Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 824 Appointment
After agreeing on the matter of borrowing the boat, the merchants gradually dispersed.

Only Zhao Zhongliang, Liu Tonghan, and Cao Yu remained in the room. Zhao Zhongliang looked at Cao Yu and said, "You still need to keep an eye on those ships and boatmen."

Cao Yu replied without hesitation: "Don't worry, I will make sure everything is arranged properly and I won't let a single informant infiltrate the group."

Zhao Zhongliang shook his head: "There are only a few merchants, and you all know each other, so it's easy to distinguish them. But it's different for boatmen. We need too many people, and it's inevitable that some of them will have ulterior motives."

"Furthermore, time is limited, and you can't investigate in detail."

Cao Yu thought about it and agreed, and frowned: "Then let's break them up and mix them with our people. With people watching each other, we can't go wrong."

Liu Tonghan said, "This can provide some protection, but it's still not enough."

Cao Yu immediately asked, "Then what should we do?"

Liu Tonghan said, “We have prepared a courtyard where all the recruited boatmen will train. If the boatmen ask questions, tell them they are preparing for a long voyage until the day we need them.”

Cao Yu had no idea what the eldest daughter-in-law was planning to do, so he asked, "What exactly... do you want them to do?"

Zhao Zhongliang said, "It's just sailing."

Liu Tonghan added, "There may be dangers, and when that day comes, we will tell the boatmen the truth. We will not force those who do not want to go."

Even if the news gets out at the last minute and the other side finds out, it's too late.

If Zhao Zhongliang's calculations are correct, they wouldn't have had the chance to send the message, because the overall situation would be settled.

After the three finished speaking, Zhao Zhongliang was still somewhat worried.

Cao Yu asked, "Is there anything else?"

Zhao Zhongliang shook his head; he was only worried about Madam Xie. Even though Madam Xie had guards from Yang Xiaoshan, the Guo brothers, and the Wang family, the landlord was exceptionally cunning, and Madam Xie would probably have to go through a lot of trouble to capture him.

In fact, Zhao Zhongliang was more concerned about Xie Niangzi's safety than whether he could completely eliminate his employer.

……

Beijing.

Wang Bingchen, along with the Minister of Rites, Hanlin Academicians, and others, were confined to their duty rooms for many days. Finally, they drafted the edict establishing the Prince of Huai as his heir. Although the Emperor did not attend court, the ceremonies and procedures proceeded in an orderly manner.

Midway through, an old minister wanted to voice his doubts, but he saw that Prime Minister Wang had his eyes downcast, as if he were in deep meditation. Behind the screen, everything was calm and undisturbed. The old minister had no choice but to retreat.

After this incident, even if the Prince of Huai were to suddenly ascend the throne one day, it would be perfectly reasonable; it would just be a formality.

Compared to these senior officials, the younger generation was much more cooperative. Looking back, Prince Huai saw that the younger generation of officials, led by Wang Yan, were all imitating Wang Yan in every action.

He had not yet sat on the throne, but he had already foreseen who would sit in the Secretariat and rule the country with him a few years or a dozen years from now.

After the ceremony, the Empress Dowager, behind the screen, said: "The Secretariat has submitted memorials from various parts of the north. The Duke of Wei has privately gone to the north to mobilize troops, intending to support the King of Qin in usurping the throne. What do you think should be done?"

As soon as the Empress Dowager finished speaking, officials from the Ministry of War and military officers stepped forward to request permission to quell the rebellion.

After the officials finished speaking, the Empress Dowager waved for the screen to be removed, and she looked directly at Wang Yan: "Issue Wang Yan, the Imperial Attendant, as the Commander-in-Chief, to go with the generals recommended by the Privy Council and the Ministry of War to quell the rebellion."

The position of Pacification Commissioner was usually granted to the Privy Council or the Grand Councilor, and Wang Yan's qualifications were certainly not up to the task.

Wang Bingchen couldn't help but raise his head to look at the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager had appointed that brat as the commander-in-chief. Even if that brat really wanted to retire, given time, when he returned to the court, he could directly enter the Secretariat and at least start as a vice minister. In less than two years, he could become the prime minister.

