Chapter 878: The Plan Fails [Seeking Monthly Tickets]
"The people from Tianhai are finally gone."
He Yin, Xu Jie's private residence, inner courtyard.
Madam Xu stepped into the room, the oppressive heat and the lingering smell of medicine in the air causing her to frown. She dismissed the servants and maids, leaving only Xu Jie's trusted confidantes in the room. She walked around the screen and immediately saw her husband lying on the bed.
Sit down on one side of the bed.
With barely breathing, Xu Jie lifted her eyelids slightly, rolled her eyes, and complained in a low voice, "If the master doesn't want to go to Tianhai, there's no need to risk his life like this. He broke his leg and hit his head without even telling me. Isn't he afraid of scaring me to death?"
Xu Jie opened his eyes and ripped off the headband.
He chuckled and said, "Isn't it because I'm afraid Madam won't be able to fool others?"
This plan was known only to him and a few trusted confidants; he dared not tell his wife for fear that her acting skills wouldn't be up to par and would reveal a flaw. Xu Jie propped himself up on his elbows, and his wife promptly placed a cushion behind his back so he could lean more comfortably. She couldn't help but scold him angrily, "How do you know I can't fool people if you don't try? Fine, fine, I won't argue with you about this. Who told me I'm just an ordinary person? How could I know how hard-headed you literary scholars who can cultivate your minds are! You can survive a cut and bleed so much?"
As she spoke, she slipped her nail-painted hand under the pile of blankets around Xu Jie's waist and abdomen, pinching a small, tender spot on his thigh hard, causing Xu Jie's face to contort in pain. He wanted to cry out in pain, but for the sake of his dignity, he swallowed the sound back.
Finally, bending over, he pleaded with his wife in a low voice, "Madam! Madam! Please be gentle... I only had pain in my head and legs at first, but now my whole body hurts..."
The lady then withdrew her hand.
Xu Jie lay on the bed, panting, and secretly glanced at the person beside him to make sure she wasn't so angry before regaining his composure. The lady wasn't angry anymore, but the thought of the current situation still made her frown: "Although we sent an elder over, with your broken leg and head injury, will Lord Wu believe us?"
Even she didn't believe Xu Jie's story.
What is his alcohol tolerance?
Not only was he drunk, but he was also so drunk that he was incoherent. On his way back to the inner courtyard, he slipped on the moss and broke his leg. He groggily got up and fell into the pond, hitting his head on the artificial rockery. He floated in the pond for most of the night before being found and pulled out by a patrolling guard, thus saving his life.
That's ridiculous!
Why didn't he just say he was drunk and fell into the outhouse?
Xu Jie, clutching the throbbing, itchy wound on his head, said, "Whether you believe it or not is unimportant. What's important is that Lord Wu has completely missed his chance with Shangnan, and he can't do anything about the River Governor. Now, everything is ready, except for one thing..."
What is it?
Naturally, it was a reply from Shen Jun and Shen Youli.
Only if Wu Xian receives a reply and Shen Youli accepts him and He Yin, nominally placing them within the territory of Kang State, will he completely lose his leverage against the Xu family. On the contrary, He Yin will become one of the border counties of Kang State, posing an invisible threat to Tianhai.
"Given this geographical location, it's unlikely that Lord Wu would dare to establish his capital in Tianhai. The Tianhai aristocratic families would be devastated." If He Yin becomes a border county of Shen Tang, and Wu Xian were to establish his capital in Tianhai, what difference would that make from him putting his own neck under Shen Tang's sword?
Just thinking about that scene makes Xu Jie want to laugh.
The movement aggravated his wound, causing him to contort his face in pain, which earned him a scolding from his wife: "Is it that funny?"
She was unaware of the outside political situation, and everything she knew was shared with her by Xu Jie. She simply couldn't empathize with Xu Jie's sense of humor—why were the Tianhai aristocratic families so grief-stricken over Wu Xian's inability to establish his capital in Tianhai? It was just a royal capital, wasn't it?
So many countries once coexisted in the Northwest Continent, and every place has served as a capital. Whether or not Tianhai serves as a capital is very important.
Xu Jie said, "It's very important, Madam."
He held his wife's hand and gently stroked it.
"Leaving aside other matters, Madam, do you know how troublesome local bullies are? If Tianhai were the capital, the local powerful families and gentry of Tianhai would be the local bullies of the capital. No matter what the benefits are, they would all rush to the capital first. Tianhai would get the meat, and only then would other places get a sip of soup. If Tianhai cannot become the capital, the Tianhai families would have to follow Lord Wu and relocate to the new capital..."
The influence of the Tianhai family will be reduced.
"...When Lord Wu says he wants to build something in the new capital, most of the benefits will go to the local bullies. How can those old men who have followed Lord Wu for many years feel comfortable?" Xu Jie softened his smile and gave his wife a simple example: "If you can buy the most fashionable rouge, face powder, and silk fabrics in the capital, can you buy them in the border counties where war could break out at any time?"
The Tianhai family's entire fortune is now concentrated in Tianhai, which is about to become a border county. The losses are enormous!
