The struggle for the throne among nine princes—I really don't want to be the crown prince.

Chapter 575 Crown Prince, you will pay back double what you owe me.
Inside the Viceroy of Liangjiang's mansion, everyone from top to bottom had their heads drooping, looking like wilted eggplants, completely dejected.

Of course, many of these people's dejection is just "acting."

They were secretly overjoyed, but no one dared to show it on their faces.

Who dares to laugh? Anyone who laughs would be gloating!

Why? Because the Governor-General of Liangjiang, Cen Youguang, is currently seething with anger!

Although Lord Cen is not the type to lash out indiscriminately or take his anger out on others.

But yesterday, they still kicked out several of the usually troublesome servants.

Sigh, it's all tears when I think about it. The warships of the Kongjiang Navy were burned to the ground!

The rebel warships sailed freely on the river, severing the north-south waterway with ease, as easily as cutting a rope.

The mess he made made Cen Youguang a prime example of a "criminal official" in the eyes of the imperial court.

Moreover, the Emperor is still fighting a war in the Northwest!

If the grain supply is cut off, the whole country will be in turmoil.

As the Governor-General of Liangjiang, if Cen Youguang doesn't take the blame, who will?

Can I carry it? Lord Cen was very worried, feeling as if his back was being bent under the weight.

He was mentally prepared to spend the rest of his life in jail.

His men are now all paying lip service to him, playing "superficial games."

Why?

Because everyone felt that this governor's position was probably not going to be secure for long!
"My lord—great joy!"

Jin Xingshi, the advisor, trotted in with a beaming smile, holding a document high in his hand.

Cen Youguang looked up, his face saying, "Are you kidding me?"

"What's the cause of this joy? Could it be that His Majesty defeated Arabtan in the Northwest?"

If the emperor really wins, the pressure on supplies will be relieved, and perhaps the army can return to the capital sooner.

That way, he can finally catch his breath.

Moreover, the emperor knows him well. Even if he makes a mistake, he wouldn't go so far as to completely destroy this old minister.

"My lord, the military report from the Northwest hasn't arrived yet. What I'm reporting is great news—the Crown Prince has issued an imperial edict!"

Jin Xingshi smiled so hard his eyes narrowed into slits: "The Crown Prince said he's giving you a chance to 'redeem yourself through meritorious service'!"

"Drive out the rebels and restore river transport within a month, and all past transgressions will be forgiven!"

"It will be resolved within two months, and the official will be demoted three ranks."

"If three months isn't enough... then we'll have to ask you to go back to your hometown and grow sweet potatoes."

At this point, Venus Stone rubbed his hands excitedly:

"This shows that the Crown Prince and the officials in the court still trust you! They know that you have just arrived and the situation has not yet stabilized."

"My lord, this is a rare opportunity! If this can be resolved within a month, you won't have to worry about anything!"

Cen Youguang took the imperial edict, examined it carefully from beginning to end, and his expression finally improved slightly.

"Star Stone, the Crown Prince believes in me, but I... I can't do it!"

"You know perfectly well how closely those rebels are colluded with the local tyrants in Jiangnan."

"How can we possibly build warships and restore river transport within two months? It's easier said than done!"

"Besides, many of the capable soldiers from Jiangnan have been transferred to the snowy region. It's incredibly difficult for me to transfer any more men now."

Venus Stone stroked his chin and pondered for a moment, then lowered his voice and said:

"My lord, since the Crown Prince has provided a ladder, we should take advantage of it."

"If all else fails... shall we try 'talking' with them first?"

He spoke the word "negotiation" lightly, but Cen Youguang understood immediately—

Talk? You make it sound so easy!

If we were to actually sit down and talk, I'm afraid I'd end up being led by the nose by those gentry from Jiangnan, and even become their puppet.

"Let's think of another way..."

The two were staring blankly at each other when another imperial edict was delivered.

This time, the order came from the Southern Study Office based on the results of the court's deliberations:

He instructed Cen Youguang to quickly gather fishing boats and transport the grain that was stuck in Songjiang and other places to Hangzhou by sea.

And it's only valid for ten days!

Upon seeing this, Cen Youguang's anger flared up instantly:

"What are those officials in the imperial court trying to do?! Four million shi of grain, do they think they can just move them like that?"

"You still won't let the news leak out and force us to change our route to the sea?"

"This Jiangnan region is like a sieve; as soon as they start requisitioning fishing boats, the rebels will know immediately!"

"If that happens, those four million bushels of grain will either be robbed or burned—absolutely not!"

"I cannot stand by and watch this grain fall into the hands of the rebels! I must write to the Crown Prince!"

Jin Xingshi quickly picked up the order and examined it closely, then tugged at Cen Youguang's sleeve:

"My lord, petitioning is useless! Although the order is not explicitly stated, those who insist on transporting grain by sea are most likely acting on the Crown Prince's orders."

"It's also written that if it can't be delivered on time, both crimes will be punished... You should think it over!"

Cen Youguang jumped up: "So I'm just supposed to stand by and watch the supplies go into the mouths of the rebels?"

"My lord, no one in the court will listen to what you're saying now. Ultimately, the responsibility for the problems with the canal transport lies with you."

"If you stubbornly resist now, you'll definitely be the one blamed most."

"But if something goes wrong during the execution, that's a different matter, and the main responsibility won't lie with you..." "Sir, let's think about it again!"

Cen Youguang paced back and forth, head bowed, hesitating, when a servant suddenly came to report:

"Your Excellency, Provincial Governor Shu Jitian requests an audience."

