Chapter 322: Zhu Tuo's Advice

Yancheng.

After a six-day journey, Zhao Xu and his party arrived here.

The accompanying Cavalry had sent word of his return to the Government Office in advance.

Liu Fu had long since led a group of officials to wait at the West City Gate.

Upon seeing Zhao Xu, a joyful smile appeared on his face, "Your subordinates welcome Your Highness's triumphant return."

"Welcome Your Highness's triumphant return!" the officials said in unison.

During the war in Jinzhou, reports on the progress of the war were continuously sent to the Government Office.

After all, they were responsible for managing the transport of grain and fodder.

Therefore, they were naturally aware of the news that Jincheng had been captured.

"Everyone, rise," Zhao Xu said with a smile, looking at the officials prostrated on the ground.

While in Jinzhou, he had felt somewhat suppressed.

But upon returning to Yanzhou, his mood immediately lightened.

After all, the land beneath his feet was his own fief; stepping on it felt solid.

The crowd stood up and cleared a path, and Zhao Xu dismounted and headed toward the Prince's Mansion with the officials.

On both sides of the street, the commoners all wore smiles on their faces when they saw the Yan Wang had returned.

For every day the Yan Wang was away, their hearts were filled with anxiety.

After all, everyone in Yanzhou knew that the comfortable life they were currently living was brought to them by the Yan Wang.

The Yan Wang being safe meant they were safe.

They arrived at the Prince's Mansion.

Feng'er and Luan'er were already waiting at the entrance.

Seeing Zhao Xu, tears instantly welled up in their eyes.

Hindered by the many officials following Zhao Xu, Feng'er forcibly held back her tears to keep them from falling, and busily instructed the mansion servants to serve tea and fruit in the Council Hall.

Luan'er did not have this restraint, and she kept wiping the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief.

Seeing this, Zhao Xu quietly winked at her.

Luan'er could not help but break into a smile through her tears.

Liu Fu noticed this, gave a light cough, and pretended not to see, continuing to escort Zhao Xu to the Council Hall along with the other officials.

Now, the Yan Wang belonged to them.

"Your Highness is truly brilliant and martial; last time you turned the tide in Yanzhou, and now you have defeated Xiliang in Jinzhou. Whether it is the Northern Di or Xiliang, they must be trembling with fear upon seeing Your Highness."

Zhao Xu sat down, and Liu Fu cupped his hands and began to flatter him.

"What Tutor Liu says is absolutely correct. To defeat both the Northern Di and Xiliang in succession—currently, only Your Highness has achieved this," the Chief of the Personnel Department of the Government Office chimed in.

"For this merit, the Imperial Court will surely reward Your Highness heavily."

"..."

The officials spoke one after another, the atmosphere lively, as if it were a festival.

After all, to them, the more prestigious the Yan Wang's status in the Great Song, the more they felt they had glory on their faces.

Zhao Xu wore a smile, quietly listening to the officials' sycophancy.

It was not that he liked being flattered.

It was just that after winning a battle, there naturally ought to be a festive atmosphere.

Otherwise, a deathly silence would seem dull.

The officials naturally understood this point; they spoke one after another, all wanting to liven things up.

However, as his gaze swept over the officials, he saw Zhu Tuo staring fixedly at him, appearing to have something to say.

"Commandery Governor Zhu, do you have something to say?" Zhao Xu asked.

Hearing this, the crowd looked toward Zhu Tuo.

Being singled out by Zhao Xu, Zhu Tuo hesitated for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, this subordinate is worried that Your Highness's merit is so great it overshadows the master, turning a great victory into a great tragedy."

Once Zhu Tuo's words were spoken, the officials immediately fell silent.

Liu Fu kept his hands folded in front of his abdomen; he had thought of this.

But he just did not want to dampen this celebratory atmosphere at the moment.

Yet he had also anticipated that this Zhu Tuo would speak up.

Since entering the Government Office, this Zhu Tuo had always spoken his mind and was never afraid of offending anyone.

Zhao Xu was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter, "With just this bit of merit, it can hardly be considered merit that overshadows the master, right?"

Taking a sip of tea, he continued, "In Yanzhou, this Prince only pacified the Yuan Family, and the credit for Yanguan lies mostly with the Forbidden Army soldiers. As for this matter in Jinzhou, this Prince indeed has great merit, but the Ma Family will certainly not attribute the merit solely to this Prince."

