Chapter 374

Through Tang Xiao Yu's intelligence, Jiang Jinshi soon received urgent news of the opening of the capital's inner treasury, the scraping of imperial manors and official granaries to save Tongguan, and the camp riot at Tongguan.

"Wei Xi Yuan is tearing down the east wall to repair the west wall; he is drinking poison to quench his thirst."

Jiang Jinshi put down the intelligence and said to everyone: "The Tongguan riot shows that the Imperial Court's control over the army has reached its limit. This bit of emergency grain from the court is merely a temporary delay of the collapse; it absolutely cannot last long, and Western Liang will not let this opportunity pass."

"Lord, should we take the opportunity to act? If Tongguan falls into further chaos, we could send elites to infiltrate, contact dissatisfied generals, or receive retreating soldiers?" Han Xiao asked.

Jiang Jinshi pondered for a moment, but suddenly said: "Let us not discuss this matter for now; wait until I have inquired about it before deciding!"

Everyone was puzzled; inquire? Inquire of whom? Are the civil and military officials not all here?

Jiang Jinshi did not explain much, but after instructing everyone to guard the city well, he left and headed in the direction of Guangwu Jun.

That's right! The person Jiang Jinshi wanted to inquire of was Wei Xikang, Wei Xi Yuan's elder brother!

After Jiang Jinshi returned to Guangwu Jun, he specifically changed into a simple green Confucian robe and, accompanied by two guards in plain clothes, walked slowly into the academy.

Nowadays, the academy is not like before when there were few people; not only have the teachers increased significantly, but the students have also increased by a lot.

And as the manager of the academy, Wei Xikang naturally no longer needs to teach in person; he now focuses more on managing the academy's teachers and keeping an eye on the quality of teaching.

Especially since academies in other commanderies have also been built, he often has to run around between the various commanderies.

Jiang Jinshi did not disturb the lecture hall where classes were being held and went straight to a quiet bamboo forest retreat in the backyard.

According to Wei Xikang's wishes, he did not need a large mansion; he only wanted to listen to the students' clear and melodic recitation of poetry in the academy.

Arriving in front of the retreat, there was a small, meticulously tended herb garden, emitting a faint, fresh scent of grass and trees.

Wei Xikang was using his only remaining arm to hold a small pot, carefully watering an orchid.

His empty sleeve was carefully folded and fastened to his waist with a simple, elegant jade ring.

Hearing footsteps, Wei Xikang slowly straightened up, and upon seeing Jiang Jinshi, his face lit up with joy: "Great Leader Jiang, what leisure brings you to the academy today?"

Jiang Jinshi had not heard anyone call him "Great Leader Jiang" for a while, and hearing Wei Xikang say it made him feel a bit nostalgic.

"Old Wei! I came to find you for some tea; are you welcoming?" Saying this, Jiang Jinshi's steps had already crossed the threshold.

Wei Xikang grinned: "My small courtyard is honored! Please!"

Wei Xikang stepped aside and ushered Jiang Jinshi into the house.

The furnishings inside the house were extremely simple, with only one table and several chairs, as well as walls full of books and a desk by the window, on which were placed brushes, ink, paper, and an inkstone.

The guards stood outside the door, and Wei Xikang boiled water and made tea himself.

The water in the room boiled, and the fragrance of tea overflowed. The two sat opposite each other for a while without speaking, but the atmosphere did not seem awkward; instead, there was a sense of leisure like old friends reunited.

"This tea is good; it is rarely seen in the north." Jiang Jinshi picked up the teacup, tasted it carefully, and commented.

"This is thanks to you. The academy's expenses are now generous, and this is good tea specially brought by a merchant from the south who was grateful that the academy accepted his son for enrollment; I only have this bit of stock left."

Wei Xikang held the cup steadily with one hand and smiled; that smile contained genuine satisfaction, not mere politeness.

"You are a very busy person; you wouldn't visit without a reason. Speak! Is there anything I can help with?"

