Chapter 275: A Smile (Continued)

That afternoon in Yanjing, the wind still carried a chaotic noise. Qin Gui followed Wushu back to the Fourth Prince’s residence. When they reached the rear courtyard, the other attendants knew to withdraw. But the two did not enter the house to talk, because as they walked to the open ground in the center of the rear courtyard, in front of the rear building, Wanyan Wushu suddenly stopped, twisting the horsewhip in his hand, and without turning his head, asked directly from behind:

“Academician Qin, tell me again those words you spoke the night before last.”

Qin Gui was stunned for only a moment, then immediately stood with his hands at his sides and began speaking behind Wushu:

“The might of the Grand Ancestor in founding the state is the foundation of the Great Jin’s popular support and legitimate rule. Grand Marshal Nianhan was removed from the succession sequence back in the Grand Ancestor’s time, in exchange for sole command of the Western Route Army. This is known to all under heaven. Therefore, the Grand Marshal can only be a powerful minister, but cannot covet the ruler’s position. Once he shows the demeanor of a ruler, the hearts of the Great Jin’s upper and lower ranks will be filled with suspicion and fear… This is the first point.”

Perhaps because he often read outdated official gazettes, Qin Huizhi had also gotten into the habit of listing points one, two, three, four when discussing serious matters.

“And the reason the Grand Marshal could stand before the Grand Ancestor and be called the foremost founding minister ultimately lies in the Western Route Army’s ability to fight and conquer. Unfortunately, half a year ago, the Battle of Yaoshan shook the entire army, high and low. Loushi died in battle, the Western Route Army split in two, and although he temporarily gained control of the troops in Great Ming Prefecture, it was only superficial control, not heartfelt submission. So his foundation has been damaged… This is the second point.” Qin Gui continued, hands at his sides. “Without reputation and having lost real strength, the Grand Marshal’s power has already greatly diminished. At this time, he should have been modest and withdrawn, resting and nurturing… Even the Grand Marshal himself understands this, otherwise he would not have returned north with the Fourth Prince that day. But…”

“But the ruler suddenly suffered a stroke. With such vast power before him, the Grand Marshal ultimately could not resist reaching out. Besides monopolizing all authority, he also alarmed both inside and outside, unsettling people’s hearts. And since the Grand Marshal knows his own internal weakness and knows that people’s hearts are not with him, he instead pretends to be unrestrained and excessive, quickly seizing military power and stabilizing the situation, seeking security.” Wushu suddenly interjected, but still did not turn around. “So, to sum it up, that means the Grand Marshal’s side now seems at its peak, but is actually at its weakest. Is that the idea?”

“Yes… Since ancient times, there have been many such powerful ministers in the Central Plains dynasties. It’s always the same principle: once they reach out, they must go from peak to decline. But no one can resist reaching out.”

“Well said… Once you reach across the line, there’s no turning back.” Wushu sighed to the heavens.

“The Fourth Prince is the Grand Ancestor’s own son, different from the Grand Marshal.”

“Not that different.” Wushu came back to himself and continued. “Let’s not talk about that. That day you also said that to remove such a powerful minister, you must dig out his heart and core, just like in the Three Kingdoms era, removing Dong Zhuo required Lü Bu… I deeply agree with that reasoning. But why, between Wanyan Xiyin and Yinshu Ke, did you want me to choose Yinshu Ke?”

Qin Gui knew this was a critical question and dared not be careless. He stepped forward half a pace, almost pressing against Wushu’s back, and answered seriously: “Fourth Prince, your student knows that the Fourth Prince has a better relationship with Wanyan Xiyin, and that you both have grand plans to reform the state, to make the Great Jin last for ten thousand generations… But what needs to be done now cannot be about shared ideals; it must be about interests. It cannot be about the long term; it must be about the present… Although Xiyin is somewhat dissatisfied with the Grand Marshal imprisoning the ruler’s several sons, at this moment he has no truly urgent conflict of interest with the Grand Marshal. But Yinshu Ke is different. He has been eyeing Huonü in Yan’an, not because he is dissatisfied with Huonü, but because after Loushi’s death, he has been set on having his younger brother Boli Su take command of the Western Army, to ensure his family’s wealth and honor for generations. But the Grand Marshal cannot satisfy him!”

