168Chapter 143: The Confused Chu Yuqin, Chu Family Changes Hands_2

Translator: 549690339 |

Meanwhile,

at Sufeng City, Chu Family.

The Chu Family Council.

Today, all the important members of the Chu Family had gathered, seemingly to discuss some crucial matter.

At this moment, Chu Xiong was sitting at the highest seat in the hall, his face as dark as thunder, looking quite displeased.

Just then, Chu Liang spoke up, “According to the decision of the Family Head and the Elders, effective today, Chu Xiong will no longer hold the position of Family Head.”

Upon hearing these words, Chu Xiong snorted coldly and addressed Chu Liang and Chu Song, “Second brother, third brother, do you realize what you are doing?”

Chu Liang said with a smile, “Big brother, you can’t still be planning to support that useless North Prince, can you?”

Chu Xiong replied, “Now that the North Prince has achieved illustrious military exploits in North City, you still regard him as useless, and you even collude with outsiders to strip me of my position as Family Head. You are leading the Chu Family into a bottomless abyss of calamity!”

Chu Liang then said, “Big brother, ask yourself, do you really believe that the North Prince could have raised fifty thousand Heavy Cavalry in such a short time?”

“Are you truly clueless, or just pretending to be? The North Prince is clearly the Sum Emperor’s pawn; that fifty thousand Heavy Cavalry is the Sum Emperor’s secret trump card, and yet you still have expectations for a mere pawn? Who exactly is bringing the Chu Family into a bottomless abyss of calamity?”

When the members of the Chu Family first heard that the North Prince led his army to defeat the three hundred thousand-strong Barbarian Tribe, they truly believed that the North Prince had been feigning incompetence all along, and some members who favored Prince Lu Shuyun even considered repledging their loyalty to him.

But soon they recognized the problem. How long had the North Prince been in North City, and given its poverty, how could it possibly have raised fifty thousand Heavy Cavalry?

If they believed the fifty thousand Heavy Cavalry belonged to the North Prince, then they’d be complete fools.

The North Prince was enfeoffed to North City by the Sum Emperor, and now that a sizeable Heavy Cavalry force suddenly appeared in North City, combined with the fact that in the entire Great Sum only one entity had the ability to raise such a force, there was no doubt, the fifty thousand Heavy Cavalry were indeed the Sum Emperor’s secret weapon!

Not only the Chu Family, but all the Aristocratic Families had come to a sudden realization, as if they had seen the light.

They finally understood why the Sum Emperor dared to take action against them at this time; he had fifty thousand Heavy Cavalry at his disposal, so why fear these Aristocratic Families?

Therefore, for the members of the Chu Family, the rise of the North Prince in North City was not a blessing, but rather a curse.

It proved that the North Prince had become the Sum Emperor’s pawn; the North Prince and the Sum Emperor were aligned.

In order to decisively distance themselves from the North Prince, Chu Liang and Chu Song seized this opportunity to join forces with the Family Head and the Elders. They unanimously decided to strip Chu Xiong of his position as Family Head.

After all, Chu Xiong was the North Prince’s maternal grandfather, and by deposing him as Family Head, they were, to some extent, declaring their loyalty to Prince Lu Shuyun, indicating that from now on, the Chu Family was completely shifting its allegiance toward Prince Lu Shuyun.

Upon hearing Chu Liang’s words, frankly, Chu Xiong too was conflicted inside. He also found it hard to believe that the North Prince truly had fifty thousand Heavy Cavalry, as it simply defied all reason.

But to lean entirely towards Prince Lu Shuyun meant that the Chu Family, along with the Wang Family, was preparing for a rebellion. What did that imply? It meant that the Sum Emperor’s blade would soon fall upon their heads.

Although the Sum Emperor had long planned to move against the Aristocratic Families, he had not yet found the opportunity. But should you initiate a rebellion, it would be different. The Sum Emperor was waiting for the Aristocratic Families to rebel so he wouldn’t need another excuse to strike.

At that moment, Chu Song laughed and said, “Big brother, calm down. You’ve reached such an age; starting from today, you should just rest at home and not worry about the family affairs anymore. This might turn out to be a good thing for you.”

Upon hearing this, Chu Xiong snorted coldly and then said, “If you insist on rebelling with the Wang Family, then I shall have no choice but to lead my branch of the Chu Family and break away from the main family.”

