Fu Shanhe

Chapter 429 A flash of inspiration

Tongzhou Camp.

"Brother Li, your nephew has finally gotten himself into trouble!"

As Jing Guoliang spoke, he handed the copied memorial to Li Yuan.

You could tell from the smile on his face that he was in a good mood.

When ordinary people enter officialdom, they inevitably make trouble and mess things up, but Li Mu is an exception.

Since entering officialdom, he has been steady and progressively promoted.

This overly smooth performance makes it seem unreal.

Generally speaking, when this kind of steady player gets into trouble, it's always something big.

As expected, Li Mu's move caused a huge upheaval.

With a leader in charge, Yongning's desk will soon be piled high with memorials from the noble generals.

It's impossible to stop them.

What Li Mu is doing now is exactly what they wanted to do, but didn't dare to do.

Don't assume that the resentment of those below has subsided just because so many civil officials have died.

The nobles were mostly related by blood, and those who died were their entire extended family and friends.

Besides harboring hatred for the civil service, they also harbored resentment towards the emperor.

If the leader takes the lead in causing trouble for the emperor, those below will definitely follow suit.

Submitting memorials criticizing the emperor was not just a civil official's job; military officers could do it too.

Those at higher levels need to consider the overall situation, but those below don't think that far ahead; they're more focused on their own interests.

If we don't seize this opportunity to make a big scene, these kinds of things will keep happening in the future.

Only by making a big enough fuss to let the emperor and civil officials know the consequences can similar incidents be prevented from happening again.

"Brother Jing, you're really joking."

It's just an impeachment memorial; I thought it was a big deal.

Annam was thousands of miles away and unaware of the changing situation in the capital, so it was understandable that they submitted such a memorial.

Your Majesty didn't say anything, so let's pretend we don't know.

If the people below want to make trouble, then let them make trouble.

"It's just a few memorials, nothing serious."

After glancing at the contents of the memorial, Li Yuan calmly responded.

Given Li Mu's current status and position, submitting a memorial impeaching a civil official is not a big deal.

The resulting political consequences were an accident and cannot be attributed to him on the surface.

With a simple statement like "the distance is too great, and I don't know the situation in Beijing," they can shift most of the blame.

The imperial court would not punish a high-ranking official based on a single impeachment memorial.

The mess they made was simply to displease the emperor.

Even the founding emperor had to plan ahead and find a plausible reason before killing his meritorious officials.

In the later stages of a dynasty, arbitrarily killing meritorious officials is tantamount to destroying one's own foundation.

Without exception, all of them led to disastrous consequences.

Li Muyuan was thousands of miles away, so even if Emperor Yongning had designs on him, he couldn't reach him.

The investiture of Annam by the World Governor was not something that could be easily revoked.

Although there are many heinous crimes, few of them can be associated with Li Mu.

If you really want to take him down, the only charge that can be used is "treason".

If the emperor dared to use such a charge, it would be tantamount to forcing people to rebel.

What's worse is that it's easy to incite rebellion, but it's difficult to find people to do the work of suppressing it.

The core military personnel in the southern provinces were all Li Mu's old subordinates. The emperor would not feel at ease sending these people to quell the rebellion.

The emperor could tolerate the commotion caused by Liaodong Town, so why would he tolerate a mere memorial to the throne?

"You're just stirring up trouble. If His Majesty finds out, he'll probably be furious with you two uncles and nephews."

"But it's good that things have escalated; it lets everyone vent their pent-up anger and prevents bigger trouble later."

Jing Guoliang said with an indifferent expression.

It was a foregone conclusion that the noble clans had offended the emperor, and since it was irreversible, they simply decided to ignore it.

The recent emperors of the Great Yu Dynasty did not live long. After Emperor Yongning ascended the throne, his aging was visible to the naked eye.

Judging from the current situation, it is estimated that the Great Yu Dynasty will change emperors again in about ten years.

When the new emperor ascends the throne, all problems will be solved.

If Emperor Yongning were to cling to the powerful noble faction and force the crown prince to ascend the throne ahead of schedule, it wouldn't be impossible.

With so many emperors falling from grace in the Great Yu Dynasty, it's not impossible that another one could be added.

There are plenty of people who resent Emperor Yongning. There's no need for me to take action personally. As long as the palace guards are a little less diligent, I can achieve my goal.

The defeat of the loyalist army changed the political landscape of the Great Yu Dynasty.

The Yongning Massacre further exacerbated the conflicts between the various parties.

The current struggle is essentially a test of each other's bottom line, a contest of patience.

Whichever interest group makes concessions first will have to share its share with others.

Since the establishment of the Great Yu Dynasty, it had always been the nobles and military generals who had been in retreat until the White Lotus Rebellion broke out, at which point they turned the tables.

