Chapter 241: Conspiracy

"The Northern Di are truly stupid; this time, it really is getting something for nothing."

Emerging from the Court of State Ceremonial guesthouse, Dou Kuang looked back with an incomparably mocking expression.

"Exactly, now our few families have gained an advantage at the Border Market for nothing," Han Xin laughed loudly.

Fan Tong's face showed displeasure, and he said to Dou Kuang, "What did you write on the paper you gave the Northern Di?"

He had no idea what the content of the note was.

Therefore, after leaving the guesthouse, the more he thought about it, the angrier he became.

Dou Kuang said, "It's not just you who doesn't know; the others don't know either. The fewer people who know about this matter, the better, but I can tell you that this is a scheme to deal with Yan Wang."

Han Xin and the others had originally wanted to ask as well, but since Fan Tong spoke first, they were just about to press Dou Kuang when, hearing him say this, they simply shut their mouths.

They dispersed.

Dou Kuang returned to the Prime Minister's residence.

Seeing that the light was still on in his father's study, he walked over and knocked on the door.

Hearing a "Come in," he walked inside.

"Father, I have met with the Northern Di envoy. He has agreed; this time, all six of our families will be able to gain great benefits at the Border Market." Dou Kuang kept his head low, not daring to look his father in the eye.

Although Dou Wei always appeared easygoing in front of court officials, he knew how stern Dou Wei was at home.

"Good," Dou Wei said simply, his eyes fixed on a piece of paper.

This was intelligence from Yanzhou.

Ever since Yan Wang took control of Yanzhou, he had sent a retainer to Yanzhou to be responsible for collecting intelligence on Yanzhou.

Therefore, although he was in Jinling, he was perfectly clear about what was happening in Yanzhou.

After finishing the contents of the paper, he frowned deeply. Seeing Dou Kuang standing before him, he said, "You come and look at this too."

Dou Kuang leaned over, and at a single glance, his expression changed violently. "Father, this Yan Wang is simply lawless! Isn't this digging up the very foundation of our Rich Clans!"

The content on this paper was none other than the matter of the Yanzhou Official Examination.

Every descendant of a Rich Clan was clear about the importance of the Recommendation System to the Rich Clans.

This meant whether or not Rich Clan descendants could enter the officialdom.

And the Official Examination that had been set up now completely defied the Recommendation System.

This meant that Rich Clan descendants would have to compete on the same stage as the humble-born scholars they looked down upon.

In his view, this was a complete humiliation to them.

"You are right; the Recommendation System is the foundation of the Rich Clans." A cold light flashed in Dou Wei's eyes. "This Yan Wang cannot be left alive."

Although the matter of the Official Examination was only in Yanzhou.

In his view, it had formed a substantial threat to the Rich Clans.

As soon as the news of the Yanzhou Official Examination spread throughout Great Song.

Yan Wang would become a virtuous lord in the eyes of the humble-born scholars of Great Song, who would yearn for him.

Moreover, although the current Rich Clan descendants of Great Song occupied the high-level officialdom, and local Rich Clans occupied the mid-level officialdom.

The low-level officials were supported by the humble-born scholars who relied on them.

If the low-level officials ran away, who would handle things for them?

Dou Kuang's expression tightened; he felt the heavy killing intent on his father.

At this moment, his father had developed the intent to kill Yan Wang.

"It's just that Yan Wang is now stationed in Yanzhou, holding 150,000 troops; wanting to kill him is not easy." Dou Kuang shook his head. "The Yuan Family are truly a bunch of idiots, to have actually achieved Yan Wang like this."

The frantic killing intent in Dou Wei's heart grew even more intense because of this sentence from Dou Kuang.

Before receiving this intelligence, he had only been trying to have a half-dead Yan Wang.

But now, the voice in his heart told him that if there was an opportunity to get rid of Yan Wang, he absolutely could not hold back.

As for Yanzhou after Yan Wang's death, he would think of a way then.

