Joy of Life: Starting from Teacher Fan Xian

Chapter 73 Negotiation Chief
"Your Majesty, I have checked and found that this child is only a seventh-rank official. I don't think he is the assassin from yesterday." As soon as Lin Ruo left, Gong Dian came in and reported.

"He's still so young and yet he's a seventh-rank rank cultivator. He's really well hidden." Emperor Qing sighed slightly. He still had some doubts in his mind, but he didn't think much about it.

He was just mumbling about certain topics and thinking of Chen Pingping's suggestion. Maybe this child is really good at martial arts, and with his excellent vision, he will achieve great things in the military in the future.

This border trip was a good experience.

Emperor Qing had never doubted Chen Pingping's loyalty, but he was dissatisfied that he was even involved in the conspiracy this time.

At the court meeting on the second day, border negotiations were brought to the court.

Before the candidates for the negotiations were decided, many ministers came forward to accuse the Northern Qi scoundrels of having evil intentions and that a great country could not even show the basic sincerity to seek peace.

"Your Majesty, since we are talking about peace, Northern Qi should send an envoy to apologize, and the negotiation location should be within the territory of our Qing Kingdom."

This statement caused a huge uproar and was supported by all the ministers, who expressed surprisingly unanimous praise.

Emperor Qing did not speak as usual and just listened to his ministers shouting.

The ministers looked around and saw that no minister would form cliques or plot against anyone in state affairs. No one would deliberately oppose a reasonable statement of opinion.

But at this time, the Privy Councilor Qin Ye, who usually said less and watched more, stepped out. This great general had a thick long beard and a strong build. He led the expedition against Northern Qi last year and won battle after battle until Northern Qi asked for peace. He then withdrew from the front line at the end of the year.

Now the one leading the Qing army to attack the border is his son Qin Heng, a young talent.

"Your Majesty, I think it makes no difference whether the negotiation location is in the capital or at the border. It is better in the capital, under the feet of the emperor, but at the border, with the might of the army thousands of miles away, Northern Qi is still terrified."

"As for sending an envoy to apologize, I share the same idea as you all. Northern Qi should select an envoy, and after the negotiations are over, he can bring the compensation to the capital."

The ministers had never expected that General Qin Ye would speak, so they remained silent for a while.

Emperor Qing waved his hand high and took the opportunity to beat the drum: "OK."

The next issue was the choice of negotiators. Compared to the negotiation location, all the ministers felt that there was nothing much to consider.

Diplomatic negotiations have always been the responsibility of the Honglu Temple, and the negotiators should naturally come from the Honglu Temple, so that professionals can do professional work.

Apart from this, we ministers really cannot think of any additional candidates that Your Majesty may have in mind.

The ministers made some suggestions, and His Majesty agreed to them. The Honglu Temple was just going through the motions.

Chen Pingping pushed his wheelchair out and said, "Your Majesty, the Honglu Temple should be fully responsible for this matter."

The Minister of the Honglu Temple immediately stepped out, bowed and said, "The Honglu Temple is willing to help your Majesty and rush to the border."

"But Your Majesty, I would like to recommend someone to accompany you." Chen Pingping continued, unexpectedly mentioning, "I recommend this year's top scholar, Hanlin Academy editor Lin Ruo, to accompany you to the north."

The words "Lin Ruo" echoed in the court and fell into the ears of all the ministers. No one knew what President Chen was planning by letting a new top scholar in charge of literary affairs to handle the negotiations.

Without clarifying the situation, the ministers did not dare to act rashly.

After a moment, His Majesty the Emperor asked softly, "Why?"

"Your Majesty, this boy has extraordinary literary knowledge and strategic talent, and can help the Honglu Temple."

This reason was very vague, and even the ministers could not accept it. However, if it was just to accompany him as a bonus, His Majesty had no objection, and the ministers thought that there was really no need to offend President Chen for this.

Emperor Qing, who was sitting high on the dragon throne, was slightly moved and looked down: "What does the Honglu Temple think?"

After thinking about it carefully, the Minister of the Honglu Temple also felt that it was not a big deal. He thought that it would be a good idea to bring the young man to broaden his horizons, so he replied, "Your Majesty, the Honglu Temple has no objection."

Emperor Qing stood up and signaled to the eunuch beside him: "Pass the decree down, appoint Lin Ruo, the editor of the Hanlin Academy, as the chief envoy of this border negotiation, and lead all the officials of the Honglu Temple to the border in half a month."

As soon as these words came out, the hall immediately became quiet. After a while, the ministers found that the foil they expected was different, and they stepped out in fear: "Your Majesty, this cannot be done."

"Your Majesty, this matter requires long-term consideration."

"You were the ones who agreed to it first. I don't care." Emperor Qing's light voice came down like a temper, implying that there was no room for maneuver in this matter.

After the court meeting, Emperor Qing returned to Xing'an Palace early in his carriage, leaving no one with time to react. The ministers suffered a loss but could only grit their teeth and bear it.

Walking out along the long palace wall, the officials were full of complaints but had no place to vent, but they really didn't dare to find Dean Chen to say anything.

The Minister of the Honglu Temple was chatting with the officials and jokingly said, "Your Majesty is using state affairs to train your children."

"It's too ridiculous." An official said dissatisfiedly.

Another official smiled and said, "Your Majesty wants the Honglu Temple to contribute, but also wants the Honglu Temple to give up the credit and pave the way for young talents."

