I Built a Territory in Ancient Times Chapter 118

Chapter 118

“The waters in the capital are murky beyond measure. It’s undeniable that Duan Wang’s decision to step out of this circle early was a brilliant move. Not many could have done this. When I think about it now, Duan Wang gave up the rewards and titles in the capital, and instead stubbornly went west. Could it be that he had already planned it all out from the start?” Ma Siyong speculated.

If that’s the case, thinking several steps ahead, Duan Wang’s mind could only be described as unfathomable. So, was everything Duan Wang had shown before just an act?

He admitted that, until recently, no one really understood the Fourteenth Prince. People only knew he was born dull-witted, kept away in the inner palace with no one paying attention to him. It wasn’t until the emperor made him Duan Wang and granted him territory in Liangzhou—territory he had chosen himself—that it drew the attention of the capital.

This news made the people of the capital, both old and young, drop their jaws. The streets and alleys buzzed with discussions about this foolish prince going to Liangzhou to seek death. Everyone wondered whether, after three to five years, he would be killed by the barbarians. However, what happened next greatly exceeded everyone’s expectations. Duan Wang was alive and well, even bringing back goods from the western regions, causing a huge stir, and making the capital’s elite scramble for a piece of the action.

Now, if anyone still believed Duan Wang was a fool, they would be the ones made a laughingstock, wouldn’t they?

“What? This is impossible!” Ma Jinyu exclaimed in disbelief. “I don’t believe he could have planned this deeply. If he had such terrifying scheming, why didn’t he stay in the capital? Why did he stubbornly go to the frontier? If we believe what Father says, he could have had some hope if he had stayed in the capital, but what good is there in the frontier?”

“Duan Wang was truly foolish before, that’s well known. But later, when the foolishness faded, that’s when Duan Wang as we know him today appeared. Even if he had stayed in the capital, his past would have made it impossible for him to have any chance. It was better for him to step out of that circle. The world outside is much bigger, and he could make use of it more.”

This reasoning seemed sound, and Ma Jinyu nodded, but he didn’t agree with his father’s suggestion to follow Duan Wang. “But, Father, if we wait for an opportunity, isn’t it true that any prince in the capital is stronger than Duan Wang? If we follow Duan Wang, how can our Ma family rise?”

Ma Siyong stood up and walked a few steps before turning to look at his son, speaking earnestly, “When looking at problems, you can’t just look at the surface. The capital is a land of both opportunity and danger. Yes, it’s the best time to attach ourselves to a prince now, as they show their strength. But have you thought about the fact that the current situation is unclear? We don’t know who will ultimately rise to the throne. If we make a wrong step, the Ma family could be doomed.”

Ma Jinyu broke out in a cold sweat, understanding what his father meant, but still feeling some reluctance in his heart. He muttered, “But… but such opportunities come once in decades. If we don’t take a chance, how will we know the final outcome?”

Though the Ma family was large and prosperous, they were still just a wealthy household and never truly had the chance to enter the circle of the powerful. After all, in today’s world, power was the true marker of superiority—what good was wealth if you angered someone in such circles? One hand could destroy the Ma family.

The Ma family had long thought about breaking into that circle, but due to government policy, the direct descendants of merchant families couldn’t take the imperial examination. The only path to office was through the examination, and they had always focused on nurturing side branches of the family to study for it. But truly talented individuals could not be cultivated overnight.

Now, the Ma family was in a difficult position. They planned to seize this opportunity and attach themselves to a prince with a bright future. Once that prince ascended the throne, the Ma family would naturally gain credit for the rise, and they could enter the ranks of the powerful. At that point, the Ma family’s glory would truly begin, with a prosperous future that could last at least a hundred years.

Previously, Ma Siyong had favored the Third Prince, who was skilled in maneuvering, had power, and was capable. Because of his competence in handling matters, the emperor had rewarded him several times, and many officials praised him. His influence was so strong that it even exceeded that of the crown prince for a time.

