knife

Chapter 641 Choice
The black mule's hooves clattered on the bluestone slabs, and an ordinary-looking carriage approached from afar, seemingly unremarkable.

However, the carriages that can travel on this road, regardless of their appearance, already represent status and position.

Because there is only one household on this road.

In the past, it was the Weizheng Road and Weifu.

Now, his surname is Linghu.

Today, Linghu Ye, who is extremely busy, actually stood in front of the gate for the first time ever, with the gate behind him, which is rarely opened, wide open.

There are actually very few people who can be personally greeted by Linghu Ye.

Privately, most people even believe that even if the emperor were to come, it would depend on Linghu Ye's mood. If he was in a good mood, he would come out to greet him; if he was in a bad mood, he would ignore him!
The carriage stopped, and the driver jumped down first, took a small stool from the carriage shaft and placed it on the ground before lifting the curtain.

Inside, an elderly man with white hair and beard but a ruddy complexion bent down and crawled out.

Upon seeing the old man, Linghu Ye smiled broadly and stepped down one of the stairs.

"Greetings, Grand Secretary!" The elderly man with white hair and beard bowed in greeting.

"Elder Cui, please don't flatter me!" Linghu Ye quickly descended the steps and actually reached out to support the old man's arm. "It's been over twenty years since I've been to Chang'an. Chang'an has changed quite a bit. I'll accompany Elder Cui to take a stroll around sometime!"

The small carriage carried Cui Ming, the head of the Cui family from Boling County.

Cui Ming sighed and walked inside with Linghu Ye, saying, "This old man, though separated by vast distances, originally only wanted to stay at home and enjoy the last moments of his life. But my children and grandchildren have come begging to me, and I can't refuse. The whole family needs a way to survive. After much thought, I have no choice but to come and beg you, the Grand Secretary!"

Linghu Ye smiled and said, "Elder Cui, you flatter me. It's just a servant's word. Would I, Linghu, possibly refuse to give Elder Cui face? The weather is getting colder and colder. You really didn't need to make this trip."

“I won’t be making many more trips!” Cui Ming stopped in his tracks. “This time I’m here to hand over the reins. From now on, all the family matters will be handled by Cui Shu.”

Linghu Ye turned around, and the person following closely behind them was the coachman.

His name is Cui Cheng, the eldest son of Cui Ming.

Cui Cheng and Cui Shu are brothers, with Cui Cheng being the elder brother. The two have been fighting for the position of head of the family for many years without a clear winner. This is also the reason why Cui Ming has not completely relinquished power. Now it seems that Cui Shu has won.

Cui Cheng bowed slightly.

Linghuye smiled and nodded.

Since Cui Shu won, Cui Cheng naturally had to leave.

The study was warm and inviting. The three of them sat cross-legged facing each other, and Linghu Ye personally served them tea.

On the surface, the Linghu and Cui families seem to have little connection, but in reality, their relationship over the past few decades has been far closer than anyone expected.

The Cui family of Boling was Linghu Ye's biggest supporter.

“A month ago, Shu’er successfully advanced to the Innate Realm!” Cui Ming slowly sipped his tea, looking at Linghu Ye, and said.

Linghu Ye suddenly realized, glancing at the meek and obedient Cui Cheng opposite him, who was still stuck at the peak of the ninth rank. No wonder!
"The Cui family has two innate guardians, this is truly a cause for great joy!" Linghu Ye said.

Cui Ming shook his head: "I am nearing the end of my life, and my body is failing. I can no longer count on anything. You can see that if Shu'er hadn't successfully advanced, I wouldn't have gone out!" Linghu Ye naturally understood what Cui Ming meant.

“The forces outside the pass are aggressive, and Boling is now in grave danger!” Cui Ming put down his teacup, looked at Linghu Ye, and said, “Now that the Grand Secretary has pacified the area inside the pass, when will we reinforce Boling and send troops out beyond the pass?”

Linghu Ye refilled Cui Ming's teacup and said, "Elder Cui is always well-informed, so he must know about what has happened in Chu in recent months."

