Chapter 717: Nighttime Discussions in the Study, the Contest for Prefects

Half an hour later.

Night had deepened, and in the innermost chamber of the Jin Prince's mansion—a study regarded by the outside world as the "true hub of Great Zhou," capable of deciding the realm's fate—the lights burned brightly.

Behind a broad rosewood desk, Yuwen Hu sat upright on the Grand Preceptor's chair, his hands clasped on the desk, expressionless as he stared down.

Seated at his feet were the three most powerful figures in the Great Zhou court:

Grand Marshal, Grand Tutor Yuwen Heng;

the venerable Grand Protector, Duke of Zheng Yu Jie, who represents the interests of certain Guān Lǒng aristocratic families;

and his own absolute confidant, the Heavenly Office Imperial Steward Shang Ting.

At this moment, these three men—who could make Chang'an tremble with a mere stomp in the council hall—were taking turns perusing the detailed battle report sent back from the front, thick with the smell of gunpowder and blood.

The study was so quiet that only the rustle of turning pages—"whap‑whap"—and occasional sharp inhalations broke the silence.

"Sss—"

When Yuwen Heng finished the last line of the report, his weather‑worn face was filled with unmistakable shock and awe.

He handed the report to Yu Jie beside him, his voice trembling with excitement: "This is truly a monster! Even a war immortal in the world is no better!"

Yu Jie stroked his graying beard, and after reading the report, a deep wariness flashed in his seasoned eyes before turning into admiration: "Chen Zhuguo's performance in this battle not only displayed martial valor surpassing all three armies, but his insight into hearts and his strategy of using others as weapons were truly impressive!"

Shang Ting said nothing, merely observing Yuwen Hu from the corner with his peripheral vision, the man seated at the head who had remained silent throughout.

As the Heavenly Office Imperial Steward, he understood better than the other two that the Grand Preceptor had summoned them overnight for reasons beyond merely sharing the joy of victory.

Sure enough.

When the three's discussion briefly paused, Yuwen Hu lightly pressed his hand down, halting their praise of Chen Yan.

"In warfare, A Yan submitted an impeccable answer sheet. The gate of the Northern Border is, for now, closed," Yuwen Hu's voice was low and steady, yet carried an undeniable pressure, "But you all are the pillars of Great Zhou; you should know the principle that conquering a realm is easy, but defending it is hard."

Yuwen Hu's gaze slowly swept over the three faces, his eyes like a drawn blade: "Although the Qi army has withdrawn, Xiazhou, Lingzhou and other regions have endured war, and everything lies in ruins awaiting reconstruction."

"More importantly, the positions of Prefect for these two provinces have remained vacant due to the intense fighting. Now that the overall situation is settled, the high officials governing the Northern Border must not remain empty for long."

At this point, Yuwen Hu leaned slightly forward and raised the real issue of the night: "Let us discuss who should be sent to serve as Prefect of Xiazhou and Lingzhou to garrison them."

The atmosphere in the study instantly became delicate.

The Prefect position is that of a regional lord, holding a province's military and civil authority.

This massive cake is an irresistible temptation for any political faction.

Yuwen Heng was the first to speak. Drawing on Great Zhou's tradition of "balancing aristocratic families," he thought briefly and said: "Brother, Xiazhou is a key stronghold of the Northern Border. In my view, Yang Geng of the Hongnong Yang Clan is steady and has many local achievements. Sending him to Xiazhou would quickly pacify the people and restore livelihoods. As for Lingzhou, since the veteran General Wei Shaokuan of the Jingzhao Wei family has already earned merit there, perhaps his son Wei Lun should take over, which would be legitimate and further win over the Wei family."

Yu Jie also nodded, stroking his beard in agreement: "Grand Tutor's words are spot on. Now that the northern lands are newly settled, what they need most are civil officials to pacify the region and rebuild order. The Yang and Wei families are prestigious lineages of Great Zhou; sending their offspring not only displays the court's benevolence, but also leverages their family foundations to swiftly resolve the local remnants."

This is the most politically conventional recommendation in Great Zhou.

Using members of aristocratic families to govern the regions, the court provides the official titles, the families supply money and grain; both sides benefit, each getting what they need.

However, as Yuwen Hu listened to those two names, his brows furrowed tighter.

He did not immediately rebut, but lifted the tea cup on the desk, lightly skimming the froth, and suddenly let out an extremely harsh, mocking laugh.

"Heh."

The laugh rang oddly in the silent study, making Yuwen Heng and Yu Jie both startle.

"The Hongnong Yang Clan? The Jingzhao Wei Clan?" Yuwen Hu slammed the tea cup onto the desk, producing a muffled thud, "What a display of benevolence! What a noble lineage!"

Yuwen Hu sprang to his feet, his eyes flashing contempt for the decaying system, and pointed at the report, shouting: "Have you been lingering too long in the gentle countryside of Chang'an, letting your brains rust? Look at what the report says! Outside Xiazhou City, white bones lie exposed in the fields, not a rooster's crow for a thousand miles! The Rouran have retreated, but that Turkmen wolf cub Moheduo has already seized more than half the grassland! Though the Qi State was defeated, they still have hundreds of thousands of troops at home ready to rise again!"

"In such a place surrounded by tigers and wolves, a potential meat grinder, you actually intend to send a few aristocratic dilettantes who only compose poetry and couplets, but know nothing of arms, to guard it?!"

Yuwen Hu slammed the table, a "Bang" reverberating, "What are you going to do? Send them to their deaths?! Or hand over the splendid situation that A Yan painstakingly secured with forty thousand Qi heads to those foreign barbarians?!"

Yuwen Heng and Yu Jie were startled, rising repeatedly to apologize: "Grand Preceptor, please calm your anger; we have thought carelessly…"

Shang Ting, who had remained silent, now keenly sensed the suppressed madness and unfathomable scheming in Yuwen Hu's eyes.

He knows the Grand Preceptor all too well.

The Grand Preceptor had dismissed several people and taken the argument to this extreme, clearly having a pre‑set plan in mind; his earlier remarks were merely a pretext to shut the mouths of the aristocratic families.

Swallowing, Shang Ting gathered courage and cautiously probed: "Grand Preceptor, your rejection of the aristocratic youths, each word a pearl, enlightens this lowly official. This Northern Border is treacherous; only thunderous force can subdue it. Does the Grand Preceptor already have a suitable candidate in mind…?"

Yuwen Hu halted his steps.

He turned, looking down at Shang Ting from his elevated position, the corner of his mouth slowly curving into a chilling grin.

He slowly rotated the jade thumb ring on his right thumb, his gaze sweeping over the three before him like a hawk, and in an exceedingly calm yet thunder‑like tone, he uttered a resonant sentence.

"What do you think of appointing that youngster A Yan as Prefect of Xiazhou?"