Chapter 273

Chapter 273: The Strongest Vassal State in the Northwest

Translator: Transn Editor: Transn

The Eastern Palace, the Royal Capital, West Capital City—

Autumn had gone and winter was coming. Although West Capital City was located in the Central Plains, this year’s first snow came so early that it was out of everyone’s expectation.

The snow had fallen the night before, but it was not heavy. It lay thinly on the ground, the roof, and the trees. And when the cold wind blew, wisps of fine snow drifted in the air with some falling on people’s skin, making them feel cool and comfortable.

Of course, those who felt comfortable were the ones who had no worries about food and clothing, and those who failed to have enough food and clothing hoped that it would never snow.

With a vast area and an important role in the Royal Capital, the Eastern Palace boasted various architecture and gardens. Standing at a high elevation from a distance and looking at the East Palace, one could vaguely see the corner eaves, pavilions, ponds, and rock gardens inside, but it could only be seen from long-distance.

“Your Highness, you sent for me today. What can I do for you?” Yan-er, a beautiful girl in a pink dress, stood in front of the Southmoon Hall in the Eastern Palace and looked at the thin snow. The young man beside the wintersweet tree had shining and watery eyes.

“Yan-er, I’ve heard that His Majesty once spoke of Yunzhou Zhou Bao with you.” When the young man turned back, there was a very gentle smile on his handsome face. His face had quite a resemblance to that of the Jin Emperor Yan Yuntian, but the lines on his face were softer than Yan Yantian’s, which might have been inherited from his mother, the empress of the Great Jin. This man was Crown Prince Yan Jinting, the legitimate son of the Great Jin Emperor Yan Yuntian.

Yan Yuntian was a mighty man who wholeheartedly dreamed of being an eternal emperor. Now he had achieved half of it. In terms of trouble-making and country governance, he had proved himself better than the former emperors, but that was nothing compared to his fertility, which had surpassed that of all the previous emperors. He began having children at a rate of more than one per year before he had ascended the throne. So, over the past decades since his enthronement, the number of his sons and grandsons had grown large enough to form a battalion.

Most importantly, among those who had grown into adulthood, most of them had amounted to something.

In another family, it was definitely something worth celebrating to have a son grow into a useful person, but that was not the case in this family. And it would be quite a disaster if there was more than one talented son!

These disasters were originally only potential dangers, but now, everyone in the Great Jin could see it. The emperor was in the prime of his life and health. It was said that he had good cultivation and would live at least another 80 to 100 years. Coveting the throne, no adult princes had the patience to wait for another 80 to 100 years. Furthermore, the emperor was in good health and had children, one after another. After 80 to 100 years, who knew how many people would fight for the throne?

There had been an excellent opportunity when Northern Yuan was laid down. Such a large area of land had become without landowners. If the emperor had enfeoffed the land to his own children instead of to the outsiders, maybe the hidden trouble in the future would not be so great. But, as nobody knew what was wrong with the emperor, instead of enfeoffing the vast area of land to his children, he enfeoffed it to the outsiders. It was definitely not the right choice. However, at that time, Yan Yuntian had unquestionable prestige and grip over the country.

The only person who was not affected by this move was Crown Prince Yan Jinting, the legitimate son of the emperor and the empress. As soon as he was born, he was destined to become the most distinguished person in the Great Jin. Even if Yan Yuntian enfeoffed his sons, it was impossible for him to be enfeoffed since there was no precedent in history to enfeoff a crown prince unless he was deposed.

Given the emperor’s physical condition and the endless stream of newly born junior brothers, Yan Jinting forced a smile and shook his head. What difference could it make even if the emperor enfeoffed his brothers now? After a decade or two, there would be a new batch of junior brothers, and then the trouble would be as incessant as now.

Besides, he had figured all of that out a few years ago and, so to speak, his mind became settled like still water.

In another 80 to 100 years, his great-grandchildren might have had children. He would be so old that he had no gender. Who would care about the throne?

But, what about now?

He was still incompetent. To put it plainly, he was destined to be a crown prince and, even more likely, a deposed crown prince.

It was precise because he had realized all of this that Crown Prince Yan Jinting lived a very prudent life. He was very gentle in dealing with others. He never offended others, nor did he take advantage of his title to go too far. General speaking, everyone in the Great Jin knew him as honest and tolerant.

His honesty and tolerance were not a disguise to win support, but were genuine. Such a man was not cut out to be an emperor.

And since no one was a fool, few people really regarded him as the future emperor.

