Chapter 507: Sowing Discord

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Three tables were set up at the entrance of the Government Office, with two people sitting in front of each table.

They were holding brushes, recording the names of the scholars who had come to sign up.

Mi Wen's face was currently piled high with smiles.

After discussing the establishment of the Propaganda Department with Yan Wang, he suddenly felt as if the clouds had parted to reveal the sun.

He took the official mandate to the Government Academy to requisition six students, then went everywhere to post notices, recruiting Propaganda Officers.

At the same time, following Yan Wang's orders, he contacted Liu Fu again.

He had the Government Office find a room for a Propaganda Pavilion in the Yanzhou Seven Commanderies and the various county government offices below them, to be used for handling official business.

Although the Propaganda Department was directly under the jurisdiction of the Prince's Mansion, they were not completely unrelated to the Government Office.

In the future, they would also cooperate with local government offices to carry out some propaganda matters.

It was just that the newspaper office to be established, and the department responsible for external propaganda in the future, would be entirely under the jurisdiction of Yan Wang.

"Ahem, you all continue to keep watch here, I... this official is going to Jinling Pool to inspect the newspaper office." Mi Wen was wearing his official robes today, his head held high and chest puffed out.

Now that he was an official of the Prince's Mansion, he also had to pay attention to his image at all times.

While recruiting Propaganda Officers, he had requested a shop by Golden Scale Pond to be used for the newspaper office.

It was said that this shop was previously the property of a Rich Clan in Yan Commandery.

Originally, he hadn't cared much about the location of the newspaper office and was prepared to just find any place.

But Yan Wang had specifically designated this shop for him.

The implication was that the newspaper office, besides propaganda, was also a business.

Naturally, it had to be chosen in a bustling place.

Arriving at the side of Golden Scale Pond, he found the newspaper office opposite the hot pot shop.

At this time, the plaque for the newspaper office had already been hung up, with four gold-plated characters on it: Yan Prefecture Newspaper Office.

Entering the newspaper office,

the tables, chairs, calligraphy, and paintings inside were all fully furnished.

As soon as the newspaper office staff arrived, they could officially begin publishing the Newspaper.

Feeling quite satisfied, he couldn't help but start planning how to lay out the first issue of the Newspaper.

Although he had frequently entered and exited the Prince's Mansion these past few days to discuss with Yan Wang, he was still somewhat nervous.

After all, a thing like a newspaper had never existed in the Great Song.

And since Yan Wang wanted him to do it, he had to make it look the part and strive to make the newspaper an essential item in the Great Song.

……

Prince's Mansion.

While Mi Wen was busy with the affairs of the Propaganda Department, an unremarkable carriage stopped in front of the Prince's Mansion.

Then a person in a black robe stepped down from the carriage and was led into the Prince's Mansion.

"Prefect Ma, please follow me, His Highness is already waiting in the Hui Ke Tang," Xu Lie said.

The black-robed person took off his hood; it was none other than Ma Han.

After receiving a secret invitation from Yan Wang, he had concealed his tracks and snuck to Yancheng.

"Please." Ma Han followed behind Xu Lie.

Before long, the two arrived at the Hui Ke Tang.

At this time, Zhao Xu was already waiting for him.

Seeing Zhao Xu, Ma Han couldn't help but quicken his pace to greet him, "Ma Han pays respects to Your Highness."

"No need for formalities." Zhao Xu looked Ma Han over.

Since taking over as the Si Province Shepherd, the immaturity on Ma Han had gradually faded, and he appeared increasingly steady.

Of course, this was likely also related to the drastic changes in the Ma Family during this period; as the saying goes, experience makes one mature.

Having Ma Han sit opposite him, Zhao Xu ordered a maid to serve tea.

"This time, Your Highness secretly having me come here must be to discuss something of extreme importance, right?" Picking up the tea, Ma Han asked directly before even taking a sip.

During this period, the Ma Family and Yan Wang had cooperated a great deal, and the two were already familiar with each other, so there was no need to beat around the bush.

