I did it all for the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 433 Choice
When Yuan Shang heard that Empress Liu had summoned him, he assumed that she wanted to reward him with some precious items. However, when Yuan Shang actually heard Empress Liu's plan, his eyes widened in surprise!

"How...how could you do such a thing?"

Yuan Shang asked Empress Liu what was on her mind.

But Empress Liu eventually convinced herself.

"Xianfu, have you thought this through? If Yuan Tan really makes a contribution, you'll have no chance at all!"

"Besides... what kind of business Yuan Tan was doing in Guanzhong, others may not know, but you should at least know! If he can do it, why can't you?"

Empress Liu's words struck Yuan Shang like a knife to the heart.

If it were before, he would naturally continue to use the same excuse of "dying old and being enfeoffed in a fiefdom" to appease Empress Liu.

But now, it's clear that he and Yuan Tan can no longer be so harmonious.

Moreover, Empress Liu's next words subtly pierced Yuan Shang's psychological defenses.

If Yuan Tan can do it, why can't he?

Yuan Tan sold all the warhorses in the north to Liu Miao! And he only used some grain and fodder. How could that be considered a big deal?

However, Yuan Shang still hesitated: "Mother, it's best not to take any action for now, lest others notice."

Yuan Shang's casual remark of "Mother Empress" sounded like a heavy foundation to Empress Liu.

Compared to Yuan Tan's dry and reluctant way of calling out "Empress Dowager," Yuan Shang's address was obviously more natural and affectionate.

This also strengthened Empress Liu's resolve to support Yuan Shang.

Only if Yuan Shang ascends to the throne will I have a good life! Only then can I possibly become the future Empress Dowager!

"Xianfu, remember to make a decision early. Don't learn your father's indecisiveness at a time like this."

Empress Liu gave Yuan Shang some instructions.

"The situation on the front lines is changing every day, so you must be decisive."

"Here."

The love of the parents is far-reaching.

Empress Liu was able to marry Yuan Shao and become the founding empress of Northern Zhao, so she was certainly not a gentle and harmless little dumpling.

“I remember there was a man named Shen Rong by your side, he was Shen Pei’s nephew.”

"It's best to let him handle this kind of thing; you shouldn't get involved."

"In this way, even if something happens in the future, it will involve Shen Rong, Shen Pei, and other people, understand?"

"Here!"

Yuan Shang was filled with mixed feelings, but he still took some of Empress Liu's words to heart and then returned to his residence.

But upon returning to his residence, his first action was not to consult with his advisors for countermeasures, but to order his trusted confidant to summon Princess Qinghe.

"Your Highness~"

Princess Qinghe immediately stuck close to Yuan Shang.

That soft, boneless body leaned against Yuan Shang through the almost imperceptible silk clothing, and Yuan Shang's heart instantly felt hot.

Embracing Princess Qinghe, Yuan Shang explained to her everything Empress Liu had planned.

"Is there such a thing?"

A ripple of emotion stirred in Princess Qinghe's eyes, which flickered continuously.

"Although I do not know exactly where Yuan Tan is on the battlefield, I am certain that he is not on the main battlefield."

Yuan Shang gradually put together the intelligence he had gathered.

"Yuan Tan is probably the same as last time, just acting as a flanker! So we just need to hinder him a little so that he doesn't have to achieve anything."

Yuan Shang hesitated and asked, "Do you think this plan is feasible?"

Yuan Shang still felt somewhat guilty towards Yuan Tan.

Therefore, he needed the support of Princess Qinghe, Yuan Tan's legal wife, to alleviate his guilt.

But Princess Qinghe's words undoubtedly surprised Yuan Shang!
"Is simply defeating him enough?"

Princess Qinghe's voice was filled with indifference.

“If it’s just a defeat, he will still come back! When that happens, he will still take everything from His Highness, including me…”

Yuan Shang was terrified: "Then, according to your opinion..."

"After finding Yuan Tan's whereabouts, we might as well leak the information to Liu Miao and use him as a tool to kill him!"

Yuan Shang gasped!
Only then did he realize that the warm jade in his arms seemed to be filled with coldness and madness!
"how?"

Princess Qinghe nestled in Yuan Shang's arms: "Don't forget, Yuan Tan once dared to smuggle warhorses."

"If he can do it, why can't you?"

That’s it again!
Although Yuan Shang was still hesitant, he had already taken a side.

Princess Qinghe also noticed Yuan Shang's hesitation.

She skillfully squatted down, took off her clothes, and loosened her belt.

With a few final groans, a mixture of pleasure and pain, Yuan Shang finally made up his mind!
He has no way out!
When Shen Rong was summoned back, he was overjoyed upon hearing Yuan Shang's plan!

"Using someone else to do the dirty work? That couldn't be better!"

"But first, we must find Yuan Tan's whereabouts!"

"Your Highness, rest assured, leave this matter to me!"

Shen Rong confidently agreed to the matter and went to the Ministry of Personnel in the palace that very day.

Where is your uncle?

“Shen Lingjun went to Xun Yu’s house, seemingly to discuss the war in the Central Plains.”

"I see."

