Chapter 947: The deeply hidden Mu Clan (1/2)
Long Tianmo’s benefits for Emperor Kangcheng came from none other than Western Zhou’s elite troops led by the Chu Clan! When the Chu Clan had betrayed Western Zhou and went to seek refuge with Tianning, the two elders of the Chu family had stirred up troops to create civil unrest. The vast forces of the Chu Clan troops escaped the control of Western Zhou and caused the country to fall from its seat as a vast nation to today’s straits. However, Ning Cheng taught the traitor Chu troops a deep lesson. They not only failed to conquer Tianning, but lost a firm footing in the world. The losses they suffered could be said to be catastrophic.
Then Chu Tianyin listened to Gu Beiyue’s plans and pretended to surrender to Western Zhou, helping it gain a chance to ally with Tianan Country. The two sides then teamed up to attack Ning Cheng together, forcing the man to use the red coat cannons he’d been saving for a fight against Northern Li. Although Ning Cheng ultimately wrested a victory and won campaigns against both nations, his army had suffered losses as a result. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have lost so many successive battles against the Baili Army later.
Thanks to the horse plague, Northern Li hadn’t gotten involved in any of the fights down south. Meanwhile, Long Feiye held control over the seat of government in the south central regions where the real wealth lay. Western Zhou and Tianan were separated by Tianning between them. Their cooperation came about at the cost of Chu Tianyin risking his life in front of Ning Cheng. However, Long Tianmo was now simply using the Chu Clan troops as bait to lure Emperor Kangcheng into his clutches. What would Chu Tianyin think if he knew the truth?
Long Tianmo had offered Emperor Kangcheng someone he had in his hands: a powerful deputy general of the Chu Clan named Wei Mingshi (魏明时).[1] Each of the Seven Noble Families had limited numbers of clan members. Whether they were the Chu Clan, Ning Clan, or Baili Clan army, primary clan members led the troops while inviting talented, valorous men to join them. They also had to recruit soldiers from the outside and buy horses. Wei Mingshi had been invited into the army by Chu Yunyi with a large sum of gold. He was trained by the man, who personally taught him archery skills. Last time, Emperor Kangcheng was forced to accept Chu Tianyin’s feigned surrender because he desperately needed men to preserve the eastern borders of his lands. Now Chu Tianyin was back in control of the Western Zhou troops. Emperor Kangcheng had wracked his brain for days on how to revoke his military leadership rights, but it only gave him a headache.
Long Tianmo had recommended Wei Mingshi because 1) he wanted to express goodwill towards Emperor Kangcheng and 2) threaten the man at the same time. If Long Tianmo controlled Wei Mingshi, that meant he held the power to tell over half the Chu Clan troops in Western Zhou command to turn traitor at any time. They were liable to betray not only the country, but Chu Tianyin as well!
Back in Long Tianmo’s rooms, Mu Qingwu rose from his seat at the tea tables after a long wait. “Your Majesty, how is the situation?” he asked.
Long Tianmo and the Mu Clan shared a relationship as sovereign and vassal, but in truth they were more like equals. Without the Mu Clan, Long Tianmo’s power would have collapsed long ago. Although he had been the crown prince since childhood, years of illness had robbed him of chances to gain experience. How was he supposed to survey the ever changing storms of Cloud Realm politics at such a young age?
In truth, the honest and upright, open and aboveboard Mu Qingwu was even less suited for the task, so the true power of Tianan laid in Great General Mu’s hands. At today’s secret meeting, Long Tianmo had officially handed Wei Mingshi to Emperor Kangcheng. Tonight, Wei Mingshi would be pledging his loyalty to the Western Zhou emperor and his orders instead. In return, Emperor Kangcheng resolved to preserve this secret between them no matter what happened.
“Kangcheng agreed, so everything went smoothly,” Long Tianmo murmured.
Mu Qingwu nodded. “Then I’ll send a flying hawk message back right away. My father must be burning with impatience by now.”
A complicated look flickered past Long Tianmo’s eyes before he caught Mu Qingwu’s wrist. The general gave a start before his gaze grew complex. He could guess what Long Tianmo wanted to ask.
“Your Majesty, this soldier really had no idea until a few days ago that Wei Mingshi was one of my father’s men,” Mu Qingwu replied honestly.
“Then do you know anything else?” Long Tianmo asked icily.
If Great General Mu could stretch his fingers into the Chu Clan troops, what about everywhere else? What about Northern Li’s cavalry forces, Jun Yixie’s camp, the Ning Clan army or even the Baili soldiers? Had Great General Mu planted other agents there as well? Although Long Tianmo only had the greatest respect for Great General Mu, he had to be on his guard. Just how deep did the depths of the Mu Clan troops extend? How much power was Great General Mu really hiding? He was a true old fox that didn’t show his colors, but was he sincere about helping him uphold the Tianning imperial clan? Or did he have other motives in mind?
“I don’t know if he has others,” Mu Qingwu was telling the truth.
Long Tianmo abruptly grabbed him by the collar and demanded, “Do you and your father take me for a three-year-old child?”
Mu Qingwu didn’t struggle. “Your Majesty, this soldier hasn’t lied or hidden anything from Your Majesty up to this day.”
Long Tianmo calmed down at those words. He knew Mu Qingwu’s personality and character thoroughly. Back when Mu Qingwu tried to get close to him, it was all for the sake of investigating the embezzled grainery case. Once he found out it was the imperial uncle’s fault and not the crown prince’s Eastern Palace, the two men had gradually became a sovereign and vassal pair with no secrets from each other.
Although they couldn’t be counted as friends, their relationship had long surpassed the friendship stage.
Mu Qingwu’s words cleared Long Tianmo’s senses because he was telling the truth. However, the fact that he’d mentioned “up to this day” meant that he might lie to him in the future, because he had to listen to his father. Long Tianmo threw his hand aside. “Why does your father want to get involved in the East and West Qin conflict against the Wind Clan? You should know that, right?”
Mu Qingwu still shook his head helplessly. He had to admit, his father’s actions had frightened him. How could he not be angry when Long Tianmo was already mad? The difference laid in the fact that he’d hidden all his feelings in his heart. He was the only son of the Mu Clan and its future heir, but his father still treated him as an outsider and hid things from him. What did he count for in his eyes?
Long Tianmo couldn’t help but feel oppressed. He swished his sleeves and prepared to leave, but Mu Qingwu stopped him. “Your Majesty, although we’re far from Hundred Poisons Sect, it’s still not safe here.”
He held Long Tianmo back and stepped out himself. “Please rest early, Your Majesty.”
Long Tianmo slammed the door shut and headed for the tea table. But it was then that he saw a folded booklet lying beneath some things. He opened it up and saw that it was an admonishment to the emperor from Great General Mu, urging him to quickly procreate heirs for the Long Dynasty bloodline!