Chapter 1632: Lu Duoxun Is Getting Anxious

After exchanging a few pleasantries with brotherly warmth, Wang Yinwu picked up his teacup, took a sip, set it down leisurely, and asked softly: "Brother Lu, you summoned me here in the dead of night—surely it wasn't just to offer me a cup of tea!"

Hearing this, Lu Duoxun's smile receded somewhat. After a moment's deliberation, he said: "Then I'll get straight to the point—I'd like your guidance on the Hexi matter, Brother Wang!"

Wang Yinwu thought to himself, just as expected. Nearly a full day had passed, and news of the Hexi affair should have spread widely by now. The upper echelons of the court's powerful figures—those who ought to know—had likely all been informed; those who didn't know could only blame their low status or poor intelligence. And Lu Duoxun was certainly not someone who could have remained unaware.

His mind turning slightly, Wang Yinwu knew that what Lu Duoxun cared about was probably not the Kara-Khanid envoy delegation, nor who had committed the crime. What he was worried about was still the Hexi problem.

Meeting Lu Duoxun's gaze, Wang Yinwu replied calmly: "Brother Lu, you are a chancellor of the court. You'll learn the specifics sooner or later. Since you've asked, I naturally won't hold anything back!"

"Many thanks!" Lu Duoxun was satisfied with Wang Yinwu's attitude and gestured with a cupped-fist salute.

Wang Yinwu gave a slight nod and immediately extracted the key points from the Hexi intelligence reports received by the Wude Office, recounting them for Lu Duoxun. As he spoke, Lu Duoxun's expression rapidly turned grave—even somewhat ugly.

"These bandits these years—what audacity! They truly deserve to be hacked to pieces!" Lu Duoxun cursed with a stern tone.

However, despite his fierce expression, Wang Yinwu had the feeling that Lu Duoxun's anger wasn't really directed at the matter of the envoy delegation being robbed and killed.

Watching him ponder, as if weighing gains and losses, Wang Yinwu took another sip of tea and sighed softly: "This matter is very serious, with extremely vile repercussions. His Majesty flew into a rage and ordered a thorough investigation. Moreover, His Majesty now has opinions about Hexi's military and civil administration. From here on, whether it's the Wude Office, the Palace City Office, or the special envoy heading west to Liangzhou, their investigative targets will hardly be limited to those bandits who committed the crime!"

Lu Duoxun took a deep breath, looked at Wang Yinwu, and said: "That is precisely what I fear! The importance of the northwest lies first in the Guannei region, and second in Hexi. But when it comes to garrison defense and security, Hexi matters even more than Guannei. Hexi cannot fall into chaos!"

Lu Duoxun's display of concern for the state and its people made Wang Yinwu feel somewhat awkward. How could he not understand what Lu Duoxun was truly worried about? So he reminded him flatly: "However, at present, signs of disorder are already appearing in the northwest! The Wude Office has detected certain omens. His Majesty is aware of them and takes them very seriously. As I see it, His Majesty's resolve to rectify and investigate is extremely firm!"

Lu Duoxun's expression shifted slightly. Frowning in thought for a moment, he sighed with some helplessness: "Precisely because of this, we must act with prudence and care. If Hexi's military and civil administration both fall into chaos, wouldn't that make it all the easier for others to seize an opportunity!"

Seeing that Lu Duoxun kept hinting at something, Wang Yinwu's patience seemed to run thin. Looking at him, he said: "This concerns the nation's livelihood and matters of military and civil governance. Since you have such penetrating insights, Brother Lu, you should be presenting them to His Majesty!"

Lu Duoxun was somewhat embarrassed. Clearly, if he could directly persuade Emperor Liu, there would be no need to specifically seek out Wang Yinwu to haggle over this.

Noticing the change in his expression, Wang Yinwu also cut to the chase and asked: "Brother Lu, speak frankly—what do you need me to do?"

Seeing Wang Yinwu so direct, Lu Duoxun's embarrassment faded. A smile returned to his face. After a moment's deliberation, he spoke with some earnestness: "Over these past ten years, the two of us have been at court, and though we've constantly been suppressed by treacherous ministers, we can still be said to have enjoyed no small glory. The position and honor we hold today come not only from His Majesty's trust above, but also from the support of our old associates below.

Without the combined force of those above and below, our current standing would not be secure. We both hail from the northwest, and most of our old associates are there as well.

I served in the northwest for twenty years, and you, Brother Wang, held the position of Hexi Commander for over a decade. The struggles back then were hard, but we also benefited greatly from the strong support of our colleagues.

Now that the two of us have achieved wealth and rank, standing high in the court, we must not forget those old friends from those days!"

Lu Duoxun's words were sincere enough, highlighting genuine feeling. Yet the self-interest revealed in them was also unconcealed. This fellow truly had no restraint when it came to building factions—and he took pride in it. Perhaps, as he said, it was the very foundation of his standing at court.

However, Wang Yinwu wasn't particularly receptive to this. When all was said and done, by this point, the two men's positions had been constantly shifting. The situation in the capital was always far more complex. Though they both came from Hexi, they could no longer work in perfect unison as they had in the old days.

And Wang Yinwu understood that Lu Duoxun still cherished his old associates in Hexi. And as he said, the northwest—especially Hexi—was the foundation of Lu Duoxun's position.

