Cultivation: I Can Reincarnate Into Various Worlds
Chapter 46. Younger brother sees Big Brother with the appearance of a wise ruler (seeking more readings)

Chapter 46: 46. Younger brother sees Big Brother with the appearance of a wise ruler (seeking more readings)

As early as when Xu Xing and Chang Kun became sworn brothers on the Flower Boat, Xu Xing had anticipated today’s events. Upon entering Mount Siming, he knew that if the King of Sorrow Yao Dang acknowledged him as a sworn brother, Yao Dang would inevitably have to share power with him.

This was unavoidable.

The power structure within the Mountain Stronghold relied on the sworn brothers, in conjunction with their Big Brother Yao Dang, jointly governing the stronghold.

Even Yao Dang wouldn’t dare to easily overthrow this system.

It was akin to Prince Zhou enfeoffing his brothers, including Tang Shu Yu.

Even if it began as a jest, Tang Shu Yu’s enfeoffment had to be made substantive.

Respecting the Mountain Stronghold’s system was also fundamental to maintaining Yao Dang’s rule.

However, for Xu Xing, regardless of whether the King of Sorrow Yao Dang’s "enfeoffment" this time was purposeful, a gesture of goodwill, or a calculated move, he was determined to decline any authority over the military.

Power, when dissected, ultimately rested on the allegiance of the people.

The Mountain Stronghold’s legitimacy was still fragile and distinct from that of the Imperial Court; even if he were to possess the military tally of Mount Siming, he would merely be a commander in name only.

The Twelve Banners and the Five Tiger Envoys... their loyalty was still to the King of Sorrow Yao Dang.

This Mountain Stronghold had been built upon the King of Sorrow Yao Dang’s personal charisma.

Xu Xing’s refusal of military command was, in essence, a move to consolidate his own power from a nominal to a tangible state!

In other words, it was a tactic of feigning retreat to actually advance.

However, in the eyes of others, his actions merely appeared to be a polite refusal. After all, his reasoning was sound: a civil official with no military command experience was indeed unsuited for leading troops.

As for why Xu Xing suggested giving military command to Chang Ji—Xu Xing had other intentions.

He knew the Three Great Kings would never allow Chang Ji to command troops at this juncture. Given Chang Ji’s prior military capabilities, if he were to lead, those two Banners under his command might very well be lost for good, like meat buns thrown to a dog—gone, never to return.

The Three Great Kings would not tolerate the emergence of another independent power base within the Mountain Stronghold.

Compared to Xu Xing, Chang Ji was, in their eyes, a truly formidable force—a ’strong dragon.’

But as the saying goes, something can be tolerated once or twice, but not a third time. With Chang Ji joining Mount Siming, if the Three Great Kings displayed excessive exclusion, it would inevitably alienate people and fracture loyalty.

Is this Mountain Stronghold to be treated as the Heavenly Kings’ private domain?

Therefore, Xu Xing’s actions today were laying the groundwork for Chang Ji to eventually command troops.

And Chang Ji... being an outsider to the Mountain Stronghold’s established hierarchy, would inevitably choose to align with him. Furthermore, Xu Xing had saved Chang Ji’s life and also put him forward for a position...

No matter how ambitious Chang Ji might be, he would find it difficult to escape Xu Xing’s influence.

"General Chang..." The King of Sorrow Yao Dang paused, then said, "General Chang, you must be weary from the long journey. Coupled with several years in a prison cell, you’ve likely sustained some latent injuries. In my view, it would be best for you to focus on recuperation. You can contribute to the Mountain Stronghold once your health is restored..."

He casually found an excuse to deflect the matter.

If Xu Xing was a ’slow-acting poison’ to the Siming Mountain Stronghold, then Chang Ji was a potent draught!

But such a potent draught, more often than not, wouldn’t lead to miraculous recovery but to sudden demise.

"Thank you for your concern, Heavenly King," Chang Ji replied, his expression unreadable. "I indeed require some time to recuperate."

Chang Ji was currently standing at the lower end of the seating arrangement. Upon hearing Yao Dang’s words, a wave of disappointment washed over Chang Ji, but he masked it well. Maintaining a solemn expression, he cupped his fist to Yao Dang in thanks.

Subsequently, Yao Dang did not broach the subject of Xu Xing commanding the army again. After a moment’s thought, he declared, "Fourth Brother, your service as Dianju Cheng has demonstrated your considerable achievements in internal matters, and you are proficient in mathematics. Henceforth, the Mountain Stronghold’s expenditures, horse administration, and Internal Affairs shall be your responsibility."

