Chapter 42: Yuan Chonghuan: Once the Deed Is Done, Liaodong Belongs to Me

"Where is Yuan Chonghuan right now?!" someone inside the room asked.

Back in July, the former Regional Inspector of Liaodong, Yuan Chonghuan, had resigned for various reasons.

Nominally, upon stepping down, Yuan Chonghuan claimed he was returning from the capital to his hometown to live in retirement.

In reality, however, Yuan Chonghuan had simply stayed lingering in the vicinity of the capital and had not left at all.

At that time, the late emperor was already critically ill.

Yuan Chonghuan's resignation was purely a maneuver to better position himself for reinstatement later, while incidentally earning a bit more reputation along the way.

How could someone who had tasted the flavor of power ever let it go just like that?

Someone replied, "He is in a courtyard built as a military provisions procurement station in the mountains on the outskirts of the capital."

Huang Ji nodded. "Send someone to speak with him and see how he reacts."

Having formed a plan, a team of men immediately slipped out of the city covertly, heading in secret toward the mountain villa where Yuan Chonghuan was staying.

...

Wanquan Mountain, on the outskirts of the capital.

After venturing some distance along a winding, sheep-gut path, the scenery suddenly opened up wide before the eyes.

One could see a courtyard enclosed by towering trees, featuring white walls, dark tiles, and a considerable number of guards standing watch.

Inside the courtyard.

Yuan Chonghuan was lying on a rocking chair, leisurely enjoying a massage from a delicate maidservant standing nearby.

On a small side table beside him rested a tureen of rich broth simmered for six hours with an old hen and aged mountain ginseng, along with a bowl of thinly cooked white fungus, lotus seed, and lily bulb porridge.

Melons, fruits, and pastries were too numerous to count.

Although this place could not compare to the extravagant luxury of the capital, it possessed quite a bit of refined elegance, echoing the sentiment: "Though a humble room, my virtue makes it fragrant."

Only, this elegance did not last long before it was interrupted by a sudden disturbance.

A man leaned down close to Yuan Chonghuan's ear, as the latter was resting his eyes, and reported in a low voice, "Visitors have arrived from the capital."

Yuan Chonghuan propped his upper body up, slowly and leisurely straightening his robes. "Bring them to the study to see me."

Soon enough.

Yuan Chonghuan met the officials who had rushed in from the capital inside the study.

Facing these old acquaintances, Yuan Chonghuan sat calmly upon a Huanghuali master's chair bearing the marks of time, and brewed a pot of tea.

"Gentlemen, pre-Qingming West Lake Longjing tea, superior even to the grade sent into the imperial palace. If you hadn't come, I wouldn't have had the heart to drink it."

The men exchanged glances.

With life and death hanging in the balance, who had the mood to play these roundabout games with him?!

...

They immediately stated what they had come for.

After listening to their account, Yuan Chonghuan furrowed his brows deeply, his gaze sharp and piercing: "You actually dare to commit treason?!"

"And you expect Yuan to help you use Liaodong to coerce the Emperor, or even threaten him by surrendering Ning远 to the Jurchens?"

He abruptly picked up the teapot and smashed it against the side; the antique ceramic pot instantly shattered into pieces with a loud crack.

Yuan Chonghuan stood up and shouted angrily, "What kind of person do you take Yuan to be?!"

The officials' expressions remained unchanged, though they sneered inwardly in their hearts.

You piece of work who flirts with the Jurchens and negotiates peace behind closed doors, what kind of thing do you think you are?!

We are already in this cursed situation, and you are still trying to take the opportunity to drive up your price?

One of them picked up a teacup and gently blew away the foam on the surface. "Lord Yuan, I truly admire your integrity."

"However, times of crisis are not the moment for bargaining."

Yuan Chonghuan sneered. "I am not like you gentlemen. The Emperor has beaten you down so hard you cannot raise your heads, but Yuan has long since detached himself from court politics."

