Chapter 1915: Resentment and Choice

Yang Ye had always taken pride in his sons, and hearing Wang Yansheng's envious, even somewhat smug praise, his mood naturally turned quite pleasant.

But noticing Wang Yansheng's expression, he still offered a slightly embarrassed yet courteous smile and urged: "Brother, you are too strict with your worthy nephews. I observe that they are all promising talents; they simply lacked opportunity before. Now that His Majesty openly encourages them, they will have ample room to display their abilities and will surely inherit your legacy and bring glory to your house!"

Facing Yang Ye's words of consolation, Wang Yansheng couldn't help but give him an extra look, sighing inwardly — this Yang Chonggui was like a well-fed man who knows not the hunger of the starving. Setting aside his own circumstances, for decades now he had been the object of envy, jealousy, and resentment among the nobles above and below.

His descendants filled the hall, and talents emerged generation after generation — especially his two sons Yang Yanzhao and Yang Yanlang, whose quality was particularly outstanding. One had been selected by Emperor Liu as an Imperial Son-in-law and served as a senior officer in the Palace Command; the other had transformed from an up-and-coming star into a great general of the army, currently expanding territory in Anxi under Prince Wei.

He was indeed low-key in conduct, but when it came to prominence and honor, who in the entire court could ignore him? Yet with such power and prestige, his house had always enjoyed Emperor Liu's trust and favor, with not the slightest sign of suspicion — truly strange and wondrous!

Yang Ye's family fortunes were already legendary enough, but what was even stranger was Emperor Liu's attitude! The old emperor, however one looked at it, did not seem like someone who could truly trust a person or a family without reservation.

Yang Ye's merits and prestige were both sufficient, and the two men shared the bond of comrades-in-arms, but Wang Yansheng was still a senior before him and thus had his own pride, so he did not overly display these sour, lemon-flavored emotions.

"Children and grandchildren will have their own blessings — I now finally understand somewhat why His Majesty so often has this saying on his lips!" After a moment's thought, he sighed with feeling: "Our generation braved life and death to establish this foundation, yet our children and grandchildren cannot enjoy it. They must walk the thorny path all over again. Had I known this earlier, why would we have fought so desperately back then?"

Seeing that Wang Yansheng was again unable to restrain his tongue, Yang Ye's brows furrowed slightly, and he said with some irritation: "Brother Guanglie, these words are somewhat extreme. His Majesty also has good intentions — he surely hopes that descendants and juniors can achieve something, rather than becoming a bunch of mediocre idlers relying on their family connections!"

At this mention, Wang Yansheng felt a surge of anger he couldn't suppress, glancing at Yang Ye and saying: "Brother Chonggui, let me say something unpleasant. Your two sons, Yanzhao and Yanlang, are outstanding heroes in the army, greatly trusted and employed by His Majesty. Did their achievements not rely on your Commandery Duke Yang's merits, seniority, and reputation? Without His Majesty's partiality and promotion, could your nephew Yanzhao have become Chief Inspector of the Palace Command before the age of forty?

What kind of position is this — you know better than I. Low in rank but heavy in authority; how many veteran ministers and seasoned generals are under its command. His Majesty intends deliberately to establish him as a new banner of the Great Han army!

The backbone of the military, the pillar of the state — what was perhaps only encouragement and expectation back then is now gradually becoming reality! And that Li Jilong, in a situation similar to your eldest son, is likewise His Majesty's son-in-law.

Compared with these two, what must those soldiers of ordinary birth, those mid- and low-ranking officers who endure years of seniority awaiting promotion, think? If His Majesty seeks fairness, what does suppressing us meritorious nobles accomplish?"

Hearing Wang Yansheng speak thus, Yang Ye finally could not hold back, cutting him off with a rebuke: "Enough! Brother Guanglie, you have spoken too much today. When one should be muddled, one should be muddled — you said that yourself!"

Yang Ye's sudden outburst made Wang Yansheng pause for a moment, but he quickly recovered, casually wiping his saliva-dampened beard and smiling lightly: "Have these words of mine touched upon taboo again? When I am clear-headed, this is my attitude. A temper of seventy years cannot be changed; in the end, I will carry it into my coffin!"

As he spoke, Wang Yansheng's old eyes narrowed slightly, carrying a hint of pressure as he fixed them on Yang Ye, saying in a low voice: "You are His Majesty's trusted confidant. This complaint of mine today — it won't be reported to His Majesty, will it?"

"Brother suspects me?" Yang Ye showed not the slightest fear, meeting Wang Yansheng's gaze directly, a trace of anger hidden in his eyes.

