NOVEL NEXT
Chapter 543
Mo Jiuye and He Zhiran had just returned to their residence when Mo Jiuye couldn't help but ask, "Zhiran, why did you give Nan Yu hope earlier?"
He Zhiran's thought had only formed when Nan Yu spoke earlier, so it was no surprise that Mo Jiuye didn't understand his wife's intentions.
"Husband, have you ever considered making the Northwest your own territory?"
"You mean the Prince's fiefdom?" Mo Jiuye felt that was somewhat unthinkable. Not to mention that he had never considered this before, even in the great Da Shun empire, no prince of a different surname, let alone a prince of the royal family, had ever been granted a fief.
Though He Zhiran was not a native of this place, she understood from the history she learned that since the founding of the Da Shun dynasty, no prince had ever been granted a fief.
Even the once famous Prince Yong'an had never received such an honor.
"Husband, think about it. Our Mo family now lives peacefully in the Northwest, with no lack of silver or ways to earn it. But what is the one thing we lack?"
This was undeniable, and Mo Jiuye would not evade this answer.
At the same time, he also thought of many issues, such as those He Zhiran had just considered.
"Zhiran, do you mean that if my Mo family returns to the imperial court, the condition is to have our own fiefdom?"
What He Zhiran found most gratifying about marrying Mo Jiuye was that he understood her, understood what she was thinking, and could see right through her.
"This is what I was thinking..."
He Zhiran laid out her thoughts and then looked at Mo Jiuye.
She was not demanding that Mo Jiuye follow her suggestion, but rather giving him the full decision-making power.
If Mo Jiuye was still unwilling, she would not persuade him further.
Mo Jiuye did not answer immediately, but fell into thought. After a long while, he finally spoke:
"Zhiran, do you think Emperor Shunwu would agree to our request?"
On this point, He Zhiran was quite confident. Moreover, if Emperor Shunwu did not agree, they could simply return to the Northwest and continue living as ordinary citizens.
"You should understand court politics better than I do. Now it seems the Barbarians are invading, but think about the Southern Territory - they have always coveted the lands of Da Shun. If they hear that the Barbarians are attacking Da Shun, how could they not seize this opportunity to attack Da Shun from both sides along with the Barbarians?
Emperor Shunwu is deluded and may not think that far ahead, but Nan Yu is different. He has great foresight, so how could he not understand the stakes involved?
Once the Barbarians and the Southern Territory attack Da Shun together, Da Shun will be caught between two enemies with no capable general to lead the three armies. The consequences for Da Shun then would be self-evident.
If you agree to my suggestion, when we meet Nan Yu later, I will propose the condition for the Mo family's return to the imperial court. If he disagrees, I will also explain the future risks and benefits.
I simply do not believe that with Nan Yu's shrewdness, he would fail to weigh the gains and losses in this.
Moreover, carving out the western territory as our fief does not require Emperor Shunwu to cede land - on the surface, the Northwest would still be under Da Shun's jurisdiction.
The only difference is that there would be a new master to bring new life to that region.
With our own fief, we could also legitimately raise troops, and no one could object.
Besides, we have no intention of betraying Da Shun - we only want to provide more security for our own family's livelihood.
Of course, over time, this could also provoke some resentment from those in power.
However, even if there is resentment, it is likely a matter for years to come.
By then, our wings will have fully spread, and moreover, we possess bombs - weapons of extreme destructive power. No matter who it is, if they try to move against the Mo family, they will likely meet a disastrous end."
He Zhiran's meaning was clear - the Mo family only wants to live peacefully. As long as the rulers do not engage in any inhumane acts, the Mo family would not do anything to threaten Da Shun.
But if the imperial court harbors any ill intentions, by then the Mo family's wings will have fully spread. Even if they rebel against Da Shun, what does it matter?
Of course, this was only a way out that He Zhiran had considered. In her and Mo Jiuye's minds, they had never planned on rebelling.
However, everyone has a bottom line, and theirs was that the imperial court must not have any ill intentions toward the Mo family.
As long as no one crosses that line, they will choose to live peacefully in the Northwest, and could even serve as an important barrier against the invading Barbarians.
Mo Jiuye felt more and more that He Zhiran made sense.
"If so, let us lay it out frankly with Nan Yu. In any case, we must take an attitude of not being overly demanding."
Of course, He Zhiran had never intended to be overly demanding either.
"Good, let's go find him now."
When Nan Yu saw the two return, he felt an overwhelming sense of excitement.
"Lord Mo, Lady Mo, have you agreed?"
"Third Prince, we can consider this matter, but on the condition that you agree to one thing."
"Whatever the condition is, just say it. Don't say one condition - even if it's ten, I'll agree as long as you come back."
For the first time in front of them, Nan Yu was not calm and collected, showing just how eager he was to recruit talents.
Mo Jiuye smiled faintly, "I won't beat around the bush with the Third Prince, and there is only one condition.
Earlier the Third Prince said that if my Mo family returns to the imperial court, you would grant me a princely title.
I have no objection to that, but the premise is that I intend to have the Northwest region as my fief. As long as you meet this requirement, the father and sons of the Mo family will immediately take up arms."
At this point, with Nan Yu poised to take power, Mo Jiuye decided not to conceal from him that all the Mo men were alive.
Requesting the Northwest as a fief was something he was already quite confident Nan Yu would agree to, before even asking.
Since that was the case, it was better to let Nan Yu know early that the Mo family's father and sons were all alive, to show his sincerity.
Hearing this, Nan Yu was indeed shaken.
If it was just that a few of Mo Jiuye's brothers had died and been revived, Nan Yu was somewhat aware of that. But what did Mo Jiuye just say?
He said the father and sons of the Mo family would take up arms.
What did that represent?
It meant that even the old Lord Mo was still alive.
This seemed almost unthinkable.
After a moment of hesitation, Nan Yu could not help but ask:
"Lord Mo, what did you mean when you said the father and sons of the Mo family would take up arms?"
Since Mo Jiuye had chosen to reveal this, he had no intention of concealing it.
He briefly recounted how all the Mo men were alive, and how they had found each other.
After hearing this, Nan Yu truly felt sympathy for the Mo family's ordeal.
"I didn't expect that the loyal and righteous Mo family would suffer so much."