Damn it, I'm in the garbage book I wrote

Chapter 861 Don't forget that there's another one among the two supreme beings.
Zhang Shuo's carriage drove into Chang'an at a leisurely pace. There was neither an imperial envoy's entourage nor a retinue of attendants. Only the small "Wei" flag hanging on the carriage shaft and the blue tassel representing the rank of Minister of the Imperial Secretariat silently proclaimed the identity of the person inside the carriage.

Without alerting anyone, he went straight back to the Chang'an residence bestowed upon him by his third sister, a place he could only stay in for a few days a year. After settling in briefly, he submitted a formally formatted official document to the Li Tang government office in the name of "Zhang Shuo, Minister of the Imperial Secretariat and Chancellor of the Great Wei Dynasty," stating that he had been ordered to return to Jinling to report on his duties and was taking a break along the way, and that this was a formal notification in accordance with diplomatic protocol.

The official document was politely worded and in accordance with regulations, but this action sparked considerable speculation in Chang'an.

The fact that a powerful prime minister of the Great Wei Dynasty was not in a key border town or the capital Jinling, but instead came to Chang'an at this sensitive moment, even under the guise of "rest and vacation," was enough to make many people secretly speculate.

Changsun Wuji received the news immediately. Holding the thin official document, he frowned slightly. He naturally knew Zhang Zhongchun's reputation; he and Xia Lin were childhood friends, the head of the civil officials of the Great Wei, and a seemingly unrestrained but actually shrewd and insightful individual. He was one of the two golden phoenixes that flew out of Luoyang back then.

Therefore, his return at this moment could not possibly be solely for the purpose of painting or visiting friends.

"Closely monitor Zhang Shuo's movements, and record all his social interactions. But remember, do not act rashly, and do not give others any leverage against you."

Changsun Wuji gave the order in a deep voice. Dealing with such a foreign prime minister of such a special and influential status naturally couldn't be done using the same methods used against political enemies in the court.

Zhang Shuo seemed completely unaware that he had become the center of attention. His first public appearance after arriving in Chang'an was at a chrysanthemum appreciation party hosted by several retired senior officials.

The event was held in a garden by Qujiang Pool. The attendees were mostly renowned scholars and Hanlin scholars, as well as some leisurely members of the imperial family.

Old Zhang, dressed in slightly worn casual clothes and carrying his signature wine gourd, arrived late. As soon as he entered, he repeatedly apologized, saying that he had been distracted by a batch of newly arrived Khotan jade from the West Market, appreciating it for a long time and almost missing the appointed time.

During the meal, the conversation naturally shifted from chrysanthemum varieties to the customs and products of the Western Regions. Zhang Shuo generously displayed the scrolls he had brought, which immediately drew gasps of admiration.

"Prime Minister Zhang, is the scene in this painting real?" an old scholar asked, stroking his long beard.

"Illegible?" Old Zhang's eyes widened as he pointed to the winding irrigation canals and cotton fields like clouds in the painting: "Lord Li, this Tongji Canal was dug out by tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians, one shovel and one pick. The cotton fields were irrigated by drawing water from the snow-capped mountains. These are real achievements, how can they be exaggerated? Just the construction of those three main canals alone, according to preliminary estimates, cost no less than this amount."

He held up a few fingers, gesturing to a staggering number.

While seemingly boasting about Xia Lin's achievements, he inadvertently pointed out the huge investment and results of the Western Regions development, and further implied the strong national support behind it.

At this point, someone asked about the ways in which the various ethnic groups in the Western Regions should get along.

Old Zhang took a sip of wine and said casually, "Nothing much, just that the rules are clear and the benefits are clearly divided. Under the rule of the Great Wei Western Regions Construction Corps, regardless of whether one is Han or non-Han, those who make contributions to land reclamation are rewarded, those who conduct business and abide by the law are protected, and those who commit crimes are punished. With common interests, who would still be thinking about those old grudges? Isn't everyone driven by self-interest and avoids harm?"

His words, seemingly referring to the Western Regions, subtly touched upon the current stalemate and internal strife in the Li Tang court caused by the power struggle. Many people present couldn't help but feel a complex mix of emotions upon hearing them.

When someone subtly inquired about his opinion on the recent atmosphere in Chang'an, Zhang Shuo laughed heartily, waving his wine gourd: "This old man is merely a painting enthusiast, burdened with mundane official duties. I can only discern the nuances of ink and brushstrokes; how could I possibly understand the current state of affairs in the capital? I simply find this continuous rain somewhat oppressive. Unlike my home in the Western Regions, where the sky is high and the land is vast, even with sandstorms blowing in my face, I still feel my heart soar!"

His words were barbed and sarcastic. Everyone present was shrewd and intelligent. Although they were somewhat displeased, they were helpless because what he said was true and they couldn't refute it. They were left speechless.

After this chrysanthemum appreciation event, Zhang Shuo maintained a "semi-public, semi-private" relationship.

In his capacity as Grand Secretary of the Wei Dynasty, he paid a courtesy visit to several prime ministers of the Li Tang Dynasty's Council of State, exchanging views on routine matters such as trade between the two countries and border management. He was humble and conducted his business in an official manner.

In private, however, he remained the dashing and debonair literary luminary, frequenting poetry gatherings and hosting literary banquets.

However, his remarks about the development of the Western Regions and about "establishing rules, clarifying rewards and punishments, and seeking common benefits" quietly circulated among the literati in Chang'an as his influence grew.

An invisible contrast is forming: on one side is the vibrant, well-defined, and promising new order in the Western Regions, and on the other side is the stagnation and unease in Chang'an caused by the uncertainty of power transition.

