Chapter 348: Where Myriads Gather, Contending for Glory or Ruin

Du Shanü considers herself unremarkable.

If there is one good point, it is that rewards and punishments are clear.

Whatever others contribute, she keeps it in mind and will repay double in the future.

This situation, if one must give an example, is somewhat like the tributary relations of vassal states throughout history—

Many perhaps think that vassal states paying tribute year after year, the suzerain merely lifts its chin and casually accepts, and thus can rightfully enjoy everything......

Actually, it is not so.

Vassal states submit mostly because they are small and weak, or because the power gap is huge, leaving them no choice but to show weakness.

But who would want to be born to be bullied?

Vassal states originally choose dependence out of necessity; even if they can barely scrape together some tribute, it often undermines their foundations.

What the suzerain state ought to do is never to take this kindness as a matter of course.

Rather, after receiving this kindness, bestowing manifold rewards manifests its kingly magnanimity.

Only when the vassal state accepts this kindness will it have the resolve to believe it follows a monarch worthy of allegiance, one whose grace nourishes the myriad people.

Du Shanü never felt she ought to take Chen Weifang's kindness as a matter of course.

He, wandering the red dust with him all this way, ought to, and indeed should enjoy some good things.

Moreover, today he personally spoke up to ask for it.

Although knowing that what Chen Weifang said might not be cheap......

But along this way there are many places lacking silver; could it still be lacking the money for a set of clothes?

Du Shanü had no particular opinion about Chen Weifang spending money; she merely paid more attention to another matter that others might see as trivial:

"Afang seems never to have mentioned who exactly that distant relative who bullied you back then was."

Du Shanü had actually wanted to ask this for a long time.

Only, back then she was insignificant and her words carried little weight; asking would avail nothing, and might only upset Chen Weifang.

But now......

She now holds a prefecture; if not investigated now, when will it be?

Though the power of one prefecture may still be insufficient in the eyes of the truly powerful, it is at least the minimum threshold for others to hear her clearly.

At least she can now remember Afang's enemies for her.

Afang never speaks of the future; even the occasional fragments of the past that slip from her lips are broken and hard to speak of.....

Everything seems as if this person had already died back then, never hoping for any future.

Thus, some pains he will repeatedly mention, repeatedly tearing open the scars of bygone days.

He only hopes to use those pains to remind himself that he is still alive.

Du Shanü once wanted to promise a splendid future, but now she would rather drag Afang out of her murky past.

Moonlight presses the clouds, nightfall approaches.

In the hall only two remain, and the room is deathly silent.

Chen Weifang had not yet freed herself from the excitement of being able to obtain what she long coveted; hearing this, her heart skipped a beat.

A beauty's words are never to be trusted.

A ruler's words are likewise never to be trusted.

And if the ruler is also a beauty, her words are all the more confusing, making it hard to discern truth from falsehood.

Chen Weifang formerly......

felt herself apart from worldly affairs.

He does not say it aloud, but his indulgence and obsession when doting on Chinu still elicit some disdain.

Yet no one has ever told him that sovereigns and ministers throughout the ages have been like this.

Men give vows that intoxicate women; rulers also give vows that intoxicate their subjects.

And subjects, even knowing the ruler's words are lies, may someday abandon and tire of them......

yet they cannot help swarming forward, contending for glory or ruin.

Even if lies, even knowing they might be lies......

yet Chen Weifang, hearing such earnest words for him, still wants to plunge headlong into them.

Chen Weifang lifted her gaze, as if trying to earnestly memorize Du Shanü's expression at this moment.

He looked for a long time, also remembered for a long time, then softly spoke:

"I do not wish to conceal this from the Wise Lord: the Chen are a great clan; my branch, though declined, still has many talented people. And the one who, when my father brought me to borrow books, took the opportunity to humiliate us, was precisely the most prominent branch of the clan."

"This person is named Chen Yan, who formerly served as Prefect of Jiangling and Transport Commissioner of Jinghu North Circuit, later promoted to Prefect of Guangzhou and Pacification Commissioner of Guangnan East Circuit, overseeing Guangzhou's maritime trade."

