Chapter 233: Introspection

Stifling a yawn, Chu Tongzu pressured himself away from bed on the break of daybreak, his physique aching and thoughts weary regardless of the complete evening’s relaxation. Although the warfare for Sanshu was over and gained, he nonetheless had a lot to do, with little good achieved hiding beneath mattress sheets. Whereas getting dressed and consuming his breakfast, he balked on the process earlier than him, worrying how he might accomplish such a grand enterprise. Not even a full day after narrowly avoiding destruction at Yo Ling’s arms, Tongzu now confronted the arduous process of saving Sanshu from the Empire.

Three months, the minimal time it could take for the Grand Marshal’s Inquisitor to reach in Sanshu and an impossibly brief deadline to perform Tongzu’s targets. In mild of Mao Jianghong’s and the Coalition’s betrayal, Tongzu’s fall from grace appeared all however inevitable. Such was his legacy, presiding over the hotbed of corruption and degeneracy which gave rise to the most important Defiled outbreak within the historical past of the North, however Tongzu cared little for what the historical past books would say of him nor did his destiny concern him. At worst, he’d be convicted of gross incompetence and despatched to serve on the Bridge, a welcome change after years of drudging over issues of state of coverage.

No, his issues laid with the great folks of Sanshu. Within the wake of catastrophe, many would clamour for a full-scale Purge of the area, rendering all of the efforts and heroic sacrifices of Sanshu’s heroes for nothing. Tens of hundreds of warriors dying in useless and thousands and thousands of residents put to the Query, he refused to permit such a destiny to befall his metropolis after preventing so laborious to put it aside. Although the Shrike was lifeless and gone, her Grasp nonetheless roamed the Central Plains, his indefatigable zeal and insatiable urge for food a factor of nightmares. Tongzu would sooner insurgent towards the Empire than permit the madman by Sanshus gates, a fanatic slaughterer who would minimize the nostril to spite the face.

This was all a matter for the long run, one thing exterior his management. Specializing in what could possibly be finished, Tongzu and his advisors devised the define of a plan to revive Sanshu to its former glory earlier than the Inquisitor arrived. By guaranteeing town and its folks had been too precious to kill, Sanshu would thus keep away from calamity, however Chao Yongs promotion to Lieutenant Marshal made this process all of the tougher. Tantamount to giving the slimy toad full management over all of Sanshus sources, it appeared a gross miscalculation on Main Yuzhens half. To rise from adversity, Sanshu wanted dedication, laborious work, and greater than something, coin, one thing he thought available with the Coalitions belongings seized. With Chao Yong now in management and given his avarice and crafty, Tongzu can be fortunate to get even 1 / 4 of the taxes owed in time, buried beneath a mountain of forms and paperwork whereas the previous Chief Councilman pocketed all of Sanshus wealth earlier than its ‘inevitable’ destruction.

If Sanshu took on appreciable debt, it could be a obtrusive flaw for the Inquisitor to fixate on. Hoping to keep away from this, he requested a large private mortgage from Chao Yong. The crafty service provider supplied a suitable charge at compound curiosity, although the calculations made Tongzus head spin. With such big sums concerned, the Chu household can be underneath the Chao familys thumb for many years, if not centuries, assuming Sanshu survived. Worst of all, the one collateral Chao Yong would settle for was Tongzus household, with all his dwelling family falling into slavery ought to he default or commit suicide. Cursing Yuzhen for a idiot, he inscribed a replica and despatched it to the long run Marshal of the North, exhibiting her the folly shed wrought. With that finished, he signed and sealed the contract, resigned to his destiny. He hoped to save lots of Sanshu and all who fought to defend it irrespective of the price, even when it meant dying a canines loss of life in service to a reprehensible grasp.

Upon receiving the signed contract, the slimy toad delivered the mortgage throughout the hour, probably dancing a jig in his carriage as he made his method to Shen Yun, in search of shelter in calmer seas. Although huge in measurement, this mortgage was however a single hair from 9 oxen in comparison with the fortune he carted off. Disheartened by the considered working for him, Tongzu threw himself into his work, setting Sovanna to scouring his ranks for betrayers, taking conferences and appointing officers to supervise building and demolition, and buying big swathes of property and supplies at rock-bottom costs. The fleeing nobles couldnt take their properties with them and so they snatched up his provides with out bargaining, each believing him a idiot for considering Sanshu would endure.

Faithless cowards, the aristocracy had been a most cancers to his metropolis and he was higher off with out them.

Round dinnertime, he refreshed himself with a sizzling towel and a change of garments earlier than heading out into his metropolis. Clouds of thick, oily smoke hung within the air as Tongzu rode by the streets, his coronary heart heavy on the sight of so many grieving residents. Stopping in at every funeral website, he spoke just a few phrases to the gathered lots, reciting empty platitudes as he shook arms with dad and mom and kids, siblings and lovers, each affected by a loss. Servants and labourers, farmers and tradesmen, these had been the individuals who would make Sanshu nice once more.

