Wait, Im wondering where does it say in the novel that Jiang Cheng didnt have power after the war because while I dont remember where do they talk about the new disciples arriving to Lotus Pier Im pretty sure they would of gotten some one the wen's treasure
It says it in the hopes and dreams and twitter feeds and tumblr asks of jiang cheng stans of course. jiang cheng's 'tale of woe' isn't that he lacked the power to pay off his life debt and help Wei Wuxian save the innocent Wens, it's that he let Jin Guangshan play him like a fiddle & use his existing resentment against Wei Wuxian, his envy and the daddy issues he so dearly clutches to his bosom, to turn against the guy he'd known for half of his life. A guy he knew was only adamant about doing the right thing & the last person who would seek to grasp power from him. But in a way jc also used JGS to justify it to himself.
The book goes into this. It tracks jc's building resentment towards WWX and the growing divide in their world views from as early on as their time in the Wen indoctrination camp (arguably even earlier). Later it shows how jc overhears all the credit WWX is getting for what he did during the war & night hunt and for reestablishing the Sect. Then it shows how JGS plays on those things. (Not to be misunderstood with 'forced jc'. jc certainly felt some measure of satisfaction to have all his twisted, hateful feelings and resentments towards WWX validated by someone in power, socially & politically) Then lastly it has JGY summarize and confirm the whole thing. JGY doesn't whip this out of nowhere in the temple at the end. mxtx doesn't make it up on the spot, it's woven into the narrative.
salt up here, substance/quotes etc under the cut:
On his way, [jiang cheng] could manage to catch the whispers of chatter coming from behind him...
One of the sect leaders spoke in a sour tone, “This time, Lotus Pier is really the center of the show. Almost all of the spirits and corpses were summoned to the YunmengJiang Sect’s grounds. There’d definitely be a number of cultivators interested in them.” Sect Leader Yao, “What could we do about it? “Whose fault is it that our sects don’t have Wei WuXian’s?” “It’s not necessarily a good thing to have Wei WuXian. I don’t want there to be someone in my sect always stirring up trouble for me.” “Wei WuXian, he really is too bold… Anyways, from now on, I won’t attend any night-hunts that he’s going to.” Someone sneered, “Huh? Interested in them? I don’t think so. To put it simply, they’re interested in Wei WuXian, aren’t they? Didn’t the YunmengJiang Sect grow in fame during the Sunshot Campaign only because of Wei WuXian?”
Jiang Cheng felt his entire body weigh down on him. It was as though something cast a haunting shadow on both his face and in his heart.”
And before jc stans are like omg see he was causing trouble, the next chapter:
“After the QishanWen Sect collapsed, the city that used to be the most flourishing of all cities evaporated into thin air in just one night, falling into ruins. A large number of cultivators searched for new locations of activity, diverging into multiple new cities. Among them, Lanling, Yunmeng, Gusu, and Qinghe received the greatest influx of cultivators.”
so Yunmeng got cultivators. And we even get to know they did thanks to WWX & his fame during the war in the previous section. So no YunmengJiang was not just jc and a couple of buildings 🥺. Also I see this all the time 'rebuilt it from rubble' - Cloud Recesses got burned down and had to be rebuilt not Lotus Pier. YunmengJiang just had to re-collect the cultivators that had escaped and add new ones which they did.
jc unwilling to clarify he owes WQ & WN a life debt:
“Nie MingJue, “You owe them gratitude? Isn’t the QishanWen Sect the ones who caused the YunmengJiang Sect’s annihilation?”
Within these few years, Jiang Cheng insisted on working late into the night every day. That day, just as he decided to rest early, he had to rush to Koi Tower overnight because of the thundering news. He’d been suppressing some anger under his fatigue since the beginning. With his natural competitiveness, he was already quite agitated since he had to apologize to other people. When he heard Nie MingJue mention the incident of his sect again, hatred sprouted within him. The hatred was directed at not only everyone who was seated in this room, but also Wei WuXian.
even when LXC speaks up for them :
Lan XiChen responded a moment later, “I have heard of Wen Qing’s name a few of times. I do not remember her having participated in any of the Sunshot Campaign’s crimes.”
jc : .... . Then JGS (w JGY providing support) launches his manipulation shtick playing on all of jc's envies:
“Jin GuangShan turned to Jiang Cheng, “He’s been plotting for a while to go to Burial Mound, hasn’t he? After all, with his skills, it wouldn’t be too hard to set up a sect of his own. And so, he used this as a chance to leave the Jiang Sect, intending to do whatever he pleases in the bright skies outside. You rebuilt the YunmengJiang Sect with so much work. He’s got a few controversial traits in him to begin with, and still he doesn’t restrain himself, stirring up so much trouble for you. He doesn’t care about you at all.”