Cui Ming coldly said, "The Xiang and Xiong families are nothing but withered bones in a tomb. Now that Chu is in great turmoil, it is the perfect opportunity for us to do our utmost to conquer the area beyond the pass. Otherwise, once that brat grows up, what will become of us?"

“Elder Cui, that’s exactly why I’m so hesitant!” Linghu Ye said, “Li Dachui’s moves are swift and unpredictable; by the time we realize what’s happening, his momentum is already established. Right now, whether in Shu County or the eight towns of Jiangnan, he’s aggressively pressing us. If we don’t respond properly, we’ll suffer a crushing defeat. Although the Central Plains are currently pacified, the people are still struggling. It will probably take three to five years to recover. To launch a rash attack would be extremely unwise!”

"You want to take over the eight towns of Jiangnan and Shu County first?" Cui Ming asked coldly.

Linghu Ye frankly said, "I'm still undecided. But to be honest, Elder Cui, I'm thinking of first taking over the eight towns south of the Yangtze River and Hanzhong, among other places."

"Just as I thought!" Cui Ming sneered. "In your eyes, Boling County is far inferior to these places!"

"With Elder Cui overseeing Boling, and Zhishu having done a good job these past few years!" Linghu Ye said, "The offense is slightly lacking, but the defense is more than enough!"

"Defense?" Cui Ming looked up at Linghu Ye, his eyes sharp.

Linghu Ye intends to turn Boling County into a battlefield, but Boling County is the home of the Cui family, and the Cui family will never allow Boling County to be engulfed in war.

"Elder Cui, as far as I know, the Northern Protectorate is currently working hard to digest the Yuan Kingdom after it was conquered. Don't be fooled by Gu Xiaoman's show of force at Yangguan; it's just a bluff."

Cui Ming shook his head and slowly said, "Prime Minister, do you know that Xiao Changche secretly arrived at Yangguan ten days ago?"

Linghu Ye's expression changed slightly, and his hand, which was pouring tea, froze. The water flow from the spout stopped, but it quickly returned to normal.

"Xiao Changche had just given birth not long ago, and hadn't even finished her postpartum confinement period before arriving at Yangguan?"

"So you still think Gu Xiaoman is bluffing?" Cui Ming stared at Linghu Ye. "Zhou Zhi has also arrived at Yangguan, and nearly a hundred disciples from Changchun Valley have arrived as well. Although they arrived in batches and the news was tightly sealed off, it's still impossible to keep it from the Cui family. Grand Secretary, you think Li Dachui would never launch an offensive in the north at this time? But what if he really does the opposite? It's not that I'm boosting the enemy's morale and diminishing our own, but Zhishu is a worthy opponent to Gu Xiaoman, a match for a worthy general. But if he were to face Xiao Changche directly, would he be a match for him?"

Linghu Ye swirled the cup, his expression serious.

When Xiao Changche arrived at Yangguan, did Beiting intend to fight seriously, or was it just a show for them?
After pondering for a long time, he finally sighed. That's what makes his opponent so formidable.

Xiao Changche alone is enough to make me feel like I'm facing a formidable enemy. Boling certainly can't be allowed to be in any danger. In other words, my focus should be on the north from now on.

“I’ll have Guohua take charge!” Linghuye said.

Cui Ming laughed, "Guo Hua is currently in charge of Luoyang. Once he leaves, what will happen to Luoyang?"

Linghu Ye smiled and looked at Cui Cheng, who had been silent all along, and said, "Isn't Brother Cui here? Brother Cui is very talented, and he is the perfect person to take over from Guohua to oversee Luoyang!"

Cui Ming said with satisfaction, "It is his good fortune to be valued by the Prime Minister. Our Cui family is currently actively contacting those families in the south. They were first suppressed by Jiang Qian, and now they are suppressed by Na Wei. They are already furious. Cui Cheng's visit can speed up the progress of these matters. Prime Minister, the south you mentioned, perhaps we can take it over without much effort!"

"If that's the case, then that would be wonderful!" Linghu Ye said with a smile.

(End of this chapter)