Thinking the Emperor wanted to discuss his marriage, Xiao Wei prepared to refuse, but upon entering the imperial study and seeing both Wei Jia and Yang Ling present, he knew it was a major matter.
The Emperor’s expression was somewhat uncertain. “Wei Jia, everyone’s here. Repeat what you just said.”
Wei Jia then said, “We’ve just discovered the whereabouts of Master Yuan and Lady Song Official. It turns out Master Yuan has long been cultivating his own forces in Nande, leading a considerably large righteous army, the Righteous Yuan Army. Urgent reports say that in the most recent battle, the Righteous Yuan Army achieved a great victory, defeating two hundred thousand Nande troops. Righteous armies from various regions are pledging allegiance one after another. It’s estimated the Righteous Yuan Army will exceed five hundred thousand. Before the great battle, Master Yuan led ten thousand men into Chenzhou, suspected to be heading toward where the Zicao Army is located. Zicao is Nande’s first righteous army, with far-reaching influence and outstanding status among righteous armies everywhere. If they submit to him, the Righteous Yuan Army will legitimately become the greatest force resisting the Nande court.”
Xiao Wei had always thought Yuan Cheng and Mo Zi went to Yuling. He never expected to hear such astonishing news. “Are you saying Yuan Cheng is rebelling against the Nande Emperor?” He knew Yuan Cheng’s schemes ran deep, but didn’t know he wanted to be emperor?
“It appears so.” Wei Jia smiled bitterly. “Moreover, the Princess’s whereabouts have also been ascertained—she’s also in Nande. If Prince Li knew, he would certainly be furious. His most valued eldest son is Prince Su’s son, and his most beloved eldest daughter divorced her husband and ran to another country—”
“Simply outrageous!” The Emperor heavily slapped the table.
The three men knelt down.
“Does he think he truly has such great ability to oppose the Nande court? No matter how incompetent, the new Nande Emperor still has several million soldiers in his hands. A mere five hundred thousand is like throwing eggs at rocks. Moreover, he also knows there may be secret schemes between Daqiu and Nande. Once a crisis occurs, Daqiu won’t stand by idly.” Though the Emperor said this, those listening couldn’t sense anger in his words.
Xiao Wei said, “Your Majesty, Yuan Cheng’s actions may implicate our Great Zhou. Initially, when we rescued him, Nande developed suspicions toward Great Zhou. Now that he’s returned to raise a rebellion banner, they’ll inevitably think Your Majesty secretly authorized it. At this time, Daqiu’s army presses our northern border. If Nande uses this to create trouble in the southern border, Great Zhou will be attacked from front and rear. We must quickly devise good strategies to guard against the unexpected.”
The Emperor looked at Yang Ling, who hadn’t said a word. “Minister Yang, as everyone knows you once hit it off with Yuan Cheng. How do you view this matter?”
Yang Ling respectfully replied, “Your Majesty, when Master Yuan fled Nande, wasn’t he also fleeing Great Zhou? If we trace back to the earliest time, Master Yuan went from Great Zhou to Nande and received the late Nande Emperor’s favor. If Nande wants to attack our Great Zhou, they won’t use this excuse. This subject believes that with the world now in great chaos, while Nande appears peaceful with our Great Zhou on the surface, secretly they’re friendly with Daqiu. As our conflicts with Daqiu intensify, Nande will inevitably abandon one side, and they’re more likely to fear the formidable Daqiu. This way, our Great Zhou will be isolated and helpless.
Rather than painstakingly maneuvering with petty people, better to unite with the strong. Nande’s Emperor is immature, the Empress Dowager and Wu family play power games, from top to bottom there are no capable officials or conquering generals, the people live in misery, beacons of war rise everywhere, and within the imperial capital city I hear it’s still all debauchery and pleasure. The commoner rebellion began last year, yet to this day Nande’s soldiers cannot control it. It’s even intensifying. Anti-court voices spread throughout the nation, rebel armies number over a million and continue expanding.”
Xiao Wei lowered his gaze. “What does Minister Yang mean? Could it be you want His Majesty to unite with Nande’s rebel armies?”
