Frost for a Thousand Years

Chapter 292 Entering the High-Level Game
Although Song Shi'an's current official position is a "Military Councilor" of the third rank, it is a transitional position, paving the way for his later transfer to the position of Prefect of Huai County. In addition, since the emperor has not summoned him, he has not gone to the Military Council Office to report for duty these days.

Although this position is similar to that of chief of staff, which is akin to a chief of staff, it is certainly not comparable to that of He Yingqin.

He was just a high-ranking civilian officer in the military without any real military power.

Sometimes it's set, sometimes it's left blank.

If a position can be left vacant and does not require a substitute, then it means that it is not a big deal if it is not available.

Fortunately, this position allowed him to participate in political affairs if the emperor needed him.

Moreover, it is perfectly legitimate.

For example, today, someone from the palace came.

"Lord Song, His Majesty summons you to the Military Affairs Room."

A member of the Imperial Guard came to the residence and informed Song Shi'an to come to the palace.

The Military Affairs Office in Dayu had a different status and function than the Military Affairs Bureau in the Qing Dynasty.

Or you could say they are completely different things.

The Grand Council of the Qing Dynasty can be understood as a military commission, and the Grand Councilors were all at the level of prime ministers and princes, much like cabinet ministers.

The military intelligence room in Dayu was merely a location.

As the emperor grew older, he faced many inconveniences, yet he still needed to discuss military matters. Therefore, such a place was established. It was inconvenient for the people who came to discuss military matters, and there was no permanent staff. However, since those who attended were basically high-ranking officials of the first rank, above the rank of marquis, and duke, the concept of the 'Grand Councilor' came into being.

It's not an official title, but rather a noun used as an adjective.

Calling Song Shi'an over now is tantamount to acknowledging him as a Grand Councilor.

Of course, Song Shi'an knew exactly what was going on.

There is no love in Da Yu, and Old Wei is probably just making himself argue with people.

Oh well, I deserve it.

I owe the Wei family.

"Okay, I'll go now."

Song Shi'an nodded slightly to him, quite composed.

"Yes." The Imperial Guard clenched his fists and then withdrew.

Now that Song Jing has gone to work at the Ministry of Personnel, there's no way to discuss it with him. So, after Song Shi'an put on his official robes and tidied his clothes, he had Song Gan drive the carriage to take him to the palace.

However, just as they reached the intersection, they encountered a carriage from the Wu King's Palace.

Song Shi'an quickly got out of the car.

The other person got out of the car quickly as well.

The man walking toward him was the chief attendant of the Prince of Wu's residence (the prince's eunuch).

"Eunuch Chu, what's going on?" Song Shi'an asked, puzzled.

"Young Master Song," Eunuch Chu approached him and asked in a low voice, "Do you know what's been happening in the palace lately?"

"I don't know." Song Shi'an shook his head.

He really didn't know.

Something may have happened, but his heart wasn't there.

Song Jing had not told him either.

Seeing his bewildered expression, Eunuch Chu said, "After you returned from issuing the imperial edict to your residence that day, Eunuch Chen was sent by His Majesty to guard the imperial tombs a few days later."

"Is there still this?"

Song Shi'an was indeed surprised.

But what he didn't expect was that Eunuch Chen really went to confront the emperor head-on.

That would mean for the emperor to walk slowly.

Old Wei, you were such a good person, treating everyone with sincerity. Now look what's happened. Even Sima Yu, who used to interpret your dreams, is hiding in a vegetable basket and begging me for help. The old eunuch who used to serve you every day is also avoiding you. What was the point?

Is everyone going to turn against us?

"Now, the one who holds the seal and the one who writes the imperial edict in the palace is Eunuch Xi alone," said Eunuch Chu.

Damn, accountant and cashier, that's a crime!
"That eunuch is also a kind and good person."

Song Shi'an had also met this eunuch and felt that he was the kind of person who was easy to get along with. He wouldn't call him a virtuous eunuch, but at least he wasn't malicious.

Upon hearing Song Shi'an's words, Eunuch Chu knew that the King of Wu had made the right decision in sending him. However, he couldn't say it to him openly, so he quietly reminded him, "For the past ten years or so, when he was assisting Eunuch Chen, he was indeed a kind and good eunuch."

