Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 835 Don’t stay
Wang Yan not only learned about Da Shun City, but after he and A Yan confessed their feelings for each other, A Yan also told him that in her previous life, He Tan was plotted against and died on the battlefield during the battle of Da Shun City.

Given this, they would naturally make thorough preparations.

In order to lure those people out, He Tan pretended not to notice anything and was willing to take risks to start the battle, aiming to capture Duke Wei and his men here.

No one can escape.

Duke Wei struggled to suppress his emotions; it didn't matter if he died, he could still have hope...

“You members of the Jiang family all have to die.”

Wang Yan's words struck Duke Wei like a heavy blow to the chest.

Wang Yan continued, "The person hiding behind the scenes, preparing to secretly manipulate the Liang Dynasty, is your eldest son, Jiang Ruming."

The sudden revelation of his secret left the Duke of Wei stunned for a moment, then he began to tremble uncontrollably. The blood from Wang Yan's spear tip dripped onto his neck, as if it could burn through his flesh. After an unknown amount of time, the Duke of Wei felt as if his sore spot had been seized, and if his body hadn't been restrained, he would have leaped off the ground.

Duke Wei said sternly, "You are talking nonsense. My eldest son died fighting for the Great Liang long ago."

Once the words were spoken, the Duke of Wei knew it was all over.

“It really is him.” A mocking glint flashed in Wang Yan’s eyes.

The Duke of Wei's trembling voice and the fear revealed in his eyes were tantamount to admitting that what Wang Yan said was true.

Duke Wei retorted, "If you want to condemn someone, you can always find a pretext. It is clearly you... treacherous officials who have brought chaos to the country... Our Jiang family are founding nobles, how can we allow you to slander us like this?"

Wang Yan said calmly, "Someone asked me to pass on a message to you."

As he spoke, he stretched out his hand, and the soldiers around him made way for him. Jiang, the eunuch, rode forward and respectfully handed the imperial edict to Wang Yan.

Wang Yan didn't even unroll the imperial edict. He wasn't willing to give a final bit of face to someone like the Duke of Wei, and he even skipped reading it aloud. To him, the only use of this edict was that the court had granted him the power to execute nobles.

Wang Yan said, "Before Emperor Taizu passed away, he bestowed upon the Jiang family a certificate of merit. When the ancestors of the Jiang family expressed their gratitude, they said that if the certificate of merit could not protect the descendants of the Jiang family in the future, then the entire Jiang clan would be wiped out and they should all go to Emperor Taizu to repent."

Except for treason, the iron certificate granted immunity from death.

This was a promise made by Chiang Kai-shek's ancestors to Mao Zedong: the Chiang family would be utterly loyal, or else... they would sever their bloodline.

Wang Yan said, "Now is the time for your Jiang family to fulfill your promise."

Duke Wei stared intently at the imperial edict, wanting to know who had issued it—the current emperor or the empress dowager—but it was clear that Wang Yan had no intention of telling him.

Wang Yan said, "That man also said that there was no need to take you back to the capital; he didn't want to see you."

"You..." Duke Wei had barely uttered a sound when a large amount of blood gushed from his mouth.

The spear in Wang Yan's hand was finally stained even more bright red.

"kill!"

At Wang Yan's command, his generals immediately began to suppress the rebel army.

The wind carried a heavy stench of blood, staining the ground and the earth red...

Even Jiang, the eunuch who had ridden to the side and hid on horseback, couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine upon witnessing this scene. Although there were reasons for this massacre, Wang Yan, who ordered the killings, would inevitably be criticized in the future, but Wang Yan clearly didn't care.

If this person were to become a cabinet minister in the future, he would likely be even more ruthless than his father.

Thinking about all this, Jiang felt even more respect for Wang Yan. He couldn't afford to offend such a person, nor did he dare to.

……

The same carnage was taking place on the other side of the river, but unlike Wang Yan's side, the Dong family's men, seeing the situation was turning bad, began to turn tail and flee.

The second and fourth managers were killed by Marquis Changyuan and He Tan. The sixth manager, with a small group of men, turned around and ran back the way they came. They had made preparations in advance, leaving the fifth manager behind to meet them on the way. If they could find the fifth manager and send back the message, whether it was to let the master hide first or to send reinforcements... there would still be a glimmer of hope.

