Chapter 95: Each with Their Own Motives

Chapter 2

When officials contend, have you ever seen important figures openly tear off their masks, roll up their sleeves, and brawl in government offices? Isn't it always about veiled threats and backstabbing? These pampered young ladies on their excursion were mostly there for the excitement, to support the Zhao family, and to witness the rare spectacle of the Yellow Dragon warship’s ram smashing another large vessel. Little did they expect this outsider, a friend of Wang Linquan, to be an unyieldingly tough character. Not only did he bring a hundred armored guards, but he also dared to openly challenge them. Good heavens, the challenge wasn't aimed at a group of family servants, but at two large warships of the Green State Navy!

In the eyes of the Green State populace, the Yellow Dragon was an invincible leviathan, praised as the navy's main warship, unrivaled unless the Green Dragon appeared. Over the years, it had competed against other navies within the dynasty, consistently ranking high. Consequently, although Wei Dong’s official rank wasn't particularly high, within Green State, he dared to openly challenge officials one or even several ranks above him. Even the provincial governor and commandery administrators treated "King Dragon" Wei with great deference, vying to win him over.

If not for the special power he wielded through the Green State Navy, Wei Dong could not have raised a lawless son like Wei Wei. When the beloved daughter of an imperial censor from the capital returned to Green State, she was tragically humiliated and then forced to commit suicide by "Evil Dragon" Wei. That censor, despite his relatively low rank, could influence public discourse and oversee various departments, yet he could not even secure justice for his daughter before her death. All "King Dragon" Wei lost was command over the massive warship's dragon banner, while the deeply troublesome Wei Wei was merely confined for half a year before resuming his rampant behavior. This illustrates the deep synergy between Green State, a producer of many imperial officials, and the "Green Faction" that had established itself independently within the court.

It was rumored that the ill-fated, upright censor, before his death, wrote a final, blood-soaked poem, satirizing how the imperial censors of the current dynasty had lost all integrity. One line was particularly damning, suggesting that imperial censors were even lower than dogs, for even a dog's bark found an echo in a rooster's crow.

Xu Fengnian deliberately targeted the most prominent scion, aiming to make Prince Jing'an, Zhao Heng, hesitant to act. The greater the entanglement, the more deeply involved the prince would become, and the larger the "fish" Xu Fengnian could extract from the troubled waters. The "Legal Code" that imposed heavy shackles on vassal princes had very little restraint on the non-imperial Prince Xu Xiao. Even powerful imperial princes like the Prince of Guangling had to report to the provincial governor’s office three times every ten days, and failure to do so for a single period could lead to arrest and detention in an interrogation facility. Weaker princes, like Prince Zhao Ying of Huainan, had many of their young adult children unable to be officially named, thus preventing their marriage.

In contrast, the Prince of Northern Liang, who could wear his sword to court, had not once visited the Liangzhou Provincial Governor's office in over a decade. Whenever Xu Xiao returned to his residence, the former governor, Yan Jiexie, would eagerly hurry to the Prince’s manor to pay respects and report. It's likely that Yan Jiexie, who "defected" from Northern Liang, had harbored deep resentment. No wonder after arriving in the capital, he became the most ardent and loyal official currently criticizing Northern Liang's military and political affairs. With his daughter married to Prince Zhao Yanwu, Yan Jiexie gained the status of an imperial in-law. The outside world speculated he would soon fill the position of Grand Scholar of Lingyan Pavilion, ranking fourth among the Three Halls and Three Pavilions. The top position, Grand Scholar of Baohe Hall, was akin to the Grand Marshal – two honorary titles of the centuries-old dynasty, not to be aspired to lightly.

If Zhang Julu were to advance even further, he might hope to claim this esteemed laurel. However, given Prime Minister Zhang's ability to endure and remain discreet for twenty years, he would likely not allow himself to be roasted over a fire like his political rival, Xu Xiao.

