"The one I want to conquer is not Wei Jian, nor the Wei family's army, but—Wei Tianze."
He had uttered this name countless times. It had once been the trust and respect of a comrade-in-arms, then the resentment of betrayal, and now it carried a rather complex emotion.
You Tong paused for a moment, pondering the difference.
Fu Yu didn't elaborate, but simply put his arm around her waist, pressed his ear against her lower abdomen, and listened to the barely perceptible sounds through her thin clothes. He reassured her, "Don't worry, I'll arrange things in the capital before the campaign. I know very well which is more important, the country or the Wei family of Suizhou."
...
It sounds easy to say that a personal expedition is easy, but the preparations and groundwork required cannot be done overnight.
After Fu Yu seized power and Wei Jian declared himself emperor, regardless of whether Jiang Shao regretted it, he had already boarded Wei Jian's ship and submitted to the Wei family without hesitation.
However, while Jiang Shao had this intention, not all of his soldiers and officers shared it.
The capital and the palace were in the hands of the Fu family. Xu Chaozong had granted Fu Yu the power to oversee the country and had even personally issued an edict of self-reproach, which was common knowledge. The civil and military officials in the capital supported Fu Yu as emperor, who then managed all the affairs of state. In contrast, the small court of the Wei family in Suizhou was merely a makeshift platform. It was obvious which of the two was more legitimate.
Moreover, it is common knowledge that the Fu family is honest and upright in its administration, while Wei Jian's subordinates are plagued by a constant stream of corrupt officials.
Given such a stark difference in their status, it was inevitable that the officers, soldiers, and civilians under Jianchang's command would have some reservations about Jiang Shao's attitude.
Fu Yu then used this as a starting point. During the six months he was unable to mobilize troops, he ignored Jiang Shao and instead spread rumors to win over people's hearts. Now that the time was right, he secretly dispatched a large force of powerful generals to Jianchang and ordered He Yuanzhong, who had already secretly joined his ranks, to take action. Using the pretext that Wei Jian was treasonous and Jiang Shao was incompetent, he led several like-minded people he had already won over to rebel against Jiang Shao.
Jiang Shao was caught off guard and then his rebellion was instigated by the attack. Unable to withstand the attack, he was killed by Fu Zhang, who personally led the troops.
Because the attack came so suddenly, by the time Wei Tianze heard the news and tried to help, it was already too late.
By the time the chaos in Jianchang was cleaned up, it was already mid-April.
Immediately afterwards, Fu Yu ordered a campaign against Wei Jian, and after mobilizing troops, he set out in early May.
Yongning controls six prefectures. The terrain in the far east is not particularly treacherous, but it becomes increasingly dangerous the further west you go. The three passes in the east, south, and north are like gateways and throats, with steep peaks and towering cliffs. Below, the river is turbulent and the waves are rolling. If the army does not take the official roads that have been built since ancient times, it will be quite difficult to pass through.
Fu Yu's expeditionary force captured four cities in the east, but when it advanced westward, it was blocked outside Eagle Beak Pass.
The two armies faced off for more than twenty days, with officers and soldiers unable to make an inch of progress.
Fu Yu then announced that he would personally lead the expedition.
...
With the court newly settled, the new emperor personally led an expedition. When the news reached Suizhou, Wei Jian was both surprised and delighted.
What is alarming is that Fu Yu is a brilliant strategist, his moves unpredictable and treacherous. During the earlier battle at Changwu Pass, his thousand-plus iron cavalry appeared and disappeared like ghosts, striking fear into the hearts of the Wei army. Later, as the troops vied to defend the capital, the two battles resulted in Wei Jian suffering heavy losses. Eagle Beak Pass is a crucial strategic point; if Fu Yu were to breach it, only two defenses would remain. Neither of those two passes is as easily defensible as Eagle Beak Pass; once it falls, Suizhou will be in grave danger!
The good thing is that Eagle's Beak is a strategically important and impregnable pass. Fu Yu, instead of sitting on the throne in the capital, has delivered himself to our doorstep. If we can seize the opportunity to eliminate him, wouldn't that be satisfying?
