Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 411 To add fuel to the fire

When Lu Jia and the others arrived, Lu Jie was talking with Yang Bonong in the study.

The rest of the staff in the mansion had just left, and the cups and goblets on the table showed that the conversation had lasted for quite some time.

"Has the Grand Commandant responded?"

When Lu Jie saw them arrive, he immediately guessed their purpose.

Without further ado, the two presented the guards sent back by Grand Commandant Shen and the letter he brought back: "Father is a prudent man. To prevent Hu Yucheng from causing trouble, he sent him on a campaign while keeping him in the southeast until the Yan family runs into a wall and retreats."

After listening to their story, Lu Jie quickly read the letter and said, "The people sent by the Yan family should be about as far away as us, or even faster. After learning the result, the Yan family only has two paths to take: one is to give up resistance, and the other is to put up a stubborn resistance."

"Even after we suffer repeated setbacks, they still have many followers. Once the Yan family falls, countless people will be implicated. Even if Yan Song gives up, his subordinates may not be willing to give up."

"Moreover, the Yan family still has so many descendants. No one is willing to stand by and watch them suffer a complete defeat."

"That's what we thought too, so we came over overnight to get some advice. The Yan family only has three days left before the deadline for closing the case. If they get through this hurdle, things will be unpredictable."

"Furthermore, the Emperor has issued an edict ordering my father to be transferred from the Ministry of War after returning to the capital, which I feel is not a good omen."

"We can't let them have the chance to strike first."

Lu Jia said.

“Of course not,” Yang Bonong said, pulling out a stack of files from the side. “These are all petitions that have been prepared for a long time. In addition to the serious crime of embezzling military funds, Yan Shu also hired a geomancer to find a place with royal aura to build a house in their ancestral home when he was alive. This is conclusive evidence of their crimes, and the house has already been built!”

"For a mere subject to secretly commission someone to build a residence in a place imbued with royal aura, what could this be but a sign of disloyalty?"
"Not to mention now that we have these letters that the Grand Commandant brought from the coast!"

"They've already suffered enough by filing charges against them for these crimes!"

Yang Bonong's voice was strong and clear, showing how long he had been waiting for this day.

Lu Jia and Shen Qingzhou exchanged a glance and said, "The Emperor's greatest taboo is insubordination, not to mention that it is not impossible for him to accuse the Yan family of colluding with the Japanese based on these letters."

"Each of these two crimes, taken individually, is indeed quite serious—"

After saying that, she looked at Lu Jie and asked, "What does Father think?"

The charges are serious enough, but whether they are severe enough is another matter.

As expected, Lu Jie pondered for a moment, then returned to his desk, sat down, and picked up the top volume of the dossier, saying, "Not enough."

Yang Bonong said, "Isn't that enough?"

Lu Jie's gaze deepened: "Since His Majesty is already gradually cutting off the Yan family's wings, it is clear that he intends to preserve the Yan family."

"Yan Shu is dead, which can be considered a warning to the Yan family. Apart from Yan Song, no one in the Yan family holds an important position in the court now."

"In other words, with Yan Song dead, the Yan family is no longer a threat, and all their followers will scatter like monkeys falling from a tree, posing no threat to the court."

"Killing him would only provoke Hu Yucheng and shake the morale of the army."

"In this situation, if these crimes are brought to justice, the Yan family only needs to push a few more people out to take the blame, and the Emperor will most likely back down."

"In short, the key to bringing down the Yan family lies with the Emperor. If the Emperor doesn't make up his mind, no matter how many charges we submit, we probably won't see any hope."

"Then what should we do?" Yang Bonong asked. "Now we're just one step away!" "Why are you in such a hurry?" Lu Jie said. "Didn't we just say that once we hear that Hu Yucheng has run into a wall, they will either cower in fear or fight back with all their might?"

Yang Bonong was stunned: "But didn't the adults also say that we can't just wait for them to make a move? Are we supposed to wait?"

Lu Jia and Shen Qingzhou laughed at the same time: "Father probably means to provoke them into making a move."

Yang Bonong couldn't understand how he, Lu Jie's top advisor who followed him around all day, could be less understanding of Lu Jie's thoughts than the young couple.
He looked over with a puzzled expression.

Shen Qingzhou took out a map: "This is the contents of a letter that my father-in-law instructed me to keep an eye on the Yan family after he entered the cabinet."

"This is a map of the capital region that looks normal, but it seems a bit strange that it appeared in the hands of Yan Liang's personal attendant at this time."

"We suspect that Yan the old scoundrel is too old to cause any more trouble, but Yan Liang may not be."

“That night at the Yan family’s private residence, his intention to turn the tide was extremely clear. Even if we ultimately destroyed it, he would not give up easily.”

Lu Jie nodded: "Yan Liang is indeed the most outstanding member of the Yan family in this generation. He has been carefully cultivated since childhood and has lofty aspirations. Even though he has suddenly suffered a family tragedy, he will not be discouraged."

“If there is anyone in the Yan family who refuses to accept their fate, then Yan Liang must be at the very top of the list. He also has the ability to do so.”

Lu Jia, upon hearing this, also said, "Yan Liang has been accompanying the old scoundrel Yan to receive guests since he was six years old, and has been assisting Yan Song in handling official business since he was ten years old. Yan Liang knows everyone in the court whom Yan Shu knows. In fact, because Yan Liang personally handles many matters, he has come into contact with more people than Yan Shu."

He has his own way of doing things.

"We will definitely make use of these methods."

Yang Bonong nodded: "Since Yan Liang is making moves, does that mean we can seize an opportunity as long as we keep an eye on him?"

Lu Jie disagreed: "If that old thief Yan is willing to play the coward, he can at least keep his life safe for now."

"After news of Hu Yucheng's setback reached Beijing, based on my understanding of Yan the Old Thief, I'm afraid he still wouldn't dare to make any rash moves."

"At his level, he wouldn't act recklessly like a young lad; he would choose to be patient and patient."

“Yan Liang has always been filial. If Yan Shu insists on acting conservatively, although he may be dissatisfied, he will not easily disobey him.”

"But since he has already taken action in private, it shows that it's not that he's unwilling to disobey, but rather that he lacks a force to push him forward."

At this point, he pushed the stack of files in front of him forward: "Although these things are not enough for the Yan family to atone for all their sins, they will still be a significant blow to the already precarious Yan family."

"We can use this as a starting point."

"How to do it?"

"Hu Yucheng's response will either arrive in the next day or two, or it won't arrive at all. Regardless of whether it arrives or not, this situation is enough to make the Yan family anxious."

Lu Jie looked at Yang Bonong as he spoke, “Tomorrow morning, you should compile these into a book, write a memorial, and send it to the Dali Temple.”

"I believe that word from the Dali Temple will surely reach the Yan family's ears."

"We need to add fuel to the fire on top of the Yan family's anxiety."

The other three exchanged glances upon hearing this.