Chapter 143
Tuoba Hongze also wanted to understand the details of that battle. However, the people below him couldn’t explain it clearly, and Tuoba Ren remained completely silent on the matter. As a result, even if he wanted to ask, there was no way to get answers. In the end, he didn’t want to wound his younger brother’s heart again, so he could only let it be.
Meanwhile, anything related to the borderlands or Duan Wang, Ming Yu, that reached the royal court was always compiled into a report and sent to him.
The information Tuoba Ren had just seen had arrived from the borderlands a few days ago.
“Wang Ye, Mr. Song has arrived,” someone reported from outside.
Tuoba Ren nodded, signaling for them to let him in. Before long, a tall and elegant figure appeared in the room.
Song Lian’s presence was striking—just standing there was enough to draw all attention to him. A strand of hair fell over his face, partially covering one side. If one looked closely, they could still faintly see the scar left by Ming Yu’s blade last time. Like a flaw in a beautiful jade, it added a strange yet captivating sense of ruin and fragility.
Unlike the people of Suixi, who wore thick fur garments, Song Lian was still dressed in traditional Han attire—a scholar’s robe. He adjusted his sleeves and gave a formal bow in the style of the Central Plains. “Wang Ye summoned me. May I ask what the matter is?”
Tuoba Ren was momentarily stunned before regaining his composure. He coughed twice and responded politely, “Mr. Song, since arriving at the royal court, I wonder if you’ve grown accustomed to life here?”
Song Lian smiled faintly. “With Wang Ye’s care, everything has been well.”
Tuoba Ren nodded and gestured for him to sit. A servant promptly brought over a cup of buttered tea. Song Lian frowned slightly—he still couldn’t get used to the strong, gamey taste of this drink.
Noticing his reaction, Tuoba Ren chuckled and said to the servant, “Mr. Song isn’t accustomed to our grassland buttered tea. Go and bring the new tea from the south, the one bestowed upon me by the Khan.”
The servant hurried away to change the tea. Tuoba Ren then turned his head and joked, “Mr. Song, since you’ve come to Suixi, you should try to adapt to our way of life. Don’t you people of the Central Plains have a saying—‘When you enter a village, follow the local customs’? You’re such an intelligent man; surely, it wouldn’t be too difficult for you?”
Song Lian’s face paled slightly, his fingers tightening around his sleeves as he replied, “Yes, I have been gradually adjusting. However, adapting to an environment depends on one’s ability to do so—it is not merely a matter of intelligence.”
Tuoba Ren smiled but didn’t press the issue. Song Lian was a scholar from the Great Yan, steeped in Confucian thought and culture. No matter how he looked at it, the people of the Great Sui were still considered outsiders—uncivilized, wild men who ate raw meat and drank blood, ignorant of proper etiquette.
Tuoba Ren took a sip of buttered tea and spoke leisurely, “I don’t know why you chose to seek refuge in Suixi, and I have no intention of investigating. However, after all this time, I imagine you’ve learned quite a bit about our royal court. I suppose you’ve had quite a few laughs at our expense?” His words carried a deeper meaning.
Song Lian clasped his hands in salute. “I wouldn’t dare. I had nowhere to go in the Great Yan and was fortunate to be taken in by Wang Ye. I am endlessly grateful. If Wang Ye ever has any orders for me, I will obey without question.”
Tuoba Ren waved his hand and sighed. “You’ve seen my situation now—I’m nothing more than a useless idler. Staying by my side will only bury your talents.”
Song Lian lifted the freshly changed tea to his lips. The gentle aroma of the leaves filled the air, a scent that carried memories of the Central Plains. He took a deep breath—it was indeed a familiar taste. Sipping it lightly, his eyes darkened for a brief moment, but in the next instant, he had returned to his usual calm.
With a slight smile, he said, “Wang Ye can walk and move freely. How does that make you an idle waste?”
“I can no longer ride into battle, and I have suffered repeated defeats. I have no face left to show the people of Suixi,” Tuoba Ren said bitterly. His heart was weary—no matter his will, fate would not bend to him. How could he fight against destiny?
Song Lian, however, shook his head. “Wang Ye, you are mistaken. The people of the grasslands revere heroes—that much is true. Everyone has a hero’s dream. But do you truly believe that hunting bears, slaying wolves, and winning battles alone makes one a hero?”
Tuoba Ren looked at him with deep eyes. “And why not? I killed my first wolf at five, hunted my first bear at eight, and became the mightiest warrior of the plains at thirteen. I followed my father into battle and was never defeated, earning countless honors. Back then, which of the small neighboring states dared to challenge me? Just the mention of my name, Hunle Wang, was enough to make children stop crying in fear. Hunle Wang was the hero whom all of Great Sui revered.”
Song Lian shook his head and said nothing. Tuoba Ren frowned. “What, does Mr. Song have a different opinion on what makes a hero?”
Song Lian spoke softly, “In my view, Wang Ye’s actions are nothing more than brute courage.”
Tuoba Ren’s expression changed, his emotions stirring violently. He coughed several times before finally suppressing it, then sneered, “What do you mean by that, Mr. Song?”
“A true hero is not judged by victory or defeat. A true hero can never be truly defeated. But Wang Ye, you have already been defeated—by yourself. That is why I say, you are not a true hero.”
Tuoba Ren studied Song Lian closely, his gaze filled with curiosity. He examined him from head to toe but did not immediately speak.
