Chapter 232 Traitors in Chaotic Times (Part 8): How to Become a Super Strategist...
He turned around and saw that Little Anwang had gotten up from the hay at some point and was tiptoeing out.
Seeing this, Song Ce leisurely got up without disturbing anyone, and quietly followed behind Prince Xiao An as they went out.
Just as Prince An was about to stumble out of the safe area in the dark, Song Ce stopped and suddenly spoke: "Your Highness Prince An, it's late and the dew is heavy, why aren't you asleep yet?"
The young Prince An, who was walking ahead, trembled in fright. He turned around abruptly and saw that it was Song Ce. He instinctively hid behind a rock and cried out in alarm, "You, you don't come any closer!"
Song Ce walked slowly closer, knelt down in front of him, and said gently, "Your Highness, don't be afraid, I'm not a bad person."
“How could a bad person admit to being a bad person!” Prince Xiao An retorted, a glint of tears welling in his single eye. “Like Wei Shaosu, he used to treat me very well! But what happened? He turned around and killed my father! You, you are all liars!”
Song Ce was silent for a moment, then asked softly, "An'er, do you know why General Wei is so determined to kill your father?"
Prince Xiao An was taken aback at first, then angrily said, "Isn't it all because my father is blocking his way! He wants to rebel and usurp the throne to become king himself, so, so..."
"Since you say that General Wei wants to become king himself, why didn't he fight with your father when the late lord passed away?" Song Ce asked again.
"That's because...my father is the rightful heir!"
"Legitimate? What is legitimacy? Your father's great-great-grandfather made his living selling baskets, and then rose to power and established his rule over the world. Did he do so because of the word 'legitimate'?"
Prince Xiao An suddenly shrugged, looking confused. "But the Grand Tutor said that the throne is ordained by Heaven. My father is the late king's younger brother, so he is the rightful heir to the throne..."
Song Ce patted his head and asked, "Did the Grand Tutor tell you the principle that if the ruler has committed a major offense, one should remonstrate with him, and if he does not listen repeatedly, one should replace him?"
"Yes, there is, but... but Father is just a bit impatient. He is actually very good to Mother and me..." When he said the last few words, the little prince's voice was much weaker than before.
"General Wei killed your father, certainly with the intention of seizing power, but more so because your father's actions had made it impossible for too many people to live." Song Ce paused, then continued, "Your Highness, when your father was in power, did you ever see those instruments of torture used in the court?"
Prince Xiao An shuddered, a flash of fear crossing his single eye. Of course he had seen it before, not only in the court, but also in a side chamber of his father's bedchamber. That time, he had wandered in out of curiosity, and before he could even remember who the mangled figure was, his father slapped him hard, scolding him for "defiled his precious place."
“Those things are what Father uses to punish bad people.”
"In His Highness Prince An's eyes, is Meng Shicheng's youngest son considered a bad person?" Song Ce pressed.
"No...no...it was him, he offended Father..."
"How innocent the child is! He merely offended the king at a palace banquet, yet he must suffer such punishment?"
Prince Xiao An remained silent for a long time, then tears welled up again. He choked out, "But...but he is my father! Wei Shaosu killed him, shouldn't I seek revenge?"
"You'll have to ask yourself that." Song Ce reached out and gently patted his back. "When you grow up and understand things better, you might have the answer in your heart."
“But even if I don’t kill him, he will kill me someday,” Little Prince An murmured.
Upon hearing this, Song Ce smiled faintly, "But if General Wei really wanted to kill you, why would he take you with him? Wouldn't it have been better to just leave you in the dense forest to die?"
"No, no! He wants to use me as a hostage! Once he's secured his throne, he'll slowly kill me!" Prince An took a half-step back in fear, his voice trembling. "I am my father's child. He will treat me like a farmer weeding... to cut off the root of the problem, to prevent it from multiplying, is the right thing to do..."
"No, Your Highness Prince An. Have you ever seen anyone keep hostages by their side and have their most trusted deputy general personally look after them?"
"..."
As the rain gradually subsided, Prince Xiao An suddenly reached out and grabbed Song Ce's sleeve, asking in a panic, "Then tell me, why didn't Wei Shaosu kill me? Why did he have the audacity to say he would wait for me to take revenge? Isn't he afraid...aren't he afraid that I will kill him when I grow up?"
Looking at the distant, hazy mountain range, Song Ce said softly, "Because, Your Highness Prince An, you are innocent." He paused, then added, "As long as you are willing to live well, General Wei will naturally not harm you."
Based on my observations over the past few days, Wei Shaosu, though decisive in killing, is not a bloodthirsty person.
Prince Xiao An nodded as if he understood, then squatted down with his knees drawn up to his chest, bewildered. "I don't understand," he said. "As Father's only son, shouldn't he, as Mr. Zhou suggested, do the dirty work and eliminate the root of the problem? And why aren't the officials helping Father? Why would those respectful relatives betray Father and turn to Wei Shaosu? I don't understand, I don't understand..."
Song Ce sighed deeply and asked him in a low voice, "Your Highness, in chaotic times, there is no such thing as betrayal, only right and wrong. They... just want to live. Your father treats killing and abusing the people as a game. For everyone in the court, living one day is like living ten years. In such a life of fear and unease, tell me, how many people would be willing to live like this forever?"