However, Xu Fengnian seemed to have underestimated the audacity and ruthlessness of Wei Wei and his ilk, who were accustomed to ruthless actions in Green State. After Wei Wei's arrow missed its mark and he heard Xu Fengnian challenge him to a fight, he was enraged beyond measure. He turned to the warship general, who was always subservient to him, and commanded, "Use the ram!"

The ram was a potent weapon in naval combat, especially for close-quarters duels between large warships, where grappling hooks couldn't overturn vessels. Skilled navies often coated their sails with thick medicinal paste to repel fire attacks, ultimately relying on the ram for bombardment. A ram was constructed like a large mast, over ten zhang long, with a massive stone placed at its top and a mechanism at its base allowing it to rotate and swing. When an enemy ship approached, the ram would be swung down to shatter it.

Xu Fengnian turned to Ning Emei and Wei Shuyang, chuckling softly, "To gauge a navy's combat strength, you can observe how many times they can effectively use their clumsy ram. I'd say the Green State Navy can manage it twice at most. To use it a third time, they'd have to pray to the heavens. They're far inferior to the Guangling Navy."

While they conversed casually on one side, the Green State’s Yellow Dragon had already begun preparing its ram. At the command of two warship generals, the helmsman and the "yellow-headed" crew responsible for the ram started toiling under the direction of the oarsmen. Arrows densely filled the slits of the archer's platform. The men and women who had been watching from the third deck retreated into the cabin. Wei Wei and several other fierce young gentlemen, whose hands were stained with murder, sat by the windows to observe the battle. The scion, whom Xu Fengnian had indirectly insulted and provoked, raised a cup of wine but did not drink, merely twirling the porcelain cup between his fingers, his face as calm as still water. He sat alone at the table; no one dared approach him. This scion, usually known for his elegance and approachable demeanor in Green State, now resembled a coiled venomous snake.

The young ladies in their flowing silk sleeves gathered, whispering among themselves. Originally, one or two of them had leaned towards Wei Wei’s Green State cronies, but unexpectedly, their romantically inclined companions chattered on, excitedly praising the outsider gentleman. They spoke of his heroic demeanor, his beautiful eyes, and the impressive spectacle of his swordplay. Those with wavering loyalties immediately switched sides, wishing they could run out and cheer for the unknown white-robed gentleman.

These women, though from influential families, mostly lived peaceful lives, and what they discussed most, when gathered, were the interesting men they encountered. Excluding the prominent scion who stood out, their families were no less distinguished than Wei Wei's, so they naturally didn't care about his mood. Green State, with its deeply intertwined interests, was quite exclusive. Therefore, when Wei Wei shot and killed the censor’s daughter, the Green Faction in court had to grudgingly help cover it up. Furthermore, internal strife within Green State was minimal, so despite his notorious and often crude behavior, Wei Wei was generally pleasant to the women on the warship. He even tolerated being teased about old embarrassing incidents. While commoners called him an "evil river dragon," they playfully mocked him as a "worm" instead of a dragon, calling him "Wei the Worm" to his face, which he accepted without anger.

The Green Faction’s current status, able to contend for power with Prime Minister Zhang’s faction, Grand General Gu’s ministry, and various noble factions of former fallen states, was inseparable from the blind solidarity of Green State’s aristocratic families and gentry. This was the foundation of the Green Faction, which was unremarkable in scholarship and mediocre in governance. Wei Dong understood this deeply, as did Governor Huangfu Song, and the high-ranking old foxes in court were equally resolute. Otherwise, would they have tried so hard to arrange the marriage between Princess Suizhu and Huangfu Jie, the eldest son of Governor Huangfu Song? What was initially a baseless rumor, the Green Faction's leaders were now painstakingly working to make a reality.

"Traveling with armored guards, who is that man?" a young lady wearing pointed lotus-root-shaped shoes whispered, hitting on the crucial question.

"Who else could it be but the Prince of Northern Liang's Heir?" a socialite in duck-yellow robes chuckled softly, glancing at the absent-minded scion with the cup across the cabin, then lowering her voice. "Before, I only heard about the Heir Apparent's arrogance in Northern Liang, but seeing him today, I truly believe it. If our own Prince were to go into Northern Liang territory, would he dare to challenge Grand Marshal Xu's descendant like that?"

