Chapter 1868: Chapter 6: Magnificent Heroes of the World
"Just a mere tiny piece of land beyond the Northern Domain, how dare it provoke Us so? What is he thinking!? Just two Sixth Layer Heaven generals, leading a ragged army that feeds on rotten meat and withered leaves in the icy wilderness, who gave them the courage!"
"Who gave them the guts to dare act here!"
"Dare to insult Us in front of the world!"
Jiang Yuan’s angry voice was thunderous, and the maids and eunuchs serving inside and outside the palace trembled with fear, lowering their heads, worried that any wrong move or task done poorly might drag them into the emperor’s wrath.
Although Jiang Yuan indulged in luxury, he treated the people within the palace quite well, often bestowing numerous rewards. He enjoyed amusements more than the late Emperor, with rules less stringent, offering more opportunities for rewards and benefits.
They had never seen this beautifully dignified and literary martial emperor so enraged.
It’s as if it was a single sentence someone unknown had said.
Just a simple sentence.
Pierced through the Emperor Ying Jiang Yuan’s inner defenses precisely, causing his anger to swell instantly, almost uncontrollably, so much that he wished to drag the speaker out and execute them on the spot!
Jiang Yuan gritted his teeth: "What kind of beast, what kind of beast!"
His fists clenched tightly, teeth gritted, the veins on his forehead throbbed, as if a blazing fury was burning within, nearly consuming him whole. Ministers and officials advised him not to make a big fuss over a single sentence, but this only fanned the flames of Jiang Yuan’s anger.
Wei Yiwen, He Ruoqinhu, and others were well aware.
The reason behind Jiang Yuan’s ascension to the throne was merely that, to Grandmaster Jiang Su, Jiang Yuan held little significance. Jiang Gao’s popularity and admiration might affect Jiang Su’s all-out war strategy.
Someone with opposing political views is more troublesome than a pleasure-seeking wastrel.
To Jiang Su.
Jiang Gao, Jiang Yuan, there was no difference.
He only cared whether he could fully defeat Emperor Qin Li Guanyi.
If he couldn’t win, even if Jiang Gao had a reputation for virtue, what use was that? But if victory was secured, Jiang Yuan’s indulgent extravagance could be compensated by Qin Country’s treasury reserves, with plenty left over.
Large-scale campaigns are extremely demanding on gold, silver, and logistics.
But once won, the rewards are ample.
Moreover, Wei Yiwen had a vague suspicion that Jiang Wanxiang’s arrangement was a contingency — if Grandmaster Jiang Su won, he might turn around and depose Jiang Yuan, supporting Jiang Gao’s rise.
And if Grandmaster Jiang Su, unfortunately lost.
Then Jiang Gao, as a leisure-loving prince, with good relations with Emperor Qin, Jiang Cai having connections with the Breaking Army, and Emperor Qin’s general Ashina’s wife being Jiang Gao’s cousin — these layers of relations, combined with Jiang Gao’s virtuous reputation, protected Qin Yulong.
With Li Guanyi’s temperament.
Then Jiang Gao could end well regardless, perhaps even granted the title of Anle Marquis, living out his days in leisure.
Win or lose, Jiang Wanxiang had paved a survival path for Jiang Gao.
Even such a hero, before dying, meticulously planned for his children, Wei Yiwen sighed, yet felt complex — whether it was a momentary lapse of restraint or the posthumous title of Wen Zheng held too much meaning for him as a scholar.
He was already on Jiang Yuan’s side, so he needed to sabotage Jiang Wanxiang’s legacy.
Perhaps, Jiang Yuan also saw the deeper intentions behind Jiang Wanxiang’s arrangements.
Knew he was just a puppet, which is why he was so enraged over an unknown person’s single sentence, filled with murderous intent; perhaps, Jiang Yuan anticipated that after a great victory, Grandmaster Jiang Su would dispose of him, leading to his indulgence.
Like a person drinking alcohol, reveling in an intoxicated and self-deceptive state.
Knowing that when the situation unfolds, he would face dire consequences but feeling powerless, he could only indulge himself, forgetting the blade swinging towards him, even subconsciously wanting to delay Jiang Su’s march to victory.
Thus, he wished to win over Wei Yiwen and He Ruoqinhu.
All actions stem from fear.
The pleasure of indulgence, the fear of the looming outbreak, various emotions stimulated Jiang Yuan over the past two years, and over these years, even the facade built during his time as the second prince had become unbelievably fragile, with killing intent bordering on insanity under fear’s weight.
Yet this madness and hint of hysteria were it directed at that person who spoke the words.
Or directed towards...?
Wei Yiwen knew Jiang Yuan’s thoughts.
But, this was inferred from observing Jiang Yuan’s well-crafted disguise over the years, and gradually deducing through these three years, with about eighty to ninety percent accuracy.
Yet a strategist in the Taiping Army, whose appearance they didn’t know.
Could they observe externally, see the weakness and fear inside Jiang Yuan, and the facade of anger born from it?
Wei Yiwen sighed internally.
Tantai Xianming, has someone of your caliber appeared again?
What a poison warrior!
Yet, still persuaded:
"Your Majesty, you mustn’t."
Jiang Yuan’s anger intensified, shouting: "Mustn’t, mustn’t!"
"I ask you, why not?!!"
Wei Yiwen looked at Jiang Yuan and said: "The Northern Border is extremely far from the Central Plains, without the aid of Jiangnan’s waterways, mobilizing troops and logistics would surely consume manpower."
Jiang Yuan said: "So what?!"
Wei Yiwen said: "Now that Qin Yulong has defected, Zhenbei Pass requires the dispatch of an Eighth Layer Heaven renowned general, three Sixth Layer Heaven generals for support, and an increase of one hundred thousand troops to barely balance with Yue Pengwu."
