Chapter 64 Fanning the Flames

"Of course we are returning to the capital," Lady He said. "Once we are back, you will have plenty to keep you busy. All the social visits and exchanges this year will fall under your purview. You should hurry up and learn the ropes when we return."

For several years, Lord Wuning and his two sons had been away, leaving Lady He to hold the household together, which made it difficult for her to participate in certain social engagements. Now that He Zhong'an was recognized as a male descendant of the He family, entered into the genealogy, and placed under her name, he naturally enjoyed the status of a legitimate son.

Enjoying the status of a legitimate son meant bearing the corresponding responsibilities. Around the New Year, social exchanges and hosting would require his personal presence.

This was also Lady He's way of elevating He Zhong'an, allowing him to make his initial appearance among the people of Shaanxi or the small faction of Qin army generals.

As soon as He Zhong'an returned to the capital, he headed straight for the Zheng residence.

Zheng Bangcheng knew why He Zhong'an had come. After a few polite remarks, they got straight to the point.

"Niu Xiaoqing, the Duke of Zhenguo, is as cunning as an old fox," Zheng Bangcheng said, still indignant as he recalled what happened a few days ago. "I had expected at least to be appointed as a director in one of the twelve directorates of the Bureau of Military Affairs. Instead, on the pretext that I am familiar with court affairs, he sent me off to garrison the palace city and concurrently take charge of the Xianyang Imperial Academy."

"I've essentially been made a subordinate of my former peers."

There were several imperial bodyguards and ministers by the emperor's side, taking turns on duty to manage the defense of the imperial palace.

How could the emperor ever place his personal safety in the hands of a single person?

The defense of the imperial palace was actually intricate and complex.

There were close imperial bodyguards.
There was the imperial guards directly under the emperor's command.
There was also a detachment drawn monthly from the imperial army responsible for the outer defense of the palace, and so on.

In short, no single person or army was allowed to control the palace city, and they kept each other in check.

When it came to specific government offices, it involved the imperial bodyguards, the Imperial Household Department, the Bureau of Military Affairs, the Ministry of War, and others.

If a few ambitious schemers wanted to make a move, they would have to bribe more than half of the imperial court.

Conversely, if all these offices united to rebel against the emperor, it meant the emperor no longer needed to worry about a coup; he would already have been utterly forsaken and left with no followers.

The Bureau of Military Affairs also had personnel specifically assigned to this matter. Those who served directly before the emperor held high official ranks, matching the third rank. However, unlike the bodyguard ministers, there was no future to speak of in this post; it was essentially a retirement sinecure. Nominally, they were subject to the dispatch of the bodyguard ministers.

In other words, Zheng Bangcheng had to take orders from the leadership of his former peers.

Niu Xiaoqing, the Duke of Zhenguo, was treating Zheng Bangcheng like a kicked ball: do not think that simply entering the Bureau of Military Affairs would allow one to do as they pleased; Niu Xiaoqing was determined to make every step difficult for Zheng Bangcheng within the Bureau.

"What makes me even angrier is that when I inquired about matters concerning the Xianyang Imperial Academy, my subordinates actually told me that everything had already been arranged and I didn't need to worry about it."

At this point, Zheng Bangcheng could no longer suppress his burning anger and cursed fiercely, "Damn their mothers. This is clearly an attempt to strip me of my power and reduce me to a figurehead."

He Zhong'an said, "Uncle Zheng, please calm your anger. This matter should be deliberated carefully over the long term."

Zheng Bangcheng took a deep breath, seemingly suppressing his rage, and said, "I have tried several times regarding your matter, but it simply won't work. They told me to recuse myself to avoid suspicion. So I truly am sorry."

Speaking of this, Zheng Bangcheng felt incomparable resentment in his heart.

Previously, when he did not directly manage the Xian'an Imperial Academy, he was actually able to arrange placements for people. Now that he was in direct charge, he could do nothing at all—it was the height of irony.

"However, rest assured, since this matter didn't work out, I will definitely compensate you. Zhong'an, you are not betrothed yet, are you? How about I find you a good match?"

"My affairs are trivial; Uncle Zheng's affairs are of the utmost importance. I wonder what Uncle Zheng has in mind?" He Zhong'an hurriedly asked.

