Being an emperor is not something he can do, so he can only rely on his connections.

After returning to Yunzhou, the days seemed calm on the surface, but beneath the surface, there were turbulent undercurrents. Zhang Jingwei first faced internal unrest. Although news of the change of ownership of the military bank was strictly controlled within a small circle, some sensitive core managers and major merchants with vested interests in the military bank still sensed something unusual was afoot.

The He family, a prominent family in Yunzhou, and their head, a witness and participant in the early development of the military bank, approached Zhang Jingwei with a worried look on his face. "Jingwei, there have been rumors circulating in the city lately that the military bank is about to undergo a major overhaul. Several of our cooperating cloth and grain merchants have already come to sound out the situation, asking whether the subsequent contracts will remain the same. If we can't quickly stabilize public sentiment, civil unrest could ensue."

Zhang Jingwei stood at the study window, gazing out at the familiar courtyard, his eyes penetrating. "Uncle He, rumors stop even the wise, but we must respond. Spread the word that the military branch will soon undergo a major restructuring aimed at streamlining processes and expanding into the northern and regional markets. This requires the introduction of new, strong partners. These changes will only present opportunities, not risks, for all partners who abide by the contract and cooperate diligently."

"Introducing a powerful new partner?" The He family's head was stunned, then suddenly realized, "You mean... to package the Prince of Jin's involvement as a normal business cooperation and investment attraction?"

"That's right." Zhang Jingwei turned around, his eyes sharp. "This is the most stable statement at the moment. Regarding the details, I'll have Yuan Liang help you draft a statement. Be sure to blur the focus and emphasize the development prospects. At the same time, secretly select a group of absolutely reliable core members with deep ties to the military. I want to meet them in person."

"Well, I feel relieved to see that you have a way to deal with it!" The He family's head of the family took the order and left, feeling a little relieved. At least the boss was not unprepared.

Over the next few days, Zhang Jingwei, with Yuan Liang's assistance, secretly met with several leading craftsmen who mastered the core skills of the military bank, veteran shopkeepers responsible for key logistics routes, and representatives of several early investors in the bank, with deep ties to the bank. He didn't fully disclose the details of the Prince of Jin, but emphasized the impending "changes" and potential risks, as well as his determination to preserve the bank's foundation and protect everyone's interests. He secured the support and loyalty of these key personnel, using his personal reputation and past successes as collateral, and began to weave a hidden network beneath the future "Prince of Jin's version of the military bank."

Meanwhile, Zhang Jingwei, under the pretext of recuperating, ordered Huangfu Ling to remain secluded, minimizing contact with the outside world. This was partly for her health, and partly to prevent further rumors. Sun Yaolang was secretly invited into the mansion to examine Huangfu Ling's pulse again, but the results were still not optimistic. Sun Yaolang frankly admitted that "uterine circumcision" was the most reliable method, capable of eradicating the source of the illness, but at the cost of permanent loss.

"Isn't there... other medicine that can relieve the symptoms or buy more time?" Zhang Jingwei asked unwillingly.

Sun Yaolang pondered for a moment and said cautiously, "You can try using golden needles to treat the acupuncture points, supplemented by a few rare herbs to strengthen the body and replenish the vital energy. This may delay the deterioration of the condition for a while, but this method is like adding fuel to the fire. It is not a long-term solution. Moreover, the herbs are rare and the cost is huge."

"Yes! No matter what, please, Sun Yaolang, do your best!" Zhang Jingwei said without hesitation, "I'll find a way to deal with the medicinal materials!"

While Zhang Jingwei was busy consolidating his internal affairs, a secret letter arrived from the capital, secretly delivered by Huangfu Changshui's personal guards. Sent by an old acquaintance of Huangfu Changshui's in Beijing, a military official, the letter mentioned that a censor had recently reported to the court, implicitly impeaching Yunzhou officials for "close ties with the feudal lords" and "the potential for corruption among local merchants and members of the imperial family." While no names were mentioned, the criticism was implicitly directed at Yunzhou and Zhang Jingwei, who had recently caused trouble in Jinzhou.

