Their dissatisfaction with Wu Caiwei reached its peak. The thought of that woman’s machinations filled them with resentment. Crucially, the Young Master actually listened to her, which inevitably led to their disappointment in him. They had followed him with admiration, intending to conquer the realm together. Now, while others were actively striving, he remained aloof and indifferent, making it difficult for them to genuinely commit to his cause. They subtly began to observe other feudal lords, considering a change of allegiance.
Yang Hanye was not oblivious to their disappointment, nor was he unaware of their intentions to betray him. However, he placed greater trust in Wu Caiwei and Chen Renjie, believing their judgments to be sound. After all, in all their years together, he had never seen them falter.
The next day, several advisors approached him with their packed bags, bidding farewell. Yang Hanye did not try to persuade them to stay. Instead, he rewarded them with a sum of money and saw them to the main gate.
Though they no longer held high hopes for him, they couldn't help but offer a parting piece of advice, acknowledging his past care for them during their years at the Yang King’s manor. “We are all people with ideals and ambitions. The Young Master once had them too. We believed we had found a worthy leader and would support each other for life. It is unexpected that we part ways after only a few years. Henceforth, Young Master, please take good care of yourself and keep your distance from Wu Caiwei and Young Master Chen.”
Yang Hanye watched them silently, offering neither a nod nor a shake of his head. He calmly saw them off. It would be a lie to say that the scene of their departure didn't affect him. He had personally visited them three times to invite them into his service, and it was disheartening to see them leave under such unpleasant circumstances. He often reflected on his own actions, questioning if he had erred. Yet, the brilliance of those two men always convinced him that they were the ones who truly understood the bigger picture.
After weighing the pros and cons, he decided that if he was to trust them, he would trust them completely. If they ultimately failed, he was prepared to accept the consequences of his gamble.
Wu Caiwei was not unaware of the turmoil within the manor. She merely wished to observe Yang Hanye’s choices. After a period of observation, she found that he had not disappointed her, confirming that her decision to save him had been the right one.
The original owner of this body knew of Yang Hanye. From the dangerous situation they had witnessed, if she hadn't saved him, he would have perished without a trace. But how had he survived in her previous life? Was there someone else in that courtyard?
This thought sent a jolt of surprise through her. However, so much time had passed that investigating further seemed pointless. She believed that the truth would eventually be revealed. Of course, it was also possible that someone had simply stayed hidden, seeking neither recognition nor reward.
In return for his trust, Wu Caiwei and Chen Renjie presented Yang Hanye with the blueprints for weapons they had been developing for days. Yang Hanye studied them for a long time, unable to comprehend what they were. Only after they explained them to him did he widen his eyes in astonishment. He never imagined there was so much complexity in the weapons of warfare. He immediately summoned blacksmiths, instructing them to forge the corresponding armaments according to their designs.
About half a month later, after numerous revisions, the items they required were finally completed. They proceeded to the training grounds, where they demonstrated the power of these weapons to everyone present. Not only were the soldiers amazed by their efficacy and intrigued, but Yang Hanye himself couldn’t stop admiring them.
As their commander, he understood the immense importance of good weaponry in warfare. His gaze towards the two of them sparkled.
Even more unexpectedly, it was believed the Emperor would never send troops to attack other feudal lords at this time. However, he acted against all expectations, dispatching a significant number of soldiers and, crucially, bringing along the legendary Red-Robed Cannons. This was the first time they witnessed the destructive power of these cannons. They had initially dismissed the rumors of their might as mere exaggeration. But when the cannons were aimed at the city walls, they realized the true method of conquering a city. Su Dan novel network.
Almost overnight, the cities secretly occupied by all the feudal lords changed hands. Yang Wang was the only one spared. At this point, Yang Hanye couldn't help but feel a chill of fear. While their minor manipulations had yielded temporary gains, the Emperor had noted them all. After this punitive strike, they would surely face a difficult future.
Indeed, events unfolded as they had predicted. With the Red-Robed Cannons guarding the defenses, everyone adopted a defensive stance. Of course, some refused to yield. Like Prince Ping, they attempted to engage the imperial court, only to find the cannons leading the charge with the troops close behind. Within days, he lost two cities and quickly capitulated. To prevent the situation from escalating, the Emperor temporarily forgave him, though the illegally seized cities could not be reclaimed. The prince wept bitterly, having lost both his reputation and his resources.
This incident convinced Yang Hanye that his choices had been correct. If not for Wu Caiwei, he would have died long ago. She had no reason to betray him; taking his life would have been far simpler. Besides, not saving him in the first place would have been even less troublesome.
When Prince Ping heard that the Emperor had dispatched another army to attack him, he groaned inwardly. Although he had made extensive preparations and believed he could hold his own against the imperial court, or even ascend to the throne in the Emperor's apparent disinterest in state affairs, he underestimated the saying that there's always someone better. His northward advance quickly faltered, and even when he retreated to his own territory, the enemy pursued him. While he employed tactics, luring them into a swampy area and inflicting considerable damage, these tricks could only be used once. He was astonished that the Emperor was so relentless, concentrating his forces on him with the intent to annihilate him. Regret was now futile; he could only focus on finding ways to resist the enemy.
Far away in the capital, Wu Caiwei suddenly recalled something. In the original owner's memories, the fiefdom of Prince Li contained a gold mine, which he had been secretly exploiting to expand his army and purchase provisions. Among all the feudal lords, he was the wealthiest, yet the imperial court remained entirely unaware.
However, it was unlikely he would allow the imperial court to gain control of the mine. After all, a stronger imperial military would undoubtedly deal with them severely, a scenario none of them wished to face.
Thus, to the astonishment of many, Yang Hanye led his troops over mountains and across rivers to attack an ordinary small county town belonging to Prince Li. This was the first feudal lord to openly attack a neighbor. In their eyes, their common enemy was the imperial court. Unexpectedly, he had set a precedent. While some disapproved, others applauded.
Prince Li, on the other hand, was thrown into a panic. To outsiders, it was just a remote county town, but only he knew it was his entire fortune and his granary. After all, with money, one could buy grain. Had the enemy received some intelligence that made them target this specific location?