Chapter 2003: How Can One Mountain Contain Three Tigers

The meeting ended, and it was hard to say what mood the senior generals of Anxi left in, but Liu Min returned to his office with a look of relief on his face, and invited Duke Wen, Xiang Deming, to come over for a chat.

"Thank you for your help, Duke Wen!" After inviting Xiang Deming to take a seat, Liu Min bowed to him solemnly in gratitude.

Seeing such a posture, Xiang Deming could not stand on ceremony either. He quickly rose to support Liu Min, then said seriously: "Your Highness need not stand on ceremony; this is merely this old man's bounden duty!"

In fact, at today's meeting, without Xiang Deming's support, Liu Min would have found it difficult to maintain control of the rhythm from start to finish.

Therefore, Liu Min also spoke in a sincere tone: "Over these ten-odd years, without Duke Wen's full support, there would never have been the fruits of the western expedition, nor would there be the Anxi of today!"

Compared with those western expedition heroes and meritorious generals, Xiang Deming naturally had no dazzling military exploits, but as the great steward of all Anxi, coordinating the supply of all military logistics and provisions, he was absolutely powerful and influential.

Of course, even without the prestige accumulated through years of wielding power, no one would dare to underestimate Xiang Deming, especially now that he had inherited Xiang Xun's title of Duke Wen—this was a symbol of privilege that ranked even within the Great Han, let alone in mere Anxi!

Between him and Liu Min, over a decade or more, a deep friendship had also been forged. On the other hand, Xiang Deming, now at the age of knowing Heaven's mandate, was more than ten years older than Liu Min, and treated him with somewhat of a sense of looking after a junior. Over the years, he had always devoted himself to assisting, and whenever he approved of Liu Min's decisions, he supported them without reservation. This time, the proposal for the "camp system" reform naturally also received Xiang Deming's support.

"Your Highness need not be so polite!" Looking at Liu Min's solemn face, Xiang Deming let out a long sigh, paused for a moment, and said: "Your Highness, once this system is implemented, Anxi will have no other way back! At the court, there is bound to be a storm, and from now on, Anxi can only truly rely on itself!"

"I understand!" Liu Min nodded, with not a trace of hesitation on his face: "And I am prepared to face all challenges!"

"Anxi cannot forever be like a suckling infant, expecting the court to keep providing for it!" As he spoke, Liu Min's lips curled into a small joke.

But Xiang Deming also knew in his heart that beneath that smiling face, the pressure hidden was equally enormous.

His smile slightly faded, Liu Min's expression turned solemn, and he spoke in a firm tone: "The blood-soaked achievements of our soldiers over more than ten years must never be betrayed! I do not want Anxi to be won and then lost again, to be taken back by those Arabs in thirty to fifty years or even less. We have all seen how troublesome the enemies to the west are—I am not crying wolf!

To consolidate the fruits of our expansion, we must keep people here, whether soldiers or commoners—only settlers from within the realm are our eternal reliance!

Anxi is not Andong. Though its land and geography are quite good, it is simply too far from the Central Plains—so far that it is difficult to control. On this point alone, it can never compare to Andong!

We also have the Arabs and other powerful enemies watching us covetously. Our need for population is more desperate and more urgent than Andong's!

To keep people, we must offer more—things more worthy of making people stay!"

Though he said this, watching Liu Min pour out his heart, Xiang Deming's mood could not help but grow somewhat heavy. This land of Anxi, soaked in the blood of the Great Han's soldiers and civilians, was hard to understand the weight of unless one had personally experienced it.

Xiang Deming had seen it, and this was also the place where he had striven for more than ten years. It could be said that the finest years of his political career had been invested in Anxi, so naturally he also had a heart to protect it. Otherwise, he might not have supported Liu Min's overly "heretical" camp reform.

After pondering for a moment, Xiang Deming also said solemnly: "This old man will certainly do his utmost to assist Your Highness in completing this transformation!"

"Thank you!" Liu Min bowed to Xiang Deming again, and in his resolute gaze there unexpectedly appeared a trace of reluctance.

In fact, Xiang Deming's days in Anxi were numbered—both men knew this clearly in their hearts. In fact, ever since Xiang Xun passed away two years ago, the matter of Xiang Deming returning to court had already been put on the agenda. As Duke Wen, one of the twenty-four ministers of Qianyou, Xiang Deming could not stay on this land of Anxi forever.

