Prime Minister.

Chapter 29 [Inheritance]

"Be more specific."

Shen Wang picked up the tea that Xue Huai had poured for him and gestured with interest.

Xue Huai said, "From the very beginning, my teacher wanted to investigate more than just the Capital Water Conservancy Bureau. However, they are not mind readers, so they cannot determine how far you intend to go. Therefore, they can only guess by analyzing your actions. Take Minister Xue of the Ministry of Works, for example. He cannot offend my teacher, but he must also be wary of you."

"and then?"

"Normally, all you need to do, teacher, is thoroughly investigate the Water Conservancy Bureau and then report back to His Majesty. But high-ranking officials like Minister Xue think they know you very well, so they certainly don't believe you will take this matter lightly this time."

Xue Huai paused for a moment, feeling his thoughts gradually opening up, and then said, "If Minister Xue thinks you can achieve great results with little effort, then he only has two choices: one is to do nothing and let us do whatever we want, and the other is to drag more people down with him and use them to deal with the investigation department."

Shen Wang remained noncommittal and then asked, "Then guess what I talked about with Minister Xue today?"

Xue Huai pondered for a moment and said, "Since you want to lure the snake out of its hole, you must first arouse Minister Xue's suspicion. The best strategy is to do something out of the ordinary. As long as you take the initiative to show goodwill to Minister Xue, create a harmonious atmosphere, and stop deliberately drawing a line, given Minister Xue's personality, he will definitely think that you are trying to lull him into a false sense of security."

At this moment, Shen Wang felt that the tea prepared by the clerks tasted quite good, much better than the Lan Zhu Jade Dew that Xue Minglun treasured.

He put down his teacup, making no attempt to hide his admiration: "So what will Minister Xue do?"

Xue Huai suddenly understood and said firmly, "Minister Xue will definitely not stand up against the Investigation Bureau. He is very good at protecting himself and will most likely shift the blame, just like he used me to deal with Gu Heng last time. Before he is sure of the opponent's true purpose, Minister Xue is more used to using others to do his dirty work. So I think he will bring out those big shots who have interests in the Ministry of Works and rely on them to force you, Teacher, to give up."

"continue."

"In this way, your goal will be achieved directly. You never considered the Water Conservancy Bureau as your only target in the first place, and Minister Xue's actions are exactly what your teacher wanted. Just wait a little while, and various forces will step into this vortex one after another, and even His Majesty will find it difficult to quell the situation directly."

"very good."

Shen Wang was very satisfied with Xue Huai's comprehension. In fact, he had never underestimated Xue Huai's intelligence. He was only slightly disappointed because he could not change Xue Huai's stubbornness.

At this moment, he smiled and asked, "One last question. According to your deduction, it seems I don't need to go through all this trouble. If I just openly confront the Ministry of Works, those big shots hiding behind the scenes won't sit still either. They will jump out anyway. So why should I add this unnecessary step?"

Xue Huai also laughed and said calmly, "Teacher, you are the imperial envoy."

Shen Wang feigned ignorance and asked, "What do you mean by that?"

"Your power comes from His Majesty's grant, but His Majesty must have hinted that this case should not be blown out of proportion. This summer's floods have caused severe damage in many parts of the south, partly due to the ruthlessness of natural disasters, and partly due to the hidden dangers in the flood control dikes in those areas, for which the Water Conservancy Bureau is responsible. Furthermore, His Majesty also hopes to recover the money that should belong to the court from those corrupt officials in order to fill the empty national treasury."

Xue Huai confidently offered his answer: "You cannot make a big fuss, and you certainly cannot actively provoke anyone outside the Water Conservancy Bureau, because His Majesty will not be pleased. If you do do that, even if His Majesty does not openly reprimand you, he will definitely not let you take on similar duties in the future."

In the bright candlelight, Shen Wang smiled broadly and nodded, saying, "You've thought this through so clearly in such a short time; I'm truly impressed."

Xue Huai remained calm.

Although he didn't enter the core circle he's in his previous life, the principles of some things are the same.

In officialdom, one cannot only think about doing things; one must consider all aspects of the impact, especially the attitude of superiors.

Trying to guess what your superiors want is not a compliment, but if you act recklessly and without regard for consequences, you often won't get a second chance.

It's hard to do things seriously, and it's even harder to accomplish something without offending others.

Xue Huai looked up and saw that Shen Wang's smile seemed to hide some fatigue. He couldn't help but ask the question that had been hidden in his heart for a long time: "Teacher, was my late father really His Majesty's right-hand man back then?"

"Why do you ask?"

"This disciple does not mean to disrespect Your Majesty, but looking at the court today, I feel that Your Majesty may give more important positions to my late father, and it will be difficult to achieve harmony between the ruler and his ministers."

