Chapter 90 Birthday Gift

Chapter 90 Birthday Gift

After the convoy of the Southern Frontier King and Prince Pingxi departed, the capital returned to complete peace.

By early March, regions throughout Great Ning began preparations for spring sowing, with the south starting earlier and the north later.

However, the crops planted in most areas remained the same, with the exception of sweet potatoes planned for Hexi Commandery and cotton in the southern frontier, which drew significant attention from the court.

As the Minister of Revenue, Su Sheng was the first to voice concerns, arguing that not planting familiar crops in these two regions might lead to food shortages for the common people.

Since the southern frontier was under the jurisdiction of the Southern Frontier King, he refrained from interfering there and focused his criticisms on Hexi Commandery.

Nevertheless, reports from the sweet potato trial fields had already been sent to the capital before the New Year, albeit in a somewhat obscure manner.

Chu Jiubian now stated plainly, "Sweet potatoes are also a food crop, with a yield of 600 catties per mu."

At present, the highest yields for wheat and rice were around 300 catties per mu. Chu Jiubian had conservatively estimated the sweet potato yield, yet it was still twice as high as the other two crops.

His words stirred the court.

Had this come from anyone else, people might not have believed it, but since it was Chu Jiubian speaking, no one doubted it.

Su Sheng stared at him for a moment before falling silent.

Chu Jiubian then addressed Baili Hong, "Your Majesty, I have something to report."

"Grand Tutor, please speak," Baili Hong responded cooperatively.

Chu Jiubian said, "Previously, the incompetence of the Northwestern Army allowed the Sai kingdom to invade. Were it not for Prince Ning stepping in to turn the tide, it could have led to a disaster."

Everyone was puzzled, unsure of what Chu Jiubian intended to do.

"An unstable border makes the people of Great Ning uneasy," Chu Jiubian continued. "Therefore, I propose sending envoys to the northeastern border to negotiate cooperation with the Jurchen tribe, to open trade routes to promote development."

During the palace examination, he had previously used this topic to question Tan Yuzhu.

Although her answer at the time was not flawless, it was well-reasoned. With just a few sentences, she painted a vivid picture of the prosperity after trade and the lasting benefits Great Ning would gain.

This was an excellent opportunity for Great Ning, so no one objected after he finished speaking.

However, everyone began to consider that while this was good for Great Ning, it was also a great opportunity for the officials involved in the negotiations.

Civil officials had few opportunities for earning merits and promotions, and this was a perfect chance.

Wang Wenyao, standing among the officials of the Ministry of Rites, had a cold glint in his eyes.

Negotiations of this nature fell under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Rites, so the ministry would undoubtedly assign someone to handle it. He had to seize this opportunity.

If he succeeded in this task, he would surely be promoted.

He subtly glanced toward the front of the line. Though his view was blocked, he knew that Wang Zhiyuan, the Minister of Rites, was standing there.

Although Wang Zhiyuan was currently close to Young Master Wang Qichen, the fact that he had recommended Wang Wenyao for an official position showed that he still cared about the main family line.

So, as long as he actively pushed for it, Wang Zhiyuan would surely support him in this assignment. After all, regardless of internal conflicts, they were both part of the Wang family and stood united externally.

But to his surprise, even before he had to actively push for it, Wang Zhiyuan had already proposed that he be put in charge of this matter.

Hearing Baili Hong call his name, Wang Wenyao felt a thrill. He immediately stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty. I am confident I can handle this task well."

Baili Hong then looked at Chu Jiubian and asked, "What does my minister think?"

"Giving younger officials opportunities to gain experience is only natural," Chu Jiubian said, his peripheral vision catching the expressions of the other officials in the Ministry of Rites.

Vice Minister Lu Qiaobo was from the Lu family, and one of the Vice Directors, Cai Peng, was from the Xiao family. Both had more seniority and higher positions than Wang Wenyao. Yet, with a single word from Wang Zhiyuan, the opportunity was given to Wang Wenyao, which surely left them resentful.

The high-ranking officials backing them would likely also try to lobby on their behalf.

Sure enough, just as Chu Jiubian seemed almost ready to agree, Vice Minister Lu Qiaobo stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, Vice Director Wang is still young and lacks negotiation experience. I believe we should find someone more experienced to ensure smooth negotiations with the Jurchen tribe."

"Vice Minister Lu makes a valid point," Chu Jiubian said. "During the palace examination, National Academy student Tan Yuzhu already outlined a plan for the negotiations. Moreover, yesterday she submitted a detailed negotiation proposal to me, which appears quite thorough."

