Chapter 494 – Attacking Fengyi County (Part 2)
Bang——
Huang Song slammed his fist on the table, his face contorted with rage, a scroll filled with writing was hurled to the ground.
Feng Jue, still outside the tent, heard the loud thud inside. The soldier guarding the military tent saluted him, then lifted the flap for him to enter.
“Bo Gao, what happened? Why are you so furious?” Upon entering, Feng Jue noticed the table had been cracked by Huang Song’s blow. Doubts arose in his mind, and he concernedly asked Huang Song, “The messenger just called and said you had urgent matters.”
Huang Song’s anger was somewhat tempered by Feng Jue’s calm voice; he took a deep breath, trying hard to suppress the storm brewing inside him.
Huang Song pointed at the scattered scroll on the floor, his gaze sharper than a sword, as if glaring at his father’s murderer.
“Huai Jian, take a look at that letter on the ground—Changshou Wang, that traitorous scoundrel, is simply outrageous!”
His voice was hoarse with fury, sounding more fatigued than usual.
Feng Jue squatted down slightly, picked up the scroll, and carefully unfolded it, frowning as he read through it.
His composure far surpassed that of Huang Song; even though the contents sent a shock through his heart, he maintained a calm expression and stated definitively, “Changshou Wang’s move, though appearing ordinary, is indeed a venomous scheme aiming to put you to death, Bo Gao!”
Huang Song wasn’t such an incompetent fool as Changshou Wang. The moment he received this scroll lying in his military tent, he realized something was wrong. A wave of dread washed over him, a crisis he had never felt before surged to the forefront of his mind, prompting him to urgently call upon Feng Jue for help.
Feng Jue took a seat, placing the scroll aside as if it were a monster.
Do not be fooled by the soft, harmless script; the content within was a deadly viper, one bite could send you to the underworld.
“Changshou Wang is a brother of the current Emperor, and these two are suspicious to the core.” Feng Jue smirked, resentful of the royal family, “Though Changshou Wang sent this recruitment letter, if Bo Gao were to get too close, he wouldn’t believe you are sincere. So, the true intention behind this letter is likely to sow discord between you and the Emperor, attempting to use you as a blade to kill.”
Suspicion among the powerful isn’t always a bad trait, but it becomes harmful when it reaches the level of paranoia.
Unfortunately, both the current Emperor and Changshou Wang shared this tendency.
Knowing that this letter was a trap set by Changshou Wang, yet once the news reached the palace, Huang Song would be facing the end of his career.
Losing his official position was minor; the real fear was losing his entire family’s lives.
Ever since the earthquake in the capital, the Emperor commanded a move to Chenzhou. Changshou Wang forged orders and left his fief with troops, besieging Chenzhou throughout the winter. The Emperor grew increasingly paranoid, where any slight movement would set off his sensitive nerves.
So far, many righteous ministers and loyal subjects had been wrongly executed by the Emperor, creating a climate of dread throughout the realm.
In today’s Chenzhou, the Emperor mercilessly used his power to eliminate any existence that displeased him.
How long has it been since he took over Chenzhou?
Not to say rivers of blood, but many lived in fear, trembling at every shadow!
The noble families in Chenzhou dared not meddle in politics, discuss people’s livelihoods, research governance, or propose strengthening the military; such topics were mocked as mundane matters. Elegant gatherings only whispered about love and beauty, calling it—pure discussion.
In this atmosphere of fear, Feng Jue felt helpless and pained, his dissatisfaction with the Emperor reaching new heights.
The three sons of the Feng family were anything but ordinary.
Feng Jue realized that once the trend of “pure discussion” took root, it would lead to national ruin!
Even if everyone knew Changshou Wang’s actions were meant to frame Huang Song, based on the Emperor’s paranoid nature, he would never trust Huang Song.
If the Emperor had even the slightest bit of rationality, he would likely strip Huang Song of his military power and reassign him away from the front lines to a bureaucratic position.
However, judging by Feng Jue’s knowledge of this Emperor, he likely wouldn’t be that “merciful.”
He would rather wrongfully execute a thousand loyal ministers than let one potential traitor slip through his fingers.
Royalty is heartless, and brothers clash.
If Changshou Wang and the Emperor could turn their swords against each other, how much more so would Huang Song, who had no ties to the Emperor?
Huang Song’s face turned as pale as a ghost, as if he had lost all color. He sat in despair, his eyes flickering with complex emotions.
Feng Jue sighed and asked Huang Song, “What are your plans now, Bo Gao?”
If there were no means for self-preservation, once the rumor of “Changshou Wang recruiting Huang Song, promising riches” reached the Emperor’s ears and provoked his already suspicious nerves… Heh, even with a godfather by the Emperor’s side singing your praises, your situation would still be precarious.
Huang Song, defeated, cradled his head, feeling distressed, “I don’t know… I don’t know how to dispel the Official Master’s suspicions…”
Up to now, Huang Song still held hopes for Dongqing, wishing to be a loyal minister who could turn the tide and benefit the people.
However, Huang Song wasn’t a fool for loyalty.
If the Emperor truly wished to kill him, he would never be so stupid as to stand and wait for doom to come.
Feng Jue sighed, “Dispersing suspicions is too difficult. Even if you escape this disaster, if you lose the next battle slightly, the Emperor will surely suspect you are colluding with Changshou Wang… then you’ll truly be in a perilous situation.”
The battlefield changes at a moment’s notice; no one can guarantee victory.
Changshou Wang’s plot was simple yet incredibly vicious, shattering the fragile advantages Huang Song had painstakingly accumulated.
After hearing Feng Jue’s words, though reluctant to believe, thinking of the Emperor’s current state made Huang Song’s heart flutter with nervousness.
With tears welling in his eyes, he lamented, “Huai Jian, you must save your brother—”
In these times, being a loyal and patriotic person was not an easy task.
Even if Huang Song had the heart to save the nation and its people, reality wouldn’t allow it, and he had to face the prospect of losing his head.
Feng Jue lowered his gaze, pondering for a moment, and decisively said, “For now, the only plan is to break the tail to save the body.”
“Break the tail to save the body?” Huang Song repeated in confusion.
Feng Jue understood Huang Song’s mindset, knowing he still hadn’t completely given up hope for Dongqing. If that were the case, he felt it necessary to give him a push.
He said, “Yes, only this plan can preserve your strength. Bo Gao, you should draft a letter to the Emperor, explaining the details of this situation while firmly denouncing Changshou Wang’s treacherous intentions to sow discord between you and the Emperor. Finally, retreat while advancing, respectfully resigning from your position as Colonel and temporarily leaving the front lines, avoiding these sensitive posts for now.”
Huang Song listened, stunned for a moment, yet uncertainty and reluctance flooded his heart.
His hatred for Changshou Wang ran deep!
This scheme was downright despicable.
Feng Jue added, “If possible, request to govern a less sensitive county. The Emperor is likely to agree. Bo Gao, if you can manage a county well, the Emperor should see your loyalty and may consider using you again in the future.”
