Chapter 232: Secret Discussion

Wu Bu Yong was dazed by Chen Wuji's successive business deals, he ordered people to properly entertain Chen Wuji and his two companions, then hurriedly went to a slightly more spacious room in the center of the village stronghold, though it wasn't much more spacious than the surrounding houses.

"Father!"

On the bamboo bed in the inner room lay a thin old man, his complexion sallow, eye sockets sunken, age spots covering most of his cheeks.

Hearing the call, the old man's scattered gaze focused, he stiffly turned his neck to look over, "Shaner."

Wu Bu Yong helped the old man up from the bed, placed a pillow behind his waist to let him sit steady against the bed, then said: "Father, three young people came from the mountain, claiming to be from the Chen clan of Xishan Village, descendants of the Chen clan of Beijun from back then—are they genuine or not?"

The old man nodded slowly, "Those are old friends; speaking of it, that old man has been dead for many years now, and the present Xishan Village... I probably don't know anyone there anymore."

"They are not only descendants of the Beijun Chen clan, they are also the MainVein."

"MainVein, that must be it; inside there's a youngster who is the Family Head." Wu Bu Yong said, "That youngster holds the position of Brigade Commander in the Court, and he has registered our Tianchi Pass MilitaryHousehold."

"... Agree to them!" The old man's cloudy, scattered gaze suddenly brightened, his tone ringing and forceful, striking the ground with resonance.

"Ah? No, Father, wait a moment." Wu Bu Yong quickly interjected, "This matter the son has his own considerations; I can agree to them, but I also need to investigate first, see what sort of people they really are."

The old man slowly shook his head, "The Chen clan will not change."

"That's not certain; now it's the younger generation calling the shots, you old man know that's just an old almanac." Wu Bu Yong said, "One dynasty, one set of officials; who knows what they are like now."

The old man looked nostalgic, drew out his tone and said: "The Court does not tolerate the Chen clan, and the Chen clan will not spit on their own face and dry themselves, continuing to serve the Court. You don't understand the Chen clan's backbone; they will not change."

"I once hated the corruption of the Southern County Officialdom, leading the great crowd to guard this mountain; if the situation continues like this we can still maintain a foothold on this mountain. But if this land changes its color, we too will lose our foothold."

"Tianchi Pass has always been a contested battleground for military strategists!"

Wu Bu Yong furrowed his brows, not quite grasping his father's words; after thinking for a while he asked: "Father, do you mean the Chen clan is merely borrowing the Court's legitimate identity to gather troops, and they will surely rebel? If I follow them in rebellion, wouldn't that be even worse?"

"We too are rebels!" The old man said leisurely.

"But we still hold the status of MilitaryHousehold, which the Court still acknowledges." Wu Bu Yong said.

"With this status I can still act opportunistically; if the Court grows strong, I will lead the people down the mountain honestly, continuing to serve them as lackeys."

"Isn't that better than outright rebellion? Rebellion, once undertaken, leaves no retreat."

The old man twisted his stiff neck, looking around.

"Father, what are you looking for?" Wu Bu Yong stood up and asked.

The old man struggled to raise his hand, pointing at the crutch standing by the door.

"Father, you want to get down? Come on, wait a moment, I'll help you!" Wu Bu Yong hurriedly fetched the crutch and placed it in his father's hand, about to reach out to support him, when the crutch suddenly fell down upon his head and face.

Wu Bu Yong quickly jumped back, covering the back of his head and shouted: "Father, why are you hitting me?"

"You damned wretch, do you think... think the Court keeps us around still treating us as Provincial Troops? They are merely humoring us, repeatedly ignoring orders, holding the mountain, waiting for the Court to grow strong so they need you to add flowers to brocade?" The old man shouted angrily, his voice hoarse, as if he might lose his breath at any moment.

Wu Bu Yong hurried forward, patted his father's back, "Father, then what should we do? Oh, I got it, got it—follow the Chen clan, listen to you!"

"I will send people to investigate; if it matches what you said, I will immediately join the Chen clan."

The old man finally caught his breath, his cloudy eyes emitting a piercing light, his withered claw-like hand gripping Wu Bu Yong's arm tightly, he said in a low voice: "Shaner, you must remember, we have long had no retreat."

"We? Right, we, we are us!"

The old man released his grip, slowly leaned back against the bedhead, "The Chen clan may not necessarily rebel; their fate depends on the Court's attitude. The Dayu Dynasty's fortunes are declining, the state will tilt, this is not impossible."

"I do not know the character of the current head of the Chen clan, but the Chen clan's root will not become disordered nor be severed; once the Court again employs the Chen clan, it will certainly not be as before."

"Even if the Chen clan rebels, and you follow them in rebellion, what then? It would still be better than stubbornly staying here. These outsiders need a way out; you are not a guide, nor can you find a better guide. We have guarded this place for so many years, only now have we encountered the Chen clan; whether openly or secretly, we must take a chance."

Wu Bu Yong wore a look of anguish, he again felt confused.

"Father, could you put it simply? You mean following the Chen clan brings prospects, whether they rebel or not, there is a future, is that what you mean?" He asked cautiously.

The old man looked at his son, sighed with weariness, "From now on, serve as a guard under the Chen clan Family Head; hand over these mountain troops to him, and stop meddling."

"That won't do; if he sells us out, what then? I still need to be careful." Wu Bu Yong said immediately.

The old man gripped his crutch, lifted it and struck hard, "This is my father's LastWords!"

"No, Father Father Father, don't strike yet, alright, I'll listen to you, I'll listen to you." Wu Bu Yong shouted hurriedly, "What LastWords not LastWords, saying such disheartening words, Father you won't come to harm."

"Summon the Chen clan Family Head, I will speak with him!" The old man angrily scolded, "I will sooner or later be angered to death by you this damned wretch; imagining my old self brilliant all my life, how did I give birth to such a stupid son like a pig, especially stupid and unaware of it."

Wu Bu Ji black-faced, "Father, if you scold me like that, it seems as if you are scolding yourself too."

"Huh?"

Meeting his father's dangerous gaze, Wu Bu Yong instantly cowed, immediately said: "Father, I am foolish, foolish as a pig. However, the matter of meeting the Chen clan Family Head, you need not rush; at least let me first investigate that youngster's background, see what they are really like, then we can decide—it's not too late."

"You old man trust the Chen clan, but no matter what, that is already past; grass and trees change after seven or eight years, not to mention the complexity of human hearts. Let me first go see, after seeing clearly, then arrange for him to meet you old man, after all it involves the lives of thousands, carelessness is not allowed."

The old man thought for a moment, nodded satisfactorily, "These words you said, still look somewhat presentable."