Chapter 371

The autumn wind atop Xiongzhou carried the dust from beyond the frontier and a faint scent of blood.

It fluttered the yellow hem of Crown Prince Chen Hongxing's robe, and also blew toward the southern Huangcheng of Bian Liang, still prosperous as brocade.

But as this gust reached the high walls of the deep palace, it seemed to also bring a barely perceptible chill.

Inside the Zijin Hall, the charcoal fire had long been removed, replaced by incense to dispel dampness.

Chen Wen wore a common robe, sitting behind the imperial desk.

In his hand he was perusing a memorial personally submitted by the Commander of the Jing'an Office, the Jingguo Duke Qian Gui.

His complexion was much improved from the Battle of Xiongzhou, yet the fatigue in his brows from expended energy and natural aging could not be fully concealed.

Occasionally, a restrained light cough would escape his throat, sounding especially clear in the vast hall.

The attending chief eunuch Fu Quan promptly offered warm water with utmost care, his eyes full of worry.

Chen Wen waved his hand, indicating it was fine, his gaze never leaving the memorial.

The memorial's handwriting was Qian Gui's own; its content concerned the blood‑soaked turmoil within the "mirror Bian Liang" on the other side of the light curtain.

"The False Song Prince Zhao Guangyi, on the fifteenth of last month, under the pretext of 'forming factions for personal gain and plotting treason,' has consecutively purged three of his brother's old ministers."

"The Deputy Commissioner of the Council of State, Chu Zhaofu, was demoted to Fangzhou for placement, and died 'from fright' en route."

"The Commander of the Palace Vanguard, Yang Xin, had his military authority stripped and was reassigned to a powerless observation post, left depressed and withdrawn."

"Even Zhao Pu, who once served as secretary to Zhao Kuangyin during the Chen Bridge mutiny, was likewise edged out of the central authority and exiled to Heyang..."

Qian Gui's brushwork was calm and objective, yet the bloodiness and cruelty between the lines hit one in the face.

Chen Wen's fingertip lightly tapped the four characters "died of fright," his eyes deep.

He seemed able, through these cold words, to see in that palace almost identical to the Huangcheng beneath his feet, the fratricidal struggle and the slaughter of loyal dogs playing out.

Zhao Guangyi, who in the original historical trajectory ought to have inherited the great mandate and inaugurated an era of governance, now finds himself in this twisted "script."

In order to consolidate that already illegitimate power, he eagerly raises the butcher's knife, sweeping away any old meritorious officials who might threaten his position.

"He's clearing them out rather quickly..."

Chen Wen murmured to himself, the corner of his mouth curling into a faintly cold arc.

"But such haste makes the spectacle rather unsightly."

"It seems the 'shadow' propped up by the Iron Crow Army is not monolithic within."

He lifted his gaze to look at Qian Gui standing silently below.

Qian Gui still appeared shrewd and capable, though a few fine lines had crept into the corners of his eyes; years of handling covert affairs left him with an ever‑present gloomy aura.

"Are the sources reliable?" Chen Wen asked, his voice carrying a hint of the authority of one long in high position, as well as a barely perceptible hoarseness.

"Your Majesty, they are utterly reliable."

Qian Gui replied with a bow, his tone resolute.

"Our 'spies' in the False Song's Council of State and palace have all been confirmed through various channels."

"Zhao Guangyi's harsh tactics have already stirred panic throughout the False Song court and populace, especially among the old ministers who once followed Zhao Kuangyin to conquer the realm, leaving everyone feeling imperiled."

"As things stand, the internal power struggle in False Song has become white‑hot, the court in turmoil, far exceeding our earlier estimates."

Chen Wen gave a slight nod, pondering for a moment.

This is an opportunity.

False Song's internal strife is undoubtedly good news for Great Chen, which needs to recuperate and consolidate its interior.

But it is also a trap.

Meddling too deeply could draw fire upon oneself, and might even cause the False Song interior to temporarily unite under external pressure.

"The Jing'an Office has done well."

Chen Wen first affirmed Qian Gui's merit.

"Continue to monitor, keep strict surveillance."

He paused, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the warm rim of the cup, feeling the fine texture of the porcelain, then spoke slowly.

"But for now, do not take the initiative to intervene, especially do not send people to contact those purged old ministers."

