Chapter 566: Asked a pot of wine from the common people

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The Liyang Imperial Court, usually filled with virtuous officials, was suddenly engulfed in a swift and overwhelming storm, leaving all grand academicians and ministers and vice-ministers of the Six Ministries utterly dumbfounded. Despite the Emperor's will already being decided, Zhang Julu, the Chief Grand Secretary of the current dynasty, still insisted on transferring Gu Jiantang, who commanded the military and civil affairs of the northern regions. He wanted to move this sharpest blade of the empire to Xichu's neck, to cut through the chaos swiftly, rather than having him remain stationed in the northern passes as previously planned. If it were only this, no one in court would dare to even raise a voice in questioning. Over the years, the emerald-eyed Zhang Julu had relaxed his control over the five ministries outside the Ministry of War, but he had always maintained a firm grip on the channels of remonstrance. Therefore, without the Chief Grand Secretary needing to personally intervene, these remonstrance officials, who were utterly loyal to Zhang Lu, could virtually destroy anyone. Fortunately, Chief Grand Secretary Zhang rarely deliberately targeted anyone, but as long as Zhang Julu held this chess piece, even if he never made a move, no one in the court dared to act recklessly.

However, in the late spring of the first year of Xiangfu, even with the channels of remonstrance firmly in Zhang Julu's hands, and even though he had been virtually unrivaled in the imperial court for over a decade, the Chief Grand Secretary finally met his first defeat. This was because his opponents this time included Tantang Weng, along with a group of powerful ministers behind Elder Huan, such as Zhao Youling, the head of the Ministry of Personnel (the chief of the Six Ministries), Yin Maochun, the recognized Crown Prince-designate, and even the newly appointed Minister of Rites, Yuan Guo. Also leading a large group of veteran military officials was General Zhao Kui, who had not yet received orders to campaign against Xichu in the south. Furthermore, there were collateral imperial relatives who had been suppressed by the "emerald-eyed man" for over a decade. Strangely, these individuals had no prior agreement. After Huan Wen very clearly pointed the spearhead at the Chief Grand Secretary, they successively stepped forward to present memorials, all believing that the strategy of "looking north but using south" was too rash. They argued that a resurgent Xichu was far from comparable to Beimang's million cavalry. On that day's court assembly, undercurrents surged. Apart from Wang Xiongkui, the Minister of Revenue, who unhesitatingly stood by his mentor, almost everyone else chose timid silence, daring not to get involved in this most treacherous "gods' fight" since the first year of Yonghui. The reason for saying "almost" is that, besides Wang Xiongkui, there was also Jin Lanting, who had recently been enjoying great success. Unexpectedly, he closely followed Wang Xiongkui in speaking out for Chief Grand Secretary Zhang.

Those with keen eyes observed that after the court dispersed, Tantang Weng walked straight past the Chief Grand Secretary without a glance. A dejected Wang Xiongkui followed behind his impassive Yonghui mentor. Conversely, Jin Lanting, the Right Libationer, who never actively approached the Chief Grand Secretary, walked steadily beside Zhang Julu. The tumultuous court proceedings of that day left onlookers both overwhelmed and perplexed. As the assembly dispersed, only the clinking sound of jade pendants could be heard, not a single boastful remark or whispered conversation—an unusual sight witnessed only once in twenty years of Liyang court assemblies. Zhang Julu slowly descended the white jade steps. Without looking at the young Right Libationer beside him, who was frowning deeply, he chuckled softly, "Jin Sanlang, I'm afraid you might have placed the wrong bet this time."

Jin Lanting, who had grown a beard to signify his resolve, shook his head and said, "This humble one is not taking a reckless gamble, nor is he deliberately making enemies of the entire court to curry favor with the Chief Grand Secretary. It is merely that a man of integrity should act as he sees fit, nothing more."

Zhang Julu smiled, slowed his steps, and stated directly, "Initially, I had intended to bring you into Zhang Lu and have you manage the superficial channels of remonstrance for me. However, since His Majesty later came to hold you in high regard, as a minister, I would not wish to usurp the Emperor's favor."

Unwilling, not unable.