"No, he couldn't. Our Prince Jing'an is no match for the Prince of Northern Liang. Currently, the Prince of Northern Liang is in the capital to meet the Emperor; my father says it's to secure a python robe for the Heir Apparent. Other vassal princes don't even get the chance to enter the capital. That Grand Marshal is truly formidable." A woman with an oval-shaped beauty face giggled, "I hear the Prince of Northern Liang's Heir is incredibly doting on women he fancies. Spending a thousand gold for a smile is an understatement. My second sister, who married into Northern Liang, wrote to me saying that all the women in Liangzhou consider it an honor to be taken into the Prince's manor by the Heir Apparent. Then look at 'Wei the Worm' here, who only knows how to crush flowers – there's simply no comparison."

"Can the Prince of Northern Liang truly inherit his title by hereditary succession?" a young lady with delicate lotus-root-shaped feet asked in surprise. Who said that a woman without talent was virtuous? If one wished to marry into a good family of matching status, without some talent, not only would she struggle to raise children and assist her husband, but she would also suffer in the internal conflicts among wives and concubines within noble households. A cosmetic review once commented on women across the realm: Northern Liang women were adept at riding horses and reining them in, Eastern Yue women were often graceful and talented, Western Chu women valued loyalty, while Green State women were the most scheming. This observation was not unfounded; Green State women, after marrying out of their home region, always managed to establish themselves firmly in their husbands' families, securing the position of principal wife and making life miserable for concubines. Of course, this was inseparable from the Green Faction's immense and unmatched power. Green State women possessed a natural, keen sense for the intrigues of the imperial court and the deceptions of the Jianghu. Families of gentry in other provinces with political ambitions naturally preferred to marry a Green State daughter-in-law to manage their households.

"It's hard to say. Normally, the court is a hundred percent unwilling to acknowledge Northern Liang's hereditary succession. Otherwise, why does the 'Code for Vassal Princes' only mention that two major vassal princes can succeed hereditarily, while being conspicuously silent about the non-imperial Prince of Northern Liang? Isn't it out of concern that Northern Liang belongs to the Grand Marshal, not to the Dynasty?"

The oval-faced socialite, whose second sister was married far away in Northern Liang, was very enthusiastic about Northern Liang’s military and political secrets. This was a private conversation among ladies, and anyone who leaked it would break Green State's rules, be deemed a traitor, and cause their entire family to lose its standing. But she didn’t worry about this and spoke freely. Cupping her chin, she looked out the window, quietly waiting for the fierce battle to begin. "In court, Prime Minister Zhang, Grand General Gu Jiantang, and especially those remnants of the fallen Spring and Autumn states who despise the Grand Marshal to the extreme, led by Sun Xiji, the loyal former minister of Western Chu—that old Grand Tutor was originally intent on dying, but thinking of the Grand Marshal still standing strong, he bore widespread scorn to re-enter officialdom, explicitly stating his only wish was to personally witness the Prince of Northern Liang's miserable end. As for our Green State ancestors and Prince Jing'an, hehe, I don't need to say more. Would they just stand by and let Northern Liang inherit its title hereditarily?"

"Yannie, tell us what you've heard about the Prince of Northern Liang's Heir Apparent; you know so much about this," the young lady with wide, crimson-purple sleeves eagerly asked her oval-faced confidante, her face full of anticipation. Among the chattering group of young women, she was the most excited. When she saw Xu Fengnian draw his blade to cut the arrow, had her companions not held her back, she would have cheered loudly. Previously, due to her family and Green State's general sentiment, she had scoffed at the Grand Marshal and the notorious Prince of Northern Liang's Heir. But seeing the Heir Apparent's ethereal demeanor as he stood proudly at the ship's bow today, she was utterly captivated, completely enthralled, feeling that if one were to marry, it should be Xu Fengnian. The more arrogant the Green State scions, the more she witnessed the overbearing attitude of the local pampered youths, the more she felt the Northern Liang Heir Apparent was superior. He even dared to provoke Zhao Xun, who was also a vassal prince's heir, threatening to beat him until Prince Jing'an wouldn't recognize him. Wasn't that fellow, Xu Fengnian, heroic enough?

