After asking this question, Verdant Green Maiden didn't wait for Tao Yuanming to answer. She continued, "Of course it can't be stabilized."
"What do you mean by that, Yu Se?"
Tao Yuanming asked.
At his question, Verdant Green Maiden glanced at him and laughed. She waved the bamboo slips in her hand and teased, "Tao Yuanliang, you already know the answer perfectly well. Why ask me? You're the staff officer in Huan Xuan's Staff, not me. You know the Staff Troop Situation."
After Verdant Green Maiden finished speaking, Tao Yuanming fell silent.
"The Governor is moving troops."
Only after a long while did Tao Yuanming speak.
This troop movement certainly wasn't to protect the court. And with the Northern Prefecture Army—the court's only force still fit for use—caught up in internal strife, Huan Xuan's intentions were obvious.
He intended to rebel!
"And what will you do?"
Hearing Verdant Green Maiden's question, Tao Yuanming sighed. "Resign."
He said it with finality. But when his resignation letter reached Huan Xuan, how could Huan Xuan possibly let Tao Yuanming go?
To cultivate the image of a ruler who valued the worthy and prepare for the future, Huan Xuan had even summoned Tao Yuanming before him. Smiling warmly, he invited him to sit, poured him wine, and asked, "Back then, you resigned because you couldn't stomach the red tape of officialdom, then came to serve under me! Now that our great undertaking is on the verge of success, why do you wish to leave?"
"Once we've succeeded, no one will dare force you to endure all that red tape. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
As he spoke, Huan Xuan rose and walked toward Tao Yuanming, smiling. "So... what do you think?"
Tao Yuanming cupped his hands toward Huan Xuan. "General, please forgive Yuanming for having