Starting from his mission to the Western Regions, Lu Duoxun had forged a bond with the northwest. Later, whether it was pacifying the northwest or overseeing Xia and Sui, his political capital had been accumulated there.

Especially during his tenure in Hexi, he had woven an even more extensive network of interests. During the war years, he even held some influence over the northwest garrisons, having won over a number of northwest generals.

It was precisely for this reason that Zhao Pu had once advised Emperor Liu to transfer Lu Duoxun away—to Liangzhe, a post that was fine but which Lu Duoxun was extremely reluctant to take. And the enmity between Zhao and Lu had largely begun from that time.

Back then, among the civil and military officials of Hexi—especially the bureaucrats below the circuit level—at least three out of ten, if not half, had been promoted or recommended by Lu Duoxun. Another three out of ten had various connections to him, and the rest at least wouldn't oppose him. All of this was bought with the most vigorous years of his life spent in management and cultivation.

Of course, when people leave, the tea grows cold; times change and circumstances shift. It had been over a decade since he left Hexi, and the old network had inevitably grown blurred. Yet Lu Duoxun's influence over Hexi was not something that could be completely worn away in just these ten-odd years.

Especially since Lu Duoxun's career hadn't declined—rather, he had risen step by step to become a grand elder of the court's central authority. His old associates naturally chose to continue following him, seeking his protection. They could not easily turn their backs on Lu Duoxun.

Even though Zhao Pu had, over these years, used his authority over personnel and organization to sprinkle quite a few of his own people into Hexi, the Hexi officialdom still "bore the surname Lu."

However, in that earthquake-like massive reshuffle of officialdom two years ago, Lu Duoxun's influence over Hexi had clearly suffered a blow. The network he had left behind was dismantled piece by piece by Zhao Pu, riding the prevailing wind, and a full three-tenths of Hexi's officials were replaced.

Adding to that, the newly appointed Wang Ming was also a tough character. The Lu faction's power in Hexi had been steadily shrinking over these two years, suppressed severely. Yet even so, Hexi remained the circuit Lu Duoxun valued and understood most. Using the supervisory authority he held, he had still protected quite a few people.

Now, after nearly two years of strife, Hexi had finally formed a new balance, with the situation gradually stabilizing—and then this major case of an envoy delegation being robbed and killed within its borders occurred. For Lu Duoxun, this was truly not good news. Among all the court ministers, there was probably no one who wished for Hexi's peace and stability more than Lu Duoxun.

As the saying goes, concern breeds confusion. Lu Duoxun's meaning was rather blatant. However, using this to persuade Wang Yinwu was still somewhat lacking.

After all, Wang Yinwu was no fool. He had self-awareness. He was different from Lu Duoxun—though his "roots" were also in Hexi, they weren't planted so deeply. Moreover, no matter how much Hexi shook, it was hard to say it would have much impact on him.

In fact, thinking darkly, the more chaotic the Hexi officialdom became, wouldn't that be more advantageous for the Wude Office's operations? The murkier the waters, the more valuable their authority became.

Though he didn't agree inwardly, he still had to give Lu Duoxun face. After considering for a moment, Wang Yinwu replied solemnly: "I understand your worries, Brother Lu, and I can feel your concern. I can't guarantee much, but as long as it doesn't violate principles or cross bottom lines, within the scope of my Wude Office's authority, anything I can protect, I will do my utmost!"

Lu Duoxun evidently hadn't expected Wang Yinwu to make any unreserved guarantees. Having this attitude was enough to satisfy him.

Raising his cup with both hands, he toasted: "With your words, Brother Wang, I can rest easy! No matter how the situation develops, I thank you in advance!"

"No need for formality!" Wang Yinwu said with a light laugh.

After a mouthful of tea, perhaps feeling it lacked some flavor—in such a scene, wine would set the mood better—he immediately ordered toward the outside: "Someone, bring wine!"

After giving the order, Lu Duoxun looked at Wang Yinwu again, having fully recovered his usual shrewdness and composure. He mused: "All the sources of trouble stem from the killing of the envoy delegation. To quell this quickly, we must first drag out those rebels!"

"Well said, Brother Lu. Our office has sent out its finest—I've dispatched several hundred men to the northwest!" Wang Yinwu said flatly.

Hearing this, Lu Duoxun flattered: "With the Wude Office on the case, there should be no problem, I imagine!"

Wang Yinwu sighed: "If we succeed in one stroke, perhaps we can still secure a peaceful outcome. But if we can't find them, then the one overseeing this matter will hardly escape blame. Brother Lu, you're not the only one carrying worries..."

Perhaps feeling that Lu Duoxun's relieved expression was somewhat premature, Wang Yinwu instinctively lowered his voice and reminded him: "One more thing—you should be prepared. This time, besides my Wude Office, the Palace City Office has also been tasked by His Majesty. You know how that old eunuch Zhang Dejun bites—he always sinks his teeth to the bone and rarely lets go..."

At these words, a shadow of gloom immediately appeared between Lu Duoxun's brows. He glanced at Wang Yinwu, whose face wore an expression of "goodwill," and played along: "That eunuch villain—sooner or later, he must be eliminated!"