Thief Emperor

Chapter 754: For Han or Wu?

In the past few years, Li Yunnan was busy with battles in the north and south, and even at the end of the year, he had no time to return to Nanjing to celebrate the New Year. His eldest son, Li Yuan, had grown into a boy at this time and was indeed old enough to start elementary school.

It's just that Jinling is so big that it's easy to find a teacher to teach children. Queen Xue made a special trip to the Secretariat to find Du Qian, which of course had some other intentions.

It's not a bad idea actually.

In the past few years, Li Yuan has been taught by Master Xue Song, and his performance in all aspects has been quite good. Therefore, Xue Yun'er naturally wants to confirm the status of her son as the crown prince.

If he wanted to finalize this identity, he didn't have to wait for Li Yun to come back. As long as he acknowledged Du Qian as his master, combined with Li Yuan's original identity, this matter would be set in stone and no one could shake it.

Queen Xue was sensible. After saying a few words, she took Li Yuan away. Du Qian escorted the mother and son out of the Secretariat, then returned to his own study. He pondered for a long while before going all the way to the Grand Chamber of the Secretariat.

This larger public house has more than a dozen seats. There are already several people over 30 years old working here. Although they do not have the title of prime minister, they can still help Du Qian deal with some things. Otherwise, Du Qian would have been exhausted working alone in this Secretariat.

Among these people, there was an old man in his fifties who was sitting in his seat, writing something. Du Qian walked up to him, smiled bitterly, and said, "Mr. Yue Ji."

The old man was none other than Xue Song.

Before Li Yun left, he specifically hinted to Du Qian that if the Secretariat was too busy, he could ask his father-in-law to come and help. As a subordinate, he naturally had to understand his superior's intentions. Not long after Li Yun left, Xue Song came to the Secretariat to work part-time. Although the old man did not do much work, he had to teach his grandson in his spare time and occasionally took leave, but the fact that Xue Song was in the Secretariat already explained Du Qian's attitude towards Li Yun.

Moreover, Mr. Xue is not just a mascot in the Zhongshu. He has been a "grassroots" for many years and is an expert in clerical work. Some very complicated matters in the Zhongshu can usually be handled smoothly when they fall into his hands.

After hearing Du Qian's words, Master Xue quickly stood up and bowed in return, "Mr. Du."

"Don't dare, don't dare."

Du Qian pulled his sleeve and said with a smile: "Mr. Yue Ji, let's go out and talk."

Xue Song naturally agreed. The two of them left the public housing one after the other and soon came to a pavilion and sat down. It was late spring and the weather was a little hot. The cool breeze blowing under the pavilion made both of them feel better.

After Master Xue sat down, Du Qian asked Du Laian to pour tea, and he sat beside him and told him about the apprenticeship. Then he said, "Mr. Yue Ji, the master is not in Jinling, so I can't say anything about this. Even if the master is here, I would refuse this matter. You should understand."

Xue Song thought for a moment and said with a smile, "The Li and Du families are very close friends. When Yuan'er was only two or three years old, he was already decided to become a disciple. Wasn't Erlang present at the time? In my opinion, Mr. Du doesn't need to think too much."

"This time, that time."

Du Qian said seriously: "At that time, Jiangdong didn't have such a scene."

"Gong Yueji may not know that the upper position has already secured Luoyang. If Luoyang is secured, it won't take long before the Central Plains is secured. By that time..."

"The general trend of the world has a clear direction."

Du Qian said silently: "Anyone with some knowledge can see clearly. At that time, I will probably have to leave Jinling and go to Luoyang to help the superior deal with some things in the Central Plains."

"Mr. Yue Ji, Jiangdong's business is getting bigger and bigger. Matters involving the princes may not seem like a big deal now, but in the future... they may cost me my life."

"Anyway, the Queen needs your help in making a plea."

At this point, Du Qian sighed: "Otherwise, this matter will really become a sword hanging over my head."

Since the founding of the Jiangdong Group, Du Qian has always been the absolute number two figure. With his current status, in the future, almost nothing can take his life, and nothing can shake his position. The only real threat to him is the fight for the crown prince.

Xue Song was startled when he heard this. He thought about it seriously and frowned, "Does Prime Minister Du think that Li Yuan is a good kid?"

Du Qian's face changed drastically, and he waved his hands repeatedly: "Absolutely not, absolutely not!"

"The eldest prince is very talented, so how can he not succeed?"

Du Qian was so scared that he bowed repeatedly and smiled bitterly, "It's just that I can't see what will happen in ten or twenty years, Master Yue Ji, there's no need for me to get involved in this kind of thing, don't you think?"

