Video Editor

Winter came exceptionally early that year in the military camp outside the city.

But everyone in the camp had warm hearts.

The first batch of two hundred students who were assigned to tutoring programs have officially graduated.

There was no grand ceremony, no guests filling the hall.

Only Su Ning stood on that simple earthen platform, looking at the two hundred familiar faces below.

One year.

More than three hundred days and nights.

They ate, lived, trained, and studied together.

Now, they must part ways.

“This year, you’ve all suffered a lot following me.” Su Ning’s voice wasn’t loud, but every word was clear. “Slept on shared beds, ran drills, got scolded by Coach Sun, and punished by Coach Zhao. Some of you got blisters on your feet, and some of you cried secretly at night.”

Someone in the audience laughed, but the laughter had a nasal tone.

“But you all made it through,” Su Ning said. “Today, you are no longer just study companions. You are my comrades-in-arms, Guo Xin’s comrades.”

He paused.

"Comrades-in-arms are people who get things done."

The crowd quieted down.

Suning has begun announcing the first batch of graduation assignment plans for students who have been paired with tutors.

"First, select one hundred of the most talented military personnel to be incorporated into the new army."

A slight commotion arose in the crowd.

Although it was expected, many people's expressions still changed when they actually heard about this arrangement...

There was nervousness, excitement, and a subtle reluctance to part.

“These one hundred men will be granted the rank of centurion,” Su Ning continued. “One hundred and fifty men will be recruited from among the refugees, hunters, and good families and organized into a single centurion unit. Each centurion unit will have one centurion and three deputy centurions, one of whom will serve as the centurion supervisor.”

He scanned the audience.

"You are not just training soldiers. You are training seeds."

“Each hundred households shall be under the jurisdiction of three general banners, each general banner shall have fifty soldiers; each general banner shall be under the jurisdiction of five squads, each squad shall have ten soldiers. The organization, training and supply standards shall be implemented in accordance with the old practice of the companion reading camp... One training session per day, full-time intensive training, and military pay and provisions shall be uniformly allocated by the general camp.”

"This time, a total of twenty households were organized."

Twenty households per hundred households.

Three thousand new soldiers.

Everyone was silently calculating this number in their minds.

A year ago, they were a group of anxious and bewildered poor scholars who came here for a meal and a stipend.

A year later, they were to recruit, train, and command three thousand men.

Sun Wu stood by the earthen platform, his one eye red, muttering curses, but it was unclear who he was cursing.

Zhao Da leaned on his cane, his back ramrod straight.

Looking at the group of young people below the stage, he recalled that he was the same age when he first became the team leader.

Young master is right, they are indeed seeds, they are the seeds you sowed.

However, Suning's arrangements are not yet finished.

“The remaining one hundred,” he turned to the other side, “are incorporated into the Honest Business Company.”

The name "Honest Business" is familiar to the students.

During that year, Wang Pu and his team managed the seven shops with great success, with the cash flow increasing and the business expanding.

But this is the first time a complete business name has been formally established.

"Chengxin Trading Company is responsible for managing and expanding all of our businesses," Su Ning said. "The cloth shops, grain shops, medicine shops, and general merchandise warehouses in Kaifeng, the trading routes at the Bianhe Wharf, and all the new shops and trade routes that will be opened in the future will all be uniformly managed by Chengxin Trading Company."

He looked at the group of people who were about to go to the business.

"Your battlefield is neither in the barracks nor at the border."

“In Yangzhou, in Hangzhou, in Chengdu, in Taiyuan, in Youzhou, in the Khitan capital, in the Southern Tang, in the Western Shu, and in the Northern Han.”

"I want your business to expand to every country in the world."

The hundred young people listened to these words with no fear in their eyes, only eagerness to try.

They knew what they were about to face...

An unfamiliar city, complex trade routes, unknown risks, and the suspicion of an enemy country.

Many of them have never left Kaifeng in their entire lives.

But they also knew that the young master had given them a year to transform themselves, not so that they would hide in this military camp outside the city forever.

It's time to go out and pave the way for the young master.

After the allocation list was announced, the crowd gradually dispersed.