“Why not?” Yang Ling spoke quite openly. “If Great Zhou secretly aids Nande’s rebel armies, once Nande is overthrown and the rebel armies become the legitimate army, Great Zhou’s relationship with Nande will be unbreakable. At that time, Daqiu’s ambitions will also be restrained.”
Xiao Wei objected. “Absolutely not. Rebel armies formed by commoners have no proper legitimacy. If we secretly support their forces and it’s discovered, Great Zhou will be labeled immoral. How Nande’s court is, is not for Great Zhou to judge, but the imperial surname has been legitimate for a hundred years—how can commoners scheme against it? Even if Nande’s people scheme against it, our Great Zhou cannot, otherwise how are we different from Prince Su who colluded with Daqiu? Since ancient times, disloyal subjects and traitors deserve execution. We can choose not to help Nande’s court, but we cannot do the opposite.”
“I disagree with General Xiao’s words.” Yang Ling’s gaze was burning. “The capable shall possess the world. Not speaking of distant matters, just speak of Emperor Zetian. If she hadn’t been far-sighted and believed in her ability to rule the world, how could Great Zhou have replaced Great Tang? A hundred years ago the world was divided into four, yet two years ago, Great Zhou and these disloyal subjects and traitors still coexisted peacefully—was that not immoral? Now, Daqiu’s heart to seize the world is clear, Yuling’s broken nation and defeated imperial family, Nande full of wounds and on its last breath—besides Great Zhou, who else has proper legitimacy? If we truly must debate, Nande’s Liu surname are traitors to Great Zhou, while the Yuan clan is a Great Zhou hundred-year-old family. Master Yuan raising troops against them is retrieving justice from a hundred years ago for Great Zhou.”
What a talented scholar! Every word and sentence left Xiao Wei speechless.
“Your Majesty, Master Yuan is an extraordinary talent of his time. The strategies in his mind, his far-reaching thoughts—if he raises troops, this subject believes he has a chance of victory. For Great Zhou, this is also an excellent opportunity to gain a strong ally without lifting a finger.” Yang Ling hadn’t left Great Zhou yet because he wanted to handle this final matter well.
“Your Majesty—” Xiao Wei was loyal to his sovereign and loved his country. Regarding helping another nation’s rebel forces, his mindset still found it hard to accept. “Please think thrice.”
The Emperor rubbed his forehead. He understood Xiao Wei’s concerns because they were also his concerns, but on the other hand, Yang Ling’s argument made him somewhat want to try, especially since that person was Yuan Cheng.
“Wei Jia, what’s your opinion?” He asked each one in turn.
Wei Jia raised his eyes, looked at Xiao Wei on his left, then at Yang Ling on his right. “Your Majesty, Wei Jia feels—Minister Yang’s words are extremely reasonable. When the nest is overturned, how can any eggs remain intact? The world is in great chaos. Four nations have become three, and Daqiu and Nande secretly scheme against our Great Zhou. Since they are unkind, why must we still speak of righteousness to them? Master Yuan’s capabilities are now known throughout the court. If not for him, Prince Su’s rebellion might have already succeeded, and Your Majesty has issued an edict reversing the Yuan clan case. Twenty years of carefully laid schemes, identified and countered by him alone—anyway, Wei Jia can’t think of who else has such abilities.”
The Emperor was silent for a long while, then spoke. “Wei Jia, I command you to immediately proceed to Yunzhou naval base. Five hundred thousand troops will be under your command to guard against Nande court conspiracies. Yang Ling, you will be the military supervisor. Both of you may rise.”
Wei Jia and Yang Ling acknowledged the decree and withdrew.
Xiao Wei was kept behind by the Emperor.
“Bai Yu.” He switched to an affectionate form of address.