On this day, Zhang Shuo hosted a banquet at his residence to entertain several old friends and learned scholars from Jiangnan. When the wine was half-finished, he ordered someone to bring out a set of exquisite glass wine vessels from the Western Regions and personally poured wine for his guests.

"This item was made by skilled craftsmen from Kucha. The method originated from Persia and was further improved by our craftsmen from Fuliang." Old Zhang played with the crystal-clear wine cup and sighed, "It can be seen that only through circulation and integration can skills and culture be innovated and improved. Staying behind closed doors and being complacent is not a long-term solution."

His words seemed to refer to objects, yet also seemed to have a deeper meaning. These learned scholars could easily discern the implied message. Considering the subtle rejection and wariness that the Li Tang court was currently displaying towards the outside world, they couldn't help but nod in agreement.

These words and actions, like spring rain, nourished things silently. Coupled with his influence in the literary world and his familiarity with the students of Heluo, they caused quite a stir in the city.

He didn't utter a single word criticizing Changsun Wuji, nor did he interfere in the internal affairs of the Li Tang dynasty. Instead, by showcasing the effectiveness of the Great Wei's governance in the Western Regions and its open attitude, he subtly elevated the voice of the cooperative faction and provided a moral and practical reference for those who opposed Changsun Wuji's rigid and conservative policies.

This put Changsun Wuji under unprecedented pressure.

This pressure didn't come from direct confrontation, but from a pervasive comparison and questioning. He found that his usual political maneuvering was somewhat ineffective against Zhang Shuo's seemingly frivolous yet morally superior and practically advantageous cultural output and ideological infiltration.

Previously, Changsun Wuji only thought that Zhang Zhongchun would not be more difficult to deal with than Xia Lin, but now it seems that he and that Xia dog are clearly one civil and one military, and neither of them are easy to deal with. If he is allowed to wander around here for a few more days, who knows what will become of Chang'an City.

"Give the order," Changsun Wuji said to his confidant. "Find a pretext to transfer a few officials who have close ties with Zhang Shuo to sinecure positions, so they know my stance. Also, tighten control over the Prince of Qin's residence. No outsider, especially physicians, is allowed to enter without my written permission!"

He must speed things up and take complete control of the situation before the unhealthy trend created by Zhang Shuo gains more traction.

One person, and this was a single person who came alone and completely restrained the Li Tang prime minister who thought he had the whole situation under control. Changsun Wuji was arrogant all his life. He admitted that he was indeed inferior to Xia Daosheng in military affairs, but in other aspects, he was considered outstanding among the heroes of the world.

However, when he actually faced Zhang Zhongchun, he realized that there was no false reputation behind his fame. The man was playing his cards openly, and the game was laid out in front of him. No matter how he handled it, something was bound to go wrong.

Yes, he could indeed transfer the officials who associated with Lao Zhang, but then what? The officials in Chang'an weren't fools, and he couldn't be like Dong Zhuo or Cao Cao. He had neither the power to control the emperor nor the means to raise an army to besiege the city.

Finally, one can imagine the storm of public opinion he would face. As for suppressing the Qin Prince's Mansion, that would be extremely risky. If Li Jiancheng recovered, all would be well. But if he really died here, then what awaited him was the Empress's boundless wrath.

It seemed as if all the schemes he had set up in Chang'an had been disrupted overnight, yet this was only because Zhang Zhongchun had come here alone.

This family has two supreme beings... Why do they have to be on the same side? If even one of them had been sent to Chang'an, things wouldn't be like this today.

Soon, news of Changsun Wuji's actions reached Old Zhang's ears. He laughed and then did something that everyone in the world found absurd: he personally visited the families of those who had been transferred from their posts because of their close association with him. He didn't even enter their homes; he simply presented them with apology gifts at the door and then turned and left.

After one or two such incidents, how could people not gossip? Rumors began to circulate that Zhang Shuo was undermining Chang'an's talent pool. For a time, the entire city of Chang'an was in a state of panic. Apart from idle people, no one dared to attend Zhang Shuo's banquets, and no one dared to discuss it in public.

The once bustling Zhang residence gate immediately became deserted, but Old Zhang was not in a hurry. He simply sat in the courtyard every day drinking tea and practicing calligraphy, inviting some leisurely literati to come and chat and admire the moon.

The silence lasted less than seven days. Suddenly, the voices that had been suppressed by Changsun Wuji grew louder. The reformists, who had been manipulated, could no longer tolerate Changsun Wuji's actions and began to oppose him.

In the imperial court, they used those who had clearly done nothing wrong but had been demoted or transferred by Changsun Wuji, both openly and secretly, as tools to attack Changsun Wuji. They even attributed all the chaos that Chang'an was currently experiencing to the Changsun family.

Amidst the conservatives and radicals was a small group of royalists... The royalists stood firmly on the side of the Li Tang emperor. Previously, neither the conservatives nor the radicals would associate with them, and everyone called them sycophants and jesters. However, now they had become the object of the radicals' attempts to win them over.

Suddenly, the court of Li Tang was in turmoil, and Changsun Wuji was in a state of utter chaos.

It's not that he lacked control over the court—that's certainly not true—but rather that Zhang's remedies were too precise, and his understanding of personnel matters as politics was too thorough. He successfully amplified the existing problems to an extreme degree, even forcing the previously weakened faction to rise up in rebellion. After all, Changsun Wuji was suppressing their own people, and if he continued to cause trouble like this, the reformists would run out of people to use.

(End of this chapter)