Chapter 1121: Conferring a Title?【3】

Upon hearing these two names, Jian Shuo, who was kneeling in the great hall, moved his body involuntarily.

He Jin...

He Jin is easy enough to deal with.

The current He Jin possesses nothing but the empty title of Grand General.

He can neither mobilize armies nor does he have troops in his hands; the only thing He Jin can rely on now is Duan Yu.

The difficult one is Duan Yu.

After pondering for quite a while, Jian Shuo still could not think of how best to handle Duan Yu.

"Empress Dowager, if there is truly no other way... why not... why not take the initiative to win Duan Yu over?"

Hmm?

Empress Dowager Dong raised her eyebrows and looked down at Jian Shuo: "You say... you want Me to win Duan Yu over?"

"Wasn't it you who said at the beginning that Duan Yu had a close relationship with He Jin, and told Me to be wary of him?"

"If not for your words, why would I have let Ding Jianyang blockade Hangu Pass?"

"And why would I have summoned Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun to Luoyang?"

"Now you want Me to win Duan Yu over?"

Jian Shuo's expression was bitter.

If he hadn't been unable to think of how to keep Duan Yu in check, he would never have said such a thing.

He and Duan Yu had conflicts, after all.

Although it could not be called a blood feud, they were certainly not on good terms.

It was simply a case of having no other choice.

"What are you thinking?" Empress Dowager Dong looked at Jian Shuo with satisfaction and said: "Will that barbarian from Liangzhou submit to Me?"

Jian Shuo nodded and said: "Empress Dowager, think about it. The reason Duan Yu is close to He Jin is because of the relationship between Shi Hou and He Jin."

"Now that Shi Hou has gone missing, He Jin effectively has no opportunity to support Shi Hou."

"Then, Empress Dowager, you can naturally win Duan Yu over."

"Regardless of who becomes the Crown Prince or succeeds to the throne, as long as you can give Duan Yu some benefits, he will naturally support that person."

"Why not have you, Empress Dowager, win Duan Yu over directly? Whatever He Jin can promise Duan Yu, you can naturally offer as well."

"As long as Duan Yu agrees, and as long as the Crown Prince successfully ascends the throne, you can slowly deal with Duan Yu later."

"The difficulty lies in getting through the current crisis first."

Empress Dowager Dong frowned as she listened to Jian Shuo's words.

Although she did not involve herself in court politics, that did not mean she understood nothing.

Since it was a matter of winning someone over, there would always be a price to pay.

What could be used to win Duan Yu over?

"That barbarian from Liangzhou is already the Governor of Liangzhou, holds the rank of 'Opening an Office with the Three Excellencies,' and has already been enfeoffed as a Marquis of Ten Thousand Households. You say you want to win him over—what can I use to win him over?"

"What else can I give him?" Empress Dowager Dong asked, looking at Jian Shuo.

Jian Shuo's eyeballs darted around rapidly.

"Empress Dowager, this humble general thinks... we could actually... confer a royal title upon Duan Yu!" Jian Shuo raised his head.

"What!"

Empress Dowager Dong stood up abruptly, pointing at Jian Shuo: "Jian Shuo, you have great audacity! Do you know what you are saying!"

"Confer a royal title!"

"You want Me to confer a royal title upon Duan Yu?"

"Why don't you just ask Me to hand over the Great Han's empire to Duan Yu on a silver platter!"

"The ancestral teachings of the Great Han state: those not of the Liu clan who are made kings shall be attacked by all under heaven!"

"Jian Shuo, are you trying to make Me a sinner for all eternity?"

"Empress Dowager, this humble general... this humble general would not dare!"

Jian Shuo hurriedly kowtowed and said: "Empress Dowager, this humble general thinks only of you, of His Majesty, of the Crown Prince, and of the Great Han. How could I have the slightest disloyal thought?"

"Empress Dowager, please calm your anger. Listen to what this humble general has to say first."

Empress Dowager Dong frowned at Jian Shuo, suppressing the anger in her heart: "Speak!"

Kneeling on the ground, Jian Shuo took a deep breath and said: "Empress Dowager, this humble general is not suggesting you confer a royal title upon Duan Yu immediately."

"It is merely a promise."

Empress Dowager Dong's brow remained furrowed.

Even if it were just a promise, such a promise could not be made lightly.

"Empress Dowager, Duan Yu is in Liangzhou, and last year he restored the Hexi Corridor and opened up the Western Regions."

"Since he wants to develop the Western Regions, why not give him a task and let him properly develop his Western Regions?"

"As long as he can bring the Western Regions back into the territory of the Great Han, you can promise him the title of King of the Western Regions. But the prerequisite is that he must incorporate the Western Regions into the Great Han's map."

"Ever since the Yongchu era, the Western Regions have been out of the Great Han's control. In recent years, the Wusun and the Northern Xiongnu have grown extremely powerful by relying on the states of the Western Regions."

"Whether it is the Wusun or the Northern Xiongnu, neither will sit idly by and watch Duan Yu occupy the Western Regions."

"As long as the Wusun and the Northern Xiongnu keep Duan Yu in check, even if the Liangzhou troops are strong, it is impossible for him to resolve the Western Regions issue overnight."

"And once the Crown Prince successfully succeeds to the throne and stabilizes the four quarters, it will be much simpler to deal with Duan Yu."

"Let Duan Yu go to the Western Regions to expand the territory; with just a promise, I fear he will never complete it in his lifetime."

"Even if he were lucky enough to complete it..."

"The Liangzhou troops and vast amounts of money and grain would have been exhausted in the Western Regions. Duan Yu would find it difficult to rise again. At that time, whether to confer the title or not would still be a matter of your word, Empress Dowager."

Oh!

Empress Dowager Dong's brow smoothed out slightly after hearing Jian Shuo's words.

She then slowly sat back down and fell into deep thought.

Under Jian Shuo's expectant gaze, Empress Dowager Dong slowly nodded.

"Hmm, what you say has some merit."

"The Western Regions were never truly the Great Han's land to begin with. Even if I confer the title of King of the Western Regions upon him, what of it? If he can truly expand the territory for the Great Han, it would be a great achievement."

Jian Shuo, kneeling in the hall, let out a long breath.

"Get up. It was I who wronged you." Empress Dowager Dong waved the sleeve of her robe and said: "This method of yours is not bad."

"Conferring a royal title—I can make such a promise, which He Jin certainly cannot. If that barbarian from Liangzhou hears that I will confer a royal title upon him, he will likely be very happy."

Jian Shuo nodded hurriedly: "The Empress Dowager is wise."

"Very well. In that case, send someone to summon Duan Yu to the palace. Do it before tomorrow's morning court session; I will speak with him first."

"Understood!"

Jian Shuo bowed and replied.

Outside Luoyang City.

Duan Yu, who had spent the morning in the city, left after noon and returned to the fortress located outside the city.

Tomorrow is the first major court session after the New Year.

Duan Yu is also required to attend court as per custom. ===== CHAPTER 1123 =====