Chapter 37 Retreat! Retreat! Retreat!
After thanking her, Lin Yan happily went to find A Man.
Watching the figure disappear through the door, Xiao Che picked up the policy document again and read it carefully once more. The more he read, the more admiration he felt in his eyes.
He got up, walked to the window, and looked out at the deep night and the outline of the palace in the distance.
He recalled the several heated arguments he had with his father when he was still the crown prince.
He advocated a hardline stance against the Northern Rong, but his father always said, "Weapons are instruments of misfortune; even sages use them only as a last resort," and preferred appeasement and pacification.
He wanted to investigate long-standing problems and rectify official corruption, but his father thought he was "young and impetuous, too hasty" and believed in the so-called "governing by doing nothing," which was actually just letting things drift.
The last argument was about dealing with the emperor's cousin who had embezzled disaster relief funds and instigated a popular uprising.
He insisted on punishing them severely according to the law, as a warning to others.
His father, however, angrily rebuked him for "disregarding family ties and being callous and ungrateful," and even threatened to depose him from his position as crown prince.
If it weren't for his advisors' earnest persuasion, which led him to temporarily endure...
Later, the cousin became increasingly reckless, eventually sparking an even bigger popular uprising.
He was ordered to suppress the rebellion, but he did not hesitate to arrest and punish the cousin and a group of corrupt officials, swiftly quelling the public resentment, but also thoroughly enraging his father, the emperor.
The emperor suffered a stroke on the spot, and could neither speak nor write.
Later... his father passed away, and he ascended the throne as emperor.
Those past disputes and repressions seem to have faded away with the end of that era.
But Xiao Che knew that wasn't the case.
The old ministers left by the late emperor are still here, those outdated ideas are still there, and the deep-rooted problems cannot be eliminated overnight.
He often felt a sense of loneliness, a weariness that no one understood.
until……
Xiao Che turned around and his gaze fell on the newly added desk in the imperial study.
The room was fully equipped with writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, and even had half a cup of tea that had gone cold and hadn't been finished.
A young minister was sitting there, his mind filled with strange yet incredibly useful ideas. His inner thoughts were clamoring, but he always managed to pinpoint the crux of the matter precisely.
Xiao Che's lips slowly curved into a clear arc.
fine.
He has Lin Yan.
This tedious and monotonous path to becoming an emperor doesn't seem so unbearable anymore.
"Li Defu".
"This old servant is here."
"Tomorrow, summon the Minister of Revenue, the Minister of War, the Grand Secretary, and the Grand Secretary to the Imperial Study for a meeting." Xiao Che's voice regained its usual coldness. "The agenda is: the Northern Rong's request for a marriage alliance and strategies for dealing with the border."
"Yes," Li Defu replied with a bow, knowing in his heart that Scholar Lin's policy proposal would likely become the basis for tomorrow's meeting.
Your Majesty is about to start using this newly sharpened knife.
The next day, in the Imperial Study.
Lin Yan, clutching his new She inkstone and sandalwood pen holder, huddled in a corner not too far from the imperial desk, trying to minimize his presence. Paper and pen were spread out on the small table in front of him, ostensibly for "recording meeting points," but in reality, he was there to listen in and broaden his horizons.
Although he could participate as a Hanlin scholar, his qualifications were too low and he would be gossiped about, so Xiao Che let him be an auditor first.
Xiao Che sat upright behind the imperial desk, his face ashen, the atmosphere solemn and serious, and Lin Yan dared not utter a sound.
Minister of Revenue Zhang Houpu, Minister of War Tan Yi, Grand Secretary Wang Jie, and Grand Secretary Liu Wenhe lined up on both sides.
Lin Yan glanced at the four high-ranking officials standing there, then looked at himself.
Every time he's with Xiao Che, he seems to be sitting down...
Thinking about his treatment, Lin Yan tried even harder to make himself less noticeable.
Xiao Che handed a document to Li Defu, indicating that it should be circulated: "You all know about the matter of the Northern Rong. I have a draft of a countermeasure here. Please take a look and speak freely."
That draft was the one Lin Yan had painstakingly written yesterday.
Several high-ranking officials took the document in turn and carefully perused it.
Zhang Houpu, the Minister of Revenue, read the document the fastest. His shrewd and calculating eyes grew brighter and brighter as he read, especially when he saw the section on "settling old accounts in the mutual trade," which almost made his eyes light up.
He was the first to speak, his voice carrying the distinctive abacus bead tone of the Ministry of Revenue: "Your Majesty, this plan is very reasonable! The Northern Rong have accumulated a great deal of debt over the years, and the accounts are complicated. They should have been thoroughly settled long ago. How can we take whatever we want and waste the national treasury? I second that proposal!"
