The Blood Crown - Chapter 197

One of the most helpless situations in the world is doing something unwillingly. Whether it’s Feng Ye or Chen Mu, Yan Sikong currently doesn’t want to work with either. However, if he easily gave up when faced with obstacles, it wouldn’t be the way of Yan Sikong. No matter how high the mountains or treacherous the waters, he would never yield.

A mere nineteen-year-old, he can still handle him.

The next day, Yan Sikong acted as if nothing had happened, using a simple disguise—a mustache—prepared by Yuan Nanyu, and went to discuss matters with Chen Mu.

After waking from his drunken state, Chen Mu was much calmer. When they met, they still observed proper etiquette, but each harbored their own calculations.

“Did you sleep well last night, Sir?” Chen Mu asked while covertly observing Yan Sikong’s expression.

“Very well. Your Highness’s wine is not only smooth but also aids sleep.”

“That’s good. The twelve guards you brought have been properly arranged at the post station. The two closest ones are stationed nearby in the manor to serve you.”

“Your Highness is truly considerate. I am very grateful.” Although Yan Sikong said this, he had not looked Chen Mu in the eye since entering the room, and his tone was somewhat cold. He wanted Chen Mu to understand his displeasure.

Chen Mu indeed showed some awkwardness.

Yan Sikong took the initiative to ask, “Will it cause any trouble that Madam Qi learned of my true identity last night?”

“Rest assured, she understands the gravity of the matter. I’ve specifically warned her, and she won’t dare speak out of turn.”

“That’s good.”

Chen Mu then inquired with concern, “I heard that you encountered mountain bandits on the way to Zhongqing. Were they the Duzhangmian?”

“According to local descriptions, they should be.”

“The Duzhangmian are very vicious and cunning. It’s truly fortunate that you escaped unharmed.” Chen Mu said, “If you had informed me in advance, I would have sent someone to assist you.”

“Your Highness’s concern is appreciated. The secrecy of my trip this time was a necessary measure.” Yan Sikong said, “Could Your Highness elaborate on the current situation in Yunnan?”

Chen Mu nodded, no longer lost in thoughts, and spoke on the matter. He detailed the military, political, and civilian situation in Yunnan and the surrounding provinces with great care. The reason for such detail was twofold: firstly, to let Yan Sikong understand the situation so he could assist him, and secondly, to show Yan Sikong that he had not wasted his studies and had not been idle, but was secretly building his strength.

Yan Sikong was pleased to see Chen Mu so well-informed about local conditions. He always believed Chen Mu had the potential to be an emperor, which was related to Chen Mu’s talent and his own teachings. No one else was as suitable as Chen Mu to help him realize his ideals. This was why he was so angry about Chen Mu’s absurd thoughts.

After Chen Mu finished speaking, he quietly watched Yan Sikong.

Yan Sikong gave appropriate praise and flattery to Chen Mu, which Chen Mu greatly appreciated.

“Your Highness’s resources are still too weak, both financially and militarily. If we reveal our true intentions now, the court could easily send troops from the surrounding provinces to annihilate us.”

“Indeed. I can only secretly recruit soldiers at the moment. If I had not already dealt with the officials in Zhongqing, this matter would definitely be exposed.”

“According to the law, the number of guards with armor in a prince’s manor cannot exceed two hundred. No matter how cautious Your Highness is, it won’t be hidden for long.”

“What should be done?”

“Find a reason to have Governor Qian and General Hou come to recruit soldiers.”

“Qian Feihong and Hou Ming are already my people, so that is not a problem. However, recruiting soldiers requires the court’s approval and funds.”

“As long as we don’t ask the court for money and use a suitable excuse, we can proceed without waiting for official approval. In this remote area, the court’s influence is limited. Moreover, due to the chaos caused by the Jin Kingdom and Feng Ye, the court is currently overwhelmed and cannot manage everything.”

“A suitable excuse?”

“Yes. We need to eliminate the Duzhangmian.”

Chen Mu frowned. “You might not be aware of how formidable the Duzhangmian are. This tribe hides in the mountains, and its origins can be traced back to the previous dynasty. Although the first Emperor unified the land, the Duzhangmian never submitted to the court and remain barbaric and uncivilized. They are skilled in archery and climbing, agile as monkeys, and their familiarity with the mountainous terrain makes them hard to capture. The court has attempted to eradicate them seven times, suffering heavy losses each time, and gradually, no one cared about them.”

“The Duzhangmian occasionally come down from the mountains to raid and plunder the people, being cruel and greedy. They cannot be left unchecked. It is precisely because these wild monkeys are impossible to eradicate that the people suffer greatly. Some abandon their lands and move away, while others become bandits themselves, causing the banditry in Yunnan to be so rampant. As long as we eliminate the Duzhangmian, it will deter other mountain bandits and restore peace to the people. Moreover, using this as a reason for recruitment will be justified.”

Chen Mu sighed. “Although that’s true, with the current military strength… No, even when more troops were sent previously, the efforts ended in failure.”

“That’s because I wasn’t here.” Yan Sikong said with a blank expression, “Now that I am here, the end of these bandits is near.”

“How do you plan to eliminate the Duzhangmian?”

“The Duzhangmian mainly operate in the Yazi Mountain range. First, we need to relocate all the people living at the base of Yazi Mountain.”

Chen Mu was astonished. “That’s over ten thousand people.”

