Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 812 Figure it out
Marquis Changyuan instructed the steward to report back, and then got up from his recliner, extending his hand for his grandson to pull him into the courtyard.

"Didn't we say yesterday we were going to see the plum blossoms?" Marquis Changyuan asked. "Shall we go now?"

The little grandson repeated, "Let's go now."

Marquis Changyuan had a smile on his face, but as he walked forward, the smile gradually faded. Yesterday, he had received a letter with the Empress Dowager's private seal on it.

When the late emperor was alive, his wife often went to the palace. Later, when the current emperor ascended the throne and the empress dowager moved to Cining Palace, she would still frequently summon his family.

Even after he left the capital to take up his post, severing ties with Bianjing, the Empress Dowager would still send him a gift every year. They would also carefully select a birthday present for the Empress Dowager's birthday.

The relationship between the emperor and his ministers was maintained through these thoughtful gestures and gifts.

What they were thinking was simply that they might need each other's help in the future, and now that the Empress Dowager had spoken up.

Marquis Changyuan opened the letter and guessed what the Empress Dowager wanted his family to do. If it was a simple matter, he might accept it. If it was too outrageous, he might take the opportunity to get angry and pretend to be crazy.

Unfortunately, the letter was a blank sheet of paper, without a single word.

The Empress Dowager did this to test his conscience.

Let him think for himself about how far he is worth going to for Daliang.
Marquis Changyuan's steps were heavy, and he felt as if his whole body was trembling. His ancestors had accompanied the founding emperor on his campaigns, and after the founding emperor ascended the throne, they had relinquished their military power as promised. Logically speaking, from that time onward, the Marquis Changyuan's family should no longer owe the Liang family anything.

The Marquis's residence has been relatively peaceful these past few years. The current emperor is a benevolent ruler who has always treated them well. Although there are times when kindness and severity are combined, it is not excessive.

After news of the Emperor's serious illness spread, he began to worry, hoping that the court could smoothly complete the transfer of power, but unfortunately things did not go as planned.

The city of Bianjing is likely still peaceful; the real battle will only begin once the pawns have crossed the river.

He can't be that pawn.

Since the Empress Dowager was trapped in the palace and couldn't come to him to ask him openly which side he wanted to stand on, he was trapped there.
After Marquis Changyuan and his grandson finished admiring the plum blossoms, he had a servant cut two more branches. Just as he was about to go to his study to watch his grandson paint plum blossoms, the steward came over again and said, "My lord, people from the Liao and Lu families have come. They said they have settled in the Jingzhao Prefecture. As soon as you are feeling better and can see them, they will come."

The Liao and Lu families had fought side by side on the battlefield. Who were they looking for him for?

Marquis Changyuan sighed, "The Duke of Wei really planned this all along."

These four families, during the reign of Emperor Taizu, fearing being purged, stood together and swore an oath that if one family was purged, the other three would definitely help them.

In the end, however, the founding emperor spared their lives and granted them a path to wealth and status. But because of that secret agreement they had made beforehand, the four families had maintained good relations over the years.

When there was a feud between the four families, the Duke of Wei would step in to mediate.

Was it at that time, or even earlier, that the Duke of Wei had already begun to plan?
"Father."

Zeng Jiqing quickly caught up with Marquis Changyuan, his face full of anxiety.

Marquis Changyuan, still wearing his eldest son's armor, raised his eyes and asked, "Why are you in such a hurry?"

Zeng Jiqing said, "Something has happened. Zeng Yue's whole family has disappeared."

Zeng Yue was a retainer of the Zeng family. He had been following Marquis Changyuan in and out of the military camp since he was a teenager and was highly trusted by Marquis Changyuan. However, he disappeared at this critical moment.

Zeng Jiqing continued, "I just went to his house and also had someone check if anything was missing from our house."

Marquis Changyuan stared at his son, awaiting the outcome.

Zeng Jiqing said, "Some letters and account books were in his possession, but they are now gone."