Wei Jian held the military report, weighing it in his hands with hesitation. At times, he wished he could rush over and take Fu Yu's life, but at other times he tried his best to remain calm and not act rashly. It wasn't until Fu Yu arrived outside Yingzui Pass and launched a fierce attack that put the defending army in dire straits that Wei Jian panicked. He immediately mobilized a large force and, along with his son Wei Tianze, rushed to Yingzui Pass, intending to kill Fu Yu with his own hands.
The father and son led their troops to the scene, but before they could even confront Fu Yu, an urgent report from the border arrived.
—According to military reports, after learning that Fu Yu had personally led the expedition, the Western Barbarians sent 50,000 troops to harass the border with great force, and requested Wei Jian to send troops to their aid immediately.
Caught in a pincer movement, with enemies on both sides, Wei Jian was greatly alarmed upon hearing the news.
However, he had spent his life on the battlefield, displaying great bravery in repelling invading enemy forces on the border. Having seen many large-scale battles, he quickly regained his composure after the initial shock. To avoid destabilizing the army, he did not reveal the news for the time being, but instead ordered Wei Tianze to be summoned immediately to discuss countermeasures. After all, although there were many rifts between father and son, Wei Tianze's battlefield prowess was undeniable, and as the Crown Prince, Wei Jian naturally consulted him first when faced with such a situation.
But after discussing military matters, and even before the topic of troop deployment came up, the two began to argue.
"That scoundrel Fu Yu has mobilized seventy or eighty thousand troops to guard outside Eagle's Beak Pass, trying to seize my territory. How can we allow him to take away our troops? We can't move the soldiers here, so we can only find a way to transfer some from elsewhere." Wei Jian slammed his thick hand on the table with a "smack," his face showing anger, and scolded, "After fighting for so many years, can't you even distinguish between what's important and what's urgent!"
"What is important, and what is not? The border is important, and the people are important! We can lose Eagle's Beak Pass, but we cannot lose the border!"
Wei Tianze spoke in a deep voice, a hint of sharpness flashing in his heroic eyes.
Hearing this, Wei Jian became even more furious. "Bullshit! This Eagle Beak Pass is my territory. If we let that dog Fu Yu in, he'll definitely attack. Even if you hold the border, he'll still take Suizhou. What use will you be as an empty shell of a general? We can't move the troops here. Fu Yu has delivered himself to our doorstep. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I won't retreat until I kill him!"
Wei Tianze suppressed his temper, "Then what about the west side?"
"Send someone to guard it. If they can't hold it, retreat. Once I've taken down Fu Yu, I'll deal with those bastards."
If we can't hold out, we'll retreat. These were just seven words from Wei Jian's mouth.
To Wei Tianze, it was like a bucket of water mixed with ice crystals being poured over his head in the dead of winter, sending a chill down his spine.
He picked up a map from the side, pushed it open with a whoosh, and the scroll quickly unfurled.
His calloused fingers, calloused from years of wielding a sword, swept across the map before landing on the westernmost region of Yazhou. “There are people living here! If the soldiers retreat, can the people retreat? If the Western Barbarians invade and massacre the city to vent their anger, who can stop them? The border defenses have always been the strongest. Let’s send 20,000 troops there to eliminate the external threat first, and then we can talk about what happens inside.”
"Ha!" Wei Jian laughed in exasperation. "What if Eagle's Beak Pass is lost?"
"Fu Yu will not harm innocent civilians."
"The city belongs to him, Suizhou belongs to him, where am I supposed to go?" Wei Jian frowned, his eyes filled with the domineering air of someone who had long held a high position. "Let me be more explicit. Suizhou is my territory. If we have to lose two cities, I can decide who gets them. If we lose to the Western Barbarians, we'll only lose two cities at most, but if we lose to Fu Yu, we'll lose the entire Dingjun."
"Can--"
"Shut up!" Wei Jian slammed his hand on the table. Knowing that he was about to bring up the "people's interests first" rhetoric again, he became increasingly irritated and threatened in a deep voice, "The troops are mine, so don't try to make decisions for me. Jiang Shao has lost all his troops, yet he still has the nerve to come to me and give me advice! I called you here to give me ideas, not to argue with me."
Having said that, fearing that Wei Tianze might cause trouble when he called the generals to a meeting later, he simply ordered him to go out and patrol.
The argument came to an abrupt end. Wei Tianze's face turned ashen. Knowing that arguing was pointless, he turned and left with a dark expression.