Although no one really thought of him as the future emperor, as the crown prince, his power was still great. Compared to his brothers and the ministers, he had shockingly strong and special power. When Yan Yuntian was not in West Capital, he had acted as regent several times. Although he was not regarded as brilliant, he was steady in his work and no one could find his faults.

Therefore, no one in this world dared to underestimate His Royal Highness.

“Yes, Your Highness, His Majesty did mention Zhou Bao to me,” Yan-er said with a smile. “So, are you also interested in that guy?”

“I’ve heard of Zhou Bao. Although he is a martial arts genius, he is reckless and arbitrary. I am afraid he is not a good match for you,” Yan Jinting said gently with a tone of deep concern. As for what was hidden behind that concern, only God knew!

“Thanks for your concern, Your Highness. That’s also what I think, so…”

“But, you did not refuse His Majesty’s proposal!”

“I dare not refuse it. You know the temper of His Majesty. No one is allowed to disobey him. If I had refused directly, perhaps I would have been married now!”

“Well, that’s right!” Hearing her words, Yan Jinting smiled. “Do you want me to help you deal with this Zhou Bao?”

“Your Highness, you seem to be too concerned about Zhou Bao.”

“I have no choice. You must have heard what he has done recently. Even Wang Yuebai has been seriously injured by him. Now the whole Wang family is in such a panic. He was too bold. If he was put in the northwest, it would be disastrous in just a few decades!” Yan Jinting spoke clearly, one word at a time.

“Really? It’s definitely not easy to develop in the remote and cold northwest, and no matter how powerful he is, he is only an expert!” Yan-er expressed doubts. Though an expert was strong, he was only strong by himself. In a school or a well-known family, the biggest function of an expert was to act as a hatchet man. No matter if he was of an ordinary or deterrent level, he was nothing but a hatchet man. And the masters of every school were rarely the strongest because running a well-known family required not only power, but also lots of energy. It was well-known that an expert would focus his attention on practice rather than wasting too much time on management.

“The whole north is in a vacuum of strength. At such times, brute force is the best choice. Besides, Zhou Bao is not alone. He has the Anyuan Store as well as the background of the Wu Family and Tian Long Taoism. His relationship with Wang She of Tian Long Taoism is unclear. If Tian Long Taoism wants to support a force in the north, Zhou Bao is the best choice. And once he obtains the full support of Tian Long Taoism, I believe that no one can beat him down in the northwest!”

“It’s not that serious, is it? Besides, in this enfeoffment of the northern regions, lots of people have the influence of Tian Long Taoism and there are a few well-known families who have trades with Tian Long Taoism. Anyway, Zhou Bao shall not have the chance.”

“Life has many possibilities. From the result of Zhou Bao’s challenge to Wang Yuebai this time, we can draw two conclusions: Firstly, Zhou Bao’s combat capability is close to Level Nine; secondly, he has a close relationship with Wang She. Even if Tian Long Taoism doesn’t give him full support, he can develop very well with Wang She’s support. You know, there is really no decent influence around him. His fief is the largest within a radius of 1500 kilometers, and his power is the strongest. The only thing that could pose a slight threat to him is the collateral sons of the Wang family. But now, he is so obviously targeting the Wang clan that even Wang Yuebai has almost been killed by him. As long as the sons of the Wang family are not idiots, they won’t bother him. Just tell me, who else can defeat him in the northwest!?” Yan Jinting sighed, saying, “Once he has the control of the 1500 kilometers of land in the northwest, his territory will be no less than that of the most well-known families. In 30 years, at most, he will get the full control of the northwest region of the Yalong River, which is equivalent to 75 percent of the area of the Great Jin. When that day comes, he will be the strongest vassal in the northwest. Maybe he will not pose a threat to the Great Jin in 100 years, but how about 100 years after that?!”

“The reason for His Majesty’s enfeoffment is to put the north into a chaotic state of war. If Zhou Bao really has the ability to do so, it’ll fit in exactly with His Majesty’s wishes. What will that matter even if he does become the strongest vassal state in the northwest? The Yalong River is more than 10,000 miles away from the Central Plains and there is a vast prairie lying in the middle. He won’t be a threat to the Central Plains!” Yan-er laughed. “What’s more, even if he does become the strongest vassal state in the northwest, it won’t be for another 100 years. Who can tell what will happen then? Your Highness, isn’t that right?”

“Yes, you’re right. No one knows what will happen in 100 years!” Yan Jinting gave a wry smile and shook his head. “But, I do not know why that, every time I hear of Zhou Bao, I always have a bad feeling!”