Song Lian continued, “There was once a man in the previous dynasty whom I deeply admired. If there were true heroes in this world, he would surely be one of them. Born into a humble family, he was frail and sickly from childhood, and even had difficulty walking. Yet, he was determined to rise above his circumstances, overcoming countless hardships. In the end, he assisted the late Emperor Taizong in unifying the realm, subduing the four barbarian tribes, and became the Prime Minister—second only to one, but above all others.”
“He was plagued by illness, yet through sheer intellect, he built a vast empire. He never once lifted a blade to kill, yet his enemies trembled at his name. His legendary life was a testament to his unwavering perseverance. May I ask, Wang Ye, does such a man not deserve to be called a hero?”
Tuoba Ren closed his eyes. He knew exactly who Song Lian was referring to. He also understood that Song Lian had brought this up in an effort to pull him out of his despondency.
Seeing a flicker of emotion on Tuoba Ren’s face, Song Lian pressed on, “Wang Ye, one does not have to be an unmatched warrior to be a hero. There is an old saying in the Central Plains—victory and defeat are commonplace in war. If one sinks into despair after a single loss, then he is destined for failure.”
Tuoba Ren let out a bitter smile. “I understand what you mean, Sir Song. However, being caught in the thick of it, there are times when I have no choice. You have seen my situation yourself. Listen to the endless music and laughter from over there—His Majesty is hosting a banquet for Lian Gu Wang. Helian Bo’s influence is unrivaled in the royal court, to the point where even His Majesty must yield to him. And I… how could I possibly compete with him?”
He paused for a moment before continuing sincerely, “In truth, I invited you here not for my own sake, but because I wish for your talents to be recognized. I intend to recommend you to the Great Khan. What do you think, Sir Song?”
Song Lian narrowed his eyes, uncertain whether Tuoba Ren’s words were genuine or merely a test. What was his true intention?
If the offer was sincere, could he achieve his long-awaited revenge by serving under the Great Khan? Yes, revenge—against all those who had wronged him. He knew that with his own strength alone, he would never succeed. Every step he had taken to get here was carefully calculated. He needed to borrow power. Only by using the might of Suixi Kingdom could he overthrow the Great Yan.
And if Tuoba Ren was merely testing him, then he had to tread carefully—he needed to figure out how to satisfy him.
“Why would Wang Ye say such a thing?” Song Lian’s mind raced, but outwardly, he spoke with unwavering calm, “Wang Ye has shown me great kindness, and I will surely repay it with all my efforts. You should know the kind of person I am—though I never forget a grudge, I also never forget a debt of gratitude.”
Tuoba Ren remained silent. Song Lian could not tell what he was thinking. After some thought, he added, “I came to the borderlands because I offended a powerful noble in the capital. With no other choice, I had to flee here. At my most desperate moment, I was saved by Song Qingfu, so I stayed by his side, offering counsel and helping him build his influence.”
“But who could have predicted that Song Qingfu’s ambition would be his downfall? He refused to heed my advice, and in the end, he fell into Duan Wang’s trap, wiped out completely. I barely managed to escape with my life, but Duan Wang issued a warrant for my arrest. I had nowhere left to run—until fate led me to Wang Ye, giving me a second chance.”
Everything he said was true. He deliberately revealed these details to ease Tuoba Ren’s doubts. By now, Tuoba Ren must have already investigated his past. Rather than hiding things, it was better to be upfront and gain his trust.
He had already thought this through—if he truly ended up under the Great Khan’s service, he would be nothing more than an idle courtier, a minor figure pushed to the fringes. The royal court was far from united; its factions were tangled in a web of intrigue, and even the Great Khan’s authority was not absolute. Rather than getting entangled in that, it was better to follow Tuoba Ren.
Although Tuoba Ren’s reputation had plummeted due to his recent defeat, Song Lian knew that he was not the kind of man to give up easily.
Tuoba Ren was ambitious. He longed to conquer the Great Yan, to achieve unparalleled glory, to become a hero of the steppes and earn the reverence of all. This made him the most valuable ally. Though their reasons were different, their goal was the same—to bring down the Great Yan.
If he could offer his strategies and form an alliance with Tuoba Ren, then with his own capabilities, there was a real chance of overthrowing the Yan dynasty. And even if he couldn’t bring it down completely, he could at least create enough chaos to make the Yan Emperor suffer. That alone would be enough to satisfy his grudge. This was his best possible choice.
Song Lian fixed his gaze on Tuoba Ren, then stood up and bowed deeply. With utmost sincerity, he declared, “Wang Ye, no matter what happens, I will follow you. As long as you are determined, I will assist you in breaking through Shi Chongguan and launching an assault on the capital of the Great Yan.”
Song Lian’s pledge of loyalty pleased Tuoba Ren greatly. A man like Song Lian was exactly what he needed. He had long since investigated his background and knew that Song Lian was a man of great ability—ruthless, highly intelligent, and deeply familiar with the Great Yan. Having him as an advisor would be like adding wings to a tiger.
Tuoba Ren’s pale fingers traced the rim of his teacup. After a long silence, he suddenly burst into laughter. Rising to his feet, he walked over to lift Song Lian up, smiling as he said, “Excellent! With Sir Song’s assistance, how could I not achieve my grand ambitions?”
Song Lian was delighted—he knew that Tuoba Ren now fully trusted him. His move had been the right one.
Once they were seated again, Tuoba Ren finally took out the report he had set aside earlier. “Sir Song, take a look at this and share your thoughts.”
Song Lian accepted the document, scanning through it quickly. After reading its contents, he asked in confusion, “Wang Ye, what exactly is the Western Qi Corridor?”
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