Ma Siyong had thought that if he could form an alliance with him and board this ship, it would be a good choice. But he hadn’t found the opportunity yet. After all, the Third Prince was not like the others; not just anyone could attach themselves to him.

Seeing through his son’s thoughts, Ma Siyong sighed and said, “You can’t put all your eggs in one basket. This is something you should know already, right?”

Ma Jinyu wasn’t a fool. With that hint, he immediately understood. He looked up at his father and asked, “Father, what do you mean?”

“At present, who do you think is most likely to rise to the throne?” In the study, there were no outsiders, so the conversation between father and son would not be leaked.

Ma Jinyu knew that this was a test from his father. Although he already had an answer in mind, he still took the time to carefully consider it before replying, “In my opinion, the Crown Prince and the Third Prince are the only ones with the potential to rival each other. The Crown Prince, being the eldest son of the Empress, follows the Great Yan’s tradition of primogeniture, which has always been the custom. Since childhood, he has been established as the Crown Prince. However, despite holding the position, the Crown Prince’s character is too lenient and weak, indecisive. This has never been pleasing to the Emperor, and rumors have circulated that the Emperor privately criticized the Crown Prince for being unworthy of the position. Since then, the attitude of the court officials has become somewhat subtle, and the Crown Prince seems to have become more withdrawn.”

He cautiously glanced at his father’s expression. Seeing that his father appeared calm, he sighed in relief and continued, “On the other hand, the Third Prince’s character is bold and courageous, very much like the Emperor. The Emperor himself praised him in front of the court officials. Moreover, the Third Prince’s maternal family is from a prominent family, and whether in the court or among the people, there are many who support him.”

“So, if it were you, who would you support?” Ma Siyong asked directly.

Ma Jinyu paused for a moment, not expecting his father to ask such a question. He swallowed and finally said what was on his mind, “I believe the Third Prince is capable and acts with restraint. If we were to support him, it seems the chances would be the greatest.”

What does it matter that the Crown Prince is the legitimate son? If he doesn’t have the Emperor’s favor, how could he possibly remain in the position for long? There have been many instances of dethroning Crown Princes in history. The officials, driven by their own interests and their loyalties to their masters, will stop at nothing. The Crown Prince is weak, and subtly, the Third Prince seems to have the upper hand. It’s clear to anyone who understands how to choose.

Ma Siyong smiled slightly, shaking his head, “I still stand by what I said—don’t judge things based on appearances.”

Ma Jinyu felt somewhat dissatisfied. “Please, Father, enlighten me.”

Ma Siyong, already intending to guide his son, continued, “You cannot underestimate the Crown Prince. He is cautious and meticulous, and over the years, he has never made a mistake. How many people can say the same? Even though the Emperor has been strict with him and often dissatisfied, isn’t it a sign of deep affection and high expectations? The Crown Prince carries the future of the Great Yan. Think about it—why would the Emperor have such high expectations if not out of love? As for those rumors, who knows if they are true? The palace is full of gossip, and many rumors should be dismissed with a smile. For example, the rumors about Duan Wang—do you think they are true?”

Ma Jinyu fell into thought. He had met Ming Yu twice and had some understanding of him. He couldn’t help but reflect; seeing something firsthand was much more enlightening than hearing about it. The real Duan Wang was entirely different from the rumors that had circulated—he was nothing like the stories that had been told.

Ma Siyong continued, “Although the Third Prince’s maternal family is powerful, the current dynasty forbids interference from the imperial in-laws. So, isn’t the power of his maternal family a stumbling block? Do you think the Emperor would allow a prince with such a powerful maternal family to ascend the throne? If a new emperor were to take the throne, would the Great Yan still be a dynasty of the Ming family or the Yang family?”

“This…” Ma Jinyu furrowed his brow, as he had never thought about this issue. “But isn’t a prince’s maternal family something they cannot choose? Is it really so unreasonable to lose the throne just because of the power of one’s maternal family?”