The old friends said goodbye to each other, promising to have a few more drinks when they meet again in the future.

Some people had tears in their eyes, some forced smiles, and some patted their chests and said, "What's a centurion? I'll be a general in three years!"

……

Wang Pu, Zhao Pu, and Li Fang were left behind by Suning.

“Wang Pu,” Su Ning said, “you will be the general manager of Chengxin Trading Company.”

Wang Pu did not refuse; he simply nodded. "Young master, what are the rules of the business?"

“Three words,” Su Ning said, “Honesty, Integrity, and Profit.”

Treat others with sincerity, establish yourself in the world with integrity, and nurture others with profit.

"First, we must not sell counterfeit goods or cheat our customers. Second, we must fulfill our promises, even if it's a knife to our throats. Third, every penny of our profits must be accounted for clearly. There must be rules regarding what is distributed to our employees, what is kept for the camp, and what is saved as capital."

Wang Pu listened attentively, memorizing every word.

"I will, young master."

“Zhao Pu.” Su Ning turned to another young man.

Zhao Pu raised his head.

"You won't go to the trading company, nor will you go to the new army."

Zhao Pu was stunned for a moment.

“You’ll come with me,” Su Ning said. “There are some things I can’t tell you right now. But be prepared.”

Zhao Pu didn't press further; he simply clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Yes, young master."

Li Fang stood quietly to the side, knowing that his destination had already been decided...

They will remain by the young master's side, managing documents and handling confidential matters.

Three people, three paths.

Wang Pu traveled south to Yangzhou, Hangzhou, and even further to the Southern Tang, Western Shu, and Jingnan.

Caravans, shops, warehouses, docks—he wanted to weave a vast commercial network for the young master.

Zhao Pu stayed behind, becoming the unassuming but indispensable person by the young master's side.

Li Fang continued to hold his brush, copying down every word the young master had spoken, every person he had met, and every matter he had handled into neat small regular script, and then storing it in the increasingly full wooden box.

The day after the first batch of study companions left, the conscription order for the new army was issued.

……

Outside Kaifeng city, a camp for refugees.

Sun Wu personally oversaw the selection process, choosing physically strong and honest-looking young men from among the tens of thousands of displaced young adults.

"You, step forward."

"You're no good, you're too short."

"Hey, don't look me in the eye, look me in the eye!"

Each time someone was selected, Sun Wu would shout, "Register them! Incorporate them into the 300th household office!"

The selected young man stood to one side, bewildered, as a brand-new set of short browns and a pair of cloth shoes with multi-layered soles were stuffed into his hands.

They still don't know what awaits them.

Practice once a day.

Full-time intensive training.

They will find out soon.

At the same time, Zhao Da led his men into the deep mountains and forests west of Kaifeng.

Hunter.

These people have spent years fighting wild beasts, are familiar with the mountains and forests, are skilled archers, and can endure loneliness.

They were natural-born scouts, sharpshooters, and elite mountain warriors.

Zhao Da dragged his one leg and knocked on doors from house to house.

"Where's your son? Call him out."

"Join the army? No way, we mountain folk are used to being free..."

“My young master’s soldiers receive three meals a day, a monthly salary, and a fifty-tael pension for those who die in battle.”

"...What did you say?"

A month later, the first batch of 1,500 new soldiers assembled in another newly established military camp outside the city.

There are twenty households in each household, and twenty households in each household, all of whom are young people who have just graduated from the study companion camp.

They wore brand-new military officer robes, with wooden tokens hanging from their waists, and stood ramrod straight, trying their best to look like they were real officers.

But facing the sea of ​​new recruits below the stage, many people's legs were trembling.

Zhao Da stood in the instructors' line, looking at this group of centurions who were being forced into this role, and surprisingly, he didn't curse.

He recalled that a year ago, when the young master had just pulled him out of the wounded soldiers' camp, he also felt like a useless person.

Now he understands that it's not the body that's ruined, but the heart.

Sun Wu walked to the center of the earthen platform, his single eye scanning the entire area.

"Listen up, all of you..."

His voice was as loud as ever, loud enough to lift the roof off the house.

