Chapter 432: 439: The True Vulnerability

Han Yu’s first reaction upon hearing Liu Xiu’s words was that Liu Xiu had not reached an agreement with Chen Li, but had chosen to trust him instead. Despite the fragile trust between them, Liu Xiu still took a risk to trust him. Although he didn’t know which aspect influenced Liu Xiu’s decision, at the very least, the outcome was such. Otherwise, Liu Xiu wouldn’t have mentioned the Marquis Bei’an Mansion so openly. Yin Shi was good at masking his emotions, yet a gloomy air still surrounded him, indicating that his views were at odds with Liu Xi’s.

The most important thing for Han Yu was that he could sense sincerity in Liu Xiu’s words—it was a good sign. Liu Xiu might have his reasons for not fully trusting him, but to have come this far, to be trying to trust him, showed he was being open-minded. Trust wasn’t something that could be established overnight; it was a good start. Since he had chosen Liu Xiu as his leader, Han Yu would ensure that Liu Xiu’s trust in him would grow bit by bit.

“Thank you for Uncle Wen’s kindness and concern. The Su Family’s eldest son, Su Hengyi, has already rushed to Chang’an. As for the rescue mission, the villain Wang Mang must have set his traps by now, waiting. Currently, there is no detailed rescue plan. We can only adapt as the situation unfolds.”

“Do you need me to send some men to assist you? Though I’m eager to help, Chang’an is complex. Acting hastily may spoil things. If needed, I can provide men for you to deploy, which would be more appropriate. Also, I have some old friends in Chang’an; perhaps they could assist?”

Liu Xiu’s offer came from a suggestion by Yin Shi, who had advised him to be prepared, fearing Yin Shi might stubbornly act on this matter and cause discord between him and Han Yu.

In truth, Liu Xiu might have noticed Yin Shi’s attitude towards Han Yu, hence his decision to bring Yin Shi along, ensuring they wouldn’t conspire together. He was using a balanced strategy to keep Han Yu’s power in check with Yin Shi’s.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

However, Liu Xiu didn’t particularly like Yin Shi’s methods—too scheming. Without a comparison, one could see him as capable, but Han Yu provided that comparison, making Yin Shi seem inferior. It was no wonder Yin Shi wanted to harm Han Yu.

Han Yu subtly glanced at Yin Shi when he heard Liu Xiu’s words, suspecting Yin Shi had concocted some sinister scheme, likely against himself, prompting Liu Xiu to speak up. Nonetheless, he was prepared.

“Uncle Wen, thank you for your kindness, but it is not needed for the time being. Wang Mang has too much power in Chang’an, almost absolute control, with a grip on the Imperial Court. A frontal confrontation would be impossible, no matter how many people we send. Those in the court fear Wang Mang’s power and the repercussions to their families. It’s doubtful they’d be willing to sincerely help.”

“What should be done then? A successful rescue of Marquis Bei’an will require sufficient manpower. He can’t just be left to Wang Mang.”

Liu Xiu knew what Han Yu spoke was the truth and became increasingly worried. A dark thought involuntarily crossed his mind—could Han Yu be considering defecting to Wang Mang?

Han Yu, however, appeared confident and unflustered. “The daughter-in-law of the Su Family’s eldest son is from the Jianghu with many friends there. It is better to ask for help from Jianghu people who have fewer reservations and can act without constraints, doubling our effectiveness.”

Liu Xiu relaxed upon hearing this. He hadn’t thought of it before, but then remembered that Su Hengyi’s wife, Feng Ruolin, came from the renowned Feng family in the martial arts world—a force not to be underestimated. His gaze towards Han Yu became more complex.

“Enlisting help from the Jianghu is indeed a good idea. The Imperial Court has less control over Jianghu People. Many are heroes who value loyalty, and the methods of the Jianghu are diverse. If we could get their help, they might be more useful than the men we could send ourselves.”

“That’s exactly the point, Uncle Wen. Hengyi has borrowed many capable fighters from the Feng family for the trip to Chang’an, and his wife is accompanying him. This increases our chances of success.”

Han Yu spoke thus, not missing the complexity in Liu Xiu’s eyes. But at such times, it was crucial to appropriately reveal some of his capabilities to allay Liu Xiu’s doubts. As for Liu Xiu’s wariness of him, that was inherent. Han Yu wasn’t bothered by a little more wariness. Besides, Liu Xiu was probably already aware of these details after investigating him thoroughly. The only issue was that he hadn’t thought of this sooner. Given Liu Xiu’s background, it was easy for him to overlook such people. Moreover, Han Yu wasn’t really counting on those from the Jianghu; they were merely supportive forces for the rescue.

Although Liu Xiu was wary of Han Yu, seeing him so openly share his plan reassured him, making him feel that he had not chosen incorrectly.

If Han Yu had made such arrangements and had the assistance of Jianghu People, the chances of rescuing Marquis Bei’an were promising. It also demonstrated the importance Han Yu placed on this matter. Thankfully, he hadn’t listened to Yin Shi’s idea to assassinate the Marquis Bei’an and his son. Had Han Yu uncovered such a scheme, Liu Xiu wouldn’t know how to proceed. Han Yu might even turn on him—Chen Li’s words weren’t wrong. If there was no reaction, Han Yu would likely be just a foolishly loyal simpleton.

“Since Xiu Qi has already made arrangements, I won’t interfere in this matter. I hope Hengyi will be able to rescue Marquis Bei’an soon. If you need anything in Chang’an, do let me know anytime, Xiu Qi. Don’t be courteous; your affairs are my own.”

“Xiu Qi understands, and will surely not stand on ceremony with Uncle Wen. Should I need anything, I will definitely speak up. However, the rescue of the Marquis falls on Hengyi. We must focus on the affairs of Yiyang Prefecture and not be distracted. Wang Mang won’t stop his military campaign because of this. It may even be his intention to divert our attention.”

Considering the mission’s urgency, Han Yu cared about the Marquis’s welfare. But with outside help, he could afford to shift his primary focus to immediate concerns, especially earning Liu Xiu’s trust, which was now essential.

Liu Xiu became alert upon hearing this. Previously distracted by watching Han Yu, he had missed this possibility. Now, it seemed the most likely scenario. His earlier suspicion wasn’t impossible, but on reflection, it was highly improbable for Han Yu to engage in such action. Liu Xiu understood Han Yu’s nature after some time—the latter was not someone to be coerced. Furthermore, the leverage Wang Mang held was minimal. The connection between Marquis Bei’an and Han Yu was twice-removed; it would have been more plausible if Marquis Bei’an had Han Yu’s wife in his custody.

Over time, Liu Xiu had come to understand Han Yu’s devotion to his wife—it was genuine and not just for show. This was Han Yu’s true vulnerability and why Liu Xiu felt reassured about Han Yu.