Chapter 325 You Have to Prepare for Potential Failure

“What else can I do?” Qiu Jinglan asked calmly, “Should I ask General Wang not to reward them? Or should I give them a bigger one? Our men…”He became silent for a few seconds then kept saying, “We are short on soldiers. How can we carry our belongings? If we want to reward, what do we have now?”

Ruan Yi became angry and said, “It’s all the Jiang Family’s intention. In Xiaosha mountain, if they had arrived earlier, how could many of our men die? All the way, they also…”

“The Jiang Family isn’t a charity hall. Although they have said that they will negotiate the payment in advance, how could they not do such a big thing?” Qiu Jinglan was not very angry. He said in an extremely indifferent tone, “Our manpower is limited. The influence is inferior to the Jiang Family, and we can’t plan. How could it be possible for us not to suffer a loss?”

“But now it’s obvious that General Wang wants to win over those generals, and then they won’t need you anymore.” Ruan Yi reminded in a deep voice, “Will they still support you in the court as promised before? Even though you still have Prime Minister Xue to rely on, would Prime Minister Xue’s status be as important as before if the Empress Dowager Gu fell?”

Qiu Jinglan squinted and looked at the confidants who had grown up together since childhood. He asked, “Do you think that Wang can get all the ten generals by giving them some benefits?”

Ruan Yi said, “There must be those who are loyal to the old general and also to you, but the Jiang Family is more powerful…”

“You forget that when I guaranteed the Jiang Family just now, the messengers didn’t say a word?” Qiu Jinglan’s armour had been unloaded. He glanced at the blood stained on the snow-white tunic and walked to the case where the medicine was placed while undressing. He said, “There are more than one or two smart people among them and these smart people have convinced others. So at least for now, there’s no need to worry. No matter how much benefit the Jiang Family gives, it’s impossible for them to win those people over. ”

“…?” Ruan Yi followed to change the medicine for him. He didn’t say anything but confused.

Qiu Jinglan calmly explained, “The Jiang Family intends to take over the Western Army. This is the reason why they have been investing so much for my revenge. Those generals are willing to serve as internal agents because, apart from the kindness of my grandfather and father, Kuang Shihan have been pushing them out all these years. It is because they had means and willingness to deal with Kuang Shihan. The most important reason is that Kuang Shihan cannot control the Western Army alone without them… In a word, they also have made a choice after consideration. They ask for something, but not care about nothing. They just want to avenge my grandfather and my father. ”

Because of the stimulation of the powder, he frowned slightly. A cold sweat gradually seeped from his black hair. After the pain, he continued to say, “The problem is that the Jiang Family is not an ordinary family. They started with martial arts in the past and now most of their subordinates are in the army. Although they run the Northern Army like a solid bucket, they may not be able to find enough people to change all the generals of the Western Army. At that time, what will these generals going to do? ”

Ruan Yi stopped and said happily, “I understand! These generals will stay close to you no matter how the Jiang Family bribe them, in order not to let the Jiang Family replace them with their men.”

“You still think too well!” Qiu Jinglan sneered, “I’m very young! These generals, not to mention their age, can be my elders. They have been in Xijiang for so many years. They have been living in the wind and snow for most of their lives. Only by fighting hard can they get their status today! If they were to be taken out, they would be convinced by my grandfather and father who had been friends with them. As for me, they can take care of me, have mercy on me, and support me, but how can I convince them? Although I became Jinshi and entered the Hanlin Academy when I was 18 years old, can I kill more people than their soldiers in the war?”

Ruan Yi said, “They just asked you to speak for the Jiang family…”

“It was just for the Jiang Family!” Qiu Jinglan disdained and said, “The Jiang Family needs me as a cover to control the Western Army. And these generals of the Western Army also need me to refuse the Jiang Family, or to wait for the price to sell.”

