Chapter 033: The Struggle for Talent (Part II)

Chapter 33: The Struggle for a Man

Yang Yi was in a foul mood.

In truth, before Wei Ba sent over the account books, he already knew about Wei Ba’s new method of bookkeeping. With his professional eye, he was well aware of its ingenuity. If someone else had invented it—even if it were a bit inferior—he would have praised it, leveraging his status and connections to help spread its fame. The only reason he hadn't bothered to look and had tossed aside the account books that Cheng An delivered was because the innovator was none other than Wei Yan’s son. And his feud with Wei Yan was well known to all.

Like Wei Yan, Yang Yi was a proud man.

In the entire Prime Minister’s Office, he considered himself one of the few indispensable talents. The Prime Minister’s constant reliance on him was proof enough. Besides his outstanding abilities, his family background was illustrious. In every respect, he was second to none, with ample reason for pride. Who could object? Jiang Wan and Fei Yi—weren’t they always respectful toward him?

Only Wei Yan was different.

Wei Yan not only showed him no deference, but also deliberately challenged him, opposing him in public, mocking and ridiculing him, often leaving him at a loss for words. Though a gentleman should be gentle, respectful, and yielding, Wei Yan’s brazen arrogance had pushed Yang Yi to his limits. Now, Wei Yan’s son had abandoned the martial path for the literary, and invented a new bookkeeping method to make a name for himself among the scholars. How could Yang Yi let him have his way?

Yang Yi’s original intent was simple: to make things difficult for Wei Ba, to remind him of his own importance, make him bow his head and yield, and that would be enough. But unexpectedly, Wei Ba took the new account books straight to the Prime Minister to complain. Soon after, Fei Yi arrived, carrying those very books that Yang Yi had thrown to the ground, along with the Prime Minister’s warning. This made Yang Yi feel even more humiliated, and instead of his anger subsiding, it burned hotter.

Fate seemed to favor him, for the Wei family was always courting trouble. Not only had Wei Ba offended Yang Yi, but he had also gotten into a fight with Liu Yan and his son. Fu Xing, who had spoken in Wei Ba’s defense, had barely returned to camp before Liu Yan had him beaten bloody, then sent him to the logistics camp, forbidding him treatment and threatening to let pain kill him.

Yang Yi understood very well why Liu Yan had sent Fu Xing to the logistics camp. Liu Yan wanted to vent his anger by killing Fu Xing, but didn’t dare let him die in his own camp. Sending him to the logistics camp meant that if Fu Xing died of his wounds, Liu Yan’s responsibility would be greatly reduced. In effect, he was shifting the blame onto Yang Yi. Normally, Yang Yi would have simply sent someone to treat Fu Xing, ignoring Liu Yan’s ploy, but today, he was willing to be used. He was certain that Wei Yan and his son would come to claim their man.

If they came to the logistics camp to demand Fu Xing, Yang Yi would have the perfect opportunity to make things difficult for them. He was determined not to let this chance slip by, and so was happy to play Liu Yan’s hatchet man.

Just as he expected, Wei Feng soon arrived. Yet to Yang Yi’s surprise, when refused, Wei Feng merely closed his mouth tightly and, instead of flaring up as usual, sat quietly to one side, watching over Fu Xing. Yang Yi was puzzled, but when he saw a mounted rider gallop out of the camp, he understood—Wei Feng realized his own authority was insufficient and had gone to fetch Wei Yan.

This excited Yang Yi even more. Making things difficult for Wei Yan would be far more satisfying than dealing with a junior like Wei Feng. He made thorough preparations—not only did he have a hundred armored soldiers at hand, but another five hundred waited on standby behind him. If Wei Yan dared act rashly, Yang Yi would order their arrest. Killing them might be excessive, but teaching them a lesson would be no problem. Even if Wei Yan emerged unscathed before the Prime Minister, his reputation would be in tatters.

Yang Yi had been eagerly awaiting Wei Yan’s arrival, and when he heard the approaching footsteps, his heartbeat quickened. Though he was only a staff officer, ranked much lower than General Wei Yan, as a trusted aide to the Prime Minister, how could he possibly take an outsider like Wei Yan seriously—especially given their history? He didn’t even rise to greet Wei Yan, waiting for him to lose his temper and break protocol so he could give the order to seize him.

To his surprise, Wei Yan pushed Liu Yan in front of him instead. Yang Yi looked down on both Wei Yan and Liu Yan, but there was a difference—Liu Yan, as Rear General, outranked Wei Yan by two grades; he couldn’t be so discourteous.

Yet, this played right into Wei Yan’s hands, undermining his own aura.

Yang Yi hesitated, uncertain whether to rise and salute Liu Yan or remain seated and ignore Wei Yan and his son.

Upon hearing the phrase “Mr. Virtuous Yang,” Yang Yi decided to stand. He could disregard the Wei family, but he would not disgrace his late elder brother’s name. A breach of etiquette would harm his reputation as well.

