Chapter 389: Chapter 208: Jinling Aristocratic Families_2
Translator: 549690339
Yang Jing’s expression was tinged with grief, his voice bitter and choking with emotion, “As it stands today, for the preservation of our nation, our family heritage, and our lives, we have no choice but to agree to his terms. We have to cede three provinces and hand this land over to him.”
Upon hearing this, Shangguan Ming was stunned, “These are three provinces…”
Yang Jing looked at him and retorted, “Yes, three provinces. However, if you refuse, are you ready for the ruin of our nation and destruction of our families?”
Faced with Yang Jing’s gaze, Shangguan Ming lowered his head, falling silent.
He understood that between two evils, one must choose the lesser. This was indeed the only option left.
Yang Jing continued, “I plan to return to the capital to persuade other families to agree to this. But, I alone cannot accomplish this. So, I need your full support. We need to convince those who are against this, and carry this through.”
In the Coastal Aristocratic Family, although the status of his Yang family and Shangguan family had been elevated because of their inborn status, other families were still influential.
There were still three families with inborn strength within the six surnames and seven clans.
Furthermore, some other families without inborn strength were not to be underestimated in their capabilities.
These were the people who could converse on equal terms with them. It was uncertain if someone, not recognizing the reality of the situation, would obstruct the cause.
So, receiving Shangguan Ming’s support was a necessity. The alliance of the Yang family and the Shangguan family, two clans with inborn status, had to make this happen.
Hearing this request, Shangguan Ming’s expression changed quite a bit. But after some considerable thought, he finally nodded and said, “Agreed. I will stand with you, whatever comes.”
After saying this, Shangguan Ming hesitated, then continued, “Besides me, you should also go to Tianmen Prefecture City, to meet Marquis of Wuan. Brother Bai has been battling the Zhou people for a long time. He is firmly defending our last stronghold north of the Yangtze River. Facing danger firsthand and being on the frontline, he is more aware of the threat of Zhou people than anyone else.”
Explain the situation to him, Brother Bai understands the overall situation. He will, just like the rest of us, decide to compromise.”
With his assistance, if we, the three families, join hands, it won’t be difficult to carry out this matter.”
Marquis of Wuan, Bai Mengyang, suffered a series of defeats in the last few years.
But two years prior, he was one of the most famous generals in Da Yue, with the reputation of being a military god.
The former Jinghai Country was destroyed by this very Marquis of Wuan.
In the wars with the Zhou and Liang people in the past years, Bai Mengyang had performed exceedingly well, defeating strong enemies time and again.
The reason for his continuous defeats now was primarily the decline of Da Yue’s national strength and domestic issues that made it impossible to support this military god.
What could be done about this? It wasn’t a fault of warfare.
So, Bai Mengyang’s prestige in Da Yue and in the Nine Provinces was still extremely high.
With his assistance, a large number of the aristocratic families in the capital would likely change their stance and lend their support.
Yang Jing was also clear about this. So when he heard the proposal, he immediately responded, “That idea is a good one. I will sail north to meet the Marquis of Wuan.”
The situation was urgent, time was of the essence.
After persuading Shangguan Ming, Yang Jing did not delay. He left the same day and continued his journey by fast boat to Tianmen Prefecture City.
The city of Tianmen Prefecture was close to the water, and the Zhou people had not managed to completely encircle it.
As Da Yue had an advantage in naval power, it would just be a round trip for him to enter the city to meet the Marquis of Wuan.
In less than half a day, Yang Jing crossed the Yangtze River and reached the city north of the river.
After entering the city, he explained the situation and expressed his and Shangguan Ming’s opinions, asking for the support of Marquis of Wuan.
As expected, just as predicted by Shangguan Ming.
Looking out over the river, he stroked the mottled city wall with a long sigh, “Today we have given up Dongting and handed this place over to Lu Yuan. I wonder if I will live to see the day when I can lead soldiers to this city again, to see the royal banner flying over the city.”
Listening to this, Yang Jing was also secretly disheartened and remained silent.
Marquis of Wuan, Bai Mengyang, had been a renowned figure for a hundred years. He was now 130 years old and he seemed to have another twenty years of life left.
But given the current declining situation of the court and the daily deterioration of the river, it was really hard to say whether it could recover and rejuvenate in twenty years.
If you count the hidden injuries Bai Mengyang had suffered from many years of warfare, whether he could live another twenty years would be a problem.
A few years or a decade from now, this Marquis of Wuan who had battled for the court all his life would just fade away and die of illness.
The possibility of him leaving the city today, was indeed, as he said, he might never see the day when the royal banner continued to fly here again.
The beauty is aging, the hero is getting old, the mountains and rivers are declining.
This Da Yue, this world, this is so damn annoying!
Looking at the rolling Yangtze River and taking along the seals given by Shangguan Ming and Bai Mengyang, Yang Jing cursed in a boat on his way back to Jinling.
Time, like the Yangtze River, continued to surge forward.
The early May of the seventh year of Hongdao era.
While Lu Yuan had just finished the official selection exam, after several days of traveling, Yang Jing returned to Jinling city with the results of his trip.
The Cloud Ascending Leisure Pavilion of the city.
Located by the river, it would often be enveloped in river fog that floats from the water in the morning or evening. It bestowed an enchanting aura of levity, as if floating in the clouds. It was why many elegant and aspiring Immortal Method nobles liked to gather and discuss matters here. It gave them a sense of unlimited pleasure, like an immortal person sitting in the clouds and pointing to the world.