PFC Chapter 90 A talent fit for a king's advisor, who understands my heart.
Chapter 90 A talent fit for a king's advisor, who understands my heart.
"So, this involves the Xian family." Yang Yan's lips curled into a playful smile, his eyes becoming deep and unfathomable. "If Miss Hongyu is virtuous, I will certainly marry her with proper etiquette and live a life of mutual respect. But if the Xian family thinks I am a fallen prince seeking refuge and wants to use this to become arrogant, then they have miscalculated."
Yang Yan whirled around, his robes billowing in the wind: "I will immediately submit a secret memorial to my grandfather, requesting an imperial decree to establish a pilot 'tributary prefecture' in the territory under the jurisdiction of the Xian clan!"
"Control?" Li Jing was taken aback; this was a new term.
"The clan chief may inherit the position of prefect, ensuring his wealth and honor. However! The important positions within the prefecture, such as the Sima (military officer) and Lushi Canjun (military registrar), which are in charge of official seals and criminal justice, must be held by officials appointed by the imperial court! The laws, taxes, and weights and measures must be consistent with those of the interior, and there must be no discrepancies!"
Yang Yan stared at Li Jing, his tone chilling: "I want the Xian family to understand that their future glory is not tied to the title of 'Lady of Qiao,' which confines them to the deep mountains, nor to the emperor's momentary favor, but to the laws of the court! This is how to transform the 'affection' of marriage into the 'system' of governance. To shackle them with golden chains, chains they themselves will be unwilling to remove!"
Li Jing gasped.
This is hardly a marriage alliance; it's clearly a variation of the "Decree of Grace"! This move both saves face and steals substance.
"Secondly, prune the branches and weaken the trunk. What is being pruned is the wings and foundation of the rebellious Li Xian."
Yang Yan extended his second finger and made a sharp slash in the air.
"Li Xian's hold on Geluo City appears to be a unified force, but in reality, it's a disorganized mess. What are his cave lords and chieftains after in this rebellion? Nothing more than wealth, women, and salt and iron. How can they be considered a united front with Li Xian?"
"I will publicly praise a certain chieftain under his command for 'effective governance and a thorough understanding of the king's ways,' and bestow upon him a hundred bolts of silk, and grant his tribe special permission to trade salt and iron with the government. Once, twice... Li Xian is by nature suspicious, and once the seed of suspicion is planted, it will naturally take root and sprout."
At this point, a sly glint flashed in Yang Yan's eyes, as if he were a shrewd businessman who was actually involved in murder.
"Furthermore, I have investigated and found that Guizhou is mountainous, lacking in salt and iron, and exquisite porcelain is extremely rare. I will order a strict inspection of the trade routes to Guizhou under the pretext of 'stabilizing prices.' All salt, iron, and porcelain will only be sold to tribes that 'are loyal to the king.'"
"If Li Xian forcibly seizes supplies from his subordinates, he will lose their hearts; if he doesn't, his men will become envious and disloyal. Without resorting to force, he can allow prices to skyrocket within their ranks, making everyone feel insecure. This is to weaken their power and sever their lifeline without a fight!"
Li Jing's fingers trembled slightly.
Economic blockade!
In this era, warfare is all about battles and strategic deployment. Who has ever schemed so meticulously about "doing business"? This is worse than murder!
"Third, it's like playing with fire. It's Li Xian's reckless actions that are being directed to burn in the hearth I've chosen."
Yang Yan's voice suddenly turned cold, carrying a bloody undertone.
"The apothecary just asked what would happen if Li Xian ambushed and killed him? Haha, waiting for all three to happen simultaneously is incredibly unwise! Let Li Xian launch his attack at the time I desire, in the place I choose, and in the manner I anticipate! That's the strategy a military strategist should devise!"
"I will conduct a grand inspection of a strategically important pass, which we have secretly fortified and fortified. I will make the guards appear lax and negligent, and I will send a well-disguised 'caravan,' laden with what appears to be valuable 'goods,' to parade through the city right under his nose..."
"He's a ruthless bandit, and a ravenous wolf. If he doesn't act when he sees a piece of easy prey, his prestige will be completely ruined, and he won't be able to explain himself to his men; if he does make a move, he'll be walking right into a trap!"
Yang Yan slammed his hand on the table, sending dust flying: "This net is called 'Greedy for Merit and Reckless Advance, Assassination of an Angel'! When the time comes, I will use this righteous pretext to gather troops and annihilate them, with perfect justification! Who in the world can object? Who dares to say that I am provoking border conflicts?!"