“When the Grand Marshal went south to Great Ming Prefecture that day, he originally wanted General Yinshu Ke to return to Taiyuan to take command of the Western Route Army, but General Yinshu Ke refused.” Wushu sighed again.

“That is because General Yinshu Ke is just like General Talan. They are getting on in years and no longer want to endure the hardships of the field… I’m afraid General Loushi’s death in battle also shook him somewhat. And if there is a major war in the future, it will probably still start with the Western Route Army. But precisely because his eldest son died in battle, his remaining children will have to rely on his younger brother in the future, so he is especially concerned about Boli Su’s affairs.”

“Right, I saw that he lost his edge long ago when he was the garrison commander of Yanjing. He just wants to muddle along at the center, seeking long-term wealth and honor.”

“Precisely. We must use his desire for wealth and honor. As long as a person has desires, they can be used… The Grand Marshal cannot satisfy him, but the Fourth Prince can.” Qin Gui quickly urged again. “Anyway, it’s just empty words. We can discuss the details later.”

“One still needs to keep one’s word.” Wushu finally laughed.

And Qin Gui was completely relieved… This meant consent.

However, at that moment, the pale-faced Wanyan Wushu turned around again and asked the Qin Huizhi before him curiously: “Little Academician Qin… You say everyone has desires. Nianhan desires to hold power securely and alone. I desire to re-establish the Great Jin’s iron cavalry. Xiyin desires to unify the Great Jin’s governance. Yinshu Ke desires family wealth and honor. Even Boli Su desires the authority of the Western Route Army. And that Zhao Jiu in Cangzhou to the south desires to drive us north of the Yan Mountains to take revenge. Those people in the Five Kingdoms City to the north also desire to return south. But what do you desire? Why are you so attentive?”

Qin Gui stood with his hands at his sides, silent for a moment. Then he slowly raised his head, met the other’s gaze, gritted his teeth, and replied: “Fourth Prince, your student no longer wants to walk with his head down. Your student also wants to seek wealth and honor here in the Great Jin!”

Wanyan Wushu stared intently into the other’s eyes for a long time. Seeing no wavering at all, he threw down his horsewhip on the spot, reached out and pressed the other’s shoulder, kneading it, then laughed again: “Little Academician Qin, you have the talent of a chancellor… When this is done, we’ll set up a Central Secretariat. I’ll be the master, Xiyin will be the chief chancellor, and you’ll be a vice chancellor!”

Qin Gui instinctively wanted to thank him for the favor, but upon hearing the word “chancellor,” he was struck dumb, momentarily dazed and unable to respond.

And when he came to his senses, his heart pounding wildly, and prepared to bow deeply in thanks, he was caught off guard as the other turned directly and entered the house: “For these two days, Little Academician Qin should not go wandering around. Don’t bother with other matters either. Just bring your wife here and stay in my home!”

Qin Huizhi could only bow hastily.

The next day, Yanjing City was calm. And that afternoon, the Great Jin’s Fourth Prince, Wanyan Wushu, suddenly took the initiative to visit Grand Marshal Wanyan Nianhan. Nianhan, wanting to win over and elevate Wushu to suppress others, naturally welcomed him warmly.

When they met and were seated, Nianhan heard a proposal from Wushu that caught him off guard, so much so that he exclaimed in shock on the spot:

“Honor the ruler as Retired Emperor and support the Anban Bojilie (Wanyan Hela, Wushu’s nephew, who lost his father early) to ascend the throne?”

“Correct.” Wushu said seriously. “The current chaotic situation and unsettled hearts are all because the ruler suddenly suffered a stroke and cannot govern… Even you, Grand Marshal, have attracted much criticism because of this.”

“What criticism?” Nianhan smiled awkwardly, stroking his beard.

“Everyone under heaven is discussing it!” Wushu remained serious. “Not only are they discussing it here in the Great Jin, they are also discussing it in the Great Song. The upper ranks discuss it, the lower ranks discuss it. The Zhao Song ruler asking in court whether the ruler is truly paralyzed is clear proof! Not only that, these days I have also received letters from my old subordinates in Great Ming Prefecture and old friends in Liaodong, asking me for details, asking whether the ruler truly had a stroke or was harmed by the Grand Marshal?”

