Chapter 607 – The Legacy of Nan Sheng (Part Six)
“What’s your take on An Huan, my lord?”
Wei Ci discreetly inquired about An Huan, eager to hear Jiang Pengji’s thoughts for the next step in their plan.
Jiang Pengji gazed at the roaring bonfire, resting her elbows on her knees, her chin cupped in her hand.
“An Huan? What special opinion could I possibly have about him? If I had to say, this guy seems to have a pretty vengeful streak. Not really my cup of tea,” Jiang Pengji clicked her tongue, saying, “He’s not on the same page as us. He has ambitions; you’re not thinking of pulling him into our crew, are you?”
Wei Ci nearly choked on her assumption.
He quickly replied, “Not at all! I just wanted to hear how my lord views this person.”
Jiang Pengji snorted lightly. “Well, I didn’t expect Zixiao to be so curious. Honestly, I’m not a fan of An Huan. He lacks self-reflection and doesn’t learn from his mistakes; if luck isn’t on his side, he’ll stay stuck like this for life.”
Wei Ci was taken aback. “My lord says… An Huan lacks self-reflection and doesn’t learn from his lessons?”
She continued, “I had a bit of a chat with him and got a grasp on his background. He’s actually half-royalty. The An family started booming since their grandfather’s time, living in luxury. An Huan was a privileged son, but then the Southern Barbarians invaded, destroying his home and family, stealing his land. He has every right to feel bitter and seek revenge.”
Wei Ci listened keenly, fully aware that his lord’s thoughts were far from ordinary and always brought fresh insights.
Sure enough, Jiang Pengji shifted her perspective.
“…But you know, Zixiao, I don’t think it’s wrong that the Southern Barbarians attacked Nan Sheng.”
Wei Ci’s expression froze; he never expected his lord would say such a thing.
Jiang Pengji raised a hand to stop him, elaborating, “An Huan wants revenge because of his hatred for the Southern Barbarians. But can’t the Southern Barbarians retaliate bloodily for their homeland and families? Think about it: the Southern Barbarians invaded, committing heinous acts—looting, slaughtering women and children, executing men who were tall enough to reach the wagon shafts, using human flesh in place of rations… the list goes on, their crimes are unforgivable. They’re utterly barbaric, vicious and cruel… but! Zixiao knows what Nan Sheng did to the Southern Barbarians, right?”
Wei Ci, well-versed in literature and history, seemed to recall something at her question.
Jiang Pengji chuckled, “By the look on your face, you do know. During the Great Xia Dynasty, the Southern Barbarians were subject to the Great Xia, paying tributes yearly, living peacefully alongside the central plains. When the last emperor of Great Xia turned foolish and incompetent, all the lords had rebellious thoughts. When Nan Sheng was established, it was unstable at first, so they forcibly conscripted many Southern Barbarians into labor and military service, leading to over two hundred thousand deaths from exhaustion and battle.”
The capital of Nan Sheng was a luxurious city, while outside lay heaps of bones. Only a few war captives and slaves remained; the rest were forcibly seized Southern Barbarian laborers. Despite any efforts to dress it up, honest historians wouldn’t let it slide.
“…Moreover, after the establishment of Nan Sheng, they claimed to be the suzerain of the Southern Barbarians, pressuring them into tribute that grew heavier each year, with grain taxes that became unbearable. The Southern Barbarians rebelled several times, but lost; Nan Sheng suppressed them ruthlessly, killing no less than a hundred thousand.”
Indeed, the Southern Barbarians were uncultured savages, but wasn’t Nan Sheng just clad in robes of cruelty?
Oh, and back then, the slave trade was rampant in Nan Sheng.
It generally broke down into three categories: war captives, slaves, and barbarians, with barbarians being the strongest physically but the cheapest.
Of all, the number of barbarians was the largest.
How did they come to be?
Captured through military force and bought and sold at will!
How many elite families in Nan Sheng filled their pockets with the blood and tears of Southern Barbarians over generations?
Did An Huan dare say that every penny he ever used was spotless?
She scoffed, “To me, both the central plains and the barbarians are just people, and everyone has their ugly side. In their glorious time, Nan Sheng prided itself on being the rightful heir of the Great Xia, but what sins did they commit that they dare proclaim? How many Southern Barbarian lands did Nan Sheng seize under various pretenses? Using schemes, they’ve plundered, killed by the thousands, and Nan Sheng is equally blameworthy! If the Southern Barbarians are beasts, then Nan Sheng can’t hold its head high either. The difference is, the Southern Barbarians wear their barbarism boldly, while Nan Sheng pretends to be refined beneath layers of clothing.”
After saying all this, Jiang Pengji softened her tone, stating, “Do you know why I don’t like An Huan? It’s not that I think his vengeance is wrong; in fact, I also enjoy repaying hatred with hatred. National and familial grievances make one yearn to tear the enemy apart. It’s just that An Huan is a noble, not a commoner. He enjoys great privileges and should bear an equal burden of responsibility. His hatred stems from the Southern Barbarians destroying his family, home, and status, making him go from a heavenly prince to a wandering dog, not for the common folks who are still trapped in occupied territory!”
In such a time, still thinking about using the blood and flesh of the commoners for revenge?
Shouldn’t he find a way to protect the common folks, stabilize the situation, and unite to drive the Southern Barbarians out?
To put it simply, An Huan’s selfishness is too heavy, and Jiang Pengji just can’t stand it.
Everyone has selfish motives; she does too.
She understands how An Huan feels, but she can’t relate.
Wei Ci stood in a daze for a while.
Jiang Pengji thought Wei Ci was deeply impacted and added, “Right now, the common folks in Nan Sheng are like fish on a chopping board, while the Southern Barbarians hold the cleaver. We can’t let the grudges of generations past make today’s commoners sit idly by while the Southern Barbarians trample them. I just think An Huan hasn’t reflected on the cause of the grievances between the Southern Barbarians and Nan Sheng. Given his mindset, if he were to succeed in his revenge, the Southern Barbarians would be on the brink of extinction.”
Complete extinction isn’t possible; there would always be stragglers who escape.
Thirty years in the east and thirty years in the west; who knows if the descendants of the escaping fish wouldn’t stir up greater waves?
Wei Ci remarked, “Your thoughts are truly unique, my lord. It’s quite enlightening.”
Jiang Pengji inwardly rolled her eyes and bluntly asked, “Why did Zixiao suddenly ask me about An Huan? What’s the purpose?”
Wei Ci hesitated, unsure if he should “release the tiger back to the mountain,” but he soon became candid.
“Earlier, Zishi mentioned something to me that I believe could work,” Wei Ci said. “An Huan wants to leverage the Red Lotus Sect’s strength; if my lord aims to reclaim Chengde County from the Red Lotus Sect, why not aim for a win-win? We can let him assist us, and the two sides can work together.”
Wanzhou comprises Shangyang County, Fengyi County, and Chengde County. Shangyang County is already in the bag, Fengyi County is thriving, and with internal support, their difficulty in taking Chengde County would significantly decrease. Jiang Pengji felt somewhat tempted.
But…
“The Red Lotus Sect has a vast number of personnel; are you suggesting I favor An Huan?”
After the defeat of the Red Lotus Sect, all the common folks they captured belonged to her—why should a lone An Huan benefit from this?
Wei Ci explained, “The Red Lotus Sect ingrained their ideology in the common folks; while the commoners might be fine, those slightly higher in status are deeply influenced. Their thinking is stubborn and extreme; keeping them around would only bring future troubles. Using these people as a favor, making An Huan owe us a favor in return for money, sounds like a good deal.”
