"Save him?"
In the large wooden house on the summit of Mount Wanling, the Great Priestess, after hearing Murong Huiying explain her purpose, turned to Murong Xiaoxiao and asked, "Are you also here for that?"
Murong Xiaoxiao hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
"Is it the same person as Princess Ziyue?" the Great Priestess asked Murong Xiaoxiao again.
Murong Xiaoxiao nodded again.
The Great Priestess felt a sense of confusion.
One was the Eldest Princess of the Great Yan Kingdom, and the other was the legitimate daughter of the Left Virtuous King of the Great Yan Kingdom. For what reason would someone require the Great Priestess's personal intervention to be saved?
"Who is it?" the Great Priestess then asked.
"The one who killed over two hundred people," Murong Xiaoxiao replied.
"What?" The Great Priestess was greatly alarmed upon hearing this and looked at the two women.
"He was also forced into it..." Murong Huiying shot a glance at Murong Xiaoxiao before saying to the Great Priestess, "His surname is Zhou, and his given name is Fugui. He is a Han Chinese from Yan Yun. After joining the army, he achieved numerous military merits and was promoted to the rank of Deputy General by the court, becoming a fierce and brave general of our Great Yan Kingdom. However, his elder brother was murdered, and his younger sister was defiled. In his rage, he exterminated the entire family of his enemies."
"Hmm, and who were these enemies?" the Great Priestess asked nonchalantly.
"The entire Duan tribe, led by Duan Mu, and also... the entire Qin family, who were the running dogs of Duan Mu and his son. A total of over two hundred people," Murong Huiying replied.
"Oh, people of the Duan tribe. Ziyue, this person cannot be saved." As Murong Huiying spoke eloquently, her voice was incredibly moving and pleasant to hear, but the Great Priestess remained unmoved, shaking her head and saying, "This person cannot be saved."
"National Preceptor..." Murong Huiying was in distress, her eyes on the verge of tears.
"High achievements and bravery cannot be reasons for murder," the Great Priestess stated. "Our Great Yan has many brave and accomplished generals. If each of them acted like him, where would the laws of Great Yan be?"
The Great Yan Kingdom had been established for a considerable period, and its laws were in place. Yet, not only was it impossible to achieve "the prince breaking the law is the same as a commoner," but imperial orders often superseded the law.
"National Preceptor, Ziyue begs you." Murong Huiying's tears finally fell as she pleaded.
"And you? On what grounds do you seek to save him?" The Great Priestess remained unmoved. She ignored Murong Huiying and turned to Murong Xiaoxiao.
"National Preceptor, Deputy General Zhou is too pitiful," Murong Xiaoxiao said.
"Heh heh, pitiful?" The Great Priestess sneered. "Were the over two hundred people he killed not pitiful? Were they all heinous criminals?"
Murong Xiaoxiao was speechless.
"National Preceptor..." Murong Huiying and Murong Xiaoxiao pleaded together.
"You may leave..." The Great Priestess remained unmoved. She stood up and said to the two women, "No matter how much you plead, it will be useless. Do you wish to divine? If not, then descend the mountain and do not disturb this priestess further."
"And if I join in?" At this moment, someone entered the wooden house and asked.
"Da Yanzhi, why are you here?" the Great Priestess asked, seeing the newcomer.
The newcomer was Empress Murong Qing of the Great Yan Kingdom.
"Samo, this person cannot die," Murong Qing said faintly after looking at Murong Huiying and Murong Xiaoxiao.
"Oh, then please provide his blood," the Great Priestess replied calmly.
In truth, even with Empress Murong Qing's presence, if the Great Priestess had been unwilling, she could have firmly refused. However, Empress Murong Qing's plea made the Great Priestess extremely curious about Zhou Fugui, wanting to know what kind of person he was. Thus, she decided to perform a divination for him first.
Zhou Fugui, imprisoned, was then cut and a small amount of blood was drawn, leaving him utterly bewildered...
...
"Princess Jinglian, Princess Ziyue, I have nothing else to do. I will divine for you."
After Empress Murong Qing left, the Great Priestess said to Murong Huiying and Murong Xiaoxiao.
This was the third time the Great Priestess had proposed a divination, so the two women agreed.
The Great Priestess then walked out of the house and hung the ancestral idol on the treetops. On the east and west sides, she hung wooden models of the sun, moon, wild geese, and cuckoos, one each. On the bark ropes between the trees, she hung the heads, throats, tongues, hearts, lungs, kidneys, limbs, and tails of deer and elk. The beast heads faced the ancestral idol. She also put on divine clothing and masks.
While busy, the Great Priestess suddenly took out a bottle of green potion and said to Murong Xiaoxiao, "Princess Jinglian, this potion will keep you from dying."
Murong Xiaoxiao was greatly puzzled by this but still took the potion and carefully placed it in her embrace.
...
Time rewinds to before Zhou Fugui annihilated the Duan Mu family, in Jiankang, the capital of Xia.
"The Holy Dynasty has been at war with the barbarians for over a decade. The people of the north and south have suffered greatly, and their lives are unbearable. There is no cock crowing for a thousand li, and white bones lie exposed in the wilderness," said Hong Wuji, a newly appointed Palace Supervisor of the Xia court, to the assembled officials. "Yan and the barbarians are no longer capable of fighting, and so is our Holy Dynasty. Your humble servant Wuji implores to negotiate peace with Yan, to cultivate the land and nurture the people. Thus, His Majesty will be fortunate, the nation and its dynasty will be fortunate, and all the people under heaven will be fortunate!"
The Xia Emperor Yang Liang, who was only in his early twenties, nodded with satisfaction.
Emperor Yang Liang was also weary of the endless war and the days of hiding and fleeing. He was extremely fearful of such a life.
