Chapter 78: Discussion, Alliance

(ps: Brothers and sisters, the urging and comments for this chapter are a bit lacking. The author just finished work, saw the data and felt chilled. Which handsome, kind-hearted young man could warm my heart!)

Wang Shuwen's carriage quietly departed in the twilight.

Wang You stood at the mansion gate, watching that carriage disappear around the corner, motionless for a long time.

The evening wind blew, bringing a hint of chill, slightly calming his heated mind, which had been warmed by excitement and struggle.

He knew that his earlier answer had already revealed his inner thoughts.

Wang Shuwen is no fool; he could detect the hesitation in his words.

"Discussing with my younger brother" is itself a signal.

Wang You (Wang Xiu) sighed, turned, and walked into the mansion.

He did not return to his study, but went straight to the courtyard of his younger brother, Wang Ce.

Wang Ce was in the courtyard, bare-chested, practicing a set of sword techniques.

His sword technique had long lost the youthful flashiness; each move was steady as a mountain. Though slower now, every stroke carried an invisible pressure, slicing the air with repeated sonic booms.

Seeing Wang You enter, he sheathed his sword, took the towel offered by a servant, and wiped the sweat and snowmelt from his body.

"Older brother, why are you coming over so late?" Wang Ce's voice remained loud and clear.

"Ce'er, have the servants retreat; I have an important matter to discuss with you." Wang You's expression was unusually solemn.

Wang Ce, seeing this, felt a jolt in his heart. He knew that anything capable of making his older brother wear such an expression was no trivial matter.

He waved his hand, and the servants in the courtyard immediately bowed and withdrew.

The two brothers entered the room and closed the door.

"Older brother, what exactly happened?" Wang Ce asked.

Wang You said nothing, merely silently pouring a cup of hot tea for himself and his brother.

Then he recounted to Wang Ce, in full detail, his meeting with Wang Shuwen earlier and the latter's request.

After listening, Wang Ce's face also grew solemn.

"What do you think, older brother?" Wang Ce's brows knotted tightly, "Are you going to agree to them?"

"I haven't agreed; I only said I would discuss it with you." Wang You looked at him, "Ce'er, I want to hear your opinion."

Wang Ce set down his tea cup and paced back and forth in the room.

"Older brother, have you forgotten Father's dying instruction? Do not involve yourself in the succession, do not vie for the great treasure! What Wang Shuwen is doing, nominally a new policy, is actually factional strife!

"Their targets are the eunuchs and regional warlords, all ruthless figures holding the blade! What's the difference between that and reaching into a tiger's mouth to pull a tooth?"

"Victory would surely bring boundless glory, but defeat would mean utter ruin! Our Wang family has only just attained its present standing—why court such danger?"

Wang Ce's attitude was very firm.

He had grown from a hot-blooded youth into a steady veteran, long seeing through the dangers of the court. His first thought was the family's safety, and besides, he did not know what the future would bring.

Wang You (Wang Xiu) listened quietly, without interrupting him.

After Wang Ce finished speaking, he then slowly said, "Ce'er, what you say is all reasonable. As an elder brother, how could I not know of its dangers?"

"But," he paused, lifted his head, and gazed intensely at Wang Ce, "Have you ever considered why our Wang family established the house rule of 'not involving oneself in the succession, not contending for the great treasure'?"

Wang Ce blinked: "Naturally, to let the family flourish forever, stay clear of political whirlpools, and preserve ourselves."

"Exactly, it's to preserve ourselves." Wang You nodded, "But is this world still a time when we can safely and steadily preserve ourselves?"

"The wounds of the An-Shi Rebellion are still before our eyes. Regional warlords carve out fiefdoms, eunuchs wield absolute power—like a bone-deep ulcer, they night and day erode the foundations of our Tang Dynasty. The treasury is empty, the people cannot make a living.

"This great tree has already rotted at the roots. If we today still only think of preserving ourselves, watching that great tree collapse, where could our Wang family's so-called 'evergreen tree' take root?"

