The Bad Guys: Everyone, let’s revive the Tang Dynasty together!

Chapter 426 The Gift
The snow fell heavily, leaving only a vast expanse of white between heaven and earth. Xiao Yan walked out of the tall and wide gate of Tiance Mansion with his hands behind his back, and stood quietly in the corridor. His eyes penetrated the falling snow curtain and fell on the white scene in the depths of the courtyard. He was silent for a long time. The snow reflected in his eyes seemed to be stained with a layer of contemplation that was in tune with the situation in the world.

"This scenery is very beautiful." Han Yanhui, who was thin and thin, held a thick fox fur coat, his hands hidden deep in his sleeves to avoid the cold, and his voice was gentle with the calmness unique to Hebei scholars, "Auspicious snow indicates a good harvest. Your Highness, this snow fell thoroughly, and the people will surely have a good harvest next year."

Li Ting, Zhang Wenwei and other important officials in purple or red who were accompanying him nodded in agreement, and the atmosphere was relaxed. However, Xiao Yan did not say a word, but after a light laugh, he suddenly took a step and stepped directly into the flying catkins. The attendant hurriedly held up an oil-paper umbrella and handed it to him. Xiao Yan took it with one hand, tilted the umbrella slightly, and walked slowly out along the snow-covered bluestone path. The officials behind him were slightly startled, and then they followed suit. Officials in various colors opened their umbrellas in the snow, silently following the steps of their master.

The snow fell silently, and only the creaking sound of boots on the soft new snow could be clearly heard. When they reached the open area in the courtyard, Xiao Yan's voice broke the silence: "I heard that Ma Xiyue sent an envoy to the capital again?"

The official in charge of receiving the foreign envoys immediately stepped forward, but still fell behind several chief officials, and then replied respectfully: "Your Highness, that's right. The fourth wave of envoys sent by the Crown Prince of Chu, Ma Xiyue, has arrived in Bianliang, carrying 100 kilograms of gold, and their request is still the same. The King of Chu, Ma Yin, suddenly fell seriously ill a month ago, and his condition is getting worse. His position as the Crown Prince seems to be shaken. As for the second son, Ma Xisheng, he has been acting out of character in recent months and has gained the trust of the King of Chu, making the Crown Prince uneasy. So the envoys were sent to implore Your Highness to issue an imperial decree to correct his position."

Han Yanhui interjected at the right time, speaking at a steady pace and in a clear and logical manner, showing the calmness of Xiao Yan's number one strategist: "According to the previous report of Duan Chenshi (Duan Chengtian), Ma Xisheng was indeed cynical in the past, and relied on his mother's favor and had no interest in government affairs. However, in the past few months, he has acted like a completely different person, calm and alert, and his actions are appropriate, which is absolutely not comparable to the past. Such changes may not be without reason. The strangeness of the King of Chu's serious illness also makes people suspicious..."

He paused for a moment, his eyes swept across Xiao Yan's calm profile, and seeing him nod slightly, he continued: "After the conquest of Shu, Chu will become the leader of the southern vassal states. Although the Huainan Wu is brave, it has been fighting with us for years and has suffered heavy losses. Its foundation is far less than that of Chu, which has been recuperating for many years. The Central Plains has been in turmoil for decades, and refugees have migrated south like a flood. Chu has received the most and has a rich population. If Your Highness can lend a helping hand to the Prince of Chu at this time of panic and help him regain his position, then Ma Xiyue, whose character is well known to everyone, will surely be grateful for Your Highness's help, and the people of Chu will also obey your orders..."

Most of the officials with Hebei faces nodded, all of them praising Mr. Han for not finishing his words, but having already outlined a solid blueprint for conquering the powerful vassal with kindness and power.

"Mr. Han is an experienced and wise man who is good at planning for the country. What he said is absolutely right!" Minister of Revenue Zhang Wenwei also interrupted and agreed.

It is said that ever since Xiao Yan assumed power as regent, all of Daliang's finances have been taken over by the Tiance Mansion. This crucial matter was entrusted by Xiao Yan to Miao Chengtian and Xuan Jingtian, two women who were quite knowledgeable in this area. Therefore, Zhang Wenwei's title of Minister of Revenue seems to be somewhat unworthy of his title.