Even walls have ears, let alone not yet having left the palace city. Not far from them, there were many civil and military officials walking slowly.

Zhang Julu said calmly, "Throughout history, looking at the struggles between gentlemen and petty individuals, most court officials with the reputation of a gentleman often lost miserably during their lives. At most, they would be posthumously granted a beautiful谥 by the next emperor, which benefits neither the nation nor its people. Such an empty reputation, left in historical records, is better off discarded. Factional disputes hold no profound secrets. The more one cares for the common people, the more one needs a group of like-minded gentlemen, and even more, a clever 'fierce dog' among one's colleagues—one who can bark and bite—rather than a group of people who are merely 'pure and incorruptible,' acting on naive scholarly idealism. In the end, all they achieve is composing a few lonely tomb poems during their exile, poems that make future scholars weep, which is rather uninteresting."

Jin Lanting pondered this for a moment, then self-deprecatingly said, "This humble one also finds it difficult to escape such confines."

Zhang Julu turned and patted Wang Xiongkui's shoulder. "I'm not on duty today. Go and sit at Zhang Lu. If colleagues ask, just respond with 'I don't know'."

Wang Xiongkui nodded and quickly departed.

The purple-bearded, emerald-eyed man, who held the reins of power in the dynasty, slowly walked alongside Jin Lanting, crossing the palace city's threshold together. Zhang Julu suddenly chuckled, "The first time I saw you, you reminded me of myself back then—also flustered and aggrieved, much like you. But truthfully, you're still far behind where I was then. You're only better than me at making Xuan paper."

Jin Lanting smiled knowingly. "To have one thing that the Chief Grand Secretary is willing to admit defeat on, and say it aloud, is enough."

Jin Lanting hesitated, about to speak, then stopped. Zhang Julu calmly said, "You're wondering why that old fellow turned on his own?"

Even though Jin Lanting was a favored minister of the Emperor and a confidant of the Crown Prince, with a promising future, the Right Libationer dared not utter a word at this moment, nor even presume to speculate.

Zhang Julu said, "Huan Wen and I both have a scale in our hearts; neither of us has ever underestimated Xichu's potential restoration. It's just that the weight on the two ends of the scale has differed over the years. I place more importance on Xichu than Beimang, while he places more importance on Beimang than Xichu. He has his own plans and foresight. He insists on using Beiliang to deplete Beimang's national strength, fearing that if Gu Jiantang moves south, Beimang, which has already decided to first conquer Beiliang and then attack Liyang, might change its strategy, mistakenly believing it has found an opportunity. If that happens, war would spread from the northern passes all the way to Taian City, right at our feet."

Zhang Julu pointed south. "That old fellow not only saw the north, but besides the persistent problem of Beiliang, Tantang Weng also saw the seemingly 'indecisive' Yan Chi Province, and those Spring and Autumn era defeated states that couldn't withstand a gentle breeze. His concerns are naturally understandable. I fear Xichu becoming a quagmire, igniting the resurgence of the former Spring and Autumn states. He, on the other hand, fears Beimang moving south from the eastern front, turning the entire realm into a quagmire. He and I are engaged in a true high-stakes gamble. These matters, even if you stand at the center of the dynasty, you still won't see them. This is because in the imperial court, everyone has their own agenda. Military men dream of being enfeoffed and appointed generals in life, while scholars wish to be enshrined in Zhang Temple after death. The reason I'm sharing these grievances with you, Jin Lanting, is because you are rarely confused, and unusually interesting. After all, being scolded by old man Huan is not uncommon, but being struck is quite rare."

Jin Lanting instinctively touched his cheek, which had been slapped by Tantang Weng. It felt as if it were burning, and he quickly drew his hand back.

Zhang Julu said softly, "This is where you and I part ways."

Jin Lanting wisely stopped, and heard the Chief Grand Secretary leave him with a remark: "In the future, interact more with the new ministers."

Jin Lanting was momentarily stunned. New ministers? Did he mean Yuan Guo of the Ministry of Rites, or Lu Baijie of the Ministry of War?

Or perhaps both?

