Court was in session, and the Pri Minister stepped forward to speak to the Emperor.
"Your Majesty, might I make a suggestion about the campaign in the north?"
"Go ahead, Pri Minister," said the Emperor, watching the slippery man.
So long as their interests were aligned, he would tolerate him.
"Might I suggest that we shorten the training period Commander Bai is putting the troops through and comnce the campaign against Aruqtai four weeks sooner than planned? The longer we tarry, the more likely the enemy is to get wind of our plans. An earlier start to the campaign will definitely give us the elent of surprise we need for success."
The Pri Minister had heard rumours that young Commander Bai was doing an excellent job getting the troops ready. They certainly couldn’t have him succeeding in this war and coming ho a hero, that would be a disaster for the delicate power balance in court, putting more power in the hands of the Second Prince’s allies, the Bai and i families.
No, it was important that the young Commander suffered a dismal defeat, and the Pri Minister’s own nominated general would step in and mop up the ss, to great acclaim.
Sending the soldiers north before winter had truly thawed, and before Bai Li could finalise his training, would help ensure the outco the Pri Minister needed.
The Second Prince had been attending court regularly now that his good friend Bai Li was in the political firing line leading an important military campaign.
General Bai did not hold sufficient political clout to defend his son against the alliance of the Crown Prince and the Pri Minister, so the Second Prince was having to step up and take so bullets, fighting for his friend.
"Emperor Father," the Second Prince said respectfully, "may I say sothing in reply?"
"Go ahead," said the Emperor begrudgingly.
He did not like his second son attending court, and he liked him entering into the political fray even less.
"The benefit of surprise is only worth having if you have a fighting force that is trained and provisioned sufficiently to win the campaign, and if the conditions are right. Sending Commander Bai four weeks early in the late-winter, and cutting his preparations short, is nothing short of suicide. It will put the lives of our n in danger, and we won’t achieve the end goal of defeating Aruqtai."
"Permission to speak, Emperor Father," interjected the Crown Prince.
"Go ahead," smiled the Emperor.
This was getting interesting, the Emperor thought. The alliances were firming up in a public face off. It would be intriguing to see where this argunt landed.
"We are all hearing wonderful things about the work Commander Bai is doing at the training camp. I’m sure you’ve received the morials describing it."
"I have."
"So I think on balancing the two competing priorities, the elent of surprise against our enemy, and four extra weeks to be in perfect readiness, surprise is the more important aspect."
"Hmm," the Emperor pretended to mull over the discussion points.
"Both sides make important points, but I tend to agree with the Crown Prince, that the elent of surprise is critical to success in warfare, and the longer we take in preparation, the more likely we are to alert the enemy to our plans, giving them ti to prepare their defences."
He turned to Chief Eunuch Feng, "send the order to shorten the training period to Commander Bai at his camp".
Eunuch Feng bowed and started to prepare the missive.
The Emperor’s own strategy was not too misaligned with the Pri Minister and the Crown Prince. He knew exactly what they were trying to do, which was personal, ridding themselves of the young talented Commander Bai and reducing the power of the Bai family, who were allied with the Second Prince.
It also suited his own purposes to reduce his second son’s power base, and from a warfare perspective, it was a case of "sacrifice the plum tree in place of the peach".
Aruqtai was going to be a very tough enemy. He was not going to be beaten on their first foray to the north. So unfortunately Commander Bai would have to be the plum tree on this occasion...
The Second Prince chased down the Pri Minister as they were leaving court.
"Pri Minister Li, may I talk to you in private?"
The Pri Minister gave him an annoying smile, one that said, ’I beat you’.
"Second Prince, what could you want to discuss with ?"
"Would you join in my courtyard for tea, Pri Minister?" the Second Prince bowed and asked politely.
Here was the chink in the armour, thought the Pri Minister. One of the first he had seen in the Second Prince’s very impressive ga.
"Of course, Second Prince," he replied graciously, "lead the way".
Once the two n were seated and a servant had served the tea, the Pri Minister lead off.
"To what do I owe this pleasant invitation, Second Prince. I’m not sure you’ve ever invited for a cup of tea before, I assu you have sothing you wish to ask ?"
"Pri Minister," the Second Prince looked him directly in the eye over his teacup, "I admire your political skills very much. What would it take for you and I to beco, shall we say... better friends?"
"Aren’t we already good friends, Second Prince? I’ve always considered that we are."
"I think we could be even better friends, Pri Minister," said the Second Prince with a knowing look.
"Is that so, is that so?" the Pri Minister took a sip of his tea. "And would the two of us becoming better friends result in you seeking to wind back the decision about the campaign dates?"
"No, of course not Pri Minister. Emperor Father has made that decision, and it can’t be changed. It would result in us becoming better friends, talking more, and perhaps reaching mutual agreent on topics that might be of mutual interest," he smiled at the evil man.
The Pri Minister nodded. "Of course... that might be possible. It would have to be secured by a show of commitnt on your part."
Here, finally, was the asking price for favours, thought the Second Prince.
"And what would the commitnt be that’s required?" he asked.
"A marriage alliance between us. Marry Li Fengfeng as your first wife."
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