Chapter 208 - My Brother Has Been Ruined. It Was Impossible To Take the Northern Army!
Chapter 208 My Brother Has Been Ruined. It Was Impossible To Take the Northern Army!
Marquess Qin said coldly, “What if you guys are outmatched by Jiang Yayue? He and the others have been to the north for several years. The promotion is not as good as the ordinary soldiers who joined the army at the same time. Your father kept saying that he was afraid of them being young and impetuous and that they need to improve themselves. But they have been assigned to insignificant places. They are not even as valued as Ou Bikong in the Ou family. Do you really think I don’t know?”
The person they were talking about was Jiang Tianao’s second legitimate son, Jiang Yayue.
It was a few years after Jiang Tianchi had joined the army that Jiang Tianqi and the others realized their previous mistakes. Out of coveting the prosperity of Jing City and a sense of superiority in the imperial court, they had been fighting hard for the support of their father and uncle in the court. Meanwhile, Jiang Tianchi had taken over the resources of the army without a word! They couldn’t accept it.
However, Jiang Tianchi was so ambitious. Though he was noble, he had started as a soldier and got to where he was now.
With such a role model as him, those who came after him would be hard to convince the soldiers if they didn’t follow his example; those who followed his example would have to submit to him because they did it after him. Therefore, Jiang Tianqi and the others, who could neither lose their face nor let go of the position they already held in the court, had to send their sons to the army to connect with the Northern Army, lest it was all taken away.
Now the first branch, the third branch, and the sixth branch all had their sons in the Northern Army, and they all started as soldiers. The one with the highest rank so far was only in charge of thousands of soldiers who were not elite.
Being asked by Marquess Qin in this way, Jiang Yashuang’s look changed, and then said in a flat tone, “Grandfather, of course, you know everything. But since you haven’t mentioned it for so many years, you must’ve been considering the fourth branch.”
“Don’t think you can bargain with me because of what happened to your eighth brother!” Marquess Qin looked at him, his gaze suddenly sharpened, and said in a deep voice, “Although your uncle and aunt didn’t have good intentions when they raised him in the first place, it was your mother who handed him over to the first branch. Besides, if you insist that Jiang Yadan was ruined by your uncle and aunt, then how do you explain the fact that Jiang Yazhu also becomes useless? Your sister-in-law didn’t deliberately raise him up to be so useless.”
Madame Tao Junior did not deliberately raise Jiang Yazhu up to be like this. The problem was that Madame Tao Junior, who had a weak temperament, couldn’t bear or dared not to say a heavy word to discipline him. In the foppish atmosphere of the Jiang Family, she didn’t have a high status among her peers. It was not strange that Jiang Yazhu didn’t listen to her and got bad influences from others.
Jiang Yashuang sneered in his heart and said lightly, “Grandfather, you got me wrong. Aren’t you protecting me by tacitly allowing Jiang Yayue to work for my father?”
“What? Do you think your father is swapping hostages with your uncle by getting Jiang Yayue to work for him?” Marquess Qin raised his voice, “Bastard! You’re related by blood after all, not enemies who want to kill each other. How dare you think of it in this way?”
“Jiang Yayue has been in the army for quite a few years, and he has always been mediocre. However, the military stratagem he wrote this time was very outstanding. My father said that his work was as good as yours back then!” Jiang Yashuang said calmly, “But he didn’t plan to show the stratagem to my father. Instead, he planned to quietly ask someone to bring it back to Jing City and ask Uncle Mengmin to deliver it to you and my granduncle! You’re a wise man, grandfather. Don’t you understand the intention of Uncle Mengmin and Jiang Yayue?”
Marquess Qin sneered, “You suspect that your uncle intends to kill you. So, your father won’t have an heir and will have to let his nephew take over the Northern Army. To put you aside, just for the sake of your eighth brother, your father won’t choose the sons of the first branch. It’s just that if the sons of the first branch are outstanding, your granduncle and I will pressure your father to cultivate Jiang Yayue as long as we are still alive. Are you thinking this way?”
Marquess Qin was obviously angry. He said coldly, “Do you think I’m dead? Won’t I be able to protect you from your uncle?”