Zhao Xu nodded; he had always liked to say what was on his mind, so he said, "In the peace negotiations, are you aware of the matter of the marriage alliance?"

"I am naturally aware of this matter." Ma Han's gaze immediately dimmed.

It was precisely because of these peace negotiations that the Imperial Court had betrayed their Ma Family completely.

Now Qinzhou and Yongzhou had become the riding grounds for the Northern Di.

"Then you must also know that the candidates for the peace negotiations were chosen by Dou Wei and Tiemuta to humiliate this Prince," Zhao Xu added.

"Yes, at the time I was also extremely indignant, but my position was low and my words carried little weight, so I really..." Speaking to this point, he sighed.

"This Prince does not blame you; even this Prince found it difficult to stop these peace negotiations. But for Dou Wei and the Northern Di to humiliate this Prince like this, how could this Prince let this marriage alliance just happen?" Zhao Xu placed his teacup heavily on the table.

Pausing, he said, "So this Prince wants your Ma Family to cooperate with me to stage a bride-snatching!"

The hand Ma Han was using to hold the teacup shook, nearly dropping it to the ground. He was suspicious and uncertain, "Your Highness, if we do this and it angers the Northern Di, and the Northern Di army comes again, wouldn't it provoke the Emperor's wrath? When the time comes, the Imperial Court will hold us accountable..."

Hearing this, Zhao Xu laughed heartily, "If Mule Hongzhen had the heart to continue fighting the Great Song, he wouldn't have negotiated peace with the Imperial Court to focus on dealing with this Prince. This Prince can guarantee that even if we snatch the bride, the Northern Di will only be able to swallow their teeth and stomach the loss."

He absolutely did not believe the Northern Di's bullshit about turning swords into plowshares.

If an enemy is reasoning with you, it must be because they have been forced into a corner with no other choice.

If it were a wise emperor, he would certainly not agree to peace negotiations.

Even if he did agree, he would take advantage of the situation.

He would never be like Zhao Heng, blindly appeasing them and only coveting his own interests.

Of course, this is unavoidable; many such bizarre incidents have occurred throughout contemporary history.

For example, in the Sino-French War at the end of the Qing Dynasty, even though the Qing Dynasty clearly won, they signed a treaty that humiliated the nation and forfeited its sovereignty, involving both reparations and the ceding of territory.

Ma Han suddenly recalled that although the Northern Di had negotiated peace with the Great Song Dynasty Imperial Court, this peace agreement did not seem to include Yan Wang.

This meant that Yan Wang and the Northern Di were still in a state of war, and the Northern Expedition had not actually ended.

It had merely stopped along the northwestern front, with the focus shifting to Yanzhou.

In this light, Yan Wang's act of snatching the bride was actually within reason.

After all, since the Northern Di wanted to put Yan Wang to death, what did it matter if Yan Wang snatched the bride?

Furthermore, a few words from Yan Wang had also awakened him.

Yan Wang was right; the Northern Di had always been extremely arrogant, so if they had the confidence to destroy the Great Song, why would they negotiate peace?

However, even so, he understood the current situation of the Ma Family, and they could no longer afford any more turmoil.

The Northern Di and the Imperial Court might not be able to do anything to Yan Wang, but if they vented their anger on his Ma Family, his Ma Family would be in serious trouble.

Therefore, he was still somewhat hesitant.

Zhao Xu studied Ma Han's expression, roughly gauging what Ma Han was thinking.

Ma Han was now the Head of the Family for the Ma Family, so he naturally had to consider the Ma Family.

Thus, he said, "There is one more thing that the Seven Great Influential Clans of the Great Song are all aware of, but they have uniquely excluded your Ma Family."

"I hope Your Highness will enlighten me!" Ma Han's expression tightened.

He then revealed the plan of the seven influential clans, including Dou Wei, to officially partition the territory.

After hearing this, Ma Han's face changed drastically, "What do they want to do!"

"What they want to do is actually something you know better than this King; after all, your Ma Family is also one of the Eight Great Influential Clans, but they no longer view your Ma Family as one of their own."

Upon hearing this, Ma Han clenched his fists tightly.