This is the Empress Dowager's bestowal of favor upon the Wang family.

During this period, too much chaos occurred in Bianjing. Wang Yan led civil officials and students of the Imperial Academy to stop the rebel army, and then captured the Prince of Qin. These achievements accumulated and were truly beyond question.

None of the ministers had a word to it.

With the important matter settled, the Empress Dowager rose and was helped out of the main hall by the master of ceremonies. The master of ceremonies whispered, "Your Majesty seems to value the Court Attendant Gentleman very much."

“They, father and son, have indeed managed the affairs of state properly,” the Empress Dowager said, “but that is not enough for me to say this.”

If the Prince of Huai does not employ Wang Yan in the future, then as long as Wang Yan is willing, he can use this suppression of the rebellion to secure a rightful position for himself.

The premise is that the imperial court must win this battle.

The Empress Dowager said, "You can take it as me forcing the Wang family father and son to do their best."

The master of ceremonies, understanding the Empress Dowager's true nature, said: "Actually, you are not like that, otherwise you wouldn't have said that."

The Empress Dowager smiled without speaking. Of course, she also valued Xie Yuyan. Xie Yuyan was going to marry Wang Yan. Keeping Wang Yan would be the same as keeping the two of them. She could understand this calculation.

The Empress Dowager, sitting in her palanquin, instructed, "Let's go back to Cining Palace! I'm tired." After doing so much, it's time for her to return to her leisurely days.

Thinking of this, the Empress Dowager looked at the Funing Palace. She had taken on all the dirty and bad things. She could be considered a dutiful stepmother.

……

Duke Wei looked at the two people, one big and one small, who were being led into the central military tent.

After many days of travel, the King of Qin was left with only five soldiers. He discarded all his armor and put on shabby, patched clothes, preparing to blend into the crowd and escape if the court were to target him again.

Fourteen-year-old Liang Yanjing looked much more presentable. He was still wearing the robes he wore at the Prince's Palace, but he appeared overly haggard and thin.

The Duke of Wei glanced at him and immediately understood the King of Qin's intentions. This was not a compassionate father, but a calculated scheme. No one who wants to be emperor is soft-hearted, but the King of Qin clearly possessed only incompetence and stupidity.

“Father-in-law,” the King of Qin said, his eyes red, “I have finally found you.”

Liang Yanjing hugged the Duke of Wei and wept: "Grandfather, you must seek justice for Mother... There are also two younger sisters and a younger brother, all of whom are Father and Mother's flesh and blood. They were also... also... arrested."

Liang Yanjing choked up and couldn't continue.

Wei Guogong comforted the two men and ordered someone to bring hot food for the group to eat.

The Duke of Wei suppressed his disgust. The King of Qin was a figurehead; without him, they would have no legitimate reason to attack. Otherwise, he would have killed the King of Qin long ago.

"Tell me in detail how many soldiers you encountered along the way when you came here."

The King of Qin nodded and explained the situation in various places. They had pursuers behind them, but they had not encountered any local militia.

Duke Wei breathed a sigh of relief: "Things aren't too bad yet."

The King of Qin was unaware of the situation.

Duke Wei said, "The Empress Dowager conveyed the Emperor's decree, establishing the Prince of Huai as the heir."

The King of Qin had just finished eating, and in his excitement, a sour taste almost welled up in his throat. He hadn't expected it to happen so quickly.

Duke Wei said, “Don’t be fooled by the fact that an heir has been established and announced to the world. Since it wasn’t said by the Emperor himself, it’s bound to raise questions. The fact that you weren’t surrounded by the local militia is proof of that.”

The King of Qin's eyes lit up immediately: "Father-in-law, do you mean that the local officials didn't arrest me because they think I still have a chance to inherit the throne?"

The Duke of Wei spoke calmly: "They are not sure whether the current situation is the Emperor's intention."

The King of Qin's heart, which had been ashen, began to stir again.

“So you must go and persuade them,” said Duke Wei, “to persuade more people to stand on your side. Now that you’re here, you must personally go and convince them.”

Upon hearing this, the King of Qin shuddered.

(End of this chapter)