Chapter 718: Three Great Privileges Shock the Hall

Yuwen Hu's light, airy remark was like a massive stone thrown onto a frozen lake—seemingly calm on the surface, yet stirring a bottomless undercurrent beneath the ice.

The spacious study of the Jin Prince's mansion instantly fell into a deathly silence lasting more than ten breaths.

The "tick-tick" of water droplets falling in the bronze water clock was amplified infinitely in the three men's ears, as if each drop struck their taut nerves.

Yuwen Heng, Yu Jie, and Shang Ting were all veteran foxes who had turned the tides in the Great Zhou court, weathering countless storms.

They knew all too well that the Grand Preceptor would never utter a single idle word in the study.

The proposal seemed like a discussion, but in fact it was a probing test, casting a stone to gauge the road.

The three glanced at each other, their gazes briefly intersecting in midair before swiftly dropping, and each began to frantically simulate in their minds the massive web of interests behind this decision.

Yuwen Heng's mind worked in the most straightforward way.

In his view, Xiazhou was already a battlefield, having just endured the ravage of Qi State's forty‑thousand troops; its outer defenses were nearly razed, the cities lay in ruins, and refugees were everywhere.

In such a place, at such a time, what was needed was a ruthless figure who could behead on horseback and, once off the horse, soothe the populace.

The youngster A Yan not only commanded troops like a deity, winning every battle, but also displayed an exceptionally iron‑blooded governing hand in Chang'an.

Sending him to serve as Governor of Xiazhou, his merit—having beheaded forty thousand—would be enough to silence the world's endless chatter.

In terms of ability, he is the unrivaled choice for the Great Zhou military at present.

Yu Jie's deliberations, however, were far deeper and more intricate.

The core of his considerations always centered on the Great Clan's interests.

The Governor of Xiazhou wields the entire military‑civil authority of a province—a truly powerful regional official.

According to the unspoken rules of Great Zhou's bureaucracy, such a coveted post has always been a bargaining chip among the aristocratic families.

However, Yu Jie thought again: today's Xiazhou was a genuine mess.

The Qi State had seized all the grain, while the Rouran eyed the border hungrily; this place could turn into a battlefield again at any moment.

If, at this moment, those aristocratic youths who excel only in civil administration and know nothing of warfare were sent, their heads might end up hanging on the city gate within months.

Since this pot is too hot to handle, perhaps no one is willing to risk it...

As for Shang Ting, as the Heavenly Office Imperial Steward, he is Yuwen Hu's absolute confidant.

His sole rule for survival is: wherever the Grand Preceptor points, he strikes.

Moreover, Chen Yan and he share a close personal friendship; Chen Yan's rise only brings benefits, no drawbacks.

After a brief simulation, Grand Marshal Yuwen Heng was the first to break the suffocating stalemate.

"Big brother, you're absolutely right!" Yuwen Heng thumped his thigh, his rugged face showing unmasked approval. "Xiazhou is the throat of our Great Zhou's northern border; though we won this battle, our vitality is severely drained. Now everything lies in ruins and needs rebuilding, and a decisive, battle‑hardened commander like A Yan, who can hold the field, is exactly what we need to station there! If he becomes Governor of Xiazhou, the Qi State and the Rouran scum will have to weigh whether their necks are strong enough before daring to cross our border again!"

Grand Protector Yu Jie, seeing this, slowly stroked his graying beard and, going along with the flow, nodded: "The Grand Tutor's words are spot on. Chen Zhuguo's rescue of the collapsing tide has earned him Unprecedented Merit; sending him to station in Xiazhou will win both hearts and mouths. Moreover, Chen Zhuguo not only masters military strategy but has also achieved notable civil governance; letting him soothe the shattered populace of Xiazhou will surely yield double results with half the effort. Old minister, I concur."

Shang Ting bowed slightly, his tone respectful: "Chen Zhuguo's literary and martial talents, stationed in Xiazhou, are truly a great fortune for the state. I believe the Grand Preceptor's move is far‑sighted."

Seeing the three most powerful figures in the court express no dissent, Yuwen Hu showed not the slightest hint of satisfaction.

On the contrary, his sharp, chiseled visage slowly curved into a chillingly fierce line.

He lifted the blue porcelain teacup, brushed the floating tea leaves lightly with the lid, and produced a crisp "ding".

"Do you think a mere Governor of Xiazhou can contain the mountain‑taming tiger I have raised?"

Yuwen Hu's voice was low, yet carried an undeniable domineering tone.

The three heard this and felt a sudden "gasp" in their hearts.

Is that still not enough?

The Governor of Xiazhou already wields real power, and with Chen Yan's Duke of Wei title and Chen Zhuguo's noble rank, this arrangement is an unparalleled honor since Great Zhou's founding; what more does the Grand Preceptor intend?