Zhu Tuo's face remained expressionless, "What Your Highness says is correct, but this subordinate only hopes Your Highness will take precautions. Yanzhou is located at the frontier, and this war will not cease. After all, when it reaches the point where there is nothing left to reward, merit is no longer merit, but poison."

Zhao Xu nodded slightly; in fact, he had already thought of this while in Jinzhou.

Therefore, while in Jinzhou, he had left a stain on himself, so his merit would not be perfect.

Thus he said, "Well said. Therefore, after this Prince captured Jincheng, I wiped out the Four Great Wealthy Clans of Jinzhou and seized their family assets. Yang He, I have brought back the deeds to the mines held by these wealthy clans; take them later and have the trading firm take over these mines."

"Yes, Your Highness," Yang He replied.

Hearing this, a smile appeared on Zhu Tuo's face, "It seems this subordinate was overthinking. Your Highness is brilliant."

"Your Highness is naturally brilliant," Liu Fu laughed, feeling much more relaxed.

Among the Four Great Wealthy Clans of Jinzhou, quite a few were officials.

There was no concrete evidence that they had all defected to Xiliang.

With the Yan Wang wiping out the Four Great Wealthy Clans, the officials of the noble clans would inevitably use this to attack the Yan Wang.

Moreover, Yan Wang has seized the family assets of the Four Great Noble Clans.

In this way, Yan Wang's reputation for greed and tyranny is considered confirmed.

But because of this, the Emperor will instead only feel more at ease with Yan Wang.

After all, being greedy for wealth is far better than being greedy for power.

He then gave Zhu Tuo a look, signaling him not to bring up any sensitive topics today, and immediately said, "Since His Highness has returned, we should naturally host a welcoming banquet; tonight, we shall not stop until we are drunk."

Although Zhao Xu does not fear the threat of outshining his master, since he can avoid some trouble, he still prefers to avoid it as much as possible.

Zhu Tuo's reminder was correct.

But one must still enjoy oneself when it is time to enjoy.

When Liu Fu mentioned not stopping until drunk, he immediately craved it; for two months of marching in Jinzhou, he had not eaten well or slept well.

Now that he is back, he naturally wants to indulge in a feast.

That night.

Zhao Xu held a banquet at the Prince's Mansion, which did not disperse until midnight with the officials.

After the dead-drunk officials had each departed, Zhao Xu was supported by Feng'er and Luan'er back to the bedchamber.

Letting Zhao Xu lie on the bed, Luan'er brought hot water to wipe Zhao Xu down, while Feng'er went to the kitchen to fetch sour plum soup to sober Zhao Xu up.

When she moved back to the bedchamber, she saw that the bed curtains on Yan Wang's bed had been lowered.

A whimpering sound was being emitted.

Carrying the sour plum soup, she walked forward curiously, even using two fingers to pull aside the curtains.

"Oh my." Seeing the scene inside the curtains, Feng'er's face instantly turned bright red, and she was about to turn and leave.

But at this moment, a hand reached out and suddenly pulled her inside, and the sour plum soup in her hand tumbled to the floor.

"Your Highness..." Feng'er's voice, both reproachful and delighted, rang out.

Wuwei.

Tuoba Hao sat on the golden Dragon Throne, throwing the memorial in his hand fiercely in front of Li Xin, his head spinning with dizziness.

The officials and generals below the steps were so frightened they dared not make a sound.

News extremely unfavorable to Xiliang had arrived from Jinzhou.

Tuoba Wuji had died in battle, and the 150,000 elite Xiliang troops were all but wiped out.

Yan Wang's troops were attacking cities and seizing strongholds in Jinzhou, and the cities originally occupied by Xiliang were being captured one after another.

The three passes to the west of Jinzhou had also been taken, and now the great army was pressing directly toward Tongguan.

"150,000 elite Xiliang troops have just been buried in Jinzhou like this!" Tuoba Hao's hand gripping the chair almost squeezed out blood.

"Father Emperor, this son is willing to lead 300,000 troops to Jinzhou to retake Jincheng."

At this moment, a young man stepped out; he was the Crown Prince of Xiliang, Tuobawen.