Chapter 132: The Mystery of Beixiong Pass (Please Subscribe)_2
"Wouldn't you lose sleep over it if you were in my grandfather's shoes?"
Chen Yi intended to say no, but he knew that what Xie Dongan had said was a fact.
However, he also knew something else, Xie Dongan was sidestepping the main issue.
Or rather, he was substituting concepts.
It is true that the lineage of Duke Wuan presented such a threat, but the Wei Dynasty's relationships were complex and intertwined.
Apart from Duke Wuan and the civil servants, there were the enormous family clans, and sects and academies outside the temples and the Martial World.
All of these formed the complete upper class of the Wei Dynasty, not just the single family of Duke Wuan that Xie Dongan had mentioned.
Thinking of this, Chen Yi asked, "So, what does Left Minister plan to do?"
Xie Dongan's eyes twitched slightly, and after a moment of silence, he said with a smile, "All my grandfather and the others can do is try their best to maintain balance."
"The relations involved are complicated; I only know so much from what I've heard."
Chen Yi looked at him intently, aware that he was backing off, and then poured a third cup of wine.
The two clinked their glasses and drank.
"There's no need to beat around the bush, Brother Dong An, you can speak more directly."
Xie Dongan shook his head, not immediately responding.
The Little Sword Immortal from Marquis Wu Mansion, with experiences in the Martial World that were far from ordinary, indeed could not be swayed by a few words.
And his strength far surpassed that of Zhou Guanwu from thirty years ago, perhaps…
"Mr. Chen is a Heavenly Pride of the current age, the struggle between scholars and warriors is too trivial, indeed unworthy of your concern."
Xie Dongan replied not to the point, and went on talking on his own:
"I suppose you're also not concerned about Emperor Wei's succession and the matter of appointing a Crown Prince."
"Although there is no clear favorite yet, the majority at court leans towards Fifteenth Prince Wei Nantian."
Having said this, Xie Dongan laughed and then changed the subject.
"As for the secrets outside Beixiong Pass thirty years ago that interest you, I don't know much."
Chen Yi frowned slightly, looking at him with dissatisfaction.
"Did you come to this meeting just to probe me?"
He didn't care who would ascend to the throne, even if Wei Letian would become Emperor, it had nothing to do with him.
Especially since he had learned that beyond the Tianyuan Continent, there was a place like Taizhou Mountain Battlefield, his thoughts were no longer on the Wei Dynasty's strife.
Seeing Chen Yi calling him out directly, Xie Dongan said helplessly, "Don't rush, Mr. Chen."
"The reason I guessed you were concerned about this matter is because, with your current strength, there's a great chance you could become the second Zhou Guanwu."
Chen Yi nodded noncommittally, signaling him to continue.
"In fact, you might have guessed that the battle at Beixiong Pass thirty years ago, the secrets involved are incredibly complex."
"On the surface, it looked like the Demon Emperor's ascension and southbound assault on the pass."
"In fact, it also involved the struggle between scholars and warriors, as well as between Sect Families."
"I also know a little bit—that the forces behind Zhou Guanwu at the time were extremely formidable."
"In addition to the three Marquis of Prince Zhenbei's lineage, there were the Wuliang Mountain, Yuhua Immortal Sect, South Pole Sword Sect, and other Jianghu Sects involved."
Chen Yi asked, "I want to know how did Zhou Guanwu die?"
One could imagine how powerful Zhou Guanwu was at the time, supported not only by soldiers of the Devoted Army, a family with two Marquises, but also disciples from Sect Holy Lands like Wuliang Mountain.
It was not an overstatement to say that Zhou Guanwu was a prominent figure of his time.
Yet even so, he ultimately died miserably at Beixiong Pass, causing the offspring of the entire Duke Jingye Zhou Family to perish.
This matter was by no means simple!
"At that time, my grandfather had not yet been promoted to Left Minister,"
Xie Dongan knew he could not keep to himself what he knew, otherwise, Chen Yi would be displeased tonight.
This was not what he wanted to see, nor was it his intention.
"According to the 'Wei Dynasty Chronicles', when the Demon Emperor attacked from the south, he caught the Devoted Army off guard, and they suffered heavy losses."
"They held on bitterly for nearly a month before Prince Zhenbei, Du Qing, arrived with reinforcements."
Chen Yi nodded, he had read about this before.
Xie Dongan glanced at him and continued:
"In fact, the Kyoto Prefecture received the news immediately, and the Wuan Army and the Taishan Army quickly assembled."
"But before they could set off northward, a major incident occurred in the capital."
Someone at court claimed that the Demon Emperor's southward march was a play put on by the demon and the Duke Jingye, Zhou Guanwu!"
Xie Dongan's words were as shocking as a thunderbolt, making Chen Yi realize in a flash.
So that was it!
Chen Yi's mind revisited the struggles between scholars and warriors, and between Sect Families that Xie Dongan had mentioned earlier.
In that moment, he made many connections and understood Xie Dongan's intention in probing him.
He was worried about the emergence of a second Zhou Guanwu.
To be precise, Xie Dongan was worried that he, Chen Yi, would become the second Zhou Guanwu!
This was not only his worry but the concern of the entire lineage of civil servants, the concern of Left Minister Xie Jing!
No wonder he had specifically mentioned during the day that 'peace between Dukes is a fortune for the Wei Dynasty'!
While Chen Yi understood all this, Xie Dongan continued, "Who first started this argument, it is already impossible to verify."
"But the consequence was that Prince Zhenbei, Du Qing, held back the Wuan Army and the Taishan Army, with only the idle Zhou Tiance heading north with his men."
"Additionally, there were cultivators from Wuliang Mountain, Yuhua Immortal Gate, and the South Pole Sword Sect who came to support."
"While the Kyoto Prefecture remained stationary, Emperor Wei ordered a thorough investigation."
"The Ritual Department, the Night Watch Department, were all mobilized, secretly investigating Duke Jingye, Zhou Guanwu, at Beixiong Pass."
"Did the investigation find some solid evidence?" Chen Yi asked with a raised eyebrow.
Xie Dongan nodded, "They found secret letters from the Duke Jingye Mansion colluding with the Demon Emperor, and someone from the Devoted Army accused Zhou Guanwu of treason."
"However, the result was that the entire Devoted Army fought alone until they were wiped clean."
"If not for your grandfather Duke Wuan arriving in time, even Zhou Tiance would have died at Beixiong Pass."