Chapter 133 Liangzhou Plot

Chapter 133: The Liangzhou Arc

Zhang Xun fell silent for a moment before raising his head and saying, "From what I observed of the Prince of Mobei, he harbors ambitions to take over the empire—and he possesses the capability to do so."

His tone was measured, yet no amount of composure could mask the storm behind those words.

Zhang Wei’s eyelids twitched, while his two sons, Zhang Qian and Zhang Ding, failed to hide their shock.

"Make yourself clear, boy. How exactly did you come to this conclusion?" Zhang Wei, being older and more experienced, was the first to regain his composure.

It wasn’t that he doubted his grandson’s judgment—he simply wanted to understand just how powerful the Xianbei had become.

Zhang Wei’s fingers tightened on the armrests of his chair, the veins on his rough, dark hands bulging, his knuckles turning bone-white with tension.

Being scrutinized by so many serious gazes, even from familiar family members, would unsettle most people. Yet Zhang Xun remained composed.

He said, "The moment Tuo Baxiao decided to marry a noblewoman from the Liang royal family, he must have already had this intention."

As the Xianbei King, it would have been customary for him to choose a Xianbei noblewoman as his consort. Even if he preferred Han women, he could have simply taken a few as concubines. But instead, he sought a marriage alliance with Liang, insisting on a noblewoman connected to the imperial family. There were only two possible motives: either to feign friendship toward Liang and lull the Emperor of Liang into complacency, or… to prepare in advance for his eventual conquest of the Central Plains.

If he truly seized the Central Plains, having a Liang princess as his empress might prevent the Han people from resisting him to the death.

Zhang Xun then recounted everything he had witnessed in Xianbei without omission. Though he hadn’t seen the Xianbei cavalry in battle, their training alone—their towering, robust physiques surpassing those of Han soldiers, their well-fed warhorses, and their palpable bloodlust—made it clear just how formidable they were.

"...Tuo Baxiao’s cavalry may very well outmatch even Liangzhou's forces in strength."

"Are they truly that strong?" Zhang Yan asked. He prided himself on the Liangzhou troops, who had fought relentlessly on the front lines against the barbarians, seasoned warriors never slackening in their training. They were already considered among the finest elite forces of the era.

"Elder Brother, if you saw them with your own eyes, you’d know I speak the truth."

The men sat in their chairs, the dim glow of two lanterns casting flickering shadows across their faces, the atmosphere growing increasingly oppressive.

"Chang Shengnu has established many industries in Xianbei and oversees large farmlands. She holds significant sway there. Previously, she proposed improving iron-smelting techniques, but Liangzhou lacked the means to do so. In Xianbei, however, no one could restrain her..." Zhang Xun’s tone even carried a hint of self-mockery by the end. The Emperor of Liang truly reigns supreme, doesn’t he?

This was both a boon and a bane for them. The advantage was that Jiang Congyan could secure her position without being looked down upon and even sway the decisions of Xianbei’s elite. The downside was that her efforts also strengthened Xianbei’s national power, augmenting Tuo Baxiao’s might like adding fuel to the fire.

"And Chang Shengnu—where does she stand?" Zhang Wei suddenly interjected.

At the old man’s question, the others lifted their gazes, eyes locking onto Zhang Xun.

Finally, Zhang Xun allowed a small, reassuring smile. "Chang Shengnu promised me that as long as she lives, she will never allow Tuo Baxiao to slaughter Han people."

"Truly worthy of Crown Prince Zhaowen’s granddaughter! She embodies the principle befitting her lineage!" The old man pounded the armrest in excitement with such force that the sturdy wooden chair nearly collapsed under the impact.

Zhang Xun glanced at his grandfather, thinking that if his grandmother were here, she’d surely scold him again. The old man was so fixated on the lofty ideals of following Crown Prince Zhaowen back in the day, yet he never considered how difficult it must be for Chang Shengnu alone in Xianbei.

Zhang Qian and Zhang Ding exchanged a look, their expressions softening somewhat.

"By the way, there’s one more thing—something that will surely shock you all," Zhang Xun deliberately paused.

Zhang Ding, ever impatient, kicked his son irritably. "Out with it, boy! Don’t play coy in front of your grandfather and uncle."

Zhang Xun shot his father a resigned look, brushing the dust from his trousers where the kick had landed, then delivered the bombshell announcement in the most matter-of-fact tone.

"Before I left, Tuo Baxiao announced that he would adopt Han script in Xianbei."

!!!

Everyone was stunned, eyes widening as if they had just heard some tall tale. The shock was so overwhelming that for a moment, no one could speak. "D-Did I hear that right?" Zhang Yan stammered, his round eyes fixed unblinkingly on Zhang Xun.

"Are you joking?" Zhang Wei's face darkened, the 'frown' crease between his brows deepened.

"No," Zhang Xun replied firmly.

He slowly raised his eyes to meet the gazes of his grandfather, uncle, father, and elder brother, his expression tightening. "Not a single word I’ve spoken is false."

"This ought to be... good news, shouldn’t it?" Zhang Yan looked toward his grandfather and father, but their faces showed no trace of joy.

"Tuo Baxiao’s ambitions run deep," Zhang Ding remarked with a sigh.

The atmosphere grew heavy again. Though they didn’t elaborate, Zhang Yan remained puzzled—wasn’t Tuo Baxiao’s willingness to adopt Central Plains culture a good thing?

