Top Scholar

Chapter 624 Cutting Off the Fire at the Bottom of the Blade
Wang Shouren acted as if he was tired of living, but in reality, he had calculated that Yang Bin wouldn't dare kill him. Killing a mere postmaster would not only be useless, but would also anger the people, gentry, local chieftains, and even various ethnic groups in Guizhou and southern Sichuan, which was simply not worth it.

As expected, Yang Bin, despite his anger, didn't intend to kill him. He simply snorted and said:

"I won't fall for your provocation! You want to die for righteousness? I'll do the opposite, and that will free you. I'll keep you here and watch me succeed!"

Wang Shouren sighed with disappointment, "Let's wait and see."

Seeing this, Yang Bin suppressed his anger, suddenly burst into laughter, and then turned to instruct, "Take good care of the gentleman, and do not neglect him in the slightest!"

The so-called "settlement" was actually house arrest... but Wang Shouren remained calm and accepted it with equanimity.

After Wang Shouren was taken away, Yang Zhang said angrily, "Father, you were too lenient with him. What's the point of keeping such an arrogant and rude fellow alive? We should just kill him! Throw his head off Hailongtun and vent this anger!"

“Don’t talk nonsense. Wang Shouren is a famous scholar. Killing him is tantamount to cutting ourselves off from the gentry and the common people. Even if we can’t use him, we should still treat him well.” Yang Bin said in a deep voice.

"Why are you so cheap?" Yang Zhang couldn't understand.

"What do you know? We've got him in our hands anyway. We can just declare that he's already working for us, and the effect will be the same." Yang Bin sneered, "Given time, he'll have no other choice but to rely on me!"

Yang Zhang suddenly realized and quickly boasted, "Old man, your brain works really well!"

"Learn from them!" Yang Bin said with exasperation, "None of them are any good."

~~
As night fell, Hailongtun was heavily guarded, and the town was pitch black except for a few scattered lights.

Under the cover of night, Yang Xiang quietly slipped into the courtyard where Wang Shouren was being held under house arrest.

Upon recognizing the eldest son, the guards at the gate did not stop him... The higher-ups only forbade the man surnamed Wang from leaving the courtyard, but did not say that anyone was not allowed to go in to see him.

"Master, your disciple has arrived." Yang Xiang pushed open the door and entered the room, where he saw Wang Shouren sitting cross-legged on the couch, exuding the air of a sage.

Wang Shouren had actually been lying on his side, but he assumed this posture after hearing him enter. Hearing this, he slowly opened his eyes and solemnly said, "Your father is already standing on the edge of a cliff. Once he's determined to become a traitor, your Yang family's six-hundred-year-old legacy will surely be destroyed!"

Yang Xiang nodded anxiously and sighed in a low voice, "What you say is absolutely right, sir. I have also tried to persuade my father, but he simply won't listen. In the end, it's all because of my younger brother, Yang Zhang, who keeps urging my father on, saying that he can achieve great things by raising an army in the chaos. That's how he gradually stirred up my father's ambition!"

Seeing his anxious expression, Wang Shouren patiently persuaded him, "Your Yang family has received great favors from the imperial court and should be loyal to it. Your father was confused for a moment, but fortunately, you, as his son, have remained clear-headed. Why don't you come with me to Chengdu to assist the court in suppressing the rebellion and establish your own merit?"

Along the way, he had been feeding Yang Xiang the idea that "Chong'er was born abroad, while Shen Sheng died at home." Young Master Yang had long been pondering how to "be born abroad," and now, after hearing Wang Shouren's words, he suddenly understood…

However, he wasn't stupid. He frowned and asked, "Sir, what if my father rebels? Wouldn't I be walking into a trap?"

“If you don’t leave, your father might indeed rebel, but once you leave, he’ll definitely give up.” Wang Shouren pressed his shoulder as he stood up, his tone certain:

"Because if he rebels, the court can immediately appoint you as the new Pacification Commissioner of Bozhou. The seven chieftains and your Yang family's forces that don't want to rebel will naturally pledge allegiance to you. At that time, he won't know who to trust, and who to let lead the army. Rebellion? That would be more like committing a sin!"

"Mmm." Yang Xiang was already captivated by Wang Shouren's charm and regarded his words as gospel.

Wang Shouren then put his arm around his shoulder and pressed his advantage, saying:

"So as long as you come with me, your father won't be able to rebel. As long as you can achieve military merit, the court will definitely let you return to serve as the Pacification Commissioner of Bozhou and remove your restless father."

"By then, you will be a general who has rendered great service to the court, rightfully and legitimately holding a position of unparalleled prestige! No one can take your place, not even your father and brother!" Wang Shouren laughed.

"This is the true meaning of 'Chong'er was born abroad'!"

Upon hearing this, Yang Xiang's expression flickered with excitement, but it quickly dimmed again, and he said with a bitter tone:

“Sir, your idea is excellent, but my father is extremely wary of me. The defense of Hailong City has been handed over to Yang Zhang. Even if I really want to go to Chengdu with you, sir, we can’t leave. That good younger brother won’t let us go!”

Wang Shouren smiled calmly and said, "That's easy. Go tell your brother now that you've thought it through, you don't want to fight him anymore, and you want to go out and try your luck with me. He will definitely let you leave."

"That's so simple?" Yang Xiang was dumbfounded.

Seeing Yang Xiang's puzzled expression, Wang Shouren smiled and explained, "Think about it, Yang and Zhang have been sowing discord between you and your father, and they've also been instigating your father to rebel. Isn't it all in order to replace you and become his successor?"