Wang You's (Wang Xiu's) words left Wang Ce silent.

"Indeed, if the skin is gone, where will the hair attach? Yet the root of loyalty to the sovereign and love for the country within him still prevents him from believing in a change of dynasty."

"Older brother, what do you mean?"

"My meaning is, 'this time, that time.'" Wang You's voice grew low and strong, "The house rule of former years was meant to let us, in an age of prosperity, learn restraint and reverence."

"But now, in this chaotic era on the verge of collapse, should our Wang family also shoulder some responsibility?"

"Wang Shuwen and his associates, though hasty in action, have the right direction. Striking at eunuchs, weakening regional warlords—this truly could save the Tang Dynasty. What they lack is not resolve, not talent, but strength."

"And our Wang family possesses that strength."

Wang You (Wang Xiu) looked at Wang Ce and said, word by word, "Ce'er, you are in the Imperial Guards, holding military power. I, in the court, have a modicum of influence. If we brothers could lend them a hand, perhaps we could truly revive this corrupt situation."

"I am not doing this for Wang Shuwen, nor for any faction. I do it for the world, for its people, and even more for our Wang family, so that we may have a foundation of lasting peace that can truly be passed down for a thousand years!"

Wang Xiu's words were the result of his deep contemplation.

He knew that these words contained his youthful impulsiveness—after all, he is only in his twenties, still possessing a red heart, and he cannot remain selfish forever.

But what he said is indeed true.

Wang Ce was swayed by him, "Older brother, I..." He opened his mouth, yet hesitated, "But the risk is too great. Once we intervene, there is no turning back."

"I know." Wang You nodded, "Therefore, I will not put the entire Wang family on the line, nor will I expend all our strength. You know what our Wang family has openly displayed is enough; we will only do what we ought to do."

"You remain the commander of the Imperial Guards who is loyal only to His Majesty. Your duty is to protect His Majesty's safety and maintain the stability of the capital. No matter how the court's winds shift, you must not let weapons reach into Chang'an City. This is our bottom line."

"As for me, I will agree to Wang Shuwen and join them. But I am old now; I will not be the vanguard charging into battle. I will help them in my way, refining their policies and making up for their shortcomings."

"We two brothers, one literary, one martial, should unite once more. If the endeavor proves impossible, we can withdraw in time and still preserve our Wang family without entanglement. Do you understand my meaning?"

Wang Ce gazed into his older brother's deep eyes; the older brother was not impulsive, and he had already planned his retreat.

"What else is there that we cannot try?"

"Older brother, I understand." Wang Ce nodded firmly, his eyes becoming resolute, "I will follow you! Whatever decision you make, as your younger brother I will surely stand behind you and protect you completely."

"Good brother!" Wang You stepped forward and patted his shoulder.

……

The next day, Wang You personally called on Wang Shuwen.

"Wang Scholar, the matter you spoke of yesterday, we two brothers have discussed it." Wang You said calmly.

Wang Shuwen's heart leapt to his throat in an instant.

Only heard Wang You speak slowly: "The Wang family for three generations has eaten the emperor's stipend and served the emperor's affairs. Your Majesty wishes to enact new policies; my brother and I will naturally lend our utmost aid. However, my younger brother bears responsibility for the Imperial Guards, so it is inconvenient for him to overly involve himself in court affairs."

Upon hearing this, Wang Shuwen was overjoyed!

He knew that Wang You had agreed; the Wang family and all its old acquaintances would not stand by idly!

"Good! Good! With the Wang Minister of War's aid, we are like a tiger given wings!" Wang Shuwen excitedly stepped forward and took hold of Wang You's arm.

Meanwhile, Wang Xiu's consciousness, residing within Wang You's body, was filled with myriad thoughts.

He did not know whether what he was doing was right or wrong; from this moment on, he would no longer be a mere bystander.

He would personally set in motion the heavy wheel of history.

(ps: Remember to comment and urge for updates, friends; the author is waiting for you to come save him—if this book's data does well, the author doesn't mind offering himself in return.)