Marquis Weining, Jiao Wu’s, declaration was nothing if not fierce, nothing if not loyal.

These words, once uttered, would cast Jiao as a sworn enemy of the entire nation of Jiao. For he harbored a desire to see its very destruction!

Xue Mingyi did not press further, but released his grip and stepped aside, “This is a birthday gift I, Xue, present. Lord Jiao, feel free to question him!”

Jiang Wang then understood that Xue Mingyi’s visit was merely a reprimand representing Han Xu’s will, not a genuine attempt to force Jiao Wu into rebellion.

Such a reprimand could stem from two possibilities.

Perhaps Jiao Wu had truly considered the suggestion regarding Jiao. If the nation of Yong were to fall, Marquis Weining, with his amassed troops, could carve out a few pieces of land, perhaps even becoming a peer to the king of Jiao.

But there was also the possibility…that it was because of Mo Jingyu.

The benefits of Han Xu’s introduction of the Mo Sect were evident. Yong quickly stabilized its situation, and the court began to innovate. But the hidden dangers were also slowly emerging. In short, was Yong paramount to Mo, or Mo paramount to Yong? This was a long-term struggle.

In the past, he might not have thought so clearly.

But with more experience and a wider perspective, he was gradually able to understand things he couldn’t before.

Though Mo Jingyu came to mind, he made sure not to glance at her.

Jiang Wang concealed his thoughts well, while simultaneously considering how everything he had seen and heard today would affect his plans and what help it could provide.

Jiao Wu stood before the middle-aged scholar, looking at him, “Who are you? What is your name? What position do you hold? By whose order did you come to Shunan Prefecture, and what is your purpose?”

The middle-aged scholar was on the verge of death, barely clinging to life. The weight of his entire body rested on the soldiers holding him up.

But at this moment, he somehow mustered his strength and abruptly raised his head!

He stared directly at Jiao Wu, his eyes, crusted with blood and grime, filled with fierce hatred.

“Pah!” He spat a mouthful of saliva.

The saliva, mixed with blood, fell weakly onto his own collar as soon as it left his mouth.

It was still far from Jiao Wu.

Jiao Wu remained expressionless, watching him struggle.

Like a towering tree, observing an ant trying to shake it.

Two soldiers firmly held the middle-aged scholar, preventing him from moving much. His voice was hoarse.

“Jiao Wu!”

But he had already used all his strength to roar, to curse, “The descendant of a traitor is also a traitor!”

His chest heaved violently, as if working a bellows. It was proof that he was exerting every ounce of strength to squeeze out a little more power.

“The Jiao family has received the grace of the sovereign for generations, and held high positions in the court. Your father was a general of Jiao, commanding the troops of Jiao, yet he died betraying the people of Jiao, surrendering to the enemies of Jiao! Selling out his master for glory, truly cowardly, abandoning his country and forsaking righteousness, unworthy to be a man! And you, you who have Jiao blood flowing through you, who have Jiao ancestors, yet you disregard your heritage, speaking of the destruction of Jiao! Do you truly believe that the heavens are blind and there will be no retribution!?”

His voice was hoarse with rage, his appearance like a vengeful spirit, utterly miserable.

For a spy, loyalty is paramount. This middle-aged scholar’s loyalty to Jiao was unquestionable. He cursed with abandon, first to seek death, and second to stain the reputation of the Jiao family.

Those present included Mo Jingyu of the Mo Sect and Marquis Wugong, Xue Mingyi, who could not be silenced.

Marquis Weining, Jiao Wu, still showed no expression, but said slowly, “In this era of great contention, all under heaven compete. A sovereign chooses his ministers, and ministers also choose their sovereign.”

His voice was not loud, but everyone present could hear him clearly.

“You say that the Jiao family has received the grace of the Jiao sovereign for generations, but do you not remember who my grandfather and great-grandfather died for?”

“My father was a general of Jiao, and did he ever fail in his duty! When he commanded the troops of Jiao, he fought against the Bright Emperor, and at one point invaded the lands of Yong! Who was it that was wary of meritorious officials, withholding military rations for three days? Who was it that was cowardly in the face of battle, causing the army to collapse for thousands of miles? Who was it that refused to provide support, leading my father to be trapped in an isolated city?”

