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

Zhang Jingwei was worrying over the issue of splitting up the army, feeling as if a huge stone weighed down his heart. Suddenly, he heard a clear and familiar voice with a hint of teasing laughter coming from outside the door:

"Haha, big boss! I hope you're all right!"

The voice was like sunlight piercing through the haze, shocking Zhang Jingwei so much that he could hardly believe his ears. He turned around and saw a tall figure standing at the entrance of the government office. Although he looked dusty, his shrewd and capable demeanor could not be concealed. A familiar smile played on his lips. Who else could it be but Gao Jiong and Gao Zhaoxuan?

"Zhao Xuan! Zhao Xuan!" Zhang Jingwei was choked up for a moment. The pressure, grievances, and hesitations of the past few days seemed to have found an outlet at this moment. He rushed forward and tightly grasped Gao Ying's arms. His eyes instantly turned red, and his voice was obviously trembling. "You...you are finally back!"

Gao Jiong was taken aback by his overly emotional reaction, then burst out laughing and patted his shoulder. "Boss, what's wrong with you? We haven't seen each other for a few months, why are you so sentimental? What's there to cry about? I'm back safe and sound, aren't I?"

Zhang Jingwei, however, didn't care and shook him vigorously, even humming with tears in his eyes, the tune was distorted: "In the days without you, I feel like my days are long."

Even Gao Jiong couldn't help but hold his forehead, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. "Oh my goodness, why is he singing again? If outsiders hear this, the image of our wise and brave Zhang County Man, the military leader, will be completely ruined!"

Zhang Liu, who was following nearby, couldn't stand it any longer and quickly stepped forward to whisper, "Young Master, Young Master! Mind your manners, mind your manners! Mr. Gao's return is a happy occasion, why don't we go home and talk behind closed doors? Even though there aren't outsiders in the government office, there's no guarantee a clerk might pass by and see you like this...it wouldn't be nice."

Zhang Jingwei calmed down a bit, wiped his face with his sleeve, sniffed, and still held Gao Ying's hand tightly, saying repeatedly, "Yes, yes, let's go home and talk! Come on, Zhao Xuan, let's go home! I'll have them prepare some good wine. Today, I must drink three hundred cups with you. We won't leave until we're drunk!"

Gao Jiong smiled and shook his head, his eyes sweeping over the piles of paperwork in the government office. He sensibly reminded him, "Master, I appreciate your kindness. However, I see you have a lot of official business on your desk, and you must be on duty today to deal with it. Forget the wine for now, there's still a long way to go. On my way back from the capital, I heard a lot about your 'feats', especially your time in Jinzhou, which was truly spectacular! I was so concerned about you that when I arrived in Yunzhou, I didn't even go home to visit you, but came to the Gaoyang government office first."

……

After returning to the inner room of the government office, he dismissed his attendants, leaving only Zhang Jingwei and Gao Jiong.

Zhang Jingwei couldn't wait to ask Gao Jiong about the results of his trip to the capital.

Gao Jiong's expression straightened, and he lowered his voice, saying, "Brother Jingwei, I'm glad I've accomplished my mission on this trip to the capital. Taking advantage of the imperial examinations and the gathering of scholars, I've indeed uncovered some clues. Among the candidates taking the exam this time, there is indeed one who is deeply influenced by the School of Mind. He's from Jiangnan and quite famous for his talent."

Zhang Jingwei's brows twitched slightly. "Oh? To be called talented by you, Zhao Xuan, he must be no mediocre person."

Gao Jiong nodded, his tone tinged with regret. "Indeed. This man is a man of great talent and wit, possessing unique insights into the interpretation of classics and his writings. If he had not been so early exposed to the unorthodox teachings of the School of Mind, and had cast aside all distractions and devoted himself to the study of the sages, it would not have been difficult for him to pass the imperial examination (third class A)."

Zhang Jingwei seemed lost in thought, then tentatively asked, "This Jiangnan person... Zhao Xuan, do you think he could be related to that mysterious wealthy businessman we previously tracked down in Gaoyang who secretly funded the School of Mind?"