Minister Zhang understands me!
[Those who manage the purse strings really do have an advantage!]
Lin Yan cast an admiring glance at Zhang Houpu.
Although Minister of War Tan Yi was a scholar, he possessed a strong and upright character. He focused on the section on "military deterrence" and slowly nodded: "Your Majesty, this strategy combines both firmness and flexibility, which is in line with the essentials of military strategy. The Northern Rong are unruly, and it is impossible to blunt their edge without demonstrating our power. However, it also leaves room for maneuver and is not simply about exhausting the army. I believe it has great potential."
Minister Tan is right!
Thumbs up!
Lin Yan stroked his chin. It seemed that Ministers Zhang and Tan were loyal supporters of Xiao Che.
Xiao Che's expression softened slightly, and he nodded gently, turning his gaze to the other two.
Grand Chancellor Wang Jie slowly put down the document, stroked his neatly trimmed beard, frowned, and said in a tone of concern for the country and its people, "Your Majesty, isn't this plan too hasty?"
His voice was gentle, yet carried a condescending critical tone: "While the Northern Rong may have their faults, the peace and tranquility of the border is of paramount importance. If we continue to press them so aggressively, they may be driven to take desperate measures, leading to renewed border conflicts and widespread warfare. Wouldn't that contradict the sage's principle of winning over distant lands? In my humble opinion, we should still prioritize appeasement and restraint."
Minister Liu Wenhe also chimed in gently: "What Minister Wang said is wise and experienced in governing the country. Your Majesty, it is true that the Northern Rong are suffering from a white disaster and are struggling to make a living. If our dynasty is too stingy at this time, it may lose the demeanor of a benevolent and great nation. Perhaps we can show some mercy and provide some money and grain, which will not only demonstrate the magnanimity of the Celestial Empire, but also alleviate their predicament and make them grateful for Your Majesty's kindness."
Lin Yan was stunned.
[To comfort? To restrain?]
[Charisma? Demeanor?]
【What era is this? It's from!】
[They've hogged you and are taking advantage of you, and you still expect magnanimity?]
[Does money and grain come from the wind? And you even offer a little? With just a few words from you, how much of the people's tax money is handed over?]
[Be grateful? They'll just think we're stupid, rich, and eager to get rich!]
Hey!
Retreat! Retreat! Retreat!
He secretly glanced at Xiao Che and saw that His Majesty the Emperor's face darkened at a visible speed, his jawline taut.
Lin Yan's heart was pounding.
Oh no, the boss is going to get angry.
What's going on with these two big shots? They turn the table when the boss is picking up food, and change the song when the boss is singing?
[His Majesty's decision to produce the draft clearly shows he doesn't want to be taken advantage of. Why would he still want to be taken advantage of?]
Lin Yan was astonished. How could there be someone even less able to read the leader's mood than he was?
Xiao Che's fingers tapped lightly on the imperial desk, producing a dull, rhythmic sound that sent shivers down one's spine.
He suddenly chuckled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes; instead, it carried a chilling undertone: "Oh? In your opinion, how should we appease them? How should we demonstrate the demeanor of a great power?"
Wang Jie seemed oblivious to the coldness in the emperor's words. Instead, he straightened his back and said firmly, "Your Majesty, since the Northern Rong have offered marriage as a gesture of goodwill, why don't we go with the flow? We should select a woman from the imperial clan, bestow upon her the title of princess, and marry her to the Khan of the Northern Rong, along with a generous dowry. This would preserve their dignity, make them grateful, and ensure peace on the border for several years. Wouldn't that be the best course of action?"
Marrying a princess?!
Here we go again!
[Besides pushing women out to take the fall, what else can you do?]
Why don't you let your daughter get married? Oh, sorry, I forgot your daughter might be too old...
What about your granddaughter?! Can you bear to part with her?!
Lin Yan was so angry that she wanted to slam her fist on the table in her heart, but she still had to desperately maintain a well-behaved expression on her face, as if she were just a recorder and knew nothing.
Hearing the furious roar beside him, Xiao Che's cold smile deepened. He slowly picked up his teacup, blew away the foam, and looked at Wang Jie with a half-smile: "What you said reminds me of what I've heard about your granddaughter, who is sixteen years old, intelligent and kind, and has a good reputation."
Wang Jie was taken aback, and subconsciously replied, "Your Majesty flatters me, my granddaughter has indeed come of age..."
