Frost for a Thousand Years

"Lord Du, this way please."

Led by the steward, Song Jing entered the Ouyang residence.

"How is Lord Ouyang's health?" Song Jing asked.

Upon hearing this, the steward smiled politely and said, "The master's illness is not something that will happen overnight, nor is it something that has only started now."

"Oh," Song Jing asked curiously, "Is there any effective medicine?"

"My lord has consulted renowned doctors, but they said the illness is not within oneself," said the rather honest steward. "If it is to be cured, it depends on external factors."

"That's a profound statement," Song Jing nodded, then asked, "Is it an external object, or an external person?"

“A person or thing can be the cause of illness,” the steward said. “My master had been feeling chest tightness and tinnitus while he was in Kyoto. But after resting at his hometown for several months, his spirits have improved a lot and he no longer suffers from insomnia.”

“The Ministry of Personnel is extremely busy, and Lord Ouyang, holding a high position, is naturally overworked,” Song Jing said. “However, the Great Yu cannot do without Lord Ouyang; the heavy responsibilities of the court still need to be shouldered by him.”

"Lord Du, my master's health is failing," the steward said in a low voice. "Actually, he has always had the idea of ​​retiring."

“A renowned physician once said that illness may not originate from within but from external factors, but it may not necessarily be caused by official duties at the Ministry of Personnel.” Song Jing raised a finger and said with a smile, “When I was at the Sheng’an Magistrate’s residence, I also felt somewhat overworked and exhausted. At that time, I suggested to His Majesty that I was considering resigning. But, my lord, what did His Majesty say?”

"Please speak, Your Excellency," said the head of the household.

Song Jing looked at him and said seriously, "His Majesty told me that official duties were difficult and that I was physically and mentally exhausted because I lacked capable assistants. Then, His Majesty asked me to personally select the best assistants. Sure enough, things were accomplished and my health improved."

"Lord Du, is there such a reason?" the steward said.

“How could there not be? Ke Xiang was the head of the Secretariat for so many years. But how many people in the other departments could understand his good intentions?” Song Jing sighed and said, “I have deeply felt this during the year I took over the Secretariat in place of Ke Xiang.”

"Yes." The steward nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly. "The Grand Chancellor is already the Vice Chancellor appointed by His Majesty, but he is still subject to restrictions... Ah, we've arrived. My master is already inside. Please come in."

Jia Cheng interrupted himself halfway through his sentence, gave a forced smile, and then extended his hand.

"it is good."

Song Jing walked into the main hall, where Ouyang Ke was already in place. Upon seeing him arrive, Ouyang Ke slowly descended.

"Song Jing greets Prime Minister Ke," Song Jing said, bowing respectfully.

"Lord, this is too much of a courtesy." Ouyang Ke extended his hand and led him to a seat. "Please come in."

"You're feeling much better, I can do it myself."

Song Jing politely deferred to him in return.

The two of them sat down on either side of the head table.

After the maids and servants brought the tea, they quietly left.

The door was open.

But there wasn't a single person far outside the door.

Such a 'grand and proper' approach actually makes people feel more at ease.

"Prime Minister Ke, have you heard anything about what happened in Huai County?" Song Jing asked bluntly.

Ouyang Ke's expression froze for a moment, then he picked up the teacup, took a few sips, and remained silent with a heavy expression.

After a while, he said, "I promised the Empress Dowager that this matter should be left to take its natural course. No further interference is allowed."

“My lord, although you say so, my son would probably be in danger if it weren’t for your strategic planning in the court.” Song Jing said with great gratitude, “You have a great heart, but I, Song Jing, cannot take this kindness for granted and be without respect for it.”

"Jingru, you're really putting me on the hot seat," Ouyang Ke said, looking quite embarrassed.

Everyone knew that his control of the court was to suppress the nobles and lock the Sheng'an army firmly in the city, preventing the Empress Dowager from interfering in the battle of Huai County.

But his words, at least in meaning, were impartial and did not take sides.

The nobles said they wanted to fight, and the Empress Dowager also said they wanted to fight. Fine, I agree to let you fight.