“Greetings, Rear General. What’s this—have you encountered thieves?” Yang Yi asked, feigning astonishment.

Liu Yan, both in pain and anger, was muddle-headed and didn’t catch the hint in Yang Yi’s words. He simply gasped for breath, his chest and abdomen aching from being hauled across a saddle, to the point that even breathing was agony.

Seeing Liu Yan in this state, Yang Yi felt only contempt. This Rear General was truly worthless—nothing but a pretty face. How had someone like him managed to serve the late emperor for so many years and rise to such a rank?

Wei Yan watched the exchange between Yang Yi and Liu Yan as if it were a monkey show, then strode forward as if to force his way in. Wei Ba quickly blocked him. Earlier, outside Liu Yan’s camp, facing over a hundred drawn bows, he had been terrified. Now, the logistics camp was even more heavily guarded; the hundred armored soldiers alone showed Yang Yi was no Liu Yan, and had come prepared. He would not let Wei Yan snatch anyone easily. Worse, it would give Yang Yi grounds to accuse them before the Prime Minister.

“Father, courtesy before force,” Wei Ba pleaded with Wei Yan.

“Hmph, what courtesy does a pedant like him deserve? If we use force, he’ll be scared out of his wits in no time.”

Wei Ba felt a wave of exasperation. Too crude, too violent, too lacking in finesse. “Father, a few more words won’t take much time. Since my elder brother is by Fu Xing’s side, he should be safe for now. I caused this mess—let me try to resolve it with words. It’s the least I can do.”

Wei Yan eyed him, then nodded indifferently. “Fine, but be quick about it. The mutton is still simmering—leave it too long and it’ll be tough.”

Wei Ba stifled a laugh, turned, and approached Yang Yi, bowing respectfully. “Greetings, Staff Officer Yang.”

Yang Yi clasped one hand behind his back, stroked his beard with the other, lifted his chin, and looked at Wei Ba down his nose, snorting arrogantly. “What do you want?”

“My father and I have come to the logistics camp because our guest, Fu Xing, was reportedly injured and brought here. We wish to visit him. We ask that you grant us this courtesy.”

“In the army, gatherings without reason are forbidden. Otherwise, military law applies. Do you not understand this? Besides, if he’s injured, he can’t attend a feast anyway. Go back and eat on your own, lest the mutton overcook and turn tough.”

Wei Yan bristled with anger and strode forward, but Wei Ba quickly restrained him, still maintaining a humble smile. “Staff Officer, you may not know. We invited Fu Xing because he spoke up for justice, clearing my name. My elder brother reported this to the Prime Minister, and only after receiving his permission did we arrange the banquet. Now that Fu Xing is injured, even if he can’t attend, we are duty-bound to visit him.”

Hearing that the Prime Minister had given permission, Yang Yi hesitated, then said, “You’ve come, your intentions are clear—now go back. The logistics camp is busy; with so many people crowded here, how am I to work? Don’t worry, I’ll arrange for Fu Xing’s treatment.”

Wei Ba remained unmoved and pressed on: “Thank you for your concern. However, our family has excellent medicine for wounds. If you’ll allow us to see Fu Xing and bring him to our camp for treatment, it would spare you the trouble.”

“Nonsense. Your good medicine is your business. Once he’s in the logistics camp, how could I hand him over to someone else? Should we send all our wounded to your camp in the future?”

Wei Ba grew frustrated. Yang Yi truly was stubborn—just for the sake of pride, he had to involve himself in matters unrelated to him. Was his head kicked by a donkey? As the saying goes, when a scholar meets a soldier, reason is useless. He had worked hard to restrain his father from resorting to violence, hoping for a peaceful negotiation where everyone could save face. But Yang Yi insisted on being difficult. If that’s the way it is, he thought grimly, don’t blame me for taking matters into my own hands.

As Wei Ba steeled himself, Wei Yan stepped forward, hand on his son’s shoulder, gently pushing him aside. Wei Ba knew his father was about to lose his temper. But he was reluctant to let his father take action. Liu Yan was a nobody—beating him was nothing. Yang Yi, however, was a trusted confidant of the Prime Minister, essential to the administration. If his quick-tempered father crippled him, the Prime Minister would never forgive them. This was best handled by someone less dangerous—himself. He’d been training recently—growing stronger, but not to the point of lethality.

“Father, you are a renowned warrior. Why lower yourself to scuffle with a petty scholar and tarnish your reputation? Please, step back and let me handle this.”

“Are you up to it?” Wei Yan looked at Wei Ba, half-smiling.

Wei Ba grinned. “Dealing with a pedant like him is more than enough for me.”

“Very well. I’ll watch your back.” Wei Yan nodded with satisfaction and clapped Wei Ba on the shoulder. “Go ahead, do as you see fit. If anything happens, I’ll take the blame.”