Looking at the handsome young man before him, Li Jing felt a chill run down his spine.
ruthless.
It's too cruel.
This wasn't just about calculating the enemy's troops, but also their psychology, and even the public opinion in the court. To use oneself as bait to lure the enemy deep into one's territory—what audacity that required!
Fourth, I will forge iron into swords. I will forge swords and shields that I can fully control.
Yang Yan withdrew his hand, his gaze becoming unusually serious.
"The pharmacist's concern about the slow arrival of imperial reinforcements is due to obstruction, which is common. I never entrust my life to others, especially those who want me dead."
He pointed to the figure standing like an iron tower outside the door: "Before I leave the capital, I will use battle-hardened soldiers as the foundation, and fierce warriors like Qin Shubao as the spearhead. I will spare no expense, using my personal guards and those within my tent as the base, to recruit loyal and brave men and organize them into the 'Changning Camp.' Lingnan is the frontier, and it has its own unique characteristics!"
"also……"
Yang Yan lowered his voice, took a half step forward, and leaned closer to Li Jing: "With your talent, you should know what this trip to Lingnan is for. You'll naturally be blessed by Heaven, and your wishes will come true!"
The words fell.
The study was deathly silent. Li Jing stood there, like a petrified statue.
He originally thought that this Prince of Changning was just a little clever and wanted to win him over to work as a bodyguard or advisor in Lingnan.
But now...
Strengthening the foundation, trimming branches, igniting fire, and casting iron.
The events were intricately linked, each step fraught with danger.
It contains both overt strategies for governing the country and cunning tactics for military strategists; it combines economic maneuvering with political maneuvering.
This is hardly a life-saving strategy for a fallen imperial grandson; it is clearly the strategic plan of a mature politician and a potential emperor!
Yang Yan looked at Li Jing, who was deep in thought, slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, and said loudly, "Therefore, Pharmacist. The Xian family, Li Xian, and the reinforcements—these three are a dead end in the eyes of ordinary people, but in my eyes, they are not problems, but three medicinal ingredients!"
"How to combine the ingredients, when to add fuel, and how to ensure that their medicinal properties counteract each other, so that we can ultimately refine a 'great elixir' in this furnace of Lingnan to stabilize the southern border and solidify the foundation of the nation—this is what we should be working on!"
Yang Yan waved his sleeve and declared, "What I seek is not temporary peace, but a law for all ages. Through this battle, an ironclad rule shall be forged in Lingnan: those who submit to the king's rule, though far away, will prosper; those who defy the might of heaven, though strong, will perish! So that ten years from now, Lingnan will be a land of shared culture and education, where carts and books are standardized, and from this day forward, the land of the Baiyue will forever be part of the Chinese territory!"
At this point, Yang Yan suddenly took a step forward, his aura exploding outwards without any attempt at concealment.
He reached out his hand to Li Jing again.
This time, it wasn't a test, but an invitation.
"This is my answer. May I ask, Pharmacist, are you willing to enter this game and share the spoils of this world with me?!"
Li Jing looked at that hand.
His heart was pounding violently in his chest, and his blood felt like it was on fire.
Throughout his life, despite his confidence in his talent and learning, he always languished in the cracks between powerful families.
Although his uncle Han Qinhu was fierce, he was still just a blade of the Sui Dynasty.
But the person in front of me... he is now inviting me to be the one who wields the knife!
The hesitation, scrutiny, and estrangement in Li Jing's eyes collapsed at this moment, transforming into an unprecedented fervor.
"Splash!"
Li Jing suddenly lifted his robe and knelt down heavily, as if he were pushing a mountain of gold and a jade pillar overturning!
This kneeling was no longer a perfunctory official courtesy, but a full prostration!
"Your Highness's words today are not the strategy of a subject, but the wisdom of a ruler!"
Li Jing's voice was hoarse with excitement, echoing in the empty Imperial Pharmacy.
"Jing, I have spent half my life wandering, possessing all my knowledge but never encountering a wise ruler. Lord Han knew my talent, and Your Highness knows my ambition! This recognition is heavier than Mount Tai!"
He suddenly raised his head, his eyes seeming to ignite a raging fire.
"Though Lingnan is treacherous, I am willing to serve as Your Highness's vanguard! Whether facing mountains of knives and seas of fire, or the treacherous hearts of men, I will dedicate my life and my will to Your Highness's grand strategy for the world!"
"good!"
Yang Yan helped Li Jing up, and their two strong hands clasped tightly together.