CHAPTER 415: CHAPTER 42 DO YOU WANT IT?_1

"My granddaughter is very ordinary-looking, and you are blind. Isn’t this a match made in heaven?"

Blind Bei looked somewhat dispirited. He liked to scheme against others but didn’t particularly enjoy being plotted against himself.

"Elder Wen, alliances solidified by marriage have, since ancient times, mostly ended in rupture."

The current Yan Emperor has many concubines from aristocratic families in his palace, ostensibly for marriage alliances. Yet, this hasn’t stopped him from trampling over those same aristocratic families.

A marriage alliance is truly a childish affair. It’s sought because relationships aren’t solid enough, and precisely because they aren’t solid enough, they are bound to break.

"You are different. In my life, I have rarely erred in judging people."

Blind Bei sighed, saying, "I am just a common man."

Wen Sutong fell silent.

"Elder Wen?"

"I am waiting for you."

"Waiting for me to do what?"

"Waiting for you to state your terms."

Blind Bei chuckled. "And what might that mean?"

Wen Sutong, meanwhile, placed his hand on the battlement, stroking it lightly as he said, "You’re the sort of man who, when facing any situation, doesn’t first consider whether he can accept it, but rather weighs the pros and cons. That is your way of life."

"Then what does Elder Wen think my terms should be?"

"The loyalty of my Wen Family."

Blind Bei shook his head. "Not enough."

"In the future, this place will very likely become new territory of the Yan State. The Yan people can conquer it, but they won’t be able to maintain control in the short term. I can remain in this position as military governor. Never mind the current swarm of useless drones in the government office; if I truly set my mind to a task, these old bones of mine can still get things done. I cannot rebel, but keeping Chuzhou City and its surrounding region under control poses little problem. I am perfectly clear on who to dismiss, who to support, and how to get everything functioning."

"Continue."

"Loyalty, coupled with the loyalty of Chuzhou City and this land."

"Don’t stop."

"Not loyalty to the Yan State, nor loyalty to the Yan Emperor, but loyalty to your master."

"That’s more like it."

"Actually, I would prefer to ally with you rather than your master."

"I am a blind man."

"But your eyes see more clearly than others. In your presence, I feel as though I am the blind one."

"I will not betray my master."

"Good. Then I can also be loyal to your master."

"Why?" Blind Bei asked.

"Which ’why’ are you asking about?"

"All of them."

"Indeed. If I were loyal to the Yan Emperor, I could certainly keep my position as the military governor of Chuzhou. Furthermore, I could be held up as a paragon for the Qian people and even be honored as an Imperial Censorate Officer in the imperial court. High-ranking positions and generous stipends would naturally follow. But, to be honest, I am not optimistic about the long-term stability of Yan.

The Yan Emperor’s trampling of the aristocratic families was certainly a display of immense spirit and vigor. It was a move that likely none of the other three monarchs of the four Eastern states could match. However, he has been too hasty.

By crushing the aristocratic families, the Yan Emperor undoubtedly strengthened his own authority, establishing his supreme rule, truly demonstrating the awe-inspiring power of an emperor. However, what initiated his rise may also herald his fall.

The North Army and the South Peacekeeping Army of Yan are, in essence, two autonomous military commands. Their degree of independence, in fact, far surpasses that of our Qian’s West Army Division. Yes, while Li Liangting and Tian Wujing are present, these two forces will undoubtedly obey the Yan Emperor’s commands. But what happens after them?

In trampling the aristocratic families, the Yan Emperor gained their wealth, land, population, and... talent. But what he lost was the hearts of the people."

"The concept of ’the people’s hearts’ is too broad."

"No, it’s not. It truly isn’t. To put it simply: have the aristocratic families of Yan ever betrayed his Ji Family?

For hundreds of years, whenever war broke out, the Ji Family emperors personally led the campaigns, and the aristocratic families followed closely, fighting the Barbarians and the other eastern states. The aristocratic families have served the Ji Family well. Without their help, the Ji Family might not have held their position for so long. Perhaps, from a national perspective, the aristocratic families are indeed a malignant tumor, much like the scholar-bureaucrats in Qian—too numerous and of little benefit to the country. Yet, we still support the Zhao Family’s rule. The aristocratic families never wronged the Ji Family, yet the Ji Family crushed them.

Even if the ensuing wars are won by the Yan Army on every front, even if the Yan Army proves unstoppable, once the aristocratic families are gone, new people and new families will rise. Whether they ascend through military merit or administrative capability, they will replace the aristocratic families and fill the void, strengthening the nation. And then what?"

Wen Sutong gently patted the battlement.

"In this world, everything is based on mutual benefit. A lord is a lord, and a subject is a subject; in truth, both have their own expectations of the other. It’s like conducting business in the market, where the principle is ’even if a deal falls through, goodwill remains.’ But when the Yan Emperor swept this goodwill into the gutter, all that remained was a thinly veiled form of... coercive dealing, or even outright plunder.

The subjects will no longer trust the Yan Emperor. This is especially true for the high-ranking generals who command the troops and the newly-risen military families. The Yan Emperor has proven through his actions that he is not a ruler with whom they can trust to share wealth and glory. The seeds of chaos in Yan are sown from this.

Unless..."

"Unless what?"

"Unless the Yan Emperor can live for several more decades, and unless Tian Wujing and Li Liangting also live to a ripe old age. Unless the Yan Emperor’s successor, and in turn that successor’s own successor, also have figures comparable to Li Liangting and Tian Wujing by their side.

Otherwise, when the Yan Emperor dies, the empire will collapse!"