Nianhan sighed faintly, then sneered: “And how did the Fourth Prince answer?”

“I naturally told the truth…” Wushu said unhurriedly. “But so what? When the ruler had his stroke, we few were present. Of course, we know how the accident happened. But only those of us present know. Back in Yanjing City, the people in the city dare not believe it! Grand Marshal, I don’t believe you don’t understand this principle. Otherwise, why did you later lock up Puluhu (Wuzhimai’s eldest son) and the others? Isn’t it because you know clearly in your heart that whether you do it or not, you will bear this bad reputation.”

“So you want me to simply support that child Hela?” Nianhan said with a half-smile.

“Hela is originally the Anban Bojilie. His succession is legitimate and lawful. Moreover, supporting Hela’s succession has three benefits for the Grand Marshal.” Wushu continued calmly, clearly well-prepared. “First, Hela is young, so the Grand Marshal can continue to hold power… We don’t need to pretend like the Song people do. Second, by elevating Hela, everyone under heaven will know that the Grand Marshal has no intention of usurping the throne, and people’s hearts will be settled. Third, by elevating Hela, after the ruler becomes the Retired Emperor, the Grand Marshal will no longer have to keep Puluhu and the others locked up… We are all relatives. Why should it come to this?”

Nianhan’s heart was greatly stirred, but his face did not show it. He only asked in return: “Did Old Fourth think of this himself?”

“I forcibly confined Little Academician Qin at home and forced him to come up with the plan.” Wanyan Wushu was completely unflustered.

Nianhan nodded and laughed lightly: “So that’s why you brought Little Academician Qin and his wife into your home… So this is what you were planning!”

“Then…”

“This matter is not urgent.” Nianhan waved his hand. “Let me think it over more.”

Wushu had no choice but to take his leave.

After Wushu left, Nianhan thought it over and over. The more he thought, the more it seemed right. But given the current sensitive times, he couldn’t help being suspicious and worried, so he didn’t sleep well all night. The next day, he even summoned his two right-hand men, Wanyan Xiyin and Wanyan Yinshu Ke, to ask their opinions.

But unexpectedly, of his two trusted aides, one felt it was somewhat inappropriate, and the other directly opposed it.

“Grand Marshal, the ruler has had a stroke. Supporting the Anban Bojilie to succeed is proper. The Fourth Prince’s words are also reasonable. But such a matter still requires the ruler’s consent… If the ruler agrees, it is supporting the state. If the ruler does not agree and it is done directly, that is called arbitrarily deposing and establishing a ruler, which is instead inappropriate.” Wanyan Xiyin frowned.

“In the ruler’s condition, how can he consent?” Yinshu Ke sneered.

“What if it’s inappropriate?” Nianhan stopped Yinshu Ke and stroked his beard.

“When the new ruler grows up, he will still clash with the Grand Marshal.” Xiyin was completely helpless.

“How can we look that far ahead?” Nianhan finally sighed. “Yinshu Ke, what do you think?”

Already impatient, Yinshu Ke blurted out: “The Fourth Prince has no good intentions…”

“How so?” Nianhan’s spirits lifted.

“Hela is, after all, the Grand Ancestor’s direct grandson and Wushu’s nephew.” Yinshu Ke shook his head. “If Hela succeeds, not to mention the three older princes, the Grand Ancestor’s other sons, and the various Meng’an and Mouke of the Eastern Route Army will all cluster around the new ruler, forming a solid bloc without any rifts. By then, not only will the Grand Marshal’s plan to elevate the Fourth Prince to suppress the others fail, but I fear that before Hela even grows up, he will turn around and make the Grand Marshal also suffer a stroke… At that time, we will only be able to come and attend to the Grand Marshal’s medicine.”

“Nonsense!” Nianhan immediately scolded, but then began to think seriously. “So, you mean it’s best to just let things continue as they are?”