Xu explained it simply, and the lady naturally understood.
He whispered, "The difference is so big..."
Xu Jie sighed, "The key to preventing Tianhai from becoming a border county lies in the Heyin region, and the ownership of Shangnan determines the ownership of Heyin. Madam, it's a matter of great importance. Lord Wu's loss was not unjust at all. If he hadn't been too lenient with the Tianhai aristocratic families, which had completely disheartened Qin Gongsu and Zhao Dayi, and with Qin Li's planning, it would have been uncertain who would have won Shangnan."
If Gu Ren hadn't died, the Northwest would probably be a three-way power struggle. For Wu Xian now, even a three-way power struggle would be better than the current coexistence of two factions; at least he could still use Gu Ren as a shield. Gu Ziyi is truly a good-natured man, the best peacemaker.
The lady said, "Everyone has their own destiny."
Xu Jie's gaze was inexplicably persistent: "I don't believe in fate."
The couple spent little time together in their early years.
With little communication and understanding, their relationship plummeted to a freezing point.
He was busy with business and family planning, neglecting the household. He considered himself a good husband as long as his wife provided him with enough respect and material comforts and remained chaste. She, on the other hand, was considered a good wife as long as she managed the household and cared for the children. Isn't this how most couples in the world are?
However, I've had different thoughts in the last two years.
Hmm, it has a bit of the feel of an old house catching fire.
This gave Xu Jie a very novel experience.
Especially after receiving a letter from Wen Shi, who mentioned a very explosive private topic, which was like "adding fuel to the fire," the couple's relationship took a sharp turn for the worse, and the old house on fire was almost burned down to ruins.
The lady blushed and gently slapped his hand away.
"Just focus on recovering from your injury."
He clutched his wound: "Hmph, scholar with a literary heart..."
As long as he loosened his control over his literary energy, he wouldn't need to suffer any serious injuries and recuperate for a hundred days. The lady scolded him playfully.
Xu Jie felt that this one glance was full of charm.
Because the Prefect of He County was seriously ill, the common people would often secretly bring him fruits, vegetables, chicken, duck, and goose eggs to the gate of the government office. They would also burn incense three times a day at the longevity tablet in his home. Finally, their sincerity moved Heaven, and their Prefect awoke. To appease the people, he even forced himself to meet with the officials in the government office and arrange the affairs of the government. The entire county of He County rejoiced.
After Xu Jie regained consciousness, his condition improved rapidly.
Every day, he would hobble around outside on his strange wooden cane, constantly gazing towards the city gate. The common people had no idea what the prefect was waiting for, until ten days later, when Tianhai sent another messenger.
The messenger, seeing Xu Jie's expression, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture.
"Is Prefect Xu waiting for me here?"
The messenger from Tianhai had infiltrated Heyin's territory in disguise, and Xu Jie's side had received no prior warning, catching them completely off guard. Xu Jie remained unfazed, speaking sarcastically: "I, Xu, am neither skilled in divination nor knowledgeable of destiny or timing. How could I have known the messenger would pull off a 'white-clad crossing'..."
The messenger was not displeased by Xu Jie's sarcasm, but simply smiled and delivered some bad news: "Prefect Xu, please don't misunderstand, I came here with no other purpose than to deliver a death notice."
Xu Jie's brow twitched: "An obituary?"
"Prefect Xu was previously unconscious, and he sent an elder of the clan to Tianhai. Unfortunately, that old gentleman Xu was quite old, and the long journey caused him to fall ill. He was unable to recover from the illness and died of a high fever in the middle of the night. My lord has ordered me to inform Prefect Xu of the news in person. Please accept my condolences."
The messenger emphasized the pronunciation of the word "face to face".
Xu Jie was somewhat prepared for this; the clan elder was disobedient to begin with, repeatedly ingratiating himself with Tianhai before betraying him, and sending him out was merely a way for Xu Jie to use others to do his dirty work. He was simply surprised that Wu Xian would kill him so readily and now send someone to threaten him.
Wu Gong today—
It has the style of many years ago.
Xu Jie was, after all, a seasoned veteran in the business world who had seen it all. Faced with the messenger's coercion, he didn't reveal a single flaw: "Sigh, a high fever in the middle of the night? Judging by his age, my uncle was quite old. His passing is a happy one."
He turned and ordered his personal guards to inform the clan of the death. The clan elders had devoted themselves to the Xu family, and the compensation for the descendants should be adequate. After giving these instructions, he invited the messenger inside to rest. The messenger, however, refused to move, laughing and saying, "No need for a seat. My lord was worried about petty thieves on the road, so he specially ordered several thousand elite troops to escort me. I have to go back and report after I'm done."
Xu Jie's heart skipped a beat, and he gripped the wooden cane tightly.
This guy is really pulling that "crossing the river in white" act!
Thousands of elite troops have all arrived in Heyin territory?
Just as he was about to respond, the messenger mentioned Wu Xian's invitation again, glancing at Xu Jie's unsteady legs and the wooden crutch in his hand, and said, "This wooden crutch is strangely shaped, but it is an excellent tool. Prefect Xu can walk freely without the help of servants using it."
