Frost for a Thousand Years

Chapter 293 Overpowering Nobles (4000 words)
"Commander, a lot of officials from Yongcheng have come to the city, and all of us brothers are being monitored!"

The military commander rushed into Huang Tong's room and said anxiously.

“Yongcheng…that is, the governor’s people.” Huang Tong frowned, also very frightened. “Is the governor going to arrest us?”

“The governor of Liangzhou is nominally the highest-ranking official,” the military commander said. “But Liangzhou is a strategically important border region, and the one speaking is still the commander-in-chief, Xiao Qun. This man is a nobleman from Qinzhou, holding a high position and wielding great power. If he were to hand us over, we would be finished.”

"Wait a minute." Huang Tong raised his hand and said very seriously, "Liangzhou is under Xiao Qun's control, but this Beiliang... I'm afraid he can't control everything."

"That's true. All those who came were civil officials; not a single military officer came, and we weren't even allowed to see him," said the military commander. "But would Prefect Qin Kuo dare to disobey the governor and Xiao Qun?"

Even a mere third-rank official like him couldn't withstand the pressure from above.

"And there's more." He leaned forward, close to Huang Tong, and lowered his voice, "Qi has already invaded Yan. Kang Xun has specifically demanded our lives, or he'll break the alliance. Moreover, we still have three thousand gold pieces. If we hand them all over, then those three thousand gold pieces will be taken back. Wouldn't this be a win-win situation for the Emperor of Yu?"

"..." Huang Tong couldn't help but tremble, his face turning deathly pale. "What should we do?"

“Right now, we’re just being watched. Qin Kuo and Zhu Qing haven’t broken ties with us yet, so why don’t we take advantage of the night…” The military commander revealed a deep hostility, “set a fire, and escape in the chaos?”

"Running away again?" Huang Tong was very resistant. "Isn't this just turning us into stray dogs?"

"But even Xiao Qun has spoken, and the emperor has no reason to spare us. I really can't imagine how we can survive!" He slapped his thigh and said pessimistically, "Can we even hold onto these three thousand taels of gold?"

"No, Song Shi'an promised me. He promised me he would live!" Huang Tong was completely distraught.

"Commander-in-Chief, keep your voice down," said the military commander. "That's what they say, but right now, they all want to bring down Song Shi'an."

"Take down Song Shi'an? Explain in detail." Because the commander-in-chief had been staying here these past few days, guarding his gold, and dared not go anywhere, he knew nothing about the situation outside.

"Even nobles like Xiao Qun couldn't win the battle, yet Song Shi'an conquered the Yan Kingdom with just a few words. Their positions are threatened, so they must be resentful of him," said the military commander. "Song Shi'an promised to spare your life, but the emperor never said that. So, they definitely want to make Song Shi'an lose face and have no credibility left."

"Wait a minute." Suddenly realizing something, Huang Tong asked seriously, "You mean, handing us over would harm Song Shi'an's interests?"

"Yes, he broke his promise."

"Does that mean that it would be advantageous for Song Shi'an to protect us?"

"..." Realizing what Captain Huang meant, the military strategist reminded him, "But he's only one person. How can he withstand such immense pressure? If the emperor doesn't get those three thousand taels of gold back, he'll have to pay for it himself. Even if he really has the money, would he go to such lengths for us?"

“I don’t know, but I do know one thing.” Raising a finger, Huang Tong said confidently, “That kid Song Shi’an will definitely not suffer a loss.”

You said if we were handed over, he would lose.

He would absolutely not be willing.

Rather than running around like a stray dog, it's better to entrust your life to Song Shi'an.

I bet he's a vindictive, stingy, and incredibly tough man.

"But entrusting your life to someone else..."

The military commander was still afraid; the gold felt like a hot potato.

“The moment we took his gold and went to kill Ji Yuan’s son for him, we had already given up our lives.” Huang Tong gritted his teeth and decided, “Let’s just wait and see. If Song Shi’an wins, we win.”

"You can escape, and you also have a chance to live," the military commander said in his final words of advice.

“Even if we’re lucky enough to escape, won’t more than half of us be killed or injured? And once we get out, the bandits will kill us all.” Huang Tong held his hand and said, “Do you see? Those guys all have a scar on their hands.”

"They must be the Imperial Guards who followed Song Shi'an in the coup..." said the military commander.

“No matter what others say,” Huang Tong said, “at least those who are loyal to Song Shi’an are all doing well, getting promoted and making a fortune.”

These words completely changed the military commander.

Although they didn't know Song Shi'an before the rumors.

However, those who participated in the Langya Mutiny were neither implicated nor subjected to any subsequent retribution, nor were they secretly executed.

On the contrary, the entire Nanshuo County was completely under their control.

Everyone who participated shared in the glory.

On the other hand, what about the Duke of Qin?

A knife is being held to the neck of one of our own!
Huang Tong decided not to think about it any further. His mind was completely clear, and he said, "Have everyone hand over half of their gold to Qin Kuo and Zhu Qing."

