Chapter 300 Tripartite Balance of Power
With the situation in Qinzhou largely settled, the eastern part of the southern border is now stable and can serve as a solid barrier against the East China Sea and the North China Sea.
Mu Xi was able to lead his troops back to Jiping Prefecture, the capital of the southern border, with peace of mind, and gained a true military advisor.
Shen Lun always treated Mu Xi with the respect due to a ruler and his subject, showing no intention of seeking kinship. However, by using his identity as the Marquis of Yong, and having become familiar with Shen Qiao's actions over the years, he contacted many former officials of Yan, especially Tu Feng, the old commander of the Han Navy, and persuaded Tu Feng to cooperate with Mu Xi, the Jin Fang Jun.
Although the veteran general Tu Feng of the Han Navy could not truly serve the Mu family, he was in agreement with Mu Xi on the matter of rescuing the prince Xi Xun. Therefore, the two sides signed an agreement, stipulating that they would not attack each other, and that both sides could concentrate on attacking the armies of Mu Zong and Mu Heng.
After completing all this, Shen Lun returned to Qinzhou and finally imprisoned Shen Qiao in the Yunding Temple Tower.
During the years when Mu Xi was terrified of being controlled by the fake Shen Lun, she was always worried and decided to go on the trip as well.
She rearranged the defenses of the Cloud Peak Mountains, replaced the people inside and outside the Cloud Peak Temple, and recast the seven-story tower into a real cage. But when she watched Shen Qiao, whose body had collapsed and who was suffering from pain, being carried into the tower, never to emerge again, an indescribable feeling welled up in her heart.
Is this what revenge is?
Why did I feel no sense of satisfaction after taking revenge?
Qi Qingyuan and Doctor Luo, who came to witness the event, remained silent.
In the end, it was Shen Lun who offered some kind words of comfort to Shen Qiao before they left together.
On the way back, Mu Xi suddenly remembered something and called Shen Lun aside to ask him privately, "Uncle, please don't be offended, but I still have a question. I wonder what happened to Shen Qiao's wife and daughter when he was the Marquis of Yong..."
It's hard to say what follows, but Shen Lun understands the meaning enough.
Shen Lun's face remained calm and unchanged, but he sighed softly, "Alas, this matter is difficult to speak of, but since you have guessed it, then it is indeed so."
That's how it is?
Mu Xi then completely confirmed her guess.
Based on the timeline of that year, Shen Lun married a noblewoman after achieving fame at a young age. However, not long after the marriage, Shen Lun was murdered by Shen Qiao. Since Shen Qiao was impersonating his brother, he naturally continued to do so.
He inevitably took his brother's wife as his own, and later had Shen Pingting and three sons. The three sons were mediocre, probably because Shen Qiao had been preoccupied with his own selfish motives for many years and had no time to discipline them. Shen Pingting, on the other hand, was beautiful and intelligent and had some value. After she grew up, she was often taken by his side.
According to this calculation, apart from the wife he formally married back then, none of his children were Shen Lun's.
This result is really...
Mu Xi was filled with emotion and didn't know how to comfort him.
Shen Lun sighed softly, his words seeming to be addressed to both Mu Xi and himself: "I only wish they would never know about this matter. More than twenty years have passed, and although I have long since let go of all ties with my wife, I fear that if my wife knew the truth, she would find it unbearable and might try to take her own life again. As for the three sons and one daughter, I have come to understand their temperaments somewhat over this period of time, and they have all been indulged by Shen Qiao. In the end, they are still of the Shen family bloodline. I can only do my best to guide them, make proper arrangements for them, and try to ensure that they live a worry-free life and do not do anything that would bring shame to the ancestors of the Shen family."
"I don't know much about my three cousins' personalities, but Cousin Pingting... is proud and arrogant. I'm afraid that if she can't marry into a high-class family, she'll have a hard time finding peace of mind." Mu Xi felt a pang of sadness when she thought of Shen Pingting.