"How is Ma Chong doing now?" Dou Wei suddenly asked.

"He is having a grand time. Taking our Dou Family's silver, he is indulging in wine and women in Jinling, almost forgetting about Qinzhou entirely." Dou Kuang suddenly smiled gloomily.

This Ma Chong was the eldest son of the Ma Family, but he was not the legitimate son.

The Ma Family only had one legitimate son, and that was Ma Han.

After Ma Chong's mother died, there had been a fierce argument between Ma Chong and Ma Xuan, after which Ma Xuan sent him to Jingshi.

Since then, Ma Chong had never returned to Qinzhou.

"Hmm, keep him well-fed; it won't be long before he is of use." Dou Wei's eyes narrowed.

"Yes, Father." Dou Kuang nodded.

Dou Wei then waved his hand at Dou Kuang, letting him leave.

After his figure disappeared, a person walked out from behind the screen in the study.

"Uncle wants to deal with Yan Wang and the Ma Family?" Third Prince Zhao Mu looked in the direction Dou Kuang had left.

Seeing Zhao Mu, Dou Wei's stern expression suddenly softened, completely different from when he saw Dou Kuang.

He said, "Uncle is doing this for your own good. The Han Family lost Yuan Li, and the Second Prince's prestige in the court has greatly diminished. Now, the only threat to you is the Deposed Crown Prince. If he really gains the support of Yan Wang, the Emperor might truly be able to support him back onto the position of Crown Prince. Furthermore, this Yan Wang is too arrogant."

Pausing slightly, he looked toward the North Territory. "And if you ascend to the throne, a Yan Wang holding heavy troops is also a threat to you; he must be eliminated."

Zhao Mu nodded. Since he was small, his mother and uncle had always told him that he was the person who would be the Emperor of Great Song in the future.

He also took this as his own goal.

Winners are kings and losers are bandits; his uncle had told him countless times about the miserable ends of those princes after failing in the struggle for the throne.

After Zhao Heng ascended the throne back then, four princes were ordered to commit suicide.

Three princes were exiled and died on the road.

Only Prince Chun remained, an Imperial Prince who knew nothing but eating, drinking, and making merry.

Yet even so, Zhao Heng subjected Prince Chun to the utmost humiliation.

Prince Chun, the Foolish Prince.

No official of the Great Song Dynasty was unaware of what this meant.

At present, whether it was the faction of the Second Prince or the faction of the Crown Prince.

Both had accumulated deep-seated hatred in their struggle against one another.

He was very clear that once he failed, none of them would let him off.

Likewise, he would not let them off either.

"It is just a pity that the eighty thousand Forbidden Army of Jinzhou died like that," Zhao Mu sighed softly.

Dou Wei gently stroked the top of Zhao Mu's head, but realizing it was inappropriate, he withdrew his hand, "There is nothing to pity; on the day you ascend the throne, the troops of the Dou Family will all be your Forbidden Army."

"Many thanks, Uncle," Zhao Mu bowed slightly, feeling grateful in his heart.

The Han Family.

Han Zheng sent Liang Feng out of the residence with a smile on his face.

After the six people parted ways, Liang Feng took a detour and arrived at the Han residence.

He handed a letter to Han Zheng.

"Please go back and tell Minister Liang that if the Second Prince can ascend the throne in the future, he will certainly treat the Liang Family generously, and these Sea Trade Rights will definitely not be given to anyone else, only to the Liang Family," Han Zheng said.

During this period, he had been worrying about the Second Prince's affairs, and he had not expected the Liang Family to take the initiative to visit and be willing to unite with his Han Family.

Besides curbing Yan Wang in the north, it also carried the intention of contending with the Dou Family at court.

This truly made him exceptionally delighted.

"I will tell my father exactly what Minister Han has said," Liang Feng cupped his hands, though a trace of cunning amusement was hidden in the depths of his eyes.