It wasn’t easy to find a time when Xiao Rong was alone. It wasn’t because Qu Yunmie didn’t allow Xiao Rong to leave, but because once Xiao Rong threw himself into the king’s tent, he would only come out at night.
…
Yu Shaoxie squatted for a long time before finally catching Xiao Rong, who came out to get some fresh air. He breathed a sigh of relief and then quickly stepped forward. “Young Rong!”
Xiao Rong: “…”
Qu Yunmie, who stayed idly inside the tent: “…”
None of them liked this way of being addressed.
＊
Following Yu Shaoxie to his camp tent, this time Xiao Rong did not see the idle Yu Shaocheng, and he glanced at Yu Shaoxie.
The latter understood immediately. “His wound is almost healed, so I let Shaocheng move back. He is now one of the generals of the Central Army after all, how could he still squeeze in with his own elder brother? If this went on, other generals would probably mock him. Shaocheng always listens to me, so he moved out yesterday.”
Xiao Rong: “…”
Regarding matters between these two brothers, Xiao Rong wisely chose not to say more.
He asked Yu Shaoxie, “Brother Yu, did you want to see me for something?”
Yu Shaoxie pressed his lips. “I heard about today’s execution.”
Xiao Rong understood. He lowered his head and gave a light laugh. “Before making this decision, I didn’t consult you because I knew you definitely wouldn’t agree. Since ancient times, extreme punishments have never stopped and each dynasty has its own cruel traits. I never thought I would be the one to give such an order, but I don’t regret it. It was necessary to set an example. The disgrace doesn’t have to fall on the Northern Army but on me instead. Anyway, I have no official post now, I’m just a common man. The day I get kicked out of the Northern Army, people will think it’s only natural.”
Yu Shaoxie frowned and looked at him. “Kicked out of the Northern Army? Why would you think that?”
He paused, his expression slightly changing. “Did someone say something to you?”
Xiao Rong said, “No.”
Xiao Rong showed that expression again. When he didn’t want to say more, he would show a look that was hard for Yu Shaoxie to describe—somewhat stubborn, somewhat impatient, and somewhat childish. Yu Shaoxie fell silent and had to change the subject. “I’m telling you this not to blame you. Damaging the tombs of the King’s parents is a heinous crime. According to the laws of Nanyong, it should be punished by waist chopping, extermination of the entire clan, and for those under fourteen years old, it would be the rotten punishment. Women couldn’t even face a county magistrate. If we followed this law, not five but more than a dozen people would’ve died today. You spared their families, which is already great mercy.”
Xiao Rong: “…”
He blinked slowly. Although his expression was calm, his tone revealed his astonishment. “Is there still such a thing as collective punishment at this time?”
He thought that in this era of drastic population decline, collective punishment would’ve long been abolished.
Yu Shaoxie gave a meaningful laugh. “When was there ever a time without collective punishment?”
Xiao Rong: “…”
He whispered, “I’ll never let collective punishment fall on innocent people. This time was forced. The King’s campaign was too rushed, there was no time to consolidate the army’s morale. Admittedly, these people weren’t true members of the Northern Army, just their families, but the same problems appeared in the army itself. I heard that when the King was seriously injured, while morale was unstable, someone even accused the King of advancing too recklessly. Even if that person was right, at that time and situation, it wasn’t his place to say so.”
Yu Shaoxie said quietly, “Qu Jin.”
Xiao Rong had heard that name twice, both times from Gao Xunzhi. The first time, Gao Xunzhi told him Qu Jin was one of the King’s last relatives, the second time, Gao Xunzhi said Qu Jin had been punished with twenty military sticks for offending the King. He had said those words long ago, but before Gao Xunzhi arrived, no one dared to really do anything to him. Even Jian Qiao could only make him leave but not physically harm him. Having the surname Qu let him swagger around the camp.
Yu Shaoxie was also troubled by the Qu Jin surname issue. He was indeed a passionate youth but not stupid. In this era where family interests outweighed everything, he would never say bad things about a relative to a person’s face. Although it sounded strange, this was a world where one helped relatives, not reason.
Among the two soldiers, one died because he refused to reveal the whereabouts of his family. Xiao Rong was angry at him, thinking he was stubborn. What Xiao Rong didn’t know was that others were even more shocked by the two who lived. Why not care about their families, and still be recorded in history and called a hero? Because ordinary people could never do that.
At this moment, neither Yu Shaoxie nor Xiao Rong really cared about Qu Jin. After all, when it was thought Qu Yunmie was about to die, Qu Jin just popped up to show his presence. His IQ was too low to cause any real trouble. What Xiao Rong cared about were the silent ones who might share Qu Jin’s thoughts. What Yu Shaoxie cared about was Xiao Rong.
…
Yu Shaoxie said, “I came to find you to see how you are. As I guessed—when will you realize you and the Northern Garrison Army are one? If you bear disgrace, it’s not honorable for the Northern Army either. If the Northern Army bears disgrace, you need not care so much. Little Rong, after all, what we are doing is changing the dynasty. To some people, even most, we are thieves, bandits, forever disreputable traitors and rebels. It is impossible not to be scolded. This disgrace will last for hundreds of years after us and will not stop because future generations will judge right and wrong. Future words are no better than those of today.”