"Now that you've taken the initiative to leave Bozhou and are no longer an obstacle for him, he'd be more than happy to do so. Why would he stop you? He'd love to send you out of the country so he can inherit everything from your father in peace! Why would he do anything unnecessary?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Xiang's eyes rekindled with hope. After a moment's thought, he finally made up his mind, bowed deeply to Wang Shouren, and said, "Thank you for your guidance, sir. I will go and do it right away!" With that, he turned and left in haste, going to find Yang Zhang that very night to express his intentions.

Watching Yang Xiang's departing figure, An Wanzhong asked in confusion, "Sir, doesn't Yang Zhang worry about what will happen if Yang Xiang becomes a meritorious official of the court and returns home in glory?"

"People only want to think the best of things. The more a spoiled rich kid has never experienced setbacks since childhood, the more he thinks the world revolves around him." Wang Shouren said with a self-deprecating smile, "We should all feel the same way about this."

“Yes, that’s right.” An Wanzhong nodded. “What you said is exactly like me.”

"So the eldest brother believes things will develop in his favor. The second brother believes things will develop in his favor. The difference in their expectations is our guarantee of escape," Wang Shouren said with a smile.

"I see..." An Wanzhong nodded with some doubt.

~~
As expected, when Yang Zhang heard that Prime Minister Yang was going to take Mr. Yangming away from Bozhou, he was overjoyed. Not only did he not stop him in the slightest, he also actively provided all kinds of conveniences to help him leave the city overnight, fearing that things might change if he delayed...

Seeing that things had turned out exactly as Master Yangming had predicted, Yang Xiang was now completely convinced. Without further hesitation, he quietly took a few of his trusted men and escorted Wang Shouren away from Hailongtun under the cover of night.

The next morning, after Yang Bin got up, he learned that Yang Xiang had actually fled with a letter left by Wang Shouren. Looking at his eldest son's handwritten letter, he saw that he was leading his troops to Chengdu to assist the court in suppressing the rebellion, and that he had also said something else—

'My Yang family has received imperial favor for generations; someone must remain loyal to the court. If Father is unwilling to serve the country, then I will! I will certainly serve the nation and live up to the generations of loyalty of the Yang family!'

Yang Bin flew into a rage and immediately ordered Yang Zhang to be brought in for questioning. "Did you let them go?"

"Yes, Father," Yang Zhang said confidently. "Last night, my elder brother came to me, crying and begging me to release Mr. Yangming. We are brothers, and I really couldn't refuse!"

"How come I didn't know you had any brotherly feelings?" Yang Bin was so angry that his nose was crooked. He kicked Yang Zhang twice and cursed, "You stupid pig, you were sold out and you're still helping to count the money. With Prime Minister Yang gone, not only will you not be able to become the Pacification Commissioner, but even your father won't be able to become one!"

"Oh no?!" Yang Zhang was dumbfounded.

"Why not?!" Yang Bin said, wishing he could beat this idiot to death. "I never intended to really rebel. I just wanted to take the opportunity to ask the court for Yongning. Now that Prime Minister Yang is gone, I'm like mud falling into my crotch. Even if I'm not shit, I'm still shit! Once the court recovers, they will definitely let him replace me."

"Father, when did the succession of our Yang family patriarch come under the control of the imperial court?" Yang Zhang expressed his incomprehension.

"How could I have given birth to such a stupid thing as you, even more stupid than the chieftain?" Yang Bin didn't even have the thought of hitting him anymore, and slumped down weakly, saying, "Even if I let you be the head of this family, without the imperial court's appointment, why should the seven chieftains be under your control? Can you even sit still?"

"Then let's rebel, Father!" Yang Zhang exclaimed anxiously upon hearing this.

"Rebel my ass!" Yang Bin cursed, looking utterly dejected. "Even your older brother has been turned against us, what's the point of me rebelling?"

"It's alright, they haven't left Bozhou yet, I'll catch up with them!" Yang Zhang jumped up and ran out, gathering his troops to chase after his elder brother.

But it was too late. Yang Xiang had already led Wang Shouren back to his territory and ordered the garrison commander to close the gates of Tongzhu Pass.

He then instructed the guard: "Do not open the gate for anyone who calls. We'll talk about it after we leave the country tomorrow!"

Although the Yang family were descendants of the Central Plains, they had long been assimilated by the Tusi (local chieftain). Everyone was only responsible to their leader, and the garrison commander was his brother-in-law, so he agreed without hesitation.

Subsequently, Yang Xiang selected two thousand local soldiers and followed Wang Shouren towards Guzi.

No sooner had Prime Minister Yang set off than Yang Zhang led his army in pursuit, only to be firmly blocked at Tongzhu Pass.

The formidable pass built by the Yang family over generations has now become an insurmountable obstacle for the Second Young Master Yang. No matter how much he shouts and threatens, the guard refuses to open the city gate.

By the time Yang and Zhang finally passed the checkpoint the next day, Wang Shouren had already safely crossed the Chishui River and returned to Zhuangyuan Town under the escort of Yang Xiang and An Wanzhong.

In Zhuangyuan Town, Commander Ma and Su Youcai were both eagerly waiting. When they saw Mr. Yangming crossing the river under the escort of two thousand Bozhou soldiers, the weight in their hearts was finally lifted.

"Sir, you persuaded Yang Bin?" The two hurriedly stepped forward to greet him.

Wang Shouren glanced at the anxious-looking Prime Minister Yang, then turned back to the two of them and smiled, "Yes, don't worry, Magistrate Yang will behave himself. Isn't it because his eldest son has brought troops to help with the suppression?"

"Oh my, that's wonderful! You are truly a genius!" The two men were filled with admiration. In their eyes, the chieftain, who had always been arrogant and unreasonable, had become as docile as a kitten in the hands of Yangming.

"Let's go, Brother Yunwen. We should head to Chengdu." Without any delay, Wang Shouren immediately led his army by boat, sailing downstream to the next battlefield.

(End of this chapter)