He Zhong'an was not averse to marrying, nor did he mind marrying into an aristocratic family to gain political leverage, but certainly not now.

He Zhong'an did not want to bind himself too closely to the Zheng family and become their vassal.

Doing things for the Zheng family and becoming a loyal partisan of the Zheng family were two entirely different things.

He still could not clearly see the currents of the Great Xia political arena and did not wish to tie himself to the Zheng family just yet.

Zheng Bangcheng sighed and said, "What other choice is there? I must swallow this insult for now. We will take it slowly. I am still young; I refuse to believe I cannot outlive those old men."

He Zhong'an rapidly calculated the situation in his mind and thought to himself, "I must absolutely not let Zheng Bangcheng back down. If he retreats, it will become very difficult for me to handle."

Political struggle was just like warfare; once it began, it was a confrontation between two armies, where one could only advance and never retreat. With the Prince of Nanhai to back him up, Zheng Bangcheng might be fine. But if Zheng Bangcheng showed weakness and failed to stand his ground, the founding nobility would concentrate their firepower on someone else, such as the He fellow who had emerged prominently during the death of the Duke of Ningguo.

Furthermore, the quota for the imperial academy was clearly right at his mouth, only for them to let it slip away.

This was something He Zhong'an could never tolerate.

However, He Zhong'an also saw through the core disposition of Zheng Bangcheng. While Zheng Bangcheng possessed ambition, it was not particularly grand. Otherwise, he would not have spent over a dozen years peacefully standing guard by the emperor's side.

After all, being a second-generation official, when he encountered difficult situations, his instinct was to shrink back.

Therefore, if he wanted to boost Zheng Bangcheng's morale and fan the flames, he could not start from the current political situation, but rather speak of something else. A thought stirred in He Zhong'an's mind, and he found his opening.

"Uncle Zheng, there is something I want to say, but I wonder if it is appropriate."

"Between you and me, is there anything that cannot be spoken?"

"May I ask how many years the Prince has lived?" He Zhong'an asked. "In the future, should anything happen to the Prince, Uncle Zheng, do you think that even if you outlive those old men, what good will it do?"

Hearing this, Zheng Bangcheng's expression suddenly changed.

No one was ever willing to talk about the death of their own father.

Yet Zheng Bangcheng could not help but calculate in his heart. His father was already over sixty. In his younger days, he had spent year after year on boats, braving wind and rain. How much more time the heavens would grant him was truly hard to say!

Once his father, this great Buddha, was gone, would he still be able to contend with the founding nobility as he did now?

Zheng Bangcheng remained silent for a moment before asking, "Then in my virtuous nephew's view, what should I do?"

"Naturally, you must strive forward with all your might and seize the position of Chief Councilor of the Bureau of Military Affairs; the sooner, the better. If Uncle Zheng feels unequal to the task, you should ask the Prince to return to the capital from Nanhai and assume the post of Chief Councilor." He Zhong'an said.

He Zhong'an had no desire to drag the Prince of Nanhai back. He did not believe that this military heavyweight was someone easily manipulated.

Saying this was merely to pump up Zheng Bangcheng's spirits.

Once Zheng Bangcheng's ambitions were stirred, he could quietly steer the conversation elsewhere.

Zheng Bangcheng pondered and said, "That won't work. To have my father return to the capital depends, first, on his own wishes, and second, on the situation in Nanhai. If the situation in Nanhai stabilizes, my father can naturally return to the capital. If not, His Majesty will not permit it."

He Zhong'an said, "Not only that, it also requires the imperial favor, and it requires us to exert our efforts within the imperial court."

"The imperial favor is unpredictable and difficult to manage," Zheng Bangcheng shook his head and said. "Besides, my family has very few connections in the imperial court."

"Uncle Zheng," He Zhong'an said, "when I speak of the imperial court, I mean the Bureau of Military Affairs."

"The Bureau of Military Affairs?" Zheng Bangcheng sighed and said, "I have already been stripped of real power. Not a single person under my command is of any use. How can I accomplish anything?"

"Uncle Zheng, your capital is actually the most profound, you just don't know how to use it," He Zhong'an said.