After ten years of accompanying me in my studies, the entire court begged me to shut up.

The Hongzhi Emperor was very happy, his face glowing.

"I knew it! That old geezer wasn't honest!"

Xiao Jing smiled ingratiatingly and said, "The Duke of Cheng still has the court in his heart."

The Hongzhi Emperor snorted coldly and said, "If I hadn't warned him, would he have obediently taken the silver?"

Xiao Jing didn't know what to say. He couldn't very well congratulate His Majesty on his extortion...

No, it was a successful tapping, wasn't it?

The Hongzhi Emperor then said, "Yang Shen is truly my lucky star. Since I came into contact with him, I have become much more financially secure."

Xiao Jing opened his mouth, wanting to speak, but didn't know what to say.

Meanwhile, in the Yang family mansion.

"Achoo!"

Yang Shen came out of the bedroom and suddenly sneezed.

Just then, Yang Tingyi was seen drinking tea in the living room. He said, "It's getting chilly, wear more clothes!"

"Thank you for your concern, Uncle."

Yang Shen rubbed his nose and asked, "What has Second Uncle been busy with lately?"

Yang Tingyi said, "The Ministry of Personnel has already issued the document, and I will be going to Dongsheng Prefecture to take up my post after the New Year."

"Dongsheng Prefecture?"

Yang Shen couldn't help but gasp softly.

The so-called Dongsheng Prefecture was not a prefecture at all, but just a garrison.

Its location is roughly in Hohhot. In the early Ming Dynasty, Dongsheng Guard was established here. After several relocations and re-establishments, by the Hongzhi era, the Ming court had completely lost control of the area, and it was used as a horse farm by the Huosai tribe of the Mongols.

He had assumed that even if his second uncle were to take up his post in the Hetao region, it would be somewhere close to the Ming Dynasty.

Who would have thought they'd go straight to the front lines!

"Second Uncle, that place might be a bit dangerous!"

Yang Tingyi smiled and said, "Don't worry, His Majesty has already issued an edict to re-establish the Dongsheng Guard, which will be commanded by the Earl of Xiangcheng. The Zhenlu Guard, Yunchuan Guard, and Yulin Guard in Datong have also strengthened their troop deployments, and nobles such as the Marquis of Wuding have been dispatched."

Yang Shen didn't quite understand this and said, "Your Majesty is preparing to take over the Hetao region? The timing isn't right yet, isn't it a bit hasty?"

Yang Tingyi said, "I agree with what you said, but His Majesty's mind is made up, and we, as his subjects, can only do our utmost!"

Yang Shen pondered carefully; the Hongzhi Emperor's haste in taking action might very well indicate that the truth was...

His days are numbered!

According to historical records, the Hongzhi Emperor had eighteen months left to live.

He knows his physical condition best.

If the Hetao region cannot be reclaimed, this thorny issue will have to be left to Zhu Houzhao.

Although Zhu Houzhao was unruly and unreliable, they were, after all, father and son.

Nobody wants to leave their son with a mess.

"Second Uncle, after you take office, if any conflicts arise with the local tribes, you can mention my name."

Yang Tingyi was somewhat surprised and asked, "Your name? Does that work?"

"right!"

Yang Shen nodded and said seriously, "I have business dealings with the Mongols. Even if they don't recognize me personally, they still have to consider the money!"

Yang Tingyi chuckled and said, "Very well, then I'll accept my nephew's kindness!"

After finishing speaking, he was about to leave when he seemed to suddenly remember something and turned back.

"Are you very close to Wang Shouren?"

Yang Shen replied instinctively, "Yeah, what's wrong?"

Yang Tingyi said solemnly, "Someone has been eyeing Wang Shouren recently. Tell him to be careful, and you should be careful too."

"Really? He's already taken up his post in Wuqing County, how come he's still being targeted?"

"It's Wuqing County! Someone from the Censorate wants to impeach him, but I don't know the specifics."

"Okay, thank you for reminding me, Uncle. I will handle it myself."

"Um……"

Yang Tingyi turned around, but then turned back again: "Don't you dare go around spreading rumors and sell me out!"

"Don't worry, Uncle. I'm tight-lipped and I definitely won't tell anyone."

"That's good!"

Yang Tingyi nodded and then went back to his room to sleep.

Yang Shen couldn't sleep, since his business was located in Wuqing County.

If Wang Shouren is overthrown and a new county magistrate is appointed, will the industry still be able to continue?

