Starting Reward – A Three Thousand Assassin Network - Chapter 46

Chapter 46 – Creating Something Out of Nothing, The Martial Path of the Ye Family

At this moment, Ye Chen’s eyes lit up as he suddenly came up with an idea.

“Grandpa, how about hitting them hard? Let’s give them a taste of pain in one go!” Ye Chen suggested.

Hearing this, Ye Dingtian became interested, “Oh! Tell me about it!”

With a wave of his hand, Ye Dingtian summoned a chair from a distance and leaned back, waiting for Ye Chen to continue.

Ye Chen smirked, “Since Emperor Xia wants to get rid of our Ye family, let’s create something out of nothing!”

“How do we create something out of nothing?” Ye Dingtian asked.

“It’s well known that our Ye family, as a martial family, has guarded the borders of Great Xia for hundreds of years, contributing immortal merits to this dynasty!” Ye Chen said with arms crossed.

“Right!” Ye Dingtian nodded again.

Ye Chen continued, “Considering the countless merits our Ye family has accumulated in the past three hundred years for Great Xia, ending up with such a fate is truly chilling. In that case, let’s not beat around the bush. Let Father resign from the position of General of the North, and our Ye family will withdraw from the court!”

Upon hearing this, Ye Dingtian furrowed his brows, a hint of confusion in his eyes, “If your father gives up the position of General of the North, it’s equivalent to abandoning Liangzhou! The Ye family will inevitably decline, and without the strength of the entire Liangzhou army, it will be even more difficult to resist the imperial family.”

Ye Chen paid no attention, “Grandpa, don’t worry. I haven’t finished speaking yet. Creating something out of nothing, the most crucial word in these four words is ‘create’!”

Ye Dingtian inquired, “How do we ‘create’?”

Ye Chen grinned, “If our Ye family voluntarily gives up Liangzhou, will Emperor Xia agree?”

“There’s no need to think about it; he will definitely agree,” Ye Dingtian said without hesitation.

“Exactly! Although we lose control of Liangzhou, we essentially disappear from the court and move from the light to the shadows,” Ye Chen explained slowly.

“But who will Emperor Xia send to guard Liangzhou? Regardless of who it is, on the surface, Liangzhou falls into the hands of the imperial family. However, in reality, Liangzhou still belongs to our Ye family. The soldiers in Liangzhou have followed the Ye family for many years, fought on the battlefield, and the camaraderie formed there cannot be easily restrained by a mere token! In all honesty, if the Ye family raising its arms and rebels against Great Xia, I believe all the soldiers in Liangzhou will support us without hesitation.”

Ye Dingtian pondered with a furrowed brow, “True, the Ye family’s position in Liangzhou is indeed unshakable. I am quite confident in this. But how does this relate to creating something out of nothing?”

Ye Chen confidently smiled, “It is related, and it is closely connected! Once Father resigns from the position of General of the North, what do you think the soldiers in Liangzhou will think? What will the soldiers of the entire Great Xia dynasty think? Once the seeds of doubt are planted, they will take root and grow, and there will be no way to stop it! As long as we subtly release a bit of information in the dark, subtly spread rumors that the imperial family cannot tolerate our Ye family, and they are about to take action against us. To preserve our family’s lives, we have no choice but to withdraw from the court. When this news spreads, it will surely cause turmoil throughout Great Xia.

“After all, this is the truth. No matter how Emperor Xia refutes it, everyone in the martial world knows the situation, but it has not been explicitly stated. At that time, the other three major martial families, to avoid following in the footsteps of the Ye family, will have no choice but to withdraw from the court, just like us. Hehe, at that time, Great Xia will have no talented generals, and once the enemy nations hear this news, they will undoubtedly attack Great Xia!”

Ye Dingtian couldn’t help but feel a chill in his heart, even though he had been prepared for this plan. It was too ruthless, and he found it hard to believe that a twelve-year-old boy could come up with such a scheme.

