The Prodigal Son

On the way back to the palace, Qin Yu asked Zhao Luan about the situation in Da Ning and Bei Qi.

When the topic turned to the Northern Qi, Zhao Luan's expression immediately turned serious. "Right now, the north is covered in ice and snow. Under normal circumstances, there shouldn't be a major war! However, your grandfather and Lord Xue are worried that the Northern Qi might do the opposite and launch a large-scale attack in winter, so they dare not be negligent in the slightest. They definitely won't be able to return before the New Year..."

Whether or not to fight this major battle with Beiqi will have to wait until spring arrives in the north.

If Beiqi does not launch an attack before spring, then a war is unlikely.

After the start of spring, many soldiers in Beiqi had to go back to grazing their livestock, which was also the time when the livestock in Beiqi multiplied rapidly.

Bei Qi will not choose to attack after the spring.

Even if we were to launch an attack, we would have to wait until autumn.

After listening to Zhao Luan's words, Qin Yu asked again, "I heard from Xu Wan that Lord Xue is negotiating with Bei Qi, is it still about the Nine Dragon Pendant?"

"right!"

Zhao Luan nodded. "Bei Qi insists that we return the half of the Nine Dragons Pendant, and promises that as long as we agree to their conditions, Bei Qi guarantees a ten-year truce with Da Ning."

Got it!

It really was all for the Nine Dragons Pendant!

Qin Yu became curious again.

What exactly is this Nine Dragons Pendant used for?

Is it related to the so-called warning from the dying god?

Never break the taboo!

What on earth is this taboo?

Qin Yu shook his head, temporarily putting the matter aside, and then said to Zhao Luan with a grin, "Your Majesty, I recently obtained some materials suitable for forging armor in Yuwang Mountain. I would like to request the Ministry of Works' Crafts Department to forge some armor for my personal guards. Is that possible?"

Zhao Luan slightly raised his eyes. "That depends on my mood!"

Qin Yu was speechless, inwardly cursing wildly.

Why is this female demon so short-tempered?

Meanwhile, in the carriage behind the imperial carriage, Yu Jing and Gao Dan also told Gao Yi about Qin Yu's rampant selling of official positions in Min.

Gao Yi was overjoyed. After a moment of contemplation, he instructed Yu Jing, "Later, have someone deliver the evidence of Qin Yu selling official positions to Cui Xu's residence. Leave the rest to me!"

Hearing Gao Yi's words, Gao Dan's eyelids twitched involuntarily, and he asked worriedly, "Father, you wouldn't be using this to deal with Qin Yu, would you?"

"What, it's not allowed?"

Gao Yi glanced sideways at his son.

"No, this..."

Gao Dan frowned and quickly advised, "Father, this matter is absolutely not enough to kill Qin Yu, and His Majesty would never punish Qin Yu severely at this time! The Qin family is currently in favor of the emperor; if we rashly take action against Qin Yu, it will be disadvantageous for us!"

Gao Dan knew that his father had a grudge against Qin Fumeng in the past. The fact that the Gao family was driven out of the capital was also related to Qin Fumeng.

It's perfectly understandable that he wants to deal with the Qin family.

The problem is, now is not the time to deal with Qin Yu and the Qin family!

This little thing is certainly not enough to kill Qin Yu, nor will it cause him to lose favor with Zhao Luan.

He strongly suspected that his father was getting senile.

How come he can't understand something that he himself can understand?

Gao Yi narrowed his eyes, staring at his son with a half-smile. "You think that my ignorance of this matter isn't enough to punish Qin Yu?"

"Um?"

Gao Dan and Yu Jing both looked puzzled.

What does he mean by that?

Gao Yi didn't rush to answer their questions. Instead, he stared at the two of them with a profound expression and asked, "What do you think is the biggest problem in the court right now?"

Yu Jing was quite straightforward, shaking his head and saying, "I'm new here and don't know much about court affairs, so I really don't know how to answer your question, sir."

"Too."

Gao Yi nodded and smiled, then stared at his son.

Gao Dan pondered for a moment and replied, "There is a shortage of officials, a tight budget, and the Northern Qi are eyeing us covetously."

Upon hearing Gao Dan's reply, Gao Yi's aged face immediately showed disappointment.

"What is that?"

Gao Dan looked at his father with a puzzled expression.

These three issues are probably the most serious problems right now, aren't they?

Gao Yi opened his mouth and slowly uttered two words: "Balance!"