In just a few days, his decree could have reached the encompassing areas, inviting all of Sanshus downtrodden into his partitions. With coin secured and his dedication boundless, all that was left was the laborious work, rebuilding his metropolis from the bottom up. To win the hearts of the folks, Tongzu reversed his predecessors determination to show Sanshu right into a haven for the wealthy and affluent. Sanshus distinctive circumstances had been the explanation Yo Lings insurrection virtually succeeded. With the vast majority of the inhabitants dwelling exterior the partitions and susceptible to bandits and beasts, it fostered an surroundings tailor-made for the Defiled to cover and scheme out of sight from the shut knit communities required to outlive contained in the partitions.

To additional his plans, he supplied free meals and shelter to all who got here, promising property to everybody who aided in Sanshus restoration. Tearing down a single manor would make sufficient room for hundreds of residents and Tongzu owned a whole lot of them now. To a complete technology whod grown up exterior town, the prospect to personal land inside Sanshu was a dream come true. Constructing their very own properties appeared a minor hurdle, particularly for the reason that metropolis was footing the invoice for supplies and providing steerage. Persevering with his marketing campaign of goodwill, he dined along with his folks, wandering the streets with a easy bowl of congee in hand whereas his folks ate meat and rice, elevating morale and providing hope wherever he might whereas concurrently gauging the temper of his metropolis.

Grieving apart, his folks had been on the trail to restoration, with many a tongue wagging about future prospects. A superb signal all issues thought of, although he heard greater than a good quantity of grumbling, largely geared toward Mao Jianghong and the Coalition. Others complained in regards to the presence of the Azure Ascendants and the Moms Militia, however these had been drowned out by the voices singing praises about their valiant defence. Neither bandit group ever focused civilians, which gave Tongzu affordable justification to miss their presence. A blessing in mild of their backing, to not point out the appreciable debt of gratitude owed.

What disturbed him most had been the rumours flying about concerning the Bekhai, largely bastardized renditions of Gens speeches blaming Falling Rain for the Defiled incursion. Fools to imagine a cannibalistic fire-starting brat, however simpler accountable outsiders than settle for their very own failings. Every time Tongzu heard such grumblings, he moved to suppress them, extolling the Bekhai contributions and Falling Rains accomplishments. Gerels failure to kill Yo Ling apart, surviving a duel towards the legend was trigger sufficient to have a good time and the opposite Bekhai performed no small half of their victory.

Nonetheless reeling in shock, Tongzu stammered his thanks and wandered off, unable to remain lest curiosity overwhelm him. He foresaw many a sleepless evening forward as he contemplated Rains multitude of secrets and techniques, thanking the Mom for his presence in Sanshu. One might say that with out Rain, Gerel would have by no means come and town would have fallen to Yo Lings dastardly schemes lengthy earlier than Yuzhens arrival. Then once more, Rain may be stated to have ignited the spark the which lit an inferno as with out him, there can be no Gen. With no Gen, there can be no Purge and nothing to power Yo Lings hand. A minor participant within the grand scheme of issues, however maybe historical past would see this as Falling Rains rise to fame, prepared or not.

Hero or Villain, solely time would inform.

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Gazing out over the battlements, Situ Jia Yang cursed his luck, his face twisted in an unsightly combination of vexation and reduction. Rain fell overhead as he stared on the distant, battered ruins of the Northern wall and the corpses of Defiled and soldier alike littering the bottom in a sea of crimson, brown, and white. Although numbed to the stench, he imagined it carried fairly the space, with crows and jattuyas arriving from afar, swooping in to partake within the ready meal. Swarms of flies buzzed in regards to the area as maggots writhed and squirmed in lifeless flesh, keen to affix their brethren in flight across the charnel pit of a ravaged fortress.

The Defiled numbers had been overwhelming and their Demons slaughtered elites as simply as turning a hand. Regardless of Akanais well timed arrival together with her reinforcements, the Bridge was all however misplaced. With defeat looming on the horizon, Jia Yang did as any competent commander would, ordering his males to withdraw in teams to reconvene in Shen Yun. Although they misplaced the battle, lives might nonetheless be saved and put to make use of defending the sturdy metropolis partitions for months, holding out till reinforcements arrived from the Central Province. After the Defiled broke by the second wall and swarmed into the province, his actions can be lauded as eager foresight, dropping the battle solely to win the warfare.

Besides they didnt lose the battle.

With out rhyme or motive, the Defiled withdrew from underneath the inclement climate. The Demons fled first, disappearing within the blink of a watch as quickly because the bathe started whereas the Defiled fought on, however throughout the hour, the battle was over. Minutes stretched into hours because the defenders waited in place, unable to know why the Enemy retreated while on the cusp of victory. It made no sense and now Jia Yangs actions regarded like these of a coward, making ready to flee to save lots of his personal pores and skin whereas Baatar and Akanai led the Empire to victory.

Grinding his tooth, Jia Yang swallowed his anger and waited, half hoping for the Defiled to return and end what they began. His opponents would be aware his cowardice and pave the best way for Baatar to say the title Commander of the Wall unimpeded and unchallenged. Jia Yangs desires of changing into Patriarch of the Situ Clan appeared fleeting and distant, all his years of effort and laborious work undone in a single battle.

Dropping to a half-breed bastard, even one who fought like a hero from legend… It was virtually sufficient to drive him mad with rage, unbalancing him previous restoration.

Nearly.

Respiration by his mouth, Jia Yang fought for calm, making ready for his subsequent transfer, however for the primary time in his life, he wasnt positive what it could be.

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