Chapter 1358 - 333: Bloody Battle (4)

Chapter 1358: Chapter 333: Bloody Battle (4)

The reason Gongsun Zhi ultimately chose to part ways with Li Bao’s son, leading his troops away and wishing to return to the Gongsun surname, was minor; but his desire for his son to change the surname was significant.

"Lord Zheng, I am a straightforward person and feel incapable of properly teaching my child. My boy is intelligent, and I fear he’ll be hindered if he stays with me. Therefore, I implore you, Lord Zheng, to teach him well.

Here, Gongsun Zhi bows his head to the ground for Lord Zheng!"

After speaking,

Gongsun Zhi knelt down again, bowing his head three times.

In truth, this signifies an entrustment of guardianship.

Throughout history, entrusting guardianship has always been significant, as one requests others to extend your bloodline, owing them a great kindness, thus three bows are only appropriate.

The wild people king once told Lord Zheng that because Lord Zheng was accustomed to looking upwards, he rarely noticed trivial pursuits.

This is because, above Lord Zheng, only a few like the South and North Lords and the Yan Emperor could meet his eye.

Anywhere with fewer people naturally becomes tranquil.

But looking down at the complex tangled roots beneath, as if watching ants burrow in the earth, dense, with twists and turns, revealing secrets.

Gongsun Zhi’s guardianship wasn’t because he planned to lead his troops to storm the fortress today.

In fact, with Gongsun Zhi’s martial prowess, combined with his personal guards willing to protect him at all costs, unless exceedingly unlucky or refuses to retreat, dying in battle today would not be easy.

His guardianship also serves as a hostage.

Just like small nations proactively sending heirs to major capitals for them to serve as hostages.

This demonstrates an attitude: I am aligning with you, and my son will stay by your side!

Lord Zheng raising the son of Prince Jingnan henceforth made him viewed by the world as being entrenched in the Prince Jingnan faction, unable to extricate himself.

Gongsun Zhi’s actions were similar.

The bond of guardianship is not easy to sever, whether for him as a father or for the young Gongsun Zhen with him.

Moreover, Gongsun Zhi had already separated from Li Bao’s lineage, tainting his reputation further; if he distanced himself from Lord Pingye’s lineage, it would become difficult for him to mix in either politics or military.

At this time,

Gong Wang also led his personal guards over, coincidentally witnessing this scene.

Actually, at this moment, everyone knew that they and their subordinates would henceforth rely on Lord Pingye.

Under a mountain head, there are three troops in total.

The troops led by Lord Pingye needs no further mention, but who commands the second troop is crucial, as it concerns the division of spoils after the victory over Chu.

Gongsun Zhi’s guardianship act appeared blatantly as vying for favor in the eyes of Gong Wang and his fellow deputy generals.

Indeed,

you, Gongsun Zhi, requested to lead the charge yesterday; but are you necessarily going to die in battle?

If certainly to die in battle, should I first prepare a coffin wrapped in white cloth for you today?

Gong Wang’s son, Gong Lin, spoke at this moment:

"Father, should I also go and bow?"

Upon hearing this, Gong Wang’s smile showed his agitation.

However, he was ultimately a follower of Situ Lei, with a heavy scholarly military demeanor and responded:

"How old are you, how old is he?

In common folk traditions, marrying a widow involves considering whether her child is male or female, and how old they must be; bringing a daughter is alright, but if she has a son, older in age, it truly becomes raising someone else’s child.

Furthermore, it involves raising a son barely younger than oneself?"

Lord Pingye is young, while Gong Wang is older, thus Gong Wang’s son, Gong Lin, is in fact only slightly younger than Lord Pingye.

Gong Lin, reprimanded, dared not speak further.

Gong Wang slightly furrowed his brow, hesitatingly remarked, "What about Jia’er..."

"Father, you wish to betroth sister to Lord Pingye?"

Gong Lin shared a deep bond with his sister, and any brother would feel heartbroken on the day of his sister’s marriage.

Moreover, this was clearly a political alliance.

Gongsun Zhi sent his son over; you, the Gong family, would immediately send a daughter over. With Lord Pingye currently without heirs, he’d suddenly have "both a son and daughter."

"Father, Lord Pingye’s family, does have a princess."

This princess is a bona fide Chu princess and was personally bestowed by the Yan Emperor during a recent visit to Yanjing.

Once his sister marries into the Zheng family, how would she compete with the princess? Would she always bow down?

Initially, Gong Wang and Gong Lin had discussed the lifelong affairs of his daughter, sharing the same view: marry into a household with lower standing than theirs, ensuring a protective father and brother, allowing her not to suffer losses, and maintain resilience in the marital family.

But the lineage of Lord Pingye...

Especially with a princess as the primary wife, how could his sister (daughter) maintain resilience?

What Gong Lin doesn’t know is that even the princess remains subordinate in Lord Pingye’s household.

"Enough, enough, come down with me first to pay respects to Lord Zheng."

Gong Wang led his son along with a team of subordinate generals, dismounted and approached together to pay respects:

"Subordinate pays respects to Lord Pingye, Lord Pingye may you be well!"

"Rise."

"Thank you, Lord Zheng!"

Gong Wang pointed at his side at Gong Lin, introducing:

"Lord Zheng, this is my son."

"Gong Lin pays respects to Lord Pingye, Lord Pingye has always been a role model for me."

This isn’t intentionally flattering,