Seeing this, Zhang Xun hesitated for a moment before voicing the question that had long weighed on his mind.

"Grandfather, with the barbarians rising unchecked, what path should Liangzhou take from now on?"

"What are you implying?" Zhang Wei’s eyes blazed as he glared at him.

Zhang Ding seemed to sense what his son was about to say and shot him a warning look, but Zhang Xun ignored it entirely.

"Chang Shengnu has already married Tuo Baxiao and gained footing among the barbarians. Perhaps Liangzhou has a new path..."

He didn’t finish, but everyone understood his implication.

"Outrageous!" Zhang Wei slammed his fist onto the armrest with such force that the sturdy wooden chair cracked.

Unfazed, Zhang Xun rose and knelt before his grandfather, meeting his gaze squarely. "You say I’m outrageous, but have you considered that while Liang State declines day by day, the emperor still eyes us with suspicion? What future do the millions of soldiers and civilians in Liangzhou have? Must they throw their lives away without hesitation, paving the way for the emperor… to wallow in luxury?"

Zhang Wei shot to his feet, looming over Zhang Xun, his beard quivering with fury. He raised a hand as if to strike but clenched his fist and lowered it.

"Tuo Baxiao is a barbarian! I’ve spent my life killing barbarians! The Zhang family has guarded Liangzhou for generations to keep them from invading the south. And now you dare suggest such nonsense? All that book learning’s rotted your brain!" Zhang Wei berated him harshly.

Zhang Xun remained kneeling straight. "Tuo Baxiao is half Han. Now that he’s married Chang Shengnu, how much of their blood will still be barbarian? And with him promoting Han script and our culture, given time, what’ll separate them from us?"

Zhang Wei reeled as if struck, his fist raised to strike this rebellious grandson. But before he could swing, Zhang Yan grabbed his arm. "Grandfather, calm down. Third Brother just got back—you lay a hand on him, and Grandmother will be upset again."

He shot Zhang Xun a pleading look: *Apologize now and ease his anger.*

But Zhang Xun ignored him.

Zhang Wei’s chest heaved, his mustache quivering, his tiger-like eyes blazing. He paced twice before declaring, "A barbarian is a barbarian. I once followed the Founding Emperor and Crown Prince Zhaowen, vowing to protect the Han people’s land. That will never change, even if every last Zhang dies."

His voice rang like a war gong. Fearing his grandson might provoke him further—before he actually broke the boy’s legs—he snorted and stormed out of the study.

With his departure, the tension in the room finally eased.

Zhang Yan hauled Zhang Xun up by the arm. "You’ve always been shrewd—why provoke Grandfather today? If he loses his temper and enforces military discipline, you won’t sit right for a month."

Zhang Xun lowered his eyes, indifferent.

He hadn’t expected to sway his grandfather so easily, nor was he about to defect to the barbarians. This was merely a test—but his grandfather dug in harder than he’d expected.

His great-grandfather and grandfather had fought alongside the Founding Emperor and Crown Prince Zhaowen. However wretched the emperor might be, as long as Liang State stood, his grandfather would never abandon his duty.

But Zhang Xun was different.

He had never met the Founding Emperor or Crown Prince Zhaowen. He respected them, yes—but they were gone. And the Zhangs had blood to settle with his house.

His earlier words weren’t spoken in anger. Liangzhou had been the shield for the Central Plains for generations—they’d given enough. Did the millions here really owe their lives to feed themselves to the battlefield, generation upon generation?

He just wanted to find another path for Liangzhou.

Chang Shengnu had once asked him a question: If a child of nomadic heritage was adopted by a Central Plains (Zhongyuan) family during infancy, taught to speak the Chinese language and write Chinese characters, and never knew his own lineage, believing himself to be Han—then is he a tribesman or a Han? Conversely, if a Han person ended up among the nomads, grew up raiding the Central Plains alongside them—then is he Han or a tribesman?

At the time, she had even organized a debate among their siblings on this topic, but no winner was ever decided. Yet many of the arguments left a deep impression on him.

Han or tribesman—what truly distinguishes them? Heritage, culture, or allegiance?

Seeing his nephew hanging his head in silence, Zhang Qian offered some comfort, "What you said isn’t entirely without merit. I know you have Liangzhou’s best interests at heart. But the old man is stubborn by nature. His bond with Crown Prince Zhaowen [the late heir apparent] and the promises he made to him aren’t things he can easily let go of. It’s too soon to discuss this. We can only take things one step at a time."

Too soon? Was it? Yet from Chang Shengnu, he sensed an urgency, like a storm on the horizon. Zhang Xun thought to himself—this delicate balance would likely be shattered soon. The world wouldn’t remain peaceful for long.

——

Qu Yao had left a few days earlier than Zhang Xun. After departing the royal court, he made a detour home to arrange clan matters before continuing south with the men Jiang Congyan had assigned to him, finally arriving in Huainan.

"Lord, a merchant surnamed Qu has sent a calling card, requesting an audience with you."

Thanks to the Huan family’s connections, Huan Jun had successfully been promoted to Governor of Hongzhou last year. Having been in office for over half a year, he had already assembled his inner circle and was now cultivating relationships with the local aristocratic clans.

Qu? So he’s arrived.

"Show him in."