Chapter 638: - Brother...

“Behead them.”

If Xu Wenzu had merely invoked Marquis Pingxi’s military order earlier to make his move, then it could still be understood as doing the newly ennobled Marquis a favor and preserving the dignity of the Marquis of Pingxi Residence.

After all, the two would be old neighbors from now on. Whatever other mission Xu Wenzu carried, even if the court had secretly instructed him to divide, restrain, and watch the local factions here, he first had to show that he and Marquis Pingxi stood on the same side.

But when those final words came out, the nature of the affair changed at once.

Marquis Pingxi’s military order had become nothing more than the most convenient excuse, while Prince Cheng Situ Yu’s appearance today, despite the restrictions on him, had made that excuse complete.

Anyone present who was not a fool could hear the impatience in Xu Wenzu’s voice.

He had come here to bring down the blade.

Situ Yu’s mind went completely blank. If Marquis Pingxi’s handling of him at Stone Mountain had merely left him frustrated, confused, and depressed, then the smiling pig Xu Wenzu had just lifted him up and smashed him back into the ground.

Marquis Pingxi commanded the military. His fief lay east of the Wang River, which from Great Cheng’s old perspective was already the eastern frontier of the state. But everyone had seen how the commanders of Yingdu’s Four Great Camps greeted him outside the city. They had practically defined themselves on the spot as running dogs beneath the Marquis of Pingxi Residence.

Besides, the Marquis Residence’s army might currently have to garrison Snow Sea Pass and Zhennan Pass, but no one doubted that if necessary, it could gather more than twenty thousand iron cavalry, thunder directly across the Wang River, and place its spearpoint against Yingdu’s throat.

Xu Wenzu, meanwhile, represented civil administration.

Perhaps Mao Mingcai had been too accommodating toward every faction while he held office, especially the old bureaucratic and powerful families of Yingdu, and had allowed everyone to drift into a dream.

That was why Xu Wenzu’s arrival as the new Prefect, followed immediately by an iron fist, created such a violent shock among Prince Cheng and everyone beneath him.

Stop dreaming.

Yingdu was not your Yingdu.

It was Great Yan’s Yingdu.

...

“Father, about what happened today...”

The servants had barely shut the gates of the residence before Sun Liang could no longer resist questioning his father.

Sun Youdao often felt helpless toward this second son of his. Aside from being comparatively honest and straightforward, Sun Liang’s talent in every other respect was far inferior to that of his elder brother.

Then again, in chaotic times, that sort of “honesty” was often exactly what allowed a family to survive.

“The court is moving against them.”

At some point, when the Sun family said “the court,” they had begun referring to the Yan court rather than the little court in Yingdu.

“The court is moving against them? Why?”

Sun Liang plainly could not understand. In his eyes, after Yingdu was incorporated into Yan, the people here had behaved themselves reasonably well.

Of course, that might also be because as the Sun family’s second son, he had never possessed much reputation before. The true upper circles of Yingdu did not bring him along when they played their games, much less share important information with him.

More importantly, he seemed to have overlooked the most obvious thing right under his nose: what his own elder brother had once done, and how that affair ultimately pushed both him and his father aboard Marquis Pingxi’s boat.

Perhaps because Count Zheng of those days had now become Marquis Zheng, and the Sun family’s little fishing boat had somehow turned into a navy warship after betting on the right side, Sun Liang no longer resented the elder brother who had “single-handedly brought all this about.”

If anything, he was even a little grateful.

“Newly annexed territory is like clothing taken from someone else,” Sun Youdao said. “If you put it on without washing or rinsing it, perhaps at first you are simply desperate for warmth against the cold. But once enough time passes and the weather grows hot, how could it not begin to irritate you?”

“This...”

“Perhaps the Yan are too good at war, so many people have convinced themselves the Yan know nothing except fighting. But the Yan court, especially those few men at the top, fears no one when it comes to political maneuvering. Whether it is an open scheme carried out in broad daylight or a conspiracy with a needle hidden in cotton, whether righteous or crooked, they can use it all. Now the war is over. With the Marquis of Pingxi Residence where it is, neither the Savages nor Chu will be able to stir up much trouble for the next few years. So the Yan finally have their hands free to properly straighten out Yingdu. Did you notice something? Xu Wenzu did not become the new Prefect because Prefect Mao fell ill. Before the assassination, before Prefect Mao took to his bed, the court must already have decided on this step. That is the only reason Prefect Xu could arrive so quickly.”

