Chapter 679: Chapter 679: Strategy of Leaving the Capital
Guo Shun whispered to Guo Neng his plan to escape the Capital and shake off their current predicant.
In the last couple of days, he had made arrangents to leak false information to Xue Ping, hiring two n to disguise themselves as them and take the South Gate, pretending that Xue Ping would escort those two n out of the South City Gate on the day of the Longevity Festival, diverting the n in Black’s attention, while they would take the opportunity to slip out through the North City Gate.
The whole plan could be summarized as a feint to the east while attacking in the west, the details of which he would arrange ticulously to make it convincing enough to deceive Xue Ping and those n in Black.
Guo Neng humd in agreent, having no objections, for Guo Shun was ticulous and resourceful, and his actions had always been reliable.
Staying in this place worse than hell was just a temporary asure.
With the remnants of the palace still at large, the Guo family was finished, hopeless, judging from the current situation where the Guo family residences and properties in the Capital were confiscated on any trivial pretext, even before the cases were concluded, revealing the capabilities of those remnants.
Now, all the residences and properties in the Capital under the Guo family’s na had been confiscated completely, and since Xue Ping was unreliable, there was no place for them in the Capital anymore, only leaving could possibly open a path to survival.
He was not an ignorant commoner, and this was not the era of the Late Emperor; he had never deluded himself into thinking that Xue Ping could save the Guo family. Writing that letter was rely a way of making a bold demand to teach his uncle a lesson.
When Xue Ping turned out to be powerless, he would then step back and ask Xue Ping to exonerate him, pushing all the charges onto his brothers, thus forcing Xue Ping to work harder and more devotedly for him.
That was human nature, a tactics commonly used in business negotiations—to start with an unacceptable demand and then appear to give ground, making the other party feel like they are getting a bargain when the demands were lowered.
As for his brothers and biological father, soone had to take the bla, and it was only natural for a father to help his son, and brothers to help one another.
Another purpose of that letter was to make Xue Ping fear causing damage and hesitate to act against him rashly.
As for that list, keeping his grandfather’s advice in mind, he had taken precautions over the years.
Once he escaped the Capital City, he would adopt a prepared new identity and bring over his mother and wife and children to wait in a faraway place.
His grandfather was indeed visionary, having advised him that relying on Xue Ping was like seeking skin from a tiger and bound to lead to disaster. He had made preparations for his escape on his deathbed.
Over the years, he had hidden away most of the Guo family’s silver outside the Capital, ready to be retrieved, ensuring they would not endure hardships.
In short, once out of the Capital City, he could attack or defend as needed, conveniently waiting till Xue Ping exonerated him. Without imdiate dangers, he could co out and plan further, not as passive as now.
At this thought, he coldly said, “These next few days, let’s see if that old fossil Xue Ping shows any movents. If not, as the young master, I am determined to leave, but I’ll still send him a grand gift!”
To show Xue Ping a little color, or he won’t take seriously!
Guo Shun slightly nodded, agreeing with this statent.
If Xue Ping showed no movent, it would an he didn’t believe their words, or perhaps he underestimated them. If that ti ca, the n in Black and Xue Ping’s n would attack from both sides, greatly disadvantaging them.
Therefore, they absolutely had to pull off sothing real to intimidate Xue Ping, to deter him from acting rashly — at least not too blatantly — giving them a chance to catch a breath.
Once they had decided on their plan, Guo Neng lay back in bed to rest and conserve his energy.
The ti left to him was running short, and from this mont, he would need to heal his wounds and conserve as much energy as possible to make his future escape successful.
Guo Shun then went out to arrange the matters for the day after tomorrow.
Guo Neng and Xue Ping, both harboring ulterior motives, were plotting against each other.
…
Inside the Imperial Academy.
An elderly man with completely white hair and beard sternly glared at Minister Qin and bood as he complained about a debt, “Where has my disciple gone? Return him to at once! If you don’t find him, I swear I shall not leave this place!”
As he spoke, he plopped down into a chair, his beard trembling fiercely with rage. However, strangely, parts of his beard seed uneven as if they had been yanked out, making it appear quite bizarre.
This old man was none other than Minister Fan of the Ministry of Rites!
Minister Qin, both headache-ridden and helpless, realized their oversight as they had forgotten to ask where Lian Mu lived. Only when soone outside sent an invitation seeking a discussion did they exchange looks, clueless about where Lian Mu resided.
He said, “Minister Fan, please be patient. Perhaps Lian is rely back at his family ho. He will likely return sooner or later. I assure you, as soon as we locate him, I’ll have soone keep him and inform you imdiately.”
Minister Fan, fuming with anger, “Sooner or later when? Don’t say I’m being unreasonable. Give a date. Is two days possible? If not, how about three days?”
Minister Qin could hardly keep from laughing or crying, how could he possibly know, yet he patiently pleaded, “Two or three days is too short. Before Lian left, he ntioned his mother had recently recovered from a severe illness and had not been properly tended to. In filial piety, he rushed back ho to care for her. It might take a little while…”
Hearing this, Minister Fan stroked his beard, his eyes filled with admiration, extrely satisfied.
This is indeed worthy of being his disciple—unperturbed by honor or disgrace, indifferent to fa and fortune.
It must be known that the article “Public Opinion” had caused a substantial stir among the literati of the Capital, attracting many who wished to forge connections with Lian Mu, including prominent officials, wealthy rchants, and nurous scholars and great Confucian scholars who had traveled there. There were still many outside the Imperial Academy; the flow of people was unceasing.
This was why Minister Fan was so anxious, unable to sit still and compelled to co looking for him.
He feared that his disciple, swayed by the imdiate temptations, could not wait to respond, and naturally, he also feared that this fine disciple would be snatched away by soone else.
However, these worries were needless, as his disciple had no intention of associating with these people and, having been nad the day before, had imdiately returned ho to perform his filial duties.
Excellent, this was close to his heart.
Previously, his desire to recruit Lian Mu as a disciple was heavily influenced by selfish motives: partly out of admiration for talent and partly hoping to secure an advantage for the Fan Family and his great-grandson.
But now, Lian Mu’s talent exceeded his expectations, and his heart for the welfare of the common people even more so, making him crave his talent like thirsting for a dazzling pearl, truly wishing to instruct him and help him ascend to the path of a noble official for the welfare of the people.
“Minister Fan, please consider, perhaps you might first…” Minister Qin saw that his words were sinking in and, lost in thought, took the opportunity to persuade him to leave.
Minister Fan imdiately shed the smile from his face, turned his head, and angrily interrupted, “What are you looking at, you an that’s not possible?”
He was genuinely furious. He had delayed only a day, yet among so many in the Imperial Academy, young and old, from teenagers to those in their forties, not one had the sense to ask about where his disciple lived before he left. It was truly useless.
Just one or two would have been enough, but not a single one amongst the scholars and Minister Qin included, could rember such an important matter?
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