Chapter 407: Plan to Subvert Luo Feng

An older, more sullen elder spoke slowly; he is the head of the Dou family, another great clan of Fufeng, Dou Wen!

"But Heaven does not cut off all paths for a person. Beijiang acts contrary to the ways of the world, isolating itself from all scholars; its rule will not last long. The Xiliang king Wei Wenlie respects the Scholar-Gentry, precisely the kind of enlightened ruler we need!"

"Lord Dou's meaning is…?"

"On the surface, we must cooperate with the new policies more than anyone, even taking the initiative to perform splendidly so that Beijiang's authorities cannot find fault. But behind the scenes…"

Dou Wen's voice lowered even further, "Our contact with Xiliang must not be severed, and it must be more covert and more valuable."

Food can be 'voluntarily' contributed in large part, but the most fertile 'seed fields' and the most hidden storages must be retained.

Money can be donated, but real liquid assets and treasures must be transferred and concealed by any means.

The most important thing is people!

The clever yet inconspicuous youths in the clan can be sent to take part in Beijiang's examinations; if they can infiltrate its administration, they become our eyes and nails inside Beijiang!

At the same time, closely monitor Beijiang's military and political interior, especially those generals who wield military authority…

Does Jiang Jinshi's conduct truly make his proud, fierce generals—who follow him with heads held high to conquer the world—completely convinced and without any grievance?

After a secret discussion, they set the sixteen‑character policy: "Obey openly, resist covertly; be courteous outwardly, deceitful inwardly; spread eyes widely, awaiting the right moment."

The Scholar‑Gentry of Guanzhong shifted their resistance from the stage to underground, turning from open confrontation into covert infiltration and long‑term lurking.

Consequently, their collusion with Xiliang became more cautious and strategic, and the intelligence they transmitted grew increasingly valuable.

Luoyang, inside the Xiliang king's palace.

Si Wushuang, Cui Yan, and the freshly healed yet still pale Tu Fa Yan were meeting with several secret envoys dispatched by the powerful Dou family of Guanzhong and others, disguised as caravan supervisors.

The envoys brought the latest and most detailed intelligence from Guanzhong!

Specific measures of Beijiang's new policies, the deployment of garrisons across regions and the temperaments of generals, the general mindset and covert resistance of the Scholar‑Gentry and powerful families, and so on.

After hearing the report and carefully reviewing the secret letters and charts the envoys brought, Si Wushuang dismissed the envoys, leaving only Cui Yan and Tu Fa Yan.

"Dou Wen and his group are indeed smarter than the likes of Wei Hong and Du Qi, and they can endure better."

Cui Yan evaluated: "Such covert patience and widespread eyes are the long‑term strategy. Their concerns are not without reason; Jiang Jinshi's approach of 'promoting solely on talent,' 'ignoring birth,' and 'no hereditary privileges for merit' appears fair, but in fact it undermines the foundation of his own rule."

Tu Fa Yan said in a hoarse, gruff voice: "Military Advisor, Lord Cui, what riddles are you puzzling over? Wouldn't it be better for Jiang Jinshi to be harsher on his own subordinates, so they won't become a burden later?"

Si Wushuang shook his head: "General Tu Fa, that statement is mistaken.

When conquering the world, one naturally needs fierce generals and elite troops, rewarding them heavily so they will give their all.

But once the realm is settled and one sits on the throne, balance is needed, and followers must see long‑term, inheritable benefits.

Jiang Jinshi's new policies even strip his own subordinate generals of possible patronage and hereditary offices, demanding their children also sit the same examinations as those from humble families.

This can indeed win the hearts of the humble for a time, but it also makes those generals who fought loyally for him and hoped for titles and privileged wives feel a chill.

He paused, then continued his analysis: "Everyone has selfish motives, especially warriors.

Luo Feng, Han Xiao, Zhang Honghong and others, who followed Jiang Jinshi from Yangguangzhai to now holding half the realm, what do they seek?

Is it merely the lofty cause of 'expelling the barbarians and restoring China'?

Perhaps it was at first, but now that they have achieved fame and success, who doesn't desire to be ennobled, to shine on the family gate, and bring blessings to their descendants?

Yet Jiang Jinshi's new policies cut off the path for their children to easily enter officialdom and enjoy generational wealth based on their fathers' merits.

If his son wishes to become an official in the future, he must sit the same exams as the sons of commoners; failing means remaining a commoner.

Is this fairness truly fair to those generals who fought their way up with their own heads?

Cui Yan continued: "Military Advisor, you are absolutely right. This is the greatest hidden worry of Jiang Jinshi's new policies, and also the biggest fissure within his ranks.

At present, Beijiang's momentum is strong; the generals may, due to ongoing wars or gratitude for Jiang Jinshi's support, temporarily set aside their concerns.

But once this knot of resentment is sown, a slight provocation could cause it to take root and sprout.

Especially those generals whose temperaments are upright and self‑righteous, or who already harbor slight discontent with some of Jiang Jinshi's decisions…

Tu Fa Yan's eyes lit up: "Military Advisor, you mean… we can win over Beijiang's generals? Have them defect before battle, or at least… become passive in combat?"

"Defecting before battle carries too great a risk, success is hard, and it easily alerts the enemy."

Si Wushuang said slowly, "But planting seeds of suspicion, creating rifts so they cannot be united, even…

At the crucial moment, if one or two generals who command heavy forces, whose own interests are harmed, outwardly obey Jiang Jinshi's orders while secretly defying them, or develop divergent intentions, that would be a great achievement.

"Then whom should we start with?" Tu Fa Yan asked.

Si Wushuang walked to the hanging brief intelligence map of Beijiang's generals, his finger slowly sliding over the names Han Xiao, Bai Ting, Zhang Honghong, Jiang Ze, and others.

Finally, he stopped at one name: Luo Feng!

"Luo Feng," Si Wushuang whispered, "is the most suitable person."

"Why him?"

Cui Yan asked, "Luo Feng is Jiang Jinshi's trusted favorite general, who has followed him since Yangguangzhai, brave and skilled in battle, seemingly loyal to Jiang Jinshi—his loyalty evident in the Chang'an blood battle. Moreover, his temperament is fierce, making him hard to bribe."

"Precisely because he is a confidant, an elder, with the greatest merits, he is most likely to feel that he rightfully deserves more privileges."

Si Wushuang analyzed, "Luo Feng dared to lead eight hundred men deep into the Xiongnu rear, showing his character is extremely bold and also quite capable! Yet precisely because of this, he is surely a proud and arrogant man!"

Now he is stationed in Chang'an, holding high rank and authority, interacting with all factions the most, thus facing the most temptations.

Jiang Jinshi's new policies impose the strictest restrictions on such meritorious generals; can he truly hold no grudge in his heart?

After the Chang'an battle, his troops suffered heavy casualties; were reinforcements and rewards fully provided? His own wounds have not healed; what is his state of mind?

"More importantly!"

Si Wushuang smiled confidently, "Luo Feng lost both parents, with only a younger sister alive; yet he works so hard, naturally to secure a good future for his kin!"

Under Jiang Jinshi's new policies, if he later has a son of the military family who is not adept at literature, what future does he have?

Must he truly sit exams in 'practical affairs' and 'arithmetic', ranking alongside the sons of craftsmen and merchants? Luo Feng may not speak it, but how could he not worry inside?

Tu Fa Yan listened and kept nodding: "Makes sense! Then his mother will be worried! If I have an incompetent son, I must also find a way to pave his path!"

"So… Luo Feng is our first target for testing."