"Nephew Wuji pays respects to Uncle!"
At the residence of Xia Taipu Cheng Hong Mingyuan, Hong Wuji, seeing Hong Mingyuan, felt as if he were seeing a relative. His voice choked as he bowed.
Hong Wuji had devised a poisonous scheme to frame Madam Wang, the favored concubine of Xia Taifu Yang Yiting.
Hong Wuji led his men to "catch them in the act," apprehending Madam Wang and her cousin on the spot. Citing the shame brought to the Taifu's mansion by adultery, he cut off Madam Wang's proud, beautiful hair, an act akin to disfigurement, driving her to despair.
Hong Wuji's scheme was undeniably vicious. Yang Yiting was initially suspicious, but in such matters, it was better to believe than not. Coupled with Madam Wang's current state, Yang Yiting allowed his wife, Madam Hong, to deal with Madam Wang.
This incident greatly increased Madam Hong's prestige in the Yang mansion. The other concubines, maids, and servants were all trembling and submissive, no longer daring to defy Madam Hong lightly.
Deeply grateful to Hong Wuji, Madam Hong also fulfilled her promise. She recommended Hong Wuji to her father, Hong Mingyuan, praising him highly. Thus, Hong Mingyuan summoned Hong Wuji to his mansion today.
"Nephew Wuji, rise quickly." Hong Mingyuan supported Hong Wuji, his face etched with pain. He tried to force out a tear or two but couldn't. He said to Hong Wuji, "Biyu... Alas, Wuji, I already know about the matters in your household. It is truly pitiable."
"Daughter, Wuji has arrived in the capital, why did you not mention this earlier?" Hong Mingyuan then asked Madam Hong.
"Father, it is my fault," Madam Hong hastily admitted.
I already told you, but you didn't take it seriously, Madam Hong grumbled inwardly.
"Yang Taifu, Hmph, he actually treats Wuji like a household slave. Does he still have our Hong family in his heart? Wuji, rest assured, Biyu's entire family was harmed by the barbarians. How could I, his uncle, not help his descendant, my nephew?" Hong Mingyuan said thereafter.
Yang Yiting was Hong Mingyuan's son-in-law. When Yang Yiting was in obscurity, Hong Mingyuan had used his connections in court to help him considerably, allowing him to rise rapidly. Later, when the Xia dynasty moved south, Yang Yiting escorted the imperial family and supported Yang Liang's enthronement. With this merit, Yang Yiting's official position grew, and he gradually stopped paying attention to Hong Mingyuan.
Hong Mingyuan had no sons. Thus, it would be a good thing to support his nephew, Hong Wuji, once and contend with that ungrateful person. As for what would happen in the future, it would depend on his own fortune.
"Thank you, Uncle. Nephew, nephew..." Hong Wuji stammered his thanks, touched and excited.
Money makes the world go round. The fact that Hong Mingyuan readily agreed today, besides Madam Hong's kind words, was also related to the generous gift Hong Wuji had brought.
Hong Wuji was the accountant of the Yang mansion. While helping Yang Yiting manage the family's finances, he had also lined his own pockets. Therefore, Hong Wuji's wealth had only increased.
"Nephew, we are family, there is no need for politeness." Hong Mingyuan nodded with a smile and asked, "I heard you have military experience. What are your thoughts on the current situation?"
"The current situation?" Hong Wuji pondered for a moment and replied, "The current situation is either peace or war. If war is without victory, it is better to seek peace. With peace, we can conserve our strength, allow the people to rest and recover, and then fight again in the future with renewed vigor to reclaim our ancestral lands."
"Peace? Haha, good!" Hong Mingyuan said with great joy, "Do you think the current peace talks with Yan can succeed?"
"At Niuzhuji, the Yan army has just been defeated. Is this not the best time for peace talks?" Hong Wuji retorted.
"Haha, indeed!" Hong Mingyuan clapped his hands and laughed.
Hong Wuji had been inquiring about court affairs incessantly during this period. Currently, the pro-war and pro-peace ministers were in a heated dispute. Emperor Xia Yang Liang wished to negotiate peace with Yan. Therefore, Hong Wuji's words today perfectly aligned with Hong Mingyuan's long-standing advocacy for peace with Yan.
From then on, Hong Wuji embarked on his official career.
.......
"Rinyue, what do you think of your brother's words?"
In the northern lands, Duoyongjian Chanyu asked Rinyue.
The Yan army had suffered a crushing defeat at Niuzhuji, and its national strength had been weakened. Therefore, Duoyongjian Chanyu wished to take advantage of the opportunity to march south, conquer cities, and plunder wealth, cattle, sheep, and people. However, Rinyue's brother, Hu Yanheng, suggested that instead of plundering wealth, cattle, sheep, and people, they should launch a full-scale invasion to destroy the Yan state, thereby obtaining all of Yan's wealth, population, and land. Hu Yanheng volunteered to lead twenty thousand elite cavalry as the vanguard to march south and destroy Yan.
Duoyongjian was somewhat swayed by Hu Yanheng's words, so he asked Rinyue.
Rinyue's forced performance of the Gui zhi exotic dance had attracted Duoyongjian's attention, and he had grown increasingly fond of her, often keeping her by his side.
"Great Chanyu, I am but a woman and dare not participate in matters of state and military affairs." Rinyue glanced at her brother, Hu Yanheng, and said.