"The tree wishes for stillness, but the wind does not stop." Zhang Jingwei handed the secret letter to Yuan Liang, a hint of a sneer on his face. "It seems that our His Highness the Prince of Jin has been busy at court. Is he trying to build momentum and put pressure on me so that he can take over the military operations later?"

Yuan Liang read the letter carefully, his face solemn. "Sir, this matter must be taken seriously. If the charge of 'making friends with the princes' is proven, even with the help of the Marquis, we will be in a very disadvantageous position. We must be the first to make our intentions known to the court."

"How to show it?" Zhang Jingwei asked.

"Submit a memorial!" Yuan Liang's eyes flashed with wisdom. "Your Excellency can write a memorial detailing your trip to Jinzhou to retrieve your ailing wife, your chance encounter with the Prince of Jin on the way, and his concern for the local people and the military's operations. Your Excellency can emphasize in your memorial that the military was established to stabilize the region and facilitate people's livelihoods, and that all operations are within the law of the court. You can also proactively request that the court send a special commissioner to inspect and guide military affairs to demonstrate your candor. At the same time, your memorial can briefly mention that the Prince of Jin 'occasionally expressed interest' in the military, but that we declined due to 'rules' and 'systems'."

Zhang Jingwei's eyes lit up when he heard this. "What a great strategy of retreating to advance! Actively inviting the imperial court to intervene will not only clear us of suspicion of colluding with the vassal kings, but also allow us to leverage the power of the imperial court to, to a certain extent, check and balance the Prince of Jin! Tang Jing, this is a brilliant plan!"

He immediately drafted a memorial himself, with earnest words and clear logic, which not only explained the situation but also demonstrated his loyalty to the emperor, patriotism, and adherence to his loyalty. After finishing it, he personally went to the Marquis's mansion to discuss it with Huangfu Changshui.

Huangfu Changshui carefully examined the memorial, pondered for a long time, and nodded. "This strategy is feasible. I will use my channels to expedite this memorial to the Ministry of Public Security at a distance of 600 miles, bypassing any links that might be influenced by the Prince of Jin. In addition," he looked at Zhang Jingwei with a deep gaze, "I have some old connections in the capital, and I will ask them to speak for you at the appropriate time. The court is already increasingly suspicious of the vassal kings, and your memorial, which shows weakness and requests supervision, should have a good effect."

With his father-in-law's full support, Zhang Jingwei felt relieved. He knew that this was just the beginning of a long game.

……

Half a month later, the envoy from the Prince of Jin finally arrived in Yunzhou. He wasn't some prominent official, but a middle-aged scholar named Du Heng, who claimed to be the registrar of the Prince of Jin's palace. His demeanor was humble, but his eyes revealed a shrewd and unquestionable determination.

Du Heng did not make a big fanfare, but instead stayed in an inn in the city in a low-key manner, and then handed over his business card, requesting a visit to Zhang Jingwei.

The negotiations took place in a secluded study in the back hall of the county government office. Zhang Jingwei only brought Yuan Liang with him.

Du Heng went straight to the point with a formulaic smile on his face: "County Man Zhang, the prince is very concerned about you. Before leaving, the prince specifically instructed me to make sure to ask about the well-being of your wife and bring you the prince's greetings." His words were polite, but with a condescending tone.

"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. My wife is still recovering," Zhang Jingwei replied calmly. "Mr. Du, you have come all this way. I wonder what brings you here?"

Du Heng smiled, pulled a sealed letter from his sleeve, and placed it on the table. "Your Highness's wishes are all spelled out in this letter. Your Highness hopes that the handover of the military bank can be completed within three months. First, we need all of the bank's core account books, the roster of craftsmen, copies of the cooperation agreement, and detailed deeds and layout plans for each workshop, warehouse, and carriage house. Secondly, Your Highness will dispatch an accounting team to conduct an asset inventory. Finally, regarding the subsequent operation of the military bank, Your Highness hopes that County Master Zhang can recommend a few capable individuals to temporarily stay on to assist the new steward sent by the palace in familiarizing himself with the affairs."

