Frost for a Thousand Years

Chapter 59 Your Highness, fly with confidence, your nine clans will forever be with you.

Wei Wusheng's smile vanished in an instant.

Song Shi'an's seriousness didn't seem like he was joking.

Their eyes remained locked on each other.

Wei Wusheng walked slowly down the stage. He passed by Song Shi'an, hesitating and lingering.

"Your Highness should know what I'm talking about."

Song Shi'an also turned to the side, looking at Wei Wusheng who seemed to be intentionally avoiding him, but did not let him off so easily.

With his eyes lowered, Wei Wusheng stopped, still speaking to the air, and said, "Only a miracle can save us on this journey. Do you know what I wish for, Song Qing?"

Song Shi'an remained silent.

"You know, but you dare not say it."

Wei Wusheng pursed his lips slightly, and then slowly said, "In the twenty-seventh year of Jiarui, Consort Chen, who is my birth mother, gave birth to me. At that time, I came out feet first, and had a difficult labor all night. My mother died in pain. And she was His Majesty's most favored concubine, so from the moment I was born, I was regarded as a 'cursed child'. His Majesty hated me to the extreme, so he named me 'Wusheng' and gave me no courtesy name."

This is well known.

"His Majesty abandoned me in He Ning Palace and never inquired about me again. My birth mother was of lowly birth and her family had no power. After her death, my monthly salary from the palace was cut off. The palace maids and eunuchs all went to live with the other concubines. Only one old palace maid supported me. She was frugal and spent money to hire a wet nurse in the palace so that I could have milk after the other princesses had finished eating."

This is something that outsiders don't know.

Song Shi'an lowered his head.

I never imagined that the Sixth Prince wouldn't have it so easy either.

The imperial palace was not a place of stinginess, but rather a place of absolute reverence for the emperor.

Since one dares not guess the emperor's thoughts, one can only go along with his actions.

Who would dare not pay their monthly salary?

Your Majesty is too cruel to the cursed child.

Or rather, most emperors in ancient times were perverts.

Emperor Wen of Han, an emperor who was so highly regarded, was also ruthless and cruel towards his children and harem, and his methods were no less cruel than those of Emperor Yu.

"Later, it was the late emperor's concubine, Lady Zhang, who brought me into the palace."

Speaking of the woman who was not his biological grandmother but was more like one, Wei Wusheng's tone revealed a hint of longing: "Perhaps His Majesty has forgotten that there was such a Wusheng and has not interfered. After I grew up, the old Consort sent me to the Imperial Academy, where I studied with my tutors. Even now, I am still considered wealthy."

Of course, the emperor still didn't take the disobedience seriously.

At the age of 22, the child should theoretically be starting elementary school.

Song Shi'an was different; although he was also over twenty, it was purely a joke.

In addition, Song Jing also intended to help him pass the imperial examination and become a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial-level imperial examinations). After his family made some arrangements, they would then choose a marriage partner who was "of equal social standing".

"If it weren't for this expedition, His Majesty and I would never have had a single conversation."

He slowly turned his head to look at Song Shi'an, and said coldly, "If I go north and die in the north wind, Your Majesty will surely lead the court officials to give me a state funeral with the honors due to a prince."

This was Wei Wusheng's wish.

Song Shi'an remained silent.

"Song Qing."

Wei Wusheng stared into his eyes and questioned, "If we follow your method and still fail to defend the city, will I have to bear the weight of a mountain of guilt even in death?"

"Yes."

Song Shi'an gave an affirmative answer.

But the reason he said this was because, apart from Wei Wusheng, there was no one else who could be chosen to oppose this "crime of exterminating nine generations of relatives".

His mother was dead, and he was of commoner origin with no powerful backing.

Even if the royal family causes a ruckus, at most they can only shake the foundation of the country, cause the people of Liangzhou to rebel, and endanger the Great Yu Dynasty. That's all.

Are you suggesting we execute Wei Wusheng's entire family?
What is the only loss?

It simply means that after death, there was no state funeral with the rites due to royalty, no burial in the royal tombs, and no recognition from the father.

It was a very minor, insignificant thing.

However, even seemingly minor matters can cause extreme resentment in ancient times at certain times.

I would die for fame, or for my lord.

It refers to something unseen, yet full of divinity.

"Your Highness," Song Shi'an countered without flinching, "If we hold out, will everything be wiped clean?"

In ancient times, political struggles weren't based on factors like a son's visits to brothels, an affair with his sister-in-law, embezzlement of hundreds of thousands of taels of silver, or treason. These weren't grounds for execution. Those new to history often wonder: why could the emperor tolerate such people? Why wasn't he executed for such acts? Was the emperor completely deceived and unaware of everything?

Was Sun Situ arrogant or not?

In front of the emperor, he insulted the son of a nobleman by calling him a "son of a concubine".

Why not put the nobles and the emperor to death?
Can't do it.

It's not necessary either.

same,

As long as we can hold off the north wind, force Ji Yuan to retreat, and temporarily maintain peace, thus buying time for a counterattack, even if Wei Wusheng's sword is dulled from killing 'loyal ministers' in Beiliang.

When the accounts were settled afterward, it turned out that all those executed were traitors to the country.

This is the general trend.

"you're right."

Wei Wusheng also agreed with Song Shi'an's words.

However, he was still hesitant.

"Why can't we return in glory? Why must it be a heroic sacrifice?" Song Shi'an asked again.

"explain."

Wei Wusheng was completely curious about Song Shi'an's strategy.

He slowly bowed deeply. Then, Song Shi'an told the prince about his entire plan.

nothing left.

As he listened, Wei Wusheng couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.

Looking at this person, he sensed that the other person was more than just arrogant.

One more thing, extreme.

But what's truly painful is these blatantly disrespectful words...

He was able to understand it completely.

Even, I was moved.

"His Majesty has given His Highness only a thousand Imperial Guards. The number of able-bodied soldiers under his command is less than ten thousand. The resources he can mobilize are only one prefecture... no, half a prefecture."

After summarizing, Song Shi'an said, "With just this, how can we contend against Ji Yuan?"

"But if you do this, what about your entire family?" Wei Wusheng asked.

Never mind all that nonsense.

"Therefore, only Your Highness can withstand it. It's not that I'm unwilling to withstand it, but that I'm unworthy to do so."

“Indeed.” Wei Wusheng suddenly said with a touch of dark humor, “I thought you meant that there might be crimes that implicate nine generations of relatives, but it turns out that each one, if listed separately, could lead to the execution of nine generations of relatives.”

"As a result, even nine generations of a family can become wealthy and prosperous."

"I need you to convince me one last time."

Wei Wusheng raised his hand and continued the interview with him.

The reasons are already quite sufficient.

The methods he described, if fully implemented, have a very high probability of securing the city until Ji Yuan retreats.

Of course, the process is the most important thing.

The most difficult part is the process.

"To die for one's country is the greatest honor. Even if one has committed offenses in life, one's sincere heart must not be tainted."

It means that those who die for their country will have their crimes reduced by one degree.

Even if you're an idiot, as long as your final fate is to die in battle, your sins in life can be erased as much as possible.

"no no."

Wei Wusheng waved his hand and said, "If you have this kind of mentality, I'm afraid you won't be able to accomplish these great deeds that defy the heavens."

Upon hearing this, Song Shi'an smiled.

Then he was given the most compelling reason:
"After I die, I will not care about the great flood."

(End of this chapter)