He took out the memorial submitted by Tan Yuzhu from his sleeve.

Qin Xiao stood up from his seat, walked down, took the memorial, read it, and then turned to bow to Baili Hong. "Your Majesty, I believe these details are truly excellent. Perhaps this student could join the officials from the Ministry of Rites to the northeast."

They had already reviewed the memorial yesterday, made a few revisions, and added some precautions.

Tan Yuzhu accepted all the feedback humbly, acknowledging her shortcomings, and her admiration and respect for Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao grew even stronger.

The details in their hands were so well-prepared that even the Ministers of the Six Ministries could find no fault with them.

Indeed, after Wang Zhiyuan took the memorial and finished reading it, he nodded in agreement and said, "It is certainly excellent. Even if I were to do it myself, I couldn’t have achieved such thoroughness."

Wang Wenyao felt resentful, believing that if he had known about this earlier, he could have done better.

Moreover, he thought that preparing details in advance was one thing, but when it came to actual negotiations, what could a woman like Tan Yuzhu possibly accomplish? She would likely be looked down upon.

Though he held himself in high regard, he wasn’t foolish enough to voice these thoughts publicly. He simply bowed his head quietly and waited for the decision.

Vice Minister Lu Qiaobo took the memorial and read it, his expression growing more serious the further he read.

Indeed, he couldn’t find any flaws.

However, he still bowed and said, "Your Majesty, Student Tan is indeed well-prepared. However, negotiations are not just theoretical; they require experienced officials from the Ministry of Rites to ensure stability."

Cai Peng, a Vice Director in the Ministry of Rites and a disciple of Minister of Personnel Xiao Huaiguan, should have had a bright future. But with Xiao Huaiguan often confused lately, he had to seize opportunities on his own.

Now that an opportunity was right before him, he naturally prepared to lobby as well.

He stepped forward and said, "I concur. I have served in the Ministry of Rites for three years and have considerable experience. I request to be sent to the northeast to assist Student Tan in negotiating cooperation and securing the best possible terms for Great Ning."

Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao exchanged glances.

This Cai Peng was the one they had previously sent with the second supply convoy to the northwest, indicating their intention to promote him.

Although he was a student of Xiao Huaiguan, his background was relatively clean. While he was somewhat ambitious and prone to nitpicking and seeking small advantages, he was capable.

Sending only Tan Yuzhu and Wang Wenyao to negotiate with the Jurchen tribe was never the plan.

Tan Yuzhu was going to secure the cooperation, while Wang Wenyao was being set up. However, Tan Yuzhu was young, and the intricacies of officialdom were complex. She might not be able to handle both negotiating and manipulating the situation at the same time.

Thus, a high-ranking official from the Ministry of Rites needed to accompany them.

Minister Wang Zhiyuan naturally couldn’t leave the capital, so they had to look to someone lower in rank.

Vice Minister Lu Qiaobo held a high position in the Lu family, second only to Minister of War Lu Youwei. If someone like him went to the northeast, it would undoubtedly complicate matters further for Tan Yuzhu.

After yesterday's half-day discussion, Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao had initially planned to add Cai Peng to the delegation.

The position of Director of the Board of Rites was vacant, and upon Cai Peng’s return, he could be promoted.

With such a big prize dangled before him, someone as opportunistic and self-interested as Cai Peng would undoubtedly seize the court’s olive branch without hesitation and cut ties with Xiao Yao.

Moreover, since he had previously worked for Xiao Yao, he gained no real benefits from the grain escort mission.

This time, by serving the court, he would be directly promoted, ensuring his future loyalty to the court.

With him cooperating with Tan Yuzhu, Wang Wenyao was bound to "stir up major trouble" in the Northeast. Upon his return, his unstable official position would likely be stripped away.

Furthermore, other officials of the Wang family would also be implicated.

By then, the main branch of the Wang family would decline further. Wang Zhiyuan could call a meeting with the clan elders, making Wang Huanzhi’s position as family patriarch unstable and allowing Wang Qichen to take over.

The Wang family would then become fully committed to serving the court, immune to any negative public opinion.

This was Wang Zhiyuan’s strategy, while Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao merely set up the chessboard, waiting for the outcome.

Lu Qiaobo had originally intended to earn merits himself, but with the experienced Cai Peng stepping forward to volunteer, he couldn't really argue.

In the end, the delegation to the Northeast consisted of Tan Yuzhu, Wang Wenyao, and Cai Peng.