"There are no soldiers or civilians here."

"You only have one life."

"Your own lives, and the lives of your comrades on the other side."

"The first lesson for a young master's soldiers is to remember..."

"Life is not meant to be given away. It is meant to be protected."

The audience was silent.

Three thousand new recruits, twenty hundred households, and over a hundred instructors listened as the hoarse roar of the one-eyed old soldier echoed across the winter wilderness.

Inside Kaifeng, the Chengxin Trading Company quietly opened its doors in a three-courtyard house in the south of the city.

There were no firecrackers, no guests, and no plaques.

There was only one young man from Qingzhou, sitting behind a wooden desk piled high with account books, sketching out the trade route layout for the next three years by candlelight.

He is going to Yangzhou.

Yangzhou has salt.

Salt is money.

Money is the young master's three thousand new troops, the future new troops, and the big thing the young master will do ten years from now.

Wang Pu put down his pen and rubbed his temples.

Outside the window, the winter night in Kaifeng was silent.

And his trade route, starting from here, will extend to…

The Khitan's capital, Jinling of the Southern Tang, Chengdu of the Western Shu, Taiyuan of the Northern Han, and Hangzhou of the Wu-Yue region, which is said to be farther and more prosperous than Yangzhou.

He wants to expand the young master's business to these places.

Let the young master's name quietly circulate in these places.

The goal is to ensure that the young master's money takes root firmly in these areas.

Wang Pu picked up his pen again and continued to sketch the paths he had not yet traversed on the paper.

The night was deep outside the window. In the military camp outside the city, three thousand new recruits had just finished their first day of training and were lying on the ground panting heavily. Sun Wu scolded them and sent them to take a shower.

The lights inside and outside the city walls remain separate, separated by the thick walls.

But those lights knew that some changes had already begun.

……

The first grand court assembly after the start of spring in the second year of Guangshun of the Great Zhou Dynasty (952 AD).

The Chongyuan Hall in the Imperial City of Bianliang.

The civil and military officials were divided into two ranks. The civil officials were led by Feng Dao, the Prince of Dongping and the Grand Secretary, while the military officials were led by Wang Jun, the Privy Councilor and the Chancellor.

The palace was brightly lit by candles, and precious sandalwood burned in the incense burner, its smoke rising and enveloping the majestic emperor on his throne.

Guo Wei had only been sitting in this chair for a short time.

However, he had grown accustomed to the shouts of "Long live the Emperor!" from the officials during their court audience, to the stacks of "Your Majesty, I respectfully submit this memorial" on the memorials, and to being addressed as "Your Majesty" rather than "Commander-in-Chief".

But Guo Wei would still occasionally raise his hand unconsciously, wanting to touch the flying sparrow tattoo on his neck...

That was a mark he left before he became emperor.

Today is the grand court assembly, but the agenda is short, and the assembly is about to end.

Suddenly, a man stepped forward from the front of the martial arts troupe; it was none other than Wang Jun, the Privy Councilor.

"Your subject has a memorial to present!"

Guo Wei's eyelids twitched slightly.

Wang Jun was his most trusted confidant when he raised his army. He was brave and skilled in battle, but also arrogant and domineering. Since he became emperor, Wang Jun has repeatedly made outrageous remarks in court and disregarded the civil officials.

But today, Wang Jun's expression was unusually solemn.

"Your Majesty has been on the throne for over a year, the realm is now at peace, and the people are united in heart. However, without an heir apparent, the foundation of the nation remains weak. I humbly believe this is of utmost urgency," Wang Jun said in a booming voice. "Prince Guo Xin is Your Majesty's own flesh and blood, naturally intelligent and virtuous, and has remained steadfast in his resolve despite numerous hardships. He is truly the chosen one. I implore Your Majesty to establish Prince Guo Xin as Crown Prince as soon as possible, to reassure the hearts of all subjects!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the hall fell silent.

Immediately, someone from the literary class stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, I have a dissent."

Everyone looked over and saw Wei Renpu, the Academician of the Duanming Hall and Vice Minister of the Ministry of War.

