Chapter 1106: Better to Fight Sooner Than Later

The struggle for power between Wei's imperial sister and brother had thrown the state into internal chaos, shocking all under Heaven.

At least, that was how outsiders saw it at first: a struggle for power between sister and brother.

Xuan Wei's slaughter of Wei's inner palace sent an even stronger message both inside and outside the state. The sovereign of Wei could no longer restrain her. She had formally taken control of Wei and had gained the support of the state's three great sects.

As more details gradually emerged, and with Jin's tiger-and-wolf armies assembling at exactly the right time, the other states all realized that the turmoil inside Wei had been Jin's doing. The State of Jin, which had long inspired dread in the other states, had finally bared its savage fangs once more.

This time, however, Jin was not using its old style of launching a direct, overwhelming assault. It had first used treacherous methods to throw Wei into disorder from within, then sent its armies charging in behind them.

Mist Bureau scouts sent several reports a day on Jin's troop movements, keeping all of Wei stretched taut with tension.

Xuan Wei's first response was to urgently reassure the military. She declared that everything which had happened before was part of Jin's conspiracy and that so long as everyone united to resist the enemy, none of the previous acts would be pursued afterward. At the same time, she urgently ordered the armies to prepare for war.

But Nan Renyu's death, together with the deaths of many capable Wei generals, had inflicted enormous losses on the effectiveness of Wei's military, losses that could not be recovered. Hastily promoting replacements created countless problems, great and small, entangled through every layer of the army.

Xuan Wei's ability to govern a state did not mean she was equally capable of commanding great armies in war.

Shao Pingbo, after lying low and preparing meticulously for so long, either did not move at all or, once he did, struck with the support of Jin's power and dealt Wei a mortal blow.

The moment he acted, he unleashed a relentless, tightly coordinated series of blows meant to choke Wei to death. Xuan Wei wanted to pacify the military, but how could it be that easy?

Across Wei, commanders had either been purged, shaking the morale of the troops, or those who had carried out the imperial decrees were frightened by the rumors that followed, worried Xuan Wei would settle accounts with them afterward.

Those who had resisted the imperial decree when the purge came and narrowly escaped death were immediately approached by people Shao Pingbo had arranged in advance and persuaded to defect. Put plainly, they were persuaded into rebellion; to a certain extent, Shao Pingbo had effectively taken them hostage to their own actions.

Anyone capable of surviving such a purge generally possessed some means of protecting themselves and had the support of one cultivation sect or another. Their interests had been intertwined with those sects for years, which was precisely why they had the strength to resist an imperial decree.

Faced with the emperor's decree, merely defying it outright was the mildest thing some of them did. To save themselves, some even killed members of Wei's three great sects who had been stationed with them. When it was a matter of staying alive, of preserving their own lives and the lives of their families, what would they not do?

At a time when these people did not yet understand what was really happening and believed the court meant to kill them, Shao Pingbo's people stepped in at exactly the right moment. One after another, the commanders publicly declared their positions. After that, it became very difficult to turn back.

They had little choice. From what they could see, the court appeared intent on killing them. What else could they do?

Their own strength was nowhere near enough to withstand the power of the imperial court. At that very moment, Jin extended a helping hand, promising support and even the future benefits of ruling a region as a lord in their own right. What choice were they supposed to make? Even looking no further than the immediate crisis, the decision was not difficult. Under the pressure, one after another declared themselves.

By the time they understood what had really happened and realized it had all been a Jin conspiracy, it was too late. When they looked back, a lifetime had already passed.

They had already issued public declarations of rebellion. In those proclamations, they had cursed the imperial court as though it were a heap of stinking dog shit. They had killed no small number of local officials sent by the court, and some had even killed representatives of the three great sects stationed with them. Who could guarantee that the court would not settle accounts afterward?

Now the court was saying it would overlook everything and ordering them to mobilize their troops for battle. But who knew whether obeying that summons would simply deliver them into the court's hands for a later reckoning? History was full of such examples.

The morale of Wei's entire military was in chaos. Without someone like Nan Renyu, who possessed prestige throughout Wei's armed forces, to coordinate them, Xuan Wei was overwhelmed. She had no choice but to seek urgent aid from the State of Qi at the first possible moment and ask Qi for support...