Coincidentally, after court today, these two walked together. Both were young and vigorous pillars of the frost-white imperial court, sharing many similarities and common ground. Though from different backgrounds, both were prominent and distinguished figures in Liyang. Lu Baijie was the "Tangkou Sword Immortal" from Jiangnan Province, while Yuan Guo was a famous person known for getting along with everyone and calling them brothers. Neither was overly concerned with winning or losing, and they viewed many things others considered precious lightly. Both enjoyed excellent reputations both in and out of court, had no known enemies, and no obvious factional affiliations. They had both been honored guests of Tantang Weng and had both endured his scolding. They had faced the Emperor, visited both the residences of Zhang Julu and Huan Wen, and received scoldings from Huan Wen. These were the three essential steps to becoming a powerful minister in the Liyang court, and these two ministers had clearly experienced them all. After court, they returned to the "Zhao Family Hero's Urn" outside the palace. Lu Baijie did not immediately return to the extraordinarily busy Ministry of War but instead accompanied Yuan Guo to the Ministry of Rites, whose atmosphere was vastly different from the Ministry of War. In the Ministry of Rites, a hub for scholars and dignitaries, even subordinates dared to joke with their superior, Minister Yuan. This was because when Yuan Guo, that old wine-lover, took office, he openly brought a large trunk—not filled with books, but with over twenty bottles of Jiannan Spring wine previously bestowed by His Majesty. As fate would have it, His Majesty himself unexpectedly visited the Ministry of Rites official residence and caught him red-handed. The Emperor then took it upon himself to begin sharing the wine with his officials. Sovereign and ministers sat informally, slightly tipsy and thoroughly enjoying themselves. Yet, the Emperor did not forget to rub salt into the wound of the distressed Minister Yuan, chuckling, "I've proactively helped you build relationships with your subordinates, so no need to thank me. Just remember to use your salary later to buy a few jugs of good wine and send them to the palace."

Now, everyone in the Ministry of Rites started counting on their fingers when their salaries would be disbursed, and jokingly asked Minister Yuan if he needed his subordinates to chip in some money. Today, seeing the Minister of War, if it had been General Gu Jiantang, everyone would naturally have felt their scalps tingle; if it had been Chen Zhibao, they would have retreated three paces. But since it was the elegant and unrestrained Tangkou Sword Immortal, they all greeted Minister Yuan with smiles and invited him to sit for a while. After all, as long as there were no important festivals or grand celebrations, the Ministry of Rites was the most leisurely and unburdened of the Six Ministries. Furthermore, having Minister Yuan Guo, who was lenient with himself and others, as their superior was truly everyone's good fortune. Precisely because Yuan Guo took charge of the Ministry of Rites, many officials from the other five ministries, who used to look down on the Ministry of Rites, became noticeably more polite, whether they were visiting or the Ministry of Rites was requesting their assistance. For the renowned scholars of the Ministry of Rites, this slight deference was more than enough.

The Ministry of Rites, ever conscious of its reputation, already occupied a vast area. Yuan Guo naturally had his own elegant private room. As they approached the door, Minister Yuan chuckled, scurried into the room, bent down, and picked up books, clearing a path. He then placed them on a chair already piled precariously high with books, which, despite swaying, did not fall—a testament to his practiced skill. Yuan Guo's study at his residence was probably just as cluttered. After Yuan Guo finally managed to move the books from the chair in front of his desk, Lu Baijie waved his hand and chuckled, "I won't sit. There's only one chair. If I sit, wouldn't I be 'the cuckoo in the magpie's nest'? You, Minister Yuan, may not fear being ridiculed, but I fear being accused of the Ministry of War suppressing the Ministry of Rites."

Yuan Guo laughed heartily, "The Ministry of War bullying the Ministry of Rites isn't new, Minister Lu. Don't act all innocent after getting an advantage!"

Lu Baijie frankly stated, "Spare me that. The Ministry of War used to bully all five other ministries equally. After all, it's not scarcity but unequal distribution that causes resentment, so who's really acting innocent is yet to be seen."

Yuan Guo stroked his slightly reddened, wine-flushed nose. "I don't care about the past. If the Ministry of War dares to bring weapons to intimidate people at the Ministry of Rites in the future, I'll go to the Ministry of War and curse like a shrew."