Xu Jie's smile appeared somewhat forced.
"Oh, this was brought by my younger brother."
It is said to be made in a one-to-one scale based on Shen Jun's wooden cane.
Xu Jie was contemplating how to stall for time, or perhaps he should just kill the messenger before him. What did it matter if He Yin County had several thousand Wu Xian soldiers? When he took over He Yin from Shen Jun, the county had already implemented a plan for universal conscription. Every year, when farming was less busy, the government would secretly organize martial arts drills in various villages. Over time, many villages turned these drills into occasions for resolving their grievances. Any conflicts that arose in ordinary times were settled during these events, greatly promoting peace and stability within the territory.
Cases of village feuds have decreased significantly.
These thousands of elite troops dared to act, and the common people under their jurisdiction could also put up a fight. However, the combat skills of ordinary civilians were still far inferior to those of battle-hardened soldiers! Action would inevitably result in bloodshed and sacrifice.
Xu Jie hesitated, while the messenger kept a close eye on him.
He urged, "Prefect Xu, have you made up your mind?"
Xu Jie did not give up stalling for time. He needed to arrange for his clansmen to evacuate. If they all fell into Wu Xian's hands, it would be troublesome.
The messenger was clearly not buying it.
Just as the two sides were locked in a stalemate, the sound of horses' hooves approached from the direction of the city gate. Xu Jie's heart pounded as he listened to the sound. Fugu City had been rebuilt by Chen Tang, and its main streets were extremely wide, with riding horses prohibited. This sound of hooves—
Xu Jie looked at the messenger, who had crushed the wooden staff in his hand.
The messenger urged, "What are you waiting for, Prefect Xu?"
The sound of horses' hooves grew closer and closer.
Then, familiar martial energy approached.
Xu Jie's eyes lit up instantly; he had found a way out of a desperate situation.
"Brother—"
The young martial artist leaped off his horse, and as his feet touched the ground, the warhorse transformed into martial energy and was absorbed into the tiger tally. Behind him stood a cavalry force of about a hundred men. The young man's hairstyle was unusual; his hair was braided into numerous plaits and tied up on his head.
Who else could it be but Xu Wenshi?
Xu Quan grinned, a horsewhip still rolled up in his hand.
"I'm back!"
As he spoke, he charged towards Xu Jie like a calf.
He gave his cousin, whom he hadn't seen for many years, a big bear hug.
Xu Jie could hear the groaning of his own bones.
Despite his inner elation, he didn't show much kindness on the surface, scolding, "How old are you? Still acting like a child? Aren't you afraid of being laughed at by the envoy? Wen Shi has been away from home for many years and is rude and unruly. He'll make the envoy laugh at you."
The messenger didn't see the interaction between the two cousins.
His gaze fell on the hundred-man cavalry.
Many of the cavalrymen had heads dripping blood hanging from their horses, and one or two of the heads looked somewhat familiar. Xu Quan noticed his gaze and explained, "On the way back, we encountered a few suspicious mountain bandits. We were worried they might do something bad, so we took care of them. It's just a pity they escaped too quickly. Unfortunately, we only managed to catch about ten... Ten or so heads would be enough for my cousin to make a necklace."
The messenger's eyes were bloodshot.
His gaze toward Xu Quan carried a fleeting hint of bloodlust.
Xu Quan seemed oblivious, twirling his little braid that hung over his shoulder, grinning and trying to curry favor with Xu Jie, only to be scolded in return. What did he mean by stringing those heads together to make him a necklace? Previously, he'd been given a necklace made from the heads of ten noble nobles as a birthday gift, which had given him a headache for days. And now this kid was going even further! Anyone unaware of the situation would think the Xu family's parenting style was barbaric.
The messenger took a deep breath to calm himself.
He said, "I heard that Young Master Xu has joined Lord Shen's ranks?"
Xu Quan said, "Yes."
The messenger demanded, "Then why are you here?"
Xu Quan, always ready to answer any question, scratched his head and said, "Oh, this? It's almost the end of the year, and I missed my brother whom I haven't seen for many years, so I took a long leave and also acted as a messenger for my lord."
After saying this, he took out a secret letter from his pocket and gave it to Xu Jie.
Xu Jie appeared calm, but his hands were actually trembling as he accepted the gift.
The messenger, his face grim, asked, "What is this?"
Xu Quan grinned and said, "I really can't live without my brother. I kept pestering him to recommend you to the lord. The lord remembered our past friendship and thought you were a man of noble character, so he issued a document to recruit you."
The messenger asked, "A recruitment drive?"
His voice suddenly turned stern.
"Does Mr. Shen not know about the Xu family and Mr. Wu...?"
Xu Quan said naively, "Of course I know that. My brother was once a staff member under Lord Wu, but—didn't we separate?"
He looked sincerely into the messenger's eyes.
He then turned to look at his older brother: "Isn't that right?"
|ω`)
Regarding the term "conscription," Tang Mei's initial status could only be considered "recruited," but her current position is considered "conscription." However, I'm too lazy to distinguish between them, so I'll just use "conscription" directly.
(End of this chapter)
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