Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play

Chapter 787 - 765: Meeting the Parents

The Grand Marshal and Xie Jue had rarely conversed, and he had assumed Xie Jue had approached him about matters concerning the Sannan Royal Family. Unexpectedly, Xie Jue spoke of arrangements for Fang Chuning.

Xie Jue said, "I am aware that the Grand Marshal intends for Fang Chuning to command the Jiangnan garrison in the future, to defend the border. After the envoy’s return, he will be placed in the Jiangnan military to gain experience. However, I hope the Grand Marshal will cultivate another commander for Jiangnan. You are still young, and there is enough time to develop another leader for Jiangnan."

The Grand Marshal’s heart jolted. He had never considered entrusting the Jiangnan garrison to anyone other than Fang Chuning. Chuning was his chosen successor, the one he deemed most suitable.

"Why?"

Facing the overwhelming presence in the Grand Marshal’s voice, Xie Jue replied in a deep tone, "Because I hope that Fang Chuning will be stationed in Zhongzhou in the future. First, to support the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry; second, to intimidate the Twelve Provinces. You are aware that Zhongzhou used to be the territory of the former Yuwen Royal Family. Although the Chen Family has now bowed in submission, intelligence reports confirm they are still seeking the bloodline of the Yuwen Royal Family, hoping to restore the Jiangnan of the previous dynasty. Zhongzhou is the lifeline of our Beining— it connects the Capital City, the Twelve Provinces, and Ningzhou, making it strategically critical. I need Fang Chuning to stabilize the military in Zhongzhou on behalf of Zhixu and diminish the influence of the Chen Family. Furthermore, with over a million Beiman flooding into Beining, most will be placed in the Twelve Provinces instead, causing Ningzhou to lose its status as a stronghold. The Twelve Provinces will become the new natural fortress. After weakening the Chen Family’s remnant influence, Fang Chuning must also fortify Zhongzhou’s defenses. More importantly, after the Beiman’s surrender, the defense forces in Ningzhou will be scaled down. The generals from Ningzhou will be reassigned to various cities across the Twelve Provinces to prevent chaos during the initial stages of the Beiman’s integration. I need a capable and authoritative general to govern the Twelve Provinces and oversee these generals. Zhixu would be the ideal candidate, but as the Emperor, he is burdened with state affairs. Therefore, I require a trustworthy general. That is why I hope that, after stabilizing Sannan, Fang Chuning will be stationed in the Twelve Provinces."

The Grand Marshal listened quietly to Xie Jue’s reasoning. He was well aware that during these years in Ningzhou, it was Xie Jue who had managed political affairs. If they were to judge by capability alone, Xie Jue was more qualified to be a king than Xie Xun.

Xie Jue’s proposal for Fang Chuning to defend Zhongzhou was well-justified. Currently, the Xie Family had only Xie Xun and Xie Jue. Xie Xun was occupied with the burdens of the empire, while Xie Jue, as a prince, could not be entrusted with commanding an army of hundreds of thousands stationed in Zhongzhou. The court would never be at ease. Even if peace could be maintained during Xie Xun’s reign, what about ten or twenty years later? How could they guarantee that Xie Jue’s descendants would remain loyal and refrain from rebellion?

Thus, Xie Jue could not hold military authority.

"Is this your idea or the Emperor’s?"

"It is my idea," Xie Jue paused. "Zhixu will not oppose it."

The Grand Marshal’s expression grew solemn. "Do you realize that the Fang Family’s foundation lies in Jiangnan? For a hundred years, the Fang Family has commanded the Jiangnan garrison. Tunan is someone I personally raised and groomed to be the commander of Jiangnan. The Jiangnan army understands that their loyalty lies with him in the future. Now your proposal disrupts my plans. Moreover, do you understand that by placing Tunan in Zhongzhou, Jiangnan and Zhongzhou will be united, inevitably becoming a tightly entwined force? If my family holds more than half of Beining’s military power, do you think the Emperor could sleep soundly? Even if the Emperor were at ease, what about twenty or thirty years later? If the next generation of the Fang Family were to harbor ambitions of rebellion, what would happen then? By sending Tunan to Zhongzhou, you are likening the Fang Family to the Marquis Zhenbei Mansion of the Yuwen Dynasty— a thorn in the Emperor’s side, one to be removed at the earliest opportunity. Whatever intentions you may have, this is a disastrous move. I cannot agree to it."

"Hence, the new commander the Grand Marshal cultivates cannot belong to the Fang Family," Xie Jue stated calmly. "You may choose a trusted follower, or I can appoint someone. But between Jiangnan and Zhongzhou, the Fang Family can only have one."

"So, the Prince not only seeks to weaken the Chen Family’s influence in Zhongzhou but also aims to diminish the Fang Family’s authority in Jiangnan," the Grand Marshal remarked with a cold laugh. "Two birds with one stone, eh?"

"Correct!" Xie Jue admitted candidly. "Zhixu’s intention to reclaim Sannan is well-known. Once the northern and southern fronts stabilize, there will no longer be a need to maintain an oversized army. The Jiangnan garrison will inevitably be downsized, and the focus will shift to Zhongzhou. Anning, in Zhongzhou, will have the opportunity to fully utilize his potential. Although he is your son, he was raised among the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry. The generals from Ningzhou respect him. He will easily establish his network in Zhongzhou. Grand Marshal, there is no need to fear that the hunting dog will be culled once the rabbit is dead. As long as I live, Anning will not become the Marquis Zhenbei of the Yuwen Dynasty."

"I cannot agree to this!" The Grand Marshal firmly refused Xie Jue. "If the Emperor issues an edict, the Fang Family will not defy it. But if you seek my opinion, I must apologize. My son will not go to Zhongzhou— he is the future commander of the Jiangnan army."

"Grand Marshal, consider this carefully. I am not consulting you." Xie Jue’s voice remained calm. "Regardless of your willingness, Fang Chuning’s deployment to Zhongzhou is already decided in my mind."

"You..." The Grand Marshal’s face darkened. "Since the Prince has already made his decision, why bother asking me at all?"