"Fifteen hundred taels of gold, just like that?" The military commander was extremely reluctant. "If Song Shi'an doesn't win the contest, we'll die if we offer the gold. If Song Shi'an wins, we can live without offering the gold. Why do we do this?"

"Don't be greedy. Fifteen hundred gold coins is enough for us to be rich for several lifetimes." Huang Tong stared into his eyes and said solemnly, "This money is our sincerity in joining Song Shi'an!"

.........

“Father, Song Shi’an promised Huang Tong that he would spare his life. If he goes back on his word, it will damage his reputation.”

Since being reprimanded by the emperor and enlightened by Ye Changqing, the King of Wu has learned how to be a king. When he sat down to talk with his father, he said quite calmly, "It also damages the reputation of our Great Yu."

And just as Ye Changqing said, after he properly acted as a 'king' and maintained a certain level of composure, the emperor personally told him how to proceed.

"You're right." The emperor looked at him and smiled. "However, it's not that I've let him down. It's true that the northern Yan Kingdom asked for help, and it's also true that Xiao Qun submitted a memorial. We can't just ignore them, can we?"

I promised you I would protect Huang Tong.

But others wouldn't agree.

He was still the Minister of Military Affairs in Liaodong.

Since it was you who did it, you have to clean up the mess.

“Father is right,” King Wu said with a hint of worry. “I just feel that the Duke of Li and Marquis Xun are too shrewd. Even if Shi An tries to compete with them, he will not be able to win.”

"He can talk a living person to death. Are you worried that he will be bullied?" the emperor asked.

"Your subject knows that he has a sharp tongue, but..."

"It's alright, speak," the emperor said quite openly. "Tell me your concerns."

"We've tentatively agreed to this, but both the Duke of Li and Zhao Lie are against it." There's another eunuch, the King of Wu, who didn't mention it, but they both know in their hearts, "Will Shi An be discouraged seeing this situation?"

"Disappointed, and then giving up, is that it?" the emperor joked.

"Your subject has this concern."

“Most people would definitely not, no one can endure such humiliation.” The emperor’s expression slowly darkened. “But I entrusted him with power, and it is part of his duty to contend with those powerful elders.”

The King of Wu stared blankly at the Emperor, as if he was gradually beginning to understand what a true ruler should do.

“Father is wise,” King Wu said on behalf of Song Shi’an. “If Shi’an cannot even endure this little grievance, then the future land reclamation will not be completed.”

.........

Take it or leave it.

Song Shi'an certainly wouldn't be a slacker.

If he were to slack off, the emperor would have ample reason to reclaim his power.

Because it hasn't even begun yet.

Moreover, the King of Wu is currently left with a good situation.

So the question is, when will he be able to give up?
That was when he created a mess that couldn't be left without him; at that time, he really was Wei's father.

Li Hongzhang of the Great Yu Dynasty.

Of course, let's leave aside how to get revenge on Wei Ye for now.

If I were to withdraw now, my loved ones would hate me, and my enemies would rejoice.

"Young Master Song, what do you think?" Eunuch Xi asked with a slight smile.

Duke Li sensed that Xi Shan was somewhat targeting Song Shi'an.

Furthermore, he's somewhat reckless. Compared to Chen Bao, his skill level is far inferior.

Why would the emperor employ someone with such poor skills?
This is to send him to the front lines, to make him offend people everywhere.

“My reputation is not important, but the treasury of Dayu is very important.” Song Shi’an looked at Xi Shan and said calmly, “But the reputation of Dayu is even more important.”

"So, Lord Song, you mean that handing over Huang Tong will damage the reputation of the Great Yu?"

“Of course.” Song Shi’an maintained his business smile.

"Of course," this infuriated Xi Shan. He was the Grand Secretary and Scribe of the Directorate of Ceremonial, yet this man dared to speak to him like that. He immediately retorted, "Then, Lord Song, can't you preserve the reputation of the Great Yu?"

Upon hearing this, the Duke of Li laughed.

Before he could even exchange blows with Song Shi'an, the man charged forward.

He must have misunderstood the emperor's meaning.

But the emperor must have deliberately created a 'misunderstanding' so that he would misunderstand.

Therefore, he successfully completed the task assigned by the emperor.

The suicide truck is here.

"What does Father-in-law mean?" Song Shi'an asked, puzzled.

“Young Master Song is a clever man.” Eunuch Xi stared at him and said, “The so-called promise is only verbal, without any written document. Even if some rumors do arise, it is Young Master Song’s cunning in war. This is a great achievement enough to silence some of the rumors that are spreading.”

"Does Eunuch Xi mean that my verbal promises to the outside world as an envoy representing the delegation are not valid?" Song Shi'an asked again.

“The messenger’s words certainly count, but without a written document, they don’t necessarily have to count.”

"So, anything I, the envoy of Great Yu, say is meaningless unless I sign and affix my seal?"

"Lord Song," Eunuch Xi's expression immediately darkened, and he raised his voice, "I am a eunuch, not as good as you and the other ministers. But which official can serve the emperor without being misunderstood? Isn't everything done for His Majesty's good, and we are all willing to do it?"