Lu Baijie neither confirmed nor denied, instead looking around with some emotion. Lu Baijie hailed from the Lu clan of Yang Province, known for its "dazzling array" of talents. His elder brother, Lu Daolin, had resigned from the Imperial Academy due to fault, but this misfortune turned into a blessing, as he became the Minister of Rites—the previous occupant of this very room. When Lu Baijie first came to the capital, he had visited once; today was his second time. Lu Baijie had an excellent relationship with his brother; one could even say that a large part of why Lu Daolin, who was like a father to him, left the court and retired to the mountains was to make room for his younger brother. Otherwise, if two brothers served as ministers at the same time, not only would several prominent families in Yang Province turn green with envy, but there would also be criticism in the capital. While Lu Baijie was out of office, he resided for a long time in Retirement Garden. Lu Daolin's two "retreats" had forged many subtle and unspoken connections for his younger brother—the kind of knowledge rarely taught in the books of sages. Yuan Guo slapped his head, feigning anger, "Ah, you Tangkou Sword Immortal! So your earlier 'cuckoo in the magpie's nest' remark was, in essence, scolding me for taking Mr. Lu's room?"

Lu Baijie didn't refute him, but chuckled and asked, "Where's the wine hidden?"

Yuan Guo glared. "It's long gone!"

Lu Baijie chuckled playfully, "Do you think my title 'Tangkou Sword Immortal' is just boastful talk? Even if I no longer practice swordsmanship, do you think I can't smell a hint of wine?"

Yuan Guo spread his hands. "It's really gone."

Lu Baijie walked to the corner himself, pushed aside a pile of books, picked up a pot of wine, and shook it. Yuan Guo chuckled dryly and quickly retrieved two wine cups hidden under the desk, wiped them with his sleeve, and handed one to Lu Baijie, fearing the Tangkou Sword Immortal might just walk off with the wine. He muttered, "It's not that I'm afraid drinking will cause problems. If I were to delay your important military affairs at the Ministry of War, Minister Lu, I couldn't bear the blame. But just now, a thought struck me: Minister Lu's swordsmanship is extraordinary, so his tolerance for alcohol must also be good. A cup or two should be no problem. Come, come, let's have a small drink, just a small drink."

Lu Baijie simply sat directly on the floor. Yuan Guo placed a stack of books under his bottom. The former drained his cup in one gulp, while the latter narrowed his eyes, savoring his drink slowly.

Lu Baijie smiled faintly, "Shall we speak some drunken words?"

Yuan Guo glanced at the door, perhaps remembering that Minister Lu was an exceptionally skilled martial artist, then retracted his gaze and nodded.

"What exactly happened? On my way here, I understood some things, but others still elude me."

"Drunken words, forgotten as soon as we rise, not for a third ear?"

"Drunken words."

"The Ministry of War possesses many secrets unknown to the other five ministries. Lu Baijie, it's not hard for you to understand the disagreement between the Chief Grand Secretary and Elder Huan, these fellow disciples. What you can't figure out is why Elder Huan didn't settle things in the study of either of their residences, but instead chose to openly confront him in the imperial court, right?"

"Mm."

"The reason you can't figure it out is that you also know many people mistakenly believe that today's court assembly seemed to reveal a sign: that the Chief Grand Secretary, who for over twenty years during the Yonghui era had no one in his eyes but the Emperor, is finally in the first year of Xiangfu rapidly declining, and his once blazing sun is setting. But this is an utterly absurd illusion, as you and I both know well. Zhang Lu, for so many years, has deliberately torn down its own walls, discarding Zhao Youling, whose scholarship was unparalleled in Yonghui, and abandoning the seasoned and steady Han Lin. Of course, I, Yuan Guo, being unmotivated and achieving nothing, was naturally cast aside early on. In the end, he only supported Wang Xiongkui, who doesn't seem to possess the caliber of a grand councilor. He even swept out the Hanlin Academy, effectively gifting it to Yin Maochun. Why? What is the Chief Grand Secretary thinking? It's very simple. In the Liyang court, Chief Grand Secretary Zhang never considers anyone his political rival. As long as he stands in the court, there's a poem that says it well: 'If I don't speak first in spring, which insect dares to make a sound?' In twenty years, only one person has dared to make a sound. From now on, if by any chance that person dies first and Chief Grand Secretary Zhang dies later, then there will be no one."

