Moma Liangshan

Chapter 348 Factionalism and Suppression of Dissidents: Old Customs and New Rules

After a long silence, Wanyan Wuqimai said, "Generals, please return. I need to see my fifth brother!" Wanyan Wulu and Wanyan Loushi understood Wanyan Wuqimai's style very well and knew that he had already made his decision. They said in unison, "We take our leave!"

Wanyan Gao was not only the younger brother of Wanyan Aguda and Wanyan Wugumai, but also the second in line to the Jurchen throne. At the time, he was the Khurul Bojilie, assisting the Khurul Bojilie Wanyan Sagai in commanding military and political affairs. As the Jurchen army advanced triumphantly, the power struggles within the Wanyan family intensified. Although Wanyan Gao held the position of Khurul Bojilie, his rank second only to Wanyan Aguda, Wanyan Wugumai, and Wanyan Sagai, the Jurchens were a nation founded on military strength, and a member of the royal family without military power could not maintain the proper authority.

The one who came to invite Wanyan Gao was none other than Wanyan Zongpan, the eldest son of Wanyan Aguda, while Wanyan Gao's eldest son, Wanyan Zongyi, was there to greet him. Wanyan Zongpan was known for his arrogance and domineering nature, constantly clashing with Wanyan Zonggan, Wanyan Zongwang, and others, and showing no regard for Wanyan Gao whatsoever. Wanyan Zongyi was displeased with Wanyan Zongpan's arrival, but out of courtesy, he had no choice but to see him, saying, "Brother, what brings you here?" Wanyan Zongpan replied haughtily, "My father hunted a deer yesterday and specially invited you, my uncle, to share it!" Wanyan Zongyi was quite surprised to hear this, as deer were not rare and could not be a real reason for Wanyan Wuqimai's invitation. He said, "Please rest in the front tent for a while, brother!" After saying this, he went to inform him.

Upon hearing Wanyan Zongyi's account, Wanyan Gao said, "Zongpan personally invited you, only for a deer?" He chuckled coldly and continued, "It seems your fourth uncle is about to make a move!" Wanyan Wuqimai was the fourth son, and Wanyan Gao was the fifth. Wanyan Zongyi was somewhat puzzled and asked, "Then, Father, will you go or not?" Wanyan Gao replied, "Yes, of course we will go. If they each keep to their own business, how can we have the right to raise prices?" Wanyan Zongyi said, "I will go with Father!" Wanyan Gao thought for a moment and said, "Very well!"

Wanyan Wugumai's banquet wasn't held within the main camp, but rather by a small river five li outside. When Wanyan Gao and Wanyan Zongyi arrived, the deer on the fire was already half-cooked. Wanyan Gao dismounted and, as he approached, said, "Brother, what a refined taste you have! With a formidable enemy at hand, you still have the mind for hunting and leisure?" Wanyan Wugumai smiled slightly and gave his subordinates a glance. The subordinates held a meeting, waiting a hundred paces away. At this point, only Wanyan Wugumai, Wanyan Gao, Wanyan Zongpan, and Wanyan Zongyi remained present.

Suddenly, Wanyan Wuqimai took out a short knife and made incisions in the half-cooked venison. The oil that had seeped out no longer dripped but instead flowed back into the meat through the cuts. Seeing that Wanyan Wuqimai didn't intend to speak immediately, Wanyan Gao broke the silence first, saying, "Fourth Brother's roasting skills are still the best among us brothers!" Wanyan Wuqimai laughed, sprinkling spices from the food box onto the roasted meat as he said, "There's an old Han saying, 'When Qin lost its deer, the whole world chased after it.' The Khitan's empire is about to fall entirely into our Great Jin Kingdom. I wonder what Fifth Brother thinks about this?" Wanyan Gao replied, "Whether we struggle to make a living in the harsh conditions of the Changbai Mountains or enjoy wealth and glory in the capital, the Wanyan clan has always had its own rules. As long as we follow the rules, this empire will naturally be ours!"

Wanyan Wuqimai sneered and said, "But now, if someone tries to break our family rules, what do you think we should do, Fifth Brother?" Wanyan Gao calmly replied, "Before, it was Du Bojilie; now it's His Majesty the Emperor. As long as we report truthfully, there will naturally be a solution!" Wanyan Wuqimai laughed again and said, "What if that person is our beloved Second Brother?" The real show was about to begin, and no one dared to be careless. Wanyan Gao also drew his short knife from his waist and made a deep cut in the roasted meat. In a flash, just as a piece of meat was about to slip off, Wanyan Gao pierced the center of the meat with his knife and said, "Since the first piece of meat belongs to Second Brother, then the second piece naturally belongs to Fourth Brother." Wanyan Wuqimai was very satisfied with this answer and said, "As long as I get the second piece of meat, then the third piece will definitely belong to Fifth Brother!" Wanyan Gao nodded and said, "Then thank you very much, Fourth Brother!"

After reaching a preliminary consensus, Wanyan Wuqimai continued, "Of the seven armies of the Wanyan clan, four are completely under the control of Second Brother. If Second Brother were to capture Shangjing, our positions as Crown Princes would become death warrants!" Wanyan Gao hadn't expected Wanyan Wuqimai to be so blunt and said, "Isn't Fourth Brother being a bit overly pessimistic?" Wanyan Wuqimai, however, didn't think so at all, saying, "If even the combined forces of you, me, and our cousin Sagai are insufficient to restrain Second Brother, then you..." "Can the Wanyan clan's rule of succession by brother be upheld?" Wanyan Gao pondered for a moment, then said, "How does Your Majesty wish me to cooperate?" Wanyan Wuqimai replied, "We have been fighting the Liao army for many days, the battles are fierce but with little result, so I believe now is not the best time to destroy Liao. Moreover, today our scouts reported that our army's supplies have been intercepted, and once this news spreads, it may disrupt morale. Therefore, after careful consideration, I believe the war should be stopped at this point, and we must not be impatient for quick success and damage the foundation of the Great Jin Dynasty."

Without hesitation, Wanyan Gao said, "At the Imperial Conference, I can fully support my fourth brother, but I want to know what I will receive in return?" Wanyan Wugumai had already prepared his answer, saying, "I will destroy Liao, and you will destroy Song!" In the Jurchen mindset, only those with great achievements could be revered by the masses. Therefore, if Wanyan Wugumai destroyed Liao, his position as crown prince would be unshakeable; similarly, if Wanyan Gao destroyed Song, his position as crown prince would also be unshakeable; even moreover, if Wanyan Aguda established his own state and destroyed Liao, he would very likely seize absolute power and completely reform old customs and practices. Having said this, Wanyan Gao did not linger and said, "Deal!"

Watching Wanyan Gao's departing figure, Wanyan Zongpan asked, "If we let Fifth Uncle destroy the Song Dynasty, will the throne really pass to him?" Wanyan Wuqimai patted Wanyan Zongpan's shoulder and said, "If I don't join forces with your Fifth Uncle, the throne will likely fall directly into the hands of Zonggan or Zongwang and their brothers. In that case, our family will be the first thorn in our side to be removed. The prerequisite for joining forces with your Fifth Uncle is that you promise him that after I inherit the throne, he will keep his promise and appoint him as Anban Bojilie!"