If you pool your money together, we'll fight.

In the end, we didn't fight, but that was because we couldn't raise the money. What does that have to do with me, Ouyang Ke?
Is it too arbitrary to label me as being on Song Shi'an's side based solely on this incident?
But Song Jing wouldn't listen to reason, insisting that "thanks to Prime Minister Ke, you saved my son," turning his relative neutrality into absolute favoritism.

The fact that Ouyang Ke was able to remain the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat for so long, despite the fact that he faced two opposing forces in the court—the noble families and powerful clans—who were practically irreconcilable enemies, is enough to demonstrate his exceptional political acumen and ability to maintain balance.

Now, if you let him openly support the Song Party, wouldn't that undermine his political stance?

We can support it, but we can't support it blindly.

"Prime Minister Ke, you are in this position, so you should understand even better that no matter how high you rise in rank, if these mountains above the Great Yu continue to weigh on you, no one will be able to breathe," Song Jing advised. "Wasn't your illness caused by this pressure?"

That's absolutely true.

Ouyang Ke was doing a good job as Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, but because the emperor wanted to implement the land reclamation program, he was temporarily removed from his post.

If it weren't for this incident, which prompted him to step forward and take sides, he might have eventually become a figurehead Minister and been quietly replaced.

Indeed, he relinquished that power himself.

But what could I do when he wouldn't allow it?

Is he going to personally manage the land reclamation?

Ke Xiang, Ke Xiang, his power was nowhere near that of a prime minister.

His existence was purely because if the position were held by either the Duke of Li or the Minister of Works Sun, it would lead to an oligarchy that would become too powerful to control.

Ouyang Ke served as Minister of the Imperial Secretariat for so long, and apart from Yu Xiu, the Assistant Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, who was his beloved disciple, he had countless other officials in various departments, but none of them were his true cronies.

His power was far too limited.

Furthermore, it will expand or shrink depending on the emperor's suspicions.

His actual responsibilities were far from worthy of the title of head of all officials.

Song Jing proposed an exchange of benefits.

If Song Shi'an wins, Ouyang Ke will be able to form his own team and share in the fruits of this political victory.

Of course, as allies.

But not just friends.

“Jingru, now that things have come to this, I won’t hide it from you,” Ouyang Ke said. “My beloved disciple, Yu Xiu, greatly admires your son.”

"Is this true? My son, what an honor!" Song Jing said with great joy.

The reason Ouyang Ke sent Yu Xiu was because Yu Xiu himself wanted to go.

If he wants to go, then it definitely won't be just a slight inclination.

That means you have to stand on the sidelines.

In this life-or-death struggle, Yu Xiu must take sides and wholeheartedly support Song Shi'an, going on adventures with him.

done?

That is the second-best civil official of the new generation, second only to Song Shi'an.

Even in old age, one can still attain a high rank and enjoy boundless glory.

What if we lose?
Then he'll just die.

“My beloved disciple has already offered up his skills. What else do you expect an old man like me to do?” Ouyang Ke said jokingly.

"Prime Minister Ke." Song Jing took out a military report from his sleeve and handed it to him.

Ouyang Ke was stunned for a moment. After opening it and reading it, his expression turned serious. He asked Song Jing solemnly, "Lord Song, is this true?"

“It couldn’t be more true,” Song Jing said. “My servant Huai Jun risked his life to deliver this. Wu Jue was beheaded by the King of Qin, and the Wu family army suffered a crushing defeat. Even though the Empress Dowager is now deep in the palace and hardly deals with state affairs, her influence still extends there. She must know about this.”

"Wu Jue is dead. Zhao Yi is now fighting the Sixth Prince, and the army's morale has collapsed..."

Ouyang Ke is considering this matter.

If it's true, then Song Shi'an has succeeded, and only the final step remains.

But the Duke of Li was not someone to be trifled with.

Even though he's old now, his prestige in the military, coupled with his ruthless methods, means that ordinary young people can't easily pull off such an act.

If he gets really angry, there's a real possibility that Song Shi'an might die in the darkness before dawn.

"What does 'Du Tang' mean?" Ouyang Ke asked.