“Your Highness’s son, Prince Xin, is only fifteen years old. He has never fought in battle or managed state affairs. Suddenly establishing him as the crown prince may not be enough to win over the people.” Wei Renpu said neither humbly nor arrogantly. “Your adopted son, Guo Rong, whose original name is Chai Rong, has served Your Majesty since Your Majesty’s time in the palace. He has fought in various campaigns and has achieved great military exploits. Moreover, he is older and more experienced, and is respected by the court and the people. I believe that the succession should be based on merit and ability, not just bloodline.”

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the hall suddenly became tense.

Wang Jun turned his head sharply, his gaze like a knife. "Wei Renpu! What do you mean? Prince Xin is His Majesty's own flesh and blood, a member of the imperial family. How dare you belittle him with the word 'bloodline'?"

Wei Renpu remained unmoved. “Privy Councilor Wang is exaggerating. I am merely stating the facts: Guo Rong is thirty-two years old and has commanded troops for over ten years, garrisoning Chanzhou and defending Yedu. The Liao people tremble at the mere mention of his name. Prince Xin is fifteen years old and, although he is known for his studiousness, he has yet to experience any major events. The crown prince is the foundation of the nation; how can he be treated so lightly?”

"Not a big deal?" Wang Jun sneered. "Prince Xin suffered the calamity of his entire family being wiped out, hid in a well, and begged for survival in the chaos of the world. Isn't that a big deal? He took Prime Minister Feng as his teacher, recruited poor scholars from all over the country as his study companions, and raised three thousand new soldiers in a year. Isn't that a big deal?"

Wei Renpu said calmly, "Recruiting companions and running businesses are certainly areas where a prince is clever. However, what a crown prince needs cannot be summed up in just the word 'clever'."

"you……"

"enough."

A deep voice came from the throne.

Guo Wei did not get angry; he simply looked calmly at the two important officials below him.

"The matter of establishing an heir is of utmost importance; how can it be argued and behaved improperly in the court?" He paused. "Wang Jun and Wei Renpu, each of you shall return to your original positions."

Wang Jun swallowed the words that were about to come out, bowed heavily, and retreated back to the martial arts class.

Wei Renpu also bowed and returned to the literary class.

But the undercurrent in the air did not subside.

After a brief silence, more people stepped forward.

He was Li Gu, a Hanlin Academician and Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.

"Your Majesty, I have something to say, but I don't know if I should say it."

"speak."

"Both Prince Xin and Guo Rong are Your Majesty's sons. Although they are sons of the legitimate and illegitimate line, their affection for each other is the same." Li Gu's voice was calm. "However, the establishment of an heir is not just a matter for one family, but a matter for the whole country. Your Majesty raised an army to enter Bianjing and pacified the Central Plains, which relied on the strength of the generals. The hearts of the generals must also be carefully considered."

He didn't say it explicitly, but everyone understood.

Guo Wei's group of arrogant and fierce generals, including Wang Jun, Wang Yin, and Li Chongjin...

They fought alongside Guo Rong for many years, shedding blood on the battlefield, sharing life and death.

They trusted Guo Rong and were willing to obey his orders.

And Prince Xin? He crawled out of a well at the age of fourteen, and at fifteen he was still running exercises with scholars in the military camp outside the city.

When the generals see him, they will remember Guo Tong, who died tragically, and Madam Zhang, who hid him in a well on the night of the massacre of his family.

They pity him and respect him, but they don't necessarily submit to him.

this is the truth.

Wang Jun's insistence on establishing Su Ning as heir apparent was less about genuinely supporting the young prince and more about vying with the civil official group for control over the succession.

Su Ning is young and has a weak foundation. If he becomes the crown prince, he will inevitably rely on "meritorious officials who supported his ascension" like Wang Jun.

Guo Rong is older and more experienced, and his prestige is already established. If he were to become the heir apparent, the civil officials would naturally be happy to see it happen, but the military generals would have to worry about their own positions.

The struggle for the crown prince position has never been just a struggle between brothers.

Guo Wei sat on the throne, his gaze sweeping over the faces of Wang Jun, Wei Renpu, and Li Gu, before settling on Feng Dao, who remained silent.