The court hall was brilliantly lit deep into the night. Xuan Wei had not taken the emperor's throne. She was using the court hall only as a place to conduct affairs and had a desk set below the imperial seat.

After the court officials, who had been working without rest, departed one after another, Xuan Wei remained seated behind the desk, exhaustion and haggardness written all over her face.

Ximen Qingkong stood nearby and watched her for a while before finally asking slowly, "Can you still leave?"

Xuan Wei, resting her forehead on one hand, slowly opened her eyes. She turned to look at him, then gradually stood and walked over until they faced one another. "Qingkong, with Wei reduced to this state, I can't leave. If I go now, the morale of Wei's armies and the hearts of its people will collapse completely."

A strained smile appeared on Ximen Qingkong's face. "I understand. It's all right. We'll wait until the present crisis has settled."

As he said it, an inexplicable sorrow welled up inside him. He was no fool. Given Wei's present situation, whether it was the officials and common people or the state's three great sects, he doubted any of them would ever tolerate Xuan Chengtian sitting on that throne again and issuing orders to all beneath Heaven. Xuan Chengtian had frightened them too badly.

Could the woman before him still leave with him?

The hall fell silent. The man and woman facing one another were both quiet. There were some things each understood without needing to say them.

"Qingkong." Xuan Wei suddenly broke the silence and looked up at him. "Things have already reached this point. There is no need to keep worrying about certain constraints anymore. Whatever I do now, neither the court officials nor the three great sects will object. Once the situation is stabilized, even if I can no longer leave, I will still marry you! I will marry you immediately!"

After waiting so many years, Ximen Qingkong had finally heard those words. Immense joy flooded his eyes and face. Unable to restrain himself, he suddenly opened his arms and pulled the woman before him into a tight embrace.

There were still eunuchs standing guard at the doorway, but this time Xuan Wei did not push him away. She quietly rested against him.

After holding her in silence for a while, Ximen Qingkong murmured beside her ear, "But if that happens, you'll never truly be free."

Xuan Wei said, "I'm only afraid I'll drag you down with me. Are you willing to stay at my side?"

Ximen Qingkong tightened his arms around her, answering with action.

...

The court hall of the State of Qi was also brilliantly lit. The upheaval in Wei struck close to home for Qi.

Hao Yuntu sat in court, discussing countermeasures with his officials through the night.

"Report!" A shout came from outside. A eunuch strode in and announced, "Your Majesty, an envoy from Wei requests an audience!"

Hao Yuntu, seated high above, did not hesitate in the slightest. The situation was urgent, and this was no time to stand on ceremony. He swept a hand outward. "Admit him!"

Before long, Wei envoy Kang He strode into the hall beneath the eyes of Qi's assembled officials. After paying his respects before the sovereign, he laid out the difficulties Wei currently faced, pointed to Jin's wolfish ambitions, and expressed the hope that Qi and Wei could cooperate once more to jointly frustrate Jin's designs.

He also announced openly that, as proof of Wei's sincerity, Wei was willing to marry three Commandery Princesses to sons of Hao Yuntu.

The reason Wei offered Commandery Princesses was simply that the entire state could no longer produce suitable imperial princesses. Wei's previous emperor had died young, and nearly all the surviving imperial princesses were already married. They could only select Commandery Princesses from among the imperial clan. Because their rank was lower, Wei was offering three at once.

After hearing this, Hao Yuntu asked, "Is this Xuan Chengtian's intention, or Xuan Wei's?"

Wei envoy Kang He answered openly, "Naturally, it is the Chancellor's intention. His Majesty is indisposed, and the Chancellor is presiding over affairs of state."

Quite a few of Qi's officials exchanged glances. Everyone understood that the claim that Wei's sovereign was indisposed was merely a face-saving fiction.

Hao Yuntu nodded. "I understand Wei's meaning. Allow the ruler and ministers of my court to discuss it. Lord Kang, you may return for now."

Kang He knew it was impossible for Hao Yuntu to make a decision on the spot without consideration the instant the proposal left his mouth. Of course he would have to discuss it with his officials, and an outsider could not conveniently sit in on a private deliberation between Qi's ruler and ministers. Kang He immediately cupped his hands and withdrew.