Many people asked the Minister of Personnel Lin Ruofu what he thought about this matter. Lin Ruofu just smiled and said, "That kid is not bad. Maybe he can really do it." In the secluded back, Fan Jian deliberately slowed down his pace and waited for Dean Chen in a deserted place. As soon as they met, he looked at him coldly and said, "Is it fun to push him into the fire pit?"

"Don't tell me it was His Majesty's intention. I'm not old enough to not see clearly who the mastermind is." Fan Jian came up and asked a barrage of questions.

Chen Pingping looked at him calmly, deliberately looking away, looking forward and said: "This child should experience some training, so that His Majesty can see his ability."

"All the civil and military officials in the court are dissatisfied, and the Honglu Temple will not look favorably upon him either. How do you want him to gain experience? Are you looking for trouble?" Fan Jian retorted.

"If it's too simple, it can't be called experience." Chen Pingping explained slowly, then asked with a smile: "I believe in his ability, and your majesty also believes in it. Could it be that Lord Fan doesn't believe it?"

"That sounds good, but who will bear the punishment in the future?" Fan Jian was very practical. If the border trip was unsuccessful, the pressure from the court alone would be hard to withstand. Who knew whether the emperor in the palace would punish them?

"At worst, if the Hanlin Academy doesn't compile it properly, it can just be sent to my Supervisory Council." Chen Pingping said this with a gloating look on his face.

"Old man, so this is what you were planning. Shameless!" Fan Jian spat and cursed.

In the end, the two of them couldn't come to a conclusion after the argument, so they could only look at each other at the palace gate and then go their separate ways.

……

In the afternoon, the Honglu Temple was also in the midst of a heated argument over this matter, but opinions were one-sided and no one wanted to speak for the general envoy.

Upon learning that the new number one scholar had joined the negotiation team, the diplomatic corps showed strong resistance, as if an unrelated kid had mixed in with a group of adults, which was no different from causing trouble.

This trip north concerns the major issues of the two countries, and they don't want to coax a child.

Who would have thought that His Majesty would let this kid serve as the chief envoy for negotiations? Isn't this just stepping on the heads of a group of Honglu Temple officials to climb up? It would be fine if the son of Lord Fan came to accompany him to gild his reputation, but now he is trying to snatch away the last bit of bones and not leave any face for the Honglu Temple.

Who can bear this...

In the hall of the Honglu Temple Yamen, all the officials of the Honglu Temple gathered and discussed the matter angrily.

The Minister of the Honglu Temple sat high in the main seat, and below him were the Junior Minister of the Honglu Temple, Junior Assistant Minister, and Chief Clerk, a total of about ten people.

Among them, the one with the most complicated mood was undoubtedly Xin Qiwu, the Shaoqing of the Honglu Temple. His eyes were dazed and he was still immersed in thoughts.

Previously, because of the matter of being the third prince's tutor, he had tried hard to curry favor with the new number one scholar. Now that this incident has happened, he is neither able to advance nor retreat.

How could Xin Qiwu not know the background of the top scholar? No matter how you look at it, he is not someone who can be offended.

But as the Shaoqing of the Honglu Temple, he cannot be so indecisive.

Xin Qiwu thought about it and decided to smooth things over for the sake of his own bright future.

"We can't wait any longer. Let's go to the palace now and talk to His Majesty." An official suggested.

The Minister of the Honglu Temple nodded slightly and looked at the Junior Minister: "Lord Xin, you were the one who reported the matter of the Northern Qi envoy to His Majesty, so please go to the palace again and speak for the Honglu Temple."

Xin Qiwu was stunned when he heard this and almost fell off his chair. All the officials in the court had not spoken up for the right thing, so now he was asked to speak up alone. What was he thinking?

"Absolutely not. His Majesty has made up his mind. If I continue to disturb him, it will only deepen his disgust." Xin Qiwu's face was full of clear smiles, but now it looked bitter.

"Are we really going to let that brat shit on our heads?" Shao Cheng couldn't sit still any longer. He pounded the table and gritted his teeth, saying, "If the border negotiation is successful, the credit will go to him. If it fails, the blame will be borne entirely by our Honglu Temple."

In fact, this dispute is ultimately a matter of mismatch between title and position. How can a fledgling top scholar, who has just made his debut in the imperial examination, suppress the experienced officials of the Honglu Temple?

If it was Lin Ruofu, who had a long career in officialdom, the Honglu Temple would naturally give up its position honestly, but you are not that person after all, and you do not have the qualifications and ability to convince others.

Xin Qiwu naturally understood the reason, and after thinking for a while, he said, "Why not ask the parties involved first what they think?"

The person involved refers to the Chief Envoy Lin Ruo. He is not a real official's son. The fact that he was able to rise from a retainer of the Fan family to the political arena and to rise through the cracks of the imperial examination is definitely not something that can be described by a simple phrase: he is talented and knowledgeable.

Xin Qiwu said inexplicably with confidence: "Perhaps the new champion himself does not know the position of the General Secretary. Maybe he does not intend to do so. Since he wants to accompany you to the north, it is better to talk calmly first."

The officials finally adopted Xin Qiwu's opinion, but instead of sitting down to talk calmly, they planned to first show the general envoy their power.

If the general envoy refuses to give in, they will not cooperate with him. They will just do their own thing and head north. In the end, the ones who will suffer will be those with less power.

If you can really accomplish it by yourself, it is understandable that all the credit should be attributed to you.

I am afraid that he is immoral and incompetent, but he still wants to make decisions and show off his abilities.

Everyone also knew that this new number one scholar had a powerful background, and even Dean Chen spoke for him, but the Honglu Temple was not a place that could be ruled by an outsider.

(End of this chapter)