"Prime Minister Feng, what do you think?"

Feng Dao slowly raised his head.

His hair and beard were all white, and his face was thin and refined. Standing at the head of the civil officials, he was like an old pine tree that had weathered the storms of four dynasties without falling.

"Your Majesty's inquiry is my duty, and I dare not remain silent." Feng Dao's voice was calm. "Both Prince Xin and Guo Rong are excellent sons. I have assisted Prince Xin in his studies for many years and know that he is intelligent and kind. If he is properly nurtured, he will surely become a great man. Guo Rong has followed Your Majesty in battle for many years and is proficient in both literature and martial arts. This is known to the court and the public, and he is also a suitable candidate for the crown prince."

He paused. “However, the selection of an heir is not a matter of a day or two, but a matter of a thousand years. Your Majesty is in the prime of life, why rush it now? Why not let the two princes each display their talents, and let time reveal their merits and demerits? At that time, Your Majesty will make the decision with your own heart, and the ministers will naturally admire you.”

These words were perfectly watertight.

They offended no one, supported no one, and gently pushed the problem into the future.

Guo Wei remained silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.

"What Prime Minister Feng said makes sense. The matter of establishing an heir can be discussed later."

He stood up.

"Retreat."

All the officials knelt to see him off.

Wang Jun raised his head, looking at the empty back on the throne, a trace of resentment flashing in his eyes.

He launched a sudden attack during the grand court assembly today, intending to catch the civil officials off guard and force Guo Wei to make a statement on the spot.

Unexpectedly, Wei Renpu reacted so quickly, and Li Gu brought up the phrase "the hearts of the generals," effectively blocking his attack.

That old fox Feng Dao skillfully deflected the issue, turning the establishment of an heir into a matter for "further discussion."

Further discussion? Until when?
Wang Jun strode out of Chongyuan Hall with a gloomy face.

Behind him, several military officers exchanged meaningful glances and quickly followed.

The civil officials, on the other hand, walked out of the hall in twos and threes.

Wei Renpu and Li Gu walked side by side, neither of them speaking.

Some things don't need to be said.

This confrontation in the imperial court, which seemed to end with "to be discussed later," was in fact just the beginning.

Prince Xin, fifteen years old, is taught by Feng Dao in literature and has three thousand new soldiers as his military advisor.

Guo Rong, 32 years old, had made outstanding military achievements and was deeply loved by the army. He had many fierce generals under his command.

One was a direct descendant, the emperor's only biological child.

One was an adopted son, yet he was also the emperor's heir, whom he had personally groomed and treated as his own.

Guo Wei sat in the imperial study, gazing at the approaching dusk outside the window, remaining silent for a long time.

He suddenly remembered a year ago, when the ragged, emaciated boy hugged Chai Rong and cried so hard he couldn't breathe, calling him "Big Brother" over and over again.

At that time, Xin'er truly regarded Chai Rong as his elder brother, and Chai Rong truly regarded him as his younger brother.

How could it have turned out like this in just over a year?
Guo Wei closed his eyes.

He thought of his deceased wife, Zhang, and the woman who hid his young son in a well on the night his family was wiped out.

She risked her life to protect the only bloodline of the Guo family, not to drag this child into the vortex of the succession struggle.

But he was the emperor.

As the emperor, he couldn't escape these things.

……

In the distance, lights were just coming on in the military camp outside the city.

Su Ning was squatting on the ground, reading a secret report that had just been delivered with Zhao Pu.

He already knew what was happening in the imperial court.

“Young Master,” Zhao Pu said in a low voice, “Wang Jun proposed in court today that you be made Crown Prince.”

"Ah."

"Wei Renpu turned him down. In the end, Prime Minister Feng said that we would discuss it later."

"Ah."

Looking at his calm profile, Zhao Pu couldn't help but ask, "Isn't the young master worried?"

Suning did not answer immediately.

He folded the secret report, put it in his sleeve, stood up, and looked at the new soldiers still training at night on the parade ground in the distance.