“Grandfather, Jiang Yayue has such a talent. Why did he hide it for so many years?” Jiang Yashuang asked indifferently, “Isn’t it because Uncle Mengmin has plotted against my brother? So, he was worried that Jiang Yayue would be plotted against by my father in a similar way. That’s why he asked Jiang Yayue to pretend to be mediocre and only to show his talent at the most critical moment.”
He raised his head, and his eyes, which were as bright as the stars, were filled with the sharpness and perseverance of a young man, “Now Jiang Yayue finally intends to make a blockbuster. Grandfather, please be fair, isn’t it a sign that Uncle Mengmin wants to plot against me? My third uncle and my sixth uncle had once fought with him for the position in the court. But my father went to Beijiang at the age of twenty and he has never blocked his way. During the holidays, my father has always paid his respect to him and has never said anything bad about him. But what did my father get in return?”
With Marquess Qin’s prestige, being questioned by Jiang Yashuang, he couldn’t help but become silent.
Jiang Yashuang was right. Although Jiang Tianchi deliberately suppressed his nephews, he never fought with Jiang Tianao for anything.
Marquess Qin knew very well that the reason why his second son didn’t fight was not that he didn’t want to fight, but he knew clearly that it was useless to fight. Marquess Qin’s eldest legitimate son, Jiang Tianqi, and Sir Jibei’s only son, Jiang Tiancan, were examples. It would be better to avoid fighting and gain a good reputation.
But it was a fact that he never fought for anything. In terms of obeying his father’s orders and tolerating his cousins, Jiang Tianchi was the best among his brothers!
Under this circumstance, Jiang Tianao still plotted against his eldest son. No matter how partial Marquess Qin was to Jiang Tianao because of his gratitude to his elder brother, he didn’t know what to say at the moment.
“Of course, I believe you will be able to protect me, grandfather.” Jiang Yashuang calmed down and said, “But, the fight for the Crown Prince is coming soon. After getting rid of the Gu Family, my aunt will become the Empress Dowager and will have all the power. How will the power in the court be divided at that time? There are so many things waiting for you to decide. How can I bear to see you worry about my safety and become sad about my uncle’s behavior? So, I need to solve some problems on my own.”
Marquess Qin laughed, but there was no comfort in the laughter. After he finished laughing, he looked at his grandson coldly and contemptuously said, “You were taught by me, and you use this to coax me. If you really didn’t want me to worry too much, you shouldn’t target your uncle at this critical moment.”
“Then Uncle Mengmin will become more and more emboldened and will plot against me more vigorously.” Jiang Yashuang asked, “Jiang Yayue is still working for my father in Beijiang, but Uncle Mengmin dares to plot against me. Isn’t it because he managed to do it before? After he hurt my brother, nobody said anything about it, so he thinks it’s okay to hurt the sons of the fourth branch.”
“Are you blaming me for not backing up the fourth branch?” Marquess Qin said, “Why do you make it sound reasonable to plot against the elders?”
Jiang Yashuang said indifferently, “Of course, I dare not to blame you, grandfather. I just don’t like to see that Uncle Mengmin plays dirty tricks on us instead of the Gu Family. You saw it just now. Although the sixth uncle didn’t say anything, the third uncle revealed his hatred towards the first uncle. Do you think the Jiang Family will not fight with each other in the long run?”
“Aren’t you fighting in the family now?” Marquess Qin asked coldly.
“Uncle Mengmin started it.” Jiang Yashuang was expressionless, “You have worked so hard to teach me for so many years. Do I have to be like my brother and Jiang Yazhu, who have no threat to Uncle Mengmin but no use for the Jiang Family, just to make him happy?”
“Is it that I’m wrong to teach you?” Marquess Qin said coldly, “I have so many grandchildren but I’ve spent the most efforts on you. I’ve trained you so that you can assist your elders and support your elder brother! Not for you to target your own family members so soon!”
Jiang Yashuang looked at him quietly for a moment, and suddenly said, “If my aunt knows Uncle Mengmin asked someone to propose to find a teacher for the Seven Prince today, and he even planned to be the teacher himself…” How could Empress Jiang possibly agree to such an unbelievably obvious act of decentralization?
Especially, the relationship between Jiang Tianao and Empress Jiang was not good. If the Empress knew that Jiang Tianao was up to such an idea, she would deal with this cousin of hers or prevent him from getting more chances.