With that thought in mind, he put on his clothes and went straight to the Marquis of Xiangcheng's residence.

The gatekeeper recognized Yang Shen and naturally dared not neglect him, so he quickly went in to report.

Before long, Li Chun, dressed in his clothes and looking exhausted, came out to greet them.

"Yang, my study companion, I finally got a day off, what are you doing here in the middle of the night?"

Yang Shen cupped his hands in apology: "I'm sorry, but there's something urgent!"

"Really? Come in and tell me!"

Li Chun led him into the study, yawning repeatedly, and asked, "What exactly is it that kept Yang, the study companion, waiting until dawn?"

Yang Shen lowered his voice: "Someone is trying to harm us; our businesses are in danger!"

Li Chun was stunned for a moment, then his eyes widened and he was instantly wide awake.

"Who is it? How dare they! I'll get someone to deal with them right now!"

Yang Shen waved his hand: "Don't rush. My second uncle told me that someone is plotting in Wuqing County against Wang Sizhi, but we don't know the specifics yet."

Li Chun jumped to his feet: "What's the point of asking around? Tomorrow I'll take men straight to Wuqing County, arrest them, and we'll know the answer in one interrogation! Damn it, I can't wait until tomorrow, I'm going tonight!"

"That won't do!"

Yang Shen quickly advised, "If you arrest people directly, it will only give others cause for criticism. We are scholars; we should reason with people."

Li Chun wrung his hands anxiously and asked, "What's the point of reasoning? How dare they mess with our business! If I find out who it is, I'll beat them to a pulp!"

Yang Shen thought for a moment and said, "Tomorrow, send someone to Wuqing County to secretly investigate and find out who they are and what they are planning. Once you have a clear understanding, I will have a way to deal with them."

Li Chun slapped his thigh: "Alright! I'll make the arrangements at daybreak. The Embroidered Uniform Guard has spies over there; they'll find out everything about those people!"

Yang Shen shook his head and said, "It's best not to alert the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

Li Chun said, "Don't worry, I have my own informants, and I won't let anyone know."

"That's good. I'll wait for your news. Thank you for your hard work!"

"We're like brothers! Don't worry, I'll definitely have news before sunset tomorrow!"

Yang Shen got up and left. Li Chun saw him off at the door and then went back to sleep.

But the living room lights were on, and Old Man Li Jin was sitting at the table, holding a teacup in his hands.

Li Chun was taken aback: "Dad? What are you doing up so late at night?"

Li Jin slowly sipped her tea before raising her eyelids: "I got up to use the restroom. I heard that my study companion Yang is here?"

Li Chun nodded: "Ah, right! Yang, the tutor, told me something and has already left."

Li Jin put down her teacup and said slowly, "You young people are so impatient. Why do you have to talk about this in the middle of the night? Can't you wait until dawn?"

"Important things."

Li Chun gave a perfunctory reply and then went back to sleep.

"What's so important?"

Li Jin snorted and said, "The more important the matter, the more discreet you must be. Let me tell you, whenever you're plotting something, the most important thing is secrecy, understand?"

Li Chun stopped and explained, "It wasn't really a conspiracy, we just exchanged a few words."

Li Jin frowned: "A few words? What can't be said tomorrow? Going in and out in the middle of the night, as if you're afraid others won't know there's something going on in our house?"

Li Chun scratched his head: "It was an emergency!"

Li Jin stood up, walked to his son with his hands behind his back, and said earnestly, "Dachun, I will be going to the border town after the New Year. From now on, you will have to take on the responsibility of this family."

He patted Li Chun on the shoulder: "You're not a kid anymore, you need to learn to be calm. Don't panic when things happen, think it over carefully before you act, understand?"

Li Chun nodded: "Understood!"

"Do you really understand?"

"You really understand."

Li Jin nodded in satisfaction and turned to go back to her room.

He stopped abruptly at the door, turned back, and asked, "By the way, what exactly happened just now?"

Li Chun casually said, "Yang said that someone said they wanted to mess with our business."

Li Jin suddenly stopped, turned around immediately, and asked, "Who? Who wants to mess with our business?"

Li Chun was taken aback: "Father, don't worry..."

"How can I not be in a hurry?"

Li Jin rushed back in three strides, angrily shouting, "Speak! Who's the blind fool who dares to mess with our business? I'll go find someone to deal with him!"

Li Chun: ……