Chapter 339: After the Wine

"Old Eight, how are you speaking? Have you no sense of rank or propriety? Is there such a thing as scheming behind one's own elders' backs like this? If you dare spout nonsense again, believe me, I'll slap you!"

Zu Zepu, the second among the Zu family's younger generation, spoke up to rebuke him.

He had the closest relationship with Wu Sangui. Back in Jinzhou, the two had fought side by side against the Jianzhou Jurchens and Mongol Tartars on several occasions, and he greatly admired Wu Sangui's martial valor and quick wit. Now seeing his cousins all ganging up on Wu Sangui one after another, if no one stepped forward to shield him with a few words, his brothers would likely go even further. So, seizing on Zu Zeyuan's words that carried a mocking jab at Wu Xiang, he stepped out to stick up for Wu Sangui.

Zu Zeyuan snorted and said no more, while Wu Sangui shot Zu Zepu a look full of gratitude.

"Now Second Brother, since the man's already done the deed, what's the harm in letting others talk about it? Was Little Eight's words wrong? Just because they can act without righteousness, are we not allowed to speak our minds? Second Brother, you'd best think clearly — certain people are already on the court's side now. If the court ever decides to make a move on our western Liaoning, who knows, they might just serve as the vanguard for the imperial army! Regional Commander Wu is quite the fighter — if we ever meet on the battlefield, I hope Regional Commander Wu will remember our past friendship and spare your elder brother's worthless life!"

Zu Dahong, the third son of Zu Dashou, sneered as he poured fuel on the fire. His words were utterly venomous — this was no longer mere accusation, but an open declaration of the Wu family as an enemy.

"Third Brother, you've got no spine! If that day truly comes, I'd rather lose my head than utter a single whimper! I'll never beg mercy from a traitor!"

The youngest, Zu Zeqing, stood up and shouted loudly, as if he were already facing Wu Sangui across the battlefield.

"Enough, enough! Old Nine, sit yourself down properly! Even in jest there must be a limit! We're all brothers here — what's the point of saying such baseless things? Today is the farewell feast for our aunt. Once the banquet begins, we still need to go toast her. After she passes through the pass, it will be hard for us younger ones to see her again. Let me lay down the law right here — when we go to toast her, if anyone dares show her a sour face, don't blame me, your elder brother, for being rude afterward!"

Zu Zerun, the eldest, seated at the head of the table, spoke up to halt the attack on Wu Sangui. As the eldest son whom Zu Dashou admired most, his words carried considerable weight. Among the second generation of the Zu family, Zu Zerun's word was law, and these brothers of his had been disciplined by him more than once.

Once, the third brother Zu Zehong, drunk, had whipped a hereditary military household member to death for blocking his path. Afterward, Zu Zerun personally delivered one hundred taels of burial silver to the dead man's family, then had Zu Zehong strung up in the Regional Commander's mansion square and flogged publicly, not releasing him until Zu Zehong begged for mercy.

After that, Zu Zehong spent over a month in bed before he could get up again. From then on he lived in terror of his eldest brother, while Zu Dashou greatly praised his eldest son's actions. The hereditary military households and soldiers of Jinzhou regarded this young general with both respect and fear, and Zu Zerun's prestige in Jinzhou grew accordingly.

The atmosphere in the hall chilled rapidly with Zu Zerun's rebuke. Those who had been waiting their turn to take shots at Wu Sangui no longer dared speak, and the room fell into silence.

"Little Seven, what you said earlier before my father — that the court has no intention of settling accounts with western Liaoning — was that true? Does His Majesty truly have such magnanimity?"

Zu Zepu's words broke the quiet in the room, and everyone else turned to look at Wu Sangui in unison.

"Second Brother, no matter what others think or say, I, your younger brother, have always been of one heart with western Liaoning, and what I say is no empty boast. In the eighth year of Chongzhen, Fourth Brother and I entered the pass together to suppress the bandits. In these two years he should have seen and heard quite a bit, and should have formed a fair judgment of His Majesty and the court. I have no mind to repeat all that now, but I dare assert that the court will never unleash a bloodbath on western Liaoning. It's just that our western Liaoning will find it hard to be as it was before!"