Once he was gone, Hao Yuntu said, "You've all heard Wei's proposal. What do you think?"

"Your Majesty, this situation is different from before. Wei now faces the danger of its state being destroyed at any moment. This time, Wei is truly desperate."

"That's right. Xuan Wei's offer to marry out three Commandery Princesses may look like a voluntary marriage alliance on the surface, but in truth it is meant to stabilize the hearts of the people within Wei. By arranging marriage alliances at a moment like this, she wants Wei's officials and people to see that Qi will stand or fall together with Wei."

"Exactly! Xuan Wei's slaughter of the entire inner palace served the same purpose. It was a declaration to everyone in Wei that the state's power was now in her hands, that she herself had stepped forward, and that they should not panic!"

"Your Majesty, gentlemen, external trouble is often less dangerous than internal disorder. Wei's situation this time truly is different from before, and it truly is perilous. With such chaos inside Wei, even if Qi sends troops to help, we may not be able to save the state."

"Indeed. If our efforts would be wasted, should we consider preserving our strength?"

"Absurd!" A shout suddenly thundered from outside the hall. A man in battle armor strode in with the bearing of a dragon and the pace of a tiger, his resonant voice shaking the interior of the hall. "Who uttered such words that would ruin the state?"

The newcomer was none other than Huyan Wuhen, Supreme General of Qi.

Under everyone's gaze, Huyan Wuhen stopped before the hall and saluted. "Greetings, Your Majesty!"

Hao Yuntu smiled and rose as well, lifting both hands in a gesture for him to dispense with ceremony. "Wasn't the Supreme General away from the capital on an inspection? How did you return so quickly?"

Huyan Wuhen said, "This subject heard that something had happened in Wei and rode back without stopping. I eavesdropped on Your Majesty's discussion with the ministers from outside for a while. I ask Your Majesty to forgive the offense."

Hao Yuntu said, "The Supreme General hurried back so urgently that you have not even removed your armor. That alone shows your concern for affairs of state. What offense is there? There is none! If the Supreme General has some insight, speak freely before everyone."

"This subject obeys!" Huyan Wuhen cupped his hands, then turned and swept his gaze over the assembled officials. In a loud voice he said, "Jin's ambition is known to every passerby! Once Wei is defeated, Jin's next move will inevitably be to march its armies against Qi."

"Preserve our strength? What strength are we preserving? By sitting and watching Wei perish? Once Wei falls into Jin's hands, Jin will gain ample grain and provisions. At that point, Jin will have elite troops and full granaries, while Qi will have lost Wei as an ally. We will be left to fight Jin to the death with the strength of one state alone. Who can predict the outcome?"

"If we send troops now, Qi and Wei will be fighting Jin together. That will greatly reduce the pressure on Wei and greatly reduce the pressure on Qi as well. How can we stand by and watch them die?"

"Whether Wei can ultimately be saved or not, we absolutely cannot allow it to perish easily. Every extra day Wei holds out is another measure of Jin's strength consumed, and that will benefit Qi when we eventually fight Jin ourselves."

"Therefore, better to fight sooner than later!" Huyan Wuhen turned after speaking and cupped his hands toward Hao Yuntu. "Your Majesty, at a time like this, we should do everything possible to help Xuan Wei stabilize the hearts of Wei's people and keep Wei resisting long enough to drain Jin's strength. In this subject's view, we should agree to the marriage alliance."

Hao Yuntu nodded. "The Supreme General speaks with reason."

"However..." Huyan Wuhen had more to say. "Marrying three Commandery Princesses into Qi would not carry enough weight. We should refuse that proposal! This subject suggests that Your Majesty send an unmarried imperial prince to marry Xuan Wei instead. We can call it 'taking a wife' to make it sound better, but in truth we would be sacrificing one imperial prince by marrying him into Wei—marrying him off to Xuan Wei. That would show everyone in Wei that Qi is determined to preserve their state, and it would do much to stabilize both the morale of Wei's armies and the hearts of its people!"

[End of Chapter 1106]