Su Jue found it difficult to understand what Fu Xiaoguan said, but Dong Shulan was a little worried.
"Just as you said last night at the West Mountain Villa, Brother Su's concerns are not without reason. After all, the Yu Dynasty governs the country with culture and advocates for sage learning. If your article were to be leaked, wouldn't it make you an enemy of the world's students?"
Fu Xiaoguan leaned back and looked up at the deep night sky, as if talking to himself, or as if explaining: "Before, I didn't know the situation of the Yu Dynasty, so I naturally hoped to take it slow. But now that I know a little bit, I'm actually a little worried. I'm worried that this tree won't fall. I still hope to live comfortably under it for the rest of my life."
He paused, thought for a moment, and then continued, "A few days ago, I went to the Yan Mansion, and Yan Beixi asked me a question. At the time, I thought his question was a bit idiotic, but now I think his question directly points to the current situation of the Yu Dynasty."
"He said he had a patch of land where he had planted some chives but neglected to take care of them, so the field was overgrown with weeds. He asked me whether he should slowly weed the field or completely uproot the chives and weeds and replant the field... My answer was that if the soil was already poor, then it would be better to leave it alone. But if the soil was already fertile, then I could slowly weed it."
"At the time, I thought this was a choice he faced. Your Majesty's need to rectify the civil service was inevitable, and his Yan clan was the most powerful clan in the Yu Dynasty. This blow would definitely fall on the Yan clan. I thought he meant to choose between the Yan clan and the Yan clan. Now it seems I was wrong. What he was asking about was not the choice between the Yan clan and the Yan clan, but the choice between the Yan clan and the country."
"This country is like the soil, now barren. The weeds and leeks still appear lush, but they are weak within. That's why Your Majesty proposed those twenty-word guidelines at the Grand Court. Their purpose is twofold: first, to paint a rosy picture for the people of the Yu Dynasty, telling them this is a bright future, to reassure them. Second, of course, is to find a cure to prolong the Yu Dynasty's life, or even to revitalize it."
"This is a deep-seated disease, requiring only drastic measures. Furthermore, with the barbarians lurking in the north and the Yi states preparing for war in the east, the Yu Dynasty has no time for a gradual approach. I guarantee that if the Yu Dynasty shows even the slightest sign of fatigue, war will erupt in these two regions. And this fatigue will erupt after the corruption in this disaster relief program. To rectify the administration, His Majesty intends to allow the Yu Dynasty to remain in chaos for a few years, but this chaos refers to internal strife, specifically the turmoil of the six major clans. I wonder how he can ensure that while internal chaos persists, external strife will not follow. If both internal and external chaos occur... my humble landowner will never be able to enjoy a carefree life."
After Fu Xiaoguan spoke at length, Su Jue and Dong Shulan finally realized how serious the situation in the Yu Dynasty was!
They couldn't help but reveal a serious look, thinking that if the world were in chaos and war broke out again, how many lives would be lost?
Fu Xiaoguan smiled again: "Don't overthink it, this is just my analysis. The Yu Dynasty is a great country after all. Even if many things happened, it won't really collapse in a year or two."
"What should we do if this really happens?" Dong Shulan asked in a low voice.
"Each of the four frontier armies has over 300,000 soldiers, in addition to the provincial and prefectural troops, militias at all levels, and even the imperial guards in Shangjing, who have a hundred thousand soldiers. In fact, even if a war really breaks out, if the Yu Dynasty can maintain internal stability, at most everyone will have to live a harder life, but they won't necessarily lose."
Fu Xiaoguan was not trying to comfort them. An army of over one million soldiers could not be defeated so easily!
He had just entered the court and did not have a deep understanding of the combat effectiveness of the Yu Dynasty's army. He only heard some from Bai Yulian and knew that there were some problems with the combat effectiveness of the eastern border army, but the northern border army had been facing the barbarians all year round, so he thought that the combat effectiveness should be no problem.
Dong Shulan also thought about it carefully. If that was the case, it seemed that Fu Xiaoguan was being a bit overly pessimistic. Then why did he say those words in such a low voice just now?
Chunxiu asked her servants to deliver the food to Taoranting, but she didn't expect that the fifth prince Yu Wendao would come with Lushang.
"It's better to arrive at the right time than to arrive early. I haven't had my meal yet, so bring out your wine." Yu Wendao had never been polite to Fu Xiaoguan before, and seemed like he was half the owner of this place.
There was nothing he could do about his uncle Fu Xiaoguan, after all, Yu Wendao had helped him a lot.
Yu Wendao bowed to Su Jue, sat down at the table, looked around and asked, "Where did Su Mo go?"
"He said something happened at the temple, so he left before the New Year. I mean... I don't have much Xishan Tianchun left, so I have to drink it sparingly, okay?"
Yu Wendao glared at him, "You're so stingy. When Su Mo comes back, tell him that Hongzhuang... well, Hongzhuang seems to miss him."
Fu Xiaoguan was startled, Su Jue turned to look at Yu Wendao in astonishment, and Su Su almost fell off the swing.
Fu Xiaoguan had seen the girl Hongzhuang. She went to Xishan with Yu Wenyun last year. She couldn't be said to be very beautiful, but of course she wasn't ugly either. But compared to Su Mo, she didn't seem as good-looking as Su Mo.
