Chapter 927: Chapter 924: Eradicate the Roots
Lu Jinxian quickly calculated, then looked up solemnly and said to Bai Qingyan, “However, establishing schools by the Emperor, whether it’s setting one school per county or one per city, still needs detailed planning. And since the state will establish schools, the Ministry of Revenue will need to allocate silver taels yearly, so this matter probably must wait for the return of the Minister of Revenue.”
Pri Minister Lu: “…”
“Then at the enthronent ceremony, announce it to the world, and wait for the return of Minister of Revenue Wei Bugong to implent this matter,” Bai Qingyan said, then looked at Minister of War Shen Jingzhong, “Has Wei Zhong handed the people over to Master Shen?”
Before Bai Qingyan left Dadu City for Luohong City, she instructed Wei Zhong to entirely control the Jin Dynasty’s Royal Hidden Guards… and hand over half to Minister of War Shen Jingzhong for the new establishnt of the Chancellery.
After all, these Royal Hidden Guards were always in the shadows, rarely showing their faces. Even mbers of the sa squad couldn’t guarantee knowing one another, being raised by the Hidden Guards since they were taken from their birth parents. Such unfamiliar faces with no ties were the safest to send out in public.
Shen Jingzhong nodded, “Master Wei has already handed the people over to , and besides that… I’ve also gathered so talented individuals and, after screening and verifying them, selected another batch. According to the Emperor’s instructions, the second batch has been dispatched to different places in Yan Kingdom. If nothing unexpected happens… after the enthronent ceremony, the third batch can also be sent to Yan Kingdom.”
Bai Qingyan had already sent a batch before going to Luohong City. She told Shen Jingzhong… now that Yan Kingdom had just swallowed Wei Kingdom, it was unclear about Wei Kingdom’s details, which was the perfect ti to plant personnel. She instructed Shen Jingzhong to ensure this matter was handled promptly.
However, because selecting spies to infiltrate enemy countries wasn’t easy, requiring capable people who could endure loneliness, given the significant future goal of unifying the nation, Shen Jingzhong naturally beca more cautious, which slowed progress compared to expectations.
Bai Qingyan nodded slightly, listening as Pri Minister Lu addressed her again, “Your Majesty, there’s one more matter… The construction of the Guanghe Canal was half completed, and later, when King Liang rebelled and fled to Luohong City, Mr. Qin, who originally oversaw the construction, also went to Luohong City. Moreover… to my knowledge, Mr. Qin cos from the Crown Prince’s residence of the Jin Dynasty. Now that the canal construction is half done, Your Majesty, do you have any instructions? Should we continue using Mr. Qin or find soone else?”
“Qin Shangzhi has been brought back alongside the deposed Crown Prince, and regarding the canal construction… I originally intended for Qin Shangzhi to continue overseeing it. Before the enthronent ceremony, I will speak with Qin Shangzhi. If he is unwilling, there are other suitable candidates, though it might delay things sowhat.”
“Your Majesty has it in mind, then the old minister won’t worry!” Pri Minister Lu said with a smile.
Bai Qingyan, having raised her spirits to say and listen to so much, was already extrely exhausted, so she said, “For matters concerning the enthronent ceremony… I must trouble you gentlen!”
At this point, Pri Minister Lu and the others knew Bai Qingyan was tired, quickly got up and bowed in salute before taking their leave.
Such is the responsibility of a ruler.
If not for a broad and resilient mindset like Bai Qingyan’s, with a goal and ambition to unify the nation, the initial thrill of ascending the Emperor’s throne would soon be overwheld by the ensuing burdens due to the lack of goals and ambitions.
Naturally, sitting in that position without bearing its weight, being as foolish as the Jin Dynasty Emperor, indulging oneself, and lacking virtue for the position… the fall of the nation becos inevitable.
Zhenming, who had been standing at the door, not daring to enter to report, saw Pri Minister Lu and the others leaving and hurried to lift the curtain and bow. After ordering people to escort Pri Minister Lu and his party out, Zhenming quickly went inside, intending to report to Bai Qingyan about the impending arrival of the ladies in Dadu City.
Seeing Bai Qingyan resting her elbow on the arm of a chair, her hand supporting her forehead as if closing her eyes to rest, Zhenming hesitated whether to report to Bai Qingyan, only to hear Bai Qingyan say, “Summon Wei Zhong over…”
Noticing Bai Qingyan’s tired and haggard appearance with her eyes closed, Zhenming pursed her lips, thinking of waiting until the ladies and Misses, along with the Seventh Young Master, arrived at the Dadu City gate to inform Bai Qingyan, then replied, “Yes…”
Not long after, Wei Zhong hurried in. Seeing Bai Qingyan with her eyes closed as if she were asleep, he solemnly bowed in salute, and after a long ti without hearing a response from Bai Qingyan, he turned to look at Zhenming… just as he was about to signal Zhenming that he would leave first, he saw Bai Qingyan taking a deep breath, sitting up straight, and asking Wei Zhong, “Among the Hidden Guards, are there any who refuse to surrender and only wish to remain loyal to the Jin Dynasty Emperor?”
“Reporting to Your Majesty, yes… They have all been dealt with!” Wei Zhong’s voice was calm and unwavering.
“Besides those handed over to the Chancellery, how many were lost?” Bai Qingyan asked further.
“Reporting to Your Majesty, the Hidden Guards handed over to the Chancellery… are all old mbers. According to Jin Dynasty rules, once a Hidden Guard reaches thirty, they must choose a successor and raise them as a disciple alongside them. Knowing that the Chancellery is used by Your Majesty to gather intelligence on other countries, I handed over those over forty-five, as these people, though older and less physically capable than the young, are more stable as spies! Therefore… when replacing them with newcors in the Hidden Guard team, we actually didn’t lose much.”
Wei Zhong had his private concerns too. These people had risked their lives for years, and surviving till now ant their physical prowess couldn’t match younger ones. Wei Zhong wished for them to have a peaceful end, for becoming spies… as long as they were well-concealed, they would be indistinguishable from ordinary citizens, and the chances of living in peace until death were much higher than if they continued fighting as Hidden Guards.
“How fares the Jin Dynasty Crown Princess Consort and the young prince?” Bai Qingyan asked again.
Wei Zhong stared at the floor before him, “Reporting to Your Majordomo, they are relatively safe and sound. Do you have any instructions?”
“Take good care of them, go on…”
Wei Zhong furrowed his brow, for the first ti disobeying a command, bowing to Bai Qingyan and said, “Your Majordomo, though the child is innocent, now with a new dynasty established, we should sever the roots to prevent future trouble… Otherwise, if anyone harbors intentions and uses the Jin Dynasty Crown Prince or young prince as a banner, it could cause issues.”
“I understand.” Bai Qingyan said wearily, “There’s one more task for you. Starting today, personally wait by the city gate, and until the day of the enthronent ceremony, if any mbers of the Bai family return, personally welco them ho! If anyone can’t make it and returns only on the day of the enthronent ceremony, bring them directly to the palace.”
“Yes!” Wei Zhong accepted the command.
“Go on…”
Wei Zhong responded, got up, and retreated out, bending at the waist.
After Wei Zhong had left, Zhenming returned inside by lifting the curtain again, unable to contain her excitent. She saluted Bai Qingyan, saying, “Miss… the ladies and the young misses have returned. Just now, while you were eting Wei Zhong, the guard delivered a ssage saying they have already entered Dadu City gates. It was the Seventh Young Master… the Seventh Young Master escorted them back!”
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