"My esteemed ministers, do you have any objections?"
The civil and military officials knelt and cried out, "Your Majesty is wise and benevolent!!!"
Yuan Xiu then returned to his throne, satisfied, and said, "My nephew has been born. I must go and offer my congratulations to my elder sister. Wei You!"
"Your subject is here!" Wei You quickly stepped forward.
Yuan Xiu said, "You've been to Yanchuan City once, so go again for me and give the Eldest Princess a proper visit."
"Your subject obeys the decree!" Wei You was overjoyed. This kind of job, acting on behalf of the emperor, was extremely desirable, as it was both profitable and prestigious.
"Lu Zhao, you should go too. Along the way, inform the various counties and prefectures about the Four Supreme Generals."
"yes!"
"If there's nothing else, let's adjourn the court!" With these words, Yuan Xiu left the dragon throne and walked happily toward the inner palace.
One by one, the officials turned around. Most of them waited in place, only daring to move after Wen Tai and Mu Shanyue had left the hall.
When Wen Tai passed by Du Yuhe, he winked at him.
...
The Left Prime Minister's Residence.
Wen Tai sat fishing in the inner lake of the mansion, while Wen Hu squatted beside him, baiting his hook. Yu Changsi and Du Yuhe stood on either side.
Wen Tai remained silent, and none of the three dared to utter a sound, lest they disturb the fish that were about to take the bait.
After two empty hooks, Wenhu finally caught a fish on the third cast, and quickly went to retrieve it.
Wen Tai then said, "Mr. Yu, His Majesty has sent Wei You and Lu Zhao to Yanchuan."
Without hesitation, Mr. Yu said, "Even His Majesty has expressed his opinion, so we should also do something in return."
"Who should go?" Wen Tai asked doubtfully. "Hu'er has repeatedly targeted Zhao Cheng, and Zhao Cheng is well aware of this. It's not appropriate for Hu'er to go. But besides Hu'er, who else has the sincerity and influence? Am I supposed to go myself?"
"No."
Yu Changsi shook his head, thought for a moment, and said, "There's nothing major happening in the manor lately, so I'll go instead."
Wen Tai paused for a moment, then said with a serious expression, "Mr. Yu, although there's nothing major happening in the manor, His Majesty's attitude towards the Left Prime Minister's residence is different now than before. He's also keeping a close eye on Xu Qingshan and is very wary of us!"
Yu Changsi said, “The more this is the case, the more I should go. If His Majesty really does take action against the Left Prime Minister’s residence, then the Right Prime Minister’s residence will surely die before us. So I need to go to the Right Prime Minister’s residence in person to find out their situation and their weaknesses, so that when disaster strikes, we can get them to help us withstand it.”
"Sir, your insight is excellent." Wen Tai nodded and looked at Wen Hu, saying, "Hu'er, Mr. Yu cannot afford any mishaps on this trip. Let Luo Ying accompany him."
"Yes!" Wen Hu paused for a moment, then said, "Sir, besides Luo Ying, I'll have Liu Ling accompany you as well. She can help you gather information."
Yu Changsi smiled and said, "That would be perfect."
Wen Tai tossed his fishing rod aside, stood up, and walked towards the stone table and benches beside him, saying, "What do you think of these four supreme generals personally appointed by His Majesty?"
Wen Hu quickly said, "Uncle, I think these four young generals are a trick His Majesty is using, just like when he started the military examination. His Majesty knows that the established talents in the court cannot be won over, so he has begun to focus on cultivating new talents."
"But precisely because the four young players have not yet reached their full potential, the real battle is between the people behind them."
"Xiao Luofeng is the eldest son of the Xiao family of Jingdong. Let's assume Xiao Luofeng is from the Right Prime Minister's Mansion. Then the Right Prime Minister's Mansion has one member. Champion Wang has one member. Wang Yuluan and Du Yucheng are both from our side, so the Left Prime Minister's Mansion has two members. Whether now or in the future, we still hold the advantage!"
Yu Changsi said, "The Earl of Sha County is right. Prime Minister, think about it. Zhao Cheng was also a general personally appointed by His Majesty. Although he was only a fifth-rank general, he made great contributions in the Battle of Muqiaokou. Why did His Majesty only promote Yuan Qi and not him? Why not include him and rank him among the top five minor generals?"
"His Majesty still doesn't trust the Right Chancellor's Office."
"Especially this time, Zhao Cheng actually took it upon himself to sign a cooperative business agreement with Yang Qingzhi. His Majesty must have something on his mind!"
After pondering for a moment, Wen Tai said, "The more His Majesty distrusts the Right Chancellor's Office, the more we must act in accordance with His Majesty's wishes. Du Yuhe."
"Left Prime Minister, please give your orders." Du Yuhe quickly approached Wen Tai.
Wen Tai said, "There is no war in the three counties of Xinbei for the time being. You should write a memorial in Chengdu and send it back to him so that he can go to Yanchuan to pay his respects to the Princess on your behalf."
Du Yuhe said, "He has just been appointed a general and is about to return; I fear His Majesty will be displeased!"
Wen Tai said, “Since someone from your family has gone to the Zhongsan Dafu residence, someone from the General’s residence also needs to go. Wang Ren is in charge of the three counties of Xinbei, which is a good opportunity for Wang Yuluan to gain experience. He will not let Wang Yuluan return. In the General’s residence in Changsui, Wang Ren’s wife, Xue Yun, hates Zhao Cheng to the bone. She will not go, and His Majesty will not let her leave the capital easily. Therefore, the most suitable representative from the General’s residence to go to Changsui is Wang Ren’s daughter, Wang Yucen.”
Wen Tai looked at Du Yuhe and said, "In this way, Chengdu's opportunity will come. You should have Chengdu tell Wang Ren that he and Wang Yucen should travel together, so that they can look after each other on the road and protect his daughter. Wang Ren will definitely agree. With Wang Ren helping to submit the memorial, His Majesty will not blame Chengdu."
Upon hearing this, Du Yuhe was overjoyed and bowed, saying, "The Left Prime Minister's method is truly a brilliant strategy!"
Wen Tai remained unmoved by Du Yuhe's flattery. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Mr. Yu, do you think it would be appropriate to add a little more substance to the Right Prime Minister's residence?"
Du Yuhe didn't understand, and looked at Wen Hu, who also looked confused.
Yu Changsi understood, nodded, and smiled, "It's very suitable."
"Du Yuhe, you take care of this matter."
Wen Tai instructed, "Send messages to Shangyang County, Jiangyang County, and Yunjing County, saying that the Princess has given birth to a son, and the Emperor and the Right Chancellor are overjoyed. For the Right Chancellor's residence, this is an even greater joyous occasion than Zhao Cheng's marriage to the Princess! It is an event of immense happiness!"
Wen Hu understood and said, "Uncle wants Li Lu, Deng Fugui, and Cai Qiong to go to Yanchuan to pay their respects to Zhao Huan?"
Wen Tai nodded.
Du Yu asked doubtfully, "Then why not say that the Right Prime Minister's residence held a grand banquet?"
Wen Hu understood Wen Tai's thinking and helped explain: "If we say that we're going to have a big banquet, then they'll wait for Zhao Huan's invitation. By leaving it ambiguous, they'll fill in the blanks themselves and think that they'll only feel at ease if they go to the Right Prime Minister's residence."
Du Yuhe suddenly realized, gave a thumbs up, and exclaimed, "Brilliant, brilliant!"
"Go do it," Wen Tai said, waving his hand at Du Yuhe.
Wen Tai picked up his teacup, a faint smile on his face.
“Teacher, you’re a grandfather now, so it’s only right that your students do you the best.”
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