“This matter is definitely true, and the Empress Dowager will surely know about it,” Song Jing said. “I would like to ask you to come with me to the palace to meet the Empress Dowager and offer our advice together.”

After speaking, Song Jing kept staring into his eyes.

Ouyang Ke looked into his eyes.

The atmosphere between the two was extremely oppressive.

"This is not advice, this is coercion."

Ouyang Ke was well aware that although the two of them had an ambiguous relationship, their simultaneous visits to the Empress Dowager at this time signified that the civil officials were a completely unified force.

The Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, Ouyang Ke, and Song Jing, the father of Song Shi'an, got together.

How could the Empress Dowager not have wild thoughts?

Oh, they're just ordinary colleagues who happen to share the same views, so they wanted to discuss things with me.

This is a coercion, two men forcing one woman!

He bullied a woman when her husband wasn't home!
“My lord, this is not a coup,” Song Jing insisted. “This is to guide the world onto the right path.”

What is the right path in this world?
It's all about the victors and the vanquished.

What Song Jing wanted him to do was to help Song Shi'an be crowned king as soon as possible.

Previously, the Ouyang family wasn't even considered among the top ten in the national server, even though he was the head of the civil officials.

But now, Song Jing promised him and the Ouyang family at least the three imperial families.

The profits are substantial.

The risks are greater.

But the bigger the wind and waves...
The more expensive the fish.

……

"This Zhao Yi is truly useless! People from Qinzhou have already come, how could he lose like this! He can't even beat a bunch of garrison troops. Has our Great Yu been raising these worthless scoundrels for nothing? Oh dear!"

When the Empress Dowager learned of the devastating defeat suffered at the front, she was truly filled with resentment.

Although she compromised with Song Jing, it wasn't because she truly trusted him. It was purely due to the opposition of the officials. She couldn't make decisions unilaterally, and for the sake of Sheng'an's stability, she had no choice but to declare herself Empress Dowager.

She had no choice but to send troops out of Sheng'an.

But in her heart, she still hoped that Song Shi'an would be dealt with.

As long as Song Shi'an loses, Song Jing won't need to capture him himself; someone will bring him to him.

But who could have imagined that Zhao Yi, leading the elite troops of Qinzhou, would be defeated so badly by Wei Wusheng...

What's wrong with these people?!
They're so useless, so utterly useless.

"Your Highness," the eunuch beside him trembled, "Now, Song Shi'an is getting closer and closer to victory."

Eunuchs understand these moments best.

Their power derives from the imperial power to which they are attached.

The more powerful the imperial power, the greater the power of the eunuchs.

Now that young and promising figures like Song Shi'an are rising in power, the old emperor is imprisoned, and the new emperor is a puppet, the power of the eunuchs is practically worthless.

In addition, because they had previously joined in suppressing Song Shi'an, who hadn't said a few bad things about Song Shi'an?

Hee-sun's mother is dead!

"This, this..." The Empress Dowager panicked. "Even if Song Shi'an truly seizes power, he is still ultimately a subject of the Wei family. A subject should act like a subject. What are you afraid of..."

Even the Empress Dowager was afraid.

But what she feared wasn't Song Shi'an, but Wei Wusheng, whom Song Shi'an had wholeheartedly supported. This boy had suffered countless injustices growing up in the palace and harbored a deep-seated hatred for his father. Now that they were about to win, how could she guarantee he wouldn't seek revenge?

The Empress Dowager knew that Wei Yiyuan had been beheaded.

"Empress Dowager, are we just going to wait for Song Shi'an to enter the city like this?" the eunuch asked tremblingly. "Shouldn't we welcome him?"

"And there's the Duke of Li. As long as the Duke of Li is around, the world won't be ruled by Song Shi'an alone!" The Empress Dowager still trusted her older brother.

In terms of political maneuvering, he was not much less skilled than the emperor.

In terms of commanding troops, he far surpassed the emperor.

Even though he's a bit older, he's in good health.

Just then, a eunuch rushed in to report: "Your Highness, Minister Song and Minister Ouyang request an audience!"

