The Child Emperor

(Thanks to reader "Richard Archdemond" for the red tip.)

Meng E put on her palace clothes, and Han Ruzi praised: "This clothes is more suitable for you."

Meng E said coldly, "Do you think I am a born palace maid?"

Han Ruzi smiled, "No no, you misunderstood, I just... just don't like armor." He hurriedly changed the subject, "Mrs. Ping Enhou is Xiao Jun's older sister and half-brother. You go to see her, Bring some gifts and treat it as a normal exchange of relatives between the two families."

"Well, then what?"

"Then listen to what Mrs. Pingenhou has to say. Many clan children and Xungui's family are against the champion, but they are not good to come forward in person. They have to test each other and pass news through their female relatives. This is your task."

Meng E's eyes narrowed slightly, she didn't seem to like this task very much, "That's all?"

"Mrs. Pingenhou will find a way to bring you into the palace. If you have the chance to meet Xiaojun, give this to her." Han Ruzi took out a bamboo bookmark from his sleeve.

Meng E took it in her hand, glanced at it, and put it away.

"It would be even better if I could see my mother. It may take Xiaojun's introduction before my mother believes you."

"Anyway, my task is to send messages back and forth?"

"Right, that is it."

Meng E was silent for a while.

"If you have any questions, just say it. I need all kinds of advice right now." Han Ruzi encouraged.

"It sounds like the husbands and fathers behind these female relatives are cowards. What big things can they do? Maybe they will rush to inform."

Han Ruzi smiled. In terms of martial arts, he was a student, and Meng E was a strict teacher. He urged him to take a little time every day to practice internal skills. When it comes to the sophistication of people and the struggle for power, he learned from Yang Feng. Give Meng E some pointers.

"Well, let me think about how to say it... For example, someone asks you to fight, there are a hundred people behind him, you are alone, or ten people follow, will you fight this?"

"of course not."

"If you have to, will you admit defeat?"

Meng E thought for a while, "Then you can only admit defeat, it's better than being killed."

"Look, when you see a hundred people, you plan to retreat or admit defeat, but you haven't thought about how many of those hundred people are called to fill up the number, and how many people can do their best in a real fight. "

Meng E was silent again, thinking for a longer time, "Isn't this just bluffing, fox and tiger prestige?"

"Not only that, the hundred people on the other side, seeing that there are only a dozen or so of you, will they be afraid or retreat?"

"No, with more bullying, they must be confident... I see, you mean that bluff sometimes turns into real strength?"

Han Ruzi nodded.

Meng E thought for a longer time. She didn't respond slowly, but thought about everything several times, "How did you understand this truth? Yang Feng taught you?"

"Yang Feng has taught some, and the most important masters are them." Han Ruzi patted the stack of books on the table, "When Taizu was fighting for the world, he always chose only one enemy for a period of time, and he did his best for other forces. To win over, do not ask the other side to send troops and provide food, as long as the surface support is enough, and it is with these surface helpers that Taizu quickly became one of the world's competitors from a commoner."

Meng E didn't think about it for too long this time, "The original state of Qi made a mistake in this matter: at the same time alienated the two countries of Chu and Zhao, thinking that they would be able to sit on the mountain and watch the tiger fight, but the two tigers stopped fighting, temporarily joined forces, but first The state of Qi was wiped out. Chu and Zhao did not sincerely join forces, but because of the large number of people and the courage of everyone, the state of Qi was known as one of the three hegemons, but there was no way to fight back, because from the time when Chu and Zhao joined forces to attack, the state of Qi had You've conceded defeat."

The state of Qi was known as a powerful state. Under the attack of Chu and Zhao, it only lasted three months before the state was destroyed and the family was destroyed. The descendants could only exchange the help of Emperor Chu with profound martial arts in order to restore the state.

"That's what it means." Han Ruzi stroked the cover of the history book and said with emotion: "No one knows more than the history book, and I can only learn a little bit. If you accumulate strength step by step, the original Taizu will never be qualified to compete for the world. It is even more impossible for me now. Although Da Chu has constant internal and external troubles, it is not difficult to solve. When a new emperor ascends the throne, he does not need to be ambitious. Just by ensuring the normal operation of the court, the world can be restored to peace. At most, I can be another king of Qi. "

The King of Qi mentioned by Han Ruzi was the one who rebelled the year before.

The two didn't say a word, each thinking about a different country of Qi.

After a while, Han Ruzi said: "To tell the truth, except for the few people around me, all the powers I have are falsified and bluffing. So, I need the support of the royal family and nobles. Now I am a female family. After they believe that I really control the Northern Army, the men behind them will stand up and publicly support me. It affects the minister, and when the minister starts to waver..."

Han Ruzi didn't say anything further, even with Meng E, he had to have reservations.

Meng E did not ask, "Is this your idea, or Yang Feng's?"

"Actually, this is your idea. You told me that when there are many enemies, you should hide in the dark, stab in the east, throw a dart in the west, confuse the enemy, and make the enemy think that you are the most powerful. the party, so frightened and fled."

"But you're not in the dark."

