Chapter 99
While Ming Yu and the others enjoyed their meal, a person on horseback arrived at the residence of Prime Minister Wen.
Xie Yixiu, dressed in civilian clothes, handed over a greeting card. The gatekeeper glanced at it and said, “Wait a moment,” before going inside to announce the arrival.
Soon, the gate to the mansion opened wide, and a servant came out to welcome him in.
Xie Yixiu had never been to the Prime Minister’s residence before, but he knew a lot about it through his subordinate, Wen Yuzhao, who was the youngest son of Prime Minister Wen. From him, Xie Yixiu had learned a great deal about the estate.
The Prime Minister, a man of great power, ranked second only to the emperor, yet his residence was not as extravagant or lavish as other noble households in the capital. Instead, every plant, stone, and mountain in the garden seemed to exude a sense of refined tranquility.
The Prime Minister’s residence was not large, and within a short while, Xie Yixiu was led to the meeting hall where he was greeted by Prime Minister Wen himself. Dressed in simple scholar’s attire, Wen was a handsome and refined man, with three wisps of long beard under his chin, which were beginning to turn grey.
Xie Yixiu, a military officer, was used to the sharp divide between the civil and military factions in the court, with each group often looking down on the other. The fact that the Prime Minister had taken the time to meet him today was likely because of Wen Yuzhao’s influence.
He cupped his hands in greeting and said, “General Xie greets Prime Minister Wen.”
Prime Minister Wen raised his hand, stopping him from performing the full salute. With a smile, he said, “General Xie, you’ve traveled far. Your visit brings honor to my humble home. Please, sit down!”
The two of them took their seats, and servants quickly brought tea and snacks to serve their guests.
“General Xie, has my son caused you any trouble while he was with you?” Prime Minister Wen asked with concern, blurting the question out of worry.
When Wen Yuzhao had rushed to the border many years ago, filled with youthful impulsiveness, Prime Minister Wen had been furious and disowned him, telling him not to return. Now, many years later, his son never even sent word or came to visit, and that hurt the father deeply.
However, as a parent, the regret set in shortly after his harsh words. Now, all he wanted was for his son to be safe at the border, and that alone would bring him peace of mind.
Xie Yixiu nodded casually. “Rest assured, Prime Minister. Your son has been fine at the border. He even entrusted me with a letter to bring back for you.” He then took out the letter and handed it to the Prime Minister with both hands.
“Please excuse my impatience earlier,” said Prime Minister Wen, apologizing as he took the letter and began reading it carefully.
Xie Yixiu did not rush him, quietly waiting for the letter to be read.
The letter was brief, and Prime Minister Wen finished reading it quickly. He tucked it away and said, “Zhao’er has you to thanks for your care, General.”
“There’s no need for that, Prime Minister, Wen Yuzhao rose from a soldier to a military officer in the Red Robe Army, which shows that he is quite capable.” Xie Yixiu replied sincerely.
Prime Minister Wen shook his head, sighing before getting down to business. “So, what brings you here today, General Xie?”
Xie Yixiu didn’t beat around the bush and directly explained the matter regarding the West Qi Corridor that Ming Yu had tasked him with.
After listening, Prime Minister Wen fell silent, staring at a map of the borderlands as he thought for a long while. Finally, he furrowed his brow and said, “General, are you and Duan Wang suggesting that the West Qi Corridor be incorporated into the territory of Great Yan? However, this land was once the border between the Suixi Kingdom and the Wuliang Kingdom. Although it has remained desolate due to the terrain, if Great Yan seeks to claim it, the Suixi Kingdom will likely not yield easily.”
He could already foresee that if Great Yan were to control the West Qi Corridor, it would be a highly advantageous move for the empire. The corridor acted as a sharp blade pointing toward the heart of the Suixi Kingdom. Though it had long been ignored and uncontested, it was in a strategic position that could no longer be overlooked.
But now, as long as the Great Yan Kingdom dares to intervene in this area, would the Suixi Kingdom simply let it go?
“Indeed, we must be cautious of the Suixi Kingdom, but I believe that as long as our Great Yan can station troops and build a city here, once the situation is settled, we can defend ourselves based on the terrain and remain invincible,” Xie Yixiu said slowly. His tone was confident; he had already discussed this with Ming Yu, and the future changes in Liangzhou would likely be triggered by this move.
Prime Minister Wen shook his head. “Stationing troops and building a city for defense? That’s unwise. General Xie, you must know that the Ministry of Revenue is already under financial strain, and the national treasury is empty. The West Qi Corridor, being a narrow plain, is limited by the terrain. If we want to station troops and defend it, we would need to stretch the front lines, and the expenses for provisions and military supplies would be much greater than at Shi Chongguan.”
Prime Minister Wen analyzed the situation practically. Although the West Qi Corridor had strategic significance, considering the current national strength, it would only increase the burden on the Great Yan Kingdom. Since this was the case, why not maintain the current status quo?
Xie Yixiu and Ming Yu had already anticipated this. They were aware of the Prime Minister’s pragmatic nature, and they knew that such a costly and labor-intensive proposal would not be accepted immediately.
“Prime Minister, what if this move not only avoids burdening the people but also generates revenue for the Great Yan in just a few years… Uh!” This was Ming Yu’s idea, and influenced by him, Xie Yixiu couldn’t help but speak it out. Realizing it might sound wrong, he cleared his throat and explained, “What I mean is, it could help fill the national treasury.”
“Not burdening the people and filling the national treasury?” Prime Minister Wen seemed confused by Xie Yixiu’s words and repeated them.
