Chapter 1159 – Cutting Down Xu Pei, First Blood Among the Lords (29)
Zhao Shao seemed to belatedly notice Yang Si’s odd behavior, suddenly smacking his forehead and offering an apologetic smile.
“Mr. Yang, my earlier words weren’t aimed at you. Please don’t take them to heart.”
Zhao Shao loathed Yang Si, not because Yang Si offended him—after all, it was their first meeting, and he had only heard of Yang Si before—but because of Yang Si’s lowly origins. Son of a prostitute, who knew who his father really was?
To sound even harsher, any man with some cash could easily find his way into Yang Si’s mother’s bed. Isn’t that disgusting?
Zhao Shao even maliciously wondered if Yang Si’s mother were alive, would she accept money to service other men right in front of her son? Would Yang Si be so shamed he’d be driven to suicide? Haha, what a pitifully humiliating scene that would be!
Yang Si’s very blood was original sin. He was merely the son of a prostitute, and instead of staying in the Qin Lou Chu Guan as a gigolo servant to be ordered around, he paraded around in scholarly robes, becoming an eyesore. Just thinking about it made Zhao Shao feel utterly disgusted.
What right did he have to be treated as a guest of honor and drink with someone like him?
Sharing the same room, Zhao Shao even felt that Yang Si tainted the air around him.
Hiding his disdain, Zhao Shao used that mother-son pair as a springboard to humiliate Yang Si, feeling quite pleased with himself.
Yet, Yang Si remained indifferent, while Jiang Nongqin nearby kept itching to place her hand on the dagger at her waist multiple times.
“It’s nothing—” Yang Si maintained a calm demeanor, smiling as he said, “I just heard someone say something quite reasonable. Since turning back is impossible, one might as well move forward on their knees; that’s basically the idea. If one has committed their own sins, then they must cry and swallow the bitter fruit!”
Zhao Shao’s mind raced, suddenly realizing Yang Si was mocking him.
“What does Mr. Yang mean by that?” he feigned ignorance.
“I’ve heard that General Zhao had some disputes with the late Dongmen Jun’s school lieutenant Yang Jian when he was young—” Yang Si smiled with a hint of sarcasm, coldly observing Zhao Shao’s uncomfortable expression, “I heard that Lieutenant Yang Jian didn’t die of a sudden illness, but rather fell victim to a villain’s scheme, dying a young and untimely death. Lieutenant Yang Jian had an excellent reputation in Zhangzhou; my lord mourned his passing for quite some time, stating that we lost another loyal and valiant general in this world. The Buddha said there’s cause and effect; that poisoner should not expect to die well, don’t you think?”
Zhao Shao’s face turned ashen, his eyes filled with hatred and murderous intent, practically bulging out of their sockets.
Yang Si calmly closed his eyes, maintaining an air of nonchalance that was maddening to behold.
“Fortunately, although Lieutenant Yang Jian has perished, his legacy lives on. His only son, Yang Tao, is an outstanding figure in his own right. Such a dutiful son, how could he let his father’s murderer escape easily? Once he’s strong enough to grasp that poisoner—” Yang Si threw a sideways glance at Zhao Shao, sneering, “For a father’s revenge, it’s as if there is no room for coexistence between them. Whether it’s a thousand cuts or death by a thousand cuts or flaying alive while lighting candles—perhaps none of that would quench the thirst for vengeance!”
It’s easy to understand the concept of slicing to death, but what on earth is flaying and lighting candles?
Rumor has it, during the turbulent times of the Sixteen Kingdoms, there existed a small nation called “Jing.” This “flaying and lighting” was a method of execution invented by its last emperor, simply to amuse his favored concubine. They would slice open the skin from head to toe, pour mercury inside, and the agony would force the skin to break free, leaving behind a bloody, skinless body from which sesame oil could be pressed.
The condemned would be tied up and have their abdominal fat severed open with a lamp lit inside.
Just thinking about that scene sends shivers down one’s spine.
Zhao Shao looked at Yang Si in a mix of rage, shock, and fear.
He had indirectly insulted Yang Si to his face, and Yang Si had explicitly called him out, a round of intimidation mixed with threat.
Zhao Shao swallowed his fear and silently cursed:
A son of a lowly prostitute!
“There are still plenty of matters to handle at the military camp; it would be inappropriate for me to linger and delay important business. I must take my leave.”
Yang Si expressionlessly declined Zhao Shao’s invitation to stay. They both found each other distasteful, and staying would serve no purpose other than mutual harm.
Zhao Shao had no choice but to let him go.
Jiang Nongqin boarded the carriage and looked at Yang Si, who was resting with his eyes closed inside.
“Do you think that old bastard Zhao Shao will send people to ambush us?”
Jiang Nongqin was not in a good mood and wanted to find someone to vent her frustrations on. Killing enemies was the best way to let off steam.
“Hard to say, he could want a quick resolution, but Xu Pei wouldn’t allow it.”
Xu Pei was prideful and would rather suffer than stoop to assassinate Yang Si.
Jiang Nongqin sighed, “We shouldn’t have come today; we gained no useful information but ended up frustrated instead.”
She seriously wanted to twist Zhao Shao’s head off and use it as a ball!
Yang Si caught her eye and chuckled, “What’s got Jiang Xiaowei so worked up?”
Jiang Nongqin raised an eyebrow, firing back, “Isn’t General Yang at all angry?”
“People have emotions. I’m just a mere mortal; who could avoid them? It’s impossible not to feel anger, but what can be done after that?” Yang Si coldly smiled, his eyes shining with light, “The sage said, when heaven bestows a great responsibility on someone, they must first suffer in mind, labor in body, face hunger, and lose their possessions—how could they be arrogant? It doesn’t matter if I’m a son of a prostitute or not. One day, these people will bow their necks and lower their heads, breaking their proud bones—”
As he spoke, Jiang Nongqin noticed Yang Si gripping a corner of the table so tightly his fingers looked like they might pierce through the surface.
