Meanwhile, Wang Tingshan had just driven out of the Yun family's house when he was stopped at the street corner.
"This is Grand Secretary Wang's carriage. Who comes here?"
The coachman brandished his whip, looking displeased, as if he would lash out at the man for disrespect.
The man on the road bowed and said, "Sir, I am a servant of the Yu family. Our General Yu wishes to invite Grand Secretary Wang to his residence for a chat, to discuss some matters."
The attendant leaned close to the car door and whispered to Wang Tingshan inside, "Sir, are you going?"
Wang Tingshan, who had been resting with his eyes closed inside the car, suddenly opened them.
"Ask him if he is General Yu Shida from the military government?"
The servant of the Yu family said, "It is indeed our general."
"Let's go, let's go and meet him."
Unlike Yun Zhenchuan, Yu Shida seemed to have anticipated Wang Tingshan's arrival and was waiting respectfully at the gate.
Yu Shida was young after all, and Wang Tingshan could tell at a glance what he was thinking. He didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point, repeating to him what he had said at the Yun family.
Driven by greed, Yu Shida agreed to provide manpower, money, and grain.
"Can you make the decision regarding the grain tax?" Wang Tingshan looked up at him.
To gain Wang Tingshan's trust, Yu Shida patted his chest and spoke with great confidence.
"How could we not make the decision? That Yun Zhenchuan is a coward and a lackey of Feng Yongyan. If my Yu family doesn't agree, he won't be able to take away a single grain of grain from the southern region!"
He had long heard of the power of the Dongyue royal family, and if he could get on their side, he would have no trouble expanding his own forces.
He was cautious and did not mention the Xihe iron mine and salt fields to Wang Tingshan.
Let's wait until he returns with his men before dealing with the Yun family.
The two colluded, agreeing that the other would give them money and supplies while they would give them people and power.
Two days before Wang Tingshan's arrival, the Yunye brothers received a letter from Yun Zhenchuan.
Wang Tingshan knew that the Yun family members were righteous and honorable people. With Yu Shida's involvement, he planned to change his approach to persuade the Yun brothers.
After exchanging pleasantries, when he saw Lin Yinan still sitting in the council chamber, his brows furrowed slightly, and he felt a little displeased.
“We have important matters to discuss, Madam Yun, please go ahead and attend to your business,” he said tactfully.
Yun Mo hated hearing people say that women couldn't be in charge, so she turned her head away and didn't even bother to look at Wang Tingshan.
Yunye cleared his throat and said seriously, "Grand Secretary Wang, you may not know this, but my brother and I are not good at handling government affairs. We are only responsible for guarding the house and such. All the affairs of the family are managed by my sister-in-law."
Lin Yinan glanced at Wang Tingshan and spoke in a cool, indifferent voice.
"If you don't want to talk, please leave!"
Wang Tingshan had held a high position in the imperial court for many years; when had anyone ever dared to treat him like this?
Although he looked down on women in charge, she had the Yun family backing her up, so he dared not speak out against her.
He exhaled a breath of stale air and slowly revealed the purpose of his trip.
"The rise and fall of a nation is the responsibility of every citizen!" Wang Tingshan said solemnly at the end.
“Back then, when my grandfather, father, and elder brother died in battle, the entire court wished the Yun family line would be wiped out, and pushed out the old, young, women, and children of the family to take the blame. How come the responsibility is now being pushed onto my Yun family?” Yun Mo stared coldly at Wang Tingshan.
"Sigh, there was nothing we could do back then," Wang Tingshan said with a helpless expression.
The Yun brothers remained silent. According to the news that came back, when the Yun family fell into misfortune, not a single civil or military official pleaded for them.
Lin Yinan directly refused, saying, "Please leave, Elder Wang! The Yun family no longer wants to live a life of constant danger. We just want to live a peaceful life here."
"That's utterly womanly!" Wang Tingshan rebuked, instantly unleashing the imposing aura of someone who had served as an official for many years.
Having lived a life of constant danger and bloodshed for nearly ten years as a post-apocalyptic warrior, Lin Yinan was not afraid of this paper tiger at all. His eyes were fixed on him, his sharp gaze bloodthirsty and cruel, as if Wang Tingshan was a zombie about to be decapitated at any moment.
"I'd like to ask you, you raise such a grand banner, what great foundation of the Great Yan Kingdom, but it's nothing but your own selfish interests. You let the Yun brothers command the army for you just because the Yun family is capable, easy to control, and can be pushed out as scapegoats in critical moments."
This was no different from the history she knew, when the mixed barbarian allied forces invaded the Central Plains on a large scale, burning, killing, and looting at will. At this time, the powerful families took the opportunity to take in the army of refugees and compete for territory and power.
They are but a drop in the ocean of the mortal world, unable to resist the gears of history, unable to shoulder such a heavy responsibility, much less lead the people who have survived through countless hardships to their deaths.
Not everyone has the skills she and the Yun family possess. She is power-hungry and doesn't want to climb the ladder by stepping on the blood and flesh of the people in this city.
All she could do was protect them under her wing. Although she led the people of this city, her abilities were limited, and that was all she could do.
Yun Ye's face darkened. "Grand Secretary Wang, upholding justice is not something you can just talk about. How could you not know how many people will die in this process?"
"How can great achievements be accomplished without sacrifice!"
"Please go back! From the moment the court exiled the Yun family, the life and death of the Great Yan Kingdom has nothing to do with our Yun family."
Wang Tingshan was still unwilling to give up. "This is a great opportunity to clear the name of the Yun family! Don't you want to seek justice for your father and brothers who died in battle and for those 100,000 soldiers?"
"Justice resides in the hearts of the people. The Yun family's contributions over the years have been judged by the people themselves, and we need not prove ourselves," Yun Ye said.
To say he didn't care would be a lie, but when his father and brothers sent him off to the battlefield, their only hope was that he could survive with the women and children of the Yun family.
He must keep this promise, take good care of his third and fourth brothers, and raise his nephews to adulthood safely.
The group remained silent, and Lin Yinan picked up her teacup and took a sip.
Having said all that, the Yun brothers remained stubborn and unyielding, so Wang Tingshan had no choice but to give up.
After he left, Lin Yinan looked back at the two brothers.
"Anan, what are you doing? My second brother and I are not involved, that's all." Yun Mo felt uncomfortable being stared at.
Yunye spoke up to help him out, "Don't worry, Third Sister-in-law, I will keep an eye on Third Brother and won't let him do anything reckless."
"I'm afraid the Yu family will take this opportunity to make trouble for us."
As the three were discussing their next steps, Lin Yiheng rushed in carrying a sack.
"Anan, what you asked for is done. We've been busy all morning and we only have half a sack left."
He opened the bag and scooped out a handful.
"What is this? It looks so much like the sand on the West River beach." Yun Mo picked up a small pinch, smelled it, and looked at Lin Yiheng in confusion. "It doesn't smell fishy, so it's not sand?"
Lin Yiheng was about to speak when Lin Yinan stopped him, "Why don't you put it in your mouth and try it?"
Yun Mo had no doubts and put the candy in his mouth to savor it carefully.
"Sweet? Is it candy?!" He was uncertain, his eyebrows and eyes furrowing.
Seeing his younger brother's pained expression, Yunye reached out and picked up some of the food, putting it in his mouth to savor it.
Lin Yinan smiled and looked at them. "That's right, this is white sugar."
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