Chapter 804: with translation of chapter title

Chen Wuji, in the eyes of the world, is certainly not perfect.

But he launched troops to counterattack Qiang Land, and with an extremely hard stance deployed troops at the Shendu border, using three major conditions to force the Shendu King to act, which greatly boosted the morale of Da Yu's scholars and commoners.

The backbone, forcibly broken by the court and the barbarians, suddenly straightened itself.

Based on this alone, those Confucian scholars who still have a conscience are willing to wave their canes and speak well of Chen Wuji!

When Chen Wuji's actions in Qiang Land spread far and wide, the news that the court intended to send troops to Nan Jun to punish the disloyal suddenly came out.

The world stared in shock, and then it exploded in an uproar.

In academies, taverns, and tea houses everywhere, people were discussing this matter, and the voices of criticism rose in a clamor.

In just two days, the memorials piled up in the Office of Memorials like a mountain.

Their content was all the same, entirely consisting of admonitions against the court's plan to send troops to Nan Jun.

Some phrased it gently, while others directly invoked the theory of national ruin.

The memorial official He Chaosong, trembling with fear, shrank himself into the shadow beneath the porch, his body straining downward, wishing he could bend his waist into a several‑character shape to show his utter panic.

"Sir," he whispered, "the memorial matter..."

Suddenly a roar came from inside the Council Hall: "Get out!"

He Chaosong hurriedly kowtowed on the ground, trembling as he replied, then crawled backward out on his knees.

He had barely moved a few steps when someone suddenly blocked his way from behind.

He turned his head and glanced, instantly turned pale with fright, and hastily bowed his head in panic: "I pay my respects, Minister Ruan."

"You may go!" Ruan Yuchang glanced at him indifferently, gave a slight wave of his hand, stepped over He Chaosong, and strode into the Council Hall, shouting, "Yan scoundrel, your conduct is getting more and more out of line—why bother quarreling with underlings? Did they cause this?"

"Ruan dog, what are you barking about!" a roar came from inside the Council Hall.

"You bastard! You're asking for a beating!" Ruan Yuchang flew into a rage.

"How convenient—I was just itching for a fight today!" Yan Yan charged out, furious.

Ruan Yuchang's face darkened instantly, he shook his sleeves fiercely, and bellowed in a low voice: "Zheng Che!"

"Your servant is here!"

From behind Ruan Yuchang emerged a handsome young attendant, white as jade.

He was dressed as a petty servant, but his eyes were sharp and frightening, his glare like arrows.

Yan Yan gave a soft snort: "Yu Shi Mei!"

"Here I am!"

A youth who had been standing under the porch walked over with a light, springy step; his movements were lively, the slight buoyancy making him look quite delightful.

This was hardly a young man; it was clearly a pretty girl.

Yu Shi Mei's lips curled slightly as she looked Zheng Che up and down, tilted her head, and said, "Come on, let's go up front—there's no room to move here."

Zheng Che gave a cold snort and turned away first.

Watching the two take their stances in the open space ahead, Yan Yan crossed his arms and said slowly, "I heard that a few days ago the Eastern Ocean people sent Minister Ruan a pair of red coral trees as tall as two zhang."

Ruan Yuchang shook his head with a sneer: "You old thing still aren't worried enough."

"If I could win that red coral tree from Minister Ruan's hand, my worries would surely be halved." Yan Yan said with a light smile, "These are merely the shallow views of poor, pedantic scholars; I need a bit of worry, but how could I truly fret over them? They cannot stop my troop deployment, nor change anything."

Having said that, he glanced at Ruan Yuchang and said, "Minister Ruan, you surely didn't rush here just for this? If so, a single coral tree as a stake is hardly enough—you seem to be insulting me!"

"It is for this matter, but not to comfort you—I have no leisure to spare." Ruan Yuchang gazed into the distance, speaking calmly, "Since you want to put on a show for those scholars, why not make it convincing? Let the army march south not to attack Chen Wuji but to attack the Qiang people, to satisfy their wishes."

Yan Yan narrowed his eyes slightly: "Conscript Chen Wuji into the army?"

"If he goes to Nan Jun, he should also be in charge of provisions and logistics!"

"That makes sense, but do you think Chen Wuji is a clay‑molded fool? His troops can storm into Qiang Land in one go, slaying the strongest Qiang warrior, Zhong Qiang, and drive him fleeing like a grandson into Shendu; to summon him into the army, I fear you are leading the court's troops to a dead end!"

Yan Yan gave a light snort, his gaze sinking as he looked at Ruan Yuchang: "I understand your meaning, Minister Ruan—this way the court can seize the moral high ground and silence the endless chatter; if Chen Wuji dares to raise arms on his own, his hard‑earned reputation will vanish in an instant."

"But do you really think he cares about such things? Since Chen Wuji raised his banner, his calculation has always been to overturn heaven and earth. The loss of hundreds of thousands of troops is something I, Yan, cannot afford to bear."

Ruan Yuchang gave a slight nod: "Minister Yan, your thoughts are not off, but you're being overly cautious—it's just a saying; why take it to heart?"

"Whether Chen Wuji comes or not, is it really that important? It would be better if he didn't come—the court would occupy the moral high ground and reap both fame and profit. The Qiang people are now a toothless tiger; what cooperation could there be with them? They are no longer worthy; the court's great army can simply march south to conquer and plunder."

"If Chen Wuji does come, we can seize the chance to wipe him out—will that interfere with your other plans, Minister Yan? Not at all; your goal will still be achieved. But based on this very argument, you could expand the court's territory, reap enormous personal gain, and still fulfill your aim!"

Yan Yan's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze growing deep.

"What does Minister Ruan want?" Yan Yan asked in a low voice.

Ruan Yuchang chuckled: "I've heard the scenery of Qiang Land is extremely beautiful, and I have long yearned for it. Please, Minister Yan, after you take Qiang Land, allocate a small plot near the Uyghur lands for me, build a manor, and leave some warhorses. When I have taken off my official robes, I will go there to spend my twilight years."

Yan Yan gave him a heavy glance: "Just a proposal—are you asking for too much, Minister Ruan?"

"Too much?" Ruan Yuchang's eye wrinkles tightened like waves, he smiled kindly and benevolently: "Minister Yan, have you prepared the provisions for dispatching the troops? Who can arrange the commanders for the 400,000‑strong army? If not, I happen to have a few modest talents that might lend you a hand."

"Chen Wuji has done a fine deed: he saved Minister Yan the trouble of the Qiang people, and he set up a great horse farm for us—the horses of Qiang Land are world‑renowned!"

Yan Yan also laughed: "I'm afraid I wouldn't dare use the person Minister Ruan recommends—no need to trouble you over him. But as for funds and grain, the more the better; I have no qualms."

"Not much, not much." Ruan Yuchang waved his hand: "My modest wealth—you, Minister Yan, surely know it; at most it will make you think I'm not opening my mouth like a lion."

Yan Yan stared deeply at Ruan Yuchang and suddenly said, "Minister Ruan, your man has lost."