The hardships, suffering, and fear of fleeing south from Luoyang still gave Yang Liang lingering shivers, especially when tens of thousands of Yan troops marched south, causing Yang Liang to lose sleep and appetite.
Furthermore, Emperor Yang Liang was concerned about the instability of his throne.
With a new emperor recently enthroned and facing a major war between Yan and Xia, many generals held significant military power, and there were internal rebellions. This posed a serious threat to Emperor Yang Liang's position.
Therefore, he who wishes to defend against external enemies must first secure internal stability. Thus, Hong Wuji's words precisely matched Yang Liang's intentions: to first stabilize his throne, and then consider a northern expedition to reclaim lost territories. As for bringing back the former emperor, it was merely a slogan.
If Yang Liang's father were truly brought back, who would then be the Emperor of the Great Xia Kingdom?
"Hong Wuji, you are but a petty official, how dare you presume to discuss matters of military and state?" The Grand General of National Defense, Zhang Huchen, was furious. He stepped forward and pointed at Hong Wuji, berating him.
"Commander Zhang..." Hong Wuji awkwardly dared not respond. Tai Pu Cheng Hong Mingyuan stepped forward and said, "Those who speak are not guilty, and those who listen are warned. This is the ancestral teaching of our Holy Dynasty. Why, Commander Zhang, do you prevent people from speaking?"
"You..." Hong Mingyuan's use of ancestral teachings to protect Hong Wuji rendered Zhang Huchen speechless. He could only turn to Emperor Yang Liang and say, "The heavens belong to the ancestors; His Majesty's position is the ancestors' position. How can the heavens of the ancestors become the heavens of Yan and the barbarians? How can the position of the ancestors become the position of a vassal under the dog barbarians? Those like Hong Wuji who constantly bow to the barbarians are defiling the spirits of the ancestors' dynasty with the barbarians! I request that Hong Wuji be beheaded immediately, to inspire the soldiers, prepare arms, and launch a northern expedition to recover the rivers and lands of the ancestors. I, your humble servant, am nearly seventy years old and wish to return wrapped in horse hide!"
"Lord Zhang..." Hong Wuji was startled and hurriedly retorted, "My entire family was killed by Yan and the barbarians. Do you wish to root out the weeds for Yan and the barbarians? Bowing to Yan and the barbarians? Nonsense!"
"Your Majesty!" Hong Wuji turned and reported, "Temporarily making peace with Yan and the barbarians is for the purpose of suppressing internal rebellions, rectifying military and administrative affairs, reforming the military's conduct, enriching the state's treasury, easing the people's burden, changing outdated laws, reducing redundant officials, enforcing clear commands to win hearts, and ensuring fair rewards and punishments to boost morale. Choose ministers to govern strategically. Wait for a change in Yan and the barbarians, then select a capable general to march west from Xiangfan and east from Guangling. A pincer movement will then bring peace to the world!"
"Good!" Yang Liang nodded. "Your words deeply resonate with me! Negotiating peace with Yan and the barbarians is not out of fear of them! I cherish the eighty-plus years our ancestors ruled under heaven and care for the lives of the people. Fearing to harm them, I cease hostilities to spare the people the suffering of war..."
In any dynasty, during times of great change, there are always factions advocating for war and factions advocating for peace, as well as fence-sitters. With ministers advocating for war and ministers advocating for peace, there naturally arises conflict between them, not limited to the war and peace debate, but also power struggles and other issues.
Those advocating for war naturally suggest the court advance north to reclaim ancestral lands, while those advocating for peace find various respectable reasons. Whether the Xia court continues to wage war against Yan or temporarily ceases hostilities primarily depends on the emperor's will or wishes.
Therefore, at this moment, the peace faction held the upper hand in the Xia court.
...
"Wuji, walk slowly!" After the court session, Grand Tutor Yang Yiting, out of breath, caught up and called out to Hong Wuji.
"Grand Tutor, what is it?" Hong Wuji bowed and asked with his hands clasped.
"It's nothing major, just congratulations, Wuji. How about you come home with me today and we'll have a good drink?" Yang Yiting said with a smile.
Yang Yiting had previously looked down on Hong Wuji, treating him like a bookkeeper or a household slave. Now that Hong Wuji had risen in prominence and was soaring to success, Yang Yiting was inclined to improve their relationship.
After the court meeting that day, Emperor Yang Liang had decreed Hong Wuji as the Xia Envoy for Negotiations, solely responsible for peace talks with Yan.
Although the position of Envoy for Negotiations was a temporary office set up by Xia and would be abolished after the peace talks concluded, its power at this moment was immense. Hong Wuji could intervene in military, political, and civil affairs. Moreover, Hong Wuji's appointment as Envoy for Negotiations was personally bestowed by Emperor Yang Liang, indicating that Hong Wuji had gained imperial favor, thus his future was bright and he would surely rise to prominence.
"My uncle has ordered me to return to the residence after court. Therefore, I thank you for your kind invitation, Grand Tutor. I will host you another day," Hong Wuji replied after a slight hesitation, politely refusing.
Having been a servant in the Yang residence, even if Hong Wuji had grievances, with his composure, he would not openly offend Yang Yiting.
Hong Wuji's main reason for refusing Yang Yiting's offer was that Yang Yiting was a proponent of war, and at this critical juncture, Hong Wuji could not afford to stand on the wrong side, although Yang Yiting's advocacy for war differed from Zhang Huchen's.
Zhang Huchen was an old general of Xia, wholeheartedly advocating for war, truly loyal and determined to recover the former lands of Great Xia. Yang Yiting's advocacy for war was more about power struggles.
Yang Yiting, hearing this, snorted in anger and flicked his sleeve as he left.