“It would be best if the ruler could lie in bed for eight or ten years!” Yinshu Ke, ignoring Xiyin’s angry glare beside him, did not hide his thoughts at all. “And then Hela also dies of illness, and directly establish Sheyema (Nianhan’s eldest son) as the Anban Bojilie.”

“More and more nonsense…” Nianhan scolded again, but then shook his head helplessly. “The key now is that, no matter what, Old Fourth and his people are going to elevate Hela. Coming to talk about it yesterday was already the utmost in goodwill… Old Fourth is capable.”

Wanyan Xiyin and Wanyan Yinshu Ke both remained silent… Clearly, they too felt that Wanyan Wushu was becoming more and more mature.

“Wushu told me about this yesterday, and this morning he directly invited his brothers to his residence for a gathering. I’m afraid he is privately discussing this matter, trying to get his brothers to unite again.” Nianhan briefly explained the current situation. “In my opinion, if they really stir this up, and both high and low are of the same mind, we will be in trouble.”

Wanyan Xiyin and Wanyan Yinshu Ke still said nothing. After a long while, Xiyin only sighed: “That may be so, but I really can’t think of a way. We can only wait and see what Wushu and the others do, then respond.”

Nianhan was completely helpless and could only let the two leave. He then became even more suspicious.

But no sooner had the two left the Grand Marshal’s residence than Wushu’s move arrived directly. Nianhan hastily sent someone to call his two trusted aides back.

“Go see the Anban Bojilie first?” Xiyin frowned deeply.

“Yes, Wushu’s meaning is to let me see the Anban Bojilie with my own eyes, to test his abilities and character…” Nianhan also frowned deeply. “This is pushing too hard.”

"But it wouldn't be good not to see him, either?" Xi Yin shook his head repeatedly. "If we don't even meet, then what's the point? What will those above and below think?"

"Right, this fourth brother is truly formidable, step by step he's driving me into a corner." Zhan Han said somewhat irritably. "We have to see him eventually."

"If we absolutely must see him..." Yin Shu Ke suddenly interjected. "Should we have He La come here, or should the Grand Marshal go to see He La? I mean, since we just imprisoned Pu Lu Hu and the others, we need to be careful. Under no circumstances should you go in person to He La's place! Nor should you go to the Fourth Prince's mansion or anyone else's to meet him!"

"But having the Anban Bogilie come to see the Grand Marshal—what kind of arrangement is that?" Xi Yin also said somewhat irritably. "If I were Wu Zhu, I'd just disagree and make a fuss, and see who gets more criticism."

Zhan Han finally spread his hands, ready to make a decision.

But just then, Yin Shu Ke suddenly made a suggestion: "How about the Department of State Affairs? The national lord's traveling palace is the most awkward place—absolutely cannot go there. In Yanjing, that's the only place that's decent."

Xi Yin's eyes lit up directly: "Right!"

Zhan Han also nodded in sudden realization.

And soon, Yin Shu Ke frowned again: "But after seeing He La, what words should we use to send him off?"

Xi Yin grew furious again.

Zhan Han, however, stroked his beard and chuckled: "What are you thinking about, you wretch? Setting aside the matter of deposing or establishing, I also have a mind to take a good look at what He La is really like... He is, after all, the Anban Bogilie, the next national lord."

Yin Shu Ke finally shut his mouth, while Xi Yin seemed to want to speak but held back.

And so, Zhan Han directly sent a reply to Wu Zhu's side, arranging for all the Bogilie and marshals to meet together at the Department of State Affairs the next day to see the still-underage Anban Bogilie Wanyan He La and come to a consensus.

Learning that the people on Wu Zhu's side had also dispersed, nothing more happened that day. Zhan Han even had the leisure to write a diary entry at home... This was a method learned from the Song people. According to some Han Chinese staff officers, that Zhao Song official liked to keep a diary. Of course, this diary was not that kind of diary—Zhan Han hadn't stooped to the point of recording his personal mental journey in a diary, and besides, he learned to read late and didn't have that level of cultural refinement.

In fact, this Grand Marshal only wrote a single line on that page of paper—Xi Yin hasn't been well lately; he's been getting close to Wu Zhu.

Then, he tore it up again.