CHAPTER 414: CHAPTER 41 MARRIAGE ALLIANCE_3

Li Fusheng shook his head, grabbing another small handful of peanuts to toss into his mouth, and said, "Humiliating him by executing his son before the armies could be quite interesting."

"..." Zheng Fan.

...

In Chuzhou City, panic gripped the hearts of the people.

The King’s army had arrived. Everyone in the city, from the nobles whose clans hadn’t been exterminated and homes confiscated, down to the common peddlers and porters, knew this.

However, when the Yan people began distributing grain, the number of Chuzhou City residents who came to collect it was still remarkably large.

In contrast, the nobility appeared far more restrained.

Even the officials in the government office were, at this moment, still anxiously scheming their own affairs.

Meanwhile, Blind Bei and an old man were slowly walking on the walls of Chuzhou City.

These were lofty and towering city walls. As Chuzhou was a prefectural capital, it was natural that its fortifications would not be shabby.

Yet, these city walls had offered little resistance on the day the Yan people entered.

Blind Bei pointed to the spot below where grain was being distributed and asked, "What does Minister Wen think of this?"

Minister Wen, Wen Sutong, was, in name, the highest-ranking official in Chuzhou City at this time.

Only yesterday, Blind Bei himself had led men to Wen Sutong’s residence. By holding blades to the throats of his clansmen, he had forced the old man to don the official’s cap.

Wen Sutong shook his head. It was unclear whether he had become resigned or fearless, but he directly answered this blind man, whom he found utterly loathsome, saying, "The common people are foolish."

Blind Bei nodded without anger, concurring, "Indeed."

"Mr. Bei, since you know that showing kindness to the common folk gains nothing—even if they know this grain was distributed by the Yan people, even if they know this grain came from the stockpiles of noble households—they still wouldn’t possibly side with the Yan people. If the great families and nobles in the city were to incite them even a little, they would still harbor resentment towards the Yan people, viewing them as Yan bastards."

"I know that."

"If you know that, why still do this?"

"We just have too much grain."

"...." Wen Sutong.

"Elder Wen, in the government office right now, I imagine quite a few people are busy writing memorandums to defend themselves, aren’t they?"

"So what if there are?"

"It’s nothing. I just feel that your perspective, Elder Wen, could be a bit more farsighted."

"’More farsighted?’"

"Elder Wen, you must be in great anguish right now. On one hand, you’re concerned about how you’ll be judged in the historical annals; on the other, you’re worried about the safety of your kin."

"Heh heh."

"Actually, these two concerns aren’t contradictory in the slightest. Not at all. Just as you said earlier, Elder Wen, the Qian people now scrambling for the grain distributed by our Great Yan’s soldiers won’t become devoted to Great Yan because of it. For, as you put it, ’the common people are foolish.’"

"Mr. Bei, why did you invite me out here? What do you really want to say?"

"What I mean is, Elder Wen, among those in later generations who will read the historical annals, how many do you think will not be foolish?"

"Who can fathom the affairs of future generations?"

"Then let’s look to the past. Your Qian State’s Founding Emperor bullied orphans and widows, seizing the state unjustly. But has that prevented the Zhao Family from holding the legitimate position in Qian State today? No, not in the slightest. The Zhao Family, and the Emperor of the Zhao Family, are still the sovereign and father to you scholars, and you are still his subjects."

"Are you suggesting that..."

"If Great Yan manages to overthrow Qian State, annexing Qian State under Yan rule, then tell me, who would care about the decision you make today, Elder Wen?"

"Mr. Bei, that is a fallacious argument."

"I don’t consider my words to be profound truths. I’m merely trying to offer you some diversion, Elder Wen. I just wonder, who do you hope will arrive later: the Yan Army, or the Qian army?"

Wen Sutong did not answer.

"I appreciate Elder Wen’s honesty."

"I said nothing."

"Not saying you hope for the Qian army is already a stance in itself. Elder Wen, you’re a man with one foot in the grave. Naturally, your thoughts now turn to your family’s future. Your grandsons, after all, are still very young."

"Are you threatening me, Mr. Bei?"

Blind Bei took a scroll from his sleeve and handed it to Wen Sutong.

Wen Sutong took the scroll, unfurled it, and upon seeing the characters written there, his entire body began to tremble with rage. "This... You... How dare you... You actually..."

The scroll contained a public notice of reassurance, issued in the name of Wen Sutong, the "Military Governor."

The pacification content was standard. However, beyond that, it also contained, in Wen Sutong’s supposed voice, a harsh denunciation of Qian State’s Emperor Zhao and many others, touching upon every possible taboo. It even escalated to claiming that Qian State’s Founding Emperor had acquired the state illegitimately, and that the Ji Family replacing the Zhao Family to become the common rulers of Yan and Qian was thoroughly deserved and justified.

"This is a fabrication! This is a frame-up!" Wen Sutong exclaimed.

"Yes, it’s a fabrication, a frame-up. I wrote it. I can even testify to that for you, Elder Wen. But who would believe it? After all, Elder Wen, since you put that official cap on your own head, do you really think you can take it off yourself? This public notice was issued today. It’s not just posted throughout Chuzhou City, but also in all the surrounding towns and villages. Elder Wen, you have no escape route left. Even if you’re willing to bear all the blame yourself, your Wen Family certainly won’t be spared. Emperor Zhao may pay lip service to treating scholar-bureaucrats kindly, but when it comes to matters like these, weigh it in your heart: would he truly let your Wen Family off?"

"What exactly are you trying to say?"

"It’s the same old story. Since there’s no way out, just walk the path ahead honestly. Given your status and the fact that you’re the first, our Yan court will naturally make an example of you. In the future, it would be perfectly reasonable for you, a Qian person, to enter our court and be appointed as a High Minister (Shangshu). You’ve caught a fortunate time. If you wait until those other ministers surrender, their qualifications and status are far greater than yours."

"Heh heh, HAAHAHAHA..."

Wen Sutong, who had been furious moments before, suddenly burst into laughter.

Blind Bei stood silently, saying nothing.

Blind Bei had chosen this Wen Sutong. Since he had selected him, he certainly had his reasons.

"I have one condition."

"You are not qualified to set conditions."

"You..."

"You can make some harsh threats, but they’re meaningless. You cannot bear to see your entire clan annihilated, and I have the power to annihilate your entire clan. Therefore, you have no standing whatsoever to negotiate conditions with me. Do you understand?"

"Then, I have a request."

"Please, speak your mind. I will certainly inform my lord, who will then submit a memorial to the Imperial Court."

"My request doesn’t need to be submitted to the Imperial Court. I’ve always been very curious: what kind of person could possibly make someone like you, Mr. Bei, acknowledge him as your lord?"

"My lord is a dragon hidden in the abyss."

"Such words... are rather taboo, aren’t they?"

"Mm."

"Regarding my request... I have a direct granddaughter, sixteen years of age."

"My lord does not prefer..."

Blind Bei had wanted to say that his lord didn’t like girls who were too young.

But Wen Sutong interjected, "No, I’m not trying to curry favor with your lord by marriage. My granddaughter is no peerless beauty either."

"Then what is it?"

"With you."

Silence. A brief silence. Then, Blind Bei laughed, pointed to his own eyes, and said, "But I’m blind."

Wen Sutong, however, slapped his thigh and declared, "Doesn’t that make it just perfect?"