These conditions were extremely harsh. Not only did they have to hand over all core information and assets, but Zhang Jingwei himself was also required to help them make a smooth transition. This was simply a cruel act.

Yuan Liang frowned as he listened, unable to resist saying, "Mr. Du, the military is so large, with so many branches. Completing the entire handover within three months would be too hasty, likely causing chaos and being counterproductive. Furthermore, the core craftsmen and shopkeepers must respect their personal wishes. Forced assignments would likely fail to ensure their full commitment."

Du Heng glanced at Yuan Liang, his smile unchanged, but his tone was a little colder: "This must be Mr. Yuan Liang, right? I heard that when you were in Jinzhou, you were very wise and impressive. However, the prince's request has its reasons. The sooner Jun Xing serves the prince, the sooner he can play a greater role. As for the manpower issue... I believe that with Zhang Xiannan's methods, he will be able to persuade those "key" figures to stay. After all, this is also for their own future, isn't it?" The threat in the words was self-evident.

Zhang Jingwei was silent for a moment. He didn't read the letter, but looked directly at Du Heng. "Mr. Du, I'm aware of the prince's request. However, the military operation isn't just my personal property; it involves many others. The handover concerns the stability of Yunzhou and the livelihoods of thousands of people. We need to plan carefully and prioritize safety. I'm sorry, but three months is too short to fulfill your request. It will take at least six months, and we must ensure that the existing personnel are willing to leave. The person sent by the prince to take over must also be familiar with business affairs and advance step by step. Otherwise, if the system we have worked so hard to establish is messed up, I'm afraid that is not what the prince wants."

He paused and continued, "Also, regarding the news about 'Qilin Blood', the prince must have mentioned it in his letter, right? This is the core of this transaction."

Du Heng seemed to have expected Zhang Jingwei to haggle, and wasn't surprised. He simply said, "Your Highness is a man of his word. Since you've promised County Man Zhang, I'll naturally do my best to find it. However, such a divine object is hard to come by; it requires time and opportunity. Your Highness said that once the military handover is on track, I'll provide you with news."

Empty promise! Zhang Jingwei's heart was boiling with anger, but his face remained calm. "If that's the case, the military handover can only be fully launched after His Majesty has demonstrated sufficient 'sincerity'. Before that, I can provide some non-core accounts and peripheral information for His Majesty's people to understand the situation. As for the core part... I'll discuss it after I see the exact clues about 'Qilin Blood'."

Negotiations reached a stalemate. Du Heng, representing the Prince of Jin, pressed the issue, hoping to quickly seize control. Zhang Jingwei, on the other hand, countered with a fierce threat, using the news of the "Qilin Blood" as leverage to buy time and gain control.

Ultimately, the first round of negotiations ended in acrimony. Du Heng left with Zhang Jingwei's response, saying he needed time to consider the matter. However, both sides knew this was only the beginning. The Prince of Jin would not give up, and Zhang Jingwei had to use this precious time to accelerate his plans.

After seeing Du Heng off, Zhang Jingwei stood in the yard, looking towards Jinzhou in the north with cold eyes.

"Husband," Huangfu Ling came to his side at some point and put a robe on him, her eyes full of worry, "is this very difficult?"

Zhang Jingwei held her hand, feeling the coolness of her fingertips, and shook his head. "It's nothing difficult. When an enemy comes, we will fight him; when water comes, we will block it with earth. Ling'er, don't worry. I won't let you down, nor will I let the people who depend on the army for survival be slaughtered. We have a fight to do."

As the night deepened, the lights of Yunzhou City dimmed. A vast game of fortune, power, and life officially began in this northern land. Zhang Jingwei knew that every step he took was treading on thin ice, but he had no choice but to move forward.