“These ten thousand people live in fear of being raided and killed by the Duzhangmian every day. They are the perfect candidates for recruitment. After relocating them, we can enlist all able-bodied men, exempt their families from taxes, and support them with salaries.”

“… And then? General Hou can muster at most twenty thousand troops.”

“No need for that many. We recruit soldiers not just to deal with a bunch of wild monkeys,” Yan Sikong said.

“What plans do you have?” Chen Mu asked.

“When spring comes, and the weather is dry,” Yan Sikong’s eyes were cold, “I will set the mountains on fire.”

Chen Mu’s expression changed. “This…”

“By eliminating the Duzhangmian, we not only have a reason to recruit soldiers but also bring peace to the people and deter other wandering mountain bandits. We just need to send out a proclamation to pacify them. They won’t dare refuse. This way, we can increase our number of armored soldiers. If this plan succeeds, I estimate that Your Highness will have at least sixty thousand troops.”

Chen Mu expressed concern. “Sir, there have been previous attempts to use fire attacks against the bandits. However, the Duzhangmian are nomadic. Even if we burn, it’s difficult to find where they live. Some soldiers were trapped in the fire and died needlessly. Even if some bandits are burned, they will regenerate in the spring. Moreover, if we burn the mountains on a large scale, it will inevitably harm the people living at the base.”

“That’s why we need to relocate the people. If we’re going to burn, we need to set the entire Yazi Mountain ablaze and wipe out the Duzhangmian completely.”

Chen Mu was stunned by the coldness in Yan Sikong’s eyes and the boldness of his words.

Yan Sikong continued, “To deal with these wild monkeys, a direct assault will result in heavy losses and cannot eradicate them completely. As long as there are any survivors, they will come back. Only a fire attack can solve the problem once and for all.”

Chen Mu fell silent. Over the past four years, he had witnessed the cruelty and evil of the Duzhangmian. He had developed a deep wariness of this tribe, and Yan Sikong’s confident plan left him unsettled.

“Common methods won’t work, as Your Highness said. The Duzhangmian are nomadic. Sending soldiers to burn them might end up burning our own troops. We need a widespread fire, with troops guarding the base of the mountains to hunt down any survivors, leaving the Duzhangmian with nowhere to escape and eliminating them completely!”

Yan Sikong’s anger was not just from being raided and nearly killed by the Duzhangmian. He knew that to change Yunnan’s poverty, he had to eradicate the bandits. To do this, he had to use the most formidable bandits as a sacrificial offering.

Chen Mu asked, “How do you plan to start the fire?”

Yan Sikong gave a cold smile. “Your Highness knows what a Kongming lantern is, right?”

Chen Mu was taken aback.

“Even if you haven’t personally released them, you must have seen them in the sky during the Mid-Autumn Festival. The court has prohibited releasing Kongming lanterns in the city because they are prone to causing fires.”

“…Sky lanterns.” Chen Mu murmured, Yan Sikong’s plan making his hair stand on end.

“This year, Yunnan hasn’t had any snow. Therefore, the spring will be particularly dry. As long as we wait for a strong southern wind, we can release thousands or even tens of thousands of sky lanterns over Yazi Mountain. The fire will spread rapidly and burn Yazi Mountain to the ground.”

Chen Mu took a deep breath. “This plan is quite crazy.”

“The Duzhangmian have persisted through the cleansing efforts of two dynasties. They are indeed formidable. Extreme measures are needed to deal with such an extraordinary enemy. Do you think there is anything wrong with this plan, Your Highness?”

“…No.” Chen Mu’s gaze grew cold. “We will follow your plan. I will go find Qian Feihong and Hou Ming immediately.”

“Hold on, Your Highness.” Yan Sikong said, “Even if we solve the bandit problem and recruit soldiers, we are still lacking in silver and supplies. Yunnan’s wealthy merchants and armorers need to ‘contribute’ at least five hundred thousand taels of silver, so we can deploy troops to the Central Plains and join forces with Feng Ye.”

Chen Mu nodded. “I understand.”

“That’s still not enough. We need to gather more military funds.” Yan Sikong looked at Chen Mu. “There are five princely families surrounding Yunnan, including the Li King, the Cheng King, and the Wu King, all with eligible princesses. If Your Highness can marry one of them, the troops and supplies will be much more assured.”

Chen Mu’s face darkened. “If you tell me which one to marry, I will. But I’m afraid they might not be willing to marry their daughters to me.”

“Rest assured, Your Highness. Once you raise troops in Yunnan and respond to Feng Ye, making a powerful show, they will make their choice. Any sensible and intelligent family will choose you.”

Chen Mu stood up, coldly saying, “Then I will follow your advice.”

Yan Sikong sighed inwardly.

Chen Mu walked to the door and turned back. “Sir, I have been preparing for four years, and my strength is still weak. Once we raise troops, there will be no turning back. Do you really believe that Feng Ye can help me take the capital?”

Yan Sikong rose and cupped his hands. “In the whole world, only Feng Ye can help Your Highness reclaim your throne. The day Feng Ye conquers Datong will be the day we rise.”

Chen Mu asked quietly, “Have you thought about where I should place Feng Ye once I ascend to the throne?”

Yan Sikong knew Chen Mu was not easily deceived. He could only respond cautiously but vaguely. “When the day comes that Your Highness rules the world, you can place him wherever you see fit. Otherwise, Your Highness will only have to spend the rest of your life in this remote wilderness.”

Chen Mu clenched his fists secretly. “Alright!”