“My elder brother is seventeen years older than me,” he said. “He has been fighting alongside our father since he was a teenager, guarding Chanzhou and Yedu. He has no fewer than ten wounds from swords and arrows. I have seen him without his armor, and there is an old scar on his back that runs from his shoulder to his waist. It was left by the Khitans.”

Zhao Pu remained silent.

“His father was his uncle-in-law and also his adoptive father.” Su Ning’s voice was very soft. “He originally thought that he would be his father’s heir.”

"Now there's one more me."

“He never said anything. He taught me what he was supposed to teach and protected me as he was supposed to protect me. Last year, when I was camping outside the city, someone secretly tried to trip me up. He sent his personal guards to suppress it overnight. That person was later transferred to the border. I never asked who it was.”

Zhao Pu raised his head.

"Son..."

“I know what the people below are thinking,” Su Ning said. “Wang Jun wants to make me his heir, to use me as a pawn to suppress the civil officials and his elder brother. The civil officials don’t want to make me their heir because they are afraid that I am too young and will be coerced by the military generals, and that I will become too powerful to control in the future.”

"Nobody really cares whether I'm a good person or a bad person."

He paused.

"Except for my eldest brother."

The night wind swept through the military camp, bringing the chill of early spring.

Suning remained silent, as did Zhao Pu.

In the distance, Sun Wu's cursing could be faintly heard as the new recruits continued their drills.

“Whether the Crown Prince is the right one or not is not something I should be thinking about,” Su Ning finally spoke. “What I should be thinking about is whether these 10,000 new soldiers can go to the battlefield in three years, whether the business of Chengxin Trading Company can expand to Jiangnan, and whether the seeds I have sown can grow into big trees.”

"As for that chair..."

He didn't continue.

Looking at the young master's silent profile, Zhao Pu suddenly understood.

It's not that the young master doesn't want to compete.

He just felt that there were more important things to do right now.

Let the big shots fight over the succession.

He also needed to train troops, open trade routes, and rescue more people one by one from refugee camps, from piles of wounded soldiers, and from days of hardship and despair.

As for that chair, whoever it belongs to, will find out in time.

Zhao Pu withdrew his gaze and unfolded the thick stack of secret reports in front of him again.

"Young master, news has come from Taiyuan. Liu Chong of the Northern Han has built three more military camps outside Bingzhou City, it seems he intends to march south and attack Luzhou."

"Have honest merchants keep an eye on grain prices in Taiyuan. Once war breaks out, grain prices will definitely rise. We can stockpile a batch before the war and sell it to the people of Taiyuan after the war."

"...Sell them to the people of Northern Han?"

“The people are all from the Central Plains, regardless of whether they are from the Northern Han or the Later Zhou dynasties,” Su Ning said. “If we can prevent one person from starving to death, then we can prevent one person from starving to death.”

Zhao Pu remained silent for a moment, then bowed his head and replied, "Yes."

The candlelight flickered, illuminating the young master's calm face.

The power struggles for the throne in the imperial court were both very close to him and very far away.

He knew that one day he wouldn't be able to escape it.

But at least tonight, I can still do something I urgently want to do.

……

That autumn, the weather in Bianliang was exceptionally pleasant.

The grand court assembly had concluded, and the officials were about to disperse when a palace attendant suddenly announced in a loud voice:
"His Majesty has decreed—all officials remain to receive further instructions!"

Inside the Chongyuan Hall, the civil and military officials who were about to move all stopped in their tracks.

Countless gazes were cast toward the majestic figure on the throne, then quickly lowered.

Guo Wei sat upright behind the imperial desk, his expression calm.

The eunuch beside him held a roll of bright yellow silk and slowly unfurled it.

"Disciples: Heaven and Earth are in their proper places, the sun and moon shine brightly. A ruler follows the way of Heaven and must establish an heir..."

This is the format of an imperial edict for establishing an heir apparent!
Wang Jun suddenly raised his head, his eyes flashing with a sharp light.

Wei Renpu's fingers, which were stroking his beard, stopped in mid-air.

Feng Dao kept his eyes lowered, like an old monk in deep meditation.