However, the Minister of Revenue is the Minister of Revenue after all. With Jing Xiang's previous declaration of loyalty, Zhang Wenwei has unsurprisingly gained a foothold in the core of Tiance Mansion, so the purse of Daliang is still hanging on his head. And he has long known the embarrassment of "no rice to cook". If he can control the powerful Chu without starting a war, it will be the best choice for the country, the people, and him, the embarrassing nominal manager of the "purse".

However, a clear and slightly sharp voice sounded, breaking this brief consensus: "Mr. Han's strategy is indeed a cautious one. But -"

Everyone looked over and saw that the person who spoke was none other than Li Ting, the Deputy Privy Envoy who had just shined in the Tiance Mansion. He stepped out from the crowd, his eyes sparkling under his umbrella, and said sternly: "Since Shu is in my pocket, even if Chu has the false reputation of being the best in the south, to me, it is nothing more than a trapped tiger with its claws and teeth lost. Even if it has claws and teeth, it can hardly hurt me!"

As soon as these words came out, the air in the snow seemed to freeze for a moment, and the eyes of all the ministers instantly focused on Li Ting, holding their breath. And the few Hebei officials who nodded in agreement with Han Yanhui frowned slightly.

Xiao Yan stopped and looked back, and everyone naturally stopped as well. Several glances met each other for an instant, but no one said anything for a while.

Actually, the scene before our eyes is quite subtle.

Going back to the roots, Xiao Yan had only been in rebellion for four years, but he was able to reach such a high position by relying on a risky move. This would have been impossible without his extremely high personal charm, outstanding strength and lofty prestige that made his trusted aides, brave generals and even elite soldiers follow him wholeheartedly.

But at that time, although the business was successful, in addition to the weak foundation, the external threat was particularly serious. There were foreign enemies in the north and hidden dangers in the south. Everyone could only temporarily put aside their differences and unite to face the outside world. When starting a business was difficult and surrounded by powerful enemies, the officials should work together. The Hebei Military Merit Group showed its edge, which was also due to the times.

However, the affairs of the world are like the rise and fall of yin and yang. When external affairs are settled, internal affairs gradually emerge. As external threats gradually subside and the world returns to peace, the interests of various power groups, power distribution and other issues, like vines under the frozen soil in spring, quietly grow and spread.

Since Xiao Yan took control of Bianliang, he exercised the power of the emperor as the King of Qin and took charge of the key positions of the world, and the situation changed quietly. Jing Xiang, Li Ting, Zhang Wenwei and other capable officials who were originally from the Liang court were used by him, and the Henan faction rose accordingly. The situation in which the Hebei faction dominated alone was inevitably broken.

In terms of regions, these are the two most prominent currents in the core power field of Tiance Mansion: the Hebei faction with deep roots, and the Henan faction that has risen rapidly with its central geographical advantages and literary and administrative talents. In addition, there is the "Qi faction" with roots in Qi and deep connections with the princess, so although it is hidden, no one dares to despise it; and the "Shu faction" that surrendered after one battle and has a large number of people but has no momentum due to its shallow foundation.

Regional differences, political views, differences between the civilized and the barbaric, and even different personal ambitions are all fertile ground for the birth of factions. However, since Xiao Yan had only started his business a short time ago, these most outstanding people in the world had not yet formed more complex ties, and the hometown region became the most intuitive and natural symbol for the easiest grouping.

Among the Hebei faction, Han Yanhui is the undisputed first strategist, and Feng Dao, who is famous all over the world but has never met, is also very intriguing. In addition, Yuan Xingqin, the brave general guarding the grassland, Yu Zhong who commands the Guide Army, and Tian Daocheng who is in charge of Dingbadu, are all their core pillars. In the past, who could resist them?
But as the court stabilized, the Henan faction, headed by the up-and-coming Li Ting, assisted by Jing Xiang who was deeply respected by Xiao Yan, as well as the iron-clad Wang Yanzhang who was stationed in Youzhou and Li Sian who commanded the Iron Cavalry of the Cavalry Department. Although they were slightly behind, their sharpness and strength should not be underestimated.

This kind of factional division is not really a party struggle. When heroes gather together, they will naturally be divided under different ambitions. It is human nature. Even Xiao Yan would not allow a regional group under his command to dominate.