Having returned to Suizhou for nearly two years, Wei Tianze had thoroughly understood Wei Jian's character. Even so, when he clearly heard Wei Jian's attitude, Wei Tianze still felt a chill in his heart—it was as if in Wei Jian's eyes, the people within the city were nothing but weeds, and he didn't care if they might encounter war or be massacred by enemy soldiers.
But if that's the case, what was the purpose of Wei Jian becoming emperor? And what was the purpose of using the people's taxes to support his army?
Is it merely to seize power, act arrogantly, and occupy territory?
Wei Tianze had never approved of Wei Jian's actions, and after learning about his background, he harbored even more resentment. Now, thinking of that greedy and selfish face, he felt utterly disgusted and loathed! Meanwhile, hundreds of miles away, the soldiers who had endured the bitter cold and risked their lives to guard the border were probably unaware that the "emperor" behind them had already abandoned the troops and the people of their region.
Upon realizing this, Wei Tianze felt a chill in his heart and a coldness in his teeth.
With the border in dire straits, he couldn't simply stand idly by. However, he was, after all, only the crown prince, and his power had been halved after the loss of Jiang Shao. How could he possibly deploy troops to support the border under Wei Jian's watchful eye?
Could it be... that we should pass the military intelligence to Fu Yu and let them make the decision?
Feeling troubled, Wei Tianze ordered his subordinates to go about their business halfway through the inspection. He rode his horse through the dense forests and mountains, pondering a solution. The terrain in this area was undulating. Ahead lay the territory that Fu Yu had already conquered, and behind lay the treacherous barrier of Eagle Beak Pass. Because the surrounding terrain was steep cliffs with no way to climb, it was extremely sparsely populated.
He urged his horse to slow down, his brows furrowed in thought as he casually glanced across the countryside.
Suddenly, his gaze froze.
A few hundred paces away, on a raised hill, a familiar figure rode towards them. Even though he couldn't see the other person's face clearly from this distance, Wei Tianze suddenly shuddered when the figure came into view. A black shadow galloping, imposing and majestic—that familiar aura, who could it be?
With the two armies locked in battle and danger lurking everywhere, how could Fu Yu, who is already an emperor, appear here?
Old friends meet again on a narrow road after many years. Wei Tianze forgot to call for a warning, but instead stopped his horse and reined in his horse, staring at the figure that was getting closer and closer.
Chapter 130 The End (Part 2)
The blazing sun beat down overhead, the wind in the countryside stopped, and steam seemed to rise from the dense grass.
Wei Tianze stood like a stone statue, staring straight ahead, his limbs slightly stiff.
The lone rider galloped closer and closer, finally reining in his horse a foot away from him. The dark figure Fu Yu was riding had followed him for many years and recognized Wei Tianze. After two or three years, seeing him again, it snorted excitedly and lightly pawed the ground with its front hooves, making a soft rustling sound in the grass. If Fu Yu hadn't been holding the reins, it probably would have gotten much closer.
The old horse still recognized its master's friend, but the man had severed ties and become an enemy.
Wei Tianze looked a little embarrassed. His lips moved, but he didn't know how to address him, so he simply raised his hand and clasped his hands in a fist salute.
Fu Yu glanced at him, remained silent, turned his horse around, and headed towards a nearby ravine—a low-lying area surrounded by mounds, making it difficult for people in the distance to see him. The nearby civilians had already fled, leaving only patrolling soldiers and scouts; it was still Wei Jian's territory. Since Fu Yu had come alone, it was clear that he had thorough defenses behind him.
Wei Tianze remained silent, while the dark figure took a few steps forward and followed behind.
It had been a long time since they last met. Fu Yu's demeanor remained unchanged, though the ruthlessness he displayed on the battlefield had softened, replaced by the resolute composure of a ruler. The last time they met was at Donglin Temple in Qizhou. He had escaped from prison, first taking Fu Zhao hostage, and then holding You Tong hostage. He had managed to escape by braving the fire that had reduced the temple to ruins.
After that, Fu Yu's life went smoothly. After winning the heart of the beauty, he quickly brought Zhao Yanzhi of Jingzhou under his command. Then, he served the king first, took control of the capital, seized power, and finally ascended the throne. With the father, son, and brothers working together, he was loved by the people.
And what about him?
Only when Fu Yu's horse stopped in the mountain valley did Wei Tianze compose himself and say solemnly, "It's been a long time."
