Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The news regarding the change in ownership of Shangyang County quickly spread. Before winter was over, even Huang Song, who was far away in Diyang District, knew about it.

Upon receiving the news, Huang Song hurriedly sought out his close advisors to discuss it with them.

Under the management of Feng Jue, Chen Jing, and a few newly hired advisors, Huang Song was still the district magistrate of Diyang District on the surface. However, his influence had slowly seeped through the entire Maode County. Furthermore, the advisors were good with words, and the local noble families, who were the hardest to deal with, had also been dealt with.

Having steadily built up a stable foundation, Huang Song, who seemed inconspicuous, also had some capital at the moment.

Huang Song paid extra attention to Jiang Pengji’s situation, probably because they were of a similar age and had once been friends who had fun together.

He immediately sought out his advisors for a discussion upon receiving the news.

Feng Jue wasn’t surprised by the news of Shangyang County changing ownership.

After all, his second eldest brother was working under Jiang Pengji, providing the opportunity for a union to arise from the accord of men 1.

Moreover, she also enjoyed a natural geographical advantage, as Fengyi County and Shangyang County were both in Wanzhou, providing her with the advantages of the situation afforded by the Earth 1.

Furthermore, to House Feng, which had few troops, Shangyang County was not an advantage, but a burden. It provided Jiang Pengji with opportunities of time vouchsafed by Heaven 1.

Considering those factors, Jiang Pengji enjoyed the advantages of the situation afforded by the Earth, of a situation afforded by the Earth, and of the union arising from the accord of men 1. It was only a matter of time before Shangyang County became hers.

Feng Jue was confident that he could have convinced House Feng as well, had Huang Song’s territory been in the north, near Shangyang County.

But at the moment — the dice had been cast.

He relaxed his furrowed brows. Feng Jue had already gone through his ceremony of age. His face no longer looked childish. He now appeared steady and calm.

With an appropriate pace, he pacified Huang Song. “My Lord, fret not. I do know the situation in Shangyang County. Taking it over at the moment would cause Liu Xi to suffer great losses if he fails to manage it properly. House Feng has taken a back seat, and the other noble families are no longer suppressed. Liu Xi will probably get burned out from the workload.”

The various forces within the small Diyang District were interlinked and complicated enough, let alone the social circle of the nobles of Shangyang County.

Even though none of the noble families were large, all of them had been developing their influences in Shangyang County for several generations, or even for a few dozen generations, and were deep-rooted culturally.

As compared to the Diyang District, taking over Shangyang County was ten times more difficult.

Chen Jing frowned and disagreed. “I don’t know what sort of person Liu Xi is, but the advisors working under him such as Wei Ci, Yang Si, Feng Zhen, and Feng Jin… are all very capable people. Liu Xi’s foundations have been gradually getting more and more stable. Shangyang County might not cause problems for him.”

When Jiang Pengji had gone to study in Langye Academy, Chen Jing had left to work as a government official.

He only spent a few days in the academy in the three years she studied there, celebrating Master Yuanjing’s birthday.

So, Chen Jing and Jiang Pengji were merely acquaintances. They knew of each other but didn’t have a deep understanding of each other.

It didn’t matter that Chen Jing didn’t know Jiang Pengji well since he knew his junior, Wei Ci. He also knew Wei Ci’s friends, and that all of them were giants among men despite not being well-known. Getting even one of them as an advisor would make any warlord happy, let alone a few of them.

To others, Shangyang County might be difficult to take over. To Liu Xi, who had a solid team, it was merely a stumbling block that was so small that he could step over it… Counting on Shangyang County to tie Liu Xi down was a somewhat unrealistic idea.

Feng Jue secretly lamented that he and Chen Jing still completely lacked tacit understanding.

He had deliberately worded things vaguely to gloss over the main point. Pacify Huang Song’s anxiety and motivate him, right?

But the honest Chen Jing just had to call a spade a spade.

Wasn’t he boosting other people’s morale and undermining their own prestige?

