Chapter 226

Chapter 226

Can a strategist not ascend the throne? Volume 7: Eight Hundred Qin Rivers, Occupying Guanzhong Chapter 226: Deciding on Hongwen

Xun Yu had, of course, met Tian Feng before.

Among the Xun family of Yingchuan, Xun Chen served under Yuan Shao.

And Xun Chen, also known as Xun Youruo, was Xun Yu’s younger brother.

Before Xun Yu informed Guo Jia that he was heading to Xuzhou, he had also made a trip to Ye City.

However, not being particularly optimistic about Yuan Shao’s support for Liu Bian in Ye City, he claimed he was only there to visit his brother.

But since Xun Yu had arrived, even if Yuan Shao noticed that Xun Yu was currently avoiding official service and did not extend an invitation, he would still have his strategists contact Xun Yu under the pretext of host-guest relations.

It was during this time that Xun Yu met Tian Feng.

Although… Tian Feng now seemed to be in better spirits than before and had shaved his beard, these changes had only occurred over the past year or so, and it probably didn’t affect Xun Yu’s ability to recognize him by his eyes.

Had Yuan Shao’s method of sending his own strategists to Chang’an to spy on military intelligence become so straightforward?

At the moment of recognizing Tian Feng, Xun Yu couldn’t help but fall into deep thought.

Moreover, if his guess was correct, Tian Feng had managed to infiltrate this position, and escaping now seemed like a very difficult task.

What was he thinking?

Xun Yu, after all, didn’t know that Tian Feng initially just wanted to sneak into a farm tool production site to work as a low-level laborer, gather agricultural planting methods from Bingzhou, become a trusted aide of Zhang Niujiao, and even become a member of the entourage to Chang’an’s Lingtai—all of which could be called accidents.

Even Tian Feng himself was extremely helpless about these accidents.

At this moment, Xun Yu couldn’t help but think of the situation he had seen in the southern suburbs before entering Chang’an.

The Lingtai and the Hall of Enlightenment stood opposite each other, echoing one another.

Considering the situation of the Son of Heaven’s ascension to the throne and the sacrifices to heaven and earth, it was inevitable that personnel would be borrowed from the Lingtai due to the current shortage of manpower in Chang’an.

Was there a possibility that Tian Feng had come to disrupt the ascension and sacrificial ceremonies on the first day of the new year?

The news of Liu Yu’s impending ascension had spread, and scholars from Jing, Yi, and Yu provinces were arriving in large numbers, with Xun Yu being one of them, which would undoubtedly put great pressure on the Ye City court.

This could be a decision Tian Feng made out of consideration for the interests of the Hebei scholar families, or it could be a task Yuan Shao assigned to Tian Feng to prevent others from failing.

Both explanations made sense!

Although Xun Yu had not yet met Qiao Yan, the recognition of Liu Yu, a member of the Han imperial family, as the Son of Heaven was higher in Xun Yu’s eyes than Liu Bian.

Upon realizing that Tian Feng might have ulterior motives, Xun Yu immediately said to Xun You beside him, “Quickly go and remind Marquis Qiao that Tian Yuanhao from Ji Province might have infiltrated the Lingtai!”

Xun You knew well that Xun Yu wouldn’t joke about such matters, nor would he make such a judgment based on mere similarities.

The probability of this being true was quite high.

And the significance of the name Tian Yuanhao needed no further explanation!

After settling Xun Yu, Xun You immediately reported this matter to Qiao Yan.

If Tian Feng knew what kind of speculation Xun Yu had made about him, he would probably want to cry out in injustice.

He, at most, had some archery and charioteering skills according to standard literati cultivation—how could he possibly become an assassin infiltrating Chang’an!

Could it be because he knew arithmetic?

But he couldn’t help but feel anxious at this moment.

Upon seeing Xiao Yu, he thought to himself that the combination of Qiao Yan’s military achievements and Liu Yu’s reputation for virtue was truly astonishing.

Xun Yu’s appearance here was probably not to visit his uncle Xun Shuang and nephew Xun You in Chang’an, but to offer his services.

If this trend continued, the pressure Yuan Shao faced would not only come from her military threats but also from the subsequent effects of talent defection.

On the other hand, Tian Feng also thought that before Yuan Shao felt this subsequent effect, he, Tian Feng, might be the first to be captured.

When he first left Ye City, Xu You thought that Tian Feng was thorough in handling affairs and was a suitable candidate for reconnaissance, but now, anyone else might not have such a failed experience.

The chance to escape at this moment was slim.

He was following the actions of the Lingtai attendant Ren Hong.

Although most of the Lingtai attendants were selected from Ma Lun’s former female assistants, there were still about ten out of the forty-one attendants who were later additions, making up a group of eight.

Looking at his seven roommates, Tian Feng felt like he was seeing seven prison wardens.

The possibility that it was just a case of mistaken identity forced him to act as if nothing was wrong, to prevent revealing his true identity when others were only suspicious.

After three days of no one questioning his identity upon seeing Xun Yu, Tian Feng thought he might have been worrying over nothing.

After all, Xun Yu and he had only met a few times, so it was normal that he wouldn’t recognize him.

