Congde Hall

Today’s lunch consisted of stewed crucian carp with tofu, sizzling iron-plate eggs, roasted squab, red-braised mutton chops, and deep-fried lotus root sandwiches, with fluffy and soft steamed white flour buns as the staple food.

The Emperor had recently been practicing frugality, requiring only four dishes and one soup for every meal. Even so, rumors still spread on the outside about how arrogant, extravagant, and debauched His Majesty was, selling official titles, and competing with the common people for profit. Whenever he thought of this, Zhuang Wuwei, who was waiting by the Emperor’s side, felt terribly wronged on behalf of his master.

Yin Shuhuai was right in the middle of eating when he suddenly heard a very faint whimpering sound coming from his side. He turned his head to look, only to see Zhuang Wuwei silently tearing up.

“What are you crying for?” Yin Shuhuai asked curiously. “Who bullied you?”

“No one bullied me, your servant simply feels wronged on behalf of Your Majesty,” Zhuang Wuwei said with red eyes. “Those people outside are truly going too far. Taking advantage of Your Majesty’s kindness and tolerance, they maliciously smear Your Majesty’s reputation. Your servant simply cannot hold back his anger.”

Yin Shuhuai smiled faintly, “Who told me to be a puppet emperor? Don’t look at how loudly they shout with their mouths; in truth, they wish for nothing more than for me to be a completely incompetent, tyrannical tyrant who ignores court affairs.” If he truly displayed an ambition to rule well and build a strong nation, how could they peacefully fight for power and control the entire government by themselves?

Just look at Liang Gong. While he loudly shouted about being loyal to the sovereign, serving the country, and ruling with benevolence and love for the people, the moment he was actually asked to set up a coal yard, recruit refugees, and compete with the noble families for labor, he began to waver and hesitate. Compared to this Grand Tutor, who wanted to achieve great things but was too afraid of personal risk, Huo Yan, who was single-mindedly ruining the Emperor’s reputation, actually appeared much more efficient and decisive.

Even though under Huo Yan’s manipulation, Yin Shuhuai had been firmly labeled as a tyrant who forced commoners into slavery while Huo Yan himself became a virtuous minister who cared for disaster victims.

Yin Shuhuai did not care about these temporary gains or losses, because—

“Have all one hundred thousand refugees entered the coal yard?”

Zhuang Wuwei bowed and replied, “Since the coal yard has just been set up, the Chancellor’s meaning is that to be safe, they will first allocate ten thousand refugees to work in the coal yard. Once they see results, they will expand the coal yard to absorb the rest of the refugees.”

Yin Shuhuai smiled slightly, “No rush, as long as he is willing to do the work.”

Yin Shuhuai knew exactly why Huo Yan wanted to scatter the one hundred thousand refugees across various imperial estates around the capital region it was entirely for the stability of Luoyang. No sensible, powerful official would allow a massive crowd of refugees to gather near the capital. As a puppet emperor who only ruled on paper, Yin Shuhuai highly approved of Huo Yan’s political sense.

However, no matter how alert and cautious a person was, it was impossible to remain completely indifferent when facing massive profits. Once the profitability of the coal yard exceeded Huo Yan’s expectations, Huo Yan would willingly gather the rest of the refugees together without Yin Shuhuai even needing to lift a finger.

“The Chancellor said those refugees have already signed indentured servant contracts with the imperial estates. Since that is the case, they are now my private property. It is freezing cold out there, and I don’t know if they are eating well or wearing enough warm clothes.” Yin Shuhuai seemed to act on a whim, ordering with a smile, “Take the registry given to me by the Chancellor and leave the palace. Tell the imperial doctors to give them proper medical checks, and give every person a set of winter clothes, a ten-day food supply, and medicine to prevent colds. Do not let them get sick. I am still waiting for them to make money for me!”

Zhuang Wuwei bowed and agreed.

Yin Shuhuai continued eating his meal in a very good mood. Unfortunately, before he could take more than a couple of bites, the young eunuch announced that the Grand Tutor was requesting an audience.

Although he did not understand why Liang Gong rushed to the palace right at lunchtime on such a freezing cold day, Yin Shuhuai still happily invited him in.

“Would the Grand Tutor care to join me for a bite?” Before his voice even faded, Yin Shuhuai had already enthusiastically ordered the attendants to set out extra bowls and chopsticks.

Seeing His Majesty acting so much like an ordinary person, Liang Gong’s eyelids twitched involuntarily, “Etiquette cannot be discarded. Your Majesty is the noble Son of Heaven, how can you show such a disregard for proper manners?”

Yin Shuhuai had long grown used to Liang Gong acting like a child-scolding elder just because he was a veteran official who served five generations of emperors, but he still found it a mood killer at the dinner table.

“Since the Grand Tutor does not wish to eat, then we shall talk after I finish eating.”

Liang Gong wanted to say something more, but Yin Shuhuai sneered, “The Grand Tutor rushes into the palace exactly at mealtime. Is this kind of behavior what proper etiquette encourages?”

Liang Gong was choked by the words, frowning as he said, “Your old servant is also looking out for Your Majesty’s clean reputation. Your Majesty ought to know that honest advice grates on the ear.”

