Chapter 490: The War of Great Powers, Viewed Anew!

Xie Yuan was also filled with doubt, carefully examining the two place names on the map.

Longyou Circuit lies behind Jiannan Circuit; over the past several years, rebellions have been frequent—it is no tranquil land.

Zhuya Commandery is on the western frontier of Da Qi, a crucial fortress guarding against Da Sui.

Though Jiannan Circuit is occupied by three demons, most of its people remain human, unlike Zehu, where demons now run rampant.

Why have the common folk migrated to Longyou Circuit?

What is the purpose of sending troops to Zhuya Commandery?

This crisis is originally a matter of Zehu and Jiannan Circuit—why has it been dragged into this?

Zhang Yuanlai bowed his head in thought, a flicker of insight passing through his mind, yet slipping beyond grasp.

Zhang Yuzhi finally came back to herself, a line of ancient wisdom rising in her mind: "When great states fight, lesser states fight for them."

Da Qi and Da Sui have just forged an alliance; if they now turn against each other, the pact becomes hollow, and both nations will be plunged into endless war until one is destroyed.

Who could wish for such a scene?

Da Sui is still rising; Da Qi's Nine Great Clans also have no desire to shake the foundation of their state.

He Xiao, however, found this idea utterly fantastical.

Xie Yuan spoke bluntly: "Brother Guan, what does this mean?"

You smiled and said: "Is the world today truly only Da Qi and Da Sui?"

Xie Yuan shook his head slowly: "Since the fall of Yan and Tang, the Son of Heaven lost virtue, the Central Plains grew fat with opportunity, and warlords rose together—Da Qi and Da Sui are the dominant powers among them."

"There are still minor states—Xi Yue, Wu, Zhao, Song—some as strong as the Buddhist kingdom in the south, or the Tatars in the north—none can be ignored."

You continued: "Da Qi founded its state on Confucianism; Da Sui, in recent years, has copied it—adopting its court ranks, academies, rituals, and even..."

Here you paused. Zhang Yuanlai exhaled deeply: "Da Sui also reveres Master Kong, treating Confucianism as orthodox."

You nodded slightly—this Sui Emperor is no ordinary man.

Da Sui was originally a western barbarian state, yet claims to be the true successor of Yan, descended from Luo Heng, the General Who Pacifies the West, personally appointed by Lu Chen.

Luo Heng was one of the Twenty-Six Generals of Lu Chen's pavilion, famed for loyalty and bravery.

Legend says Da Sui's founding ancestor, Luo Kuang, was the thirtieth-generation descendant of Luo Heng; his mother once dreamed of a man by a pond—bird-headed, with two goat horns, slender and small—who then fathered Luo Kuang.

That man was none other than Di Ku, one of the Five Emperors of myth.

It is a way to trace lineage and legitimize rule.

Four hundred years after Yan fell, heaven and earth changed, and the path of cultivation was first opened by ancient sages.

The mythic pursuit of immortality became widespread; all states scoured history and legend for bloodlines to claim legitimacy.

Da Qi was no exception: since ancient times, the most legitimate way to seize power was through Yan. Thus, all states trace their ancestry back to Yan.

Da Qi is descended from Chen Zhi, one of Yan's Three Dukes; its founding ruler was born with the celestial sign "the Star Yao Guang pierced the moon like a rainbow," said to be the youngest son of Tian Di, the Lesser Hao.

Even today's rulers of minor states follow this: every founding monarch must link himself to myth and Yan to prove legitimacy.

Master Kong once criticized this practice of tracing ancestry: "They forget their ancestors while reciting their genealogies."

Master Kong told his disciples: "When Da Qi's founding ancestor was born, 'no Yao Guang appeared—only a night of loud crying, exceedingly noisy.'"

Master Kong himself delivered him, then helped him establish Da Qi. His words were never disputed; thus, the Da Qi imperial family rarely mentions this.

Zhang Yuanlai seemed to grasp it: "With an alliance forged and Master Kong's approval, neither Da Sui nor Da Qi will intervene directly."

You nodded and added: "When great states fight, they do not break their alliance—they back lesser states to fight for them."

Zhang Yuanlai suddenly understood: "Proxy wars!"

In the past hundred years, Da Qi once strongly supported Wu, pitting it against Song, a state under Da Sui's influence—the two nations burned in endless war, smoke thick in the air.

Yet these minor states were like grass on a wall, swaying with the wind; whichever side gained the upper hand, they immediately switched flags to show loyalty.

