"The meeting between my Big Brother, Third Brother, and me..."
"All of you brothers within the room, please exit first."
Xu Xing glanced around at the generals in the room, discreetly memorizing them, then spoke. He seemed not to have taken note of the more than twenty people who escaped from the northwest corner of the room earlier. In truth, however, he had a list of every general who came for today’s plot—a list provided by Silent and the others. Yao Dang’s side had long been riddled with defections; out of every ten men, half were now his.
An indecisive leader, he reflected, would inevitably be gradually abandoned. As for Silent’s allegiance, that was unexpected. However, with or without Silent, it wouldn’t affect the overall situation, so I don’t particularly care.
"Who do you think you are, for me to submit to you? To listen to your words?"
A die-hard loyalist of Yao Dang pulled out the steel knife he carried and roared.
The others also began to draw their swords.
Instantly, the atmosphere both inside and outside the door became incredibly tense.
"All of you, stand down!"
"I will negotiate personally with Third Brother and Fourth Brother."
Yao Dang slumped onto his Tiger Skin Chair. He rubbed his throbbing temples, then waved his hand, signaling for everyone present to withdraw.
If a conflict truly broke out, his side, with fewer than ten people, would surely be doomed.
At the King of Sorrow’s command, the remaining Righteous Army Generals sighed. They reluctantly lowered their weapons and, necks stiff with defiance, were escorted away by the Xu Family’s Personal Guard Camp.
Shaoqing later, only the Three Great Kings—the King of Sorrow, the Heavenly Kun King, and King Xing Tian—remained inside the house.
And... the dozen or so bodyguards Xu Xing had brought with him.
Outside the house stood the densely packed Xu Family Attackers Camp, like a forest of soldiers.
"Whatever you want to say, just say it."
Yao Dang’s face was ashen.
Before the mutiny could even begin, his side had already been exposed and surrounded. His sorrow stemmed not from his failed uprising, but from being cornered by Xu Xing before he could even take the first step. This filled him with a profound sense of frustration.
On the low table sat a jug of Green Plum Wine and a small Warm Furnace.
The three brothers, each at their own low table, began to drink.
Yao Dang occupied the central high seat, Chang Kun sat to his left, and Xu Xing to his right.
"Among the many rebel leaders in the world today, who do you consider to be a hero?" Xu Xing picked up his wine cup and asked.
He carried his saber and wore chainmail beneath his outer robe. Yao Dang and Chang Kun, on the other hand, had been stripped of their armor and weapons, so Xu Xing had no need to fear a sudden attack from them. Furthermore, with a dozen of his personal bodyguards present, he had ample time to escape to the outside if necessary.
"Monk Shang has many soldiers and generals, and his power is substantial. Should he be considered a hero?"
Yao Dang didn’t know what Xu Xing was hinting at, but under the circumstances, he had no choice but to play along.
Mentioning Monk Shang as a hero was merely a casual remark on my part. I myself don’t think Monk Shang is a hero. If Monk Shang were truly a hero, how could Gongyang Yi, his foremost strategist, have defected to me...? No, the one Gongyang Yi should have pledged allegiance to wasn’t me, but King Xing Tian. If Gongyang Yi had truly defected to me, I wouldn’t be in such a passive position today.
Thinking of this, King of Sorrow Yao Dang felt an even deeper sense of despondency.
"Monk Shang may appear to be a powerful lord," Xu Xing chuckled, taking a sip of his Green Plum Wine, "but this man, firstly, cannot endure silently; secondly, he is vain; thirdly, he lacks magnanimity and loyalty... He cannot be considered a hero. He is merely dried bones in a tomb."
Hearing Xu Xing dismiss Monk Shang as no hero, the King of Sorrow and the Heavenly Kun King laughed heartily, each also downing a cup of wine.
Although Monk Shang wasn’t a sworn enemy of their Mount Siming, his reputation had long overshadowed those of other rebel leaders. At this moment, mocking Monk Shang as no hero gave them a sense of shared glory.
Drinking Green Plum Wine and discussing heroes.
The topic was now open.