Tan Yuzhu, armed with detailed regulations and with backing from Chu Jiubian, assumed the role of "lead official" for the Northeast mission, despite her status as a "student."

She held the highest authority, with Cai Peng assisting her, their positions nearly equal.

Wang Wenyao, however, seemed almost expendable.

This fueled his resentment—how could a woman like Tan Yuzhu, a mere student without official rank, be in charge of him?

Such discontent was precisely what Chu Jiubian and the others wanted.

When people feel aggrieved, they are more likely to act impulsively and make mistakes.

Cai Peng was shrewd. After the three-person delegation was finalized, Qin Xiao told him, "Do well."

With just that remark, Cai Peng understood that his mission was not only to deal with the Jurchen but also to cooperate with Tan Yuzhu in certain matters. The specifics would be discussed when they met.

If he performed well, Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian would ensure he was properly rewarded upon his return.

With Xiao Yao no longer reliable, Cai Peng had to make new plans to secure greater power and benefits for his family.

The court had offered an olive branch, and he was determined to grasp it firmly.

Thus, the matter was settled.

Two days later, the delegation set out quietly for the Northeast.

Meanwhile, in Wang Lai Town, the seven vassal princes prepared to part ways and return to their respective territories.

On the day they arrived in Wang Lai Town, Prince Huguang invited the other six vassal princes to a banquet.

During the meal, he subtly sounded out their attitudes toward the court.

The Southern Frontier King and Prince Zuiliang were already clearly committed to the court. The former had cooperated in capturing the Gu worm during the palace banquet, and Chu Jiubian had even visited the Southern Frontier King’s residence and had dinner with his twin children, indicating a close relationship.

Prince Zuiliang was much the same—he alone had been granted the privilege of reading the Decree of Enfeoffment.

These two were firmly committed to the court, so Prince Huguang wasn't about to confront them.

The only question was whether they would step in if conflicts arose between the vassal princes and the court in the future.

Prince Zuiliang smiled and said he lived far away and valued his peace. As long as he was not directly threatened, he would not get involved.

The Southern Frontier King expressed similar sentiments, emphasizing his remote location and weaker forces compared to the central plains' vassal princes. Protecting his own territory was his priority.

Their statements gave peace of mind to the other princes that these two would remain neutral and not participate in any conflicts.

After saying their piece, they left the banquet without sticking around, unwilling to involve themselves further.

Prince Huguang and the others were satisfied with their stance.

Prince Pingxi, Baili Zheng, who had remained silent until then, finally spoke: "I only care about the safety of the people in my domain. The rest does not concern me."

He was a stubborn man, rigid in his convictions.

Prince Huguang tried to persuade him, but Baili Zheng wouldn't bite. After finishing his last cup of wine, he stood up and took off.

"That blockhead," Prince Dongjiang, Baili He, sneered, his dark eyes sweeping over the remaining princes.

Present were Prince Huguang Baili Yue, Prince Dingbei Baili Yu, and Prince Anhuai Baili Ming.

Baili Ming was just a youngster, insignificant on his own, but his strategist, Jiang Yongshou, was shrewd and cunning. His presence indicated a willingness to challenge the court.

Prince Huguang then turned to Prince Dingbei Baili Yu, who had been sitting quietly beside him.

Their youngest brother, though quiet and unassuming, had previously pulled off a major scheme that almost succeeded in killing Qin Xiao.

During this visit to the capital, his actions—releasing the Gu worm at the palace banquet and scheming to kill Prince Jiannan—revealed a ruthlessness that even Prince Huguang had to respect.

Previously, Prince Huguang had seen Prince Dongjiang as his only rival, but now he realized Prince Dingbei was even more unpredictable.

Cooperating with such a person was like bargaining with a tiger, but given the court’s determination to eliminate the vassal princes, as evidenced by the Decree of Enfeoffment, they had to make the first move.

They could not afford to exclude Prince Dingbei. Even if they did, he might still make trouble, so it was better to bring him into their alliance for temporary security.

Prince Dongjiang shared this view, and the two exchanged a glance, reaching a silent understanding.

Soon after, the patriarchs of the Four Great Families arrived as invited.

The Wang family sent Wang Huanzhi and his strategist Wang Zhang; the Xiao family sent its head, Xiao Yao; the Lu family did not send its head, Lu Jinfeng, but Lu Tong, the strategist of Minister of War Lu Youwei; the Qiu family sent its head, Qiu Xuanzheng, accompanied by his uncle, Qiu Hongkuo.

The attendees noted these arrangements.

It was widely known that the Lu family’s head, Lu Jinfeng, was inflexible and arrogant, often at odds with other family members.