Forced by the circumstances, the civil service was compelled to make concessions.

After the war ended, the scholar-officials couldn't stand it anymore and didn't want to continue to abide by the previous agreements.

Unfortunately, at this time, the powerful aristocratic faction held military and political power in the southeastern provinces, which could not be taken back with just a word.

The collapse of the Great Wall defense line was the trigger for the civil officials to launch an attack, but more importantly, it was the immense pressure exerted on them by the nobility.

No one could have imagined that a group of military men, who were in charge of local government affairs, would do a better job than they ever did.

The local situation is stable, and fiscal revenue has doubled.

Such impressive achievements would have been lauded to the skies by a civil servant.

If it were a competitor, they would naturally try their best to smear them, otherwise their foothold in the court would be gone.

The nobles' counterattack caught the civil officials off guard.

Before the incident, no one could have imagined that nobles and relatives of the emperor would dare to go so far.

I expected that at most I would just get a beating.

Lai Yaohua's provocative words showed that he was convinced the nobles wouldn't dare do anything to him.

Using a beating to gain entry into the cabinet—worth it!
Unfortunately, they overlooked the fact that, in addition to the conflict of interests, there was also a deep-seated blood feud.

Ordinary nobles and relatives of the emperor dared not kill him, but a father whose son had died dared.

When the first civil official was killed, the situation completely spiraled out of control.

At that point, killing one civil servant or killing a group of civil servants makes no real difference.

Whether voluntarily or not, the nobles and their relatives were forced to band together, and a harsh blow was dealt to them.

The nobles in the capital pulled off a major heist, venting most of their pent-up resentment.

The military elites and generals, who hadn't personally participated, still harbored resentment that they hadn't been able to vent.

Now it's their turn to perform, and they can also put pressure on the civil officials and the emperor, gaining the upper hand in subsequent negotiations.

"Brother Jing, that's going too far."

His Majesty's health was not damaged by our anger.

If anyone is to be held responsible, it's the civil servants.

If we count them carefully, there have been as many as seven coup attempts launched by civil officials since His Majesty ascended the throne.

On average, it happens once a year, almost becoming a routine activity for civil servants.

In contrast, we've been much more well-behaved; this is the first time we've caused trouble in so many years.

Li Yuan said without changing his expression.

The coup attempt launched by the nobility group only happened once.

However, this operation has been launched in several rounds and there is still no sign of it ending.

The pressure on Emperor Yongning was greater than that of any previous coup attempts.

Take it easy!
"If His Majesty gets angry and sets up a trap for us, we'll be in big trouble."

Jing Guoliang said with a hint of sarcasm, "It's certainly possible for an emperor to set up a trap for his ministers, but it's unlikely to happen to them."

There's no other reason why even the best plan needs someone to execute it.

All the armed forces, large and small, in the capital have the backing of noble families.

They were ordered to be arrested by the guards. Each of them could have stormed the palace by themselves. It wasn't that they were particularly skilled fighters; it was simply that there were too many of their own people inside.

If they really turn against each other, it's still uncertain whose orders these people will take.

If preparations are made in advance, leaks are almost inevitable.

The only ones we could use were those eunuchs.

During the height of the eunuchs' power, it was barely acceptable for them to do this kind of work; now, don't even dream of it.

If they actually do it, no matter how the situation develops afterward, their entire clan will suffer.

Given Emperor Yongning's style, it was inevitable that he would shift the blame to his subordinates when he couldn't withstand the pressure.

……

Tatar camp.

"Great Chanyu, it's time to withdraw the troops!"

"The internal strife in the Yu Dynasty has reached a fever pitch, and our presence is what has kept them temporarily restrained."

Once our army withdraws, the people of Yu will turn on each other.

Without lifting a finger, we are the biggest winners!

Sarina stepped forward and spoke.

More than half a year has passed since the troops marched south, and now it's already summer.

The ones that needed to be grabbed have been grabbed most of the time.

Militarily, it has also reached its limit.

The two armies of the Yu Dynasty, which came to the aid of the emperor, completed their march in Tongzhou, and the Liaodong garrison, which was entrenched outside the pass, also crossed the Shanhaiguan Pass.

Once the three Yu armies unite, it is uncertain whether they can safely retreat back to the grasslands.

“You’re right. The Yu people are prone to infighting, so we should definitely give up the venue.”

However, with the enemy so close, the subsequent evacuation would not proceed smoothly without teaching them a lesson.

Based on the experience from last time, carrying a large amount of spoils will inevitably affect the marching speed.

Without the option of abandoning their spoils, cavalry lost most of their mobility advantage.

However, just because we've had our fill doesn't mean everyone else has.