Shen Rong strode towards the Ministry of Personnel, but was stopped by the officials. These officials looked at Shen Rong with difficulty: "The Ministry of Personnel is a restricted area; unauthorized personnel are not allowed to enter."

"Bastard!"

Shen Rong glared at these high-ranking officials.

“My uncle is the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat! I am also an official of the Great Zhao appointed by His Majesty himself! How could I possibly do anything detrimental to the country?”

The Northern Zhao still used the recommendation system.

Most of the officials appointed to the Ministry of Personnel were personally promoted by Shen Pei. Even those who weren't were scions of prominent families in Hebei, closely connected to the Shen family.

Now that Shen Rong was determined to enter, the officials could not stop him and could only let him swagger into the Ministry of Personnel.

After Shen Rong entered, he immediately went to find the information he wanted.

With the promotion of paper, the Zhao state has basically phased out the bulky bamboo slips and started using paper to record official documents.

This lightweight carrier also makes it easier for Shen Rong to find what he wants.

"Taiyuan is experiencing drought..."

"The war in Liaodong..."

"The supplies... have been found!"

Shen Rong immediately opened the classified information, and what was inside instantly excited him!
"So that's how it is! I see! I see!"

Shen Rong was so engrossed in watching that he didn't notice a figure already standing behind him...

What are you doing here?

Upon hearing that familiar voice, Shen Rong was instantly startled!
Turning around, sure enough, Shen Pei was standing in front of him with a righteous expression!

"Uncle, Uncle..."

Shen Pei glanced at what Shen Rong was holding and was immediately horrified!
He snatched the documents away, his eyes flashing with a ferocious glint: "What are you looking at these for?"

Panicked, Shen Rong could only make up a flimsy excuse: "Just curious..."

"Do you think I'm stupid?"

Shen Pei raised his voice sharply, pointing at Shen Rong: "Who sent you? Was it His Highness?"

"No, no!"

Shen Rong dared not expose Yuan Shang.

However, he couldn't withstand Shen Pei's gaze and could only say guiltily, "I came here on my own to see how the battle is going at the front."

Hearing that Yuan Shang was not involved, Shen Pei was finally relieved.

But upon seeing Shen Rong, Shen Pei couldn't help but get angry: "What do you mean, 'How's the battle going at the front?' You're probably not here to find Yuan Tan, are you?"

"I'm warning you! This battle concerns the fate of the nation! It concerns the world! If you reveal a single word of what you just saw, I will not forgive you!"

Shen Pei had a completely uncompromising attitude towards the law, which made Shen Rong somewhat dissatisfied!

"Uncle! If it is really as stated in the official document, then Yuan Tan's prestige will surely soar to new heights after this battle!"

"At that time, the position of crown prince will be almost a certainty!"

"If Yuan Tan really succeeds to the throne, what will happen to my uncle? What will happen to the Shen family?"

"shut up!"

This matter itself has been Shenpei's biggest problem lately, and it has also been constantly testing Shenpei's mind.

country?
Or home?
male?
Or is it private?
Shen Pei's education from childhood almost always led him to choose the former.

But if the latter were so easy to give up, how could the world have become what it is today?

Shen Pei's anxieties and wavering constantly tormented him, causing the Minister of the Northern Zhao to appear haggard and aged as if decades had passed overnight in a short period of time. Even when handling official documents, he was often absent-minded...

Hearing Shen Rong's question, Shen Pei's delicate nerves seemed to snap, making him irritable.

"Why are you asking these questions? His Majesty is still here!"

When Shen Rong saw that Shen Pei was still avoiding the issue, he instantly lost his temper and actually confronted Shen Pei, saying, "What if Uncle has to choose one?"

"Uncle is a smart man! Much smarter than your nephew! Uncle should know that in these matters, there is only winning or losing! There is no middle ground! Which path will Uncle choose?"

"Bastard!"

Shen Pei never expected that Shen Rong would dare to speak to him like that!

When her authority as an elder was challenged, Shen Pei was furious: "How I choose is none of your business!"

“The Shen clan has hundreds or even thousands of members! Uncle’s decision concerns the lives of us all! How can you say it has nothing to do with us?”

Shen Rong's words once again struck Shen Pei's heart, causing ripples to spread.

Now that he's in this position, no matter how much Shen Pei admires the ancients, he has to admit that he's entangled with far too many people.

If Shen Pei doesn't have a good ending and is eventually removed from his position as Minister of the Imperial Secretariat by Yuan Tan, then the lives of Shen Pei's family, relatives, disciples, students... will all be severely damaged!

With so many people pressuring him, can Shen Pei withstand it?

I don't know about the approval process.

However, he also confirmed one thing at this time.

"You really are up to no good!"

Shen Rong wanted to go out, but Shen Pei blocked the doorway.

Shen Pei knew that once Shen Rong left this door, the front-line battlefield would undergo a drastic change!

Shen Rong stood still, staring intently at Shen Pei.

He also wanted to know whether he would be able to leave this door today!
All these choices are decided in a single thought!
Is it the country, or the family?

Is it public or private?

Is it one's own faith, or worldly entanglements?

The fate of Yuan Tan, Yuan Shang, Northern Zhao, the Han Dynasty, and even the entire world rests on Shen Pei's single thought at this moment!
(End of this chapter)