Chapter 466: Promotion
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The lively atmosphere of the examination also ended.
News about Shandong kept being sent to the capital.
Yin Huaixi used Lian Heng’s strategy to cooperate with the court officials in Shandong and break the situation of the clan alliance.
Yin Huaixi used a method to sow discord, instigating some clans in Shandong to resist Li Qiguang together with them.
The entire capital was in an uproar.
Everyone knew that Shandong was a tough nut to crack. The previous emperors of the Great Zhou had been gnawing on it for hundreds of years. The more they gnawed on it, the tougher it became. Now, it was so tough that no one dared to bite it.
Not only did Yin Huaixi eat it, but he also ate a few kilograms of meat.
After breaking the alliance of the clans, Li Qiguang’s power was like scattered sand. He even instigated the clans to rebel and use their spears to attack their shields.
Shandong’s victory was set. All that was left was Li Qiguangs head and the blood of his traitors.
Yu Youyao found Chang An and handed him a booklet. “Find a few scholars to make a story about Cousin breaking into Shandong. Publicize it in the restaurants and teahouses in the capital.”
The storytellers all had scholarly titles. There was a clear rule in the Great Zhou Law that those with scholarly titles could discuss politics in public. As long as the people involved were not fabricated) they would not be punished.
This was on the surface.
If he offended someone with his words and asked someone to teach him a lesson in secret, the Great Zhou Law would not be able to control him.
The storytellers would find teahouses and restaurants with strong reputations. As long as they did not offend people too much, even if there were a few inappropriate words, it was not worth it to hold it against them.
Chang An was a little puzzled. “Young Master is already so famous. Why do you still want to specially find someone to publicize it?”
Yu Youyao said calmly, “There are three reasons.”
Chang An was stunned when he heard this. He racked his brains but couldn’t think of any of the three reasons.
Yu Youyao no longer had much hope for Chang An’s intelligence. Her cousin had also said that the reason why he had brought Chang An along was because Chang An’s intelligence was quite mediocre.
The downside was that sometimes, it was quite a headache.
However, the advantages were also obvious. Such a person was suitable to be displayed openly and not easily arouse suspicion.
“Ye Hanyuan knocked on the drum and accused the Marquis of Changxing of ten crimes. Every crime is reasonable. Logically speaking, as long as the Marquis of Changxing is escorted into the capital and interrogated by the three divisions, the charges can be determined. However, the reality is that the Marquis of Changxing has already been escorted into the capital in June. The three divisions have interrogated him for almost three months, but there’s still no result.”
Chang An did not understand what she meant. “The three divisions’ trial is very complicated to begin with. It’s not surprising that it will take three to five months!”
Yu Youyao was also convinced, so she could only explain, “That depends on what kind of case it is. For example, persecuting the royal family. Moreover, with sufficient evidence, it’s naturally best to close the case as soon as possible. After all, the longer such a case drags on, the more people will be involved. No one can guarantee that the calamity of exterminating the entire family won’t be on them. The court officials don’t dare to be negligent.”
Chang An came to a realization. “Is there some inside story in the old prince’s case?
Yu Youyao nodded. “The entire King You’s Residence has been persecuted by the Marquis of Changxing, as well as the officials and nobles of Youzhou, causing the destruction of their families. King You has even been accused of ‘rebellion’, and the heir, Yin Huaixi, is even sickly. Once the Marquis of
Changxing’s crime is confirmed, King You’s grievances will be cleared, and the
matter of redress will not be delayed.”
Chang An was still confused. “Of course!”
At this point, even a blockhead could tell that something was amiss. Yu Youyao was speechless for a long time. “You have to understand that although King You’s family was persecuted by the Marquis of Changxing and the others, as the emperor, it’s enough to leave a bad impression in history. It’ll damage the dignity of the emperor and his reputation.”
Chang An’s eyes widened. “So, the three divisions’ trial hasn’t been fruitful all this time because the dog emperor instructed it?! How dare he? No matter what, the old king is still a member of the royal family. All these years, he has guarded the borders and fertile land for him. How can he ignore the old king’s reputation for his own selfish desires?
Yu Youyao sighed slightly. “The emperor is the most heartless emperor. It’s not that the emperor doesn’t want to wash away King You’s grievances, nor is it that he doesn’t want to redress them. He just wants to see how far Cousin can go in the war in Shandong before deciding how to wash away King You’s grievances and how far to redress them. The court officials who are participating in the tribunal review can see through him, so he has been delaying the progress of the tribunal review.”
If it weren’t for the rebellion in Shandong, King You would still be a traitor. However, under the premise of a retrial, the wise and mighty King You would definitely be stained with some stigma.
For example, he was domineering in his fief. That was why the officials and nobles of the north had no choice but to join forces and resist. They risked persecuting the royal family and killing nine generations to frame King You.
At that time, these people would have already lost their heads. The truth was up to the Imperial Court. The commoners respected King You because he guarded Youzhou.
However, no one knew what kind of person he was, so naturally, they would believe these rumors.
King You’s reputation was flawed. Even if he washed away his grievances, he would not have a good reputation.
It was understandable that the emperor had accidentally killed a meritorious general.
It could be said that King You himself was cruel and heartless, making enemies in the north. He deserved to die.
The history books were at most mixed. It would not affect the emperor’s dignity and reputation too much.
As the emperor, he only needed to reward King You’s orphan and be a good uncle. It was enough to completely wash away the remaining stain in the history books.
Chang An clenched his fists angrily. “If Young Master wins the battle, the old king will really be able to wash away his grievances. If Young Master suffers a defeat, even if Old Master is cleared of his crimes, I’m afraid it won’t be glorious?
Yu Youyao nodded, then shook her head. “Even if he wins the battle, Prince You’s grievances might not be washed away. The key is to see how this battle affects the court and the world.”
Chang An was enlightened. “You want to write about the war in Shandong in a book to build momentum for Young Master and increase the impact of this battle on the world and the court.”
Yu Youyao nodded. “In King You’s case, anger arose everywhere. At this time, it’s enough to gather the hearts of the people and calm them down. I want everyone in the world of the Nine States to know that even though the heir of King You, Yin Huaixi, is young and sick, he’s still a military strategist who has descended to the mortal world. He has the magnanimity to nurture the Nine States and stand tall in the world. He dares to get back at Xiao Xiangguo, and he won’t let Meng Changjun off.”
Chang An nodded in a daze and asked, “What’s the second reason?
Yu Youyao said calmly, “Do you know that there are also a few old generals who have fought hundreds of battles with Cousin? Among them, Chang Ningbo is the most famous. This person was born in the countryside and was conferred the title of nobility and general with his own strength. He has an extremely high reputation among the generals who came from poor families..”
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