The girl was quite cold and seldom spoke, but unexpectedly she was a person who was cold on the outside but warm on the inside.
"This matter... I'll tell Su Mo about it when he comes back."
The food and wine were served, and everyone sat around drinking. Fu Xiaoguan naturally asked Yu Wendao why he came to the Fu Mansion that night.
"I want to fight, but this fight is boring. I can't show up, and I can't stay in the palace. After thinking it over, I just came to your place to drink."
This reason was so strong that Dong Shulan was confused and asked, "Fight? Who are you, the Fifth Prince, fighting with?"
Yu Wendao laughed, "Fighting with my brother."
Dong Shulan was stunned. Your brother? "Eldest brother or fourth brother?"
"Fourth brother... I'm not sure if eldest brother will come to join in the fun."
Dong Shulan looked at Yu Wendao's serious expression and realized that he didn't seem to be lying. Besides, he couldn't lie about this matter. So, could there be some conflict between these princes?
Of course, she didn't ask any more questions. When it came to the fight for the crown prince, it was better to know less about such things.
Fu Xiaoguan became interested and asked, "When will the war start?"
"Hmm..." Yu Wendao looked up at the night sky, "The moon is at its zenith."
"Well, I wish you a successful start!" Fu Xiaoguan raised his glass and drank with Yu Wendao. After refilling the glass, he suddenly said, "I'm afraid this battle...can't be won."
"Why?"
"I don't think Yuhuatai is in the mood to fight you right now."
Yu Wendao held the wine glass but did not drink it. He frowned and pursed his lips. His lips were very thin and his lip line was very long, and the sharpness of his lips seemed like a sword.
"My people have been keeping an eye on what's happening at Yuhuatai."
"Even a cunning rabbit has three burrows. I think Yuhuatai is probably deserted."
"Why do you think he won't fight me?"
Fu Xiaoguan grinned, "I guessed." Seeing Yu Wendao's puzzled look, he added, "He's vying for the throne, so there's no need to waste his energy on you. Your dream is to become the leader of the martial arts world, and he's eager for that. Why would he fight you to the point of mutual destruction?"
Yu Wendao suddenly realized that it was all a waste of effort!
He drank the wine in one gulp, wiped his mouth, and started eating with chopsticks.
He believed Fu Xiaoguan's judgment 50%, but he did not withdraw his men. He decided to wait and see when the moon was at its highest point.
"I heard news today that Yan Beixi actually suggested to Father that my eldest brother, Yu Wentian, should lead the Eastern Frontier Army... What do you think Yan Beixi is planning?"
Fu Xiaoguan was surprised by the news. It seemed that Yan Beixi had made the choice to give up the position of commander-in-chief of the Eastern Border Army.
He chose to cut off his own arm, which was decisive, but why did he nominate Yu Wentian?
The eldest prince is a candidate for the throne. If he is released and given military power... I don't think His Majesty will agree.
"He's just expressing his stance to His Majesty. The eldest prince probably won't leave Shangjing. After all, this is the center of power. If he leaves, how can he compete for the position of crown prince?"
"You're wrong. He really is willing to go."
Fu Xiaoguan was startled and asked, "Why?"
"For the sake of ideals, do you believe it?" Yu Wendao stared at Fu Xiaoguan and said this very seriously. Fu Xiaoguan smiled and shook his head.
What a fucking ideal! His ideal must be to be the emperor!
"What do you mean, Your Majesty?"
"Mother said His Majesty hasn't expressed his opinion yet."
Yu Wendao then exhaled a puff of white air and sighed, "My eldest brother is quite a character. Although he wasn't thrown into the Sword Forest at a young age like me, my father hired a master to teach him martial arts from a young age. His master's identity is still unknown, and no one knows the true extent of his skills. He also likes the art of war and has memorized Peng Tu's "Strategies of War" by heart. Of course, he has also read many other military books. When it comes to fighting, I'm not as good as him, and neither is my fourth brother. The eastern border troops are in disarray now, and my mother thinks my father might agree."
"Aren't you afraid of raising a tiger and causing trouble?"
Yu Wendao laughed, "What's the harm? Even if the meat is rotten, it's still in the pot."
Fu Xiaoguan suddenly realized that Concubine Shang's judgment was probably correct, and His Majesty was very likely to agree.
Your Majesty had long been prepared for the impending chaos of the Yu Dynasty, but he had no idea how far it would reach. Rather than staying in Shangjing City, it would be better to send a prince to command a region's military power.
Even if the situation in the capital city gets out of control, there is still a prince outside who can lead the troops to clean up the mess.
This is the courage to cut off one's own arm!
Yu Wentian controlled the eastern border army, his uncle Xue Dingshan controlled the western border army, and there was also the King of Zhenxi watching over the west, so it was impossible for Xue Dingshan to rebel against the Yu family.
As long as they have these two border armies, even if all the leeks in this field are cut, the land will still be in the hands of the Yu family.
But Your Majesty overlooked one problem. No one wants to be a leek. If the knife is not sharp enough, it might hurt the hand holding the knife!
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