Seeing his earnest expression, Wang Yansheng chuckled, but a breath caught in his throat and he couldn't help coughing twice. His gaze slid sideways to the other white-haired elder walking beside them, and he said: "Even if it reaches the emperor's ears, I am not afraid. When one no longer fears death, what else is there to fear? Let it be passed along — let His Majesty hear the true sentiments of his subjects.

Look at us — we cannot even speak our true thoughts directly to His Majesty's face. Is this not the sorrow of old ministers?"

"Enough. Since things have come to this, what use are these futile complaints? Enjoying one's old age in peace is the proper path!" Yang Ye sighed, then helped Wang Yansheng up again, though this time he applied more force.

Feeling the strength transmitted from his arm, Wang Yansheng fell silent for a moment, then slowly walked toward the carriage while shifting the target of his conversation, asking the other elder: "Baron Hechuan, having listened to all this idle talk, have you nothing to say?"

The elder beside him was Baron Hechuan Kang Yanze, of similar age to Wang Yansheng — a wise general skilled in both letters and arms. Through decades of military life, he had rendered no small number of distinguished services. Yang Ye's famous battle of vindication, the great victory at Baicaokou, where he defeated the invading Liao army against overwhelming odds through frontal assault, was achieved with Kang Yanze's assistance.

Of course, compared to Wang Yansheng, he was indeed inferior in various aspects, especially in merits and seniority. At this moment, Kang Yanze walked slowly with his hands clasped behind his back, meeting Wang Yansheng's scrutinizing gaze with an unruffled, composed demeanor, and said with a light smile: "I have lived in retirement for many years, seeking only to enjoy my old age in peace, with no other desires! As for those unworthy sons and grandsons of my house, I hold no expectations for them. Even if they accomplish nothing, the family property accumulated over these years is enough to sustain them for three generations. As for what happens after three generations, that no longer requires this old man's worry!"

"Baron Hechuan takes things quite lightly, facing it all with equanimity!" Kang Yanze's performance seemed to Wang Yansheng rather put-on: "Your father already held the high office of Director of the Chancellery in the previous dynasty; you come from a distinguished family. Compared with this old man, who fought up from the lowest ranks of the army, you have had it far more comfortable. With your rank and emoluments, if you do not strive onward, three or five generations later your family would have already fallen to commoner status — can that be accepted with equanimity?"

To this, Kang Yanze was silent for a few moments before smiling and saying: "At least His Majesty has pointed us toward a clear path! This old man has already made his decision. The Kang family still has some younger members — those who are law-abiding will stay within the realm to pursue scholarship, governance, commerce, or farming; those who are restless will all be sent abroad, free to stir up whatever waves they may!"

Kang Yanze's declaration was made out of necessity — in recent years, the Kang family's circumstances had not been easy, mainly due to political suppression and being pushed out of military affairs.

The reason was simple: he was a typical example of what Emperor Liu called "lawless nobles." His second son, Kang Mingzhao, had committed the crimes of embezzling military supplies and withholding soldiers' pay, and was executed according to law. Kang Yanze, then serving as Deputy Chief Commander of the Patrol Inspectorate, naturally could not escape implication — stripped of all titles and ranks, his official career was directly cut short, and he had been living in retirement for over a decade.

"That's a good idea!" Before Wang Yansheng could speak, Yang Ye spoke up in affirmation, looking highly approving.

Wang Yansheng looked at the two men, left and right, pondered for a moment, then sighed: "It seems this is the only way! This old man still has some young men from old connections — they will have to go out as well!"

"Westward or southward?" Yang Ye asked curiously.

"Westward, of course!" Wang Yansheng said coldly: "If southward, would I not be serving under that lad Guo Liangping? Watching that whelp rise to fame, how could I submit to his command?"

Clearly, Wang Yansheng was also one of those old nobles who looked down on the navy and despised Guo Liangping. Seeing Wang Yansheng's self-important demeanor in his old age, a hint of a different expression flashed through Kang Yanze's eyes beside him — he had no intention of throwing his young men into the Anxi battlefield, that meat-grinder where no amount of lives could fill the gap...

Of course, Wang Yansheng's choice of the northwest was more likely because he had accumulated some foundation of influence in that region — it was the place where his influence as Commandery Duke Wang could be most fully exerted.

"It seems this old, ailing body of mine must hold on a while longer; otherwise, if this old man departs, the younger generation will have no confidence to contend with others!" Sure enough, Wang Yansheng sighed softly again: "His Majesty's single act of letting go has turned the vast lands beyond our borders into an arena of beasts..."