Worse still, due to the frequency of switching, some cities displayed half their banners bearing Da Qi's colors and half Da Sui's—a sight both absurd and laughable.

Even their armies fought half-heartedly, doing just enough to avoid blame, hoping only for the war to end quickly so they might preserve themselves.

It was only human nature—to seek advantage and avoid harm—forced to live between great powers.

Now, Da Sui seems to have found a better tool than these minor states.

"Demon seeds!" These three words chilled the bone, sending a shiver through the heart.

Demon seeds and humans have always been as incompatible as water and fire; they devour humans, cruel and merciless—making them Da Sui's sharpest blade.

Using demon seeds as proxy states.

Zhang Yuzhi now understood: Da Qi and Da Sui would never fight directly; if Da Qi sent troops against Da Sui, it would violate both Master Kong's decree and the alliance.

Then why not ally with the demons of Jiannan? Why ignore them?

You slowly raised your head.

Zhang Yuzhi saw a pair of clear, bright eyes.

Your gaze settled on the tall parasol tree in the courtyard, its golden leaves already beginning to fall.

You said calmly: "Because demons are still demons. They know only the thirst for blood—no reason, no morality. If Da Sui does not intervene, they will turn on each other."

"Heaven allows no two suns; a mountain cannot hold two tigers—this is the way of heaven and earth."

Zhang Yuzhi asked: "Then why doesn't Da Qi simply stand aside and reap the benefits? Why send troops to Zhuya Commandery? Why evacuate the people from Longyou Circuit?"

You smiled faintly: "The general withdraws his chariot to advance. Evacuating the people of Jiannan shows non-interference. Sending troops to Zhuya Commandery—how will Da Sui respond?"

Zhang Yuzhi's mind flashed like fleeting shadows over the map drawn on the table.

Now the choice rested with Da Sui; whichever path they took, Da Qi could respond calmly.

A possibility surged in her heart—this boy's words had just parted the clouds, revealing the outcome of this entire chain of events.

Even the response seemed the best possible solution.

Xie Yuan, however, did not fully understand—he merely memorized the conclusion Xie Guan had given.

"Brother Guan, let us revisit your words in a few days to see if they hold true."

Zhang Yuzhi also returned to herself—this was only the boy's analysis; it might not be right.

You looked at Xie Yuan: "Sixth brother, haven't you forgotten to mention something?"

"There's something about Xie Fu, isn't there?"

Xie Yuan slapped his forehead and laughed: "Yes, yes! I forgot to tell you the good news—Father will soon be transferred to Jiannan Circuit, and after that, he'll return to Jingcheng. This is great news for Xie Fu!"

You merely smiled.

Xie Yuan was preparing to take his leave.

Zhang Yuzhi glanced casually at the characters you had written on the table.

"A youth's heroic spirit—Jingbian's friends are all extraordinary men, pledged to share life and death."

"The young nobles of Wuling, east of Jin Market, ride white horses with silver saddles through the spring breeze."

Zhang Yuzhi was startled—such bold, spirited verses.

She looked at the humble furnishings beside the table: the brush handle had faded and whitened, the bristles slightly frayed, bent from years of gripping.

The paper used for practice was not the silk paper of Jiangnan, nor Luoyang paper—just ordinary straw paper.

Such brushes and paper were unremarkable in a common household.

But this was Xie Fu—

One of the Nine Great Clans, a family that had produced three Dukes within three generations, whose halls were of white jade and whose horses were of gold—this boy's father was the famed Marquis of Dingyuan, a peerless martial genius of Da Qi.

Under such towering prestige, to live with such plainness revealed how dire this Xie Fu's illegitimate son's circumstances truly were.

Xie Guan lost his mother in childhood, left with no one to rely on; her death left him blind with grief, and ten springs and autumns passed within this small courtyard.

Where did he meet heroes? Where were the white horses and silver saddles of the Wuling youths?

Only this ruined courtyard remained.

Zhang Yuzhi sighed inwardly—beneath the paper lay another line.

The characters were free yet upright.

"A youth trusts his own cloud-piercing brush—he does not seek the titles of ten Battalion Commander."

Zhang Yuzhi's eyes froze, unable to look away for a long time.

At that moment, Xie Yuan called out, surrounded by a group of fair-skinned, red-lipped entertainers: "Fourth cousin, let's go."

Unexpectedly!

This time, Zhang Yuzhi greeted Xie Guan—she had always left without a word in the past four visits.

"Young Master Guan, farewell."

The boy bowed slightly beneath the golden parasol tree, his eyes holding a smile.

(End of Chapter)