Previously, it was just due to external pressure that the contradictions were temporarily hidden. Now that the four regions are at peace, this situation under the water has become a tacit understanding among everyone.

As the saying goes, "There are no factions within the party, and there are all kinds of strange things." Xiao Yan knew this clearly, but he did not interfere strongly. As long as it did not interfere with official business, these two torrents would sharpen each other and check and balance each other, which would stimulate better strategies. Most of the time, he was more like a helmsman standing on the crest of the wave, calmly observing the surge of the tide.

At this moment, Li Ting dared to make a statement in the snow that was very different from that of Han Yanhui, the leader of the Hebei faction. Behind this was not only the appeal of the Henan faction, but also the fact that his proposition itself had a solid foundation and reason that could not be ignored. This debate in the snow was just a reasonable move in this grand chess game.

Jing Xiang was not here today, so as a peacemaker, Zhang Wenwei naturally laughed dryly: "Why did Li Shumi say that?"

Li Ting could not help but sneer: "Although the State of Chu has been a vassal for many years, its intentions are unpredictable. Ma Yin has long had a grudge against Your Highness. Your Highness can certainly use your power to help Ma Xiyue ascend to the throne. But Ma Xisheng is a surprise if he does not make a name for himself. How can there be no one behind him when he suddenly rises up? If the court has issued a clear order, and the King of Chu and his son insist on disobeying the order and forcing Ma Xisheng to ascend, where will Your Highness's prestige remain? At that time, will our court endure the humiliation for a while, or will we have to raise an army to punish him?"

Even Li Cunli was defeated by Li Ting's words. How could the honest Zhang Wenwei argue? He just nodded and was a little embarrassed: "Then according to what Li Shumi said, what should our dynasty do?"

As the deputy privy envoy recognized by Xiao Yan, Li Ting's strategic insight is naturally outstanding. He immediately said solemnly: "Your Highness! Now that Shu is in our hands, our navy has strangled the throat of Chu. It will take only ten days to go east along the Yangtze River from Kuizhou, break through the Three Gorges, enter Dongting Lake, and reach Changsha City. The Yangtze River, which Chu relies on for its self-confidence, has become a smooth road for us. When Ma Yin is seriously ill and the two sons are fighting, we should take advantage of the power of the newly conquered Shu and use the force of thunder to force them to surrender and interrupt their delusion of ruling the south of the Yangtze River in one fell swoop! How can we continue to restrain and appease them, allowing them to grow stronger and cause trouble to us?"

Zhang Wenwei spoke out of turn.

Li Ting is recognized as a radical. The reason why the Henan faction pushed him to be the leader instead of Jing Xiang, whose reputation far surpassed his, was because the latter had no intention of participating in this matter. Before Zhu Wen was in power, although Li Ting was also used, because Zhu Wen did not like Confucian scholars, Li Ting rarely took the initiative, so people thought he was a mild-mannered person. After Xiao Yan came to power, he attached equal importance to civil and military affairs, and employed people in a flexible manner. It was as if Li Ting released his nature, which made people wonder, but also impressed by his style.

Xiao Yan's footsteps suddenly stopped in the snow. He turned slowly, raised the edge of his oil-paper umbrella slightly, and his deep eyes swept across the ministers behind him with different expressions.

Snowflakes fell silently on the umbrella, piled up, and then quietly slid down. Han Yanhui had a calm expression, his eyes showing his consideration for Li Ting's radical words; Li Ting straightened his back and looked at Xiao Yan without flinching; Zhang Wenwei looked worried, as if weighing the huge cost between war and peace; the others were either stunned, or in deep thought, or with flickering eyes. The subtle divisions between Hebei, Henan, and even other regions quietly spread in this silent gaze and the silence of falling snow. For a moment, only the sound of wind and snow echoed in the courtyard.

Seeing that Xiao Yan's expression still showed no change, and noticing the expectant or eager gazes coming from behind him, Han Yanhui finally narrowed his eyes and turned back to look directly at Li Ting.

"Li Shumi is well aware of the advantages of naval warfare in the south of the Yangtze River, which is indeed true." Han Yanhui gathered his fox fur coat. He did not directly refute Li Ting's analysis of Chu's strategic advantages, but cast his eyes to the vast sky further north, then met Xiao Yan's gaze again, and his voice was particularly gentle, "However, Your Highness, as the Prime Minister said that day, at this time, the most urgent task of our dynasty is not in Jinghu, but in Yunshuo."

