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Chapter 181 - 150 Pawn_1
Chapter 181 - 150 Pawn_1
Chapter 150 Pawn_1
Translator: 549690339
How many people are there in the entirety of North City, and what is its annual
tax revenue?
Moreover, it’s simply not possible to breed enough horses for fifty thousand
heavy cavalry in less than a year.
Most importantly, there is just no money.
Though the business of the North Prince Mansion is profitable, no matter how you calculate it, it’s still not enough to forge the armor required for fifty thousand heavy cavalry.
Another thing is that North City doesn’t have that many craftsmen.
In the whole of Great Sum, there is only one person who can forge weaponry for
fifty thousand heavy cavalry, only he has such resources.
Who is that person?
One could guess it without even thinking.
That person is inside the Imperial Palace.
After Lu Shuyun came to his senses, he realized how foolish he had been.
He actually thought that North Prince had suddenly awakened, to the extent that he couldn’t sleep at night, filled with panic every time he thought of the bloodbath at his mansion a while ago.
Now thinking about it, Lu Shuyun feels it’s a disgrace to fear the mere North Prince.
At that moment, Wang Yong, who was beside Lu Shuyun, spoke, “Your Highness, rest assured, in my opinion, the Sum Emperor doesn’t have any intention of letting North Prince become Crown Prince. In the eyes of the Emperor, North Prince is nothing more than a chess piece.”
“It’s clear to everyone that the Sum Emperor is in his prime and has no plans of naming a Crown Prince. Now that North Prince has suddenly gained fifty thousand heavy cavalry, almost all factions and forces within Great Sum are keeping an eye on him. If North Prince is truly so favored by the Emperor, he would not let North Prince become a target for all.”
Hearing Wang Yong’s words, Lu Shuyun’s lips curled up slightly; he had the same thoughts. He no longer believed that his father, the Emperor, really liked his ninth brother that much.
If he did like him, he would not have made North Prince stand out at a time when conflict with the Aristocratic Families was imminent.
North Prince currently controls fifty thousand heavy cavalry. Once his father makes a move against the Aristocratic Families within Great Sum, these fifty thousand heavy cavalry are highly likely to become a knife at North Prince’s throat, putting him in grave danger.
His father had no intention of naming a Crown Prince so soon; how could he possibly let his preferred candidate for Crown Prince be exposed so early? That would make North Prince an easy target.
As for whether his father was trying to temper North Prince, that was even less likely. At such a time, how could his father put his chosen Crown Prince through such trials?
In today’s turbulent undercurrents, one misstep could cost North Prince his
life.
So North Prince can only be a chess piece.
And specifically, a chess piece used against the Aristocratic Families.
The mother’s family of North Prince is the Chu Family. By pushing North Prince forward, it’s very likely to cause a rift in the Chu Family, which is the first effect.
Secondly, North Prince is a dispensable royal. His death would not sadden the Sum Emperor, so he’s the perfect pawn.
At that time, Lu Shuyun sneered and said, “I originally intended to reconcile with him and work together on great endeavors. I did not expect he would
actually reject me.”
“It’s laughable. He thinks that now he has our father’s favor, the position of Crown Prince is his for the taking. Truly ignorant.”
“Since he has refused to drink a toast, he must drink a forfeit. He cannot blame me for not being courteous.”
Wang Yong said, “Your Highness, in my opinion, as all the princes are now guarding against North Prince, why don’t we take this opportunity to join hands with the other princes and eliminate him first?”
Lu Shuyun said indifferently, “There’s no need for that. Initially, I wanted to kill him to make the Chu Family wholly support me. Now that all the Aristocratic Families in the South are backing me, whether North Prince is dead or alive has become irrelevant; after all, he is just a disposable chess piece to
our father.”
Wang Yong said, “But the fifty thousand heavy cavalry of North City remain a huge threat to us. If we don’t find a way to dissolve those fifty thousand heavy cavalry, it could greatly affect your Highness’s ambitions.”
What’s most important is that I have heard that Shadow Guards have gone to North City. With the State Preceptor and the Shadow Guards appearing in North City at the same time, the Emperor probably has evidence of our dealings with the Barbarian Tribes. It won’t be long before the Emperor uses the Wang Family’s collusion with the Barbarian Tribes as an excuse to strike at us.”
Hearing Wang Yong’s words, Lu Shuyun fell silent.
He initially just wanted to compete for the throne through legitimate succession, never intending to directly start a rebellion.
However, his own father held great bias against the Aristocratic Families and was evidently preparing to strike at them.
Theoretically, he should distance himself from the Aristocratic Families at this time to avoid being implicated.
But his mother is from the Wang Family. If the Wang Family were to rebel, it would definitely affect him, and he would lose his chance at the throne just the same.
Furthermore, the Aristocratic Families are his biggest asset at the moment; his interests are already tied with theirs.
He’s reached a point where it’s impossible to sever ties with the Aristocratic Families.
If his father were to strike at the Aristocratic Families in the South, he would inevitably be affected. Thus, he’s left with only one path-rebellion.
However, a son rebelling against his father is bound to be condemned by the public.
Leaving success aside, even if he were to succeed, he would likely be cursed for a thousand years.
Even if he managed to govern Great Sum well, the fact that he rebelled would always be a stain on his reputation.
If possible, Lu Shuyun would still prefer not to rebel directly but rather force his father through various pressures to abandon the idea of striking at the
Aristocratic Families.
After a moment of silence, Lu Shuyun spoke, “If the fifty thousand heavy cavalry of North City were dismantled, would my father abandon his plan to strike at the Aristocratic Families?”