"I see."

The room fell into silent stillness.

Yuan Guo's eyes were faintly moist with tears. He simply picked up the wine pot, took a gulp, and asked, "Do you truly understand?"

Yuan Guo answered himself, "No, you don't!"

Lu Baijie sighed, said nothing, rose, and departed, helping to close the door behind him.

Sitting alone in the room, Yuan Guo laughed and cried. The Minister, who usually didn't drink much, was utterly out of control as if drunk. "You don't understand! My mentor, our Chief Grand Secretary, once the Xichu campaign fails, the Chief Grand Secretary, with his keen insight, will have won face but completely lost the court. When His Majesty, renowned for his magnanimity, no longer tolerates it, that will be the true beginning of the Chief Grand Secretary's decline. So today's court assembly, he was forging a retreat for Elder Huan, while simultaneously pushing himself onto a path of no return!"

Yuan Guo fell backward. The Minister of Rites, who cherished wine like life itself, dropped the pot and sobbed uncontrollably, "We scholars, why should we fear death? But, mentor, why must your death be so tragic?"

Today, Zhang Julu deliberately allowed himself to be idle and clear his mind, finally having the chance to visit an old, long-desired tavern. He drank a small half-pot of aged wine, but it didn't seem as delicious as Huan Wen and the others claimed. Because he hadn't removed his court attire, the Chief Grand Secretary's presence both honored the tavern and filled everyone there with trepidation. From a distance, watching the Chief Grand Secretary, it seemed that if the old man's chopsticks picked up food even slightly slowly, everyone felt as if they were about to be dragged out and beheaded. The truth was, the Chief Grand Secretary had never appeared in public in the capital, unlike other grand ministers and leaders of the Six Ministries, who each had their own habits and preferred quiet places to frequent. But Chief Grand Secretary Zhang was different; he only ever appeared in the Chief Minister's residence and the imperial palace. Therefore, news of his presence spread with astonishing speed, yet not a single busybody, even if they received reliable rumors, dared to come and join the excitement. This was perhaps Zhang Julu's true terror. Wang Yuanran, the youngest son of Wang Xiongkui and the capital's foremost dandy, who claimed to openly challenge the Beiliang Crown Prince, had once had the fortune to follow his father to Zhang's residence for a New Year's visit in his youth. However, after receiving a mere indifferent glance from the Chief Grand Secretary, he swore never to visit Zhang's residence again. General Zhao Kui and Yang Shenxing, who had established great achievements during the Spring and Autumn era, had descendants who were considered the most distinguished martial prodigies in Liyang. Yet, even they had barely seen the head of all officials a few times in two or thirty years. It wasn't merely a mouse seeing a cat; it was a mouse seeing a tiger, giving one the feeling that a single meeting would cost them a piece of their flesh. Even the former First Prince, Zhao Wu, once the most promising, got into trouble with the Chief Grand Secretary's beloved daughter and suffered the consequences without Zhang Julu having to utter a single word. If even a prince of pure imperial lineage fared thus, imagine the distant imperial relatives, who had been ruthlessly suppressed by Zhang Julu from the moment he first seized power. They had always dared not to speak even when angered.

This old man, who was truly and visibly aging, yet always made people forget his age, did not covet wealth, was not fond of beauty, disliked delicacies, did not indulge in philosophical discourse, did not worship Buddhism or Taoism, and did not transmit poetry. All those with intentions waited for him to make a mistake, but he never did.

Day after day, year after year, he traveled between his residence and the imperial palace, a life of monotonous routine, yet utterly impregnable. For twenty whole years, no one else could be described as being "below one but above ten thousand."

Zhang Julu looked up, set down his chopsticks, and saw a familiar, beautiful face. She sat across the table, resting her chin on her hands, smiling sweetly and charmingly, just like her mother when she was young.

The Chief Grand Secretary chuckled softly, "My drinking has even startled Zhang the Great Heroine?"