He paused slightly, his eyes swept over his colleagues with different expressions, and then said: "Although Li Keyong died suddenly, his son Li Cunxu is no longer a mediocre person who only cares about the status quo. His father died suddenly, and he came to power hastily. There are powerful ministers around him, and our dynasty is watching him from outside. The situation is precarious. At this critical moment of life and death, he not only does not think about holding on, but instead sends envoys to us to seek peace, and behaves like a subject. His attitude is so humble and his request is so urgent. Is he really surrendering? This is a strategy of keeping a low profile and retreating to advance!
Although this boy is young and weak, he has already revealed his heroic spirit. He bowed his head, what did he want? Nothing but a chance to catch his breath; nothing but help from the grassland! With only the corner of Hedong, Li Cunxu could never compete with Your Highness. He hastily asked for peace, but in fact he wanted to stabilize our dynasty, free up his hands, and devote all his efforts to managing Daibei, Yunshuo, and even Mobei beyond Yinshan. If our dynasty looks south at this time and sends troops to the Chu land, the northern border will be empty, and Li Cunxu will be able to re-integrate the tribes in the northern frontier, and then go south with the momentum of the grassland. How can his sharpness be compared with the Jin trapped in Hedong now? This is a serious problem, far worse than the minor disease of Chu!"

Han Yanhui's speech was still slow and steady, but his words were able to analyze the pros and cons and get to the point: "Shu has just been established, and there is a lot of work to be done. Your Highness has issued an edict to exempt the whole country from taxes for one year, so the court will gain almost nothing in the next year. The two female historians Miao Chengtian and Xuan Jingtian are in charge of the Ministry of Finance. They must be the most aware of the real and fake state of the treasury and the sufferings of the people."

He looked at Zhang Wenwei, who subconsciously nodded repeatedly when he heard what he said, agreeing with it deeply.

"At this moment, what our dynasty urgently needs is to recuperate and accumulate national strength! Rather than starting another war in the south with an unpredictable outcome and a possible protracted war. The most urgent task is to consolidate the northern border, deter the Jin invaders, and control the tribes on the grassland so that they dare not act rashly, thus laying a solid foundation for Your Highness to support the world!"

Han Yanhui finally looked at Li Ting. Although his tone was slow, it was highly suppressive at the strategic level. "Even though Chu State has the false title of 'the leader of the southern vassal states', its internal strife is in full swing, and it has no time to take care of itself, so how can it have the spare energy to invade the north? Li Shumi's strategy of going down the river and attacking Changsha directly is certainly feasible. However, the army is a major event of the country, a place of life and death, and a way of survival and destruction. We must examine its fundamentals. The northern border is unstable, even if Chu State is conquered, it is like building a tower on the sand. The foundation is shaken and it can be overturned in an instant! At this time, Your Highness, our dynasty should focus on nourishing the people, consolidating the foundation, and deterring the northern barbarians! When Mobei and Yinshan are in our hands, the treasury is full, and the armor and soldiers are excellent, then it will be as easy as taking things out of a bag to attack Jinghu and Huainan. Why rush at this moment and take risks and step into dangerous places?"

The snow in the courtyard fell faster and faster, and the cold wind seemed to carry the chilling breath of the north, blowing the heavy weight of Han Yanhui's words into the hearts of every listener.

Although Zhang Wenwei belongs to the Henan faction in terms of region and even identity, he could hardly help but applaud at this moment, while Li Ting frowned, wanting to say something but stopping himself, but in the end he just looked at Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan's gaze stayed on Han Yanhui's calm face for a moment, then turned to the courtyard filled with wind and snow, but he broke the solemn atmosphere with a clear and unquestionable laugh.

"You two are both farsighted and strategic, which really makes it difficult for me to make a choice. However, as Han Qing said, and as Prime Minister Jing planned that day, Caoyuan and Yunshuo are indeed the top priorities for our dynasty in the future, and they cannot be abandoned lightly."