Shen Lun slowly shook his head: "Marrying up would only encourage her arrogance and do her no good. But it's rare for a woman to be truly happy if she marries down. It's best if they are of similar social standing and have compatible personalities. But her personality... well, I'll do my best to find her a reliable husband. That would be fulfilling my duty as her uncle."
"You've put your uncle in such a difficult position." Mu Xi didn't know what else to say in this situation.
Shen Lun, however, laughed heartily: "I never thought this body would regain its freedom and be able to do my part for the common people. What more could I ask for? I am already content."
Looking into Shen Lun's bright, clear, willow-leaf eyes, Mu Xi suddenly recalled Shen Mao's comments on his two sons: one was "wise" and the other was "clever." Although she still couldn't fully understand the difference between the two, she thought that wisdom was broad-minded, while cleverness was just a minor skill.
At the same time that the matter in the southern border was resolved, a major change also occurred in Moyang.
On the surface, Xuan Youjun Mu Zong and "West Sea King" Mu Heng, two members of the Mu clan, are attacking the Han Hai Army under the banner of "purging the traitors," but the two of them always have their own ulterior motives and can hardly cooperate seamlessly.
In the process of cooperating while fighting amongst themselves, Xuan Youjun Mu Zong stumbled and was killed by Mu Heng, who then absorbed half of Xuan Youjun's forces. Mu Xun also fell into Mu Heng's hands.
On the other side, Xuan You's Crown Prince Mu Sheng was defeated by the Han Navy, and the other half of Xuan You's army was absorbed by the Han Navy.
With the situation having changed to this point, Shen Lun, with his worldly wisdom, devised a plan for Mu Xi. Taking advantage of the situation, he acted decisively and swiftly, striking at the heart of the enemy's stronghold and seizing Moyang City with lightning speed.
Mu Xi never dreamed that one day she would be able to lead her troops back to Moyang, and not only that, she would be able to sit on the throne in the Tianjun Hall of the royal palace as the lord.
After ascending the throne, Mu Xi immediately proclaimed to the world in the name of the descendants of the Da Shi Mu clan, restoring the innocence of the former Yan Xi royal family and vindicating the Han Hai Army. Shen Lun, in his capacity as the successor to the prime minister of the former Yan, persuaded the former Yan officials and the Han Hai Army to cease hostilities.
After Mu Xi finished doing all this, she demanded that the only remaining "King of the West Sea," Mu Heng, be released back to Mu Xun immediately.
He also promised both Mu Heng and Tu Feng that if they surrendered without resorting to violence, they would be granted titles of kings and marquises.
However, neither Mu Heng nor Tu Feng are easy to deal with.
The more military power Mu Heng held, the less content he became with being merely a regional ruler.
As for the Hanhai Army, Tu Feng may have noticed that the current Shen Lun is different from the former "Shen Lun," but because Shen Lun suddenly helped Mu Xi occupy Moyang City, he gradually became wary and suspicious, and was even more worried about the safety of the prince, so he refused to submit.
Thus, within and outside Moyang City, Mu Xi, Mu Heng, and Tu Feng formed a three-way balance of power.
In this stalemate, Mu Xi had no choice but to join forces with Tu Feng of the Han Hai Army to attack Mu Heng in order to save Mu Xun.
They thought that with two against one, forming a pincer movement, victory would be assured. However, Mu Heng, driven by his ambition, followed in Mu Ji's footsteps. He not only secretly recruited the Red Carp Guards left behind by Mu Ji, but also colluded with pirates through the Red Carp Guards, greatly increasing his strength in a short period of time.
Both Mu Xi and Han Haijun were injured and unable to cooperate fully. They could only rest and recuperate for the time being and wait and see what happened.
Meanwhile, Mu Heng stationed his troops in the eastern suburbs of Moyang City, besieging half of the city. He also set up his forces at Qifeng Terrace, which Mu Xi had built years ago. On one hand, he used Mu Xun's life to restrain the Han Hai Army, and on the other hand, he threatened Mu Xi that he should either make Mu Xi hand over the throne or wait to collect Mu Xun's corpse.
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