Jiang Jinshi also smiled and put down the teacup, but his smile gradually faded, "Old Wei, the world outside is about to change!"

Wei Xikang's hand, which was pouring tea, paused slightly, and he looked up at Jiang Jinshi: "What happened? Western Liang? Or... Chang'an?"

"Both!" Jiang Jinshi took a thin copy of a secret report from his sleeve and pushed it in front of Wei Xikang, "Sent by a scout, take a look!"

Wei Xikang put down the teapot and took the secret report to read carefully, but the more he read, the deeper his frown became.

After reading, he gently placed the paper back on the table and remained silent for a long time.

"Tongguan... has had a camp riot."

He whispered this terrifying news, his eyes very complex, "Inner treasury, imperial manors, official granaries... he is betting his last bit of family assets just to catch one more breath."

Even though he knew his second brother would eventually bring about his own destruction, when this day truly arrived, the emotions in his heart were extremely complex.

It was not because he still held illusions about the Da Qian empire, but because of the complex feelings between brothers; even though his second brother had done wrong, he still hoped Wei Xi Yuan could have a good ending.

Even if... this possibility was very low!

"More than just one breath."

Jiang Jinshi's gaze was fixed on Wei Xikang, "Old Wei, I came today not to report news to you, nor to ask you for ideas on how to kick them while they are down.

I want to ask you, based on your understanding of Wei Xi Yuan, when this imperial brother of yours discovers that this last breath cannot sustain his life, when he truly realizes that the ancestors' empire is about to be completely finished in his hands...

What will he do?"

"What will he do?"

Wei Xikang repeated in a low voice, his eyes somewhat unfocused; he did not immediately answer Jiang Jinshi's question but picked up the tea, which had already turned slightly cool, and took a sip.

"Great Leader Jiang!"

After a moment, he put down the teacup, his voice somewhat heavy, "You know, we brothers... although born of the same mother, our temperaments are actually very different.

When I was young, perhaps because I held the status of the legitimate eldest son, I was forced into the mold of a 'Crown Prince' by Father and those old scholars; what I learned was balance, forbearance, considering the big picture, and that 'the Son of Heaven is impartial.'

And Xiyuan... he is smarter, but he is sensitive and heavy-hearted; whatever he wants, he must obtain, and once obtained, he never allows others to touch it.

Father had extremely high expectations for him and disciplined him very strictly, reprimanding him at every turn.

The more he wanted to prove himself, the easier it was for him to get stuck in a dead end."

He paused, seemingly recalling: "What we were instilled with from childhood was not just poetry, rituals, and martial arts. It was 'receiving the mandate from Heaven, eternal and prosperous,' it was 'I am the state,' it was 'under the vast sky, all are the King's subjects.'

This empire is not a family business; it is Mount Tai pressing on one's shoulders.

Sitting on it is the mandate of Heaven! Falling off is eternal damnation, is failing the ancestors, is cutting oneself off from Heaven and Earth.

This kind of thought is usually a spur, a responsibility! But in a desperate situation, it becomes an obsession."

Jiang Jinshi listened quietly without interrupting.

He could feel that Wei Xikang was using his own memories and perceptions to answer his question.

This question could not be answered through analysis; only the person who knew Wei Xi Yuan best would understand what he would do next.

Wei Xikang sighed: "Xiyuan... these years, he has actually lived very bitterly!

When Si Gui was there, he was a puppet; it was hard for him to see Si Gui fall, and he thought he could hold power, only to find that the Imperial Court was a dilapidated house leaking everywhere.

He desperately wanted to grasp something, training new troops, scraping together money and grain, and even... tacitly allowing those people like Lu Wenchang to run wild.

But the more he grasped, the faster it leaked, and the more he lost.

Yang Jiye surrendered, Jiangnan was lost, Luoyang was gone...

Now even the three hundred thousand troops at Tongguan cannot be suppressed."