"I've come to find you." Fu Yu said sharply as he opened the door.
"For the battle at Eagle's Beak Pass?"
Fu Yu remained noncommittal for a moment before saying, "Wei Jian declared himself emperor and you obtained the position of Crown Prince. With tens of thousands of soldiers guarding the pass and the advantage of the terrain, you should be riding high. The fact that you are wandering alone suggests that something is amiss." He dismounted and saw a bare stone in the grass, so he sat down.
Wei Tianze also sat down.
One was an emperor leading his army into battle, the other a crown prince guarding the pass; they should have been irreconcilable enemies. Yet, neither of them showed any murderous intent. They simply sat on their respective stones, as if an invisible table stood between them, ready for negotiation. However, their states of mind and auras were completely different.
Wei Tianze was preoccupied with the battle report and had just argued with Wei Jian, so his morale was clearly lower.
However, since Fu Yu had come to him, it was a good opportunity, so he said, "There is indeed something that is troubling me."
Tell me about it.
"The Western Barbarians, having learned of the internal strife here, have dispatched 50,000 troops to press on the border, intending to take advantage of the chaos. However, our forces are limited, and we can only choose between Eagle Beak Pass and the border post. If you were in their shoes, what would you choose?"
Fu Yu nodded without answering, and instead said, "Since you have been appointed Crown Prince, you must know the situation. Zhao Yanzhi of Jingzhou has already submitted to me, and the territory is stable. Yongning in the north goes without saying, and the Fu family's troops are stationed in Xuanzhou, with my maternal grandfather and uncle managing the affairs of the court. Although Chuzhou was in chaos, it has already submitted in the past six months. As for Jianchang, Fu Zhang is personally handling the matter, with He Yuanzhong assisting him, so there is no need to worry. Within the four seas, only Wei Jian is stubbornly resisting."
Seeing that Wei Tianze lowered his eyes and did not refute, he continued, "I did not need to personally lead the expedition."
"But you came."
"The war has dragged on for too long, wasting the lives of soldiers and the money and grain that the people have paid. A personal campaign can lead to a quick victory and prevent the country from falling apart. Compared to the corrupt officials under Wei Jian, my selection of virtuous and capable people will be beneficial to the people."
Wei Tianze naturally understood this principle, and he could guess the reasons behind Fu Yu's personal visit to the strategic pass and his solitary journey into Wei's territory. Although their positions differed, Wei Tianze had always admired the Fu family's magnanimity and breadth of vision compared to Wei Jian's treatment of the common people.
"So what are your plans regarding the Western Regions?" he heard Fu Yu ask in return.
Wei Tianze's eyes were sharp, and he said almost without hesitation, "I will naturally choose the people on the border."
“Wei Jian is unwilling, isn’t he?” Fu Yu glanced at his expression and knew the answer. “If that’s the case, why follow him?”
After a long silence, Wei Tianze looked up with a slightly somber expression.
"Besides Suizhou, is there anywhere else I can go?"
Within the four seas, except for Suizhou, all was now Fu family territory. And he and the Fu family... more than ten years of lurking and deception, the provocations he committed under the Fu family's trust, the assassination of Wei Youtong, the betrayal of Fu Yu, the kidnapping of Fu Zhao, Wei Tianze remembered every evil deed clearly.
The matter involves military and political secrets, and the crime is too serious. How could the Fu family tolerate him?
Moreover, after ten years of getting along, the weight of their past friendship was immense, and so was the burden of betrayal—a heavy weight pressing down on his shoulders. With the mask removed and his flesh exposed, Wei Tianze had no face to see his old friends and mentor again.
He had no choice but to use his skills and live up to the expectations of his training in this world. Even knowing that Wei Jian was no good, and that the small court in Suizhou was on the verge of collapse.
The wind blew through the mountain valley, carrying the heat of summer.
Fu Yu stared at him with furrowed brows. The resentment he had harbored before coming here, and the anger he had suppressed for years, eased slightly when he learned that the man still chose the common people. Although the man before him was hateful, he still retained the essence of the valiant young general he once was, who had risked his life to bravely fight the enemy and protect the border; he had also risked his life to save his brothers-in-arms on the battlefield, advancing and retreating together.
Putting aside personal grudges, his many merits in Qizhou far outweigh his evil deeds.