Chapter 1455 – Sun Wen’s Mission (Part 3)
The two armies were about to clash, but Sun Wen showed up at the door with a letter from Jiang Pengji, leaving everyone bewildered about his true intentions.
Before Nie Liang summoned Sun Wen, the scholar Fan Chen entertained him, secretly probing for information to uncover Sun Wen’s genuine purpose.
Fan Chen?
Upon hearing that surname, Sun Wen’s mind took a few twists and turns.
He remarked, “To behold your elegance, it must be a family of common folk. May I dare to guess, are you perhaps from the Li Yang Fan Clan?”
Zhong Zhao boasted ten states and thirty-three prefectures, a vast expanse rich in resources; Li Yang fell under the jurisdiction of Xunzhou—an abundant land of fish and rice.
With private academies flourishing, many renowned figures had emerged from this region, earning a place in history.
Though the Fan Clan may not be comparable to the Nie Clan, they were undeniably one of the top scholarly families in Zhong Zhao, with a profound legacy.
Upon hearing Fan Chen’s name, Sun Wen felt a sense of reassurance.
Having left Zhong Zhao relatively early, back then, the name Fan Chen hadn’t yet surged in fame in Xunzhou, so naturally, Sun Wen hadn’t encountered any tales of this person.
Fan Chen’s eyes glimmered with surprise, before smiling, “Your keen insight is commendable; I indeed hail from the Li Yang Fan Clan. I noticed you have a hint of the Bianzhou accent. I had heard your native roots are in Zhong Zhao, but I took it with a grain of salt—now I’m convinced.”
Sun Wen chuckled, “To say my eyes are bright might be less than giving you credit for your keen ears; you guessed it right on the spot.”
Having lived in Beizhou for many years, his accent had inevitably been affected, yet he hadn’t expected Fan Chen to recognize it.
Fan Chen was incredibly hospitable, specially ordering the cooks to prepare dishes native to Bianzhou, and even decorated Sun Wen’s temporary tent in the local style. If not for the tense relationship between the two armies, Sun Wen would’ve genuinely considered giving Fan Chen a five-star review for his attentive service.
In familiar surroundings, people inevitably let down their guard, especially with someone they had a favorable impression of.
As Fan Chen and Sun Wen chatted about the old tales of Zhong Zhao, their conversation flowed effortlessly. No matter what Sun Wen brought up, Fan Chen was quick to respond.
Before long, their relationship had made a significant leap forward.
To an outsider, it appeared that Sun Wen and Fan Chen were kindred spirits, deeply engrossed in their conversation.
Yet only the two parties knew that they were wielding words as blades, crossing swords dozens of times, ever wary of the linguistic traps each had set.
One misstep could lead to the other probing for information.
They exchanged laughs, but outside the tent, soldiers called for Sun Wen’s presence with Nie Liang.
Sun Wen and Fan Chen offered mutual politeness, stepping side by side out of the military tent.
Outside, banners fluttered, the one emblazoned with “Nie” dancing in the wind like vibrant, fiery clouds.
The character for Nie was inscribed in ancient seal script on the banner, exuding an air of antiquity and grandeur. This surname held more power than even the imperial clan in Zhong Zhao; even the illiterate common people understood what this symbol implied. Being from Bianzhou, Sun Wen knew well of the Nie Clan.
As Sun Wen gazed at the flag, his eyes seemed like a bottomless, ominous abyss. He smiled and said to Fan Chen, “Speaking of which, I have a lingering connection with the Nie Clan.”
Fan Chen responded with an intrigued “Oh?” and listened intently.
Sun Wen continued, “In my youth, I was quite dull-witted, slow to learn and achieve nothing before reaching adulthood. Midway through my life, I managed to secure the position of a minor official. One year, feeling somewhat capable, I boldly recommended myself to the Nie Clan as a guest official…”
Fan Chen, of course, knew nothing of this history, but was not surprised.
Since Sun Wen hailed from a modest background in Bianzhou, his only path was to attach himself to the Nie Clan, hoping to gain favor under their influence.
What was unfortunate was that Sun Wen was not accepted by the Nie Clan; instead, he ended up as a strategic consultant for the enemy miles away in Dongqing.
Fan Chen let out a slightly regretful sigh, seamlessly steering the conversation back.
Undoubtedly, Sun Wen was a talented individual who had managed to master the complexities of Beizhou, a fact that couldn’t be disputed.
A talent like him had once sought a position with the Nie Clan, and their refusal could be seen as a significant loss.
Fan Chen couldn’t outright say that Sun Wen lacked talent, nor could he claim the Nie Clan was blind, mistaking a pearl for mere gravel.
He could only stand on the Nie Clan’s side to express regret while affirming Sun Wen’s talent, ensuring neither party lost face.
Fan Chen had a knack for words that made one feel comforted.
Sun Wen smirked, his eyes calm yet tinged with an undercurrent of chill, his smile never reaching the depths of his gaze, giving off an unsettling sense of forced cheer.
In reality, after recommending himself to the Nie Clan, he was indeed taken in—but his older age and lack of notable achievements in his earlier years meant no one respected him. Even after aligning with the Nie Clan, he remained a mere inconspicuous small official, his prospects dim.
A year later, Sun Wen had grown disheartened; even if he skipped roll call for ten days straight, no one would mention his absence.
Not long after, his only son, Sun Lie, offended a core member of the Nie Clan during a gathering of the elite.
That person was maddeningly arrogant, cruel, and tyrannical.
Simply because Sun Lie had outperformed him, he lost face—he actually dispatched someone to break Sun Lie’s legs!
As if that wasn’t enough, he used his connections to accuse Sun Lie of a fabricated crime and exiled him to the border.
Although Sun Wen’s family circumstances weren’t great, Sun Lie was his beloved son, hardly able to withstand such suffering. On the way, he caught a cold and died early.
His elderly wife and daughter-in-law, unable to withstand the blow, also passed away…
In one fell swoop, three out of five family members were gone, leaving only Sun Wen and his young grandson to rely on each other.
Fearing continued persecution from the Nie Clan, Sun Wen was forced to leave Zhong Zhao with his grandson, Lan Lan, living in dire straits, begging along the way.
Who would have thought that years later, the once homeless Sun Wen would now be treated with honor as a messenger by the Nie Clan?
His eyes fell on the banner outside the commander’s tent, which looked somewhat dry yet reflected a hint of chill.
“Messenger, please.”
Sun Wen, lost in thought, snapped back when he heard Fan Chen’s words, smiling as he nodded and entered the tent.
Nie Liang was seated in the main position, and even in the dim light of the tent, Sun Wen could see that he was an imposing figure.
This man had an air of authority, but to Sun Wen, Nie Liang appeared more like a refined scholar engaging in poetry and jovial conversation than someone who hunted down power or indulged in the bloodshed of conquest. After a quick scan, Sun Wen looked away, performing a respectful bow, maintaining a balance in his demeanor.
They stood about two paces apart, and given the circumstances, Sun Wen couldn’t just stroll up and gawk at Nie Liang’s face.
“SUN Wen, here at the behest of my lord to inquire about a matter.”
The tent was filled with people yet felt neither cramped nor noisy. Although Nie Liang’s voice wasn’t loud, Sun Wen heard him clearly.
“What matter is that?” Nie Liang inquired.
“My lord is devoted to the welfare of the common people, striving for years to quell warfare across the lands and finally achieving stability, allowing the common folks to live and work in peace. Lord Liang has no grievances with my lord, so why deploy troops to threaten Zhanjiang Pass?” Sun Wen stated, “My lord asks, is this a provocation?”
