Chapter 2655: The Way of Employing People

He followed behind the maid, winding through seven twists and eight turns, his mind also muttering. Though this rear estate was built by him, the paths, gardens, and furnishings within often changed, and now they are completely different from when they were first constructed three years ago, with even more rooms added.

The servants of the front estate do not know the situation of the rear estate, and all say the rear estate is mysterious.

That person, looking at him, also seems to be someone who likes to stir up trouble.

Qianqian led him to a quiet residence behind a row of bamboo groves. Here there is a courtyard, and at this time of day the sunlight still does not shine in; directly below, a fish pond has been dug, with artificial hills, duckweed, and fish.

Now a person in blue clothes stands by the pond feeding the fish.

Upon arriving here, Zhao Huanrong no longer needs the maid to announce him; he is already quite familiar with the person before him.

"Lord Duanmu."

"Lord Zhao." The blue-clothed person turned around, "Now should be a good time for you to practice your cultivation—why have you come over?"

Zhao Huanrong chuckled:

"Official business comes first, official business comes first. I have just received the latest news from Aunan City: the Crown Prince of Shen, He Yue, has just ordered the continuation of the northern attack, and the Shen army is fully prepared and ready to depart."

"Quite proper." Duanmu Heng smiled with restraint, "His son died; if he could bear this, he would be a tortoise. However, the Shen army's determination to attack north is not only his revenge, but also the decision of the Shen king. They father and son must have communicated."

"Do you think Shen previously had plans to withdraw troops?"

"Certainly." Duanmu Heng tossed a few fish pellets into the water, and the pond surface seemed to boil as the fish swarmed for them, "I have studied He Chunhua and his son; their temperaments are completely opposite to those of Jiuyou, both inclined toward stability and conservatism, but He Chunhua himself is also somewhat cunning. He clearly knows the cause of this war, and also knows that Shen cannot yet completely crush Balian, so at this moment this tug-of-war is meaningless. Ha, if I were He Chunhua, after winning a splendid great victory I would also want to call it quits while ahead, to preserve strength for the future. But, how could that do?"

He said leisurely: "This war has only just begun—how can we be in a hurry to end it?"

Even if the war were to come to a halt, the one with the power to declare an end is not He Chunhua.

"The death of He Changjue also stirred the court and countryside of Balian; the Balian king personally wrote a letter to He Yue, claiming it was not done by Balian. But the Shen Crown Prince's reply consisted only of four blood-red large characters: 'Kill to pay for life.'" Zhao Huanrong had also been an old minister of Balian, but now he directly calls "Balian king" instead of "my king," and in his words he still cannot catch up to being respectful toward Duanmu Heng.

"He Chunhua and his son may not necessarily believe Balian is the true culprit, but they must take revenge on Balian." Duanmu Heng smiled, "When the news of He Changjue's death was transmitted back to the country, the upper and lower ranks were enraged; I heard that civil and military officials all requested to go to war, and He Chunhua also could not say this matter should just be forgotten."

"Yes." Zhao Huanrong said respectfully, "Lord Duanmu, your divine calculations mean that every word and action of the He family is within your expectations."

The Shen-Balian war not only failed to end, but on the contrary is to be escalated.

"Good." So far everything has proceeded smoothly; Duanmu Heng asked him, "Is your nephew Zhao Shuo also on the front lines?"

"He is one of the three great generals besieging Aunan City, with the army taking him as the main attacker." Zhao Huanrong said solemnly, "You can rest assured he already knows what he should do, and will certainly follow your wishes, properly guiding the Shen Crown Prince's army!"

"This matter is not easy—He Yue is the younger brother of Jiuyou, not a fool, and in recent years has gradually shown his talent as a commander. To guide him to act according to our plan, the Balian army will suffer great losses, and Zhao Shuo's pressure will also not be small."

"We have an old saying: if you don't bear to part with your child, you won't catch the wolf."

Duanmu Heng looked at him with an appreciative gaze: "Lord Zhao, you have devoted yourself wholeheartedly to the Heavenly Palace—I initially did not misjudge you."

Three years ago, he secretly went west under the order of the Lingxu Holy Sovereign, beginning to secretly plan and layout. But in the Balian region he must find trustworthy confidants and eyes and ears.

The Heavenly Palace has operated in Balian for over a hundred years, with its own complete system, and even many Bekka people serve here. Logically, Duanmu Heng picking people from here would not be difficult.

But after picking and choosing, the few he finally selected included Zhao Huanrong.

This person early on devoted himself to the Heavenly Palace's faith in Jiaolou Heaven, his own abilities are strong, he has served as an official in Balian for decades, reaching the highest rank of Vice Premier, his disciples and old acquaintances fill the court and countryside, that network of connections is denser than a spider's web, from office to retirement he has influence in the court.

Needless to say, his domestic news is also very well-informed, and the resources and manpower he can use are also many—exactly the good assistant Duanmu Heng needs locally.

Although however, he still has one shortcoming—his background is not good.

The attending Heavenly Palace attendants all worry this fellow is a Balian native, and thus cannot be of one mind with our side. After all, employing without suspicion, Lord Duanmu will later have to entrust many secrets to these confidants, and they must not be spoken of to outsiders.

If this were leaked, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Duanmu Heng overruled all objections and insisted on using Zhao Huanrong. His original words were:

"You do not understand—precisely because Zhao Huanrong is a Balian native, he must demonstrate twelvefold loyalty and humility toward the Heavenly Palace and toward me!"

Because of his lowly birth, Zhao Huanrong must gain Duanmu Heng's trust by being more humble, more loyal, and more competitive than the Bekka people, and toward enemies and Balian he must be more fierce, more ruthless, and more aggressive.

Only then can he fully display his sincerity.

The facts of these years have also proven that Duanmu Heng did not misjudge the person—Zhao Huanrong is indeed loyal and useful, and for any task entrusted by Duanmu Heng he can always complete it on time, with quality and quantity assured.

Zhao Huanrong immediately said: "Thanks to Lord Duanmu's discerning eye, old Zhao has this opportunity."

"If this matter can be successfully accomplished—" Duanmu Heng looked at him with a slight smile, "the Heavenly Palace will have a place for you. The Lord of All Clouds has already opened his golden mouth."

Zhao Huanrong was overjoyed, immediately bowed in gratitude, his hands touching the ground.

The Heavenly Palace occasionally accepts foreign persons as offerings, occasionally.

The probability is roughly one in ten thousand.

Precisely because the probability is so small, once achieved, it is the supreme honor!

With this offering status, the ruler of Balian must treat him and the Zhao family with reverence.

"Furthermore, that matter also needs careful arrangement." Duanmu Heng threw out a sweet date, then began to speak, "I came to Balian three years ago, all for the Earth Mother. Now these plans are also for the Earth Mother!"

Conducting these affairs in a foreign land, he needs confidants he can fully trust, for what he says may be an absolute secret.

"You can rest assured, everything is in progress." Zhao Huanrong also wore a solemn expression, "Lord Duanmu, could you please clarify my doubts?"

Duanmu Heng stood with his hands behind his back: "Speak."

"You said the Earth Mother will certainly arrive within three to five years, and now over three years have passed—calculating the time, it is about due." Zhao Huanrong asked in a low voice, "But how do you confirm it will certainly come recently? The Earth Mother always moves underground, and those who can see it are extremely few."

(End of Chapter)