Feng Jue’s train of thought took a turn as he suddenly recalled something. He interrupted Huang Song’s internal overthinking with his words.

He said to Chen Jing, “Youmo, I recall that you have a grown nephew working in the Haozhou government?”

Chen Jing’s eldest nephew was Chen Cheng. His courtesy name was Wenfu.

Upon hearing that, Huang Song turned his gaze to Chen Jing and said in surprise, “Youmo’s eldest nephew?”

Why hadn’t he heard of this before?

Chen Jing said forthcomingly, “My lord, I do indeed have a nephew working in the Haozhou government.”

Chen Cheng was the district magistrate of the Suian District, in Fufeng County of Haozhou. As he didn’t like the realpolitik among the government officials and had no intention of obtaining a higher position, he used his family’s influence to secure the position of the district magistrate of the Suian District. He had been working the job for more than ten years.

Chen Jing was momentarily stunned and did not understand why Feng Jue suddenly mentioned Chen Cheng.

After he thought about it briefly, he immediately understood Feng Jue’s intentions and felt rather displeased.

Before Feng Jue could open his mouth, Chen Jing said, “Huaijie, if you want to get Wenfu to help our lord, I’m afraid that it would be difficult. I have already written Wenfu a letter, but Wenfu’s stance is firm and he is difficult to persuade. Furthermore, his ambitions lie elsewhere, so it is pointless to invite him to join us.”

Even though Chen Cheng was born almost a generation before Chen Jing, he was Chen Jing’s eldest nephew, and an uncle must be protective of his nephews.

Surely Chen Jing couldn’t force Chen Cheng to serve Huang Song if the latter was unwilling.

Granted, if Chen Cheng was willing to help Huang Song, as the district magistrate of Suian District, he former could provide a lot of assistance to Huang Song and even be the stepping stone for Huang Song to extend his influence into Fufeng County. However, if Chen Cheng was unwilling, Chen Jing obviously wouldn’t force him to do so.

Feng Jue’s expression was awkward, as he hadn’t expected Chen Jing to be so straightforward with his words. The atmosphere in the office stiffened slightly.

After the meeting ended, Feng Jue sought out Chen Jing in private.

“Huaijie, you wouldn’t come to me if you didn’t have something to ask of me. Just be direct about it.” Chen Jing’s personality was too upright. Even though he was very bright, he conducted himself in a rather rigid manner.

Feng Jue didn’t mince his words. “I want to help our lord conquer the entirety of Haozhou.”

The Suian District, which was under Chen Cheng’s rule, was within the boundaries of Haozhao.

Chen Jing said, “Of course, if our lord wishes to further expand his influence, we must take over Haozhou.”

“But you said that Chen Cheng is unwilling to help our lord,” Feng Jue pointed out.

Hearing this, Chen Jing frowned. Was there any conflict between Huang Song plotting to conquer Haozhou and Chen Cheng not being willing to help him?

If Huang Song could take over Haozhou, Chen Cheng just had to resign and go into hiding. He didn’t have to work under Huang Song.

Feng Jue felt his head aching as Chen Jing still didn’t get what he was implying. “What I meant is… If your eldest nephew has no intention of working for our lord, he should resign early and leave.”

Once Huang Song’s influence grew stronger and he slowly took control over Haozhou, Chen Cheng wouldn’t be able to leave, even if he wanted to.

Yang Si leaving right in front of Huang Song had already caused some trauma.

Judging from Huang Song’s temper, whoever he couldn’t receive help from wouldn’t be allowed to help other people.

His only example, Yang Si, was more than enough evidence.

It was better to be straightforward about it while there was still time.

Feng Jue didn’t want to see Chen Jing grow distant from their lord in the future because of Chen Cheng.

Chen Jing was silent for a moment, then put his hands together in a salute and bowed. “Thank you for the reminder.”

He pondered it over in his mind and decided to write his eldest nephew another letter to ask him to quickly make a decision.

1 Refer to James Legge’s translation of Mencius’ work.