Several plump koi fish, round and fat, were leisurely swimming in the crystal-clear waters of the lotus pond.
Ning Prince Zhao Liang, with his white-streaked hair and beard still unable to conceal the vigor of a lion or tiger, pinched some fish food and scattered it into the lotus pond, stirring ripples.
Dressed in a green scholar’s robe, Ning Prince’s aide, Zheng Shiquan, entered the waterside pavilion with cautious steps, bowed and said in a low voice, "Prince, Geng Jingzhong took action against Yang Tiansheng of the Ming Sect, and he failed!"
As Ning Prince fed the fishes, without turning his head back, he reprimanded softly, "A useless cur that causes more trouble than he solves."
Zheng Shiquan bowed his head even lower, his demeanor growing more respectful.
Ning Prince asked nonchalantly, "What news from the capital?"
After a moment of thought, Zheng Shiquan answered, "The former Minister of Provincial Administration of Jiangxi, Wang Jiangling, has been appointed as the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue and granted the title of Senior Scholar in the East Pavilion."
To be granted the title of Senior Scholar in the East Pavilion meant to be included in the inner cabinet.
The movements of Ning Prince feeding the fish paused, and he turned around to confirm, "Is it that Wang Jiangling who implemented the ’Single Whip Law’ in Jiangxi?"
Zheng Shiquan answered reverently, "Yes, Prince, it is indeed him!"
Ning Prince continued tossing fish food and after a while, he said, "Li Gong must be fifty-eight this year, right?"
Those in high positions all have a common problem; they never speak plainly, always making their subordinates guess and infer.
One riddler after another, as if they were all suffering from some grave illness...
Zheng Shiquan, having served Ning Prince for many years, was well versed in these ways, and said, "Prince has a good memory; I heard long ago that Lord Li Gong intended to retire and return to his hometown. This year the old master should be able to have his wish fulfilled."
The Li Gong they were speaking of was the Secondary Grand Secretary of the inner cabinet.
And the Grand Secretary Yan Shimo was seventy-three this year.
Ning Prince let go of a handful of fish food and said indifferently, "Order Jiangxi to strictly follow Lord Wang’s ’Single Whip Law’ and double the taxes for this year."
"Double it?"
Zheng Shiquan, startled, asked carefully, "Prince, wouldn’t that be too much?"
"Too little?"
Ning Prince replied nonchalantly, "Then make it triple."
Zheng Shiquan bowed his head, "I understand, Master."
After a pause, he ventured another question with great caution, "And the affairs in Jiangzhe…"
Ning Prince threw the entire box of fish food into the pond, causing the koi to surge and churn, shattering the tranquility of the spring water.
Zheng Shiquan stared at the rippling surface of the pond for a moment, then with a new understanding, he bowed deeply, "I shall make contact with Loutaiwai immediately."
Ning Prince responded flatly, "Loutaiwai asks for too high a price and is of little use. Seek out the White Lotus Sect instead!"
Zheng Shiquan hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Prince, Loutaiwai only wants money, but the White Lotus Sect wants power... I fear the guest will overpower the host!"
Ning Prince smiled leisurely, "I am but a guest."
Zheng Shiquan was taken aback, a chill running down his spine, "I spoke out of turn!"
Without turning back, Ning Prince waved his large sleeve, "Go and get it done..."
Zheng Shiquan bowed deeply, "At your command."
...
"Woof, woof, woof."
Huang, with its front paws crossed, barked fiercely at the courtyard gate.
"Huang, come inside!"
Yang Ge stored the Cold Moon Precious Saber in the inner room and quickly went to open the courtyard door. A sturdy man dressed in a short tunic stood outside the door with a bent waist and a smiling face, cupping his fists and whispering, "Second Master."
Yang Ge sized him up for two seconds before he remembered, then stepped aside with a smile, "When did you get back? Come in and have a seat!"
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The visitor was none other than Wu Eryong, the manager of Lianhuan Fort’s operations at Luting Wharf.
"This subordinate has been back for some days, but I haven’t had the chance to pay my respects to Second Master. I have been remiss!"
Wu Eryong tiptoed into the courtyard, his neck stiffly fixed forward, not daring to glance left or right.
Yang Ge laughed, "Relax a bit. I don’t bite. Come, sit over here."
Wu Eryong nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes... It’s fine for me to stand!"
Yang Ge, without further ado, pressed him down to sit under the grape trellis, saying with a laugh, "Take a seat. I’ll go brew some tea."
Upon hearing this, Wu Eryong instinctively tried to stand up again but was forcefully pushed back down into the chair by Yang Ge, "We don’t stand on ceremony here!"
After saying this, he turned and went into the kitchen to boil water.
He then returned to the inner room to fetch the teapot and tea leaves, and went to the kitchen to brew the tea.
Wu Eryong sat upright under the grape trellis, watching Yang Ge busily brewing tea for him and feeling an overwhelming sense of unreality.
"The ’Manifest Sage’ Yang Erlang... personally brewing tea for me?"
Could I be dreaming?
What merits do I, Wu Eryong, possess to deserve this?
Yet, no matter how much like a dream it felt, Yang Ge was really coming out of the kitchen with a tray holding a pot of tea and a stack of pastries.
"I have been busy dealing with the aftermath of my father’s funeral and haven’t had the chance to pay a visit to express my thanks."
He poured a cup of tea and gently pushed it in front of Wu Eryong, "Thank you for going to such lengths to deliver my message. I appreciate your hard work."
He had long since received the personal letter from Yang Yinghao, informing him that the Yang Family of Fengyang from the Ming Sect had decided to dispatch troops to fight against the wokou pirates...
In his letter to Yang Yinghao, he hadn’t minced words, explaining the pros and cons of the Ming Sect’s dispatching troops in great detail.
Yang Yinghao’s letter to him was likewise forthright; he explained that he could only mobilize the forces of the Yang Family of Fengyang, and he had no say over other branches of the Ming Sect. If other branches were to be involved, he would need a considerable amount of time to contact and integrate them...
Yang Ge had heard about the Ming Sect’s situation and knew that without the Sect Hierarch’s involvement, the Ming Sect was like an uncoordinated entity, with each hall and branch acting independently, neither obeying commands nor heeding summons.
This was quite reasonable. After all, if such a large entity as the Ming Sect weren’t somewhat disorganized, it might have ceased to exist by now.
However, Yang Ge had never counted on the entire Ming Sect entering the fray of this power struggle between monarch and ministers.
What he wanted was actually just to use the reputation of the Ming Sect, known for its rebellious tendencies, to serve as a warning to the occupant of the throne: Your highness, with your internecine struggles and disregard for the people’s suffering, even the rebels can’t stand by and watch. They’re taking the initiative to protect the commoners, to clean up the land... Don’t you have any shame left?