But at this moment, his fake household registration information and his miraculous “promotion” record since arriving in Bingzhou were already on Qiao Yan’s desk.

“Yuan Feng… pfft.” Qiao Yan couldn’t help but laugh when she saw this name. She turned to Cheng Yu beside her and said, “This reminds me of Zhi Cai, doesn’t it? The way he chose a pseudonym is really straightforward.”

Upon hearing Xun You’s report that Tian Feng was lurking in the Lingtai, possibly intending to harm Liu Yu, Qiao Yan was startled.

Although the current interactions between various powers could be considered open and covert struggles, they were far from reaching the stage of planning assassinations.

If Tian Feng, a strategist, set a precedent, it would be hard to say what to make of it.

But seeing how Tian Feng had joined the Lingtai team, Qiao Yan couldn’t help but shed a tear of sympathy for him.

Zhang Niujiao had some skills!

In such a situation, he managed to uncover Tian Feng and deliver him to Qiao Yan in this manner.

Anyone would say it was a twist of fate.

Cheng Yu replied, “If I remember correctly, Your Excellency, when you chose a pseudonym, you just reversed your name.”

From Qiao Yan to Yan Qiao, and from Tian Feng to Yuan Feng, there’s no need to laugh at fifty steps when you’ve taken a hundred, right?

At least Tian Feng changed both characters.

Qiao Yan coughed lightly.

Some subordinates who have been with her for a long time can be troublesome in this regard.

They know her past too well.

Fortunately, Cheng Yu then asked, “How does Your Excellency plan to arrange for Tian Yuanhao?”

Tian Feng was clearly not here voluntarily but was pushed into this conspicuous position by various coincidences, leading to his accidental discovery by Xun Yu, so any talk of assassinating Liu Yu was, of course, impossible.

Qiao Yan pondered for a moment, “Exposing his identity seems unnecessary. If we do that, he would either request imprisonment, forcing Yuan Shao to negotiate terms with me, or I would have to kill him.”

From her perspective, unless Yuan Shao could offer significant benefits that would affect his development, the most appropriate course of action would be the latter.

No one could be sure how much information Tian Feng had obtained since arriving in Bingzhou.

If this information were sent to Ye City, it could potentially lead to unfavorable outcomes for Bingzhou.

The safest course of action would be to eliminate the potential threat.








But Tian Feng is a talent.

Since he is a talent, there must be a place for him to shine.

Qiao Yan said, “I have a good place for him. However, this place doesn’t exist yet, so it’s perfect for him to participate in the planning and construction.”

Cheng Yu was curious. From Qiao Yan’s words, it seemed she wanted Tian Feng to continue maintaining his identity as Yuan Feng and become her assistant. He asked, “May I ask where this place is?”

She replied, “That’s what I need to discuss with Xun Wenruo.”

Xun Yu’s arrival relieved Qiao Yan.

This meant her decision to use Liu Yu’s reputation had successfully covered up any contradictions that might have been scrutinized by the clever. It also meant she had a stronger appeal to the world’s wise scholars, and this top-tier administrative talent wouldn’t support her opponents.

Qiao Yan wasn’t afraid of Xun Yu becoming Cao Cao’s aid as in history; she just didn’t want to cause more losses during the conquest.

But now, she didn’t have to worry about that.

Previously, Xun Yu had been traveling around, effectively not serving any official post. Qiao Yan didn’t have the extra time to invite him over.

But now that he was under her command, if she couldn’t keep him here, it would be her incompetence.

While Tian Feng was still worrying about his identity being exposed, Qiao Yan was already inviting Xun Yu for a discussion.

The scholarly demeanor of the Yingchuan Xun clan was particularly evident in Xun Yu.

After two years of traveling, Xun Yu showed no signs of wear and tear.

When he sat down in front of Qiao Yan at her gesture, the faint scent of incense from his sleeves, much like his own icy and elegant demeanor, didn’t feel intrusive.

No wonder the tale of Xun Ling’s lingering fragrance was praised.

But when Qiao Yan looked into Xun Yu’s eyes, she was sure that his elegant demeanor and the lingering fragrance couldn’t overshadow his talent and his possible hidden determination.

In a way, the Yingchuan Xun clan members had something in common.

For example, when people saw Xun You, they often didn’t think of his strategic flexibility in warfare.

Of course, now the discussion was about Xun Yu.

To Xun Yu’s surprise, what was placed before him wasn’t the Bingzhou clear tea he heard about from Zhou Yu, but plain water.

The clean, impurity-free warm water in the celadon cup didn’t seem like the usual way to treat a guest. But when Qiao Yan spoke, Xun Yu felt that this cup of water was undoubtedly a sign that Qiao Yan intended to lay her cards on the table.

It was just the right touch.

Qiao Yan said, “A few days ago, I had a talk with Master Ciming. Earlier, when he went to Chang’an to maintain the Emperor’s dignity, his health was already not good. Last year and this year, he fell seriously ill again. No matter what, he’s not suited for a long-term stay in an environment like Chang’an.”