Reluctance was inevitable, but Liu Min would not speak to keep him, for there was no need. Xiang Deming was the type of person who, no matter how Liu Min reformed, could never be kept, because he could not offer anything more.

Not to mention other things, just looking at Anxi's current scale, it was difficult to retain those top-tier talents of noble birth.

And after this great transformation of Anxi, even before it was fully completed, Xiang Deming would have to set out on his journey back to the capital. In Luoyang, many better prospects awaited him. On this point, the two had already reached a tacit understanding.

Of course, Liu Min also held good wishes—not only because of their deep friendship across the ages, but even from the perspective of interest, if Xiang Deming could lend support from the court in the future, it would only benefit Anxi.

"Your Highness!" After thinking it over, Xiang Deming spoke to Liu Min again in a tone of reminder: "For Anxi to complete these two transformations, with its current strength, it is fully capable. But the court side cannot be ignored either. Besides submitting memorials to the court to explain the reasoning, on the Anxi side, we still need to find a way with His Highness the Prince of Zhao! If we can obtain the support of His Highness the Prince of Zhao, then this matter is sure to succeed!"

Hearing Xiang Deming mention Liu Fang, a slight ripple appeared in Liu Min's eyes, but this trace of anomaly was quickly concealed by him.

His expression very calm, he replied: "I have already ordered a banquet to be prepared. Tonight I will have a talk with Fourth Brother and Thirteenth Brother!"

"Since Your Highness has made preparations, this old man will not say more!" Seeing this, Xiang Deming clasped his hands in salute.

On the other side, the Prince of Zhao, Liu Fang, and the Duke of Liang, Liu Ye, left the Governor's Mansion, riding side by side. The two had different expressions—one was solemn, the other animated.

Watching Liu Fang, who remained in a deep and thoughtful pose, it was Liu Ye, being younger, who could not help but say: "Fourth Brother, tell me, what exactly does Sixth Brother want to do? Cleaning up those heretical cults is one thing, but now he wants to do this 'camp system'—it's really beyond comprehension!"

Liu Ye's emotions were quite obvious. Hearing this, Liu Fang said flatly: "Since Thirteenth Brother has opinions, why didn't you speak up earlier!"

Liu Ye immediately said: "At such a meeting, I was merely a spectator. The proceedings were firmly controlled by Sixth Brother and Xiang Deming—how could I have any room to interject? Besides, since Fourth Brother didn't speak, how could I presume to overstep!"

Hearing this, Liu Fang frowned deeply. Just as he was about to reprimand him, he heard Liu Ye say again: "I think Sixth Brother just wants to win people's hearts! Fourth Brother, Father sent you to Anxi to prepare for your fief—this Anxi is also partly ours as brothers!

Now, all the power of Anxi is held in Sixth Brother's hands, and he won't loosen his grip even a little. Fourth Brother, how can you endure this?

At home you are the eldest among brothers, in the army you are the Prince of Zhao with brilliant military achievements. Whether in ability, seniority, or prestige, you far surpass Sixth Brother—how can you stoop to being under Sixth Brother!"

After hearing Liu Ye's words, Liu Fang, whose mood was already poor, could not hold back any longer. He turned his head and angrily rebuked him: "Thirteenth Brother! Where did you learn such petty behavior, trying to sow discord between brothers?

Anxi's problems urgently need solving, and this is precisely the time when we brothers, soldiers and civilians alike, must work together in unity to overcome the difficulties!

If you have a better solution, bring it up in front of everyone. Speaking hurtful words behind people's backs—how is that the act of a hero!"

Liu Fang's reaction was something Liu Ye could never have expected. Based on his observation, Liu Fang could not possibly have no grievances against Liu Min.

However, Liu Ye was also a person with extremely strong self-respect. Being scolded like this, he could not help but feel ashamed and angry, and said indignantly: "I was only speaking the truth, feeling wronged on Fourth Brother's behalf. If Fourth Brother thinks I talk too much, then I won't mention it again!"

With that, Liu Ye spurred his horse away with two personal guards, leaving Liu Fang behind with a wistful expression.