Court Coup 56

For this journey southward, to ensure safety, we still need to select a portion of the refugees to train as private troops.

"How many able-bodied men are there among these refugees?"

One was considered an adult at sixteen. The private troops of established aristocratic families were cultivated from childhood, both to foster lifelong loyalty and because learning martial arts at a younger age resulted in a sturrier foundation.

"If we want to train them to have the capacity to fend off enemies by March, there are about three hundred and fifty males aged thirteen to forty-five. Combined with our current private troops, the total number of retainers will reach around six-hundred and fifty."

Xie Miaoxuan lightly tapped her chin with her fingertips.

Calculated this way, the number of tenant farmers, refugees, and private troops was nearly equal, all numbering around six hundred and fifty.

With hundreds of carts of grain and forage, alongside contraband items such as salt and iron, traveling southward all together in a single convoy would make the target far too large.

People and provisions could not travel on the same journey at the same time!

"To be on the safe side, we shall split into two routes." She decisively made her choice, dividing the people and the supplies into two groups, with one contingent of private troops escorting the people and another escorting the provisions.

Every factor had to be considered, and one must guard against the intentions of others. Aside from her original contingent of nearly two hundred private troops, her connection with those four-hundred and fifty new men was not yet close enough.

She was also afraid that her act of benevolence might bring disaster upon her original retinue.

Human hearts are fickle; if anyone harbored mutinous thoughts midway or grew greedy at the sight of the grain and colluded with outsiders to launch an attack from within and without, she would end up playing the fool in the fable of Master Dongguo.

Turning her head back to look at Xie Yuangju, she said, "In two months, you will take the provisions and set out ahead. I will follow with the farmers and other commoners."

Xie Yuangju agreed with splitting into two routes, but he did not agree with her distribution.

"I will go with you. The grain transport should be led by Xie Xiao..."

"No," Xie Miaoxuan interrupted him. "Xie Xiao has an excess of valor, but lacks adaptability. He is too simple-hearted; if he encounters someone treacherous and crafty, he is easily led by the nose. The provisions are of paramount importance; you must lead that team."

"But..."

The corners of her eyes and brows curved into a smile, knowing that he was worried about her.

A smile crept into her eyes. "This is my entire family fortune, even more important than my own life. I am entrusting it to you, hoping you can help me deliver it safely to Guo County."

The young girl's glazed eyes held a shallow warmth, and a dark gleam flashed through Xie Yuangju's gaze.

After a moment of silence, he said, "Very well."

While Xie Miaoxuan's side was bustling with activity, Xie Yuan had not a moment of peace lately.

He knocked a teacup down onto the small table beside him.

His gaze shifted to the side. "Respected elders, have you all considered it? Higher than this is simply impossible."

Xie Mingde looked toward Xie Ming'er and Xie Mingcai, who were fellow elders of the clan's inner council.

The three exchanged silent glances for a moment, and Xie Ming'er and Xie Mingcai nodded.

Xie Mingde stroked his fine beard. "Does the clan head confirm that the Heir of the Marquis of Zhaoping is willing to dispatch a thousand imperial guards to accompany us to the estate, and that once the matter is successfully accomplished, thirty percent of the estate belonging to Xie Qi's branch will be handed over to the clan?"

Xie Yuan suppressed the rising anger in his chest, thinking to himself that these old immortals were the sort who would never let go of the hawk until they saw the hare.

In order to coerce Xie Miaoxuan into handing over her family fortune by invoking clan rituals and laws by accompanying him to the estate, he had been forced to raise their share from twenty percent to thirty percent before they agreed to move.

Counting the thirty percent he had already promised Xun Cheng, he would only retain forty percent.

It ached as though his heart and liver were being carved out.

With a cold face, he replied, "Indeed."

Having reconfirmed his promise, Xie Mingde and the other two all wore satisfied expressions.

Only then did someone remember to show concern for him. "Was the injury on your foot really inflicted by her?"