“My idea is to have him go to Leping, to be with Master Bojie and Lord Zheng. Since Master Yuanhua is also in Leping, perhaps his health can be improved.”

From Xun Yu’s perspective, this was indeed the most suitable arrangement for Xun Shuang.

Xun Ciming was never suited for the court environment; he was more suited for writing books. Earlier, it was only because Dong Zhuo wanted to win the support of scholars that he forcibly recruited him, and then he couldn’t leave.

Now, if he could return to his original place, it would be good.

“But there’s a problem with this. After Dong Zhuo’s chaos in Luoyang, most of the court officials, except for Lord Lu and Lord Xun, moved to Ye City. Just as the new Emperor is about to be established, a supporting base is needed. Lord Xun has fame and connections, stands upright, and is the only one suitable for the position of Imperial Secretary. When Liu Youzhou becomes the Emperor from being the Governor of Youzhou, if there’s any improper behavior, Lord Xun can advise him.”

Currently, the Imperial Secretary is actually Lu Zhi.

But Xun Yu knew well that Lu Zhi was the Imperial Secretary under Liu Hong, due to Liu Hong’s fear of his military achievements, and under Dong Zhuo, he remained the Imperial Secretary, as Dong Zhuo wanted to prevent Lu Zhi from holding military power.

Putting him in this position was actually not very suitable.

With the Three Excellencies often handling the affairs of the Imperial Secretariat, the power of the Imperial Secretary was inferior to that of the Three Excellencies. The power of participating in government affairs within the inner court was also significantly reduced during Liu Hong’s reign.

Compared to the Imperial Secretary, Lu Zhi was actually more suited to be the Grand Commandant.

Xun Yu asked, “What does the Lord mean?”

Qiao Yan clearly didn’t intend for Xun Yu to directly replace Xun Shuang’s position. Instead, she said, “Among the Xun clan members, Gongda has particularly made achievements in military strategy. In the future, he will surely follow me in conquering the four directions. If we directly move Lord Xun to Bingzhou, he will inevitably worry about the lack of close ministers to the Emperor.”

“Therefore, I have an idea I’d like to discuss with Wenruo.”

She paused here, her gaze sharp for a moment, clearly seeking an answer, “But before that, I have a question: Is Wenruo willing to serve in Chang’an?”

If Qiao Yan had asked if he was willing to be recruited by her, Xun Yu might have hesitated. But she asked if he was willing to serve in Chang’an, so there was really no reason to refuse.

If he didn’t have such thoughts, he wouldn’t have appeared here.

So he replied, “Serving the Han court is exactly what we scholars seek.”

Qiao Yan smiled.

Xun Yu’s statement referred to the court in Chang’an as the Han court, implying that the court in Ye City was a false court.

With this definitive statement, it was enough for the current situation.

Her expression relaxed, “With Wenruo’s words, the rest is easier to say. In my view, Lord Xun’s concern is that the court’s order and laws are not yet established, with many official positions vacant. What I worry about is the lack of close ministers to the Emperor, and the authority and momentum not being enough to make the world submit. If this is not settled, we are not yet strong enough to oppose the court in Ye City, and Lord Xun cannot rest peacefully in Bingzhou.”

“Fortunately, since Lord Liu entered Chang’an, many patriots and benevolent people have come here, and the people migrating here are continuous. Among them, there are those who hesitate in making choices, those who lack the means to recommend themselves, and those who are skilled in writing but not in speech. If we let them pass by without entering, it would be a pity. Therefore—”

“I want to ask the future Emperor to establish the Hongwen Hall in Chang’an, to recruit and screen scholars. Half of it will be used as a place for book collection, and the other half as a place for scholars to gather, talk, and debate. Then, several talented and quick-witted individuals skilled in administrative affairs will take turns overseeing this place, observing the scholars’ behavior, and recommending the good ones to the central court, gradually filling the vacant official positions.”

“Unfortunately, the person overseeing this place needs the talent to evaluate others but must not have the heart to form cliques for personal gain. It’s really hard to choose.”

Qiao Yan’s gaze fixed on Xun Yu, saying, “I want to recommend Wenruo as a Palace Attendant, concurrently serving as one of the heads of the Hongwen Hall. What does Wenruo think?”

This was an exceptionally special invitation.

But considering its benefits to the situation in Chang’an, it was indeed a necessary move.

However, when Xun Yu accepted this task and walked out of Qiao Yan’s office, he couldn’t help but feel complex emotions.

If the Hongwen Hall was truly established as Qiao Yan said, it would strengthen and consolidate the power around the Emperor, and it would eventually grow to rival Qiao Yan.

If she had any selfish intentions to seize power, she shouldn’t have made such a choice.

Perhaps he had overthought it before.

He really shouldn’t have doubted this loyal minister of the Han Dynasty!

And Qiao Yan, after seeing off Xun Yu, pondered issuing another order.

After she informed Liu Yu about the Hongwen Hall and obtained his consent, she would issue the order.

The order stated that due to insufficient manpower, fifteen officials from the Lingtai Observatory would be assigned to assist in the construction and planning of the Hongwen Hall, including—Tian Feng.

No, it should be Yuan Feng.