Pei Ze broke out in a cold sweat.
What Ye Suijin said was very likely to happen.
For Emperor Jin, driving the three newly surrendered families to attack Fang Prefecture in the south could keep his southern border stable.
The three families were still new to Emperor Jin, and he had not cultivated any deep loyalty with them yet. Whether they win or lose, Emperor Jin would not lose much.
If they lost, it would diminish the military power of the three families, making them less of a threat to Emperor Jin.
If they won, it would expand Jin's territory.
Emperor Jin had nothing to lose.
For the three families, since they had already received the order, Emperor Jin was unlikely to sabotage them from behind. Unless he was truly shameless.
This possibility still needed to be considered, but could be temporarily put aside for now.
Let's first say, if the three families attacked Fang Prefecture in the south, it would be heartbreaking if one family alone was diminished, but if the three attacked together, even if Pei Ze was capable, there was no way for him to turn the tide.
They could probably easily take Fang Prefecture with small sacrifice, offer some of the spoils to the Emperor, and the three families share the rest of the benefits.
Under this assumption, everyone would be delighted.
Everyone except Pei Ze.
After analyzing it, Emperor Jin was very likely to do this.
As soon as Ye Suijin gave Pei Ze this reminder, he could understand clearly. How could he not break out in cold sweat.
At this point, he truly believed that Ye Suijin of Deng Prefecture had good intentions.
"What Miss Ye said is extremely true. I was muddled. Fortunately Miss Ye has awoken me," he sincerely expressed his gratitude, "I have never interacted with Jin, and did not know..."
Ye Suijin said in a casual, irresponsible manner, "My late father once traveled around the Shu region and had the fortune of seeing your esteemed father from afar. The might of the Wuyong Army was so impressive that my father remembered it for many years after. I heard him tell stories often when I was young."
(Ye Shiju: ??)
"Later, my father somehow heard that Lord Pei of Fang Prefecture was the son of the former Military Governor of Jian Nan, Lord Pei. "
"My father always regretted this."
"I have an extremely deep impression of this."
Pei Ze's eyes darkened, "Let's not mention the past."
Ye Suijin said solemnly, "But Lord Pei, you are the true descendant of Jian Nan!"
"Now, the treasonous king looks down on Great Jin, established the Shu Kingdom and claimed himself Emperor." Her eyes lit up, "If I were the Emperor, I would definitely be furious to the bone. But now I do not have the capacity to deal with him. But the longer an illegitimate claim exists, the more legitimate it becomes. Eight or ten years later, when everyone recognizes the Shu Kingdom, how could I find any justified cause for action?"
In their previous lives, Pei Ze and his son Pei Dingxi, two generations of men, perished on the road of campaigns against the Shu Kingdom.
Unable to reclaim his homeland and avenge his father with his own hands, this man must have died with endless regrets.
In the end, the Shu Kingdom was still conquered and became part of Great Mu's territory.
In the history books, Zhao Jingwen's achievements in expanding territory must have been written in magnificent strokes. Future readers would definitely be filled with boundless admiration when reading it.
As for those broken spears half sunk in the sand, those eyes closed in regret, who would remember?
Usually people lacking in political vision do not realize their own shortcomings.
But Pei Ze was not so unaware as to fail to recognize other people's strengths.
Ye Suijin's reasoning was appropriate and logical, clearing up his thoughts.
How could a woman become Governor of two Prefectures? She must be capable.
At this moment, Pei Ze had completely let go of useless notions like "she is a woman" and "she is Zhao Jingwen's wife".
The Ye Suijin before him was clearly a woman with a clear mind and sharp vision.
Even if this idea came from one of his advisors, it showed she had good judgement of people and could accept counsel.
If this idea came from her... Pei Ze had to admit, she was stronger than him in political matters.
He said, "If I send people to the capital..."
Ye Suijin generously said, "For our families bound by marriage, Deng Prefecture will certainly lend our way to Lord Pei."
Since Fang Prefecture did not currently border the territory directly controlled by Emperor Jin, for him to go to the capital, he must pass through others' land.
He had controlled Jun Prefecture for several years, and Jun was eyeing him like a tiger watching prey, so he definitely could not pass through Jun.
But...
Families bound by marriage...
It was such an extremely strange, preposterous notion, yet he was somewhat willing to accept it.
And after accepting it, it did not sound as jarring. Upon further contemplation, it did not seem so preposterous. Suddenly, it hit him - if he just switched the genders of Ye Suijin and Zhao Jingwen, everything became so intimate, reasonable, and even full of human touch.
"Miss Ye," Pei Ze asked, "What do you think about Xiang Prefecture?"
Ye Suijin asked, "Does My Lord have a map here?"
Pei Ze then had someone bring over a map and spread it open.
Ye Suijin said, "Let me first explain to My Lord, I have already taken River Mouth and Gu City under my control."
She drew a line with her finger, connecting River Mouth and Gu City into a vertical line directly facing Fang Tomb. She then drew horizontally to the east, connecting to her New Field of Deng Prefecture and Lake Yang of Tang Prefecture.
Of this triangular region, Ye Suijin said, "This already belongs to me."
Alright. Pei Ze said, "Okay."
He paused, then asked, "When did this happen?"