Hu Yanheng was instantly disappointed. He glared fiercely at Rinyue, his heart burning with anger.
If Duoyongjian granted Hu Yanheng twenty thousand elite cavalry, would this not be the best opportunity for Hu Yanheng to restore his kingdom? With these twenty thousand elite cavalry, during the southward march to destroy Yan, Hu Yanheng could seize the opportunity to expand his power. When the time was ripe, Hu Yanheng could then challenge Duoyongjian, or even kill the old and fat Duoyongjian, seizing all his troops, cattle, sheep, tribesmen, and wealth. Then, the Great Wei kingdom would have a greater hope of restoration.
Hu Yanheng had given the young and beautiful Rinyue to the old Duoyongjian as his E'er'shi, for this very purpose, had he not? By gaining Duoyongjian's favor and whispering in his ear, he could achieve Hu Yanheng's goal of restoring his kingdom.
But Rinyue, at this critical juncture, actually declined, citing her status as a woman. This made Hu Yanheng both angry and anxious.
The tribes of the northern lands were not like the Han people, who forbade women from participating in politics. However, women in the northern tribes could participate in political affairs.
Furthermore, before Hu Yanheng sent Rinyue to Duoyongjian, Duoyongjian had promised to lend him troops for restoration.
"Hahaha..." Duoyongjian let out a burst of laughter, his fat flesh jiggling noisily. He roared with laughter, "Han women are not allowed to participate in military and state affairs, but we on the grasslands do not have so many rules as the Han. Rinyue, speak your mind freely. Whether you are right or wrong, this Chanyu will not blame you."
"Great Chanyu..." Rinyue said softly, "There is a saying in the Book of Han, 'A centipede, even when dead, does not fall stiff.' There is also an old saying on the grasslands, 'A dried-up great river is still wider than a small stream.' Although Yan has been defeated, its strength remains. Therefore, we cannot be careless. Moreover, Great Chanyu just said that Yan is currently engaged with Zhao. Let them fight. Great Chanyu should simply sharpen his weapons and train his horses. When they are both weakened, then march south. After marching south, Great Chanyu can first destroy Zhao, then Yan, and seize the fertile lands of the Central Plains in one fell swoop."
Rinyue finally understood. To survive in this world, to avoid being bullied, to live a dignified life, one must climb upwards, become someone superior, and trample others underfoot.
Rinyue's first goal was to become Great Chanyu Duoyongjian's Great Yanzhi.
Rinyue's reasonable analysis made Duoyongjian nod repeatedly. However, due to his excessive obesity, his head bobbed, causing his fleshy body to ripple.
"Slap! Bitch! Talking nonsense, what do you know? Great Chanyu, do not listen to this bitch's nonsensical words." Seeing his scheme about to fail, Hu Yanheng became enraged. He strode forward, slapped Rinyue across the face, and then kicked her to the ground.
Rinyue lay on the ground, looking coldly at Hu Yanheng with a blank expression. A trickle of blood flowed from the corner of her mouth.
"Hu Yanheng!" Duoyongjian said coldly, "Talking nonsense? I rather think you are the one talking nonsense, almost deceiving me. Dog, worse than a donkey, how dare you hit my woman? Guards, drag him out and administer the sack punishment!"
Hu Yanheng was instantly terrified.
Several strong tribesmen stepped forward, first gagging Hu Yanheng, then putting a large sack over him, covering his entire body. They then dragged him out, pulling and hauling.
The so-called sack punishment involved putting a person into a sack, then having riders on horseback trample them to death with their hooves. Under the trampling of hooves, the person would not die immediately but would endure great pain before finally breathing their last.
Leaving this person would always be a problem, Duoyongjian thought coldly as he watched Hu Yanheng being dragged away.
With Hu Yanheng gone, Duoyongjian's promise would also be nullified. Moreover, Rinyue would undoubtedly be wholeheartedly devoted to strategizing for Duoyongjian. It was a win-win situation.
In fact, Duoyongjian had wanted to eliminate Hu Yanheng for a long time. Today, he had simply found an excuse.
"Clatter... clatter... clatter..."
"Thump... thump... thump..."
After a while, the sound of horses' hooves, bones breaking, and flesh being crushed echoed from outside the tent. Inside the tent, Duoyongjian and the others were engaged in lively conversation.
"Rinyue, why Zhao first and then Yan?" Duoyongjian asked Rinyue with a grin.
Duoyongjian chatted and laughed as if the recently executed Hu Yanheng were not Rinyue's brother.
"Great Chanyu..." Rinyue replied faintly, "Zhao is close, and Yan is far. Why should Great Chanyu abandon the near for the distant?"
Rinyue's expression remained as usual, as if the person who had just died were not her brother.
"Hahahaha..." Duoyongjian praised, "Rinyue truly has extraordinary insight. You are a heroine among the grassland women!"
.......
"Brother..."
On the vast, boundless grasslands, Rinyue piled up a small mound of earth and placed three branches in front of it as incense. Rinyue knelt before the mound and wept, "Brother..."
Rinyue did not want to fail Hu Yanheng in restoring his kingdom, nor did she wish for her own brother to die. But she was just a weak woman, what could she do? Duoyongjian wanted to eliminate Hu Yanheng, and Rinyue could only watch helplessly, burying her hatred in her heart.