After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 615 - 609 Life and Death Decision

Yan Heng was sent back, and he fell ill that very day. Ming Yu, who had been unwell for a long time, heard the news and couldn’t help but visit him despite his own illness, "You need to change your temper. Even if you’re giving advice, that’s not the way to do it."

Yan Heng was disheartened and said in a deep voice, "The General has changed; power makes him lose his mind. I should have known from when Gou Chun attacked Zhao Hanzhang and wasn’t severely punished; that’s when the General’s heart began to change."

Ming Yu fell silent for a moment and then asked, "What do you plan to do about it?"

Yan Heng lowered his eyes, deep in thought for a long time. When he looked up again, his resolve was much firmer, "I will write a memorial to advise him."

He said, "For the last time, if he can turn back, I will assist him as I did before. If... things remain as they are, then I will leave, live in seclusion in the mountains, and never concern myself with worldly affairs again."

Ming Yu frowned, "Submitting such a memorial isn’t just a matter of words. If it angers him..."

Yan Heng didn’t care, "It’s not the first time I’ve angered him."

He said softly, "I’ve followed him for fifteen years; all my life’s wishes are pinned on him. I am unwilling, I am unwilling."

Tears rolled down Yan Heng’s cheeks, "My lord, my noble lord, my General, how could he have become like this?"

Yan Heng couldn’t let it go without making an effort.

Ming Yu didn’t object either, as he too was unwilling, so he said, "You write it. If it doesn’t work, I will go into seclusion with you."

Yan Heng got up from his sickbed to write the memorial.

He started by writing about the past. How good Gou Xi was back then, fair and just, even when his own cousin committed a crime, facing his tearful aunt, who he regarded like his own mother, pleading for mercy, he showed no leniency, executing as the law demanded.

Then he would mourn in mourning attire, saying only, "The one who killed you is the Governor of Yan State, the one weeping for you is Gou Daojiang."

He was so incorruptible that he was at odds with the ministers in the court, but this was also why he was spared when King Qi was accused. He truly couldn’t understand why Gou Xi had changed.

Yan Heng sighed for the past, hoping to inspire Gou Xi’s fighting spirit, so he would not forget their original intentions and past virtues.

He hoped Gou Xi would disperse the servants and maids at home, send the musicians back to their native place, and dress in plain attire to serve the emperor in the palace...

Yan Heng wrote a long piece and revised it overnight, finally handing over the draft with a pale face to a servant, earnestly instructing, "Quickly take this to the General."

In the past, whenever Yan Heng submitted a memorial, Gou Xi would read it at the first opportunity. But now, not only would his attendants prevent Yan Heng’s letter from dampening his mood, even if no one stopped it, he would still be snoring away with no time to handle state affairs.

So Yan Heng’s illness worsened as he waited in vain for a response, while Zhao Zhongyu became aware of the situation between them.

Upon learning that Yan Heng had submitted a memorial to Gou Xi, he paced around the study.

His heart was conflicting, wishing to take the opportunity to instigate Gou Xi to kill Yan Heng, thereby severing a limb; yet he feared this would weaken Great Jin’s power, allowing external enemies to exploit the situation.

After all, Gou Xi was not Zhao Hanzhang’s foremost enemy; the Xiongnu to the north were. If Gou Xi were strong, it would be unfavorable to Zhao Hanzhang and the Zhao Family, but his weakness also posed a risk to them.

What choice should be made?

Zhao Zhongyu paced back and forth, unable to make up his mind.

Zhao Ji returned with a sullen face from outside. Zhao Zhongyu noticed, frowned slightly, and called out to him, "Where have you been this time?"

Zhao Ji replied, "General Gou hosted a banquet. I just returned from there."

Zhao Zhongyu then asked, "Was it a public banquet?"

"No, it was a private gathering," Zhao Ji replied. "I just went to join the fun; it’s still lively over there."

Zhao Zhongyu pricked up his ears to listen. The two houses were not far apart, and he could vaguely hear the music coming from there. He pursed his lips, made up his mind, and sighed; Gou Xi was already blinded by power. If Yan Heng were killed, he would have no one to restrain him; if the Xiongnu invaded again, who would resist them?

So it’s better to let Yan Heng live.

Zhao Zhongyu pondered this as he walked away leisurely, hands behind his back, leaving Zhao Ji standing there.

Zhao Ji pursed his lips and turned to leave.

Zhao Zhongyu’s influence couldn’t directly reach Gou Xi, but he could use someone else’s strength to his advantage. So he found an official and during a banquet approached the Colonel who had thrown Yan Heng into the water, saying, "Captain Zhen, I heard that after you threw Yan Heng into the water, he submitted a memorial to the General the next day."

The Colonel snorted coldly, "He’s now out of favor, and the General no longer trusts him."

"No, no, the General fought battles north and south. Yan Heng has made significant contributions. Though he holds no official post in the court, he’s always been a trusted aide of the General. It’s just that Yan Heng’s words were unpleasant, and the General was annoyed with him. Once this phase passes, the General will recall his merits, and they will naturally reconcile."

He said, "By then, Captain Zhen, will the General stand with you or him?"

The Colonel’s face changed; naturally, it would be Yan Heng.

Yan Heng was indeed the General’s confidant, once suggesting to execute the Great General’s own brother, and Gou Chun could do nothing against him.

"What should I do then?"

The person whispered, "The General is now capricious, so complaining to him isn’t easy. But finding a way to intercept that memorial letter so the General doesn’t see it is not difficult, is it?"

"As long as the General doesn’t see the memorial, he won’t think of Yan Heng, and he won’t hold you, the Captain, accountable because of him."

Captain Zhen felt he was right, so he secretly bribed the clerk handling the documents to have him intercept Yan Heng’s memorial.

But intercepting it was impossible, as Gou Xi was strict in military matters; even though he had degenerated, the rules remained in place. Every letter entering the tent was counted, and the clerk didn’t dare intercept one on his own.

If discovered, with their General’s previous strictness, it would certainly result in execution.

So though he took the money, the letter, unknowing of its content, remained on the desk, only buried at the very bottom.

Every time new materials arrived, he’d press it further to the bottom.

Given Gou Xi’s current pace of handling state affairs, that letter might never in this lifetime come before Gou Xi.

Neither he nor Captain Zhen knew it was a memorial that could cost Yan Heng his life.

But Zhao Zhongyu knew.

Yan Heng believed he understood Gou Xi, but he understood the Gou Xi of the past. If it were before, Gou Xi might have wept bitterly upon seeing such a memorial and then mended his ways.

But the current Gou Xi, as Zhao Zhongyu assessed him, would only be infuriated and directly kill Yan Heng.

Speaking for himself, if his advisor scolded him like that, he would’ve killed the person too. The current Gou Xi was as petty as he was.

Zhao Zhongyu, realizing this, cursed himself internally, shook his head, and pushed these thoughts out of his mind, beginning to compose a letter to Zhao Hanzhang.

He had to inform her so that if she felt Yan Heng’s death was beneficial, he could maneuver some more. Up until now, he couldn’t determine whether Yan Heng’s survival was more beneficial or harmful.

Gou Xi was too powerful. Actually, if Yan Heng died, weakening Gou Xi might not be a bad outcome.

Hesitating like this, Zhao Zhongyu straightforwardly decided to write to Zhao Hanzhang and let her make the decision herself.