Ming Dynasty: I, Yan Maoqing, am truly radiating auspicious energy!

Chapter 63 Within the plan
Two days later, at Xiyuan.

"Guo Xun and the others have set off?"

Zhu Houcong sat in the lakeside pavilion, facing the wind, gazing at the distant water and sky blending into one, and asked without looking to the side.

Huang Jincai returned from listening to his subordinate's report and quickly bowed in reply:

"Replying to Your Majesty, I left Desheng Gate not long ago, but..."

"But what?"

Zhu Houcong turned around.

"However, this time Duke Yiguo not only brought Yan Maoqing, but also two other people."

Huang Jin bowed even lower and said cautiously,

"One is Gao Gong, another probationary official in the Hanlin Academy, and the other is Shen Lian, a commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard in the Northern Garrison."

"And who is Shen Lian?"

Zhu Houcong frowned slightly upon hearing this.

Gao Gong was someone he still remembered; he was a fellow student who had stayed in Yan Maoqing's room all night and hadn't returned. This so-called ingenious plan was pried out of him.

But this Shen Lian...

Huang Jin answered in great detail:
"It's the same Jinyiwei official who was monitoring Yan Maoqing a few days ago. This is the same person who arrested Yan Maoqing at Chaoyang Gate. The Emperor even saw the love letter he copied. A few days ago, Commander Lu recommended him for merit, and he was promoted from a centurion to a chiliarch..."

"understood!"

Zhu Houcong waved his sleeve to interrupt him, but his brows furrowed even more deeply.
"Why is Guo Xun being so inconsiderate this time? It's one thing to bring Yan Maoqing along, but others will just think he's using his position for personal gain and taking the opportunity to promote his confidants."

"Now that there's Gao Gong and Shen Lian, is he afraid that no one in the court will suspect him and not realize that he's here to do something else for me?"

"..."

Huang Jin knew that Zhu Houcong's concerns were not unfounded.

The addition of Gao Gong would inevitably arouse suspicion among the officials of the Hanlin Academy, leading to much gossip and speculation. This would be tantamount to arousing suspicion among cunning courtiers like Xia Yan and Yan Song.

If Shen Lian were to be mentioned again, it would only confirm their suspicions and lead them to wonder if Guo Xun had another mission on this trip.

Now, it's likely that half the attention in the court is focused on Guo Xun and his group, watching their every move.

This way.

I fear that once Guo Xun makes contact with the Tartars, news that the Emperor secretly intends to pay tribute to the Tartars will spread back to the capital and cause a huge uproar.

Of course, apart from a few fearless pro-war advocates who dared to risk their lives to speak frankly, most people probably wouldn't dare to directly pin the blame on the emperor. Instead, they would use Guo Xun as a starting point to concentrate their attacks...

This greatly increases the pressure on Guo Xun, and he might have to give up again.

The emperor was also overwhelmed with problems, and he was exhausted just dealing with the voices opposing the tribute system.

It's possible that rumors will circulate that the emperor is weak and disgraced the country, and he might even be branded with a bad reputation because of it. After all, public opinion is in the hands of the civil officials below, and similar incidents are commonplace.

Unfortunately, the emperor couldn't retaliate; he had to swallow his pride and bear the pain.

Otherwise, he couldn't just announce in public that he only wanted to "temporarily intimidate the Tartars and buy the Ming Dynasty some peace," wouldn't that be tantamount to telling the Tartars not to be fooled?

The only thing to be thankful for now is that these courtiers could not possibly know the contents of that "bird plot".

It was impossible to even guess, otherwise how could the emperor have called it a "bird-like scheme"?
So much so that even if some of them wanted to sabotage the plan, they wouldn't know where to start, which is the key to ensuring the smooth progress of this "bird scheme".

only……

Guo Xun and his entourage had barely set off when they had already put the Emperor in a passive situation where "his single-mindedness had turned into a double bind."

Now that the matter is settled, he cannot speak of it, lest he bear the infamy.

If this doesn't work out, he can't say anything, otherwise he'll seem a bit naive.

The only solution now is the "Bird's Strategy," which will achieve the best possible outcome envisioned by Yan Maoqing without costing a single soldier or tael of silver, thus resolving the Tartar problem once and for all, rather than merely intimidating the Tartars temporarily. Only in this way can the Emperor's brilliant strategic planning be demonstrated, making those courtiers who offered advice and objections appear as fools in comparison.

But is that even possible?

Huang Jin felt that the Emperor was probably starting to regret his gamble, and might even be thinking about whether to immediately recall Guo Xun and throw him into prison!

I thought so in my heart.

Huang Jin said quite dutifully:

"Your Majesty, this servant believes that bringing these two extra people was probably not Duke Yi's own idea."

"What do you mean?" Zhu Houcong asked, glancing sideways.

"As far as I know, the Duke of Yi has never had any contact with Gao Gong, nor with Shen Lian."

Huang Jin answered softly.

"Of all the people on this trip, there is only one person who is close to Gao Gong and has had dealings with Shen Lian..."

"Yan Maoqing!"

Zhu Houcong's expression hardened, and he shouted out those three words with resentment.

"It's that smoking thing again. There's always this bastard everywhere."

"He's just a junior scholar, yet he's already forming cliques and engaging in factionalism. Does he really think I can't deal with him?!"

……

Half a month later.

As the group traveled north, the surrounding scenery became increasingly desolate, and the greenery became less and less visible, while the scars left by the Tartars increased.

Guo Xun also became increasingly preoccupied.

Not long ago, he received the Emperor's second secret edict.

This secret edict conveyed only one message:
The Emperor ordered him not to directly participate in the private negotiations with the Tartars, to feign complete ignorance throughout, and to delegate all tasks to Yan Maoqing alone!

Although Guo Xun was not as cunning as Xia Yan and Yan Song.

But having spent so many years in officialdom, how could he not understand what Zhu Houcong really meant?
The Emperor's mind has changed; some people may be abandoned as pawns!

And this person was none other than his beloved "Shouchang"!
Finally, Guo Xun could no longer contain himself and summoned Yan Maoqing into his tent, giving him earnest instructions:

"Shouchang, once we arrive at our destination, you will stay by my side all day long. Don't ask anything, and don't concern yourself with anything."

"As for that ingenious plan, let Gao Gong and Shen Lian handle it. I think one of them is exceptionally intelligent and the other is quite skilled in martial arts; they will surely be able to get things done."

"Don't worry, with your godfather here, you'll still get credit after things are done."

Upon hearing these words, Yan Maoqing immediately understood Guo Xun's meaning.

As he expected, his forced inclusion of Gao Gong and Shen Lian indeed stirred up undercurrents in the capital, causing Zhu Houcong's thoughts to change.

Some people may be abandoned.

Now that things have escalated to this point, this scapegoat is doomed!
Guo Xun is now trying to protect him, sacrificing Gao Gong and Shen Lian as pawns!
This is the imperial court, this is politics, and this is why Yan Maoqing insisted on retiring and returning to his hometown!

Fortunately, everything went according to plan.

Although Gao Gong and Shen Lian were already his pawns, he never intended to discard them. At most, he would bring them along to enjoy the northwest wind and eat some sand from the north and south of the desert.

Then Yan Maoqing smiled and said:
"Godfather, if I can guarantee that this ingenious plan will succeed without fail, do you still insist on giving this merit, which will be remembered for generations, to the two of them?"

　Thank you to [奈_何] for the generous donation.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)