The conversation between Xie Jue and the Grand Marshal ended on a sour note. The idea of sending Fang Chuning to Zhongzhou was a recent thought of Xie Jue's; it had never crossed his mind during the early days of Xie Xun's ascension. It was only after the Beiman intrusion, while Xie Jue was studying the power dynamics between Ningzhou, the Twelve Provinces, Zhongzhou, and the capital region, that the notion of Fang Chuning going to Zhongzhou suddenly struck him.
The Chen Family in Zhongzhou had always harbored rebellious ambition. Neither he nor Xie Xun cared much for how loyal the Chen Family truly was—an untrustworthy general could always be replaced. Among the many generals aligned with Ningzhou, both he and Zhixu had their preferred candidates. Yet, over time, Xie Jue began to seriously consider sending Fang Chuning to Zhongzhou.