"Meng E, sometimes the light is dark, the purpose is the same, and they are all confusing the enemy."

Meng E looked a little confused. She probably felt that she had asked too many questions today, and she had to take time to understand. She didn't ask any further, but just said, "What gift should I bring to see Mrs. Ping'en Hou?"

"Go to the accountant He Yi, he knows what to send."

After Meng E resigned, Han Ruzi read the book for a while, and when Yang Feng returned, he did understand some truths from Meng E, but the truth was only truth, and he still needed Yang Feng's help for specific plans and implementation.

Yang Feng didn't come back until late in the evening. He first listened to Hou Wan's story about the marriage of the King of the East China Sea, and then said, "The King of the East China Sea has made up his mind to make you a standout."

Han Ruzi also felt that King Donghai was half-truthful at the time, but he didn't care, "Mrs. Pingenhou came forward to contact me, indicating that the imperial family and Xungui don't particularly believe in me, and I should find a way to make the Northern Army do it. order something."

"After you get the seal of Han Xing's Great Governor, let the Northern Army put those noble children back to the capital."

"But they don't support me, and many people oppose me, and they know more about the soldiers of the Northern Army..."

"It's okay, I heard that those noble children are afraid of you?"

Han Ruzi nodded.

"That's enough, let Champion Hou doubt them."

"Okay." Han Ruzi began to think about how to get in touch with Chai Yue, and how to get those noble children to bring back news that would benefit him, "How about Guo Cong?"

Yang Feng had been discussing with several Confucian scholars such as Guo Cong all day long, "They still hope that Marquis Tien and King Donghai can withdraw from the fight for the throne, but the addition of a young son of Emperor Wu has caused them a headache, and the King of England is obviously disliked. In control, the scholars can’t get involved. Guo Cong made some concessions and agreed to introduce some Confucian scholars and maybe a few ministers to Marquis Juan, so that Marquis Tien could understand what people want and retreat in spite of difficulties.”

Han Ruzi smiled and said, "I really don't understand these scholars. Supporting the champions is tantamount to agreeing with hopeful people. Don't they understand the benefits? Are they so willing to be toyed with?"

Yang Feng's expression became serious, "There are so many forces in the world, if I were to say which one is the most powerful, I would only choose scholars and civil servants who came from them."

Han Ruzi once again remembered that this eunuch used to be a scholar, "Where is their power? I haven't seen it until now. The queen mother can control them, and those who are looking for gas can manipulate them, like Xiao Sheng and Shen Mingzhi fighting for power. The minister who has seized power can still make a little noise, and the others are almost as if they do not exist. I always feel that Yin Wuxian is an unqualified prime minister."

Yang Feng chuckled lightly, "That's because you have never really dealt with the affairs of the state and the world. You will gradually understand that contact with Guo Cong is an opportunity."

Han Ruzi had no choice but to trust Yang Feng, but he had a question: "Since the scholar is the most powerful, Yang Gong...why did he give up his status as a scholar in the first place?"

The smile on Yang Feng's face gradually disappeared, and like Meng E, he thought for a while before replying, "I didn't give up, but was exiled."

Yang Feng must have experienced many things. He didn't want to say more, and Han Ruzi didn't ask again, "When am I going to see Guo Cong?"

"It's also after you get Han Xing's official seal."

At noon the next day, Han Xing's reply arrived. He only had the seal of the Great General, but not the Great Governor's seal, but he wrote an order and sent back a trusted confidant to accompany Han Ruzi to the Great Governor's Mansion to negotiate with him. After that, Han Ruzi got the official seal, and the process went very smoothly.

It was getting late, so Han Ruzi decided to wait one night before going to the Qinzheng Hall, and made an agreement with the officials of the Grand Governor's Office to return the official seal in its entirety before dark the next day.

Meng E also came back, but she did not bring any particularly valuable news. She had to wait for a while to enter the palace. She met more than a dozen noble ladies in the Marquis of Ping'en mansion. They did not provide support, but made a lot of demands. They all want to give their husband or son an official promotion.

Meng E listened more and said less, but she had a good memory. She recited these requirements on the spot. The names, titles, and official positions were almost exactly the same, and the ladies were very satisfied.

Early the next morning, Han Ruzi went to the Qinzheng Hall. He had a jade certificate to enter the first palace gate.

Coincidentally, the King of the East Sea also came to present the official seal this morning. The newly married he looked listless. When he saw Han Ruzi in front of the palace gate, he nodded at him, and on the way into the palace city to the Qinzheng Palace, he lowered his voice and said: " Do you know who is supporting the King of England?"

There are only five first-rank ministers in total, and three of them have already supported them. There are only two idle officials left. Han Ruzi said: "It's either Taishi Wangji, or Taibao Deng Zhu."

The King of Donghai pouted, "I heard that King Ying is going to surprise us."

"Who told you?" Han Ruzi was most concerned about this matter. If the King of the East Sea still had a hidden source of information, their alliance would be even more false.

King Donghai was reluctant to answer, and took a few steps before saying, "The daughter of the Tan family told me last night."