The eunuch's voice echoed steadily in the empty hall:

"Prince Guo Rong is exceptionally talented and resolute, possessing both loyalty and filial piety. He has long served in military campaigns and has distinguished himself with outstanding achievements. When he was still a prince, he was truly a trusted advisor; now that he is in the palace, his diligence and dedication have only increased. Therefore, he is hereby appointed to the position of Imperial Son-in-Law..."

Wang Jun's expression changed.

He realized that this was not about establishing a crown prince, but about bestowing a title upon a king.

"...may be specially granted the title of Prince of Jin."

The Prince of Jin.

Wang Jun's tense face relaxed slightly, then tightened even more immediately.

Chai Rong was granted the title of Prince of Jin, a title of the highest rank and honor, but he was not the crown prince.

But the title "Prince of Jin" carries immense weight...

That was the title that the crown prince had always received since the founding of the nation.

The hall was completely silent.

The eunuch continued preaching without pausing:
"Prince Guo Xin is of exceptional talent and profound wisdom. Though still young, he possesses a refined and tranquil spirit; he is diligent in his studies and does not strive for extravagance. Therefore, he is granted land and enfeoffed to establish a society in Kaifeng..."

Wang Jun's breathing became rapid.

"...He may be specially granted the title of King of Qin."

King of Qin.

Among the civil servants, someone gasped softly.

The title of prince was most prestigious in Qin and Jin.

Jin and Qin stood side by side.

After the eunuch finished reading the last sentence, he respectfully closed the edict and stepped aside.

Guo Wei's voice came from the throne, not loud, but heavy and pressing down on every corner of the hall:
"The Prince of Jin and the Prince of Qin are both my sons. From this day forward, each of you shall do your utmost to assist the royal family."

He paused.

"After the announcement, retreat from the court."

Guo Wei rose, flicked his sleeves, and went into the inner hall.

The officials knelt to see him off, shouting "Long live the Emperor!"

The stone bricks of Chongyuan Hall were icy cold. Wang Jun knelt there, head bowed, lost in thought.

Beside him, Wang Yin's profile revealed no expression.

Only Wei Renpu exchanged a very faint glance with Li Gu as he stood up.

The Prince of Jin.

King of Qin.

Two kings coexisted, without distinction of seniority or whether the throne was established by a legitimate heir or a concubine.

This is the best arrangement Guo Wei can make for his two sons, and also the most difficult one.

When the news reached the Prince of Jin's residence, Guo Rong was supervising the training of his personal guards at the drill ground.

After listening to the eunuch read the imperial edict, he remained silent for a moment, then bowed to the south to express his gratitude.

As he rose, the lieutenant cautiously asked, "Your Highness, is a celebratory banquet being held at the residence...?"

"No need," Guo Rong said. "It will proceed as usual."

He mounted his horse and continued to supervise the training, as if the imperial edict he had just received was nothing more than an ordinary official document.

That evening, the lights in the study of the Prince of Jin's residence remained on until late into the night.

When the news reached the reading camp outside the city, Su Ning was squatting on the floor of the accounting room, checking the monthly cash flow records of each branch of the Chengxin Trading Company with Wang Pu.

The eunuch who announced the imperial edict was an old eunuch named He, who had known Su Ning since they were in Guo Wei's residence.

After he finished reading the imperial edict, he looked at the young prince, dressed in a short brown robe and with ink stains all over his hands, and his eyes became a little moist.

"Your Highness, why don't you accept the imperial decree and express your gratitude?"

Su Ning stood up, accepted the imperial edict with both hands, and bowed deeply towards the direction of the Bianliang Imperial City.

The eunuch helped him up and whispered, "Your Highness, His Majesty said... if you wish, you can move back to the capital."

Suning shook his head.

"It's nice outside the city. Quiet."

He, the eunuch, did not try to persuade him further.

He knew that this prince never needed anyone to make decisions for him.

After Eunuch He left, Wang Pu looked at the pile of account books spread out on the ground, and then at the roll of bright yellow silk in Su Ning's hand.

"Your Highness, are today's accounts correct?"

“Yes.” Su Ning rolled up the imperial edict and put it back in the wooden box. “What’s wrong with it?”

