Chapter 1624

Zong Tang then related the matter of Liu Changsheng and his son.

Weichi Chong, upon hearing this, couldn't help but sigh and said: "Actually, there's no need for you to say this; I and Mr. Liu are thick as thieves, not to mention he once saved my life; on this matter I will certainly do my utmost, but..." He sighed again saying this, and on this matter he couldn't be of much help; now the court's authority lies in the hands of Li Chen Zhou and Princess Xue Lingjun, and they may not grant him this favor.

Weichi Qinting came in from outside; while the three were chatting in the workshed, she had gone out to boil water, preparing to return and brew tea, but then she saw a troop approaching in the distance, so she came to report—yet the visitor was none other than Da Yong's Grand Marshal Li Chen Zhou. Upon hearing this, Weichi Chong immediately had the three withdraw, for he did not want his daughter seen by Li Chen Zhou.

The three had just left when Li Chen Zhou led his men and arrived; he had his subordinates wait outside and entered the shed alone, and before even stepping inside he called out loudly: "Is the venerable master present?" He had once taken orders under Weichi Chong's command; although the time was brief, having received Weichi Chong's instruction, addressing him as venerable master was only natural.

Weichi Chong rose to greet him, smiling: "What occasion is this? The Grand Marshal himself has come!"

Li Chen Zhou clasped his hands and bowed deeply before Weichi Chong, showing utmost respect: "Venerable master, please accept my obeisance."

Weichi Chong hurried forward to support his arm, saying: "Grand Marshal, there's no need for such grand ceremony; you're killing this old man."

Li Chen Zhou said: "One day as a teacher, a lifetime as a father; the venerable master has always been the person I respect most!" How much of this is sincere only Li Chen Zhou knows. Gazing at this wind-blown shed, he sighed: "This is truly arduous; I have wronged the venerable master."

Weichi Chong smiled faintly: "What grievance is there in guarding the tomb of the Grand Empress Dowager? Moreover, this is my own choice."

Li Chen Zhou said: "Your wholehearted filial devotion to the Grand Empress Dowager is admirable, but I have just received a military report from Bei Jiang; recently the Black Barbarians have been frequently mobilizing troops, and it seems another major move is imminent."

Weichi Chong sighed: "I am old; guarding Bei Jiang is willing but unable; it's time to let the young shoulder the burden." He did not say this intentionally before Li Chen Zhou; deep down he was deeply disappointed with Da Yong's situation, having long entertained the idea of retirement, but he also knew the court would not allow him to withdraw, especially now.

Li Chen Zhou said: "The court is in need of talent; you, venerable master, are the nation's pillar, and to Da Yong you are like a divine needle stabilizing the sea; at this juncture you must absolutely not speak lightly of retreat." These words were spoken with utmost sincerity.

Weichi Chong shook his head: "Grand Marshal, Da Yong has many troops and generals, and talented commanders continually emerge among the youth; I am advanced in years and no longer of use as before; to be frank, having lost Yong Lan Pass earlier, I still blame myself to this day."

Li Chen Zhou said: "The Black Barbarians advance with great might; although Grand Marshal lost Yong Lan Pass, he held the entire Bei Jiang frontier, which the court and the Emperor can see."

Weichi Chong sighed and said nothing.

Li Chen Zhou said: "I have also heard of the Grand Marshal's misfortune on the way; a full investigation is underway, and he will certainly be given justice."

Weichi Chong's brow twitched, and he asked in a low voice: "I wonder what the Grand Marshal finds worthy?" Actually he already knew, but he asked this on purpose to see how Li Chen Zhou would explain the matter.

Li Chen Zhou said: "I have ascertained the suspects who intended to assassinate the Grand Marshal on the way: one is the Blade Demon FengXingyun, and the other is the former deputy chief of the Beggars' Sect, Shangguan Yun Chong."

Weichi Chong deliberately said: "Oh? I thought it was the Black Barbarians!"

Li Chen Zhou secretly thought, you are most likely feigning ignorance, suspecting that I am behind this assassination and therefore refusing to speak the truth. Li Chen Zhou said: "As for Shangguan Yun Chong, I am quite familiar with him; he is a rebel of the Beggars' Sect, rejected by the sect, and he and his father, having reached a dead end in Jiangnan, were recommended to come to Yongdu to seek refuge with me." He paused deliberately there, but saw Weichi Chong's expression remain calm, showing no surprise at all.

Li Chen Zhou said: "I never expected him to be harmful to the Grand Marshal; if anything were to happen to the Grand Marshal, I would never be able to forgive myself for the rest of my life."

Weichi Chong said: "I do not know Shangguan Yun Chong, nor have I ever had any dealings with the Beggars' Sect; we have no grudge, yet I do not know why he would seek me out."

Li Chen Zhou said: "The Blade Demon FengXingyun was dispatched by Prince Yan Xue Shengjing!"

Upon hearing the name of Prince Yan Xue Shengjing, Weichi Chong's eyes lit up involuntarily; he had not expected this, for though he had no deep ties with Prince Yan, there was also no enmity between them, and he could not fathom why Xue Shengjing would send someone to assassinate him; Li Chen Zhou's words cannot be taken at face value, and he frowned, saying: "How could Prince Yan do such a thing, hurting his kin and pleasing his enemies?"