“I do not need to say any more, I have already forgotten it. But history is written in iron, can you forget it? Can those innocent and courageous souls who died forget it?”

“The Jiao family only remembers who disregarded past grievances, offered high positions and generous rewards, sincerity in personal meetings, and trust in the army. Who was it that, after my father’s isolated city was besieged for three months, entered the city alone and offered a heartfelt surrender.”

“My father died as a subject of Yong, and I shall also die as such!”

“Since you will not say who you are, this marquis does not want to know either. I have only one word for you, the Shi family is unworthy to rule the nation. Today you dare to come and stir up trouble, on the road to the Yellow Springs, you shall wait for Shi Heng!”

This was a vow to destroy the nation. From now on, he would be irreconcilable with Jiao, and in his subsequent political career, he would inevitably do everything in his power to promote the great plan to destroy Jiao, to fulfill his words today.

Having said this, Jiao Wu flicked his sleeves and turned around, returning to his seat of honor.

He looked around and lightly raised his hands, “Let the songs and dances continue, let the birthday banquet continue. As for Marquis Wugong… you may do as you please!”

At this point, Marquis Weining, Jiao Wu’s attitude was very clear.

Marquis Wugong had come to his birthday banquet to make such a scene.

He was truly extremely angry, extremely furious, and extremely hateful.

He would not hesitate to promote the war to destroy Jiao, to prove that he had no collusion with Jiao, but that it was Jiao’s unilateral plot.

As for what Marquis Wugong would say when he returned, what Han Xu would do, as he said, “Do as you please!”

Just like he said, “In this era of great contention, all under heaven compete. A sovereign chooses his ministers, and ministers also choose their sovereign.” He was talking about his father and the Shi imperial family of Jiao, but wasn’t he also talking about himself and Han Xu?

If Han Xu trusted him, he would be used by him. If Han Xu did not trust him, he would seek service elsewhere.

“This treacherous villain, slandering the loyal and good, truly enrages this marquis and chills the hearts of onlookers!”

Xue Mingyi reached out and grabbed the middle-aged scholar’s hair, gently lifting it, and the entire head was lifted in this way. Not a drop of blood splattered out. The headless corpse was still held up by the soldiers, standing there.

He respectfully held the head in both hands, offering it to Jiao Wu, “Let this villain’s head be a gift to Marquis Weining!”

A realization arose in Jiang Wang’s heart.

Only now did he see some of the true meaning.

This matter should be over like this…

This Jiao scholar was naturally a loyal and patriotic man, but Jiao Wu’s father, whom he cursed, was by no means an evil man. The real world is not black and white, and often there is no right or wrong, only position.

In the story displayed by Jiao Wu and the Jiao scholar’s conversation just now, the Yong Bright Emperor was of course a wise ruler, and the Jiao ruler at that time was naturally昏庸 (cun yong, muddle-headed and fatuous), and Jiao Wu’s father may also have been a truly loyal minister.

But Jiao Wu was not necessarily…

As Jiao Wu said, what the Jiao family remembered, were grateful for, and were loyal to, was indeed the Yong ruler. But that Yong ruler should have been the Yong Bright Emperor. Since the Jiao family had always remembered this favor, where was the Jiao family when Han Xu usurped the throne and massacred the Han Zhou bloodline?

Many things are unclear and unspoken, and rashly tearing off the veil may be shocking.

But this was not important.

What Xue Mingyi, or rather Han Xu behind him, wanted was precisely Jiao Wu’s public statement today. Whether it was to stabilize the people’s hearts or to warn some people within the Mo Sect, in short, Han Xu’s goal should have been achieved.

If nothing unexpected happened, during this period of time, the one Duke and eight Marquises of Yong would successively express their stance in various ways, to consolidate Han Xu’s power. To unify the voice within the entire Yong.

They keep talking about new policies, new policies, what is Han Xu’s real big move?

Jiang Wang realized that his accidental observation seemed to have witnessed some historical moment in Yong.

But most of the people who are in this historical moment are ignorant.

In the very center of everyone’s attention, Jiao Wu, sitting alone in the seat of honor, waved his hand and said very casually, “Pack up this birthday gift and send it to the Jiao border for me.”