Because River Mouth had always been under Zhao Jingwen's control.
Although Gu City had city walls, it was too dilapidated. With Zhao Jingwen's current situation, he did not have the capacity to improve peoples' livelihoods, so he chose the more suitable River Mouth to station troops.
Pei Ze thought this was reasonable.
His men had encountered and started killing their way towards that rogue general, and had already reached Gu City.
He also felt the city was too run down to squeeze out any resources. Also, that location was like a protruding horn facing Deng Prefecture on the map, compared to his own territory.
The situation in Deng Prefecture was unclear, but he already bordered six Prefectures, the geopolitics were giving him a headache. There was no need to add another new neighbor for a small broken city to the east.
Ye Suijin's mouth curved into a smile.
"I just came from Deng Prefecture, these last couple days," she said.
Pei Ze: "......"
So she waited around without making a move, until Zhao Jingwen and Pei Lian had tied the knot before she stepped out.
Pei Ze felt a toothache coming on.
This woman Ye Suijin, Zhao Jingwen was at least her son-in-law. What could you call her, audacious?
But Pei Ze thought of Pei Lian.
Zhao Jingwen was brought in by Pei Lian's own efforts. No, she used threats on her own life to forcefully gain him.
With her temperament, no matter what she would encounter a disaster like Zhao Jingwen.
In fact, Ye Suijin had left the Pei family with some dignity.
If she had caused a scene at the wedding ceremony before or during, with so many guests present, Pei Ze would have completely lost face.
Pei Ze regulated his qi, and calmly said, "Please continue, Miss Ye."
Ye Suijin smiled smugly, "Lord Pei is broad-minded. I'm young, don't hold it against me."
Pei Ze directly chose not to speak.
Ye Suijin placed her finger on the map, "I must have Xiang Prefecture."
Starting from Gu City, she drew a line, "The west of Xiang Prefecture, that all belongs to My Lord. But I must take Xiang Prefecture. "
Pei Ze stared intently.
Ye Suijin said, "This way, our families have each other's backs. My ambitions lie south, and My Lord's ambitions lie west. Our families do not conflict."
She leaned her hands on the table, "What does My Lord think?"
Pei Ze raised his eyes to look steadily at Ye Suijin.
She was clearly a very young woman, her skin smooth and radiant, her entire being full of vitality.
Yet Pei Ze truly felt that this young woman not only had sharp vision, she also... understood him very well.
His son was called Pei Dingxi.
The child was born in Fang Tomb, and grew up in Fang Tomb. His name meant Stabilizing the West.
Gazing west from Fang Tomb, far in the distance across Jin Prefecture, Tong Prefecture, Bi Prefecture, Ba Prefecture, Lang Prefecture, was Jian Nan Circuit.
It was too difficult. Sometimes when he looked at the map, he did not know if he could step foot on his homeland again in this lifetime.
This young woman Ye Suijin, with just a few words, affirmed his "ambitions lay west".
Ye Suijin leaned on the table, smiling at him.
Her gaze was always so ardent, just like her dazzling beauty.
She looked at Pei Ze, and Pei Ze also looked at her.
There was some indescribable aura between the two.
Outsiders could not enter.
Duan Jin knew that although he was also in this room, there were only Pei Ze and Ye Suijin on the tabletop.
Duan Jin was envious and longing. When would he be able to make Ye Suijin look at him like this?
Ye Suijin's gaze at Pei Ze was completely different from her gaze at him.
Duan Jin realized that the kind of gaze she gave Pei Ze was what he wanted.
Not that kind of gentle, tolerant and benevolent gaze.
That's not right.
Where exactly did it go wrong?
What should he do to get it?
"This matter has to be planned for the long term," Pei Ze said calmly.
"Of course, for now, Lord Pei should first figure out how to speak to the Emperor," Ye Suijin said, "I'm currently stationed at Gu City. Lord Pei's people can come find me there, and we can go to Deng Prefecture together. In the capital, I can make recommendations for Lord Pei." "Also..." Ye Suijin thought for a moment. For cooperation like this, using just Zhao Jingwen as a gesture of good faith was still too lightweight. She said, "I have grain."
Pei Ze abruptly looked up.
"Of course, clear accounts make long friends, even between family," Ye Suijin added.
Family.
The corners of Pei Ze's mouth even twitched.
But he was surrounded by opponents on all sides, no one would sell grain to him. No matter which faction, they would cover up grain and iron tightly.
Last year's grain production in Fang Prefecture decreased quite a bit. His grain reserves were truly somewhat dangerous. Usually it was fine, but with war, it certainly wouldn't last. This was also one reason why he couldn't immediately agree to plot Xiang Prefecture with Ye Suijin.
For Ye Suijin to sell grain to him was a huge gesture of good faith.
This family member had done well!
The door to the study finally opened.
All four people in the courtyard stood up straight, tense, looking over.
Someone stepped over the threshold, into the spring light.
She had a slender waist and long limbs, and powerful shoulders. Her face was flushed like a peach blossom, outshining the spring light.
She raised her face slightly, felt the sunlight, then looked towards the courtyard.
Zhao Jingwen, her former husband, was gazing at her in a daze.
Ye Suijin smiled slightly.