Prince Xiao'an was speechless at Song Ce's question. He suddenly sobbed and tears finally rolled down his cheeks.
At this moment, Wei Shaosu, who was not far away, lowered his eyes and left quietly without making a sound.
Watching the little child burying his face in his knees, Song Ce quietly stayed by his side until the suppressed sobs gradually subsided. Only then did he speak gently, "Your Highness, it's getting late. We still have a long journey ahead tomorrow. You should go back and rest."
Xiao Anwang responded sullenly, then asked, "Who...who are you? Why are you telling me all this today?"
Song Ce smiled and helped him up. "Me? I'm just a scholar who can't even kill a chicken."
"Hmph!" Little Prince An obediently followed Song Ce back, his voice thick with nasal tone: "You can't fool me with such nonsense."
Song Ce: "...Haha."
"If you don't want to talk about it, that's fine." Little Prince An hesitated for a moment, then said solemnly, "Although I don't understand what you said right now, I've memorized it. When I... when I grow up, maybe I'll understand!"
Song Ce smiled slightly, said nothing more, and simply led him back.
When the two returned to their tent, Wei Shaosu was sitting by the fire, adding firewood. Seeing them approach, he first glanced at the young Prince An, then looked at Song Ce beside him, and asked casually, "You're back?"
"Mm." Song Ce responded, then bowed his head and instructed Prince An, "It's late, go to sleep."
Upon hearing this, Wei Shaosu gave a wink to the deputy general beside him. The deputy general nodded, secretly accepted the order, and stepped forward to carry the young Prince An to the side, letting him sleep next to him.
Seeing the fire burning brighter and brighter, Wei Shaosu slowly took out a piece of coarse bread from his pocket and heated it up, saying with a smile, "Sir, you seem to have a lot of patience with this child."
Song Ce smiled and sat down by the fire. "After all, children are innocent."
Wei Shaosu grunted in acknowledgment, picked up a branch, and poked at the fire, causing sparks to crackle. "Does the gentleman know why I spared his life, cutting the weeds without eradicating the root?"
"The general is kind-hearted, so there is a reason why he was spared."
There are many reasons for not killing Prince An. Perhaps it was out of compassion, perhaps out of consideration for past relationships, or perhaps... to appease people.
"Kind-hearted?" Wei Shaosu handed over the warm, coarse bread, saying calmly, "But in this chaotic world, kindness is a burden. I keep this child alive only so he can see with his own eyes that the world I govern is infinitely better than his father, who only knew how to torture and kill for pleasure! At the same time, I also want the world to see that I, Wei Shaosu, am not a treacherous traitor who murdered the emperor and usurped the throne, but a man destined to restore order!"
Song Ce paused, but didn't reply. He just quietly broke off pieces of the pancake in his hand and ate them.
Noticing Song Ce's silence, Wei Shaosu raised an eyebrow and asked, "Sir... you seem to disagree?"
"I dare not." Song Ce shook his head. "General, your heart is with the world in your heart. It is a blessing for the people and for all living beings."
"Therefore, I, Wei, have never believed in the outdated notion that if the ruler commands a subject to die, the subject has no choice but to die." Wei Shaosu's voice deepened. "If the ruler is not a ruler, then the subject will not be a subject!"
Song Ce nodded, readily offering the platitudes: "General, you have a profound understanding of things, which I admire. Why don't you tell me in detail how you plan to govern this land?"
Wei Shaosu had always intended to recruit Song Ce, and upon hearing this, his expression softened slightly. "Since you are willing to listen, then I will say a few more words."
...
After Song Ce swallowed the last piece of coarse bread, he smiled slightly and said, "Since the general is so hospitable, then I, Song, will stay!"
Wei Shaosu was taken aback at first, then asked with delight, "Sir, is what you say true?"
Song Ce nodded, "Of course it's true."
Wei Shaosu took a deep breath, clapped his hands sharply, signaling someone to spread out the map he carried with him, his voice full of excitement: "Sir, please look, if you go north past Fengming Mountain, you will reach Shiguan County. Do you know what kind of place this is?"
Song Ce nodded, "Shiguan County is the northwest gateway to the Dali Imperial City, and its geographical location is extremely important. As long as someone takes this place, the Dali Imperial City will be theirs for the taking."
“Indeed!” Wei Shaosu smiled upon hearing this. “However, Shiguan County has long been plagued by powerful local tyrants and rampant bandits. Although the rebel army has been unable to conquer it for a long time, our Dali Kingdom is also unable to control it. I wonder if you, sir, have any good ideas to solve my problem?”
Song Ce nodded and said calmly, "General, why don't you send me to govern it?"
Upon hearing this, Wei Shaosu looked up abruptly, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. He stared at Song Ce's calm profile for a long while before saying, "Sir, Shiguan County is a murky place! I wonder what your plans are?"
Song Ce smiled faintly and asked in return, "General, are you willing to believe me?"
"I believe you!"
“In that case, General, you only need to give me an appointment and dismissal document, and assign two personal guards to accompany me,” Song Ce said.
"Good!" Wei Shaosu laughed loudly. "Since you have such ambition, then I will wait for your good news in the capital! After returning to the capital, I will have the documents prepared and dispatch two of my most capable bodyguards to protect you!"
Song Ce cupped his hands in thanks and said, "Thank you, General."
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Author's Note: [Peeking while covering face]
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