After taking a breath, Qiu Jinglan squinted and said coldly,” So you see, after this is finished, today those who sent messengers to come over certainly will desperately ask for honor for me. Even if it is impossible to win the position of Major General of the Western Army for me directly, they will try to ask for a high position in the army. In this way, when the Jiang Family wants to replace them, I can speak for them, and then they have to speak for me, too. Otherwise, without their support, even if I continue to stay in the army, I will have no power. ”

Ruan Yi didn’t speak for a while, and then he said, “So both sides don’t mean well to you…”

“It’s not unkind, but that they have their own positions.” Qiu Jinglan said casually, “Originally, after my grandfather was defeated and my father was killed in the war, these old subordinates didn’t even give private greetings, although there was pressure from the Empress Dowager Gu. Of course, the most loyal ones were also killed. How loyal do you think I would expect them to be? Now they are willing to do this. I’m afraid they don’t care much about the old relationship. It’s just for the sake of interests. ”

Ruan Yi said with a bitter smile, “Well, they want to make you a puppet, but how can the Jiang family agree? At that time, you will be dangerous…”

“How can I be unprepared, since I have expected the plans of both sides?” Qiu Jinglan said, “General Wang was sent by Marquess Qin. Naturally, he was thinking about the whole Jiang Family. But Marquess Qin is old and there are many contradictions between the branches of the Jiang Family. Once he dies, the Jiang family will be separated. A single branch of the Jiang Family may not as ambitious as Marquess Qin.”

“You mean?”

“The fourth branch is lucky.” Qiu Jinglan said, “It’s only because my only sister married the fourth branch. When Kuang Shihan and his son are killed, I will arrange for someone to contact with Jiang Yashuang… Jiang Yashuang is the only one in the fourth branch who can be used and he is supposed to take over the Northern Army. His cousin Zhuang Rong, a civil servant, will lose half his life if he comes to Shazhou to serve, not to mention taking charge of the Western Army. Although his intimate friend Ou Bicheng is tactful and loyal to him, he is not as good as me in terms of age and ability. It is impossible for him to be a Prefectural Governor of Shazhou. And so there are only several people he can trust. Therefore, who else can he seek for if he doesn’t support me? Does he want to depend on his capable but ambitious uncles and cousins? ”

Ruan Yi hesitated and said, “But he isn’t in charge of the fourth branch of the Jiang Family, is he?” Jiang Tianchi and his wife were still alive.

Jiang Yashuang didn’t have the talent to be in charge of the Western Army, but Jiang Tianchi might have.

“Think about it from the perspective of the Jiang Family’s fourth branch.” Qiu Jinglan sneered, “If there were no support from the Empress Dowager Gu, even Kuang Shihan have done harm to my father and the whole Ruan Family, he wouldn’t sit in the position of the Major General of the Western Army. In order to win him over, Empress Dowager Gu let her youngest daughter, Xingkang Grand Princess, marry Kuang Qingwu, regardless of his bastard. But in the past ten years, Kuang Qingwu had an affair with Commandery Princess Ningtai when he knew he had to marry a Princess. Empress Dowager Gu again ignored that and still let Princess Changping marry Kuang Qingwu. If it is not humble, it is true that she’s being forbearing and conciliatory.”

He squinted and said, “No matter how loyal the subordinates of the fourth branch of the Jiang Family are, once they have mastered the Western Army, how can they not have the intention to take their place side by side with the Jiang Family or even fight at that time? Even if these people don’t think so, will their confidants and families not encourage them to do so? People’s ideas will always change with their status and power. No matter how great the kindness was, they can’t prevent such changes. Oh, time and distance also can turn the loyal subordinates into ambitious opponents. ”

Ruan Yi was in silent.

“Therefore, as for the control over the Western Army, the first consideration of the Jiang Family is their own children, followed by nephews and other children, and the third one is the children-in-law… The confidants will never be sent here.” Qiu Jinglan said calmly, “after all, the more intimate he is, the more secrets he knows, and the more he understands the old master. The reason why Kuang Shihan succeeded in murdering my grandfather’s family and my father was that they treated him like a parent-child and he knew too much about the Ruan Family and the Qiu Family.”

