Chapter 417: The Truth Behind the Ten-Year Delay

Chapter 417: The Truth Behind the Ten-Year Delay

Zheng Jinyu looked at Xie Peiyu, seeing his face flushed red. This made it even harder for her to say anything.

Then she heard the Long Princess say, "I originally planned to help them gain at least another ten years. They might not succeed now, but in ten years, things would be different. By then, they would have passed their youthful impulsiveness and become more stable, considering matters more thoroughly, thus greatly increasing their chances of success."

Zheng Jinyu drew a sharp breath.

So that was how it was.

But due to various reasons, the matter had been forced to happen earlier than planned.

"However, plans often fail to keep up with changes," said the Long Princess, looking at Zheng Jinyu. "Jinyu, I always felt that you were the change."

This made Zheng Jinyu's heart skip a beat.

"We originally planned to leave the capital because of your return. Fang Jinxiu went to Xingyang and brought back that item, which is why we stayed."

Huh?

Fang Jinxiu going to Xingyang and bringing back an item was the reason they stayed?

Hadn't Xie Peiyu told her elder brother that it was because she didn't want to marry far away?

Xie Peiyu?

Xie Peiyu met Zheng Jinyu's gaze and then awkwardly looked away.

The Long Princess sighed and continued, "Since he was six years old, I sent him to the military camp. He has learned martial arts well over the years, but I haven't had time to teach him the art of imperial governance."

She looked at Xie Peiyu with deep concern. "Peiyu, with your current abilities, you can easily be a general, but it's not enough to seize power. What should we do?"

When she asked what to do, she was looking at Zheng Jinyu.

This was essentially asking Zheng Jinyu.

Zheng Jinyu thought, how would I know what to do?

Wasn't this like they were putting on a show for her?

But the Long Princess was waiting for her response, so she could only offer some shallow advice.

"He managed to get my cousin involved, showing that he knows how to use people effectively. How many founding emperors have studied the art of imperial governance? But why did they succeed? They all shared one common trait: knowing how to use people effectively, utilizing everyone's strengths, which is also the way of kingship."

The Long Princess looked at her in surprise.

Zheng Jinyu continued, "A prosperous nation is never the work of one person alone. Without leading a team, one can only work themselves to death. It means that no matter how capable an individual is, they cannot surpass a team. This shows that personal strength is not the best way to win; the one who can lead a team is the ultimate winner."

The Long Princess was astonished for a moment before asking, "Who told you these things?"

Zheng Jinyu thought, well, there are books about it.

And the books that emperors must read, which are forbidden to ordinary people, can be bought in any bookstore a thousand years later.

In various editions, with annotations.

She couldn't tell the truth, so she said mysteriously, "Who could have told me?"

Given Zheng Jinyu's experiences, who could have told her?

The Long Princess assumed she had figured it out herself.

A person who can lead a team... She turned to look at her son standing beside her.

Choosing a wife with a clever mind and gaining the support behind her.

The Cui family and Zheng family would undoubtedly support him.

No wonder the Cui family approached him.

It seemed he wasn't foolish.

The Long Princess finally felt relieved. Things she couldn't discuss before could now be talked about.

She explained her plan to Zheng Jinyu, starting with the disaster in Northern Yu City, which triggered a series of conflicts.

Chaos is good; only in chaos can opportunities arise.

After listening, Zheng Jinyu said, "We can also take the opportunity to eliminate opponents. Who is responsible for the water management issue? Who else is implicated?"

Pulling out a carrot often brings up mud, and such major cases often implicate many people.

At her mention, both understood.

Since bloodshed was inevitable, they needed to find ways to minimize losses.

Corrupt officials could be directly eliminated, while some stubborn officials could be demoted or sent back to retire in their hometowns.

Xie Peiyu said, "I will have someone bring up the re-examination of the water management issue during tomorrow's morning court session."

"No, this matter isn't urgent."

Both Xie Peiyu and the Long Princess looked at Zheng Jinyu.

Zheng Jinyu said, "Let them first discuss suppressing the rebellion. Once they start fighting, when the hot iron burns their feet, they'll feel the pain. Then, they'll be more willing to identify and punish those responsible for the hot iron. This approach will be more effective."

In their anger and humiliation, more people would be implicated, and those angered would be easier to control.

Only then could they fish in troubled waters.

Yesterday, the Empress Dowager mentioned the need to suppress the rebellion.

Some ministers felt that since disaster relief had already concluded and the victims had received food supplies and returned to their hometowns to farm, there was no need to pursue the matter further.

The transgressions committed by the victims in anger were not unforgivable.

However, with Xie Peiyu's prior arrangements, some people raised objections.

Their arguments were similar to those of the Empress Dowager, stating that letting this go would be an insult to the divine authority.

One opponent asked, "If we let this slide, what about the next time?"

Those in favor of peace responded, "With this lesson, they won't..."

"What kind of lesson is this?" The pro-peace faction was interrupted before they could finish.

"Ha," the opponent sneered, "This so-called lesson is that when they start causing trouble and seize government offices, we quickly send Prince Chen with food for disaster relief. We give them money and food to pacify them and send them back home. Is that it?"

"Isn't that good? Helping the people through hard times, they return to farming, and next year taxes will be collected."

"What's good about it? Natural disasters and human calamities have never ceased throughout history. With this example from the north in Yu City, if the south suffers another disaster, they might follow suit, start a rebellion, seize government offices, and even capture a prince to sacrifice. We'll be scared again and obediently provide money and food to pacify them. Is that what you want?"

More and more people found these arguments convincing.

"These unruly people dared to seize government offices and kill Prince Chen. This cannot be left unpunished; otherwise, where would the divine authority be? The most serious issue is that the people would fear nothing."

An increasing number of voices agreed that these unruly people must be taught a lesson.

Seeing the result of their debate, the Emperor spoke up, "Indeed, this cannot be left unpunished. Grand Tutor Lu, what do you think?"

Grand Tutor Lu attended court today despite his advanced age and poor health, as he was reluctant to relinquish power.

He was carried in while seated on a chair.

"Since His Majesty says it cannot be left unpunished, then... cough, cough, we should send people to arrest the offenders. Execute the ringleaders involved in the robbery, but there's no need to arrest all the victims. When executing them, it must be done in front of the unruly people to serve as a deterrent."

After speaking for a bit, he paused to catch his breath before continuing, "The state providing money and food for disaster relief demonstrates the Emperor's benevolence and kindness. Arresting the offenders is to show that divine authority cannot be violated and that only what the Emperor gives is yours. If He does not give it, you cannot take it."

Grand Tutor Lu had earned the Emperor's trust over many years, not just because he had been the tutor of both the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, but also because he truly possessed considerable skill.