Prince Yan Zhao Heng, the prince renowned for his "virtue," was, at heart, an out-and-out ruthless schemer. Otherwise, how could he have weathered the brutal struggle among the princes for the throne, held a region securely with a formidable army at his command, and become someone even the current emperor found difficult to handle?
To deal with a ruthless schemer, you had to use a ruthless schemer's logic.
Talk to him about loyalty to the emperor and love of country, and he'd call you a stiff.
Talk to him about benevolence, righteousness, and morality, and he'd laugh at your naivety.
Only interests—bare, bloody interests—could truly move him.
Gu Shen stretched, his joints giving off a series of soft cracks.
A guard named A Wu appeared behind him without a sound, like a shadow.
"Sir, everything's arranged. The carriages and horses for the trip to the Capital City, the personnel, the supply stops along the way—everything's in order."
"Mm." Gu Shen nodded without turning around. "Keep a close watch on Assistant Minister Chen's people. I want to know every word he says after he gets back, and how everyone in Prince Yan's Mansion reacts."
"Yes." A Wu answered, then asked, "Sir, will Prince Yan agree?"
"He will." Gu Shen's tone was even, as if stating an established fact.
"Why?" A Wu asked, puzzled. "Any one of those three conditions is like asking him to cut out his own heart."
Gu Shen turned and smiled at his loyal guard.
"A Wu, if you were a tiger locked in a cage, with jackals watching hungrily outside while hunters kept burning your fur with red-hot iron rods, and someone offered you a key in exchange for one of your legs, would you take it?"
A Wu thought for a moment before replying, "I would.