knife

Chapter 525 Struggle
The entire inn was emptied, but it still couldn't accommodate Nawei and his entourage.

So, military tents were erected around the post station.

No matter which high-ranking official from the Great Chu Kingdom came to the capital, it was impossible for him to bring a fully armed guard of thousands of men like Wei did, not to mention the eight elephants that attracted countless eyes.

But when Na Wei did this, everyone felt it was only natural.

It wouldn't be unreasonable to call this person the King of the Southwest.

For hundreds of years, the Great Chu had maintained a policy of appeasement towards the southwest, and the relationship between the two sides was one of fighting and making peace.

The pressure from Qin on Chu was immense, so Chu's policy toward the southwest was lenient; as long as there was no rebellion, anything was permissible. Once the pressure from Qin subsided, Chu immediately tightened its control over the southwest. Generation after generation of rulers sought to abolish the native chieftain system in the southwest and bring it completely under their control.

The power struggle between the two sides has been ongoing.

However, in the past decade, the southwest region has felt increasing pressure.

The decline of the Qin state in the north led the Chu state to focus more of its energy on the southwest.

The Battle of Xiangcheng five years ago was Qin's last effort. At that time, the southwest was also engulfed in one uprising after another, with both sides wanting to plunge Chu into the abyss in one fell swoop.

Unfortunately, Jiang Qian's sudden emergence shattered the efforts of the Qin court and Na Wei.

The State of Chu rose from the ashes like a phoenix, reborn from the ashes.

On the contrary, the Qin state fell into decline and was engulfed in war.

After recovering from the crisis, the State of Chu began to amass a large army in the southwest. Seeing that the situation was not good, Na Wei immediately launched a heavy attack, captured the tribes that had started the rebellion, cut off the leader's head and sent it to Danyang, thus easing the crisis.

Although even if the State of Chu were to send troops to punish them, it wouldn't necessarily guarantee victory, the arrival of a large army would certainly set back the economy and livelihood of the southwest by several decades.

Na Wei refused.

In fact, Jiang Qian was also unwilling.

Jiang Qian wanted a southwest that could help her when she launched her northern expedition, not a scorched earth, a ravaged land, and a southwest where wild animals outnumbered people—that would be meaningless.

Both sides reached an understanding.

In the following years, Jiang Qian completely stabilized the political situation. Although the vast Chu Kingdom still had problems here and there, relatively speaking, the Chu Kingdom in these years had become the most powerful Chu Kingdom in recent decades.

This put immense pressure on the southwest region, making it difficult for them to breathe.

Na Wei knew very well that the Chu state's desire to completely dominate the southwest had never ceased.

This time, however, they've changed their methods. Compared to before, their current methods are undoubtedly more cunning and ruthless.

In recent years, Tianluo has become increasingly unscrupulous in the Southwest, and the number of people in the Southwest who want to replace him is also increasing. Tianluo's policy of division is bearing fruitful results.

Standing by the window, looking at the dazzling lights on the Danyang city wall not far away, Na Wei sighed silently.

Compared to the southwest, Danyang is undoubtedly a paradise.

The prosperity and wealth here are unimaginable to people in the southwest. Even Xiangjun, the most prosperous county in the southwest, is far inferior to Danyang, let alone a county under Danyang.

Humans all yearn for and pursue a better life.

In recent years, the Chu court, having changed its methods, has been eroding the southwestern tribes both economically and ideologically.

Large quantities of unbelievably cheap goods are flowing into the southwest through various means. The checkpoints and markets that the tribes themselves have set up are losing control over the prices of goods. These cheap goods are gradually destroying the basic economy of the southwest, making the tribes poorer and more dependent on external imports.

In recent years, many of those who had left the southwest have begun to return in large numbers. Among them are hostages sent to Danyang by tribal leaders. Now, these people have been released by the Chu court and not only released, but also given large sums of money and official positions. These people have become a destabilizing factor for the tribes.

Many more are people who left the southwest and are now returning. A large portion of these people are local merchants who traded with the State of Chu. They went out, saw the world, and then brought their children with them to study, do business, and even become officials. Now they are returning to the southwest in batches.

Whether they were hostages, businessmen, or educated people from the southwest, they were familiar with the southwest. In their words, they were going back to build their hometown and help their fellow villagers. But Na Wei knew that they were sent back by the Chu court to overthrow tribal rule.

The concept of "replacing native chieftains with centrally appointed officials" was something that ordinary people didn't understand, but Na Wei knew it perfectly well.

If Jiang Qian really succeeds, will I still be able to maintain this level of power when I come to the capital next time?

When that time comes, I'm afraid I'll have to travel light, riding a horse and at most a few guards, and honestly go to the capital to pay my respects to the emperor and empress dowager!

Jiang Qian is currently racking her brains to deal with me, and can only try to win me over and show me favor. But when the time comes, a prison guard will be enough to deal with me.

How could Na Wei allow himself to fall into such a predicament?
Therefore, this time, I came out not only out of necessity, but also to change the current passive situation.

Since retreating is no longer an option to maintain the status quo, the only option is to take the initiative and see if an opportunity can be seized.

There should be an opportunity!
The current Empress Dowager Jiang Qian of the Great Chu is too powerful. She has taken control of the government and excluded veteran officials such as Xiong Yi and Xiang Ying. Two years ago, she even killed the current emperor's biological father.

The Empress Dowager, now retired, appears imposing and arrogant, with no one daring to disobey her in the slightest. However, such oppressive rule also harbors enormous risks.

The rebels never gave up.

Na Wei remembered the person he had met before setting off.

It was precisely because of this person's appearance that Na Wei made up his mind to take this trip.

It cannot be ruled out that this person was also part of a scheme set up by Jiang Qian, but Na Wei still wanted to take the risk.

If this succeeds, even if the Southwest still cannot reverse the general trend and has to revert to centralized administration, at least I can preserve the wealth and power of the Na family.

The third watch gong sounded outside. Na Wei glanced at the sentries around his post and sneered.

The security is tight, but if someone really wants to see me, how could you guys possibly stop them?
Na Wei closed the window, walked back to the middle of the room, sat down cross-legged, and began practicing meditation.

Someone should come to see me today.

Now all I need to do is wait patiently.

who can that be?

I'm really looking forward to it!
(End of this chapter)