We're all working for the emperor, who wouldn't feel wronged?

Can't you, Song Shi'an, just swallow your pride and say that the emperor didn't agree, but that you made the promise yourself?

How can we get the money back for the emperor without damaging his reputation?
How could you be so selfish!
"For the sake of Great Yu, for His Majesty, Shi'an is willing to do anything. If I were to go to Yan Kingdom in my personal capacity, then what would be the point? Huang Tong would deserve to be deceived," Song Shi'an said. "But it would be in the capacity of my Great Yu delegation. How could I dare to tarnish that!"

you!
Grandpa Xi was so angry he almost stood up.

At this moment, he saw that Duke Li and Zhao Lie were watching the show in a daze.

I realize I've gone a bit too far.

“Of course.” He emphasized those two words, then said, “I am just a eunuch, so it is up to you gentlemen to discuss this matter. What I just said was just to say that this matter must also be considered for the sake of the national treasury.”

“Indeed,” Zhao Lie said, “to repair that road to Yan would cost at least three thousand gold pieces. How many people’s opinions could three thousand gold pieces buy?”

Grandpa Xi smiled happily.

His aggressive approach wasn't solely driven by verbal sparring.

If he could persuade the emperor to return the three thousand gold pieces and present them to him again, the emperor would surely be extremely fond of him.

That's three thousand gold pieces!
That translates to 30 million Yu coins.

“We’ll need money for the military farms next year too,” Zhao Lie said to Song Shi’an. “Whether it’s the reputation of the Great Yu or Lord Song’s, it will all be over in a year or two. But if the military farms are established, everything else will pale in comparison. Everything else will become insignificant.”

These words seem to be made in consideration of Song Shi'an's feelings.

Encourage him to be pragmatic.

In reality, how could that be?
Zhao Lie was an anti-military agricultural colony.

I will be the one in charge of the land reclamation at that time.

This level of credibility is not important.

I almost became a defaulter in Beiliang, but luckily Xiao Wei was able to take the blame for me. Now, here with Huang Tong, my words are like farts, and I've broken my promise again. Who would believe me?

Fellow villagers, move away quickly, you'll get compensation.

I would believe anyone else who said this, but you are Song Shi'an!
"What Lord Xun said makes sense," Song Shi'an said without any hesitation, "but the losses from this action are not limited to these."

"What else?" Zhao Lie asked in return.

"Excuse me," Song Shi'an suddenly asked, "who are the people who would surrender?"

Zhao Lie didn't think much of it and went straight for the insults: "He has no ruler or father, is faithless and treacherous, two-faced and cowardly."

However, the Duke of Li sensed something was amiss.

"Does Huang Tong count as that kind of person?" Song Shi'an asked.

“Of course it counts.” Zhao Lie thought this was obvious.

"Very well," Song Shi'an asked seriously, "If my Great Yu army marches north, will you accept our surrender?"

"Of course I want it, that's..."

Zhao Lie paused mid-sentence.

The next moment, Song Shi'an stood up and said passionately, "Then, if we cut off the path of those who surrender, how can our Great Yu unify the world!"

Zhao Lie was completely dumbfounded.

Even someone as reckless as Eunuch Xi didn't dare to utter a word at this moment.

Because something even more politically correct than the previous one has emerged.

Is the unification of the world by the Great Yu Dynasty important?

answer me!
.........

"Then, if we cut off the path of those who surrender, how can our Great Yu unify the world?"

Following the emperor's orders, Eunuch Lian relayed Song Shi'an's speech word for word.

Upon hearing this, King Wu's face showed astonishment, and he couldn't help but mutter, "No wonder he could verbally kill Wang Ding, his mouth is something else..."

"Brilliant!" The emperor was also quite surprised and couldn't help but clap his hands. "He won."

In ancient times, meetings were often about arguing for political correctness.

The question of whether personal losses or national losses are more important is a moderate level of political correctness, posed by the Duke of Li. While one cannot directly refute it, one cannot convince anyone.

The idea that it's enough for us subjects to suffer some grievances, all for the emperor's good, is a low-level form of political correctness. There are many counterarguments—why should we suffer more grievances the more we do? Or, how come you don't suffer grievances?

Finally, the Great Yu dynasty achieved unification and hegemony.

This is the ultimate form of political correctness.

There is simply no one who can surpass him.

"We can take Huang Tong in, but will we take back the three thousand gold pieces?" King Wu asked.

"You've lost too," the emperor said, looking at him. "How do these three thousand gold pieces compare to the great cause of unifying the Great Yu?"

"..." King Wu fell silent.

Study hard.

The emperor slowly stood up, while the King of Wu remained seated, lost in thought. Thus, the emperor looked down at him and said, "If you can control this man, my Great Yu will prosper for three generations."
-
My bro from college came to my city to visit me, so I went to keep him company. That's just one chapter today.

That's right, Xuebing went to university.

(End of this chapter)