If the fourth branch of the Jiang Family didn’t plan to send their men in the army to take over the shift, Qiu Jinglan was the only one who could be chosen. After all, the family of Jiang Tianchi’s wife was a scholarly family and never considered giving up writing to join the army. His two sisters had no sons. The relationship between the cousins and him was even further. It was not as close as Qiu Jinglan.

At least everyone knew that Qiu Jinglan regarded his younger sister Qiu Yelan as a treasure. As long as the Jiang family didn’t treat her badly, Qiu Jinglan wouldn’t show disrespect to the Jiang Family when he thought about her younger sister’s situation in the Jiang Family.

Ruan Yi frowned and said, “But Marquess Qin is still here. Will he let the fourth branch take the Western Army? After all, the fourth branch has taken the Northern Army.” If the fourth branch was too strong, what about other branches?

“Isn’t there a court?” Qiu Jinglan didn’t think so. “Jiang Tianao is the Deputy Premier. In the eyes of ordinary people, he is much richer than Jiang Tianchi, the Great General of North. Moreover, it’s useless for Marquess Qin to oppose it. First of all, the generals who just sent messengers can’t be replaced in a short time. Otherwise, the generals in Western Army will be worried and even regard the Jiang Family as an enemy. Secondly, with their support, it is not difficult for me to gain a firm foothold in the Western Army. Thirdly, when I get a firm foothold and Jiang Yashuang supports me secretly… Do you think it’s so easy for Marquess Qin, who is far away in Jing City, to replace me?”

He sneered, “On the aspect of shrewdness, my mentor Prime Minister Xue is not worse than Marquess Qin. Do you think that my mentor won’t work hard to help me when the Empress Dowager Gu’s party doesn’t hold the Jiang Family back? And won’t the Jiang Family cross the river and tear down the bridge? After all, Jiang Tianao has been jealous of my mentor for a long time.”

Ruan Yi thought about his words carefully and relieved, “It is good for you to have a preparation. I’m afraid that the Jiang Family is so prominent that they will do harm to you.”

Qiujinglan was about to answer as a subordinate rushed in to report, “Young master, news from Shazhou! Mr. Leshan has entered the city. Kuang only sent a few soldiers to see him off. Kuang and his father and their guards are not among them.”

“Good!” Qiu Jinglan was overjoyed. He suddenly stood up and broke the wound that Ruan Yi had wrapped up for him again. He clapped his hands and shouted, “Order! Everyone immediately packs up, ignores the pursuit, and returns to Shazhou.”

His words contained endless anger and joy. “Within three days, I will offer sacrifices with Kuang’s bodies in the place where my father, uncle and cousin died in battle!”

“I’m willing to serve young master and swear to the death to take the heart of the Kuang’s and offer sacrifices to the old Prince and the Ruan Family.” That man knew that this was Qiu Jinglan’s long cherished wish for many years, so he immediately bowed down and asked for a fight.

Ruan Yi then said, “I’m willing to serve young master and take the heart of the Kuang’s and offer sacrifices to the old Prince and the Ruan Family.” The voice came out again and again, shaking the snow Valley.

“Fortunately, the surrounding mountains are not high, otherwise there will be big trouble…” General Wang and his several subordinates stood in the distance, squinting at the “Tianya” people methodically packing things, ready to kill back to Shazhou. He murmured, “It’s just an assassin organization and it has such a momentum… Prince’s Mansion of Xihe is worthy of the name of the founding noble.”

One of his subordinates said with a smile, “They do this for our Jiang Family. What kind of soldiers are they? Qiu Jinglan is the soldier of the Marquess!”

“Watch your tongue!” General Wang’s face was gloomy, “At present, we still need him, especially in the next period of time. Have you forgotten what the Marquess ordered you to do? ”

That man was astonished and apologized,

“Let’s help them. Remember that Qiu Jinglan’s request is for this war. For the honor, especially Kuang and his son, he can deal with them.” General Wang stood up, tightened his cape on his shoulder, and said slowly, “He wants to offer sacrifices to his ancestors and we should cooperate… When he’s busy, find out the details of the Western Army. Don’t mess up with Marquess’s great plan.”

“Yes, sir.” All of them agreed in unison and then they went to the busy people in “Tianya”.