"Who is it?" Marquis Changyuan said, then suddenly sneered, "It's Duke Wei." In recent years, the Zeng family has started leading troops again to guard the region. He retired from officialdom, and his sons joined the army so that the Zeng family army could continue.

They paid a heavy price for this.

When the military funds provided by the imperial court were insufficient, they had to find ways to divert them, increase manpower in advance, and bribe the civil officials in the government offices. Although he would not smuggle goods like Xie Yizhi, nor would he collude with the enemy, over the years... he had accumulated quite a few shady dealings. If it really came to the imperial court, and someone fanned the flames, not only would the title of Marquis of Changyuan be lost, but someone might also lose their life.

If the court wants to use these things to pressure him, it can openly send angels to his door.

Such a sneaky way of bribing his confidants and then suddenly pulling the rug out from under him must have been the work of the Duke of Wei.

Zeng Jiqing had obviously thought of these things as well. He frowned and said, "What should we do? The Liao and Lu families are still waiting to see Father... If Father refuses again, it will be like breaking ties with them. They will definitely hand over the evidence and make the court suspicious of us."

The Duke of Wei had private dealings with the Empress Dowager and was also hoarding military supplies and troops, which was tantamount to telling the Empress Dowager that he was on the Duke of Wei's side.

Marquis Changyuan remained silent for a long time, then sighed deeply: "Then go see him. Go see him."

Zeng Jiqing responded and turned to walk outside.

Marquis Changyuan had his grandson taken away, and he went to his study. When the lanterns were lit, Zeng Jiqing returned to the mansion with someone.

The study door opened, and a general in armor saluted Marquis Changyuan.

"Reporting to Marquis Changyuan," the general said, "the traitor He Tan led his He family army south without the imperial decree, and fought with the imperial troops for three days. He Tan's soldiers were armed with firearms, causing heavy losses to the troops sent to quell the rebellion."

"I have come to offer my condolences and request that Marquis Changyuan send troops to kill this man."

Marquis Changyuan stared at the general. Needless to say, this general was a man of the Duke of Wei. The Duke of Wei had him under control and was now ordering him around.

Marquis Changyuan said, "The Northwest is still far from Jingzhao Prefecture. How many troops does He Tan have stationed there? Can't we take down He Tan with the troops from Weizhou and Yanzhou? If they can't, aren't there still Dashun City and Bao'an Army?"

The general said, "It's not just the He family army; there are others who have also joined the rebel ranks."

Marquis Changyuan raised an eyebrow slightly: "Why?"

The general did not understand.

Marquis Changyuan bluntly asked, "Why is He Tan leading his troops south? What are his plans?"

The general swallowed hard. Fortunately, the Duke of Wei had given instructions before he came, so he might as well give Marquis Changyuan a strong dose of medicine: "Reporting to the Marquis, the Emperor is seriously ill, and He Tan holds a large army and is colluding with high-ranking officials in the court... I'm afraid he will disrupt the political situation."

"The high-ranking official you mentioned, are you referring to the current prime minister, Wang Bingchen? As for how they're disrupting the political situation, you don't mean they're trying to force the emperor to abdicate and install a new one, do you?"

The general took a deep breath: "From what we can see now... that is indeed the case."

"So besides capturing He Tan, we also need to go to the capital to deal with Wang Bingchen?" Marquis Changyuan leaned forward. "Am I right? With such a large-scale operation, how can we send out troops without making things clear?"

The general understood that Marquis Changyuan wanted the Duke of Wei to give him benefits. As long as it could be negotiated, it was a good thing. The general bowed and said, "This subordinate will immediately send someone back with a letter. After clarifying the matter, I will report back to the Marquis."

Marquis Changyuan nodded with satisfaction: "Then I'll trouble you."

After the generals left, Zeng Jiqing anxiously asked, "Father, have you agreed to their demands? Are we really going to help the King of Qin ascend the throne?"

Marquis Changyuan stood up, walked to the window, and looked outside: "Even if you don't want to take this path, you still have to have a choice."

(End of this chapter)