Xiao Wei’s thoughts hadn’t yet emerged from earlier. “Your Majesty, this subject believes negotiations with the Righteous Yuan Army must be extremely cautious. This subject once had prejudice against Yuan Cheng, but now speaks objectively. This person acts unexpectedly, his thoughts unfathomably deep. We must be extremely careful he doesn’t burn bridges after crossing. Fundamentally, Nande is Nande, Great Zhou is Great Zhou. If he replaces the Nande Emperor, he couldn’t possibly return territory originally belonging to Great Zhou. His personality is extremely strong, difficult to control, and he may not lack ambitions to unify the world. Conversely, a weak Nande benefits our Great Zhou. They fear Daqiu and will equally fear Great Zhou.”
The Emperor, however, didn’t continue this topic. “Bai Yu, your grandmother wants me to bestow a marriage for you.”
Xiao Wei cupped his hands and bowed slightly. “Your Majesty permitted me to choose my own marriage partner.”
“I did permit it, but not twice. You’ve already used it, and at that time when I asked if you wanted to pursue and arrest that girl Mo Zi, you yourself said you wouldn’t force it.” The Emperor said this somewhat awkwardly. “You don’t know—Imperial Consort Chen has been melancholy ever since losing the child. When I told her I would select a good match for you, she only then became slightly interested and asked me whose family’s daughter. Also, after the Crown Prince passed, the Empress has been sad every day. It’s rare for her to speak up—I can’t very well say no.”
“Your Majesty, is Xiao Wei’s marriage meant to please others?” This question was heavy. This was probably the first time since Xiao Wei’s youthful success that he challenged imperial authority.
The Emperor’s face couldn’t hold up. “Xiao Bai Yu!”
Xiao Wei was actually startled himself, but having spoken, he wouldn’t take it back.
Fortunately, the Emperor had a gentle temperament. His anger rose quickly but dissipated quickly. With a long sigh, “I’m not unaware of your heart’s thoughts, but King Xiang has dreams while the goddess has no heart. That girl has already run away—why do you persist in your delusion? Since you can’t think it through or let it go, why not pursue her closely?”
“Forgive this subject’s earlier improper words.” Xiao Wei first criticized himself. “Just as Your Majesty said, Mo Zi has no heart for this subject. This subject erred once—how can I err a second time? However, in these troubled times, this subject only wants to protect Your Majesty and Great Zhou’s safety. I temporarily don’t wish to marry.”
“These words make no sense. Your eldest brother’s eldest son is already seven or eight years old, your third brother’s wife is also with child, yet you alone haven’t married a primary wife. If a primary wife doesn’t enter the door, how can you spread branches and scatter leaves? No wonder your grandparents and parents are so anxious. If it were an ordinary woman, I wouldn’t mention it, but this Wang family tenth daughter has both talent and beauty, is knowledgeable and reasonable, grew up following Minister Wang Yang. I’ve heard her talents make many talented scholars in the area admit inferiority, and moreover her insight is considerable—she’s not a young lady who stays within doors. This Emperor may not necessarily be an outstanding leader in great talent and strategy, but is a Bole with good eye for people. “Oh right, didn’t you also meet her?”
Xiao Wei recalled that gentle yet shrewd face. “This subject knows Miss Wang is extraordinary, but that’s precisely why this subject is unworthy of her.”
“What kind of talk is that?” The Emperor was displeased. “If we truly speak of matching families, the Wang family matching the Xiao family is perfectly suitable. That girl Mo Zi—her identity and origins are muddled. I love her talent but worry about her heart. Your grandmother and your mother probably haven’t received the news yet, but with Daqiu’s King pressing the border demanding Great Zhou hand over his national empress, your grandfather and father already know. After they return, if I don’t muddle through, I’m afraid they’ll resent me for how I bestowed such a troublesome daughter-in-law on the Xiao family.”
Xiao Wei said, “This was requested by this subject to Your Majesty. It has nothing to do with Your Majesty.”
“Enough, enough, the person has already run away.” The Emperor waved his hand, returning to the main topic. “I can temporarily postpone the marriage bestowal, but you should be mentally prepared. At the latest before year’s end, I will ask you once more.”
“Your Majesty, Xiao Wei requests assignment to Huazhou.” Both Huazhou and Yunzhou were important naval bases—one connected to Yuling, one to Nande.
The Emperor didn’t get angry but laughed instead. “You’re also running away?”