Looking at Xue Huai's young and handsome face, Shen Wang recalled the spirited, shrewd, and capable Minister of the Court of Judicial Review from back then, and a sense of melancholy arose in his heart. He slowly said, "Jing Che, His Majesty is the Son of Heaven, but he is also a human being. What person in this world remains unchanged? For example, you were always unable to settle down in the past two years, but now you have become more balanced and at ease."

Xue Huai remained silent.

Shen Wang's meaning was simple: the emperor of yesteryear who was diligent in governing and promoted a large number of capable and loyal ministers was not a false memory, and the emperor of today who only cares about power and pleasure is not a pretense either.

The same person, different temperaments.

Or perhaps the emperor is inherently of this nature, but he faced much skepticism at the beginning of his reign, so he is determined to prove himself to be a wise and virtuous ruler.

Once those veterans of three reigns have retired, and no one in the court can affect his prestige, he will no longer need to work day and night as he did in the past.

"Alright, let's not dwell on the past." Shen Wang composed himself and said calmly, "Although our target is not just the Water Conservancy Bureau, we cannot let them continue to live freely. We must solidify the crimes of the Water Conservancy Bureau officials within seven days. This matter cannot be delayed for too long."

Xue Huai agreed, then asked, "Teacher, besides thoroughly investigating the Water Conservancy Bureau, what should we do next?"

Although he deduced Shen Wang's plan, it was because the other party had given him a lot of hints. At present, he did not think he had the qualifications and ability to make plans, let alone understand his mentor's thoughts.

"Next step?"

Shen Wang looked slightly curious, then asked in return, "What's the next step?"

Xue Huai was slightly taken aback. He thought that what he would see next was Shen Wang's wisdom and skill, outlining a grand strategy with just a few words, and even an old fox like Xue Minglun becoming a pawn in his game.

Shen Wang finally understood and chuckled, "Do you know how to play chess?"

"I know a little, but I'm not very good at it."

"Then let me ask you a very simple question: when you play chess with someone, do you go back and forth, or do you first set up several large groups on the board and wait for the opponent to obediently fill in their pieces?"

Xue Huai couldn't help but feel ashamed, realizing that he had fallen into a cognitive trap.

Perhaps Shen Wang's brilliance was too dazzling, causing him to overthink things.

Shen Wang slowly said, "The layout is like a game of chess. We have to wait for the opponent to make a move before we can decide what to do next. Some people in this world are superstitious about so-called conspiracies and power plays, but they don't know that the more complex the conspiracy, the easier it is to fail. If just one link goes wrong, the whole game will be lost, just like the situation you encountered earlier."

"Yes, the other side stretched the line too far, and Gu Heng and Liu Pingshun eventually lost control, causing the situation to collapse instantly."

"This is the lesson I want to teach you."

Shen Wang paused slightly, then said earnestly, "The so-called 'planning before acting' means that before you do something, you should consider the consequences of doing so and understand the needs and interests of all parties. It doesn't mean you can work behind closed doors and try to use an extremely elaborate plan to make everyone act like your puppets."

Xue Huai said solemnly, "This disciple has learned a great deal."

"certainly--"

Shen Wang changed the subject, saying, "This time we have the upper hand, so we can take the next step."

Xue Huai tried to keep up with his pace and tentatively asked, "Teacher, are you trying to lure the fish into the bait?"

“That’s right. The investigation department is now airtight. The outside world has no idea what we’re doing. Xue Minglun is just guessing. This is something I did on purpose to make those people anxious.”

Shen Wang looked at Xue Huai and said with anticipation, "But this situation can't continue indefinitely, otherwise it will turn into a real charade. We need to create a small opening so that those people will come looking for us. The bait has been laid, so we have to give them a hook to bite."

Xue Huai pointed to himself.

Shen Wang smiled and said, "That's right. As my personal disciple and a member of Minister Xue's clan, you are naturally the most suitable fishhook. Go home in a few days and give my regards to your mother."

Xue Huai now fully understood the purpose of his arrangement and did not rush to agree. Instead, he pondered for a moment and asked, "Teacher, I also have a question."

"You ask."

Why do you trust me so much?

Xue Huai knew that the original owner and Shen Wang had not gotten along well for the past six months, but Shen Wang had trusted him almost without reservation these past two days. If he had any ulterior motives, Shen Wang's plan would fail before it even began.

Shen Wang's answer to this question was simple: "I have never doubted your character."

Xue Huai nodded.

"Keep working, don't stay up too late."

Shen Wang gave a word of advice, then got up and left the duty room.

After walking more than ten steps, he looked back.

The middle-aged man's gaze was deep as he silently thought, "Only if you can prove your resolve in this incident can I entrust you with more important responsibilities in the future."

"I hope... I am not alone on this path."

(End of this chapter)