Upon hearing the name, Cen Youguang's head buzzed. Why did this smiling tiger have to come at this time?
Although he felt disgusted, the man was, after all, a proper second-rank official, and he was very close to the gentry of Jiangnan. Their relationship was so good that they were practically inseparable, and his words carried more weight than his own.

He had no choice but to grit his teeth and say, "Please come in."

Before a cup of tea could be brewed, a middle-aged man in his forties, dressed in neat official robes, walked in with a smile, bowing respectfully as he entered.
"Congratulations, Your Excellency! Congratulations! Your Excellency is indeed favored by the Emperor and blessed with good fortune. I admire you greatly!"

The voice was so enthusiastic that anyone who didn't know better would think Cen Youguang wasn't trying to atone for his crimes, but rather seeking a promotion.

"I heard the imperial court is allowing you to redeem yourself through meritorious service and has even dispatched fishing boats to transport grain to Yangzhou? That's wonderful!"

"As long as the grain reaches Yangzhou, the imperial court will overcome its difficulties, and your difficulties will be more than half over!"

"Then you'll be free to deal with those rebels at your own pace."

Looking at Shu Jitian's smiling face, Cen Youguang wanted to punch him, but he had to keep a straight face.

Although Shu Jitian had clearly sided with the Jiangnan gentry, he was practically ready to stick a sign on his forehead saying, "I've already jumped ship!"

But what could Cen Youguang do when he had no evidence at all?

I can't exactly say I suspected you were a traitor all along, can I?

"Lord Shu, sea travel is long and the waves are high, it's too easy for accidents to happen. Besides, with such a big commotion, how could the rebels not know?"

"If the news leaks out, it will be a huge problem!"

"Therefore, I plan to submit a memorial to the imperial court to postpone this matter."

Shu Jitian immediately stopped smiling and said coldly:
"Does Your Excellency intend to defy the imperial court's orders and the Crown Prince's decisions?"

"Don't forget, you are currently under investigation. If you disobey orders again, you will be guilty of both crimes."

"Now that the grain transport has been cut off, the capital is short of food, and His Majesty's expeditionary army is also waiting for rice to cook."

"If you delay, it won't be as simple as losing your official position—it's a crime punishable by the extermination of your entire family!"

He stared at Cen Youguang, speaking slowly and deliberately:
"The risks you mentioned have already been considered by the officials in the court. But the situation is critical; how can we know it won't work if we don't try?"

"Sir, you should take care of yourself."

After saying that, he flicked his sleeve, turned around and left, his steps were so crisp and decisive.

It was as if staying any longer would bring bad luck.

Watching Shu Jitian's retreating figure, Cen Youguang remained silent for a long time before finally letting out a long sigh:
"Go ahead and do it... Even if the sky falls, there's someone tall enough to hold it up."

"The Crown Prince is really..."

He didn't say the second half of the sentence, but Venus Stone understood and could only sigh as well:

"My lord, perhaps... it might work?"

Cen Youguang opened his mouth, but in the end he swallowed his words back.

What's the point of arguing at this point?

Half an hour later, Shu Jitian, beaming with joy, received the order from the Governor-General's Office and instructed his subordinates:
"Comply with the Governor's orders!"

"Requisition all fishing boats and merchant ships! Within three days, gather enough ships to carry four million shi of grain!"

"Anyone who messes up at this crucial moment, I'll take their head!"

Although his subordinates didn't understand, they quickly agreed and went to do it.

After getting things done, Shu Jitian crouched down and quietly slipped away to Xuanwu Academy in the south of the city.

The servant led him through a maze of paths, straight to the small pavilion by the lake.

Good heavens, an old man with white hair was sitting with his legs crossed, holding a fishing rod in one hand and a teacup in the other, looking incredibly relaxed and carefree.

Shu Jitian stepped forward and quickly bowed, saying, "Greetings to the Prime Minister!"

The old man fishing was Zhang Yushu.

He didn't even bother to lift his eyelids, staring leisurely at the lake and asking, "Has Cen Youguang... given the order?"

"Your Excellency, how could he dare not comply? Saving his life is the most important thing!"

Shu Jitian chuckled, "But I heard he also wants to transfer some people from the Kongjiang Navy to go with the fleet, just for peace of mind."

"Just a death throes," Shu Jitian said with a sneer.

Zhang Yushu gently cast his line, his tone indifferent:

"Anyway, his time as governor is coming to an end. As for you, just be polite on the surface, since you're going to leave anyway."

"Once the grain ships set sail, the game is won."

He took a sip of tea, then suddenly sneered, "This time, even if I'm in Jiangnan, I'll still avenge that arrow wound from back then!"

Suddenly, he slammed the fishing rod to the ground with a "thud," the sound chillingly cold.

"When His Majesty returns defeated, when all the grain tribute has been looted, when peasant uprisings break out across Jiangbei due to increased grain levies..."

"That will be the time for me to return to the capital!"

He turned half his face to the side, his eye twitching slightly:
"I need to make His Highness the Crown Prince remember how he kicked me out of the court back then..."

"But am I, Zhang Yushu, someone who gives up so easily?"

"Not only will I go back, but I will also drag him down from the position of Crown Prince, step by step!"

"He needs to know that even as the crown prince, he can't do whatever he wants and trample on whomever he pleases—"

"There are some people you have to treat like royalty!"

Shu Jitian stole a glance at Zhang Yushu's almost ferocious profile, and a chill ran down his spine. He quickly lowered his head, afraid that the fear in his eyes would be seen.

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(End of this chapter)