Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 767 Advice
He Tan nodded to Wang Yan.

The two understood each other's thoughts; what Wang Yan referred to as the north was, to be precise, the northwest.

He Tan said, "Although we have made peace with Western Xia and even reopened the border markets, this is not a long-term solution. Unless we can take over the Xihe, Huangshan and Shanhe regions, severing Western Xia's connection with Tibet, and pressuring Western Xia from the right flank, thus cutting off one of its arms, we can completely eliminate the Western Xia threat."

This was something they had always advocated, but they had not received the support of the imperial court.

Dealing with the Tibetan tribes in the Hehuang region would not violate the original intention of the two countries to cease hostilities.

Wang Yan asked, "Has the imperial court agreed to allocate troops to you?"

This is why He Tan came to the capital. He smiled and said, "The Secretariat and the Privy Council have finally made a decision. The new policies of the past few years have accumulated some money, which can support the military funds for military operations."

Wang Yan was not as happy as He Tan. He pondered the current situation, but He Tan did not notice Wang Yan's abnormality and kept saying, "I have heard my grandfather mention these things more than once when I was a child. Now I finally have the opportunity."

He Tan said, "I have to thank you for this. If Xie Yizhi were still in charge of the Privy Council, he would have done everything he could to obstruct our collusion with Xixia to sell private goods."

Unexpectedly, capturing Prefect Liu in Daming Prefecture was just the beginning; the ultimate goal was to capture the Privy Councilor.

Thinking of all this, He Tan looked at Wang Yan: "You have a good eye." He was naturally referring to Lady Xie, whom he had set his sights on as early as Daming Prefecture, and followed her all the way from Bianjing to Fujian, finally winning her over.

He Tan didn't need Wang Yan to tell him what had happened; just by looking at Wang Yan's robes, he could imagine how persistent and shameless Wang Yan had been.

Like father, like son. He had heard a lot about his uncle and aunt from his mother.

“I thought I could spend the New Year with you all in Bianjing this year,” He Tan said. “In the letter I sent to my mother, I also said that I would bring my father and her here for a reunion.”

He was serving in the north, so he naturally couldn't return to the south. It was already difficult enough that he could find a compromise and stay in Bianjing.

“It just so happens that you got engaged, so we were going to celebrate together. Who knew that we would have to go to the Northwest at this crucial moment?” He Tan looked at Wang Yan. “You should take care of the family for me. Anyway, in my mother’s heart, you are like her second son. Even without me, she will be happy to have you by her side.”

He Tan rarely said such things.

Wang Yan frowned and glanced at He Tan: "After I get married, I'll give my eldest son the surname He. What do you think?"

He Tan laughed and said, "That would be excellent, so even if I die, I can..."

Wang Yan sternly punched He Tan hard on the shoulder: "Dream on! Do your own thing and don't drag others into it. I think you're deliberately trying to avoid returning to the capital because you're afraid your aunt will urge you to find a woman."

He Tan grinned: "Once I've recovered the Hehuang region and been enfeoffed as a marquis, it'll just be a marriage proposal. What's so difficult about that?"

Wang Yan picked up his teacup and drank: "Then I need to tell my aunt so that she can be mentally prepared and not be too disappointed."

He Tan's smile vanished, and he bumped into Wang Yan hard.

The two hadn't been together for a long time, and they chatted and laughed happily. After a while, Wang Yan said, "Be extra careful on this trip to the Northwest. We've captured Xie Yizhi, but the people behind him haven't been brought to justice. If the timing isn't right, don't act rashly."

Looking at Wang Yan's solemn expression, He Tan nodded and said, "I understand, and I will certainly not act rashly."

He Tan then remembered: "You're not getting married soon, are you?"

Wang Yan's expression was natural, as if this was a perfectly reasonable thing: "I am not young anymore. If I can get married sooner, my elders at home will be at ease."

He Tan just wanted to spit on Wang Yan: "Wang Hechun, have you forgotten what you said before?" Not a single word of that was true. If it were really for the sake of the elders, he should have agreed to the Emperor's bestowed marriage.

"What did I say before?" Wang Yan picked up his teacup and took another sip. "I have no idea. My brother knows better than I do?"

He had once worried about Wang Yan, but He Tan suddenly felt that all those years of heartfelt devotion were not worth it.

“Tell me the truth,” He Tan lowered his voice, “when we were in Daming Prefecture, you told me to be careful of Lady Xie. Were you deliberately trying to get rid of me?” “You also know that I am smarter and more handsome than you, and that I might outshine you, right?”

He Tan thought Wang Yan would be provoked into anger, but to his surprise, Wang Yan nodded: "Brother is right."

He Tan couldn't help but show a surprised expression.

Wang Yan said, "Master Zhiyuan often said that we should have compassion for those who are starving. Brother, rest assured, I will give way to you from now on."

He Tan felt a sudden tightness in his chest, as if he had been punched. He secretly made a mental note of this, planning to replace the eggs with rotten ones next time he came, and see if the guy would still be so smug.

……

Dali Temple Prison.

Xie Chengrang looked at the food box in front of him.

The jailer said, "These are for you, from the people in that cell over there."

Xie Chengrang looked in the direction the jailer indicated, and saw that it was where Xie Chengxin, Zhou Zhaochang, and others were being held. The food box was obviously brought by the Zhou family.

"Eat up," the jailer said coldly. "We've dealt with quite a few prisoners lately, and you might be sent away someday."

The jailer bowed slightly and said, "That's only because our officials are benevolent; otherwise, you would all lose your heads."

Xie Chengrang's emotions remained unmoved by the jailer's words. He said in a low voice, "Sir, I would like to inquire whether Xia Mengxian's family members have been dealt with?"

The jailer knew the background of the Xie family, and being addressed as "Sir" by such an official's son made him feel extremely pleased, and he was willing to say a few words to Xie Chengrang.

"What? You've fallen to this state, and you're still thinking about women?"

Xie Chengrang raised his head: "Xia Mengxian's second daughter is my betrothed. Her imprisonment is also due to my involvement, and I feel very sorry for her..."

The jailer knew all about the woman from the Xia family; after all, he hadn't seen a case like this in years. First, her father was convicted, but she was spared punishment because she was engaged. Unfortunately, before she could actually marry her husband, his entire family was arrested. After careful consideration by the officials, it was determined that she "had not yet married her husband," and therefore, she should not be punished along with his family.

“She has dissolved her engagement with you,” the jailer said. “She was flogged in court and then released.”

Xie Chengrang remained calm and thanked the jailer repeatedly. Only after the jailer left did he open the food box and take out the food inside.

The food had long since gone cold, and it was just ordinary millet rice, but he found it extremely sweet and delicious, and Xie Chengrang stuffed it into his mouth with all his might.

The pieces are being placed on the board one by one; now it's just a matter of waiting for the final result to determine the winner.

……

After arranging the affairs for tomorrow, Xu Huaiyi walked out of the Dali Temple. He looked up at the dark sky, never imagining that he would spend the whole day in the yamen.

Fortunately, he had the official documents to exhume and examine the body of Madam Xie. He hoped everything would go smoothly and that no one from the Xie clan would try to stop him.

Just as Xu Huaiyi was about to get into his own carriage, the carriage that had been parked next to him immediately came to meet him.

"Xu Si Cheng."

The carriage curtain was lifted, and Master Xie's face appeared before Xu Huaiyi.

Master Xie hurriedly said, "I wonder if the Temple Assistant could speak to me in private?"

(End of this chapter)