Xue Song thought about it, nodded and said, "Okay, I'll take this matter. I'll go to the palace to see the queen tomorrow and talk to her about this matter."

"Mr. Du is the pillar of Jiangdong and the first meritorious official since its establishment. Now Jiangdong has reached the most critical time. No matter what happens now, it cannot affect Mr. Du's work."

Master Xue said in a deep voice: "There are no outsiders here. I have to say something impolite. This matter is caused by my daughter who is not very sensible."

Du Qian smiled bitterly and said, "As a mother, the queen can do nothing wrong."

Du Qian was very happy to hear that Master Xue had agreed to this matter. He bowed deeply to Xue Song and said, "Thank you, Master Yue Ji. Thank you, Master Yue Ji."

Master Xue supported him and the two chatted for a while. Master Xue asked, "Are the two sons of Mr. Du's family old enough to do official work?"

Du Qian thought about it, shook his head slightly and said, "The imperial examination in Jiangdong has become a custom. Since it is a custom, I plan to let them take the path of imperial examination in the future. If they can pass the exam, it will be good. If they can't pass the exam, they will not be allowed to serve as officials." Master Xue nodded. When he was about to get up and leave, he asked, "Mr. Du, Erlang's career..."

Du Qian put his hands in his sleeves and said with a smile: "Shangwei is simply a saint sent from heaven. Everything he has done in the past few years is beyond my expectations. Lord Yue Ji may not know that the future new dynasty..."

“It’s no longer a question of whether or not.”

Du Qian whispered, "It's just a matter of whether it's big or not."

Xue Song was stunned when he heard this. After a long while, he came back to his senses and murmured, "In ten years, the world has changed dramatically. The world has changed dramatically."

His good son-in-law appeared in Qingyang County and met him in the third year of Xian De. Until now, it has been the sixth year of Zhao Ding, which is almost nine years. Next year, it will be exactly ten years.

During these ten years, both the structure of the Great Zhou and Li Yun's personal circumstances had undergone tremendous changes.

…………

Youzhou.

Outside Youzhou City, Zhou Chang, who led only a hundred cavalrymen, ran all the way to the gate of Youzhou City. After giving his name, he was quickly allowed to enter Youzhou City.

Not long after he entered Youzhou, Xiao Heng, the major general of the Fanyang Army, came out to greet him. After the two met, Zhou Chang took the initiative to clasp his fists towards him and said, "Brother Xiao."

Xiao Heng looked him up and down, then clasped his fists in return, "It's been a while since we last met, Brother Zhou is much more polite."

Zhou Chang looked at him and said, "Our two families are old friends. Isn't it normal to call each other brother?"

Xiao Heng was silent for a while, still without any expression, and just said lightly: "Brother Zhou, you were not so polite before. I heard that General Zhou was stabbed by Jiangdong people in the Jiangdong army in Xuzhou. He was seriously injured. I wonder if he is better now?"

"The rumor is not true."

Zhou Chang looked calm as he spoke, "My father's old illness relapsed when he was inspecting the Jiangdong camp. He rested for a while and is now well again."

"What a relapse!"

Xiao Heng sneered: "I think Brother Zhou has lost all his dignity in order to climb up Li Yun's ladder!"

"This is true."

Zhou Chang did not show any extra emotion. He just looked at Xiao Heng and asked, "I heard that the Khitans are attacking again. The war situation in Fanyang is getting tense."

"I don't know what the current battle situation is. Where is my uncle now?"

After hearing this question, Xiao Heng did not answer directly, but said: "I rarely heard Brother Zhou call me uncle before, but now it sounds more affectionate."

He did not answer the question, but continued: "My father is sick, very sick, and cannot be seen by others."

"I guess I won't be able to see Brother Zhou anymore."

Zhou Chang frowned and said in a deep voice: "Brother Xiao Shi, I came here for my Han..."

"What for Han?"

Xiao Heng sneered and said, "Is it because of Wu?"

The Han people still exist in this world, but they have long disappeared in the dust of history. However, their names have been engraved forever.

Zhou Chang frowned and looked at Xiao Heng.

"Brother Xiao Shi, are you not going to let me see my uncle?"

"I'm letting you into Youzhou because I think of our old friendship!"

Xiao Heng had a cold face and was about to continue talking when a beautiful middle-aged woman in blue clothes approached slowly. She glanced at Zhou Chang and sighed slightly: "Chang'er, come with me."

Zhou Chang glanced at Xiao Heng, then looked at the woman and bowed his head deeply.

"Yes, aunt."

(End of this chapter)