Chapter 396: First Volume_Chapter 396: Reconciliation

First Volume_Chapter 396: Reconciliation

The most crucial point is that Qin Feng toppled the Eleventh Prince, yet the Sage showed no reaction at all — clearly Qin Feng has already grown powerful.

The Chancellor of the Imperial Academy weighed it carefully, thoughtful: "Since you already address yourself as my junior, there's no need to stand on ceremony. From now on, we are all family. But I must say one thing — it's easy to be friendly in private, but being friendly in public is troublesome. Without a proper pretext, we'll surely be criticized."

This point, Qin Feng had already considered.

Although Qin Feng had always been most wary of involving himself in court politics, the situation was now clear — the Sage's Hedging Art grew more vicious by the day.

Even his own father Qin Tianhu, as Supervisor of War, had recently been attending court keeping his mouth shut whenever possible.

If this continued, once the Sage propped up the New Party, the impact on the Qin Family would be considerable.

Since it couldn't be avoided, better to plan ahead!

Qin Feng narrowed his eyes and blurted out: "We take the rejuvenation of Daliang as our duty, the revitalization of the nation as our purpose. Moreover, the Imperial Academy and the Court of Imperial Sacrifices have Peach and Plum All Over the World, revered by literati across the land. We ought to found the Taolin Party, to seek welfare for the scholars of the world. As the saying goes, when literati flourish, Daliang is strong."

The Chancellor of the Imperial Academy and the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices had originally wanted to take things "From Long-Term Planning."

After all, Gao Ming's faction had only just fallen not long ago, and now Qin Feng wanted to found a new party — this move was nothing if not astonishing.

But after interacting with Qin Feng, both the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy and the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices understood this young man's methods — showing sincerity now would bring great benefits later.

After much deliberation, the two nodded heavily and spoke in unison: "Then we shall acknowledge Young Master Qin as Party Chief!"

……

Imperial Palace, Imperial Study.

Crack!

Accompanying a sharp sound, the tea cup was smashed into pieces. The Liang Emperor's gaze was fiercer than ever before. Even he had not anticipated that the child who once brought him boundless delight had now become so difficult to handle. The Liang Emperor had just dug a pit for Qin Feng, placing him in a position of illegitimate authority, and Qin Feng had turned around to ally with the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and the Imperial Academy, founding the Taolin Party, and counter-attacking the Liang Emperor.

"Good for you, Qin Feng! Do you truly believe I can't do anything to you?"

Seeing the Liang Emperor so furious, Zhang Xiuye hurriedly poured oil on the fire: "Sage, the brat Qin Feng grows ever more rampant. If not removed now, he will surely become a calamity later!"

The Liang Emperor glared at Zhang Xiuye, secretly vexed — in terms of ability, this Zhang Xiuye was not one ten-thousandth of Li Zhan!

But Li Zhan had grown too close to Qin Feng, so the Liang Emperor had no choice but to engage in Clearing the Emperor's Side, propping up this Zhang Xiuye who only knew how to be Stirring the Excrement Stick.

The Liang Emperor snorted coldly, and Zhang Xiuye understood the Sage was displeased, tactfully withdrawing.

Black Guard stepped forward slowly: "Sage, the brat Qin Feng is gradually revealing his vicious nature!"

The Liang Emperor nodded — this point needed no reminder from others. Instead of answering, he asked: "I truly cannot fathom how that scoundrel Qin Feng could change so quickly? Even I was somewhat caught off guard."

Black Guard lowered his head and said in a deep voice: "Please forgive this one's offense, Sage."

The Liang Emperor said coldly: "Just speak!"

Black Guard drew a breath and replied softly: "Does the Sage still remember the Liuli Workshop?"

The Liang Emperor was stunned, a flash of regret crossing his eyes: "Could it really be that I acted too hastily?"

Black Guard's gaze was solemn: "The Sage was naturally not wrong, but seizing the entire Liuli Workshop business directly inevitably caused Qin Feng to harbor resentment. That scoundrel values profit above all — he hadn't even started earning money before being kicked out, and was already displeased. And later, when the Sage sent us to assassinate the Di's Chen Si, it was also somewhat improper, but no one expected the Di to retaliate against Qin Feng."

