Chinese New Year

Chapter 1488 Don’t worry
After the New Year's Day court assembly, the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven was held in the southern suburbs, a task traditionally entrusted to the Crown Prince.

Next came the summoning of the various Hu leaders for questioning and reassurance, a task always performed by the Crown Prince, who was already quite adept at it.

She was busy like this until early February, when spring plowing was almost over, and Shao Jin finally had a little free time to sit down and catch her breath.

At this time, the people from the Togu Shotoku-den (East Palace's Imperial Household Department) who were in charge of agricultural exhortation came to the Togu Shotoku-den (East Palace's Imperial Household Department) one after another to discuss the year's tasks in a relatively relaxed tea party format.

Unbeknownst to many, the status of the officials in the shogunate who promoted agriculture through farming gradually rose, and they showed a tendency to replace the voice of the officials under the Crown Prince.

However, in front of the Crown Prince, everyone still had to restrain themselves and present a harmonious scene.

However, when the Crown Prince summoned Xie An to the palace alone, this delicate situation was already beginning to crumble.

Xie An seemed oblivious and went straight to the study, only to find Yu Liang and Song Qian already there. He then bowed respectfully and secretly composed himself.

Being an official and making social connections are all about tailoring your approach to the person you're dealing with. You must be clear about what kind of person is suitable for what kind of interaction.

If only the Crown Prince and Yu Liang were present, one could speak with a more spirited and unrestrained manner; people would not perceive it as a lack of composure, but rather as a display of integrity. However, when the Crown Prince's Grand Tutor Song Qian was present, such behavior was not permissible, for Song Qian was the most upright and principled man.

"Anshi, please sit down." Shao Jin had the palace servants bring him wine and fruit, then sighed and said, "For the past ten days, I have been summoning various tribal chiefs everywhere, which has been very tedious. Just now I heard you all chatting and laughing in the courtyard, which was quite interesting. Why don't you tell me about it?"

Xie An was silent for a moment, then said, "We have been discussing the southern expedition to Linyi."

Shao Jin nodded and said, "Actually, there are quite a few people in the court who oppose the southern expedition to Linyi. What do you think?"

"I believe they should be punished," Xie An replied.

"Oh?" Shao Jin asked curiously, "The border between Rinan and Linyi has always been of unclear ownership. Even if we win this battle, how many years can Linyi enjoy peace?"

“Your Highness, the key to this matter is not whether it is worthwhile or not, but His Majesty,” Xie An replied.

Shao Jin's expression turned serious, signaling him to continue.

Xie An felt a slight itch in his heart, and subconsciously flicked his sleeve, saying, "If someone could slay an enemy general at the age of fifteen, standing tall and ready before Kaiyang Gate. If someone could brave arrows and stones, laughing and joking amidst ten thousand troops, without changing expression. If someone could strategize and break through enemy lines at Yemagang. If someone could gallop over a thousand miles at the foot of Gaoping City..."

"Such a person, whose bravery and fierceness are rarely matched, and whose heroic demeanor is awe-inspiring."

"He was old, but his stubbornness was as strong as ever. He charged into the army with his sword, and the crowd cheered and wept with joy. Meritorious generals, tribal chiefs, and powerful families all bowed down before him."

"How does Your Highness think such a person should be treated?"

“Anshi, you’ve gone a bit too far,” Yu Liang coughed and said.

Song Qian glanced at Xie An a few more times, as if she was considering his options.

Shao Jin sighed and said, "Actually, Song Gong said the same thing just now. Everything boils down to one word: deception."

"Your Highness is wise," Xie An said, bowing slightly.

"Very well, it's just a small-scale battle," Shao Jin laughed. "Actually, I also agree with fighting. Sending troops to conquer requires only using the grain and weapons stored in Jiangnan, without disturbing the north. If we win, the tax grain, spices, sugar, timber, and even rare treasures from the South China Sea from Jiaozhou can continue to be transported to the capital. Truly, one doesn't know the cost of firewood and rice until one is in charge of the household; finances are the foundation of the dynasty. However—"

Xie An glanced at him and asked, "Does Your Highness know who is in charge of the army?"

"But I don't know," Shao Jin said. "His Majesty has not yet made a decision."

Xie An nodded and said, "Your Highness should strive for the position of Commander-in-Chief. You could be stationed in Henan and mobilize troops. After the war is over, you could openly present the list of meritorious generals and soldiers."

Shao Jin turned to look at Song Qian, who nodded slightly.

Upon seeing this, Shao Jin was overjoyed. He then looked at Xie An and said with a smile, "With Anshi here, I can sleep soundly without worry. This year, we still need to assess the land, so you must not slack off."

Xie An bowed and said, "When assessing the land, Your Highness should encourage and reward the diligent officials and their assistants for the sake of the future. The cleared land should be distributed to the remaining soldiers and laborers to win their hearts."

Shao Jin nodded slowly upon hearing this.

In critical moments, there's no need to argue about who is more reliable.

The group then discussed the details of this year's land acquisition, and did not disperse until evening.

Before leaving, Shao Jin stood up and asked, "Anshi, what kind of person do you think His Majesty is?"

"A true hero indeed." Xie An bowed and turned to leave.

Shao Jin felt a little disappointed, waved his hand, and let him go.

The next day, Shao Jin hurriedly entered the palace to bid farewell to his father.

Shao Xun was sitting idly in Zhaoyang Palace.

Empress Yu Wenjun was doing needlework by her side, glancing at her husband every now and then before lowering her head to continue her work until her son arrived.

"Liang Nu, sit down first," Shao Xun said, waving his hand.

"Yes." Shao Jin bowed to her parents and sat up straight.