"balance?"

Gao Dan and Yu Jing looked at each other in bewilderment.

This answer was quite unexpected.

"Yes, it's about balance!"

Gao Yi's eyes flashed with a sharp light as he said in a deep voice, "In the past, besides the Empress Dowager's power, there was also the power of the Prince of Chengyang, plus Song Zhuo, Qin Fumeng and their group, forming a delicate balance among the three parties! But now the Empress Dowager has completely withdrawn from the court, and the Prince of Chengyang's power has also been uprooted, leading to a serious imbalance of power in the court..."

Currently, several key officials in the court are practically one and the same!

If these ministers unite, they can easily sideline Zhao Luan, rendering her, the empress, a mere figurehead.

Hearing Gao Yi's words, Yu Jing was overjoyed and hurriedly asked, "Does the old man mean that His Majesty is worried about the Qin family plotting a rebellion?"

He had previously considered the possibility that the Qin family might become too powerful and overshadow their ruler.

If Gao Yi's judgment is the same as his, that would be great!

"That's only one aspect!"

Gao Yi chuckled, "Even if His Majesty trusts the Qin family, she still has to maintain the balance of power in the court! In this way, if she becomes dissatisfied with one side, she can use the power of the other side to suppress them, thus avoiding a direct and violent conflict with one side, and ensuring that they continue to serve the court..."

Throughout history, no emperor has ever tolerated all his ministers forming a united front.

For an emperor, this situation would be an extremely dangerous signal.

His earlier suggestion to Zhao Luan to transfer officials from the seven northern prefectures to fill the vacancies in Min was a test!

The fact that Zhao Luan agreed to his suggestion shows that Zhao Luan has begun to worry about this issue!

Gao Dan suddenly realized, "So, the reason His Majesty reinstated Father wasn't to have him clean up the mess in the national treasury, but to use you to balance the power in the court?"

"Both!"

Gao Yi nodded and said, "Including arranging a marriage between Gao Yao and the Prince, it's also about balancing the power in the court..."

"That can't be, can it?" Yu Jing frowned slightly. "To be honest, old man, I asked the Empress Dowager for your hand in marriage during her birthday banquet! I thought His Majesty's actions were to completely dispel my thoughts."

Gao Yi shook his head and smiled, then countered, "If it's just to dissuade you from this idea, couldn't you have married someone else to you? Why does it have to be Gao Yao?"

"this……"

Yu Jing was speechless, and immediately had nothing to say.

Yes, with so many daughters or granddaughters of high-ranking officials in the court, why must it be Gao Yao?

"Take another look at His Majesty's arrangements in Min, and you'll understand even better!"

Gao Yi continued, "By stationing Xue Lie in Guanzhou, but also appointing Fang Junji to oversee the military affairs of the four prefectures of He, Yu, Miao, and Xuan, if Xue Lie dares to harbor any disloyal intentions, Fang Junji will immediately block his supply lines and trap him in Guanzhou! By appointing Guo Su to guard Yuwang Pass, but also appointing Song Xian as the prefect of two prefectures, and having Tang Chunlai take charge of the military affairs of the two prefectures, it is precisely to ensure that the three parties check and balance each other..."

There were some things he hadn't quite understood before.

But after seeing Zhao Luan's arrangements in Min, he understood completely.

Zhao Luan's strategy of bringing Min officials into the court while simultaneously bestowing marriage upon Gao Yao and Yu Jing was a double-edged sword.

This would not only appease the people of Min, but also allow him to unite with the officials of Min, forming a force capable of countering the existing power in the court, thereby restoring the balance of power in the court!

We must let these two forces fight each other, and we must let different voices emerge in the court.

Only in this way can she, as the empress, sit firmly on the throne!

"So, Father means that His Majesty wants us to fight against the Qin family and the forces they belong to?"

Gao Danming attained enlightenment.

"right!"

Gao Yi nodded slightly, his gaze fixed intently on the two of them. "Whether we can use this to deliver a heavy blow to Qin Yu and the Qin family is not that important!"

"The important thing is that we must do this!"

"If we don't do it, someone else will!"

"At that point, we'll lose our reason for being and could be abandoned at any moment..."

Hearing Gao Yi's words, the two suddenly realized what was going on.

"Thank you for your guidance, sir!"

The two looked very serious.

Gao Yi nodded slightly and said solemnly, "You must remember, politics is never simply a matter of right and wrong!"