Gao Jiong's eyes flashed; this was precisely one of the main reasons he had come. "Brother Jingwei is very perceptive. This is one of the reasons I was so anxious to see you. By the way, you used to have close ties with the Ma family. Have you ever met the mysterious Ma family head?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jingwei's face showed a perfect trace of confusion and regret. He shook his head and said, "No. Zhaoxuan, have you forgotten? I lost my memory when I fell into the water, and many old memories are blurry. After waking up, I was busy with things and never saw the head of the Ma family again."

Gao Jiong stared at him and asked, "Where is Brother Mao from Tiantian? Is he home now? Perhaps he can know something about his father."

Zhang Jingwei's heart tightened, but he remained expressionless. He subconsciously replied "Yes...", then immediately changed his words with a firm tone: "Oh, no! He went out to travel earlier and his return date is uncertain. Now I help to take care of his Taobao store in my spare time." He cleverly shifted the focus.

Gao Jiong frowned slightly, as if trying to determine the truth of Zhang Jingwei's words. However, seeing Zhang Jingwei's calm expression, he didn't delve into the matter further. Instead, he continued, "According to my investigation, the wealthy businessman who secretly supported the School of Mind was extremely secretive. Under the pseudonym 'Teng', he injected a large amount of money into the School of Mind to print books, support students, and collude with officials. Unfortunately, the core accounting evidence was destroyed in advance, making it difficult to trace the matter to the end."

Zhang Jingwei cooperated with a thoughtful expression: "'Teng'? This is the first time I've heard of this clue."

Gao Jiong analyzed, "I originally suspected the Ma family, but after careful investigation, I found that the Taobao Zhai run by the Ma family head in Jiangnan has been suppressed by several other major local trading companies in recent years. They are in a difficult situation and can hardly take care of themselves. I am afraid they don't have the extra financial resources and energy to support the Xinxue activities in the capital and the north."

Zhang Jingwei said "hmm", seemingly thinking about something, but actually he felt a little relieved.

Gao Jiong continued, "I'm asking you this today to see if I can find any clues related to Teng from the Ma family's past business dealings. After all, they were both active in the Jiangnan business community."

Zhang Jingwei spread his hands, looking helpless. "Alas, what a pity. The Ma family is now without anyone. I, who help manage the family business, am only responsible for daily sales. I really don't know the core old accounts and the owner's affairs."

Gao Jiong nodded, seemingly accepting this explanation. He suddenly changed the subject and asked, "By the way, I heard before I left the capital that the Prime Minister had personally visited Gaoyang? Did he... not intend to accept you as his wife?"

Zhang Jingwei gave a wry smile and said frankly, "Your Excellency is indeed kind, but I know my own limitations and cannot tolerate such restrictions, so I politely declined. The Imperial College is such an aristocratic place, and it's not something I can get used to for someone like me who enjoys practical matters."

Gao Jiong looked at him with a complicated expression, and his tone became heavier. "Brother Jingwei, you know that shortly after you rejected the Prime Minister, Gongshu Dan, the Supervisor of Works, was forced to resign and return home just because he spoke well of you during court, praising your governance of Gaoyang and your military achievements."

Zhang Jingwei was shocked when he heard this: "No way? Lord Gongshu..." A chill surged in his heart. He didn't expect that the turmoil in the court would affect him so directly.

Gao Jiong sighed, patted his shoulder, and spoke earnestly, "Brother Jingwei, you may seem prosperous now, but you're actually at the center of a vortex, and your situation is extremely dangerous. Junxing, this piece of fat meat, has become a hot commodity in the eyes of various forces, and everyone wants to get a piece of it. You've blocked others' way and rejected the strongest backer. From now on... it will be difficult for you to move forward."

Hearing this, Zhang Jingwei could no longer suppress the grievance, pressure and panic in his heart. The strong shell he had been holding on to shattered in an instant. He suddenly grabbed Gao Ying's arm as if he had grabbed a life-saving straw, with a sad face and a voice trembling with despair:

"Zhao Xuan! Zhao Xuan! You...you're back just in time! I...I can't hold on any longer!"

He no longer cared about anything else, lowered his voice, and almost cried as he told the most trusted manager of the military bank everything, including how the King of Jin had forced him, how he had been forced to agree to transfer the military bank, and the huge pressure he was currently facing and the fierce opposition from internal shareholders.