However, the Lu family’s leadership was based on bloodline, unlike the Wang family, which was based on merit. Thus, everyone had to put up with Lu Jinfeng as patriarch.

Sending a clan elder and the Minister of War’s strategist to the meeting was therefore reasonable.

As for the Qiu family, it was well-known that Qiu Hongkuo wielded the real power. His showing up personally showed the importance of the gathering.

The group took their seats, and what they discussed is unknown.

Though the exact content of their conversation is unclear, when the spies' reports reached the capital, Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao had a good idea of what had transpired.

It seemed that these individuals had already reached some form of cooperation.

Wang Huanzhi, for one, had a vendetta against Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian for killing his son. With Wang Qichen having pledged allegiance to the court, Wang Huanzhi would definitely not do the same.

The Xiao family, now weakened and given no hope by the court, would naturally accept any benefits offered by the other vassal princes in this situation.

The Lu family had previously conspired with Prince Dingbei and almost killed Qin Xiao.

Moreover, aware that their past schemes to harm the Qin family might not stay hidden much longer, they knew their future could not be left in Qin Xiao’s hands. Thus, they naturally sided with the vassal princes.

Perhaps only the Qiu family remained noncommittal, having made no clear commitments.

The Qiu family cared most about profit, and as long as they could still benefit from the court, they would stay in line.

However, if the court were to take away their benefits, they wouldn't stand for it.

Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao weren't going to keep sharing profits with the Qiu family, but there was no need to rush. Once Prince Zuiliang returned to his domain, the Qiu family’s "profits" would slowly disappear.

Qin Xiao burned the letter in his hand.

Baili Hong came running into the hall, excited, and said, "Uncle, Sir, it’s really snowing!"

It was already March, but Chu Jiubian had seen the system forecast, which indicated one last snowfall.

Baili Hong was thrilled to see it was snowing.

"Can we go see the plum blossoms tonight?" the child asked, his eyes shining, looking at the two adults.

When Prince Anhuai had arrived in the capital, Baili Hong had accompanied Chu Jiubian to receive him. At the time, he had said that once Qin Xiao returned from battle, he wanted to go with his uncle to enjoy the snow and plum blossoms.

But they hadn't had the chance until now.

With winter already over, it was time to make the child’s wish come true.

Qin Xiao said, "I’ve already sent people to prepare. We’ll go later."

Baili Hong bounced up and down with excitement on the spot and tugged at Chu Jiubian’s sleeve. "Sir, can we have hot pot tonight? I didn't eat much at lunch."

Today was the fifteenth of March, Baili Hong’s birthday, also known as the Longevity Festival.

However, in Great Ning, it was tradition not to make a big deal of a child’s birthday before they turned sixteen, for fear it might attract the King of Hell's attention.

Thus, even though this was Baili Hong’s first Longevity Festival since ascending the throne, there was no big celebration. Officials were merely invited to the palace for a midday meal, where he received gifts and gave out dishes in return as a token of celebration.

Since it was his birthday, Chu Jiubian, Qin Xiao, Hong Fu, and others had all made sure Baili Hong had no work for the day, letting him play freely.

"Little Majesty can eat whatever he wants," Chu Jiubian said, pinching the child’s cheek.

Baili Hong grinned, leaning against Chu Jiubian’s knee. "Then, Sir, can I ride my little bike there?"

Earlier that day, Chu Jiubian had bought a small bicycle for children from the system. After replacing some overly modern parts, such as the sponge seat, with soft cushions suitable for the era, he had given it to Baili Hong.

Baili Hong hadn't been able to get enough of it, riding circles around the main hall countless times.

Fortunately, the hall was spacious enough for him to play freely.

"Ask your uncle," Chu Jiubian said.

The child immediately turned to Qin Xiao, looking at him hopefully.

Qin Xiao chuckled softly. "Go ahead."

A four-year-old child, allowed to rest only one day a year, should be allowed to have fun.

Moreover, with their family now being in complete control in the palace, there was no need to restrict Baili Hong unduly.

Baili Hong cheered and ran out again, with Xiao Yuzi quickly following to make sure he didn't fall.

Chu Jiubian watched the child’s retreating figure and smiled without thinking.

This was how a child should be—their Little Majesty could get away with being this playful only on a day like this.

Suddenly, Qin Xiao wrapped his arms around Chu Jiubian’s waist, pressing close from behind. His warm breath brushed against Chu Jiubian’s ear, causing the young man’s fair earlobe to flush red instantly.