Chapter 27

"All the sons of our clan must follow me, and our clan's people must be placed in the army," Ye Suijin said.Fourth Uncle Ye paused for a moment. He was no fool, and could detect the implications.

Ye Suijin spoke solemnly, "Fourth Uncle, everything else is false."

What then is real?

It is the silver spear in hand, it is the military power in grasp.

That feeling of being on a boat unable to get off came again.

In the depths of Fourth Uncle Ye's heart, he was both apprehensive and secretly expecting and excited.

"Alright, I'll listen to you," he said. "That little whelp Sixth Son can't even wield a spear, though he does have some scholarly learning. In times of peace, who knows, he may have been able to become a Zhuangyuan or Tanhua. In the fifth month I had people fetch him back when he ran away. His father has probably locked him up at home recently. I'll send someone to summon him."

"It's just..." he worried again, "Managing a county is different from studying. He's good at studying, but can he manage a county?"

After all, he was still just a young whelp.

To Fourth Uncle Ye, most of the younger generation were just downy-chinned monkeys who had to be whipped and kicked to obey orders.

Except for Third Son. Third Son had been steady since he was little.

But even Third Son was not as good as sending an elder statesman.

Ye Suijin said, "Let Sixth Son from the Zhongyuan Tang go to Nanyang. It doesn't matter if he can't serve as an official. What about..."

He Zhou turned his body towards Ye Suijin.

Ye Suijin said, "Neixiang and Nanyang are neighboring counties. You have much experience, please instruct him on how to govern a county. Our Ye clan has no experience serving as officials, I'm the first of our clan, I hope he can bring good fortune for everyone."

He Zhou smiled, "Madam, don't worry, your subordinate will certainly assist with all my strength."

Ye Suijin said, "For each place, I'm giving you twenty men each. One is to protect your personal safety, one is to train the local militias, and one is... to assist with recruitment matters."

The last two reasons were acceptable, but as for protecting their personal safety, He Zhou and Sun Xiangxue understood in their hearts that it was both protection and supervision.

But since they had already surrendered, they had no dissenting thoughts for the moment, and so were not worried. Both cupped fists in salute, "Madam is thorough, many thanks to Madam."

Ye Jingyi from the Zhongyuan Tang was summoned by the main clan. He was completely confused.

Although he had been confined at home, he also knew there were honored guests who had come to the fortress today. Why would Fourth Uncle Ye summon him? He was just a junior branch descendant.

He could never have imagined that he would be brought directly to the main hall, where not only was the head of the Ye clan - his sixth cousin Ye Suijin - seated in the center, but also many elders of the main clan on one side. On the other side were two men dressed as officials, who should be today's honored guests. Weren't there supposed to be three guests?

Ah... what was that large patch of dark red color on the ground?

It looked somewhat like...

Since He Zhou and Sun Xiangxue had already surrendered, there was no need to frighten them with severed heads anymore.

The two heads on the ground had been removed, and the floorboards scrubbed, but the large patch of dark red could still be seen.

Yet the atmosphere in the hall was no longer tense, and was instead quite intimate and relaxed.

When Ye Suijin saw Ye Jingyi, she was very happy. This was the first time she had seen him since her rebirth.

Seeing someone who had died or left again made one feel complicated emotions of loss, lamentation, and sighs. But seeing someone who was still alive and by one's side brought a special intimacy and joy.

"Yongxiu!" She directly called him by his courtesy name, with laughter in her eyes.

Duan Jin sensed the delight in that call, and glanced at her before carefully inspecting this Sixth Son of the Zhongyuan Tang - strange.

It wasn't that he didn't recognize him, he did recognize him, but they weren't familiar, really not familiar at all.

Given that Ye Suijin could affectionately call out his courtesy name in one breath, he shouldn't be unfamiliar.

Not just him, even Ye Jingyi himself was startled for a moment.

Since they were of the same generation and close in age, they had indeed played together when they were young.

But this cousin's martial prowess was truly too high, and the clan brothers who followed her were also exceptionally mighty. As someone of ordinary constitution who did not like practicing martial arts, he had gradually drifted away from Ye Suijin's circle.

When grown up, sometimes he would see her galloping out of the city on a fine steed. During New Year visits to the main clan with his father, he would also see her accompanying the old fortress master, doted on as the only daughter.

But as they grew older, he truly interacted with her less and less.

How could Ye Suijin actually directly call out his courtesy name? He had just received this courtesy name from his teacher earlier this year. Could someone have specially told her?

"Yongxiu, this is the magistrate of Neixiang County, Sir He," Ye Suijin introduced him, "Sir He, this is my cousin Yongxiu."

Ye Jingyi was just a commoner, and a scholar at that. He was very respectful towards degree holders, and greeted with propriety, "Your humble servant Ye Jingyi, I pay my respects to Sir He."

"Young Master Ye need not be overly courteous," He Zhou stroked his beard and smiled, "Young Master is talented and promising. In the future we will be neighbors, let us point out lessons for each other and look out for one another."

Ye Jingyi listened in complete confusion, and looked towards Ye Suijin.

Ye Suijin put it succinctly, "Yongxiu, I have already beheaded the magistrate of Nanyang County, Ma Jinhui. Deng Prefecture is now under my administration. The position of Nanyang magistrate is vacant, you will provisionally take this role on behalf of our Ye clan fortress. You will be neighbors with Magistrate He, if there are matters you cannot decide, you may always ask him for teachings."

This was an enormously fortuitous bun that had fallen on the head of Ye Jingyi, a junior offshoot with no warning whatsoever.