“Very good.” Xiao Che interrupted him, his tone casual yet like a thunderclap in the imperial study. “In that case, I will bestow upon her the title of Princess Anning and arrange her marriage to the Northern Rong, to show the sincerity of my Great Yu in establishing a marriage alliance. What does the Prime Minister think?”
"puff--"
Lin Yan almost spat out his saliva, and quickly covered his mouth tightly, his face turning red from holding it in.
[Holy crap! Your Majesty's strike was spot on!]
Wang Jie's face didn't just turn green; it instantly turned deathly pale, all color drained from his body. He knelt down with a thud, his voice trembling: "Your Majesty! You mustn't! You mustn't! This old minister... this old minister's granddaughter has been pampered since childhood, and is frail and easily chilled. Moreover, the Northern Rong is a wild and harsh land with completely different customs. How can she adapt? This... this is tantamount to pushing her into a fire pit! Your Majesty, please reconsider!"
[Now you know it's a wild and harsh place with very different customs?]
So other people's daughters can go, but yours can't?
[Double standard dog! Old fox! Bah!]
Xiao Che looked at Wang Jie, who was kneeling on the ground trembling, his eyes cold, but his tone became more and more "warm": "Oh? Didn't Prime Minister Wang just say that this was the best policy? How come when it comes to his own granddaughter, it becomes pushing her into a fire pit? Does Prime Minister Wang think that women of the imperial family, or women from other families, are born to jump into this fire pit?"
"This old minister absolutely did not mean it that way!" Wang Jie was sweating profusely and kowtowed repeatedly. "Your Majesty is wise! The matter of a marriage alliance concerns the national dignity. Only by selecting a noblewoman of high status, virtuous and beautiful, and capable of shouldering heavy responsibilities can our dynasty show its importance. This old minister's granddaughter is young and inexperienced, and is truly unworthy of the match, Your Majesty!"
【Pah! That sounds nice!】
"Able to shoulder heavy responsibilities with both virtue and appearance? Isn't that just implying they'll choose a hapless loser who can endure humiliation and hardship?"
Where is your face? Where is your scholarly integrity? Did a dog eat it?
Minister of War Tan Yi, whose face was already ashen, could no longer contain himself. He stepped forward, his words sharp as knives, though not as crude as a warrior: "I cannot agree with what you say, Prime Minister Wang. The Northern Rong are wolves in sheep's clothing; how can they be appeased by a woman? In the past, the previous dynasty sent many princesses to marry into the Xiongnu, but did that bring lasting peace and stability to the border? It only fueled their greed, causing beautiful women to perish in foreign lands! Such a strategy of cutting off one's own flesh to feed a tiger, or drinking poison to quench thirst, is absolutely not a good plan! Your Majesty, I firmly oppose it!"
Wang Bin blushed at Tan Yi's direct rebuke and retorted defiantly, "Minister Tan! This is a matter of national policy, not a time for momentary impulses. If, because of you, the border war reignites and lives are lost, can you bear the responsibility?"
"You!" Although Tan Yi was a scholar, he was upright and outspoken. When Wang Bin accused him of this serious offense, he turned pale with anger and suddenly stepped forward, pointing his finger at Wang Bin's nose. "Wang Bin, you old bastard! You...you are utterly pedantic! Your ideas are disastrous for the country and its people!"
He was so angry that his hands trembled. He instinctively wanted to grab Wang Bin to argue, and with a wave of his arm, his wide sleeves rustled in the wind!
Lin Yan was terrified.
[Holy crap! Minister Tan, calm down!]
[Disrespectful behavior before the Emperor! Taking action would only make things worse!]
Wait! Why is he rushing over here? Don't let innocent bystanders get hurt!
As Tan Yi excitedly strode forward, his movements were directly in the direction of Lin Yan, who was trying to minimize her presence.
Without a second thought, Lin Yan instinctively ducked and darted out, disappearing behind the imperial desk next to Xiao Che's dragon throne. Shrinking his neck, he whispered anxiously, "Your Majesty... is this really alright?"
Xiao Che glanced down at Lin Yan, who was almost squatting at his feet, then looked up at the chaotic scene before him—Zhang Houpu was shaking his head and sighing, Liu Wenhe was futilely trying to persuade the two gentlemen to calm down, Wang Bin was forced to take a step back by Tan Yi's imposing manner and almost tripped, while Tan Yi was panting heavily from excitement...
Xiao Che remained expressionless, even picking up his teacup and slowly taking another sip of tea.
Then, with extreme calmness, and even a hint of barely perceptible pleasure, he whispered to Lin Yan at his feet, "It's alright."
"I would also like to do that."
Lin Yan: "???" He was completely bewildered.
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