Vol 2 Chapter 112 (1/2)
Chapter 112: Reaping the Whirlwind
Within the roo over imperial bulletins, on which were clearly written an account of what had happened in the north Regardless of whether it was a result of their timeliness or the abundance of the information they contained, they always attracted many more readers than the palace newspapers What was more, they contained news of national victories Fan Xian forced a smile as he fished the wrinkled newspaper fro, the official calligraphy master of the secretariat He sat back down at the table and began to sip some more tea
The people around him excitedly discussed military affairs None of them took notice of Fan Xian's calested that he should come outside with him for a moment Somewhat apprehensively, Fan Xian left the room, and came to a secluded place Deep within the courtyard, there stood a stone table with two stone chairs The official indicated to him that he should sit ”Everyone is rather joyous,” he asked with a smile, ”and yet you remain unmoved, sir Why?”
The official's nauishedsteadily to a position within Taichang Temple His circumstances were not unlike those that Fan Xian found hi at that moment Fan Xian was unsure whether Master Ren was offended by sohed, unsure how to respond ”It was only natural that the imperial household should be victorious in such a reat surprise”
”Why is it only natural?” asked the official Ren, curious
Fan Xian had no unique insight into the doe the topic ”His Majesty is wise, the officers and soldiers are obedient, and Northern Qi lacks confidence, so it is only natural that ere victorious”
Master Ren looked at him and smiled ”It has only just occurred to me that this battle between the two nations is inextricably linked to the assassination atteood self, Master Fan”
Fan Xian was taken aback It had only just occurred to him as well One of the excuses for this military expedition was an atte and assassinate the son of a major minister He could only think of all the dead bodies thatthe rivers of the northern border In every region, wives would be waiting for their husbands in empty bedchahed ”A sage has no choice but to take up the weapon of the soldier” He knew that although the Kingdo had known peace for many years, beneath the surface, its martial spirit had never receded So every day, he ht to the idle chatter between himself and Master Ren, so he had spoken freely
Master Ren seeh that ained much in this instance There have been , and we deserve it”
Fan Xian was not an inflexible pacifist; he sh our victory in war belongs to the officers and soldiers and His Majesty,” continued Master Ren, ”this has been planned in secret by the royal court foreffort”
Fan Xian i behind Ren's words He realized that Master Ren was suggesting that the bureaucratic system of the royal court had considerable power over military affairs After all, Fan Xian had lived two lives; he knew that waging war relied on logistics ”Much credit o to the court ministers,” he said with sincerity
Master Ren smiled ”The Prime Minister will soon be your father-in-law
,” he continued ”When you have tio and pay your respects to him It is only proper”
”You're right Thank you for reood sir” Cold sweat trickled down Fan Xian's back He wanted to marry Wan'er as soon as possible, but he had still yet to pay his respects to his own future father-in-law This was indeed inexcusable But this was supposed to be a fair and aboveboard relationshi+p between the Lin and Fan families Why did Master Ren have to talk to him in secret?
Just as expected, Master Ren spoke ”I hope that you will visit the Prime Minister's manor You would not want to alarm too many people”
Fan Xian fearfully accepted the order
In the royal court the next day, in thoroughly flattering language, the military received commendations The Overwatch Council also received praise for their capabilities in infor But, in a move which many did not expect, Fan Jian, Count Sinan, Minister for the Treasury, stepped forward to suggest that this victory was all down to the careful planning of the Prime Minister He had put the affairs of the nation ahead of the affairs of his own faistics to provide ample rations and fodder for the arreat service to the nation There was a hubbub aathered ministers, who could not understand why a political opponent would be so kind, but when they recalled the approaching e, they suddenly realized why
Even -time ally, Guo You, Director of the Board of Rites, raised an objection Andappeared in the royal court, and when the Emperor asked him about the matter, he sat in his wheelchair and replied simply: ”This was all the Prime Minister's work”
With this, the political opponents who had been using Wu Bo'an and collaboration with Northern Qi as a pretext to attack the Prily quieted down With the Eain A ru e with the Fan family, the Prime Minister had turned to the Second Prince The Second Prince, who originally had no support within the royal court, had suddenly becoure
But no one knew that behind all this was an idle chat between Master Ren of Taichang Tehth-level Functionary of Taichang Temple
Having ood impression on his father-in-law, Fan Xian finally felt a bit reatly worried that the Prime Minister would discover that his second son had been killed by someone under Fan Xian's co over the past two months
His duties at Taichang Temple did not require him to attend every day; he simply had to attend for roll call every ten days One afternoon, Fan Xian cae
Now the whole capital knew that he would belady of the palace, and in addition, Fan Manor had spent a great auards turned a blind eye Fan Xian and his sister strolled inside, with no intention to see the flowers of the garden They only intended to go along the cobblestone path straight into the small pavilion Fan Ruoruo was rather surprised ”Brother, you seem very familiar with this path”