Upon hearing this, Song Shi'an understood completely.

That’s what it meant.

He was indeed good before, but that was because there was someone above him who was favored by the emperor and always kept him in check, so he appeared to be good.

After so many years of suppression, that person is finally gone. What will he do?
What happens when a sexually repressed person reaches the extreme of repression?

abnormal.

"Ah, that's it..."

Song Shi'an feigned sudden realization. Regardless of whether he understood or not, as long as the message had been conveyed, he took his leave: "Then, Lord Song, I won't keep you any longer as you head to the palace. Go ahead."

"Thank you."

Song Shi'an bowed to him.

Then, they boarded a carriage and headed to the palace.

He was deep in thought throughout the journey.

Even the eunuchs in the Wu Prince's mansion are telling me to keep an eye on Eunuch Xi.

What exactly happened to this eunuch?
Did you start messing around as soon as you took power?

To be honest, Song Shi'an still felt a bit regretful.

When he was appointed to the Ministry of Personnel, Chen Bao publicly scolded him, just to give him a way out and prevent him from falling into a self-proof trap and dying.

Whether these were his own words or the emperor's, at least someone cared about him.

If he wanted to live, he could have taken a different path.

He relentlessly suppressed himself, so that the emperor would see that he had value in checking and balancing him.

"Hey……"

After letting out a long sigh, Song Shi'an entered the palace with the fish tally.

Then, he was taken to the military intelligence room.

As soon as he entered, two pairs of sharp eyes stared intently at him.

Duke Wu Qing of Li State.

Marquis Xun, Zhao Lie.

They all sat on the left side.

Seated to the side of the empty emperor's throne was the rather energetic and spirited eunuch, Xi Gonggong. The bigwigs had arrived, but the emperor was absent.

There was also a clerk, a fourth-rank official, whose rank was closest to his own, but he was just a lackey here, probably doing the work of taking meeting minutes and serving as secretary-general.

As soon as Song Shi'an arrived, Eunuch Xi stood up, pressing his hands on the armrests.

As he stood there, Zhao Lie and the Duke of Li slowly rose to their feet.

"Duke, Marquis Xun, Eunuch Xi, Lord Li."

Song Shi'an took the initiative to bow and greet him.

Among them, only the lowly Lord Li returned the greeting to him.

Both nobles simply nodded slightly.

"Young Master, please have a seat." Eunuch Xi extended his hand.

In this military command room, there is another empty seat on the right, near the outside; that is Song Shi'an's seat.

The seating arrangement is definitely a bit less prestigious, but this is a place only those of the highest rank and above can enter, so there's no reason for him to breathe out here.

"Thank you."

Song Shi'an sat down.

Opposite them were Duke Li and Zhao Lie.

“Young Master Song,” said Eunuch Xi, “His Majesty is unable to come today, so you and the other officials will discuss this together.”

"Yes," Song Shi'an nodded in response.

"Then let's begin," said Eunuch Xi, presiding over the ceremony.

Then, Li, the military advisor, stood in the middle and read aloud the letter from the Prince of Yan pleading for help.

After reading it, he summarized: "As for whether to send troops to rescue Yan, His Majesty has already discussed it with everyone beforehand. He said that if Yan is in danger, the army led by the Sixth Prince will be sent to deter them. So the matter to be discussed today is whether or not to return Huang Tong to Yan."

Upon hearing this, Song Shi'an sensed hostility.

Damn it, they really came for me.

I told the emperor before, "Don't sell Huang Tong, don't sell Huang Tong."

What, do we have to discuss this again, and you want me to fight for you?

Can't you fucking take any responsibility?

No, the emperor knows everything.

He needs to keep himself in check.

Make sure that nothing you do is easy.

Otherwise, he would be acting 'dictatorially'.

"There's more," the secretary added. "General Xiao Qun, the governor of Liangzhou, sent a letter to His Majesty, saying that the situation in the north is quite sensitive, and the Yan Kingdom is particularly angry, demanding that Huang Tong and his group of deserters be recalled, otherwise they will not recognize the alliance. Most officials and people in Liangzhou also despise and hate Huang Tong and his greedy and fickle nature, and hope that he will be severely punished for killing the governor of Ji County."