Yuan Chonghuan himself had not expected that his resignation two months ago would completely shield him from the man-eating vortex in the capital.

Yet Yuan Chonghuan did not attribute this entirely to luck; instead, it only confirmed his own foresight.

Another official from the capital scoffed and offered no reply.

Instead, he began to inspect the inconspicuous, broken porcelain vases from the Tang and Song dynasties resting on the rosewood bookshelf in the room, as well as the dark, aged, and tattered paintings hanging on the walls.

The dense collection of seals stamped upon them appeared utterly chaotic.

Tasteless!

A moment later.

Exchanging glances, the men decided not to linger any longer. They stood up directly, cupped their fists, and said, "In that case, we shall not disturb Lord Yuan any further."

"May Lord Yuan live out his days guarding these trinkets."

"Of course, provided Lord Yuan can still hold onto them after a few days."

"Wait."

Seeing his attempt to drive up the price fail, Yuan Chonghuan showed no hesitation and immediately called out to stop them.

He stood up, looked straight at them, and said word for word, "Once the deed is done, Liaodong belongs to me."

"At the same time, you must help me eliminate Mao Wenlong, pacify Liaodong, and provide ten million taels of silver as military provisions after the fact."

"If it fails, I shall pretend the few of you were never here."

The officials from the capital exchanged glances, each mentally cursing Yuan Chonghuan's eighteen generations of ancestors.

Damn your mother, Yuan Chonghuan! How dare you open your mouth this wide at a time like this?!

You blockhead with your brains growing out of your rear, do you really think that if Liaodong is handed to you, you can actually swallow it?

With your laughable skills, the only use of Liaodong in your hands would be as another bargaining chip to trade for wealth and honor with the Jurchens.

Though, truth be told, cultivating bandits to ensure one's own importance—you bastard offspring actually managed to master a trick or two at that.

Although the men were cursing Yuan Chonghuan frantically in their hearts, cowed by the fact that the Emperor's blade was practically resting on their necks, they had no choice but to swallow their pride and agree for now.

One of the officials pulled out a sheet of Xuan paper. "We have already drafted the memorial that needs to be submitted to the palace. We must trouble Lord Yuan to copy it out in your own handwriting."

Yuan Chonghuan immediately leaned over the desk and began copying, without the slightest hesitation.

Power is something that, once picked up, can never be put down.

Even if it is temporarily laid aside, it is only to pick it up again to greater effect.

Furthermore, he had caught wind of the recent events in the capital.

In his view, this new emperor, ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth, indeed possessed a certain degree of capability.

However, a sudden and violent death was merely a matter of time for him.

Touching vested interests is ten thousand times harder than touching souls.

You can kill one man, but can you kill a whole group?

You can kill a group, but can you kill the entire realm?!

Therefore, seizing this opportunity to maximize his own benefits was the most sensible thing for him to do right now.

...

The Imperial City.

Inside the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

As the lingering execution was halfway through its course, Cao Huachun entered the palace, approached Zhu Youjian, bowed, and reported, "Your Majesty, just as Your Imperial Majesty anticipated, the populace harbors an extreme hatred toward that group of heinous, alien criminals."

Zhu Youjian nodded.

At this, he felt deeply gratified.

In this way, everything he planned to do in the future would not only encounter no domestic resistance whatsoever, but would also enjoy the staunch support of the common people.

Taking advantage of this opening, Cao Huachun continued, "Your Majesty, over the past few days, this servant has also gathered information regarding the residences of other aliens remaining within the capital. Should we take advantage of the current surge in public sentiment to..."

Zhu Youjian shook his head. "Continue gathering intelligence in secret."

Cao Huachun: Understood. Keep them for now; Your Majesty has other uses for them later.

Right at that moment.

Wang Chengen, who had remained stationed within the palace, hurried forward with a bow. "Your Majesty, those gentlemen in the Grand Secretariat have submitted two memorials, stating that there are urgent matters concerning Liaodong."