people help me kill Zu Xin Yue, the silly and simpleton commander who actually wanted to follow me to the front to take a look;

Then, the Yan people might have the opportunity to get rid of the constraints from here, leave the West Mountain County, enter the Bian Zhou County, and give the Emperor a longer face!!!"

Zhao Mugou was very excited,

After speaking,

He calmed down his emotions for a long time.

He wasn't sure why, in front of this Chancellor Han, he seemed unwilling to hide anything, but instead, almost instinctively, revealed his most primitive thoughts in full.

Han Zui turned another page of the book,

and asked;

"Are you done?"

"I'm done."

"Those in high positions must not be obsessed with clever schemes and petty tricks. When acting, they should use the general trend to push things forward. Even if you want to take revenge, you shouldn't choose that place. Only four people, only both sides, this is not the general trend, this is petty cleverness, this is that ridiculous... martial world vendetta."

"But I have no other opportunities, I..."

"If there's no opportunity, then wait. Didn't that Prince of the West also wait until the late Emperor of Yan passed away, and the two princes of the North and South were gone, before he really showed his arrogant and overbearing posture, even taking in the crown prince as he pleased?

Someone like him is still willing to lie low when necessary, what about you?"

"I'm different from him."

"You're far worse than him."

"He's more free than I am, but my Rui Prince's lineage..."

"As a member of the royal family, are you comparing freedom with someone from humble origins? When you're living in luxury, he might still be worrying about making a living;

You say that your Rui Prince's mansion has always been suppressed, but who would bother to look at useless trash?

Because of fear, and being feared, inherently means that the Rui Prince's mansion's signboard is still useful."

"What's the use? What's the use?"

"Why is it just you who hates? Don't your father and grandfather hate?"

"They are considering the continuation of the Rui Prince's mansion, for the sake of the mansion's continuation, they can endure everything, but I, don't want to endure. I don't want my descendants to live the same fearful lives as my father, my grandfather, and my great-grandfather. I, don't want to endure!"

Han Zui closed the book,

took a sip of tea,

and said:

"When I was young, I was as wild and unruly as Yao Zizhan back then, and I was close friends with your grandfather."

"I've heard my father talk about this."

"Later, I served as the Yao Zhou Regional Commander. Because of a treason case, I almost ruined my career, but with your grandfather's help, I successfully solved the case.

That night, your grandfather and I drank and celebrated, expressing the anxieties and depressions we had accumulated in our hearts.

After getting drunk,

I stayed in your Rui Prince's mansion. Your grandfather was very good at handling people, and arranged for a maid to sleep with me."

Zhao Mugou was a bit bewildered, not knowing why Chancellor Han suddenly wanted to say these things, to talk about his wild years when he was young?

"A month or so ago, when I was preparing to organize troops to serve the Emperor, I went to your Rui Prince's mansion, wanting to get your father's support, after all, although my prestige was enough, adding the name of a feudal prince could make it seem more legitimate."

"Yes, I know."

"No, you don't know. Your father has been bedridden for many years, and the roots of his illness have never been cured. In recent years, he hasn't even been able to get out of bed.

When I went to see your father, your father entrusted you to me, letting you, on behalf of your father and in the name of the Rui Prince's mansion, help me organize this army to serve the Emperor."

"Old Chancellor, what exactly do you want to say?"

"Before leaving, your father held my hand, hoping that I would take good care of you."

Zhao Mugou nodded.

"Then, your father called me... Dad."

"..." Zhao Mugou!

"Hehehe, the maid that your grandfather arranged for me back then was your grandmother."

"..." Zhao Mugou.

"Your grandfather only told your father about this matter, and never told anyone else.

You say that your grandfather and the others are for the sake of the Rui Prince's mansion's continuation, so they are willing to swallow their anger and accept this arrangement of fate?

No,

Your grandfather is actually the same as you, he is even more extreme than you, he directly cut off the true line of inheritance of the Rui Prince's mansion.

The ridiculous thing is,

Do you know how your father fell ill?

Back then, your father wrote a poem about winter plum blossoms. The poem spread to the capital, and when I read it, I tasted a sense of arrogance in it, the same arrogance that I once had, a familiar arrogance.

But I, back then, was a top scholar in the imperial exam, with a limitless career, claiming to be a model for scholars, your father, was just a feudal prince, how dare he reveal such arrogance, what was he trying to do?

So, in the name of the Chancellor, I issued an order to the Silver Armor Guards;

Your father has since contracted an illness, and his body has deteriorated day by day.

Until a few days ago, at the Rui Prince's mansion, when your father held my hand and called me Dad,

I realized,

that I personally issued the order, causing my son to suffer until now, and is now on his deathbed."

Having said this,

Han Zui leaned forward slightly,

widened his eyes,

looked at Zhao Mugou, who was almost frozen in place,

and said:

"Your grandfather is a beast!"

Then,

he added:

"And you, are Han Zui's grandson!"

————

Just one update tonight, I will try to write more tomorrow, hold on tight everyone!