Before the three could fully digest the depth of his words, Yuwen Hu set down the teacup, his gaze flashing like lightning, and then delivered a truly shocking decree.

"Not only Governor. I will also confer upon A Yan the title of Chief Commander with Credentials, Governor of Xiazhou, and Commander of the seven prefectures—Xia, Ling, Sui, Yin, and Yan!"

Boom!

The words struck like a heavy hammer, smashing into the three's chests.

Yuwen Heng inhaled a sharp breath of cold air; Yu Jie's hand twitched violently, nearly pulling out a clump of his own beard.

Governor of Xiazhou!

Commander of the Seven Prefectures!

What does this mean?

It means Chen Yan's authority no longer confines to a corner of Xiazhou, but now spans the entire northwestern frontier of Great Zhou!

All troop movements and defensive deployments across the Seven Prefectures will be under his sole command!

This is tantamount, in name, to handing the most crucial gate of Guanzhong, lock and all, entirely into Chen Yan's hands.

"This… Grand Preceptor…" Yu Jie opened his mouth, about to say something to ease the massive shock.

However, Yuwen Hu gave him no chance to catch his breath.

He rose slowly, hands pressed on the broad rosewood desk, his body leaning forward slightly, like a lion about to pounce, and announced, word by word, the final and most terrifying Three Orders:

"Moreover! I will also grant Chen Yan the Special Grant of the Right to Confer Titles!"

"All civil and military officials in the Seven Prefectures shall be decided by a single word of Chen Yan, without needing approval from the Chang'an Heavenly Office, Execute Before Reporting, Grant Before Reporting!"

"Additionally: since the Seven Prefectures have endured war, all taxes shall no longer be sent to the Chang'an treasury; Chen Yan may levy and allocate them himself for military and civilian use! He is authorized to establish a command in Xiazhou, train troops independently, and produce armor and weapons at will!"

If the earlier commander of the Seven Prefectures only shocked the three, the moment these final Three Great Privileges were unveiled was like detonating dozens of kilograms of Premium Fire Oil in the sealed study!

"Impossible!!!"

Yu Jie finally could no longer maintain his composure.

His face turned deathly pale; he sprang up so violently that he knocked over the Huanghuali wood chair behind him, producing a loud "clang!"

Not only Yu Jie, but even Shang Ting, who had always followed Yuwen Hu's lead, felt his legs go weak, cold sweat streaming in large beads down his forehead.

Yuwen Heng's eyes widened, his face trembling with horror as he stared at his elder brother, as if looking at a gambler driven utterly mad.

They knew all too well what the three great privileges meant when combined.

Accepting the appointment and investiture, that directly cut off the Great Zhou Court's personnel control over the Northern Border officialdom!

It is equivalent to stripping the Tian Guan Fu's authority entirely and handing it to Chen Yan, allowing him to freely create a bureaucracy loyal only to himself!

Fiscal autonomy even gave the purse itself to Chen Yan, letting him use the wealth of the Seven Prefectures to raise troops without any hesitation!

Establishing a bureau and building a garrison, training troops independently, further devolved the privileges that originally belonged to the Son of Heaven.

This is not appointing a governor of Great Zhou at all?

It is clearly at the Northern Gate of Guanzhong, forcibly carving out an Independent Kingdom that is not restrained by any Court law!

The power is so vast it is downright absurd!

"Grand Preceptor, think thrice! Absolutely must not!"

The seasoned and steady Yu Jie strode out of the ranks and knelt directly before Yuwen Hu's desk.

He knocked three resonant beats, his forehead striking the Blue Bricks with a dull thud, his words mournful yet fierce: "Grand Preceptor, discern clearly! Such delegation of power has never existed since antiquity; it is no different from granting someone the Scepter of Ta'a, turning the weapons against us!"

Yu Jie lifted his head, his deeply wrinkled face filled with terror and resolve: "Since ancient times, when a different clan governs a frontier, holding the three great powers of military, civil administration, and finance, vigilance against others cannot be lacking!"

Yu Jie's voice echoed through the great hall, each word bearing the weight of blood and tears: "I, an old man, know Chen Zhuguo's loyalty and bravery, yet he is barely of crown‑age now! A twenty‑year‑old youth holds a massive army, controls the life‑and‑death authority of the Seven Prefectures, and has not even a single Supervising General to check him! Grand Preceptor, this is not rewarding a meritorious minister; you are personally feeding a malignant dragon capable of devouring heaven and crushing earth! Should any mishap occur, the entire Guanzhong will have no place to be buried!"

In the Shufang, only Yu Jie's echo, tinged with a sobbing tone, reverberated; the atmosphere was stretched to the breaking point, as if invisible Blades could at any moment tear the air apart.