Jiang Cheng pretended to stand his ground, “That probably isn’t that case. Wei WuXian has been like this ever since he was young. Even my father couldn’t do anything about him.”
Jin GuangShan, “Even FengMian-xiong couldn’t do anything about him, huh?” He chuckled a few times, “FengMian-xiong just favors him.”
Hearing the words ‘favors him’, the muscles beside the corners of Jiang Cheng’s mouth twitched.”
“Jin GuangShan continued, “Sect Leader Jiang, you’re not like your father. It’s just been a couple of years since the reestablishment of the YunmengJiang Sect, precisely when you should be displaying your power. And he doesn’t even know to avoid suspicions. What would the Jiang Sect’s new disciples think if they saw him? Don’t tell me you’d let them see him as their role model and look down on you?” He spoke one sentence after another, striking the iron while it was still hot.
So it's not: Yunmeng Jiang is weak and we're gonna burn it down if you stand by WWX >:-/. It's: jiang cheng, that servant's son WWX is stealing your shine.
“Behind the sea of Sparks Amidst Snow, the Venerated Trio gathered. Lan XiChen spoke, “Brother, you have worked hard.”
Jin GuangYao grinned, “It wasn’t hard work. Who had to work hard was Sect Leader Jiang’s table. He clenched a few of its parts to crumbles. Looks like he really was angered.”
Nie MingJue walked over, “All clever talk—hard work indeed.”
Jin Guangyao gloating, in knowing that what he and his father were doing playing off each other worked out- wasn't even hard work. Because jc was already envious and resentful and threatened by WWX and wanting to ensure he would always remain his subordinate /under his control. People like him are very easy to manipulate. Lastly, the cherry on the cake, we have JGY's confirmation in the end that this is exactly what happened. The reason his words here are effective is bc they're true. JGY knows it and jc knows it.
“Sect Leader Jiang, calm down a bit, won’t you? I understand what you’re feeling right now. You’re in such a terrible mood only because you know the truth behind your golden core. When you think back on what you did all these years, your proud heart feels a tinge of guilt, and so you’re anxious to find a culprit for what happened to Young Master Wei in his past life, a villain onto whom you can push all liability. Then, you’d lash out at him, both in vengeance for Young Master Wei and to ease some of your burden.”
“If being determined that everything from the Hundred Holes curse to the attack at the Qiongqi Path was part of my singlehanded scheme would ease your troubles, then feel free to think whatever you please. But what you have to understand is that, for what happened to Young Master Wei in the end, you are responsible too and in fact, you are very much so… Back then, the LanlingJin Sect, the QingheNie Sect, and the GusuLan Sect had already finished fighting over the biggest share. The rest could only get some small shrimps. You, on the other hand, had just rebuilt Lotus Pier and behind you was the YiLing Patriarch, Wei WuXian, the danger of whom was immeasurable. Do you think the other sects would like to see a young sect leader who was so advantaged? Luckily, you didn’t seem to be on good terms with your shixiong, and since everyone thought there was an opportunity, of course they’d add fuels to your fire if they could. No matter what, to weaken the YunmengJiang Sect was to strengthen themselves. Sect Leader Jiang, if only your attitude towards your shixiong was just a bit better, showing everyone that your bond was too strong to be broken for them to have a chance, or if you exhibited just a bit more tolerance after what happened, things wouldn’t have become what they were. Oh, speaking of it, you were also a main force of the siege at Burial Mound…”
jc stans : but buT bUTtttt this is just jgy trying to hurt jc's fEEls!! >:-/
YES FUCKING DUH BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S ANY LESS TRUE ♪♬♫. DON'T YOU KNOW THE ADAGE THE TRUTH HURTS.
Ofc the person who saw the biggest opportunity in the strained relationship between WWX & jc was JGS (& JGY). So no jc was not a wee baby with no power and influence who couldn't help WWX.