"Thus, Qin Feng's dissatisfaction with the Sage grew ever stronger."

"And with Gao Ming's fall, the Sage's plan to prop up the New Party became more urgent, and Qin Tianhu was somewhat Cold Neglected. Qin Feng feared the Sage would engage in Killing the Donkey After Grinding, so he became extremely sensitive. Whatever the Sage did, that scoundrel had to respond."

The Liang Emperor closed his eyes and drew a deep breath.

After a long while, he could not help but smile bitterly: "Your words have indeed awakened me. It was indeed I who shaped Qin Feng into this state. What panacea exists under heaven? The Hedging Art works on ordinary ministers, but applied to Qin Feng, it requires some adjustment."

"What do you think I should do?"

Black Guard had long had a plan in mind and said cautiously: "What troubles the Sage now is too many. Outside, the Di army presses the border; within, Powerful Clan are entrenched everywhere. The Piaoqi, the Chariot Cavalry, and the Border Army — all three are influenced by the Powerful Clan, obeying orders but not Imperial Summons. In Jingzhong, the Pro-War Faction is powerful, and propping up the New Party will cause the Pro-War Faction to push back. Making an enemy of Qin Feng at this time would likely…"

"This one believes we should do our utmost to appease the Qin Family, let them devote themselves fully to dealing with Lin Taibao. As long as we hold until the later stages of the war, there will surely be changes. When the time comes, the Sage can settle all accounts — it won't be too late."

The Liang Emperor nodded, pondered for a moment: "Issue my Military Order — Supervisor of War Qin Tianhu's contributions cannot be ignored. Bestow a golden belt!"

At this point, the Liang Emperor suddenly thought of something and pressed: "That Qin Feng — besides the Taolin Party, is there any movement from Beixi?"

Black Guard kept his head bowed very low: "Beixi County is like an Iron Barrel. Previously, two Black Guards were sent in for Secret Infiltration, but the result… no word at all. Based on what we know, the Di also had plans for Secret Infiltration, but it was Stone Sinking into the Sea. There must be a department in Beixi County dedicated to Military Intelligence."

Hearing this, the Liang Emperor could not help but smile bitterly: "I had a premonition! I sit in the palace and see through Heaven. That Qin Feng sits in Jingdu and knows Beixi County like the back of his hand — this scoundrel is practically my copy!"

Black Guard added: "There is one more matter — a thousand Highland Horse have entered Beixi County."

"Oh?" The Liang Emperor's eyes lit up. These days he had been frowning with worry, and finally heard good news: "I didn't expect Qin Feng actually pulled it off. Besides the thousand Highland Horse, are there other items?"

Black Guard's gaze was deep: "Qin Feng's army are all extremely alert. Black Guards dare not approach for Surveillance, only watch from afar. That Gaoshan Country has likely been bought off by Qin Feng, and… Qin Feng is also arranging Merchant Caravan to transport Weapons and Armor to Gaoshan Country, with several Tianji Camp Guards accompanying them."

The Liang Emperor immediately understood what was happening and could not help but sigh: "What did I say? Although this scoundrel Qin Feng is hard to use, once used well, it is Half the Effort, Double the Result. With the strength of one man, he pins down the Di army and can also buy off Gaoshan Country, attacking the Di's Flank. One such man is Better Than Ten Thousand Troops."

"Enough. Until the National War ends, I will only restrain him slightly in the Imperial Court. I should still let Qin Feng loose to do as he wishes."

Black Guard bowed and withdrew: "The Sage is wise."

……

Qin Feng was overjoyed — after continuous losses for so long, he had finally begun to profit again.

Candy had become the new favorite of literary nobles in Jiangnan, and was gradually expanding northward along trade routes, reaching the Three Sixty Counties of Jingdu.

Qin Xiaofu followed the Merchant Caravan back to Jingdu, threw himself at Qin Feng's leg, and began weeping.

"Young Master, this one missed you terribly."