Zhang Gaojia still rested her chin in her hands and blinked her eyes.

Zhang Julu laughed, "Speak, besides seeing your father, what else do you want to ask of me? This time, I'll make an exception and agree first."

Zhang Gaojia giggled, "My sister-in-law just complained to me, saying that in the spring this year, second brother has been running out every few days to borrow money for drinks and brothel visits. And he even has thoughts of taking a concubine! Taking a concubine is one thing, but the woman is from a brothel. My sister-in-law couldn't persuade our stubborn third brother, so she had to pull me into her camp. I secretly went to see that woman; whether she's from a brothel or not isn't the point, but she truly is flighty and promiscuous. Father, aren't you afraid it will disgrace our family name?"

Zhang Julu frowned slightly.

Zhang Gaojia raised her voice, "Father, you promised your daughter!"

Zhang Julu's brow relaxed, and he nodded.

Zhang Gaojia, who had held no expectations, widened her eyes. But something even more incredible followed: her father, who was the Chief Grand Secretary outside and even more so at home, actually spoke, "Go and take a look at your third brother's residence."

Zhang Gaojia was overjoyed. One must know that their biological father, for the four siblings, truly wasn't like a father at all. Except for her, his daughter, the three elder brothers had already started their own families. When they married and had children back then, Zhang Julu never made an appearance. Regardless of whether the Chief Grand Secretary's three sons were achieving success or causing trouble, he never paid them any mind. Everyone in the capital joked that these three young masters, despite their illustrious origins, were utterly unsupported, as if they had been picked up along the road. Zhang Gaojia's third brother was Chief Grand Secretary Zhang's most unaccomplished youngest son, idle and irresponsible. No one liked to play with this coward, so he often carried a pigeon whistle and wandered aimlessly around Taian City. The eldest brother had at least entered officialdom; though his ascent was slow, he could at least be grudgingly considered to be following in his father's footsteps. The second brother was a genuine bookworm, and he was tolerable. But the third brother, Zhang Bianguan, was truly disliked by everyone, both inside and out. He was the least successful, certainly not favored by his Chief Grand Secretary father at home, and even the greater scions of the capital disdained to be his 'drinking buddies.' Zhang Gaojia knew better than anyone that deep down, her three brothers desperately hoped this taciturn father would just look at them directly, not hoping for any praise, but even a scolding would be a comfort.

Zhang Julu walked out of the tavern, then suddenly "broke his word," saying, "I'm not going anymore."

Zhang Gaojia's face fell, looking pitiful.

Zhang Julu chuckled, "Though I won't go, take a message to Bianguan. It's not right for him to spend his days carousing, relying on his elder brothers' meager salaries. Didn't he want to join the army? I'll speak to Gu Jiantang and have him sent to Liaodong. And, our family doesn't support idlers. You, my wild-hearted girl, go out of the capital and play. As for where, go wherever your feet take you, it's up to you. Just don't write to me asking for money."

Zhang Gaojia's eyes lit up, and she excitedly asked, "Really?"

Zhang Julu gently nodded.

Zhang Gaojia suddenly blurted out a remark that ruined the atmosphere, "Father, are you sick? Did Uncle Huan make you so angry today? Your daughter will get revenge for you right now, just watch me eat and drink the Huan residence into poverty!"

The Chief Grand Secretary laughed softly, "What spirit!"

Then he added, "Let's be clear beforehand, you can go anywhere in Liyang, except Beiliang Province is the first place you cannot go, Yan Chi Province is the second, and Guangling Province is the third."

Zhang Gaojia said, "Oh," and counted on her fingers, "Jiangnan Province is the fourth place I can't go, Liang Liao the fifth..."

She listed all the provinces of Liyang in one breath, then chuckled, "Then I'll just stay home, eat, drink, and never marry for the rest of my life. Since I can't go anywhere anyway."

Zhang Julu, taking the horse's reins from the tavern keeper who felt like he was treading on thin ice, handed them to his daughter and chuckled, "Stop being glib with your father, hurry and give your sister-in-law the good news."

Zhang Gaojia made a face, swung onto her horse, and rode away in a cloud of dust.