Li Chen Zhou said: "Grand Marshal, you should have heard of the recent events in Huangcheng: the Grand Empress Dowager forged an edict to elevate the Crown Prince Xue Daohong, whereas the late Emperor's true wish was for the Seventh Prince Xue Daoming to inherit the throne; the Grand Empress Dowager altered the succession based solely on her own preference, and after the Crown Prince ascended, he grew resentful of her many restrictions and harbored murderous intent toward her, so her death was no accident. Prince Yan harbors grand ambitions, seeking to seize the throne amid the chaos; fortunately the Eldest Princess discovered it in time, and only then did I learn that the late Emperor's edict had been tampered with. Acting at the Eldest Princess's behest, I contacted officials to restore order, fulfilling the late Emperor's wish, and have now helped the Seventh Prince regain the throne."

Weichi Chong said: "I have never been interested in palace affairs; as long as the realm remains in the Xue family's hands and the Emperor's dying wish is fulfilled, I will devote myself entirely to fighting for Da Yong on the battlefield."

Li Chen Zhou said: "Recalling the Grand Marshal from Bei Jiang is certainly not my intention; I have always believed that Bei Jiang cannot do without the Grand Marshal. Yet the Emperor's suspicions run deep, and in his eyes my sincere devotion to Da Yong appears to have ulterior motives; now Da Yong's turmoil demands someone to step forward, and if I did not take up this task, Da Yong would fall into chaos. I firmly believe that although the Emperor does not understand now, time will prove everything, proving my loyal devotion to Da Yong. For the late Emperor's dying wish, for Da Yong to regain its former might, even if all infamy were to fall upon me, what harm would there be?" His words were spoken with lofty passion, ringing true.

Weichi Chong appeared moved, yet in his heart he did not believe a word of Li Chen Zhou's speech; he sighed and said: "Grand Marshal, you speak well, but if one's heart is truly for Da Yong, one should not overly heed others' talk; if the late Emperor had cared about gossip, how could he have entrusted military command to me, a foreigner, and how could he have reassigned Bei Jiang's defense to me with confidence? I can understand your present situation, Grand Marshal. In truth, for a warrior like me, there is no need to concern oneself with court affairs; defending Da Yong's frontier and keeping the Black Barbarians from invading the Central Plains is our foremost duty."

Weichi Chong's words amounted to making clear to Li Chen Zhou that he had no interest whatsoever in your struggle for power and profit, nor did he intend to side with any of you; you may contend among yourselves, and I am willing to guard the frontier for you.

Li Chen Zhou, being astute, naturally understood Weichi Chong's meaning; indeed, that is exactly what he sought. Since learning that Xue Daoming had ordered Weichi Chong to come guard the imperial tombs, Li Chen Zhou had already realized that Weichi Chong must have offended the new ruler and refused to stand on the same side to oppose him. Li Chen Zhou's initiative to meet was also for this reason. He showed a pleased expression and said: "Grand Marshal, are you willing to continue commanding the Bei Jiang army against the Black Barbarians?"

Weichi Chong's gaze turned to the not‑far imperial tombs, and he said in a low voice: "I have already petitioned the Emperor to be allowed to keep vigil before the Grand Empress Dowager's tomb."

Li Chen Zhou said: "The Grand Empress Dowager, if she has spirit in heaven, will surely be moved by the Grand Marshal's filial piety; matters have their priorities, and between loyalty and filial duty a choice must be made; I will go to the Emperor and explain the pros and cons." This remark fully demonstrates his ability to wield sole authority in the court today.

Weichi Chong secretly sighed, thinking how formidable Xue Shengkang was— a hegemon who, by his own ability, led Da Yong to prosperity; yet he never imagined that, not long after his death, the great enterprise he had founded would be encroached upon by others, and even the imperial clan is dwindling day by day; with Xue Daoming's strength, opposing Li Chen Zhou would likely be insufficient.

Although Weichi Chong is a warrior, he has long maneuvered through Da Yong's political arena and knows its rules well; this is precisely the ideal moment to put forward conditions, and he has already hinted to Li Chen Zhou that he will not partake in court struggles; judging from Li Chen Zhou's demeanor, his attitude is satisfactory. Weichi Chong said: "I have a request I would like the Grand Marshal to fulfill."

Li Chen Zhou nodded; Weichi Chong is no ordinary man, and there is no reason for him to simply obey Li Chen Zhou's words— this man enjoys high prestige in the military, and if he could remain neutral and guard Da Yong's Bei Jiang frontier, Li Chen Zhou would be free to concentrate on fully controlling Da Yong's internal politics; thus Li Chen Zhou had never considered removing Weichi Chong from the outset, for if Weichi Chong were harmed, Bei Jiang would surely fall into disorder, and should the Black Barbarians invade southward, he would have to set aside his current affairs to address the northern crisis; he smiled and said: "Grand Marshal, please speak; if I am able to accomplish it, I will devote my utmost effort."

Weichi Chong said: "Liu Changsheng of the Divine Farmer's Society is my lifesaver; I have heard that he is implicated in the plot to harm the Grand Empress Dowager, but let that pass for now; his son Liu Yucheng is my future son‑in‑law, and I hope the Grand Marshal will, for my sake, grant him a way to live." Liu Yucheng has long admired Weichi Qinting, and Weichi Qinting also feels affection for him; originally Liu Changsheng had mentioned this, but Weichi Chong could not bear to part with his daughter, so he only said to let things develop naturally, without outright promising their marriage; now that Liu Changsheng has died, he has brought this up himself, and in truth Weichi Chong still feels guilty toward this old friend— if he can save Liu Yucheng, he is willing to give his daughter to him. (To be continued~^~.)