He squatted down again and picked up the calligraphy brush.

"Recite the silk purchase price of the Yangzhou branch last month."

Wang Pu looked down at the accounts.

As night fell, the candlelight in the accounting room flickered, casting two silhouettes of people bent over their desks.

On the distant playground, Sun Wu's cursing still resonated with great force.

Business as usual.

Two days later, the King of Jin and the King of Qin jointly submitted a letter to express their gratitude for the bestowal of titles.

The King of Jin's letter of thanks was elegant in its wording. He expressed his own lack of talent and virtue, feeling unworthy of the title, and vowed to do his utmost to serve his sovereign and father in the future.

The King of Qin's letter of thanks... had only one meaning:
Your subject is young and ignorant, and only wishes to study with Prime Minister Feng and practice martial arts with instructors Sun and Zhao. I dare not presume to be a prince.

Two thank-you notes, two completely different attitudes.

The two memorials were placed side by side on the imperial desk, and Guo Wei studied them for a long time.

Suddenly, I remembered many years ago when I was a down-on-his-luck man who had joined the army everywhere, and I had a flying sparrow tattooed on my neck.

At that time, he never dreamed that one day he would sit on the dragon throne and bestow upon his two sons the two most prestigious royal titles in the world.

Guo Wei never expected that his son, who had escaped death, would become so silent and so lucid.

Do not contend.

Don't steal.

Just do what you're supposed to do.

Like a tree that silently takes root, it doesn't ask about wind or rain, sunshine or gloom.

Guo Wei suddenly felt a pang of heartache.

But he knew it was the child's own choice.

He could only grant his wish.

The King of Jin and the King of Qin.

Two titles, two sons, two different paths.

As for where these two paths will meet in the future...

Guo Wei didn't know, and no one else could know.

When the news reached Taiyuan, Liu Chong had already been ill for a long time.

He lay on his couch, listening to the messenger read out the official report sent back from Bianliang, when he suddenly began to cough violently.

"Two kings standing side by side..." Liu Chong hissed, "Guo Que'er...you really are...quite cunning..."

After coughing, Liu Chong leaned back on the pillow, his cloudy eyes gazing at the gray sky of the northern land outside the window, remaining silent for a long time.

He thought of his son who had been poisoned in Songzhou.

I recalled the look in the eyes of the judge named Li Xiang when I personally pushed him out of the gate to be beheaded.

Liu Chong said nothing, because he could only bear the regret in silence.

The sky outside the window is getting grayer and grayer.

The ninth day of the ninth lunar month is the Double Ninth Festival.

As usual, the study companion camp outside the city took a day off, and the students went to climb the Bian River in twos and threes.

Suning did not go.

He sat alone in the accounting office, looking through the secret reports sent back from various places by Minglitang.

In the Southern Tang Dynasty, Wang Pu's business had already signed long-term supply contracts with several major silk merchants in Jiangning Prefecture.

In Chengdu, Sichuan, the first branch of Chengxin Trading Company had just opened. The people of Sichuan had never seen such exquisite fabric before, and a long queue formed in front of the store.

When the Khitans arrived in the capital, the companion who went by the alias "Liu Qi" had successfully infiltrated a fur trading company near the capital that specialized in supplying Khitan nobles, and was able to send back one or two secret letters every month.

In Taiyuan, Northern Han, the people of Minglitang remained in hiding, not daring to make any moves.

Everything is proceeding according to plan.

Su Ning closed the secret report and looked out the window.

The autumn sun shines brightly, and the breeze is gentle.

He suddenly remembered the day his father conferred the title of Prince of Qin, when the eunuch He asked him if he wanted to move back to the capital.

It's nice outside the city.

Quiet.

He didn't need to go to the palace to pay his respects every day, didn't need to participate in those tedious court ceremonies, and wasn't forced to play the role of a "wise king" in front of his ministers.

He could continue to cultivate talents who were loyal to him, and continue to squeeze together with his companions in short tuxedos to drink hot porridge.

However, next to his name on the roster, there was an extra line of small print:
King Xin of Qin.

...(End of this chapter)