Qian Gui's eyes flashed with understanding, and he immediately replied:

"I understand, Your Majesty."

"Intervening now would be tantamount to giving him a handle; Zhao Guangyi is presently worried about finding no pretext to further consolidate internally."

"Moreover, those old ministers may still retain some sentimental loyalty to Zhao Kuangyin, but toward Great Chen, and especially toward Your Majesty... their hatred is likely deeper."

After all, in their view, if Chen Wen had not burst onto the scene, they would still be meritorious followers of the dragon, enjoying glory and wealth, how could they have fallen to such a state?

Chen Wen gave Qian Gui an approving glance.

This former gossipmonger from Chen Prefecture has truly grown into a capable intelligence chief who can stand alone and discern people's hearts, his deliberations becoming ever more meticulous.

"Hatred..."

Chen Wen softly repeated the word, his gaze once again turning to the azure sky outside the hall.

"Hatred can drive people mad, yet also unite them."

"Zhao Guangyi is using fear to consolidate his power, while we..."

He withdrew his gaze, looked at Qian Gui, his tone calm yet carrying undeniable force.

"What we must do is continue to develop ourselves, letting the people of Great Chen live in peace and prosperity, and letting our national strength grow day by day."

"Time is on our side."

"The rifts within False Song's interior will only widen with the passage of time."

He took up a vermilion brush and annotated the memorial:

"Noted. Continue surveillance, gather details of False Song's new policies and popular reaction. Without My command, do not act rashly."

Having written, he returned the memorial to Qian Gui.

Go.

In the Northern Frontier, Shi Dun had just sent the Crown Prince back, reporting that the defensive line was stable.

The southern side's grain transport reform is also being advanced by Zhang Cheng and the Crown Prince.

You must also keep watch over the dark corners of your side for me.

Subject, I obey the decree!

Qian Gui received the approved memorial with both hands, bowed deeply, then silently withdrew from the Hall of Purple Majesty, just as he had come, merging into the light and shadow outside the hall as if he had never appeared.

Chen Wen sat alone on the Imperial Throne, and the hall's silence returned once again.

Only the curling blue smoke of the incense rose, tracing ever-shifting shapes.

He lifted the teacup, took a sip of the warm water that had turned slightly cool, suppressing another wave of itch in his throat.

The internal strife of the False Song was within his expectations.

The master of the Iron Crow Army forcibly replicated this 'Mirror Image Zhongyuan', propping up the False Song, but how could its inner hearts, desires, and power struggles be fully controlled by mere copying?

Without the external strong enemies (referring to the many forces the historically unified Song Dynasty had to face) to divert conflict, internal strife would only become more naked and cruel.

Zhao Guangyi's purge was merely a beginning.

He seemed to see that, beyond the light curtain, inside the illusory Bianjing city, an invisible blood-colored shadow was enveloping it.

What Great Chen needs to do is simply to continue strengthening its foundations and accumulating strength.

Meanwhile, he watched coldly from the sidelines.

Waiting for that rift to expand on its own until it is large enough to consume itself.

Of course, he would never naively assume that the Iron Crow Army would stand by and ignore the False Song's internal turmoil.

Those 'Purifiers' hidden in the shadows of history surely still have further moves.

The lingering effects of 'Shadow Erosion' have not yet been fully cleared, and the threat of 'Bone Corrosion' looms like a prickle in the back.

This protracted struggle spanning two worlds is far from over.

He lightly exhaled a breath of turbid qi, leaned his body slightly back against the chair, closed his eyes, and felt within himself the mighty yet seemingly harder-to-control Fortune Momentum than before.

Using his abilities, especially when forcibly triggering high-multiplier bestowals as in the Battle of Heroic Prefecture, the 'price' it brings is now felt ever more deeply.

That is not merely bodily wear and tear, but a backlash that directly shakes the foundations of the dynasty.

"Fortune Momentum's Balance…"

He silently recited these four characters in his heart.

How to find that subtle balance between wielding this transcendent power and maintaining dynastic stability will be a subject he must continually explore and practice for the rest of his life.

Sunlight outside the hall streamed through the lattice windows, casting mottled shadows on the ground.

Beyond the light and shadow, the world surges with hidden currents.

What he must protect is, beneath this light and shadow, the realm and state painstakingly rebuilding order and hope.