Zhang Julu stood in place. How could the tavern keeper dare to fuss about the Chief Grand Secretary forgetting to pay the bill? Besides, when the Chief Grand Secretary was present, no one dared to seek death, but the keeper could guarantee that by tomorrow, there wouldn't be a single spot left in the tavern, not even standing room.

The tavern keeper had already quietly turned away but was softly called back by the Chief Grand Secretary. The keeper's face stiffened as he turned around, looking utterly flustered.

Zhang Julu smiled faintly, "Shopkeeper, I ate and drank for free this time, don't mind it."

The shopkeeper shook his head vigorously, refusing to utter a single word.

Zhang Julu walked towards his heavily guarded carriage, murmuring to himself in a voice only he could hear, "Having received the Emperor's emolument and been loyal to his affairs, we owe each other nothing. All I, Zhang Julu, finally asked of the common people was a pot of wine. That's not too much, is it?"

Throughout the court and across the land, everyone was closely watching the feudal lords' pacification efforts: who mobilized troops earliest, who sent the most troops, whose forces were the most formidable, and whose were the most decrepit—all were eagerly discussed in the streets and alleys. Among the major feudal lords, King Zhao Sui of Jiaodong was expressly ordered by the court to remain stationary, diligently guarding the border, which gave the common folk little to discuss. King Zhao Yi of Guangling was already implicated, as Xichu's restoration occurred within his jurisdiction, leaving little room for further conjecture. King Zhao Ying of Huainan, long considered the weakest and rumored to be mad, surprisingly dispatched six thousand troops, emptying his coffers, which greatly impressed people. Yan Chi Province mobilized troops the earliest, but King Zhao Bing, a feudal lord second only to the Old King of Beiliang, astonishingly only sent Crown Prince Zhao Zhao with a thousand cavalry to Guangling Province. Moreover, their journey north, cutting through provinces and districts, caused a ruckus everywhere they went, providing the most gossip for the streets and alleys of Liyang. The young King Zhao Xuan of Jing'an mobilized troops the latest, and the size of his forces was currently unknown. As for Chen Zhibao, the former Minister of War who was enfeoffed as King of Xishu, there was no movement from him at all. Whether the court feared that if he went to Xichu, there would be nothing left for others to do, or if the "White-Clad Military Immortal" simply disdained to lead troops there, no one knew besides the top brass of the Ministry of War in Taian City. Beiliang? No one in Liyang believed that the new King of Beiliang, even younger than Zhao Xuan, would be so kind. Everyone speculated that Beiliang was secretly gloating, and it would be Liyang's great fortune if they didn't kick them when they were down.

When hooves moved and bowstrings twanged, it meant ten thousand taels of gold.

A large contingent of troops slowly advanced northeast along the border of Qing Province. A prominent rider stopped his horse by the river, holding its reins. This young cavalry general wore a bright yellow python robe, which, in terms of python insignia, was even half a rank higher than that of King Zhao Yi of Guangling. He smiled at a young, handsome, and refined scholar beside him, "Mr. Lu, the small fortune you painstakingly helped me accumulate has come and gone so quickly with all this commotion. My heart aches."

The scholar, with his eyes closed, smiled faintly. "As a guest of weaker standing, when paying a visit, one must be exceedingly polite and display good manners while eating. With good manners, one can actually eat more. Otherwise, the powerful host might simply not invite you to the table to pick up chopsticks next time."

Zhao Xuan, the King of Jing'an of this generation, nodded, "A very simple principle, but even understanding it, one can't help but feel a little depressed."

The blind Lu Xu smiled but said nothing.

Zhao Xuan impishly said, "There's such a huge stir in the capital, Little Liu'er. You said it needs careful thought to understand. If it's good news, tell me quickly. If it's bad news, pretend I never asked, how about that?"

Lu Xu, who always remained a scholar in plain robes behind the scenes, hesitated, bit his lip, and said with a serious expression, "For Qing Province and the Jing'an King's residence, it might be a mix of good and bad news."

Zhao Xuan asked curiously, "How so?"