As soon as the words left his mouth, perhaps finally realizing that the Wise Lord Du Shanü had read nothing, Chen Weifang reached out, dipped a finger in the tea, and wrote the character "Yan":

"Although both before and after are holdings of one prefecture, Guangzhou holds the great authority over overseas maritime commerce; transferring from Jiangling Prefecture to Guangzhou is indeed a promotion and heavy trust."

"If the Wise Lord cannot recall the office, just remember that in Guangzhou he can be called the one who covers the sky with a single hand."

Du Shanü stared at that name several times before reaching out to brush away the tea stain, then said thoughtfully:

"Then this time... is it not a case of yin-yang misfortune?"

Not merely yin-yang misfortune, it is practically a feud where enemies meet on a narrow road.

But don't forget, she had Liu Ji guard the waterway, and the other side looted Guangzhou Prefecture's cargo!

The other side had previously humiliated our Afang; now she loots the cargo, offending the opposite side......

It is hard to say there is no heavenly intention in this.

Even if, someday Guangzhou Prefecture learns of the cargo matter and flies into a rage, leading to armed conflict between them, that would be utterly normal.

Armed conflict......

Arms facing each other......

Du Shanü lowered her gaze, lost in thought, and after a long while she somewhat abruptly spoke up:

「If I'm not mistaken, today is August 27th? 」

「Are the rice stalks in the fields outside yellow yet? 」

Chen Weifang, who had long served alongside Du Shanü, upon hearing her lord ask this, instantly understood the meaning:

「Yongzhou belongs to the southern lands; in previous years there were usually two rice crops, with early rice harvested in early July and late rice in early October. But this year the weather has been changeable, the spring rains delayed, causing planting to be postponed, so there was no early rice harvest, only a single late rice crop。」

「Now the rice in the fields has turned yellow, but to harvest we still need to wait about a month. At the very least we must wait until then...... before we have grain to recruit troops and march。」

Du Shanü's question was exactly that; seeing Chen Weifang lay it bare, she couldn't help but once again marvel at her own Afang's cleverness:

「Then let's wait a bit longer; for marching and fighting, provisions are absolutely essential—there's no use rushing this。」

「If someone from Guangzhou Prefecture comes to investigate the missing goods, we'll first shamelessly drag things out, at least until the autumn rice is harvested and our war preparations are sufficient, then we'll tear off the pretense。」

The world is tumultuous; preparing for war need not mean attacking others—it could also be to defend against others' attacks.

But no matter what, wanting to establish oneself, making plans early is never wrong.

This matter is of great importance; Chen Weifang dared not delay, and after reporting several minor and major matters in detail, her voice gradually faded.

Du Shanü made each decision in turn; only then did she straighten her posture, and, intentionally or not, she spoke up:

「If we truly must mobilize troops, we will surely need a commander at the front. 」

「Our subordinate generals are already few; Chinu has suffered two serious injuries in a year, Xuan Feixing has been gone for over four months, and Liu Ji, preoccupied with his brother, may not be willing to serve as vanguard...... Should we, then, bring in another capable general? 」

Du Shanü posed this question as if casually, for fear that Chen Weifang would misconstrue it as favoritism, and so she didn't even dare mention that person's name.

However, who is Chen Weifang?

He could now be called a tapeworm in Du Shanü's belly.

Speaking bluntly, the moment Du Shanü opens her mouth, he knows where she intends to piss.

Therefore, when Du Shanü spoke in this way, Chen Weifang immediately chuckled—though the laugh was faint, and did not reach his eyes:

Does the Wise Lord mean to go find new people? Or do you wish to transfer Yu Lve to Zhoufu to make use of him again?

「Wise Lord, you previously promised to establish two capitals, letting Chinu be lord of one capital, so that we could stand on equal footing with the Young Emperor...... 」

「How little time has passed, and you have already forgotten your original oath? 」

This character is pronounced jiao and means 'to burn' or 'torch'.

This idiom originally described hosts and guests standing on opposite sides of the courtyard and exchanging bows, showing equal treatment; later it came to mean standing on equal footing, having equal status, or being mutually opposed.