Some people, facing the world’s malice and attacks, grow increasingly timid until their will to survive fades away.
But not Yang Si. The more others slander, insult, mock, belittle, or vilify him, the more he aims to live carefree and happy.
His weakness wouldn’t earn him sympathy or pity; it would only serve as a handle for his enemies to mock him.
“If the situation were reversed, if the strategist ordered, I would take Zhao Shao’s old head without hesitation.”
In Jiang Nongqin’s view, the soft-spoken scholars were like treasures to be pampered.
Yang Si countered, “No, we can’t do that. Zhao Shao still has his uses—”
Jiang Nongqin was surprised, “What good could that old bastard possibly serve?”
“Yang Tao has been expanding power in Nan Sheng and has now become an undeniable opponent.”
Jiang Nongqin thought for a moment and asked, “Do you mean to sell Zhao Shao to Yang Tao, doing him a personal favor?”
“Not quite, but I have guessed some things.” Yang Si tapped the table with his fingers, the carriage swaying as the outside grew quiet except for the sound of the wheels turning. “Jiang Xiaowei, why aren’t you curious that woman is a flower girl from Chenzhou, and yet she’s miles away from Hu Jun and Zhe Jun?”
Jiang Nongqin was rooted to the spot; she indeed hadn’t thought of that angle.
“Chenzhou is under Huang Song’s jurisdiction. According to that woman’s story, she killed her husband and faced execution, so she had to make up lies to save herself. Do you think she would have gotten to Xu Pei without going through Huang Song?” Yang Si continued, “The only possibility is that Huang Song sent that woman to Xu Pei. In other words, Huang Song and Xu Pei might have secretly allied, coming together.”
Without this layer of alliance, Huang Song could have kept that trump card and unleashed it at the right moment to take down Yang Si decisively.
Even if that mother-son duo had no relation to Yang Si, his reputation would be utterly ruined.
Rumors always spread faster than clarifications.
Thus, Yang Si could pretty much determine that Huang Song and Xu Pei had indeed colluded.
Jiang Nongqin felt her head spinning.
If it weren’t for Yang Si’s insight, she wouldn’t have noticed at all.
“So what does this have to do with Zhao Shao?”
Yang Si stated, “Yang Tao is a filial son. If he finds out Zhao Shao cleverly snuck back to Dongqing, joining Xu Pei’s ranks as a low-profile general, do you think Yang Tao could sit still? Xu Pei holds half of Zhangzhou; Yang Tao hasn’t settled the score with him yet.”
Yang Tao was desperately searching for Zhao Shao across Nan Sheng. He never suspected Zhao Shao would sneak back to Dongqing.
In present times, communication technology is incredibly backward—no phones, telegraphs, or the internet. One relies on walking, and conversations happen by shouting; it could take over half a year for a letter to travel across borders. Zhao Shao was clearly trying to hide from Yang Tao, and Yang Tao’s attention was focused elsewhere, leaving him utterly helpless.
“If Xu Pei and Huang Song are in cahoots, why can’t our lord borrow chaos to yield results, selling Yang Tao a favor, and then encircle Xu Pei?” Yang Si’s gaze darkened, his eyes reflecting coldness, “Jiang Xiaowei, I’m curious, how will Zhao Shao meet his end!”
Whoever offends him has no hope for favor!
At dawn, Yang Si and the others returned, freshened up a bit, and headed to meet Jiang Pengji.
“You came back after just a meal?” Jiang Pengji teased, “Xu Pei really is stingy; at least he could’ve sent a beauty to entertain you.”
Yang Si: “…”
Please don’t say that, everything from yesterday felt like a nightmare.
A storm of emotions raged inside, but he maintained a calm exterior.
Yang Si briefly recounted what had happened the previous night and shared the conclusions he had analyzed with Jiang Nongqin.
After venturing out, Yang Si returned ready to draft the strategic course ahead.
Ally with Yang Tao, besiege Xu Pei, and then turn to deal with Huang Song.
After eliminating Huang Song, they could either try to wrestle Middle Zhao’s territory or stab their newly allied Yang Tao in the back.
Jiang Pengji: “…”
When it came to betraying alliances, Yang Si had far more expertise than she did.
Jiang Pengji summoned the military and civil officials in her camp for a meeting, and most agreed with Yang Si’s proposal.
If Xu Pei and Huang Song had indeed formed an alliance, while she could fight them both, she would stretch her forces too thin.
If Huang Song dared to steal an assault on Wanzhou’s headquarters, she would find herself in a very passive position.
If they allied with Yang Tao, it would restrain Huang Song’s forces to the south.
“Who’s willing to head to Nan Sheng to seek the alliance?”
To proactively form an alliance, a genuine attitude was necessary, and sending a capable individual was crucial.
The Qichuan Plain in Hu Jun was less than ten days’ distance from Nan Sheng’s border. To inform Yang Tao about the alliance, at least a month would be needed.
However, they had little clarity on the situation within Nan Sheng.
After a moment of silence, Wei Ci stepped forward to offer his services.
“I am willing to help my lord resolve difficulties.”
Among the crowd, he was the most suitable one.
In his past life, Wei Ci had assisted An Huan, seizing half of Nan Sheng’s territory, which was a place he knew like the back of his hand; no one understood it better than him.
Jiang Pengji furrowed her brow, hesitating for a moment before asking, “Are you confident, Zixiao?”
“Ten out of ten!”
Wei Ci’s words were firm, and Jiang Pengji could only agree.
