Chapter 381 The Xie Family of Taiyuan
These clan elders were all very clear-headed. They wanted to protect their family's reputation, but they also didn't want the current patriarch and their most promising child to get into trouble. So they decided to split the Xie family in two.
The head of the family, along with his sons, followed the emperor and spread the news that they were working for him, thus ensuring the safety of his lineage.
The remaining members betrayed the Xie family, moved to Taiyuan, sought refuge with the King of Chu, and recognized the orphan as the new head of the family in an effort to restore the Xie family's reputation.
These old shrewd men of the Xie family have a clear understanding of the affairs of the world, and who knows who will sit on the throne in the future.
If the imperial court wins, the direct line of succession can continue peacefully, and a hundred years later, the Xie family will still be a prestigious family.
If the King of Chu wins, they, as the earliest powerful families to pledge allegiance, will certainly be able to obtain many important positions in the court in the early stages of the King's victory.
This is a meritorious service in following the emperor's rise to power. The Xie family will surely rise to a higher level because of this merit. As for the direct line, since they are of the same clan, the King of Chu will probably not be able to take drastic measures against them.
This way, the direct descendants are preserved and the reputation remains unchanged, which is a win-win solution.
As a family with a history spanning hundreds of years, the Xie family naturally has some tricks up their sleeves.
The King of Chu was in his study, gleefully reading the messages sent back by his secret guards.
After handing the information to Qi Rong, he shook his head and chuckled, "No wonder the Xie family has been able to survive for so long. They've been betting on both sides; they're truly a bunch of old foxes!"
Qi Rong took the letter and carefully read the news that a branch of the Xie family had betrayed the main line and gone to Taiyuan. Looking at the Chu King's happy expression, he said, "This is a good thing for us. Now that we are about to start an uprising, we are short of manpower. The arrival of the Xie family can fill some of the gaps."
Nowadays, both he and his subordinates are doing the work of at least two or three jobs. If the Xie family could bring their talents to join them, it would free up many positions and help them share a lot of the workload.
Moreover, if the Xie family branch spreads the word that they support the King of Chu, at least a third of the scholars in the world will consider joining their camp.
Thinking of this, Qi Rong sighed. If the Cui family could also stand by them, he dared not imagine how smooth their future would be.
The literary world was divided into three: the Imperial Academy was controlled by the imperial court; the Cui family produced a top scholar in the imperial examinations every three generations; and the Xie family produced a Grand Secretary of the Inner Cabinet every hundred years.
Both families are full of talented people. The emperor and the current head of the Xie family sent the orphan of the previous head of the Xie family to Taiyuan, which was a wise move for them.
Thinking of this, Qi Rong clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Congratulations, Uncle, on receiving another helping hand!"
Li Mingxiu, who was sitting on a chair nearby, rubbed his sore face and clasped his hands in a fist salute to his father, but he mumbled indistinctly, "Father! Ouch~ it hurts!"
The King of Chu glanced at his eldest son, then turned away, unable to bear the sight, and glared at Li Mingxiu: "You were beaten like this by someone who hasn't even come of age yet, and you still have the nerve to complain about the pain?"
The King of Chu suppressed his smile, looked at the bruises on his son's face, and gave a soft snort.
Qi Rong glanced at Li Mingxiu with amusement. Looking at Li Mingxiu's injuries, it seemed that Changning hadn't held back at all when training the two of them.
He glanced discreetly at the King of Chu's expression and noticed a hint of satisfaction on his face.
The King of Chu rolled his eyes at Li Mingxiu, knowing that strict teachers produce outstanding students. Although Changning was young, he must have been very serious about training the two of them.
They were much better than the guards and swordsmen they had previously hired.
It's not that the master he found for Li Mingxiu was bad, but given their social status, even the training wasn't exactly rigorous, so the two of them inevitably ended up with mediocre martial arts skills.
If they go to the battlefield like this, they will likely harm the two of them in the future.
Lin Changning beat people with deadly force, appearing exceptionally serious, which pleased the King of Chu. After a moment's thought, the King of Chu beckoned to Qi Rong.
"The Lin family's lad is not bad. Keep an eye on him. Tell him I'm very satisfied with his training now, and tell him to train like crazy. Have the two of them go together during the army's major drills this month, under Changning's command. If there are any military competitions, let them participate as well!"
Li Mingxiu: "Hu Wang? Rice recognizes squatting?"
The King of Chu glanced at his eldest son with some disdain: "Just go when I tell you to, stop talking so much nonsense! Second son, keep an eye on him, don't let them use their status to intimidate others!"
In fact, Li Mingxiu is very steady in his daily life. He usually handles matters for the Prince of Chu quite efficiently and knows a lot about military affairs. However, he has not been on the frontier for the past few years, so his martial arts skills have inevitably become a bit rusty.
The King of Chu had been fighting on the frontier since he was a teenager, so his martial arts skills were undoubtedly excellent. His second son was also often on the frontier, so the King of Chu was not too worried about going to the battlefield.
Only their eldest brother, who had not been on the battlefield for many years, was in danger if his martial arts skills were still mediocre and he went to the battlefield. Even with personal guards by his side, the situation on the battlefield could change in an instant.
He couldn't even guarantee that he would survive the battlefield. As his successor, his eldest son naturally needed to hone his martial arts skills before the battle.
If he doesn't go to the battlefield in the future, and if he wants to sit in that position one day, how can the veterans who fought alongside him be convinced?
While they were still in the preparation stage, the two of them trained, ate, and lived with the good young men in the army. The second brother kept an eye on them, and Changning, who was young and skilled in martial arts, forced them to train so that they could at least protect themselves on the battlefield.
Seeing that his father was serious, Li Mingxiu didn't dare to refute anything. He understood that his father was doing it for his own good, but he had angered Lin Changning a couple of days ago and had been too ruthless these past few days.
In the first few days of training, they only practiced physical combat and kept losing to someone younger than them. Li Mingxiu couldn't help but tease them. After getting to know them better these past few days, he would occasionally make fun of Changning and try to gain an advantage verbally.
Lin Changning didn't say anything, but picked up a wooden knife and started hitting people. He was still in pain from being beaten yesterday, so he couldn't hold back and snatched Lin Changning's knife and threw it far away.
I just said something smug.
The next moment, Lin Changning's phoenix eyes blazed with fury, and she unleashed a flurry of punches on him. She couldn't win, she simply couldn't win...
This kid is fast and strong; even if he and Li Mingde teamed up, they would only be beaten down.
Both of them ended up with bruises on their faces.
However, they weren't ungrateful. They all understood that Lin Changning's strictness towards them was for their own good, but the injuries on their faces and bodies were still really painful.
Li Mingxiu gently touched his swollen cheek, gasped, and followed Qi Rong out of his father's study.
"Brain II?"
"What's wrong, brother?"
"Shall we make some wine or not?"
"Um?"
"Did you ask me to go easy on you, you hothead? Your elbow is too ruthless! The pot is so sticky, I can't even face anyone now!"
"My uncle just told me, so no, it won't work."
"..."
He knew that Lin Changning's cunning was inherited from his second son.
There are no good people under the old guard!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com