"It was that unfilial daughter!" Xie Yuan's foot was wrapped in thick layers of gauze. Even though two days had passed, whenever he felt the lingering, sharp agony of the wound, his voice took on a venomous edge.

"Xie Qi managed Nanhai Commandery for over a decade, and the family wealth he accumulated rightfully belongs to our primary lineage. Originally, if she had followed my instructions and arrived earlier, the clan would not have had to worry about repairing the ancestral hall. But she was born with the same rebellious spine as her father. Upon reaching the capital, a mere girl actually fled with the private troops! It is simply the shame of our Xie clan! If word gets out, the maidens of our entire Xie clan will be disgraced along with her."

"The last time I lowered my pride to go and fetch her in person, not only did she lead her private troops in resistance, but she even attempted to strike and kill me, her own eldest uncle, in public! Hmph! My injury was inflicted by her! Since she is unwilling to obey me, her eldest uncle, I imagine she cannot possibly ignore the words of the clan elders. That is why I must trouble you respected elders to step forward."

"What? Xie Miaoxuan knows martial arts?!"

"A young woman who fails to study the Three Obediences and Four Virtues, the Precepts for Women! What kind of behavior is this? What utter disregard for propriety!"

"That scoundrel Xie Qi truly bred a rebellious daughter."

Xie Yuan said, "She simply relies on the fact that she knows a little martial arts and is ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth. This time, with the Heir leading the troops and the clan bringing its own private troops, we shall clip her wings."

"She must be brought back as soon as possible and properly disciplined."

Xie Minger frowned deeply, recalling Xie Qi's past actions, and said with realization, "If you ask me, like father, like daughter, this Xie Miaoxuan is truly no good. We kindly allowed her to return to the clan for protection and even agreed to find a match for her—someone whose parents she had both supposedly cursed—yet she dared lead her private troops to openly oppress the clan head and even dared to lay hands on her elders! Utterly devoid of reason!"

Xie Mingcai immediately chimed in, "Indeed! The clan head is her own biological eldest uncle! Any act of beating or cursing one's elders is an act of utter disloyalty and unfilial piety. Had the clan head not been soft-hearted and reported her to the Capital Magistrate's Office, her grave offenses would have warranted at least a banishment of three thousand li."

Hearing them speak thus, Xie Yuan's brow relaxed somewhat.

That was precisely the logic. Had he not been benevolent, Xie Miaoxuan would already have been thrown into a deep prison.

After they had finished expressing their views, Xie Mingde stroked his fine beard, shook his head, and said unhurriedly, "As a young woman, she only dares to act so lawlessly because she relies on the private troops left behind by Xie Qi. If you borrow the imperial guards from the Heir of the Marquis of Zhaoping, you will certainly be able to bring her back to the Xie clan this time. When that happens, I will personally step forward to lock her in the ancestral hall to reflect deeply and properly teach her propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame."

The Xie clan's ancestral hall contained a secret chamber specifically used to detain disobedient or severely offending junior members.

It was dark, cold, and damp, without even a mattress—only a straw kneeling mat facing the wall.

Anyone who stayed inside for long would be virtually broken in both body and spirit.

Xie Qi had once been locked inside for half a year.

After him, no one had been sent in for many years. Now that it was his daughter's turn, it could only be considered retribution.

With matters more or less settled, Xie Yuan had his servant carry in a sedand chair as he prepared to take his leave.

The bone of his foot had been pierced and fractured by Xie Miaoxuan. A hundred days were required for broken bones and tendons to heal, and he still had a long recovery ahead, but he could no longer wait.

Before leaving, he said, "It will take the Heir some time to mobilize the troops. Since Xie Qi taught Xie Miaoxuan martial arts, it would be best for the clan to bring its private troops along as well. Respected elders, please make your preparations. I propose we set the date for two days from now."

Two days later.

Xun Cheng, leading a thousand imperial guards, joined forces with Xie Yuangju and the five hundred private troops of the Xie clan.