Zu Kuan, who had remained silent all along, hesitated for a moment before finally nodding slowly, conceding Wu Sangui's judgment and conclusion.

While the others were half-convinced and half-doubtful of Wu Sangui's assessment, they still felt deeply unwilling in their hearts. Because Wu Sangui's last sentence meant that the days when western Liaoning could casually stretch out its hand to the court for money were gone forever. From now on, they would likely face obstruction and restraint at every turn. Though this outcome was better than being purged, it was still hard to accept.

As they spoke, the household steward came in to report to Zu Zerun that the feast had been laid out, asking whether the young master wished to begin the banquet now.

Zu Zerun nodded, then rose and left the hall first, heading toward the banquet hall in the side courtyard. The others stood up one after another. Wu Sangui walked together with Zu Zepu and Zu Zesheng, while Zu Kuan and the others followed behind in small groups of two or three, murmuring among themselves.

By the time noon had passed, the feast was half over. The atmosphere at the table had been less than friendly from the start. Apart from Zu Zepu and a few others at his table, no one — whether at the same table or neighboring ones — would exchange a word with Wu Sangui.

Zu Zehong and the others at another table deliberately laughed and drank with great gusto, their words still laced with open mockery and veiled digs at the Wu family. Wu Sangui suppressed his mounting anger, forcing a smile as he traded cups with Zu Zepu and Zu Zesheng beside him, throwing in some amusing anecdotes from inside the pass.

Seeing that the time was about right, Zu Zerun proposed that everyone except Wu Sangui go to the rear courtyard together to toast their aunt. The others, already somewhat tipsy, followed behind Zu Zerun to the rear courtyard whether they wanted to or not.

After they left, Wu Sangui immediately felt much more at ease. All these people had grown up playing with him since childhood. They'd had quarrels and disagreements before, but never any major conflicts. He never imagined it would come to this today.

Though the Wu family had been in the wrong in this matter, for the sake of the family's future and interests, one had to make choices at critical moments. A gentleman does not stand beneath a crumbling wall — who isn't selfish after all?

Wu Sangui brooded over his thoughts while pouring drinks for himself. A man of considerable capacity, he soon reached five parts drunk. The serving maids in the banquet hall, having received their instructions, withdrew from the courtyard after bringing the dishes, leaving him alone in the spacious hall.

Just then, footsteps sounded as Zu Zehong, Zu Kefa, and Zu Zeyuan stumbled back into the hall. Seeing Wu Sangui sitting alone in gloomy silence, Zu Kefa was the first to approach him.

"Little Seven, come! Your brother toasts you! From this day forward, you and I are strangers! This cup of wine from your brother wishes you future glory and honor, a marquisate and a general's rank! When that day comes, if your brother ever comes begging at your door, you'd best toss me a steamed bun!"

Zu Kefa grabbed an exquisite white jade bowl from the table, filled it to the brim, tossed his head back and drained it dry, then turned the bowl mouth-down toward the ground, breathing out wine fumes as he spoke to Wu Sangui.

"Fifth Brother jests! I have never thought of winning a marquisate or a general's rank, nor of glory and honor! I have no wish to explain the past matters again. Let this cup of wine serve as my thanks to Fifth Brother for all the years of looking after me!"

Wu Sangui, flushed with drink, stood up and drained his cup in one go, then sat back down without so much as another glance at Zu Kefa. Zu Kefa stood there red-faced, at a loss for what to do.

Wu Sangui had no desire to revisit those topics, and he was growing increasingly impatient with his cousins' rudeness.

Before entering the pass to suppress the bandits, he had been the standout of the western Liaoning military families, known together with Zu Kuan as the Twin Pillars of Western Liaoning, his name carrying great weight throughout the region.

Though Zu Kefa was somewhat older than him, he had never dared speak too brazenly in front of him before. Today, emboldened by drink and the weight of numbers, he actually dared mock him to his face — this stirred up the pride Wu Sangui kept hidden.

"Oho! Regional Commander Wu cuts quite a figure! Old Five, you rest a moment — let me offer Regional Commander Wu a toast!"