"Second Brother, you may lighten your burden and transfer these duties to Fourth Brother."

"I shall assign you two additional Banners. You will lead your contingent to garrison Daoliang Mountain and defend against Sun Chengxiang’s Feijie Army."

He thus redistributed power within the Mountain Stronghold.

Previously, he and the King of Might had jointly managed the Mountain Stronghold’s Internal Affairs. Now that Xu Xing was unwilling to command the army, assigning him to Internal Affairs was the only viable option.

This aligned perfectly with his initial intentions.

Experts should handle matters within their expertise.

He had carefully reviewed the letters Xu Xing sent, which detailed the maladministration within the Siming Mountain Stronghold and proposed methods for its reform. Many could identify the long-standing issues plaguing Mount Siming. However, Xu Xing alone had conceived a set of viable reforms.

Though Yao Dang had feigned displeasure when Xu Xing relinquished military authority, inwardly, he was extremely gratified.

By not commanding troops and solely managing Internal Affairs, Xu Xing would never pose a threat to his authority.

On the contrary, he could leverage Xu Xing’s abilities to strengthen Mount Siming.

Fourth Brother... he truly understands when to advance and when to retreat. Yao Dang was secretly pleased.

"Yes, Big Brother," the King of Might replied thoughtfully, accepting the order at once.

Being dispatched to garrison Daoliang Mountain was ostensibly to guard against Sun Chengxiang’s Feijie Army. However, he wasn’t foolish; he saw through it instantly. The King of Sorrow was subtly indicating that he should make way for Xu Xing.

Besides, he wasn’t one to covet power and position.

Upon recognizing Xu Xing’s capabilities, he had already mentally prepared himself to yield his position to a more capable individual.

Furthermore, Yao Dang hadn’t treated him unfairly; he had even been allocated two additional Banners.

No matter how he looked at it, he had profited from this arrangement.

Managing Internal Affairs was laborious, front to back; how could it compare to the satisfaction of a tangible increase in military strength?

The discussions continued late into the night. At long last, the transfer of authority and the division of responsibilities were finalized.

In the side hall, Yao Dang dismissed the others. He then instructed the Heavenly Kun King and the King of Might to guard the door. Once only he and Xu Xing remained, Yao Dang fixed Xu Xing with a burning gaze and questioned, "Fourth Brother, are you still wary of this elder brother? Why do your letters exclusively address Internal Affairs, with no mention of a grand strategy?"

Managing Internal Affairs is beneficial, certainly. But without strengthening Mount Siming, how can we contend for supremacy in the realm? What the Siming Mountain Stronghold—or for that matter, the Eighteen Rebel Kings and the myriad other rebel factions—truly needed at this moment was a grand strategy: one for resisting the Imperial Court, or one that analyzed the realm and outlined a path to ultimate victory. For instance, Liu Bei made three visits to the Thatched Cottage, whereupon Zhuge Liang presented his renowned "Lungzhong Answer." This established the strategic doctrine for Liu Bei’s Shu Han faction for decades to come. Similarly, Wang Pu’s "Pacifying the Border" proposed to Chai Rong served the same purpose. Even at the end of the Sui Dynasty, when Li Mi met Zhai Rang, he proposed his Upper, Middle, and Lower Three Plans.

Yao Dang’s dissatisfaction with Xu Xing stemmed from this. Judging by the reforms Xu Xing had proposed, it was clear this former official possessed considerable talent. Even if he wasn’t a master strategist capable of deciding battles from a thousand li away, formulating a strategic vision tailored to Mount Siming’s specific circumstances should not have been difficult for him.

"That is not the case, Big Brother." Xu Xing shook his head and bowed respectfully to Yao Dang. "A subject chooses his lord, just as a lord chooses his subject. Since Big Brother consistently avoided meeting me, I had little opportunity to observe your countenance or discern your character. Consequently, I could not venture to propose a grand strategy."

"What do you mean by that?" Yao Dang raised an eyebrow, clearly perplexed.

They were already sworn brothers...

While his earlier avoidance might have seemed like a slight, their bond as brothers should have been sufficient to dispel any lingering ill-feeling.

"Had Big Brother proven to be indecisive or weak, proposing a bold and aggressive strategy would not only have sealed my own fate but also condemned the nearly ten thousand souls of the Siming Mountain Stronghold to irretrievable doom..." Xu Xing paused, then a smile touched his lips. "However, having observed Big Brother today, I see the qualities of an enlightened leader—decisive and courageous. Therefore, tonight, I can finally present the grand strategy in its entirety."

He offered a subtle compliment to Yao Dang.