With Sun Liang’s support, Sun Youdao sat down in the hall.

A servant brought in a charcoal brazier, but Sun Youdao waved for it to be taken away.

Sun Liang served his father tea.

Holding the cup, Sun Youdao continued:

“During the First Battle of the Wang River, there was no other choice. The Yan court and the First Prince both needed cooperation from the people of Yingdu. At the time, the Yan army lacked strength and was fighting in newly conquered territory. They faced too many restrictions. Generally speaking, only when your own strength is insufficient do you start thinking about alliances and balancing one side against another. After the Prince of Jingnan took command and the scale of the war expanded, with Chu entering the game as well, they needed Yingdu and the old people of Great Cheng even more. Once the Savages were defeated and Chu corpses lay piled beneath Yupan City, I was already thinking: Surely it is time now. Surely it must be time. That was why I tried to withdraw from office first. If you stay standing at the top, even without any ambition of your own, you still become a target for other people’s arrows. But the Yan still did not move against us. Later, when the campaign against Chu began, I finally understood. Why did the Yan massacre the prisoners beneath Yupan City? Why did they still refrain from cleaning up Yingdu? Because they had prepared long ago to campaign against Chu. Now, look. The war is over. They no longer need you. So now they begin dealing with you.”

“Father, isn’t the court killing the donkey once the grinding is done?” Sun Liang asked.

“Foolish.”

Sun Youdao coughed twice, drank another mouthful of tea, and slowly continued:

“To put it pleasantly, we voluntarily submitted to Yan. But if you asked the Yan to choose again now, they would probably rather have another chance to conquer Yingdu from scratch with soldiers and fire. My son...”

“Father.”

“I am old. This winter has been especially difficult. Perhaps next winter is one I will not cross.”

“Father, your health...”

Sun Youdao cut off Sun Liang’s useless reassurance with a look.

“Remember this. If you want to live peacefully and pass the Sun family down, there are only two rules. First, regard yourself as a Yan man. Second, obey that Marquis. The second rule outranks the first.”

“Yes, Father. Your son will remember.”

“Yingdu was not conquered by force of arms. That alone guaranteed there would eventually be problems. The people here do not feel that everything they possess was given to them by the Yan. They believe they earned it through their own abilities. They will never feel grateful. The word ‘grateful’ is ridiculous, of course. But after the Yan court already made such enormous concessions, gratitude is about the only thing it wanted in return. And that is precisely the one thing it can never get. A policy of conciliation will inevitably breed trouble in the end. So a blade is still needed to scrape away the bad bone and sinew in one pass. That is not necessarily a bad thing either. The war is over. Sweep away what needs sweeping and clean away what needs cleaning, and the common people can finally live in peace. These past years, the Jin lands have suffered far too many natural disasters and man-made calamities. All anyone should ask for now is a little peace. Just a little peace.”

Sun Liang saw his father close his eyes, plainly exhausted, and immediately ordered the servants to help him into the bedroom to rest.

He himself hesitated for a while, then walked to the gate of a side courtyard.

His elder brother Sun Ying was confined there.

Sun Liang stepped forward and knocked lightly three times.

A little while later, the servants inside carried a litter over to the gate.

The two brothers leaned against opposite sides of the door and spoke through the narrow crack.

Plainly, this was not the first time they had done it.

And just as plainly, their father knew. The courtyard was surrounded by his own trusted men.

Sun Liang told Sun Ying everything that had happened that day.

After suffering setback after setback in life, Sun Ying’s hair was already half white. The fierce hostility that once filled his eyes had long since vanished.

When he finished listening to his younger brother, he laughed.

“Why are you laughing, Elder Brother?”

“I am laughing at myself. Father used to be my example. I hoped that one day I could become like him, assist an enlightened sovereign, and help establish some great undertaking. But now I see that I truly fall far short of Father. He foresaw today long ago. He saw much farther than I did. I, Sun Ying, deserve to have ended up like this.”

“Elder Brother, that day I truly was frightened out of my mind. Disaster had almost fallen on our whole family. But now, I genuinely do not blame you.”

On the other side of the door, Sun Ying was so irritated by those words that he laughed.

“So should I also thank Marquis Pingxi?”

Thank the man for turning him, once the criminal of the Sun family, into its “guiding light”?