No sooner had Chu Xiong finished his words than his son, Chu Hongfei, spoke up, “Father, why are you so stubborn? You should listen to Uncle Two and Uncle Three. As for me, I won’t follow you in leaving the Chu Family; if you want to leave, you can do so on your own. I will stay.”

Hearing his son’s words, Chu Xiong nearly choked with frustration.

He had only this one son. If he were to leave the Chu Family, he would be left alone, and what could he do all by himself?

Chu Xiong had not expected his son to speak out at this juncture.

Hearing Chu Hongfei’s statement, Chu Liang’s lips curled into a slight smile. He then said, “Big brother, you see, even Hongfei disapproves of your actions. Perhaps you are not aware, but the Wang Family has already agreed to let Chu Yuqin return soon, to marry Hongfei.”

Chu Xiong was momentarily stunned; he realized why his son had so swiftly sided with the Wang Family—it was all part of his calculated plan.

Chu Xiong immediately rose from his seat, then declared, “Since you insist on courting death, go ahead and do as you please. From now on, I wash my hands of the Chu Family’s affairs.”

As soon as the words fell, Chu Xiong left the council hall directly.

Chu Xiong’s withdrawal signified that the Aristocratic Families of the South had completely united their front, all turning to support Prince Lu Shuyun. From now on, in the South, there would only be Prince Lu Shuyun’s faction.

A few days later.

In the North Land.

Xiao Pengthian looked back at the endless line of livestock and couldn’t help but sigh.

By the time they reached North City, the Sky Wolf King Tribe would be no more.

At that moment, not only he, but the entire Sky Wolf King Tribe was dispirited and looked immeasurably sad.

Especially the women of the Barbarian Tribe, when they learned that the Barbarian Tribe’s army of three hundred thousand had been defeated by North City, with two hundred thousand dead, many of the women collapsed to the ground outright.

In the Barbarian Tribe, the labor of an adult man was of utmost importance; without men, it was very difficult for their women to survive on the boundless vast steppes.

Although later they learned that they were being relocated to North City, and their days might be somewhat better than on the steppes, the entire tribe’s mood was still very depressed.

At this very moment, the migrating army of the Sky Wolf King Tribe was silently moving southward, with virtually no one speaking along the way.

Then, a soldier on horseback came to Xiao Pengthian and said, “Your Majesty, they have all left.”

Hearing this, Xiao Pengthian sighed and then ordered, “Convey my instructions to hasten the migration. We have now entered North City. Let’s all put in more effort.”

The “they” the soldier referred to were those of the Barbarian Tribe unwilling to join North City.

Although most of the Barbarian Tribe longed for a better life, some felt that joining North City was tantamount to living under someone else’s roof and that they would become slaves to the people of Great Sum in the future. Therefore, these individuals were reluctant to go south with them.

Xiao Pengthian did not make it difficult for them, as he had anticipated such resistance; therefore, he left considerable supplies for those who were reluctant to join North City.

Of course, before their departure, to prevent these people from running off to the North Fre King’s Tribe to snitch, Xiao Pengthian also left some to keep watch over them.

Now that they had reached North City, and those from the Sky Wolf King Tribe who had stayed behind were just leaving. Even if they went to the North Fre King Tribe to snitch, it was too late. This posed no great threat to those in the midst of migration.

Just then, a soldier rushed to Xiao Pengthian in a fluster and exclaimed, “Your Majesty, disaster!”

Seeing the soldier’s panicked state, Xiao Pengthian immediately asked, “What has happened?”

The soldier replied, “Your Majesty, the High Priest… The High Priest has just drowned himself in the river!!!”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Pengthian was dumbstruck on the spot.

Once he regained his wits, he quickly said, “Where is he now? Take me there!”

Following the soldier’s lead, Xiao Pengthian soon arrived where the High Priest’s body lay.

The High Priest was lying there soaked, his face pale, clearly having died.

The Elders of the tribe all stood around the High Priest in silence.

The High Priest should have been the most conservative member of the tribe, likely to be firmly opposed to relocating to North City. He had, however, voted to join North City when the vote was taken. Now, as they were on the verge of entering North City, he chose to jump into the river and take his own life.

The northerly wind howled against the faces of the people, who at that moment spoke no word, seemingly in mourning.

After an indeterminate time, Xiao Pengthian had the High Priest’s body buried on the steppes, and then they continued onwards, without further delay.