Xie Yixiu nodded. “Exactly, stationing troops and building the city will not cost a single coin from the court’s treasury. I wonder if Prime Minister is willing to support the construction of the West Qi Corridor on behalf of Duan Wang?”
Prime Minister Wen couldn’t believe his ears. “What? No funds from the national treasury? Then where would the money for stationing troops and building the city come from? This is no small amount.”
Was this a joke? Only someone with wealth rivaling that of the entire kingdom could make such a statement. And only Duan Wang had the audacity to say such things. Thinking back to when Duan Wang was granted a fief and left the capital, even though the Emperor had supplemented his treasury from his own private funds, Duan Wang’s wealth was still modest compared to that of other princes.
Even though Ming Yu had established a trade caravan to the Western Regions, working with the Crown Prince and earning quite a bit, this small amount of money would not even begin to cover the costs of building a city and maintaining an army.
It was said that Duan Wang’s foolishness had greatly improved, but now it seemed that this condition was still unresolved. Who could say such things unless they were still foolish?
Prime Minister Wen scrutinized Xie Yixiu, still unsure of what to make of him. After all, Xie Yixiu was unlikely to follow Duan Wang’s foolishness, was he?
Xie Yixiu didn’t mind the Prime Minister’s scrutiny. “As for the funds for building the West Qi Corridor, Duan Wang will handle it. You need not worry about that, Prime Minister.”
Prime Minister Wen’s mind raced as he considered various possibilities but still couldn’t figure out where Duan Wang would gather the money. “So, does this mean Duan Wang already has a solution?” Seeing that Xie Yixiu avoided answering this question directly, the Prime Minister took up his tea cup and drank a couple of sips.
Prime Minister Wen could no longer press for more details and, with a forced smile, said, “If that’s the case, then I’ll support Duan Wang’s wishes, as long as I can say a few words in the court.”
Xie Yixiu’s lips curled up. This was exactly why he had come. “Thank you, Prime Minister!”
Prime Minister Wen stroked his long beard. “No need to thank me so quickly. In the court, it’s not just up to me. Whether this succeeds or fails still depends on His Majesty’s will.”
Xie Yixiu understood this well. He knew Ming Yu was determined to succeed and would do everything to persuade the Emperor. In fact, Xie Yixiu was also unsure of the specifics. Ming Yu had told him that there was a way to handle the financial aspect, but had not revealed the details, so they could only take it one step at a time.
At the palace banquet, while everything appeared jovial on the surface, behind the scenes, political struggles were unfolding. Ming Yu, however, seemed completely oblivious to it. He played the fool and distracted the Crown Prince from several sharp exchanges that had fallen on him. After that, others found it difficult to deal with Ming Yu, so they naturally shifted their focus elsewhere. The Crown Prince, sitting in his position, had seen his share of political storms from a young age, so he didn’t mind these petty attacks.
Only then could Ming Yu eat heartily and enjoy his meal. After finishing, he took pleasure in watching a dramatic palace power struggle unfold, as long as the fire didn’t burn him, he was more than willing to watch.
After the banquet came to a close and the emperor had left, the guests began to disperse slowly. Ming Yu glanced over at Princess Anping from afar, his eyes twinkling as he signaled for someone to deliver a message to her.
Once the emperor departed, the crown prince, whose status was unparalleled, quietly pulled Ming Yu aside to exchange a few words before also leaving the hall.
With the departure of the emperor and crown prince, the atmosphere in the hall lightened and became more relaxed. Several princes and princesses tried to approach Ming Yu to strike up a conversation. Ming Yu, with a stiff expression, handled a few exchanges before seizing the opportunity to slip away.
Those who sought to engage with him did not have purely innocent intentions. Most had heard that Ming Yu had brought back a considerable amount of goods from the Western Regions and hoped to get some benefits from him.
After slipping out of the main hall, Ming Yu exhaled deeply. It was a relief to leave early. If he had stayed in the palace any longer, wearing a mask and getting caught in all the intrigue and scheming, he feared it would have driven him mad.
As he walked, he glanced around, but he didn’t see the person he hoped to meet. Just as he was feeling a bit disappointed, he heard someone calling his name from behind.
Ming Yu’s eyes brightened as he turned around and, as expected, saw Princess Anping surrounded by palace servants.
He smiled, his eyes narrowing in a friendly manner, and bowed, “Is Eldest Princess in good health?”
Princess Anping had married and left the palace years ago, establishing her own princess mansion. She only returned for occasional family banquets or grand holidays, so Ming Yu hadn’t had much contact with her. However, after Ming Yu had sent some Western goods to her through a messenger, she had spoken on his behalf. When the banquet had just ended, Ming Yu had sent a message, asking her for a small favor.
Although she wasn’t sure what the favor was, since Ming Yu had sent the message, she decided to hear him out. She stopped Ming Yu.
Princess Anping, with her straightforward nature, asked directly, “What does the fourteenth brother need from me?”
Ming Yu smiled, “I’d like to ask Eldest Princess for a favor.” He didn’t beat around the bush and, before she could inquire further, he explained, “Eldest Princess often hosts literary gatherings and events in the capital. You’ve met countless talented young scholars and noble ladies. I never had a chance to attend one while I was in the palace. Now that I’m back, I would like to see what these gatherings are like, to join in the fun. Would that be possible?”
Princess Anping was taken aback. She had thought Ming Yu was asking her for something serious, but it turned out to be such a simple request.
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Thank You for the new chapter (｡>艸<)♡♡♡