“The Empress has been dead for many years, yet no one in the harem has been promoted. The Third Prince’s mother, Consort Hui, was only promoted a few years ago to Imperial Concubine Hui, just a step away from becoming Empress. Everyone thought she would become the Empress, but has the Emperor ever given any indication?” Ma Siyong reminded him. “The Crown Prince was indeed overshadowed by the Third Prince at one point, but what about now? Duan Wang now firmly stands by the Crown Prince’s side, and the goods from the Western Regions that he brought back were fully handed over to the Crown Prince to handle. Because of these goods, many people who were hesitant to take sides have now leaned toward the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince has gained both connections and wealth, and his reputation among the powerful has grown. Do you think the Crown Prince is still in a weak position?”

Ma Jinyu didn’t dare to say anything further. His father’s analysis made so much sense, and he had completely missed it. It was only when his father pointed it out that he realized Duan Wang was actually a pawn for the Crown Prince, but no one had paid attention to it until now.

“But Father, you don’t actually plan to follow Duan Wang, do you? Duan Wang is just a prince; what value could he have?”

Ma Siyong shook his head, “You are wrong. Duan Wang is different from others. Just his ability to foresee and his efforts to persuade the Emperor to open the Western Regions and build the Western Qii Corridor prove his remarkable vision. Moreover, Duan Wang has the Crown Prince behind him. Our Ma family is nothing more than an ant trying to get close to the Crown Prince, who would even spare us a second glance? Even if we did attach ourselves, we would be nothing compared to others, just a lowly existence. It would be better to settle for second place. At least Duan Wang has vision, and right now, he is in need of both people and money. Our help to him would carry more weight. What’s wrong with following Duan Wang?”

The reasoning was clear and thorough. Ma Jinyu suddenly understood. His father was indeed extraordinary, with insight beyond ordinary people.

“However, many of the elders in the family want to get close to the influential families in the capital. Will the others in the family object to your focus on Duan Wang?”

“That’s why I said not to put all the eggs in one basket. It’s natural to form connections with the powerful families in the capital, but we can’t neglect Duan Wang either,” Ma Siyong squinted his eyes, a glimmer of brilliance flashing through them.

“Yes! I understand now!”

Seeing that his son had no objections and seemed to understand, Ma Siyong was quite pleased. “Duan Wang has already said that after the Emperor’s Thousand Autumn Festival, a bidding fair will be held. Since you’ve become close to Duan Wang, you should find out what the details of this bidding are. We need to prepare in advance, or we might be caught off guard and fall behind.”

Ma Jinyu nodded in agreement and thought for a moment before hesitating, saying, “From what Duan Wang said, although the potential benefits in the later stages are considerable, the amount of money required for this bidding event is no small sum. At that time, not only our Ma family, but other merchants will also be drawn to it. Who knows what the upper limit of their investments will be? Will it push our Ma family out?”

Duan Wang had already said that the amount of investment would determine the extent of the future benefits, which was unquestionable. Since their Ma family wanted to align with Duan Wang’s interests, they had to show sincerity. If they couldn’t make it into the first tier, then their support for Duan Wang would amount to empty words.

Ma Siyong stood with his hands clasped behind his back, also having the same concerns. “So, do your best to find out the rules from Duan Wang if you can. Know yourself and your enemy, and you will be victorious in a hundred battles. The business world is like a battlefield. As for the others, I will send people to gather information and make sure we are prepared for both outcomes. I’ll start preparing the money now; it’s better to be prepared.”

Opportunities are fleeting, and after years of commerce, Ma Siyong understood this principle well. Only with full preparation could one seize the moment; otherwise, even if opportunities are right in front of you, they might slip away.

There are many merchants out there smarter than him. The reason their Ma family had managed to establish and grow to this point was mainly because they had prepared in advance and acted decisively to seize the right opportunities.

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