Chapter 432 - Chapter 432: Chapter 439: The True Vulnerability (2/2)
Han Yu, however, appeared confident and unflustered. “The daughter-in-law of the Su Family’s eldest son is from the Jianghu with many friends there. It is better to ask for help from Jianghu people who have fewer reservations and can act without constraints, doubling our effectiveness.”
Liu Xiu relaxed upon hearing this. He hadn’t thought of it before, but then remembered that Su Hengyi’s wife, Feng Ruolin, came from the renowned Feng family in the martial arts world—a force not to be underestimated. His gaze towards Han Yu became more complex.
“Enlisting help from the Jianghu is indeed a good idea. The Imperial Court has less control over Jianghu People. Many are heroes who value loyalty, and the methods of the Jianghu are diverse. If we could get their help, they might be more useful than the men we could send ourselves.”
“That’s exactly the point, Uncle Wen. Hengyi has borrowed many capable fighters from the Feng family for the trip to Chang’an, and his wife is accompanying him. This increases our chances of success.”
Han Yu spoke thus, not missing the complexity in Liu Xiu’s eyes. But at such times, it was crucial to appropriately reveal some of his capabilities to allay Liu Xiu’s doubts. As for Liu Xiu’s wariness of him, that was inherent. Han Yu wasn’t bothered by a little more wariness. Besides, Liu Xiu was probably already aware of these details after investigating him thoroughly. The only issue was that he hadn’t thought of this sooner. Given Liu Xiu’s background, it was easy for him to overlook such people. Moreover, Han Yu wasn’t really counting on those from the Jianghu; they were merely supportive forces for the rescue.
Although Liu Xiu was wary of Han Yu, seeing him so openly share his plan reassured him, making him feel that he had not chosen incorrectly.
If Han Yu had made such arrangements and had the assistance of Jianghu People, the chances of rescuing Marquis Bei’an were promising. It also demonstrated the importance Han Yu placed on this matter. Thankfully, he hadn’t listened to Yin Shi’s idea to assassinate the Marquis Bei’an and his son. Had Han Yu uncovered such a scheme, Liu Xiu wouldn’t know how to proceed. Han Yu might even turn on him—Chen Li’s words weren’t wrong. If there was no reaction, Han Yu would likely be just a foolishly loyal simpleton.
“Since Xiu Qi has already made arrangements, I won’t interfere in this matter. I hope Hengyi will be able to rescue Marquis Bei’an soon. If you need anything in Chang’an, do let me know anytime, Xiu Qi. Don’t be courteous; your affairs are my own.”
“Xiu Qi understands, and will surely not stand on ceremony with Uncle Wen. Should I need anything, I will definitely speak up. However, the rescue of the Marquis falls on Hengyi. We must focus on the affairs of Yiyang Prefecture and not be distracted. Wang Mang won’t stop his military campaign because of this. It may even be his intention to divert our attention.”
Considering the mission’s urgency, Han Yu cared about the Marquis’s welfare. But with outside help, he could afford to shift his primary focus to immediate concerns, especially earning Liu Xiu’s trust, which was now essential.
Liu Xiu became alert upon hearing this. Previously distracted by watching Han Yu, he had missed this possibility. Now, it seemed the most likely scenario. His earlier suspicion wasn’t impossible, but on reflection, it was highly improbable for Han Yu to engage in such action. Liu Xiu understood Han Yu’s nature after some time—the latter was not someone to be coerced. Furthermore, the leverage Wang Mang held was minimal. The connection between Marquis Bei’an and Han Yu was twice-removed; it would have been more plausible if Marquis Bei’an had Han Yu’s wife in his custody.
Over time, Liu Xiu had come to understand Han Yu’s devotion to his wife—it was genuine and not just for show. This was Han Yu’s true vulnerability and why Liu Xiu felt reassured about Han Yu.