Even Fourth Uncle Ye felt a little envious, let alone Ye Jingyi himself.

An ordinary person would likely have been knocked out by this.

After hearing Ye Suijin's short but informationally explosive statement, Ye Jingyi seemed to freeze entirely for a few breaths, not even blinking his eyes.

He Zhou observed out of the corner of his eye - it was evident that Ye Jingyi was not a core figure of Ye Clan Fortress.

The core figures of Ye Clan Fortress were either seated in this hall right now, or still on the frontlines of Fang City.

Even that youth with dark green robes, black leather belt around his slender waist, standing behind Ye Suijin and ready to unsheathe his sword to kill at any moment for Ye Suijin, was closer to the core than Ye Jingyi.

But then, Ye Jingyi deeply inhaled, and bowed to Ye Suijin, "Yes!"

After a few breaths where his mind exploded, he absorbed the information Ye Suijin had given him.

He also bowed to He Zhou, "Magistrate He, please guide me much in the future."

He Zhou stroked his beard and smiled, "Likewise, likewise."

Not bad.

Although he looked rather stiff, he was able to restrain his emotions in a short period of time. No wonder he could stand out from the junior branch descendants.

Ye Suijin had assigned He Zhou to guide Ye Jingyi, and Ye Jingyi was malleable talent. For him, this was undoubtedly good news overall.

The banquet today had laid everything on the table that needed to be laid out, and killed all that needed to be killed.

Ye Suijin let He Zhou and Sun Xiangxue stay overnight at Ye Clan Fortress, and the two readily obeyed. She even arranged neighboring courtyards for them, and the two did not visit each other, only obediently staying within the boundaries Ye Clan had delineated for them.

Ye Suijin summoned Ye Jingyi to the study.

"It's a bit sudden, but before things were finalized, it wasn't good to spread the word," she explained.

"Sixth Cousin, amazing," Ye Jingyi sincerely praised her.

Ye Suijin smiled gently, "Come, there is much you originally did not know that I will fill you in on."

Ye Jingyi knew in his heart that with this first step through the door today, he could almost be considered to have entered the core circle of Ye Clan Fortress.

He listened attentively, heart pounding more and more, just wanting to gasp for breath but forcing himself to maintain calm.

Ye Suijin had taken her first stride out, and when she needed talent, she had chosen him first from all the Ye clan descendants. He could not let her down.

"It's just, Sixth Cousin, can you tell me... why me?" Ye Jingyi asked. "Wouldn't it be more fitting to send a respected elder?"

Ye Jingyi was neither main clan nor considered any remarkable genius among the clan. The clan practiced martial arts, but he was not the only scholar either, nor the only young one. Eighth Uncle from the main clan was also a scholar.

Fourth Uncle Ye was also in the study, and he too wanted to know the reason. He had held his tongue earlier in front of so many people.

"Nanyang was governed by Ma Jinhui for many years, so his roots must run deep. And once a pattern is established in officialdom, it is difficult for someone inside to break it down. If County Magistrate Qin Hualu from Neixiang were sent, he would also carry officialdom's corrupt practices with him, and be easily swept along. If our clan elders were sent..."

Fourth Uncle Ye pricked up his ears.

"The elders have naturally accrued more life experience than us, but they are also too worldly wise, inevitably making compromises and concessions everywhere. That's not what I want."

"Yongxiu is a scholar. I believe young idealists with the world in their hearts can see things clearly without getting sand in their eyes. So I'm entrusting Nanyang to Yongxiu."

"You don't need to be afraid either. As an official, you lack experience. But as a person, we are all born knowing how to be good. Just follow your instincts," Ye Suijin said. "If something feels right, then it's right. If it feels wrong, then it's wrong. No matter how eloquently those oily officials try to persuade you, go with your gut!"

"Don't be afraid of offending people. I'll have Third Brother accompany you to your post. Third Brother is seasoned now. He can smell with his nose who needs to be killed." S~ᴇaʀᴄh the NʘvᴇlFɪre.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

"Just focus on the job and do it fearlessly. If someone blocks your way, have Third Brother kill them."

"Nanyang has been under Ma Jinhui's influence for too long. His influence likely penetrates all levels. Killing a few people to consecrate your official seal will be necessary to bring them to heel," Ye Suijin said. "There can be no reconstruction without destruction."

Uncle Ye clucked his tongue, seeing how his son ordered Third Son around like an ox.

But he was happy inside.

Although Third Son was just "accompanying" him, Uncle Ye could tell from Ye Suijin's words how much she valued Third Son.

She believed Third Son could act on her behalf externally.

"Alright, Third Son can accompany Jingyi," he said. "Kill whoever needs killing."

When Ye Suijin spoke of "killing people," she said it lightly.

But Ye Jingyi broke out in a cold sweat.

Lately, he had indeed heard much. Although his father had confined him to the estate and forbid him from going out, his father would share tantalizing news he picked up from others during meals.

The Ye family stronghold's recent actions made everyone associated with them hold their heads high.

When people spoke fervently of killing, listeners' blood boiled with excitement.

But when it fell in front of him, when it concerned him personally, Ye Jingyi felt tremendous pressure.

There was a threshold that seemed insurmountable, yet Ye Suijin and Third Son of the main house had already crossed over.

"Alright," Ye Jingyi clenched his fist in his sleeve and solemnly said, "I will live up to Sixth Son's trust."

He was well-read with many ideas and aspirations, but the times were difficult.

Now someone was extending a hand, wanting to pull him from the confines of the estate to a wider world.

He would also need to cross that threshold.