“You now hold the office of Transport Commissioner. Let your elder brother give you one suggestion. Tonight, take all the account books to the Prefectural Yamen and ask the new Prefect to inspect them.”

“Wouldn’t that look too eager?”

“Do you want face, or do you want your life?”

“My life.”

“Good boy. If you cannot arrive at exactly the right moment, arrive early.”

“Yes, Elder Brother. I understand.”

“Do you know why Marquis Pingxi did not return to Yingdu together with the new Prefect this time?”

“Was he worried he would steal the new Prefect’s thunder?”

Sun Ying sighed again.

“Today, the new Prefect relied on Marquis Pingxi’s military order to cut into Prince Cheng Residence and establish his authority and the tone of his administration. If Marquis Pingxi had been present, tell me, should he have spoken to stop him? If that happened, speaking would be wrong. Remaining silent would also be wrong. So the best solution was for him to stagger his return by a day or two and avoid entering the city with Xu Wenzu. Once the dust settles and all the heads have been chopped off, Marquis Pingxi can come back. At that point, whether he pretends nothing happened, makes a few hypocritical inquiries after everyone’s health, or even argues with the new Prefect and says it was all a misunderstanding and an overreaction, none of it matters. After all, chopped-off heads do not grow back.”

“Elder Brother, you mean this new Prefect and Marquis Pingxi are actually...”

“They are singing a two-man act. They joined hands long ago. Have you never looked at the careers of Marquis Pingxi and this new Prefect?”

“I have. But Marquis Pingxi used to be this Prefect’s subordinate. Now their positions are reversed. I thought perhaps the relationship would no longer be so pleasant.”

“Little Brother.”

“Mm, Elder Brother?”

“Do not measure other men by yourself.”

“Uh...”

“Whether it is that Marquis or this new Prefect, who has barely sat down in office before sharpening the knife, their level and their realm are both far beyond anything you can compare yourself with.”

“Yes, Elder Brother.”

Sun Liang nodded seriously without taking offense.

“And when you deliver the account books tonight...”

“Don’t worry, Elder Brother. I’ll separate the grain, money, and supplies sent to the Marquis Residence from those sent to the other garrisons.”

“Hiss...”

Behind the door, Sun Ying closed his eyes and drew a deep breath.

That single wooden door was all that prevented him from beating his younger brother senseless.

“Elder Brother, what is wrong?”

“Little Brother, put them together. Do not make them conspicuous.”

“But... didn’t you just say the Marquis and the new Prefect are standing together?”

“My point is that precisely because they stand together, we, you, the Sun family, have to avoid suspicion. What are you trying to accomplish by squeezing yourself between them? This new Prefect spent years in Nanwang City allocating grain, supplies, and transport. He is several times better at reading accounts than you are. One glance will show him anything unusual. Most importantly, even if we know perfectly well that he and Marquis Pingxi have an excellent relationship, the Sun family lives in Yingdu. We do not live in Fengxin City. Our direct superior is still this Prefect. Even blood brothers settle accounts clearly. And sometimes men are brothers precisely because neither has another choice. Do you understand? When you deliver the accounts tonight, you are showing that the Sun family will cooperate with him and become one of his arms. We can even put Father’s reputation as Grand Tutor behind him and let him know Grand Tutor Sun is willing to stand at his back while he righteously punishes his own kin. You are not going there to play some petty clever trick and announce to his face that we are Marquis Pingxi’s people and already have a line into the Marquis of Pingxi Residence. Would that not amount to telling him outright that the Sun family looks down on him and believes he does not dare touch us? Even a clay figurine has three parts temper, much less a ruthless Prefect like this one.”

Cold sweat immediately appeared across Sun Liang’s face.

He nodded again and again.

“Yes. Yes, yes. Elder Brother, I nearly made a grave mistake. A grave mistake.”

Sun Liang even seemed ready to kowtow by instinct, then obviously realized that would be inappropriate.

Thinking of the burden and pressure on his shoulders, together with all his own limitations, his voice suddenly thickened with tears.

“Brother, talk to Father. Soften toward him. Admit you were wrong and ask him to let you out. I am genuinely terrified I’ll make some mistake and drag the whole family down with me. I know I am stupid. I cannot compare with Father’s wisdom. I cannot compare with you in the slightest. I... I...”

Behind the door, Sun Ying fell silent too.

He heard his younger brother sobbing.

At last, he merely smiled.

“Little Brother.”

“Brother.”

“You are smarter than I am.”

[End of Chapter 638]