“The Grand Tutor has far too much honest advice,” Yin Shuhuai said with a half-smile. “Regrettably, simply listening to the Grand Tutor speak cannot fill a person’s stomach.”

Yin Shuhuai’s words carried a double meaning, causing Liang Gong’s expression to change slightly. He could not help but bring up the matter of Huo Yan setting up a coal yard outside Luoyang to settle the refugees, saying, “…This matter is clearly a case of Your Majesty constantly changing orders.”

Yin Shuhuai laughed, “I handed this matter over to the two of you hoping you would work together. Yet now, only the Chancellor is taking decisive action, while the Grand Tutor has shown no movement whatsoever. The suffering people cannot wait that long.”

The ruler and his minister locked eyes. After a moment, Liang Gong tactfully changed the subject, “Huo Yan is arrogant, overbearing, and fond of grandiose achievements. If he is left to manage the coal yard and the work-for-relief program, your servant worries he will cause massive disruptions and waste both labor and money.”

Yin Shuhuai then told Liang Gong about Huo Yan’s insistence on using clay stoves to replace iron stoves, adding, “The iron officials need a large amount of coke to smelt iron, which is why the coal mines in our dynasty are mostly under the control of the iron officials. The Chancellor controls the iron officials, so leaving him in charge of the coal yard is actually quite convenient.”

Furthermore, since Huo Yan managed to think of using clay stoves instead of iron stoves, regardless of his initial motives, he did save a lot of costs. When paired with the underground dugouts and heated brick beds, it could at least guarantee the refugees would not freeze to death.

“The Chancellor acts with great efficiency. At least in this matter, the Grand Tutor is slightly inferior,” Yin Shuhuai said fairly.

Liang Gong let out a long sigh. He did not think highly of setting up coal yards to settle refugees, even believing the Emperor was being completely impractical. However, when Huo Yan gained massive prestige through this matter, Liang Gong could not help but feel jealous, “Huo Yan steals credit to seek rewards and fishes for fame and compliments. Can Your Majesty actually speak up for him?”

“Setting up coal yards and relieving disaster victims was clearly Your Majesty’s proposal, yet now the people under heaven only know that the Chancellor cares for the victims. Where does this leave Your Majesty?”

Yin Shuhuai waved his hand, cutting off Liang Gong’s attempt to drive a wedge between them, “What business brings the Grand Tutor to the palace today?”

Liang Gong said resentfully, “I request Your Majesty to dismiss the attendants.”

Yin Shuhuai did as requested. Liang Gong immediately laid out the entire matter of Shentu Yang sending an envoy to Luoyang to present gifts to the Emperor.

“Trying to buy me off with a mere ten million coins? Shentu Yang thinks far too little of me,” Yin Shuhuai said rudely.

He recalled from history that Cao Cao’s father spent a hundred million coins to buy the position of Grand Commandant—and only held the job for half a year. Even if he wasn’t a powerful ruler like Emperor Ling of Han, his value shouldn’t shrink by this much, right?

“He needs to add more money,” Yin Shuhuai said directly to the point. “At least fifty million!”

Liang Gong was pale with shock, “Your Majesty”

“Say no more.” Yin Shuhuai waved his hand, “When a real man seizes power, how can he be so stingy?”

To think he spent less money than even a eunuch would; Yin Shuhuai looked down on him for it.

After Liang Gong left in a fit of anger, Yin Shuhuai sent a flying flower letter to Shentu Yang. In the letter, he wrote casually: “If you want to throw money at me, why not do it properly all at once? Fifty million coins in exchange for your title as Duke of Yan, and I will throw in an imperial decree giving you the authority to act as you see fit, allowing you to lead your troops to attack the Xiongnu.”

Back then, Shentu Yang had stationed thirty thousand troops at Shangdang and Henei. Chancellor Huo Yan suspected he wanted to use military force to intimidate internal factions in Yan, but used the excuse that Shentu Yang was being rebellious to lead an army north, only to be utterly crushed by Shentu Yang. Not only did he lose ten thousand elite troops, but he also nearly shook his own position of absolute power in the court. It was a classic case of going out to steal a chicken only to lose the rice used as bait.

However, Yin Shuhuai faintly felt that Shentu Yang’s deeper motive for stationing troops at Shangdang and Henei was not necessarily to plot against the central plains. Rather, he likely wanted to stabilize the internal factions of Yan in the shortest time possible, pull together a troop of soldiers to guard the throat of Yan’s passage into the central plains to secure his rear, and then take advantage of the Xiongnu’s internal strife to march his army north and strike directly at the heart of the Xiongnu.

As the saying goes, once a real man gains power, he must naturally seek revenge for past wrongs. The Xiongnu had plundered Yan countless times in the past, and Shentu Yang had suffered greatly because of it. Now that he had risen to power, how could he hold himself back from taking revenge?

Yin Shuhuai recalled the legendary warriors in history who pulled off miraculous victories with small forces, highly anticipating that Shentu Yang could be just like them and plant his banners at the northern borders.

Shangdang Commandery

Shentu Yang woke up from his sleep. Looking at the flying flower letter that had appeared in his embrace at some unknown time, his gaze turned icy and deep.