Especially the various tribes of the Ghost Fang, they gained little advantage in this battle, while suffering increasingly greater losses each time.

Hugjil said with a slightly embarrassed expression.

War kills people.

The annihilation of the loyalist army, aside from establishing the reputation of the grassland allied forces, had nothing to be praised for.

The Guifang tribes, having suffered heavy losses, are now busy making up for their losses.

The boss can't prevent his underlings from making money.

Forcibly ordering a retreat will inevitably provoke discontent among these people.

These people can't do much in the short term, but they've sown the seeds of future problems.

"Great Chanyu, the opportunity was given to them, but they failed to capture Jinan City. That is their own incompetence."

With morale shattered, even if they fight for several more months, they probably won't achieve much.

On the grasslands, strength ultimately speaks for itself.

Since the Guifang people are weak, they must submit to the strong.

Even if you harbor resentment, you must suppress it.

Erd followed up with his advice.

The Guifang army gained little, mainly because they were afraid of the loyalist army and dared not attack along the canal.

Crossing the Yellow River was even more impossible.

Last time, they were incredibly foolish, crossing the Yellow River to plunder all sides, only to have their retreat cut off by the navy.

If they hadn't been lucky enough to escape capture, they might have been wiped out.

Having learned their lesson, they became hesitant and timid in their actions, lingering north of the Yellow River and never actually attacking Jinan.

"Ok!"

"In that case, order all units to withdraw."

As for the Guifang people, simply give them a heads-up; whether they wish to retreat is up to them, and this Chanyu will not force them.”

Hugjil decisively gave the order.

Giving the Ghosts a chance to recover their strength is just for show.

If the Guifang people dare to cross the Yellow River, I guarantee that this withdrawal will be just like the last one, leaving them at the very back.

The losses were heavy, but what does that have to do with him?

With such a large population, even if hundreds of thousands of Guifang died, he wouldn't feel bad.

With all the able-bodied men dead, it's the perfect opportunity to annex their tribe and strengthen our own power.

……

Capital.

"Your Majesty, good news!"

"The enemy troops outside the city have withdrawn, leaving only an empty camp."

According to intelligence gathered by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the enemy has abandoned its plan to attack the capital and has retreated to the grasslands ahead of schedule!

Upon hearing Zheng Yingyi's words, Emperor Yongning revealed a long-lost smile, which quickly turned gloomy.

The withdrawal of the northern barbarians is a good thing, but the intensified conflict between the civil and military officials is difficult to resolve.

Neither the civil nor the military officials were willing to back down, which had seriously affected the normal operation of the Great Yu Dynasty.

Given the current situation, if no measures are taken to resolve the issue, the two sides may well engage in a violent clash.

The army of the nobility was stationed in Tongzhou, and the Beijing garrison was also in their hands.

The civil service group also secured the support of the Liaodong Garrison. Although their military strength was less than that of the noble faction, they had the advantage of cavalry.

Both sides have leverage, making the situation increasingly complicated.

With neither side easy to deal with, Emperor Yongning found himself in a very awkward position, caught in the middle.

"Issue the news that at the next grand court assembly, I will select talented individuals to fill the vacant positions in the court."

Emperor Yongning gave the order with a solemn expression.

Such an order is undoubtedly a major shock to the current situation.

The people who were originally fighting over the "Loyal Army Extermination Case" and the "Yongning Massacre" will inevitably shift their attention to the power struggle.

However, this is all temporary. Once the personnel are in place, the two sides will continue to quarrel.

This was tantamount to temporarily reinforcing the civil service, lest they lack a leader and be no match for the nobles.

"Your Majesty, given the current situation, these measures alone are probably not enough."

The civil officials' attention was drawn to this, but the nobles' attention remained largely unchanged.

If they don't get involved, things could easily get messy.

Xu Zhongen offered a subtle reminder.

It is permissible for the emperor to support civil officials, but it is forbidden to show favoritism.

This matter will not end until the Xun Gui Group is appeased.

"Yes, you old codger are right. We should definitely draw the attention of the nobles as well."

Here's a suggestion: In private, tell the nobles and relatives of the emperor that they can compete for the vacant positions in the court, such as the Grand Secretary, the Minister of the Six Ministries, and the Left Censor-in-Chief.

"I'd like to see how those censors react when a military officer is appointed Left Censor-in-Chief!"

Emperor Yongning smiled slightly and said.

In that flash of inspiration, he had found a way to break the deadlock.

Rather than allowing the powerful local elites to grow too strong, it would be better to bring them back to the central government to take up their posts.

You can't catch a wolf without risking your cubs.

Given the current weakness of civil officials, it is reasonable for them to relinquish some key positions.

(End of this chapter)