“Are you threatening me?” Marquess Qin sneered, “Do you plan to join forces with your aunt to plot against Uncle Mengmin? You are indeed trained by me. When your grandmother died back then, I married your current grandmother without frowning. Later, as soon as your grandmother’s grandfather, Tao Yinsong, passed away, I said nothing and did everything I could to get the power of the Tao Family. That’s how our family got the name ‘Jiang Banchao’（Jiang family possessed great power to control half of the Dynasty）.”
He looked intently at Jiang Yashuang, “I’ve been indeed unethical with my wife’s family and I have done worse things to others in order to make the Jiang Family more powerful. But I’ve never hurt my own family members. You’re better than me.'”
“I’ve told you about my plans.” Jiang Yashuang turned a blind eye to his sharp, blade-like gaze, and still said indifferently, “If you don’t agree, I will carry it on as I’ve made up my mind. If you really don’t like it, you are free to dispose of me as you wish, and I have no complaints whatsoever!”
Marquess Qin laughed so hard that tears came out of his eyes. He said sternly, “You must be sure that I can’t bear to hit you hard.”
Looking at the old man’s heartbroken appearance, Jiang Yashuang’s eyes flashed a sense of weakness for a moment, but then he regained his composure, “I don’t think you will hit me hard. You have always loved me the most apart from Uncle Mengmin.”
His parents were far away in Beijiang while Uncle Mengmin was plotting against him. What was more, he was not even old enough to be ready.
In this fight within the family, the only thing he could rely on was the love of Marquess Qin.
“Perhaps my grandfather’s love to me for being my teacher cannot be compared to his gratitude to the granduncle,” He stood with his eyes drooping in front of Marquess Qin, awaiting the punishment of the old man, who had taken a large breath to calm himself down, and thought indifferently, “But after all, he’s not willing to kill me. As long as my grandfather doesn’t completely side with Uncle Mengmin, my father should be able to pass the exam this time with the assistance of my aunt.”
In the first half of the year, Ou Bicheng returned to Jing City in the name of celebrating Madame Tao’s birthday and avoiding the disputes of his father’s backyard. The real purpose was to bring the military stratagem for Jiang Tianchi to remind his son.
What even Marquess Qin didn’t know was that with the military stratagem, a family letter was sent at the same time. There was no warm and tender concern and no persuasive suggestions, but only a few indifferent words. It didn’t look like a letter from the father to the son but was more like an official letter. It was Jiang Tianchi’s test for his son. He would not provide anything except the military stratagem. But he had secretly asked someone to observe how Jiang Yashuang would deal with it.
If he could deal with it properly, Jiang Tianchi would consider leaving the Northern Army to him.
If the result disappointed Jiang Tianchi, the Northern Army would have nothing to do with him, just as what Jiang Tianchi had made clear earlier.
In Jiang Tianchi’s words, even if he was his son, Jiang Tianchi would not waste his time and energy to train him if he was not worth it. He could just be a dandy.
With Jiang Yashuang’s talent in the study, he could have a bright future by being an official in the court. He didn’t necessarily have to be in the army.
But…
“My brother was ruined by the first branch. Now Jiang Yayue wants to take the Northern Army from me? No way!”
As he said to Qiu Yelan before that he had a good temper, but it didn’t mean he would never lose his temper.
Jiang Yadan was completely raised as a loser by Jiang Tianao and his wife. Even now, he didn’t realize that he had fallen into the trap of Uncle Mengmin. Jiang Yashuang was raised by Madame Tao, but he always protected himself from and held a grudge against the first branch.
Now Jiang Tianao wanted to destroy his future. How could Jiang Yashuang stand it any longer?
He didn’t study hard for so many years to prove how Jiang Tianao was favored by the uncles.
“Get out!” After a long silence, Marquess Qin finally spoke. The old man looked indifferent and said it without any emotion!
Jiang Yashuang bowed calmly, “Okay.” With his knowledge of Marquess Qin, he certainly knew that it was hard for his grandfather to make up his mind.
“At least he doesn’t side with Uncle Mengmin. It’s better this way.” He went out of the room with this thought. Sir Jibei appeared from behind the screen and sighed, “Even Jiang Yashuang you raised yourself is dissatisfied with the first branch. If the conflict between the children is suppressed again, something big might happen.”