Damn it, Xiao Qun betrayed me too.

The people were clearly suppressed in Nanshuo County of Beiliang.

He was the governor of Liangzhou, yet he was talking about how public anger had been stirred up.

These nobles formed a tight-knit group.

"Gentlemen, please discuss this," said Eunuch Xi.

Then, the group looked at the Duke of Li.

Duke Li smiled and said, "This matter is thanks to Shi An's Northern Yan efforts, so you should be more familiar with it. Why don't you speak first?"

Then, everyone looked at Song Shi'an.

He knew what these people were up to.

I'm the one who protected Huang Tong.

By handing over Huang Tong, I essentially lost my reputation.

Certainly, Dayu will also lose credibility.

But I definitely care more about reputation than Da Yu does.

"Then, I will obey." Song Shi'an did not rise, but instead, like a military strategist, he commented sharply, "How dare the Yan Kingdom be angry? Our sending troops to rescue them is already an extra favor. How can they push their luck and ask us for people?"

“That is true,” Zhao Lie continued, “but he also killed our governor of Ji County, which aroused public anger. If we hand him over to the Yan Kingdom, we can appease both the Yan Kingdom and the Northern Liang Kingdom.”

“As far as I know, we have already punished the Yan Kingdom. Moreover, the culprit, Qin Che, has already stepped down, so there is no need to concern ourselves with the Yan Kingdom’s thoughts,” Song Shi’an said.

“But Yan is, after all, a friendly state,” Zhao Lie continued. “And this Huang Tong killed our people for Qi’s gold, and then killed Qi people for our gold. Can such a fickle person be trusted, can he be kept alive?”

“It is precisely because such people can be tolerated by our Great Yu that there will be an endless stream of people coming to our Great Yu in the future,” Song Shi’an said.

"Haha." Zhao Lie laughed, leaning back in his chair, and said to Duke Li, "Does Shi An mean that any treacherous minister, thief, or villain can come to our Great Yu to serve as an official? Even if they are disloyal and two-faced?"

The Duke of Li also smiled.

Grandpa Xi smiled too.

He, as a eunuch, should have had no stance.

However, Chen Bao, who helped Song Shi'an, was banished to the cold palace, which meant that the emperor was sending a signal: those who opposed Song Shi'an would be favored.

“Of course, we, the Great Yu, cannot accept villains or treacherous officials.” But before they could finish laughing, Song Shi’an spoke up, “Therefore, we cannot accept someone like Qin Che, who insults the monarch, colludes with foreign envoys without authorization, coerces his subordinates to assassinate, and then shows no responsibility afterward, sending his underlings to take the blame instead of the higher-ups!”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Lie's face darkened.

That kid is a real sophist.

They managed to whitewash Huang Tong's image.

"Shi An." At this moment, the Duke of Li asked, "When the delegation set out, the gold they gave to Huang Tong and his party was three thousand taels of gold, wasn't it?"

"Yes." Song Shi'an made no attempt to hide anything.

After all, these bigwigs must know about this matter since they came to the meeting.

“All of them are under the control of Beiliang,” Zhao Lie said. “If we send them to Yan, we can not only make good relations with Yan and ensure their safety, but also add three thousand gold coins to the national treasury.”

"Three thousand gold coins is indeed a lot..."

After talking about money, Grandpa Xi said with emotion.

Song Shi'an believed that this sentence was the emperor's intention.

Putting aside everything else, Lao Wei must be very distressed about this money and wants it back.

“It’s still not good.” At this moment, the Duke of Li objected, “It’s not worth it to let Shi An break his promise and ruin his reputation just for the sake of bringing back these three thousand gold coins.”

Upon hearing this, Song Shi'an was taken aback.

Old man, I'll give you Nima Shale.

Eunuch Xi, on the other hand, witnessed the Duke of Li's shrewdness and was secretly delighted.

In one sentence, Song Shi'an was morally blackmailed to death.

Song Shi'an, which is more important, national assets or your personal reputation?
(End of this chapter)