Xiao Rong looked at him speechlessly. “So the Northern Army will be scolded for thousands of years?”
Yu Shaoxie smiled. “That is posthumous fame. No one is perfect. Some focus only on faults, others weigh merits and faults carefully. Whether you want it or not, you and I are already in the history books. Once there, there is no going back.”
Xiao Rong: “…”
He leaned sideways and muttered, “I know.”
Yu Shaoxie looked at Xiao Rong, who was nervously scratching a small gap on the seat with his fingernail, turning the gap gradually into a small hole.
Yu Shaoxie: “…”
Halfway through, Xiao Rong suddenly looked at Yu Shaoxie. “You’re wrong. I don’t care so much about the Northern Army’s disgrace. It is Yuan Baifu who cares. He said what I did would bring the scholars’ scorn. I thought about it and agreed. If it really brings it, then one person takes responsibility. It’s all on me. I never cared about my own reputation.”
Yu Shaoxie whispered, “You don’t care about ‘some’ reputations.”
If it touched what Xiao Rong cared about, he would jump onto the roof immediately.
Xiao Rong asked, puzzled, “What did you say?”
Yu Shaoxie shook his head repeatedly. “Nothing. As for Yuan Baifu, I’ve observed him for a while. Besides feeling he meddles too much, I found nothing strange about him.”
Xiao Rong slowly straightened up. “You observed him? Why?”
Yu Shaoxie blinked. “General Jian’s attitude toward General Yuan changed. The two even had a dispute. Shaocheng happened to see it and told me. I guess it was your order, wasn’t it?”
Xiao Rong: “…”
He had only reminded Jian Qiao, not asked him to target Yuan Baifu!
He regretted giving this matter to Jian Qiao. Now it seemed Yu Shaocheng was more reliable.
Xiao Rong began sulking again, but he couldn’t blame others. Essentially, he had chosen the wrong person. He knew Jian Qiao was a sieve who couldn’t keep secrets, yet he entrusted such an important matter to him.
Fortunately, Qu Yunmie was similar to Jian Qiao, not one to overthink. Xiao Rong didn’t care if the whole army found out about this, as long as Qu Yunmie didn’t.
Xiao Rong leaned back again, and Yu Shaoxie quietly sat on the other side, no longer speaking. Just as Yu Shaoxie enjoyed the quiet, he suddenly heard Xiao Rong ask hesitantly, “Brother Yu, in your opinion, how long until the King unifies the North and South and ascends the throne?”
Yu Shaoxie was stunned for a moment, then seriously thought for a while. “At least two years. At most three years.”
Xiao Rong suddenly sat up straight. “Only two years?!”
Yu Shaoxie: “…”
He didn’t understand why Xiao Rong was so excited, this was a conservative estimate. “Of course, after finishing with the Xianbei, the King will have no more worries. The Xianbei’s wealth can replenish the Northern Army’s supplies once more. There will be no power in the world that can rival the King then. Although Sun Renluan is somewhat capable, if he thinks he can use the Southern Yong army to repel the King, that’s a fool’s dream. The only thing that could slow the king now is Jinling’s impregnable city. Once they start a defensive siege, we can only wait outside. So I said at least two years, at most three years. The exact time depends on how Southern Yong acts.”
At this, Yu Shaoxie even praised Xiao Rong. “Rong really thinks things through. Indeed, no external forces threaten the King now. Instead, some within the Northern Army might destroy everyone’s efforts. Rong, rest assured, I will keep watching those people and never let anyone seize an opportunity.”
Xiao Rong: “…”
Although praised, he showed no sign of happiness and quietly relaxed his tense body. Biting his lip, he put his clenched fist by his mouth.
Only two years, plus the past half-year and the half-year spent on the road—just two years total.
Two years of exhaustive effort for a new life—a very worthwhile trade.
He had always thought himself unlucky, thinking he must have blown up a kindergarten in his past life to end up like this. Now, hearing this clear number, he realized he might be lucky.
No, not might—he was lucky.
Many closed their eyes and never opened them again. Some didn’t even realize they were dead. Death came like a ruthless knife, severing the future that should’ve been equally distributed to everyone. He didn’t experience that. Before death found him, the system took him away.
Of course, other changes might occur in the next two years, but maybe none would. The Northern Army was different now. The Northern King was different. They had so many chips that they could buy the whole table. At first, Xiao Rong thought Qu Yunmie becoming Emperor was impossible, but now he couldn’t even say that.
So, two years.
These thoughts flashed rapidly through Xiao Rong’s mind. He didn’t even realize he was trying to convince himself this was a wonderful thing. Yu Shaoxie looked at him, puzzled, not understanding what Xiao Rong was thinking. Did he think two years was too short? The earlier the King became emperor, the sooner Xiao Rong could be at ease.
Suddenly, Xiao Rong stood up and said to Yu Shaoxie: “I’ll go for a walk. Brother Yu, rest early.”
Yu Shaoxie looked at the high sun outside, wondering how he could rest at this hour.
He still said: “Oh.”
Edited by: Antiope
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