It's better than dying here anyway.

But thinking is one thing, and reality is another.

The sixth shopkeeper hurried forward, and although he tried his best, the sound of hooves behind him grew closer and closer. He couldn't help but turn his head to look, and saw He Tan holding a bow and arrow. The sound of something cutting through the air came, and the sixth shopkeeper was about to breathe a sigh of relief when he saw a drop of blood fall on the back of his hand.

The next moment, blood gushed out like a fountain from the pierced neck. The sixth shopkeeper reluctantly covered the wound and urged his horse forward a few more steps. When the blood stained the saddle, he finally couldn't hold on and fell off the horse.

The battle ended just as the sun was setting. Soldiers began to collect the corpses on the ground, the imperial troops gathered together, and He Tan finally saw Wang Yan.

He Tan was unusually enthusiastic, reaching out to hug Wang Yan, but Wang Yan dodged him in disgust.

Wang Yan asked, "I heard that some people ran away from your place?"

He Tan immediately hit a sore spot upon meeting him. He said, "Those people from the boss's family are exceptionally cunning. They didn't bring everyone this time. Some... were left on the way. I only just found out."

“They’ve escaped, that’s that,” Wang Yan said. “If we let them escape to the sea…”

“No,” He Tan said immediately, “If they really escape, I will guard the Northwest for the rest of my life… I will have no face to go back.”

He knew that Wang Yan was worried about the situation at sea, and he also knew that if someone wasn't watching their master, they wouldn't be able to freely suppress the rebels here.

"Don't you need to leave now?" He Tan asked. "Over there..."

Wang Yan nodded and said, "She saved you, but she herself is still in danger."

He Tan's face tightened again, and he said awkwardly, "Fortunately, you had taken precautions against Da Shun City in advance."

“It wasn’t me,” Wang Yan said, “it was A-Yan. Brother, just remember her good qualities.”

He Tan was naturally grateful to Xie Yuyan, but... he increasingly felt that He Chun's personality had changed drastically, as if she were a completely different person. He would have to tell Xie Niangzi about how someone had guarded against her back in Daming Prefecture. He remembered everything He Chun had said very clearly.

As the two men were talking, a lieutenant came to report: "We have captured Xia Mengxian's daughter."

He Tan said, "Escort them back to Bianjing."

Wang Yan naturally couldn't be bothered with these things, leaving the cleanup to He Tan. He couldn't wait to appear by A Yan's side.

……

maritime.

Xie Yuyan and Puheluo stood at the bow of the boat.

Puhara looked around nervously, fearing that his master's large ship would suddenly appear and surround them.

Xie Yuyan asked, "What is the biggest upheaval that Lord Pu has experienced?"

Puhara sighed, "It's...right now." He was just a minor official in charge of the waterway, but he never expected to be so unwittingly drawn into the affairs of the Great Liang Dynasty.

Not only did they get involved, but they also brought people to fight against the master alongside Lady Xie.

Sometimes he wondered if he had lost his mind. How could he have been persuaded by Lady Xie to do these things?
Lady Xie had some kind of trick up her sleeve, always managing to get people to obey her orders. By the time they realized what was happening, it was too late.

I just feel so regretful.

I wonder if anyone else shares the same thoughts as him?

If he could do it all over again, he would definitely close his ears and not listen to what Lady Xie said.

"Where is Lady Xie?" Puhe Luo asked in return.

Xie Yuyan said, "Haven't you heard of it, Lord Pu?"

Pu Heluo then remembered that Lady Xie had been harmed by her uncle and almost lost her life. But the way he looked at Lady Xie just now clearly suggested there was something else going on in her past, otherwise how could she have been so calm?

Xie Yuyan thought back to the day the Qi people breached the capital. With the country destroyed and her family ruined, she became a sinner to the entire Liang Dynasty. Having witnessed such things, nothing else seemed like a big deal.

Xie Yuyan said, "Congratulations, Lord Pu. After today, you will not panic when you see such a scene again."

(End of this chapter)