"All the men in Northern Liang curse him, especially those young gentlemen who are like Wei the Worm here in Green State; they're itching with a mix of awe and jealousy. Among women, however, opinions are mixed. My second sister once observed the Prince of Northern Liang's Heir from afar and found his actions quite interesting. Her husband often argued with her about it, saying she was bewitched. Do you know what harsh words my second sister used to shut her husband up?" She paused for effect, a radiant smile on her face. She was known among Green State women for her quirky and mischievous nature, having skillfully teased Wei Wei and others since childhood.

"What did she say?" the group of young ladies asked in unison.

"My second sister said, 'Husband, if you quarrel with me about this trivial matter again, be careful, next time we're in the bedroom, I'll call out the Heir Apparent's name!'" She was the first to burst into laughter.

Those were truly harsh words.

The other women were first stunned, then each of them laughed until tears streamed down their faces.

While they could leisurely discuss both romantic bedroom talk and official ups and downs, Wei Wei and his band of young gentlemen, linked by their common interests, had grown solemn. Previously, ordering the ram to smash the ship was done because they thought their opponent was insignificant, merely a diversion for a lakeside gathering. Now, anyone present who wasn't a fool could guess the opponent's identity, especially after the Northern Liang standard saber, which had set a trend across the dynasty, proclaimed a soul-shattering fight to the death. Wei Wei, proud of his identity as a Green State aristocrat, made a gamble on one mistake, then doubled down on another, ordering the Yellow Dragon warship to use its ram against the enemy. He had dared to humiliate and kill the daughter of an upright imperial censor from the capital, so he wouldn't mind being reckless one more time. Did anyone truly think Wei Wei was an idiot when it came to officialdom?

Regardless of the outcome of this battle, as long as he didn't kill the Prince of Northern Liang's Heir, Wei Wei's reputation for defeating the Northern Liang forces would spread throughout the land, reaching even the imperial palace. Who wouldn't praise Wei Wei with a thumbs-up, acknowledging his loyalty despite his lack of scholarly pursuits? His father had been implicated by him years ago, losing command of the massive Red Banner warship, a regret his father had carried for years. Today’s bold action might just successfully propel his father, "King Dragon" Wei, to the true pinnacle of power in Green State.

The white-robed, saber-wielding Prince of Northern Liang's Heir was undoubtedly the best stepping stone.

The scion, holding his cup unsteadily, was unlike the brute Wei Wei; he harbored deeper thoughts, his face grim. The Emperor in the palace always favored seeing vassal princes openly contend with each other; otherwise, there wouldn't be a dynastic law preventing two princes from meeting. This confrontation with Xu Fengnian, rather than being mere pique between two heirs, could be seen as a continuation of the twenty-year-long rivalry between his father and "Xu the Butcher." For years, his father had sought spiritual enlightenment and pursued Buddhism. He vaguely remembered how his father had repeatedly requested imperial decrees to visit Mount Longhu, only to be refused multiple times, and even harshly reprimanded by the Emperor without regard for face. One of his brothers had been stripped of his status and confined within the high walls of Fengyang on a pretext, and over sixty people were exiled to military garrisons in Liangliao. If not for the good word of a concubine from Green State in the palace, not only would he have been unable to burn incense at Mount Longhu, but his own future, supposedly guaranteed hereditary princedom, would have been jeopardized.

What would be the fate of his father and himself after today's naval battle, regardless of victory or defeat? The Emperor's mind was profound; since his enthronement, he had excelled at various balancing acts: between vassal princes and local authorities, civil officials and military generals, and between different factions. He truly had no confidence in fathoming the Emperor's celestial strategies.

Should he seize this opportunity to kill Xu Fengnian?

This astonishing thought flashed through his mind. The Prince Jing'an's Heir finally lowered his head and took a sip of wine to conceal the strange expression on his face.