The heavy snow,
The Yan Residence.
In Yan Shifan’s spacious and luxurious study, a middle-aged civil official, clad in a fur-lined overcoat, knelt on the ground.
Yan Shifan stared at him coldly for a long time. Beside him, Luo Longwen, Yan Maoqing, Zhang Jing, Gao Hanwen, and others also wore expressions of disdain and dissatisfaction. Old Yan Song lay on a couch, his brow furrowed and his eyes tightly shut, having not opened them for quite some time.
After what felt like an eternity,
Yan Shifan suddenly let out a cold laugh. "Yang Xuan, what the hell are you playing at? Such a big event, and you don't report it sooner? Now you come running to me playing dumb… Yes, the Yan family might be in decline, but I can still deal with a scoundrel like you!"
"Young Premier, I, alas..."
As soon as Yang Xuan raised his head to defend himself, he met the furious glare in Yan Shifan's eyes and was instantly dejected.
He was the Da Tong Governor-General, and he bore undeniable responsibility for the Tatar incursion. He had wanted to confess his guilt earlier, but Ge Jin had suppressed it. Although they were both from the Yan family, Yang Xuan could not possibly defy Ge Jin, so he had no choice but to keep it a secret.
But in the past few days,
He had received secret intelligence that Li Wenjin and Ma Fang had suddenly gone to Xuan Fu to secretly meet Liang Menglong, a trusted confidant of Zhang Juzheng, and then rushed back to the capital overnight.
At this moment,
He finally realized that this disaster could no longer be concealed.
Both stationed in Xuan Da, he, Yang Xuan, was renowned for his talent, unlike the simpleton Ge Jin. This Tatar incursion had penetrated incredibly deep and was marked by a pervasive strangeness. Any competent military man would have guessed it was merely a prelude, aimed at probing the defenses, with the real thunderous strike yet to come.
Thinking of this,
He could no longer sleep. He rushed to the capital overnight to confess his guilt. However, given Yan Shifan’s temper, it was impossible for him to finish speaking.
At this moment,
He deeply felt the gravity of the situation. The longer he delayed, the more furious Old Yan Song would become, and there would be no room for recovery. Thus, he boldly declared:
"Premier, Young Premier, your subordinate risks his life to report! This invasion by Anda might truly be just a probe to gauge our strength… Your subordinate, your subordinate fears Anda will launch a large-scale attack soon!"
Yan Maoqing interjected at this point:
"A large-scale attack? How is that possible! Anda has relied on our trade for so many years to support his troops. What benefit would he gain from turning against us? If the leadership changes, will he still be able to plunder so easily? My lord, how are you becoming so confused? These are likely rumors from the garrisons…"
Mm-hmm,
Yan Shifan nodded and said, "Yang Xuan, don't try to scare me with this… Anda isn't an idiot. What good would it do him to turn against us? Tell me, tell me why…"
Yang Xuan was a military man and couldn't quite grasp it immediately, but his years of battlefield intuition told him something was amiss. He forcefully argued:
"Young Premier, judging by their troop movements this time, it's more than likely a vanguard. In one or two months at most, the thunderous strike will come… Your subordinate is not afraid of war, nor is he afraid of your esteemed self's reprimand. Your subordinate is worried about the fall of Xuan Da, the court's blame, and that Zhu Mo kid will make a move against us again… Young Premier!"
As soon as he said this, with his rather stubborn tone, it inevitably made everyone ponder for a moment.
"It's unlikely?"
"Anda has had a difficult time these past few years, living by fighting on the frontier, just a bit of plundering…"
"It snowed heavily this year, so perhaps they had a harder time and just snatched a bit more. Is it really such a big deal?"
"If they fall out with us and we truly go to war, where will he get his food then?"
"Aren't the Tatars always like this? Can they really do anything significant?"
"He's still trying to shirk responsibility…"
"…"
But after thinking about it, they all felt that his words were exaggerated.
However, at this moment,
Luo Longwen suddenly said, "Young Premier, Yang Xuan’s words are not entirely without reason… But he isn't targeting us; he should be targeting Zhu Mo…"
What?
This?
Everyone was stunned.
And then,
The sound of applause suddenly rang in everyone's ears.
At some unknown time, Old Yan Song had sat up and was still clapping, saying, "Good! Good! Excellent, Longwen, you truly understand the grand trends… I am gratified!"
Perplexed, everyone turned their gaze to Yan Song.
Yan Song shakily stood up, hands behind his back, staring at the swirling snow outside the window. He sighed deeply and slowly said,
"You all, will never understand…"
"What did you say just now, my lord? The Tatars' incursion this time is a probe? That's right…"
"But Longwen said it was targeting Zhu Mo, that's only half right… Anda's incursion this time is to ask me one question…"
Hiss…
This?
To ask a question?
What is this?
Everyone remained puzzled.
Yan Song sneered and continued, "Anda is a formidable figure… He is asking me if I want him to cooperate and stop Zhu Mo’s reforms…"
He suddenly turned around, his eyes sharp, and said sternly to everyone,
"The Tatars are not made of wood! They have eyes and can see! See what? See the situation in the Great Ming, see the internal affairs of the Great Ming… Zhu Mo’s reforms in Jiangnan, do you think Anda doesn't know? He cares even more than we do… If that Zhu Mo succeeds, the court will have money, the Nine Garrisons will be replaced, and after we fall, he, Anda, will be next! Do you understand?"
Hiss…
Everyone immediately felt a chill down their spines.
This is truly a battle of masters…
In this way, no words needed to be spoken, and everything was communicated clearly!
He, Anda, gained wealth and exerted pressure, truly a generation of formidable figures, while the Premier possessed foresight and a broader vision… kuAiδugg
But,
Stopping Zhu Mo's reforms like this?
What does it mean?
Yan Song suddenly sighed and added,
"I, originally, did not intend to pay attention… But Zhu Mo's reforms are unworkable and must be stopped! It's not that I am colluding with foreign enemies, but Zhu Mo's methods are heretical and will lead to the destruction of the Confucian lineage! For the sake of the world and the survival of the eternal teachings, I can only do this. Let posterity judge whether I am right or wrong…"
…
Upon hearing Old Yan Song’s words, everyone seemed to grasp something, yet they couldn't articulate it.
At this moment,
Yan Shifan, being exceptionally intelligent, had figured everything out and continued, "Look how foolish you all are! Don't you understand? Anda is asking the old man if he wants him to mobilize his entire army for a decisive battle with the Great Ming! If his forces press forward, the court and the Emperor will have no choice but to respond with full force… Zhu Mo's damn reforms will naturally have to be halted first! As for whether they will be reformed later, it won't be up to Zhu Mo anymore!"
Wow!
Oh…
So that's how it is.
Everyone suddenly came to their senses.
Anda's move is so wicked, so brilliant!
At that time, the court would naturally have no choice but to focus on border defense. If Anda truly mobilized his entire force, the Great Ming would also have to enter a wartime system. Even the funds Zhu Mo had acquired would be prioritized for the frontier wars…
With the Premier's disciples and former subordinates spread across the realm, in such a perilous situation, it would naturally be up to the Premier to take charge, and Zhu Mo would have no place then…
But, what were Anda's conditions?