Chapter 201: The Yun Family's Discussion
With Old General Yun as their pillar of support, the Yun family gradually calmed down.
"The Yun Family Army, trained through generations of our Yun family, will naturally not fall into others' hands!" Old General Yun declared. "The urgent task now is to arrange for someone to communicate with the Yun Family Army, to ensure those men remain steady and don't stir up trouble out of idleness."
While the Yun Family Army's bravery and combat prowess were widely known, only the Yun family understood that these men were single-mindedly loyal and inflexible in their thinking—Deputy General Yin being a prime example.
Now, with the main general missing and Deputy General Yin dismissed, the three thousand elite soldiers were bound to cause trouble sooner or later.
Thus, the Yun family needed to step in to pacify them.
Yun Ze nodded: "Yes, Grandfather. I'll go immediately."
"You cannot go," Old General Yun shook his head. "As the legitimate eldest son of the main branch, I have more important matters for you to handle."
The old general then looked toward the young men from the collateral branches. "Which of you will make the trip?"
Yun Run, representing the collateral branches, stepped forward: "Old General, it's not that we lack courage, but the current situation is different. With the Yun Family Army now under General Dingyuan's command, any contact from the Yun family would inevitably arouse suspicion... With all eyes in the capital fixed on our family, it's inappropriate for any Yun family member to appear now. It would be better to secretly send a letter instead."
Hearing this, Old General Yun actually laughed.
Chu'er was right—when one holds power, everyone around seems virtuous.
But once trouble strikes, people's true colors emerge.
He had previously considered Yun Run a good lad, but now saw he was nothing special.
He turned to the others: "What about the rest of you?"
The other Yun youths, who usually focused only on their own affairs, weren't particularly perceptive about court politics.
With the Yun family suddenly facing crisis, they hadn't had time to react properly. Hearing Yun Run's reasoning, they found it sensible and remained silent.
Old General Yun's face showed deep disappointment.
So these were the kind of timid souls the Yun family had produced.
No wonder in Chu'er's dream over a decade later, the Yun family would meet with complete extermination.
He was about to coldly rebuke them when Yun Chu gently tugged his sleeve.
Under the grandfather's authoritarian pressure, these Yun youths would indeed obey and go to the suburban barracks.
But that wouldn't reveal their true characters.
She restrained Old General Yun and looked directly at Yun Run, speaking each word deliberately: "Deputy General Yin was punished, and the three thousand Yun Family Army troops were taken over by others, all because my father went missing and they wanted to do their part in seeking justice for him. People unrelated to the Yun family have gone this far, while so many of us Yuns, fearing suspicion, would hide away and send only a servant? This not only disrespects the Yun Family Army but belittles our own Yun family!"
Her aura radiated layer by layer—not the imposing manner of high authority, yet still compelling and difficult to resist.
Yun Run hesitated for a long moment before responding: "With the Yun Family Army already under General Dingyuan's command, it's truly inappropriate for Yun family members to make contact."
Yun Chu stared at him: "If the Yun family truly makes this choice, then those three thousand troops will never pledge loyalty to our family again."
Yun Run lowered his gaze.
Family Head Yun Silin had gone missing in the Southern border region. Even if he hadn't committed treason, he likely wouldn't survive.The Yun family's sky—if Yun Silin were to die, could the Yun family produce another general? No... Then, in the future, what would the Yun Family Army have to do with the Yun family? Why risk offending General Dingyuan?
"Since none of my elder brothers are willing to speak up, I suppose I must go myself." Yun Chu's gaze swept across the room, taking in everyone's expressions.
At this moment, Third Aunt Yun couldn't hold back: "Although you've divorced, Chu'er, you're not truly a formal member of the Yun family. You should stay out of this matter."
The Yun family had such a rule—women generally did not participate in major affairs.
Third Aunt Yun had long been displeased with Yun Chu's repeated remarks and questioning of her son Yun Run, and now she mustered the courage to say this.
"Even a mere woman is willing to step forward in the Yun family's time of crisis, while you—" Yun Ze looked at his usual brothers, "should be ashamed to call yourselves sons of Yun!"
"Yun Chu, I'll go with you!"
A grandson from a collateral branch of the Yun family stepped forward.
He hadn't fully grasped the stakes earlier, having been swayed by Yun Run's lead, but now he understood.
As long as they firmly believed the general had not rebelled, the Yun family would not fall, and the Yun Family Army would eventually return to Yun hands.
Thus, they must not let those three thousand soldiers lose heart.
This trip indeed required a Yun family member to go personally.
"I'll go too!"
"Count me in!"
"And me!"
One by one, the Yun sons stepped forward.
Old General Yun stroked his beard with satisfaction—these youngsters were just a bit slow-witted, not beyond redemption.
Except for Yun Run, all the male descendants of this generation had stepped forward.
With everyone standing up, Yun Run could no longer remain aloof. He said calmly, "Yun Chu, you lead the group to the military camp. I'll go to the Ministry of War to gather information."
"That would be best." Lin Shi smiled. "In this critical moment, the Yun family stands united. We will surely overcome this difficulty."
Yun Chu did not take all the Yun sons, bringing only four or five closer elder brothers with her.
In the past, as a married woman, she traveled by carriage. Now, no longer anyone's wife, she could be herself. She rode horseback with her brothers to the suburban military camp.
Upon reaching the camp entrance, they heard commotion.
Yun Yi, who held a seventh-rank post at the Ministry of War, went to inquire and returned grim-faced: "General Dingyuan is punishing the Yun Family Army. Anyone causing trouble receives ten lashes—this isn't just striking the Yun Family Army, but slapping our Yun family in the face!"
Another Yun son said indignantly, "The Yun family hasn't been convicted yet. How dare General Dingyuan..."
Yun Chu interjected, "Since the Emperor has put General Dingyuan in charge of the Yun Family Army, he has the authority to punish. A new official lights three fires—there's more turmoil to come."
General Dingyuan wanted to swallow the Yun Family Army—this fat prize—so he wouldn't be too harsh.
But the Yun Family Army was proud and unyielding, unlikely to obey General Dingyuan easily, inevitably suffering some physical punishment.
In her previous life, the Yun Family Army lost several men but never yielded. Later, the three thousand soldiers were disbanded, and it was only after her father returned victorious that they were recruited back one by one...
These loyal men who would die for the Yun family need not endure such hardships.
Yun Chu stepped forward and said to the guards at the camp entrance, "Yun Chu, eldest daughter of the Yun family, requests an audience with General Dingyuan. Please announce me."The guard at the gate, who dared not offend anyone, immediately rushed inside to report.
General Dingyuan was seated in his chair, watching his lieutenant whip the leader of the Yun Family Army. Upon hearing the guard announce the arrival of the Yun family members, he immediately straightened his posture.
But soon, he settled back into his seat and said coldly, "I will not see them."
If these three thousand reckless soldiers were to meet with the Yun family, their resolve would only harden further, making them even more difficult to discipline.
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