His eyes swept over Li Ting like lightning, and his tone became heavy, with soothing but unquestionable force: "Li Qing's plan to go down the river to the east and attack Huanglong directly is magnificent and commendable. This plan is not impossible, but the time has not come yet." He deliberately paused to let Li Ting feel his importance, "Chu State is like the fruit on the branch that is about to ripen. It will be eaten by me no matter how early or late it is picked. However, how can I allow others to snore beside my bed? Li Cunxu is sharpening his knife, wanting to use the power of the grassland to resist the power of heaven. If the grassland is unstable, how can Daliang sleep peacefully? How can we look south?"

Li Ting was not discouraged. He bowed solemnly to Han Yanhui in the snow and said in a clear voice: "Mr. Han has profound strategies and insight. I really admire him. It's like looking at the sea of ​​stars. I feel like I am looking up to a mountain."

Han Yanhui also bowed slightly to show his respect: "Li Shumi, you are too kind. I am just a subject of Your Highness and I am doing my duty."

Seeing this, Xiao Yan couldn't help but laugh out loud, holding an umbrella and looking back at the ministers behind him: "You are all my loyal and trusted men. As the scene today shows, Zang Ming and Gong Du are expressing their heroic strategies, like a battle between two famous swords, shining brightly. It is really a match made in heaven, which makes me very happy. I hope you can also take this as an encouragement and bring more of this kind of intellectual excitement to me."

Upon hearing this, everyone bowed humbly, each with their own thoughts in mind.

"Let's stop with this." Xiao Yan restrained his smile, turned his gaze to the north, and said in a deep voice, "Although Jin has surrendered, the grassland has not yet been settled! After the New Year's Day, the Privy Council should quickly draft a rule to order Wang Yanzhang and Yuan Xingqin to take action to put an end to Li Cunxu's so-called grassland plan. This year's affairs will end here. From tomorrow on, you can rest and rest, and you don't need to report for duty. Just now, I have ordered Gongyang Zuo to deliver the New Year gifts to everyone's residence. The wind and snow are very strong, so hurry home and enjoy the family life."

"We thank the king for his grace and wish your highness a long life and good health!" All the ministers thanked him in unison, and this military meeting in the snow, which seemed to have arisen naturally, finally came to an end.

After the ministers dispersed, Xiao Yan did not return home immediately. He called Zheng Yu, who had followed him since the uprising in Hebei, and Qiu, an old minister who had served in Caozhou, and carefully instructed them to lead reliable personnel to patrol various places in Bianjing City, and to pay attention to whether there were houses collapsed by the snow, and to check whether the lonely, old and weak were short of dry firewood and charcoal to keep warm. But before he finished speaking, he simply led Zheng and Qiu himself, with a small team of night guards, to patrol the streets filled with wind and snow for half an hour. Seeing that everything was generally stable, he gave everyone a New Year's holiday and returned home alone in the snow.

As soon as they reached the gate, several fat cats chased and played under the corridor. Two of them tried to get close to them, but Xiao Yan pushed them away with a kick. Qian Wu, dressed in a fiery red, had already heard the noise and came out to greet them. Seeing her husband's behavior, she couldn't help but laugh.

"Have the princess and Xue'er gotten up yet?" Xiao Yan asked as he took off his cloak that was covered in snow foam.

"After lunch, seeing that my husband had not returned for a long time, I played wooden cards for a while. Now it's time to take a break." Qian Wu took the cloak and answered softly.

Xiao Yan nodded in understanding. It was normal to be sleepy at the beginning of pregnancy. It was not surprising. He was about to go to the inner room, but he saw a strange look on Qian Wu's face, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated. He paused and asked curiously, "Is there something wrong in the mansion?"

"It's not a big deal. It's just that the Queen Mother in Mobei sent her confidant to deliver a generous gift." Qian Wu looked up at Xiao Yan and added, "The person who came said that this thing is extraordinary and must be opened by you personally. The thing has been placed in the side hall of the front yard for a long time, and I am waiting for your instructions."

Xiao Yan raised his eyebrows slightly, but still didn't care. Under Qian Wu's guidance, he went straight to the side hall in the front yard. In the hall, two women dressed in Mobei costumes, whose faces I vaguely remembered, who should be Shuliduo's capable maids, were standing with their hands down, guarding the two sides of a large wooden box. When they saw Xiao Yan coming in, they bowed respectfully.

And that wooden box was actually not small.

(End of this chapter)