"..."

The Empress Dowager's heart skipped a beat. She held her forehead and said helplessly, "The coup plot is here."

.........

"San Gou, hurry! Hurry up!"

Song Shi'an rode his horse, leading the army, and spoke to the three dogs beside him.

San Gou didn't know why he was telling him to hurry.

What's the use of an army if it's not fast?

But he knew that the young lord was very flustered.

Song Shi'an must be panicking.

Because he watched as the Duke of Li's army swept through the land like a bulldozer, with no one able to stop them, killing everyone who stood in their way, heading straight for Qihuting.

Yu Xiu was there.

Although the army had been deployed long ago, numbering two thousand, it was more than capable of withstanding a typical offensive.

Having witnessed just how outrageous the Duke of Li was, Song Shi'an felt that those two thousand men might actually be unstoppable.

How did Zhang Liao manage to defeat Sun Quan with only 800 men, while the Duke of Li, with less than a thousand cavalry, overthrew the tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians he had painstakingly rallied?

Therefore, Song Shi'an had to hurry to save him.

In his mind, he also recalled the scene before the two of them set off for the expedition.

"You mean you want to go deep into the heart of the Duke of Li's territory with these Imperial Guards disguised as civilians and turn all the garrison soldiers and civilians against the regime?"

"Yes, I have always followed the mass line."

"It's fine if you have this idea, but why go in person? Just send someone you can trust."

“My trusted subordinates are all in Beiliang, and my trusted ruler has more important battles to fight. These thousand-plus Imperial Guards are all my assets. I can’t burn them like firewood. Only with me here can I feel at ease.”

"Don't overestimate yourself. It's just a simple matter of turning someone against their cause. Who else could it be but you?"

Seeing the stubborn Song Shi'an, Yu Xiu did not object, but instead said rather arrogantly, "I'll do it for you."

Ultimately, Yu Xiu decided to impersonate him and issue orders from the command post.

Song Shi'an was very happy to have someone who could share his burdens.

But he still came.

Ultimately, the plan came about.

As the Imperial Guard wreaks havoc in the heart of the Duke of Li's territory, the Duke of Li, seeing his surroundings gradually falling, will undoubtedly be unable to resist launching a preemptive attack.

The target of the attack was only 'Song Shi'an'.

He would win if he killed Song Shi'an.

Song Shi'an didn't expect him to come in person.

But I'm glad he's here. When he charges towards Yu Xiu, I'll be able to surround him with more people.

As long as Yu Xiu can hold him off, he will kill this arrogant man and make him into a wedding gift for Xin Yue.

"General San Gou, Duke Li has routed our army, continue forward!"

Just then, the scouts returned and reported to San Gou.

Song Shi'an, who had been hiding and had not shown his face, only recently set out on horseback, so the other man did not realize that he was also there.

Until Song Shi'an shouted angrily, "I'm in trouble! Quick, I'm in trouble!"

The sentry was dumbfounded. How come Song Shi'an was here?

Who was the person that the Duke of Li attacked?

Indeed, even these trusted confidants believed that the official in charge at Qiliting was Song Shi'an.

.........

"Your mentor spent his whole life as a coward, and he taught you to be a coward your whole life too." Duke Li looked at Yu Xiu, who was surrounded, and said in an icy tone, "Why are you thinking of stepping forward now?"

"How could the Duke possibly comprehend the profound wisdom of my esteemed teacher?" Yu Xiu said without the slightest fear. "The Duke's army has besieged the Tuntian Grand Ceremony for so long, has Sheng'an ever provided a single soldier's support?"

Yu Xiu's provocation made the Duke of Li's tone even more murderous: "Your mentor is hiding in Sheng'an, which is why you dared to defy me. How dare you be so reckless in front of me?"

"The Duke is indeed mighty. I never expected that someone your age could personally lead troops into battle and defeat the two thousand men that Shi An left with me," Yu Xiu said with a self-deprecating laugh. "I originally told him that one thousand would be enough, but I didn't expect this."

"Where is he?" Duke Li slowly drew his sword, stared at Yu Xiu, and questioned him word by word.