Ye Dingtian had underestimated his grandson. At the age of twelve, he dared to plan for the entire Great Xia, and from his tone just now, it seemed as if the Great Xia Dynasty was within his grasp, easily taken at his disposal!

“Chen’er, you …” At this moment, Ye Dingtian couldn’t find words to say. The matter was too significant, beyond his expectations.

“What’s wrong? Grandpa, are you speechless? After fighting for a lifetime, is your tolerance so limited?” Ye Chen teased, giving Ye Dingtian a disdainful glance.

“You caught me off guard with that statement.” Ye Dingtian slowly took out a cigarette.

At this moment, he needed to calm down. Despite decades of cultivating his mind, his calm demeanor was completely shattered. Taking a deep drag of the cigarette, he exhaled slowly.

“Chen’er, let me ask you something. Was the Heavenly Net you mentioned cultivated by you in secret?” Ye Dingtian finally voiced his speculation.

“Yes, the Heavenly Net is indeed a force I cultivated in secret, and Tian Yan is one of them!” Ye Chen didn’t conceal it.

Because he had a premonition that significant events would unfold in Great Xia after the Empress Dowager’s birthday.

Ye Dingtian glanced at Tian Yan and Li Sushang on the side, and Tian Yan smiled and nodded in acknowledgment.

“The Heavenly Net, a net that encompasses everything. Even after the destruction of the Rakshasa Hall, the strength revealed by the Heavenly Net has become increasingly powerful, making me feel an extreme sense of danger.”

Although Ye Dingtian had guessed it before, the strength displayed by the Heavenly Net after the destruction of the Rakshasa Hall still shocked him. It made him doubt whether such a powerful force could be controlled by his grandson.

“Elder, the strength of the Heavenly Net surpasses your imagination. Moreover, I can tell you that even with the Heavenly Net, our Ye family can at least guarantee its own safety! But these are not my true reserves. The reason for confessing all this now is to let you understand that the Ye family is not solely supported by you. In the past, the things that you didn’t dare to do, now I don’t know if you dare to do them! Whether the Ye family wants to replace the dynasty or continue to be a martial family depends on you!”

“Chen’er, don’t you want to control the Ye family?” Ye Dingtian asked Ye Chen.

Ye Chen shook his head, “My ambition lies elsewhere. I already have the Heavenly Net under my command, and controlling the Ye family on top of that would be too much to handle. Besides, Father is still young, and my older brothers are more suitable. I am naturally lazy by nature, and Grandpa should be aware of that.”

With this, Ye Chen directly stated that he wasn’t interested in becoming the head of the Ye family.

Ye Dingtian nodded, “Since you have given the Ye family two possible paths for the future, tell me about your thoughts!”

At this point, Ye Chen, with narrowed eyes, spoke confidently, “In the struggles within the dynasty, from ancient times to the present, they have never ceased. Not only do we need to defend against external enemies, but we also need to guard against internal troubles! Moreover, the power struggles within the imperial family are too ruthless. I don’t want the Ye family to fight against each other! Although a martial family may not seem as powerful as the imperial family on the surface, the true strength of a force does not depend on its appearance; it depends on its foundation.”

Ye Dingtian agreed, “That’s right. True strength lies in oneself. Even if you have control over a thousand troops and horses, it’s still not as good as holding a three-foot green blade in your hand!”

Ye Chen nodded, “This time, the Empress Dowager’s birthday is dangerous, but it’s also an opportunity. The imperial family has given us an excellent chance, and it will be the only chance for the Ye family to cut ties with the Great Xia Dynasty after three hundred years! We must not miss it, and even if there is no opportunity, we must create one!”

With this, Ye Chen turned his gaze to his grandfather, his expression extremely serious.

“Once we sever the ties between the Ye family and the imperial family, the Ye family will no longer be just a martial family; it will become a martial dao family! A warrior should forge ahead courageously, not fearing difficulties and obstacles. The martial path is established through martial arts, embodied in the self, wielding a three-foot sword to cut down all enemies. A family is based on people, building a family and continuing the aspirations of our ancestors. Only then can it be passed down through the ages!”