"Working in the fields for three consecutive years, do you feel tired?" Shao Xun asked.

“This is the foundation of the nation, and I don’t feel tired at all,” Shao Jin replied. “I prefer doing these mundane tasks to trivial matters.”

Shao Xun nodded and said, "You're having a very comfortable time as the crown prince."

Shao Jin lowered his head slightly. "You're scaring Liang Nu again." Yu Wenjun rolled her eyes at Shao Xun and put down her needlework.

Shao Xun chuckled and continued to interrogate his son: "In the past two years, have you learned anything?"

"Have."

"tell me the story."

"When I arrived in Jizhou to survey the land, I heard endless pleas from scholars. I thought they must be suffering greatly, so I sent someone to investigate. I found that the manor was secluded and surrounded by dense forests and bamboo groves. The manor produced more than it could use, so it was sold at the market." Shao Jin said, "The farmhands were disheveled and their livelihoods were difficult. They couldn't even decide for themselves when they got married. I felt deeply sorry for them."

Yu Wenjun looked at her husband, then at her son, as if to say that the servants of the Yu family were not so miserable.

Shao Jin noticed her mother's expression and thought to herself that her mother was born to enjoy a life of happiness, without any setbacks, and was doted on by her father. Every woman in the world would probably envy her.

There are some things I don't need to tell my mother; let her continue to be happy like this.

"Besides that?" Shao Xun continued to ask.

"I was talking with the elders in Ye City, and we discussed the old days," Shao Jin continued. "Shi Le first established the Gentlemen's Camp in Changshan, and many scholars in Hebei followed him. After hearing this, I pondered for a long time, wondering what the scholars would do if someone were to invade Hebei again one day?"

"What do you think?" Shao Xun asked.

“There must be those who understand the greater good of the nation and its people. These people are loyal to the court and would never follow the rebels,” Shao Jin said. “But there are also those who stand by and watch, or even aid and abet the wicked. With their help, the rebels will have no shortage of food, weapons, and laborers. They will be like tigers with wings, making them very difficult to suppress.”

Shao Xun grunted and said, "So, what do scholars generally think?"

"Private schemes." After uttering these four words, Shao Jin lowered his head slightly again.

Yu Wenjun looked at her son, slightly surprised.

"What will you do in the future?" Shao Xun asked again.

Without hesitation, Shao Jin said, "Just as Father chose Pingzhang Zhengshi as wise."

Shao Xun raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

He was actually a little worried that the Crown Prince would go from one extreme to the other, that is, he originally trusted scholars very much, but later he hated them very much, which was not advisable.

The scholar-official class was an objective reality, just like the Hu people and the warriors.

Everything in the world is most afraid of going to extremes, because then there is no room for maneuver.

Liang Nu couldn't possibly be unaware of the importance of balance, but knowing exactly who to balance was a delicate matter.

“In that case, I can rest assured.” Shao Xun stood up gently and said, “Take good care of the fields this year. Carefully read and annotate the memorials sent to you; I will check them.”

"Yes." Shao Jin responded, then stood up and bowed, saying, "Father, I humbly request to be appointed as the Commander-in-Chief of Linyi."

Shao Xun was silent for a moment, then nodded and said, "Alright. You can decide which imperial guards, which garrison troops, and which hereditary troops to send. But there is one condition: once the main army has assembled in Jiaozhi and Rinan, you must not interfere. I intend to appoint Sun He as the deputy commander-in-chief. He is experienced in battle and should be fine. You can watch and listen, but do not give orders haphazardly."

"Yes," Shao Jin replied, her face flushed.

"What kind of person is Xie An?" Shao Xun suddenly asked.

"He is capable of great use."

"What did you see in him?" Shao Xun asked.

Shao Jin was alarmed, thinking that Xie An had offended his father, but he still wanted to save the man one last time, so he said, "Xie An is learned and knowledgeable, and he has a good eye for people. Perhaps because he is still young, he cannot be as adept as a seasoned official who has served for many years, but wherever he goes, the local area will not be in chaos. He can usually unite the people and get all kinds of things done."

Shao Xun neither confirmed nor denied it.

Xie An did indeed have the ability to unite the people, and this might even be his most outstanding skill.

Of course, he is also clear-headed enough to see the big picture, flexible in his actions, and not stubbornly inflexible. To be honest, he is much better than Liangzi.

Yuan Gui's talent in administrative affairs may have surpassed Xie Anshi's due to his years of experience, but he was mediocre in other areas.

Character determines destiny; this is a very typical example.

"Xie An is good; he's clear-headed on important matters," Shao Xun finally concluded, adding, "You should hone his skills in handling routine affairs; he may be of great use in the future."

"I understand," Shao Jin replied.

"What do you think of Huan Yuanzi?" Just when Shao Jin thought the questioning for the day was over, Shao Xun threw out another question.

“Yuanzi is familiar with official documents, and his proficiency is like that of a seasoned veteran.” After thinking for a moment, Shao Jin said, “I have heard that he charged into battle in his early years, moving swiftly and decisively, and was also a fierce general. Such a person, who is both literate and martial, may be of great use?”

Shao Xun nodded slightly and hummed in agreement.

In today's political and military environment, Huan Wen has indeed lost the possibility of rising again.

Apart from a few special individuals—such as Liu Ling—no one was born wanting to rebel, and Huan Wen could only work his way up in the Liang Dynasty step by step.

After suppressing him for so many years, Huan Wen, who is already thirty-three years old, is indeed ready to be used—this kid is also a winner in life, and he is still so young.

"Let Huan Yuanzi go to your headquarters," Shao Xun finally instructed.

(End of this chapter)