He came here to kill Song Shi'an.

Once Song Shi'an is dealt with, he will have won this battle.

It's not about dealing with the people who are in charge of these tasks.

Even though Yu Xiu's strategic planning here is quite sophisticated.

"Duke, he's here," Yu Xiu said mockingly, pointing at him. "But now, can you still kill him?"

The Duke of Li now has fewer than one hundred men left in total.

Having fought their way here, ninety percent of them have died, fallen behind, or escaped.

However, those who followed him here were all absolutely loyal servants.

They had witnessed how formidable the Duke of Li was, so they knew that if they followed him through this battle, everyone would become a captain or lieutenant, achieving upward social mobility.

They just didn't expect that the Duke would also be tricked.

When you've painstakingly defeated the final boss, and you're down to your last life with no health left, and then a chilling yet rousing background music starts playing, you'll know how terrifying that is.

The Duke of Li did not respond; he knew that the mission to kill Song Shi'an had failed the moment he saw Yu Xiu.

He looked around at the people who had come with him.

Their people are nearing their limit.

Their horses also showed signs of fatigue.

If it were a hundred men at full strength, he would like to give it another try.

Just then, a cavalryman came over and hurriedly said, "Duke! Song...Song Shi'an has arrived!"

Everyone looked over in unison.

Even Yu Xiu looked over there with some nervousness.

The Duke of Li remained silent, continuing to stare at the man.

It was as if he knew what else he was going to say.

Sure enough, the man who had been captured as a cavalryman came to deliver a message: "Duke, Song Shi'an said... as long as you are willing to hand over Yu Xiu, he will personally clear a path and retreat three miles to let you leave. If you are not at ease, he can stop his march and not approach this place!"

Song Shi'an came to his rescue.

Yu Xiu had considered this, but he never expected that for his own sake, he would even let go of the Duke of Li, whom he was about to capture.

However, no sooner had the cavalryman finished speaking than his blade slashed towards his neck.

The next moment, blood gushed out.

He fell to the ground.

The rest of the people were dumbfounded.

“I am not Wei Ye, and no one can threaten me.”

After killing the man, the Duke of Li rode his horse toward Yu Xiu.

Yu Xiu's body trembled, then he drew the sword from his waist and gripped it tightly in his hand...

……

With no news of the prisoners sent out, Song Shi'an's heart sank, and he hastened to lead his troops toward that direction.

Finally, in front of an earthen house, he saw a man wearing silver scale armor riding a horse with his back to him.

Behind him were nearly a hundred cavalrymen.

After Song Shi'an arrived, he slowly turned his head.

At the same time, a hand reached out.

In his hand, he clutched a bloody human head.

Thump, she landed on the ground.

Song Shi'an's heart skipped a beat, and he felt a jolt.

The Duke of Li's lips curled into a cold smile.

Song Shi'an's wide eyes gradually returned to normal. But the darkness in his pupils was as deep as a black hole.

After a long silence, he simply said coldly, "Kill him."

"what!!!"

San Gou, gripping his spear, led the charge.

The army behind them also swarmed forward.

Duke Li rode his horse away from them, heading in the opposite direction, leading less than a hundred cavalrymen to flee.

Behind them, hundreds of cavalrymen were in pursuit.

Ahead was a human wall formed by thousands of soldiers and civilians who had been prepared in advance.

The Duke of Li was practically trapped in an encirclement and hunted down.

The people behind him and beside him fell one by one.

However, he also slew the enemies who stood in his way one by one.

It's like a large pack of wolves attacking a lone male lion on the grassland.

There is an absolute difference in quantity, but there is also a relative difference in strength.

The pursuit never stopped, and the last hundred or so men left behind by the Duke continued to fall.

The encircling army was forcibly torn open.

The last seven horses, like fish entering the sea and birds soaring into the sky, completely shook off their pursuers.

"Lord Marquis... we didn't catch him."

San Gou dismounted in shame and knelt prostrate before Song Shi'an.

On horseback, Song Shi'an angrily slammed his riding whip to the ground: "He can't escape!" (End of Chapter)