Chapter 1394: Governing Subordinates! [3]

Early the next morning, after finishing breakfast, Fa Yan took a carriage toward the Prince of Liang's mansion.

The rear residence of the Prince of Liang's mansion.

Duan Yu was sitting in Suhe's courtyard.

Duan An, who was one year younger than Duan Mu and Duan Chen, was being held in Duan Yu's arms, giggling.

Suhe, wearing a long white dress and a white fox fur shawl over her shoulders, sat beside Duan Yu.

"Having been married to me for so long, you haven't returned home once. Do you miss home?" Duan Yu asked Suhe beside him while playing with his youngest son.

Suhe first shook her head, then nodded. "I dare not lie to you. I haven't seen my father in these years. I heard from my eldest brother that Father's health is not as good as it used to be."

Duan Yu nodded slightly and then said, "In a while, I plan to let Huchuquan return to the Southern Xiongnu. Attacking Bingzhou will require your father to coordinate from Mobei for a pincer attack. Let Huchuquan go back to communicate this."

"Your father is getting old. If he is unwilling to stay on the grasslands, he can come to Chang'an for a long-term stay. The environment here is good and can nourish the body."

"Of course, this depends on your father's own wishes."

Suhe listened and nodded from the side. "I leave it entirely to my husband's arrangements."

Just as Duan Yu was speaking, a maidservant walked into the side courtyard, bowed, and said, "Great King, the Grand Minister of Agriculture requests an audience."

Fa Yan?

What is he here for?

Duan Yu stood up and handed his youngest son, Duan An, to Suhe, who was sitting nearby.

"You should have Huchuquan prepare. Also, I have prepared some things for your father; have Huchuquan bring them back to the Xiongnu when he goes."

Suhe quickly stood up and bowed to Duan Yu. "Thank you, Husband."

The front courtyard of the Prince of Liang's mansion.

Standing in front of the study door, Fa Yan felt somewhat uneasy.

His hands were clenched tightly in front of him.

Last year, when Duan Yu first entered Liangzhou, he summoned his father.

But at that time, his father had flatly refused with stern words.

And he even called Duan Yu a rebel.

At the time, Fa Yan felt that something was amiss.

But most of the Guanzhong gentry were in a wait-and-see attitude, so Fa Yan held onto a sense of sobriety.

However, he did not expect the reversal to come so quickly.

Duan Yu defeated Zhu Jun and Huangfu Song at Hangu Pass and even beheaded Zhu Jun.

The Hongnong Yang clan's counter-attack and surrender to Duan Yu caused the attitude of the Guanzhong gentry to change immediately.

Upon learning this news, Fa Yan said he wanted to come to Chang'an.

At that time, Fa Yan had a big argument with his father.

His father firmly disagreed with him coming to Chang'an, otherwise, he said he would no longer recognize him as a son.

But Fa Yan still chose to come to Chang'an.

Because Fa Yan knew that his father's obstruction was also for the sake of reputation.

But if he did not come, the Fa family would have no foothold in Fufeng.

So he came.

He had expected to be made difficult by Duan Yu, so he was already prepared.

But to Fa Yan's utter surprise, Duan Yu not only did not make things difficult for him, but also directly appointed him as the Grand Minister of Agriculture, one of the Nine Ministers.

This made Fa Yan feel flattered.

Afterward, Fa Yan wanted to visit several times, but in the end, he felt too embarrassed.

After all, his father's refusal had been very firm.

Just as Fa Yan was standing in front of Duan Yu's study door, struggling, Duan Yu's voice sounded from afar.

"Jimou, coming here so early, you must have an important matter." Duan Yu had a kind smile on his face.

Seeing Duan Yu's appearance, Fa Yan felt as if he were bathed in a spring breeze, and even the tension in his heart was dispelled a little.

"Reporting to the Great King, this subordinate has some matters to request of the Great King." Fa Yan quickly bowed.

Duan Yu nodded, then pointed to the location of the study and said, "Come, let's go in and talk."

After entering the study, Duan Yu sat behind the desk in the main seat and then had the attendants serve tea.

Duan Yu said while drinking tea, "Jimou, you have been in Chang'an for quite a while. Have you gone home to take a look? I heard that Mr. Xuande is advanced in age, and Fufeng is quite cold and bitter. Now that it is winter, he needs to take good care of his health."

"I have a bear skin here that I hunted myself in Jinyang some years ago. You take it back later, have it made into a cloak, and give it to Mr. Xuande to keep warm."

As soon as Duan Yu's words fell, Fa Yan, who had just sat down, immediately stood up, came before Duan Yu, and knelt on both knees to kowtow.

"This subordinate thanks the Great King. The Great King does not hold past grievances against me, this subordinate..."

"Eh..." Duan Yu waved his hand and said, "Jimou, get up. What past grievances? Mr. Xuande is accomplished in all four arts, his learning exhausts the classics and mysteries, he lives in seclusion and is indifferent to fame, finding joy in forgetting worries; he is not a person who values profit. I greatly admire such noble character."

"Besides, Jimou, you have already come now, so what else could I be dissatisfied with? Don't you think so, Jimou?"

Fa Yan, kneeling on the ground, was suddenly shaken to the core.

Just like when he first arrived in Chang'an and thought he would be made difficult by Duan Yu, his heart was filled with three more parts of admiration.

Duan Yu not only did not make things difficult, but these words were completely giving their Fa family enough face.

The world says that Duan Yu has an arrogant personality and is a tiger general of the age.

But in Fa Yan's view, that is truly a superficial statement. ===== CHAPTER 1396 =====