After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 625 - 619: Hearts Divided

That night, many generals and officials in Yun City learned of Yan Heng’s assassination.

Most officials were indifferent to it, as they didn’t have close ties with Yan Heng. However, they felt that Gou Xi was ruthless and unkind for killing an old strategist who had advised him for fifteen years in a fit of anger.

As for the generals, they felt a sense of mourning, akin to the sorrow of a fox losing its rabbit companion. Many of the generals in Yun City were under Gou Xi’s command and had much closer relationships with Yan Heng.

The Great General’s temper was not good, and Yan Heng’s temper wasn’t great either, but he would always speak on behalf of the generals when the Great General got angry or attract the General’s wrath onto himself.

Many, like General Pei, had good relationships with Yan Heng.

They couldn’t understand why the Great General would kill Yan Heng, one of his most important strategists, just because he advised the General?

Or was it because Yan Heng offended Gou Chun?

Thinking about Gou Chun’s recent actions at the border, a few of the generals couldn’t suppress the anger within their chests.

Indeed, it was a chaotic era, and the generals weren’t exactly good people either. Killing was just a quick act with a knife; robbery was routine, and they had snatched food from civilians during military provisions.

After all, in their hearts, their soldiers were far more important than civilians.

But everything has its limits.

At present, they weren’t short of provisions, at least the soldiers wouldn’t starve. In such circumstances, normal taxation would suffice, and if more wealth were needed, one could increase taxes slightly, but why let the soldiers directly rob civilians?

The measures were stringent, killing whole families or clans. It was intolerable not just for Yan Heng, but for all of them.

The more they thought about it, the more they remembered Yan Heng, who was like a guiding ruler for the Great General, ensuring that his actions were righteous.

Now that he is dead, who knows what the future holds?

With this in mind, many generals silently shed tears and said: "Prepare, prepare, tomorrow we shall go to Yan’s family to offer our condolences."

Vice generals worriedly advised, "Yan Heng was killed by the Great General, Going now might not be suitable."

Others didn’t know, but Wen Ji was furious, "If he is displeased, he can kill me too."

Saying this, he pushed aside the vice general and, disregarding the curfew, immediately rode his horse to Yan Heng’s house to offer condolences.

Ming Yu didn’t return home but took Yan Heng’s body to Yan’s residence. Neither of them had wives or children; this made it easier, but their servants were terrified, running around with frightened expressions. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Ming Yu raised his hand and said, "Why are you panicking? The Great General won’t punish you."

Only then did everyone calm down a bit, though their faces remained anxious.

Ming Yu ordered, "Carry your Master to the main hall and have someone fetch the coffin from my house."

Seeing Ming Yu actually willing to give his own coffin for Yan Heng, the servants’ terror slightly dwindled, and they obediently followed the order.

Wen Ji, ignoring the curfew, rode quickly to Yan Heng’s residence and met the staggering General Pei at the entrance.

Wen Ji was instantly furious, grabbing General Pei’s collar and roaring, "Why did you betray him?"

General Pei’s face turned pale, "I chose the moment when his mood was the best to submit the petition, thinking he’d merely be annoyed and have a big argument with Mr. Yan. I never imagined..."

"Why didn’t you tell us after the incident, so that more people could plead, and Mr. Yan wouldn’t have died?"

General Pei’s face grew paler, unable to speak.

"More people pleading would have only hastened Yan Heng’s death," Ming Yu stood at the courtyard supported by a servant, his gaze profound, "You shouldn’t have come here, quickly go back."

"Mr. Ming..." Wen Ji teared up, "Mr. Yan is gone like this, why still worry about gains and losses?"

Ming Yu glanced at the two, his eyes that saw through worldly affairs became instantly clear, he felt both sorrow and relief, before finally remaining silent and returning to the hall.

The coffin had not arrived yet, so Yan Heng still lay on a wooden board. His closest servants brought warm water and took out Yan Heng’s favorite clothes, intending to change them for him.

Ming Yu sat leisurely next to the low table, supported by a servant, quietly watching them dress Yan Heng.

Wen Ji and General Pei knelt nearby, crying like children.

Ming Yu ignored them, resting his hand slightly on the low table, staring at Yan Heng in silence.

What did he mean?

Not forgetting the original intention...

He and Yan Heng’s original intention was to meet a wise ruler, assist in building a renowned career, and leave a legacy in history as good ministers.

They always believed Gou Xi was a wise ruler, though a bit harsh, he was fair and upright, yet now it seemed they were wrong.

Yan Heng said he wasn’t truly clean and upright, that the original intention wasn’t him.

As for Emperor Jin, Ming Yu didn’t consider him at all.

Fifteen years ago, they looked down on the Sima Family for breaking alliances and killing the lord, and fifteen years later, they wouldn’t choose the Emperor Jin, who had no autonomy.

Other than Gou Xi, who else was there in the world?

Was it Shi Le from Shangdang or Liu Yuan from the Han Kingdom?

Ming Yu slowly shook his head; it couldn’t be either of them, as one not of our kind would have a different heart, Yan Heng wouldn’t choose them.

Was it Sima Rui of Langya?

Or Zhao Hanzhang of Yu State?

Ming Yu clenched his fist at once, remembering the Huang Men he had just encountered outside the General’s Mansion.

Zhao Zhongyu also received the news of Yan Heng’s death and sighed; it was too late.

Though regretful, he put the matter aside. After washing his hands and face, he returned to his room to sleep.

Halfway through the night, Zhao Zhongyu woke up with tightly furrowed brows, "Something’s not right, Yan Heng’s death is more harmful than beneficial, could Gou Xi’s subordinates actually revolt against him?"

That was the rhetoric he desperately thought of to persuade the Emperor, yet the more he pondered, the more he felt his random guess might be right.

Yan Heng seems to have significant prestige in Gou Xi’s army.

The one comparable to him was Ming Yu.

Zhao Zhongyu couldn’t lie down anymore and hurriedly rose, "Someone, go invite Mr. Tan here."

Tan Zhong was his trusted advisor, who accompanied Zhao Zhongyu to Yun City, residing in the same place, the guest courtyard was some distance from the main courtyard, but he arrived quickly.

Upon meeting, Zhao Zhongyu immediately voiced his concerns, "If Gou Xi can’t manage the situation, it won’t just be the Gou Family Army that falls apart but Yun City and even Your Majesty will be affected."

Currently, the Emperor relied on Gou Xi for survival.

Mr. Tan also grew worried, pondering for a moment before saying, "If Ming Yu is willing to come forward to mediate, it might settle people’s hearts."

Zhao Zhongyu thought that was the only solution, so he decided to meet Ming Yu the next day.

The next day, not only did the officials and generals in Yun City hear of Yan Heng’s death, but even the subordinate generals outside heard of it. They either personally returned to the capital to mourn or sent vice generals back.

Yan Heng’s residence was shrouded in white, with cries both inside and outside.

Even the Great General’s Mansion, separated by two streets, heard the crying.

Gou Xi felt regret and anger in his heart, his face darkened without saying a word.

The servants at the Great General’s Mansion were even more cautious, scared of accidentally offending him.