Lu Xu softly said, "The Chief Grand Secretary intentionally revealed a weakness; he is 'fishing from the imperial court.' Barring any surprises, his long-accumulated trump cards will now be gradually used to 'kill' people through the 'pen-blades' of the remonstrance officials. With Yin Maochun presiding over the Grand Review, many people are sure to die. The death of Lu Feichi of the Green Faction and the faction's collapse, forcing them to 'tuck their tails between their legs,' ironically allowed them to narrowly escape this storm. After the storm, someone will still need to do the work, so the Green Faction has a chance to rise again. This time, I, Lu Xu, earnestly requested that the royal residence dispatch all its elite forces precisely to let His Majesty and the court's magnates know our 'manners' and to seize the initiative in the coming maneuvers. The world belongs to the Zhao family. As the head of the family, with many descendants, he will naturally select those children who are reliable and 'undemanding' in their conduct. Only when the head of the family is pleased will he be willing to give them more wealth, hoping they will become more capable. If he thinks they are useless, the family head will tighten his purse strings and hold onto the family heirlooms. However, I, Lu Xu, truly cannot imagine what the imperial court would be like without Chief Grand Secretary Zhang. With him and Tantang Weng present, the situation in Qing Province is clearly understood, and the Jing'an King's residence will certainly not be overly troubled. But if a household replaces its grand steward who manages money and affairs, or even... if it changes its family head, and if no one from the Green Faction can step forward and speak on our behalf to the new master at a crucial moment, it will always be a hidden danger. Therefore, the benefits are immediate, but the drawbacks are distant. Overall, it's still bad news. Of course, everything in the world changes in an instant. No matter how far one foresees, firstly, it might not be accurate, and secondly, one cannot escape the method of 'taking one step at a time.' As long as we make no missteps, if our plans still fail, we can just curse heaven for being blind."

Zhao Xuan said, startled, "Chief Grand Secretary Zhang is only in his fifties, and his health has always been good. How could he step down? And who could possibly make him step down?"

Lu Xu pointed to the sky above, saying nothing.

Zhao Xuan's expression flickered erratically. He lowered his voice, grinding his teeth, "So that's why you wanted me to secretly befriend Jin Sanlang and the King of Qingcheng early on?"

Lu Xu nodded, showing no trace of complacency about his quiet, early strategic arrangements.

Zhao Xuan suddenly sneered, "Little Liu'er, you say we, as guests, painstakingly put on a good face while eating, but the host's eating habits are terrible. Heh, indeed, in that position, family law is state law, and family principles are heavenly principles."

Lu Xu said calmly, "Your Highness, don't forget, you also bear the surname Zhao. A family doesn't speak with two voices."

Zhao Xuan smiled and put an arm around Lu Xu's shoulder, "With you, there's nothing I wouldn't dare to speak of."

Lu Xu wore a helpless expression.

Zhao Xuan said, worried, "Little Liu'er, are you really not coming with me? Without your help in strategizing, I feel completely lost."

Lu Xu calmly said, "I only offer advice; military campaigning and formations are not my expertise. Moreover, Your Highness's expedition is not meant to gain military achievements. Of course, even if you wanted to, you wouldn't get any. Deplete these six thousand men in one go, then secretly meet the Crown Prince, dressed in rags. That would be considered a great success."

Zhao Xuan felt a pang of reluctance. "Can't we leave two or three thousand troops? Even secretly keeping a thousand would be fine?"

Lu Xu, expressionless, turned his head to "look" at the King of Jing'an, who was always "Your Highness" in his speech.

Zhao Xuan quickly raised both hands. "Can't I just listen to you?"

Seeing that Mr. Lu showed no reaction, Zhao Xuan reluctantly whispered, "I'm really leaving now, aren't I?"

Lu Xu extended a hand, signaling him to mount.

Zhao Xuan swung onto his horse. Lu Xu hesitated, then tilted his head back and exhorted, "Remember, there are only two objectives for this trip: try your best to win more trust from Zhao Zhuan, and second, use six thousand lives to win the hearts of the common people."

Zhao Xuan looked down at the blind strategist who had dedicated himself to the Jing'an King's residence, grunted heavily in acknowledgment, and rode away.

The young feudal lord felt a surge of pride, thinking, "I, too, have a Yuan Benxi by my side."