"I think Meng Haigong counts as one hero," Heavenly Kun King Chang Kun offered as an example. "Although he was outwitted by us, the man is patient and possesses strategic thinking. I’ve heard that Meng Haigong recently fled to Lingnan Road and is apparently doing quite well..."
"Not him, definitely not him..." Yao Dang waved his hand. "Meng Haigong may seem strategic, but in reality, he’s a coward."
The men began to animatedly discuss the heroes and great figures of the realm.
The wine was thoroughly heated by the Warm Furnace.
"Then, do these rebel leaders across the land have any chance of overthrowing the Imperial Court and avenging your Big Brother’s blood feud?" Xu Xing suddenly changed the topic.
Yao Dang’s face first turned cold as ice, then he sank into deep thought.
Chang Kun lowered his head, saying nothing.
My cooperation with Xu Xing today isn’t because I favor him more. If I truly had to choose a side, I would undoubtedly opt to kill Xu Xing. However... Yao Dang’s mutiny has been exposed. If Fourth Brother Xu Xing doesn’t grant clemency, Yao Dang will not meet a good end.
"I, Xing, am untalented..." Xu Xing took a step back and said with feeling, "but I am willing to avenge Big Brother.
"If Big Brother does not trust this younger brother, then Big Brother may take his own contingent of the Righteous Army and once again head south.
"I... am willing to consider our bond of brotherhood."
These words caught Yao Dang completely off guard.
King Xing Tian actually bore no grudge and was even willing to divide the troops, allowing him to go his own way? Could such a good thing truly exist?
"Guanxi Road is barren, with many people and little food..." Xu Xing continued his assurance. "Big Brother’s voluntary departure would indeed alleviate the pressure on Guanxi Road."
Although the Gentry had d considerable grain to the Righteous Army, Guanxi Road has endured years of drought and has no revenue. The existing grain stores can for half a year at most. Fewer men in the Righteous Army would indeed lessen Guanxi Road’s food crisis. However... even though I’ve said that, I don’t believe Yao Dang will actually leave Guanxi Road. Yao Dang is indecisive and overly concerned with his reputation. If he were to leave and strike out on his own, others would deride him as a homeless dog, driven out. Given Yao Dang’s temperament, such infamy would be unbearable. Besides, after leaving Guanxi Road, where could Yao Dang even go? When they exited the Hukou Waterfall, thanks to my scheme, Yao Dang offended Monk Shang. He can no longer return to Mount Siming!
"Fourth Brother, why bother trying to deceive me...?" Yao Dang’s face was etched with bitterness. He poured himself a cup of water wine and downed it in one gulp. "Just say what you want."
"Alright!" Xu Xing nodded. "Between brothers, there’s no need for such pretenses. I, Xu Xing, am indeed disloyal, secretly consolidating power. But in these turbulent times, if I didn’t act this way, by the time danger was upon me... it would be too late for regrets.
"When I escaped the Sky Prison, I resolved that my fate would no longer be dictated by others.
"Having a sword and not using it is entirely different from having no sword at all!"
Upon hearing these words, King of Sorrow Yao Dang and Heavenly Kun King Chang Kun nodded silently.
In this world, if one truly only abides by loyalty, sooner or later, they’ll be sold out. When we became sworn brothers with Xu Xing, did we genuinely believe him to be a paragon of righteousness, a man worthy of such a bond? No. Xu Xing’s emphasis on ’righteousness’ was merely one significant factor. The fundamental reason was Xu Xing’s world-ordering talent. We were willing to become sworn brothers with him to bind him with the notion of ’righteousness’... Who would have thought that we’d try to be clever, only to have it backfire, leaving us sidelined by Xu Xing.
"Big Brother, relinquish the power you hold and abdicate to me," Xu Xing stated frankly. "I will not treat you unfairly, Big Brother...
"Wealth, estates—you shall have them all. Once the Imperial Court is overthrown, Big Brother, you will be a Founding Prince, your noble title enduring with the nation. As for Third Brother, if you wish to lead troops, then lead troops. If not, you can retire alongside Big Brother..."
Given the chance, I prefer to handle things with a degree of decorum. But if Yao Dang refused to accept this gracefully...