Free Web NovelChapter 584: Chapter 586: Making Preparations
Hua Shunming held a forty percent stake, and to show her loyalty, Jin Qianqian would send the account books to him every year.
Because of this arrangement, anyone who wanted to scheme with the sea trade had to think twice.
Niu Hai’an knew he couldn’t evade the question, so he could only play it safe. "You are wise, Holy Emperor. The court has gained so many capable individuals these past two years; you can surely choose from among them."
"That is my intention as well. It would be best to choose officials with no ties to the aristocratic families. Otherwise, who knows who will truly be in charge of Lu City in the future."
Hua Shunming’s words were quite pointed, and Niu Hai’an and the others didn’t even dare to respond.
Over the years, they had observed dispassionately as this Emperor did his utmost to suppress the noble families. And each time, he managed to strike at their core, leaving these aristocratic families too afraid to resist.
Liu Donglai was still trying to play dumb, but Hua Shunming called him out directly. "Old Prime Minister, do you have any good ideas?"
"Holy Emperor," Liu Donglai began, still trying to deflect. But seeing the look in Hua Shunming’s eyes, he swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue. "It’s not that there’s no solution. The Holy Emperor could select a few candidates and have them write a policy proposal on how they would govern Lu City."
Niu Hai’an glanced at Liu Donglai. ’This man... when he keeps quiet, all is well, but the moment he opens his mouth, he leaves no one any room to breathe. Ancient Wen Heng has managed Lu City to such a high standard; surpassing him will be incredibly difficult. Now, with this challenge being posed, those who were hoping for an easy appointment are probably in tears.’
Hua Shunming’s face lit up with a grin. "For the Old Prime Minister to retire is truly a waste of talent. I see you’ve kept yourself in good health all these years. How about..." fɾēewebnσveℓ.com
But just then, Liu Donglai clutched his lower back. "Holy Emperor, forgive my breach of decorum. This old back of mine is hurting so much I can barely stand. I must return at once to apply a plaster."
Hua Shunming saw sweat beading on his forehead and couldn’t tell if the act was real or fake.
But seeing him in such a state, he couldn’t very well insist. He could only quickly summon a eunuch to help the man out and call for the Imperial Physician.
’That old fox is getting more and more cunning.’ Hua Shunming didn’t know whether to be pleased or disappointed. Liu Donglai had no desire for power; if he were actually restored to his former post, the Emperor would just have another person to contend with. Yet, he was disappointed that such a brilliant mind wasn’t working for him. It always left him feeling a bit displeased.
Niu Hai’an said, "The Old Prime Minister has reached his twilight years. He has aged a great deal these past few years."
"Indeed. The years catch up to us all." Hua Shunming stroked his beard, which he had started growing ever since the Sixth Prince was born.
He didn’t expect that Niu Hai’an’s next words would make him want to swallow his sigh.
"I am but two years younger than the Old Prime Minister, and I, too, have found my duties increasingly strenuous these past two years. The Holy Emperor now has a wealth of talent at his disposal. I also wish to return home and live out my days in peace."
Of course, Hua Shunming knew that his most trusted ministers were growing older with each passing year.
But the men he had been cultivating these past few years were not yet ready to take charge on their own. He could only shamelessly play dumb and pretend he hadn’t heard a thing. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
"The Old Prime Minister’s proposal just now does have merit. Imperial Tutor, who do you think I should have take up this challenge?"
...
Niu Hai’an truly envied Liu Donglai at that moment. ’I’d love to feign an injury and leave too, but that excuse has already been used. If I try it now, it will seem too deliberate.’ He could only brace himself and force himself to think of a solution.
***
「Lu City」
Since the beginning of spring this year, Jin Qianqian had already begun consolidating the businesses under her control.
She and Ancient Wen Heng had analyzed the situation long ago and concluded that serving another term was out of the question.
To avoid a frantic rush later, they had already started making preparations for certain things.
Some of the less important and bulkier items had already been gradually transported by their escort teams to Shangjing or Fu County.
That’s right. In order to deal a blow to Tian Zhuang, she had recruited a large number of retired veterans the year before last and formed a new escort agency.
As it happened, these veterans came from all over the country. By sending a capable manager to accompany them back to their hometowns, she could have them work locally while also assuaging their homesickness.
As for Tian Zhuang’s escort agency, it only managed to struggle along for a few months before it couldn’t take the pressure and was disbanded.
Jin Qianqian wasn’t so kind as to absorb their escort team. Who knew if there were people with ill intentions hiding among them?
Tian Zhuang completely withdrew from Le City. Rumor had it that he had hidden away in some village to live as a minor landlord.
"There’s no need to sell off the estates here," Jin Qianqian said, gathering and organizing some land deeds. "Right now, the most difficult thing to handle is the sea trade."
Ancient Wen Heng asked, "Are you willing to let it go?"
Jin Qianqian pursed her lips. "Even if I’m not, I can’t hold the majority stake any longer.
I just don’t know who would be best to take it over."
Ancient Wen Heng patted her back comfortingly. "You’ve been so busy for years, you deserve a good rest.
Besides, we’ve already accumulated enough capital over the years. If you find a suitable buyer, just sell it. With this much money, it would be enough to support our family for three generations, even if our descendants are utterly useless."
Jin Qianqian did not like hearing that. "Are you looking down on your own two sons?"
She couldn’t control what her grandchildren might do in the future, but if anyone dared to speak ill of her two children, she would get angry with them—and that included Ancient Wen Heng.
Her fiercely protective expression made Ancient Wen Heng chuckle. "I wouldn’t dare. Madam’s two young masters are the apples of your eye. I was just speaking hypothetically."
"Not even hypothetically," Jin Qianqian retorted, placing the deeds into a box and immediately storing it in her space.
"Stop making unhelpful remarks and start helping me think.
It will be unjustifiable for us to retain control over the sea trade when we are no longer here."
Ancient Wen Heng replied, "I will submit a memorial to the throne later. Let’s leave this matter for the higher-ups to worry about.
Besides, Brother Zhou will likely be reassigned this time, and I really don’t want to have any lingering entanglements here."
"Brother Zhou is leaving too?" Jin Qianqian hadn’t expected that at all. "Hasn’t the Zhou Family guarded this region for generations?"
"Brother Zhou petitioned for it himself," Ancient Wen Heng explained. "Having held military power for so long, especially with the addition of the Navy last year, he feels he must bravely retreat at the peak of his success to avoid attracting imperial suspicion in the future."
"So, will Brother Zhou be sent to another border?"
Ancient Wen Heng was always with Zhou Shixiong and knew more. "If nothing unexpected happens, the position of Minister of War is all but his."
Jin Qianqian was taken aback. "...That’s not bad at all. But what about Minister Cao...?"
’I thought he hadn’t reached retirement age yet. Is it really alright for him to be replaced at this time?’
"That, I don’t know," Ancient Wen Heng said. "Perhaps there are other arrangements. This was information the Emperor revealed to the Empress, so it should be accurate."
Jin Qianqian looked at him. "And what about you? What arrangements will be made? Is there any word?"
Ancient Wen Heng shook his head. "I really don’t know. But my achievements over the past few years are undeniable. Even if others wanted to suppress me, they wouldn’t have a reason.
It’s just a matter of where I’ll be transferred. I just hope they don’t make me the trailblazing ox again."
