The Realm Truly Ought to Abdicate to Liang!

After Zhu Youning left, Zhu Yougui's expression darkened at once, and all traces of the brotherly affection he had shown earlier vanished.

"This Zhu Youning is no simple man. Every time I've tried to win him over, he's managed to deftly turn me down."

"Underworld Emperor, there's no need to worry. Hasn't Prince An already promised to speak for you at court?"

As Old Cang's voice sounded, an elderly woman leaning on a strange cane slowly emerged from the depths of the dark hall.

She was Meng Po of the Xuanming Cult!

Zhu Yougui didn't even glance at Meng Po. He merely narrowed his eyes and said, "That's the trouble with clever people. If he weren't so clever, I might believe him. But he's too clever, so I can't."

Meng Po bowed her head slightly. "The Underworld Emperor is wise."

Zhu Yougui then turned to Meng Po. "There's something else that puzzles me. Meng Po, didn't you say Zhu Youning's injuries would take at least two or three months to heal? Why did he recover so quickly?"

"Reporting to the Underworld Emperor, from what this old woman observed that day, His Highness Prince An truly needed a long period of rest. If he's hale and hearty now, then either His Highness Prince An has some special means, or he encountered a fortuitous opportunity."

"A fortuitous opportunity? Heh..." Zhu Yougui gave a cold laugh. "It seems none of my brothers are pushovers! Zhu Youning escaping Li Cunxiao's pursuit unscathed is proof enough of his extraordinary abilities."

As he spoke, a chill flashed through Zhu Yougui's eyes.

"I hope he doesn't throw in his lot with my second brother. It would be a shame to lose such a talent."

After returning from the Xuanming Cult's main headquarters, Zhu Youning didn't go to see Miaocheng Tian and Xuanjing Tian again. Instead, he summoned Wang Shifan and instructed him on what to do after returning to Qingzhou.

Zhu Wen had already said he wouldn't grant Wang Shifan an official post, and Zhu Youning naturally couldn't give him one either. So he didn't ask much of Wang Shifan.

What did he ask?

Praise and promote the Great Liang Dynasty!

That's right. Wang Shifan didn't really need to do anything. As long as he stayed alive and said a few good words about the Liang State, keeping its one hundred thousand surrendered Pinglu troops from causing trouble and ensuring the people of Pinglu's various prefectures could live in peace, that would be enough.

Of course, it would be even better if Wang Shifan could put his standing as a great Confucian to use and win over some of the realm's scholars.

So after summoning Wang Shifan, Zhu Youning said, "General Wang, you widely promoted Confucianism in Pinglu. You must have many scholars in Zi, Qing, Qi, Hai, Deng, Lai, Yi, Mi, Pu, Xu, Yan, Yun, and Di prefectures who call you their teacher, don't you?"

Wang Shifan pondered for a moment, then bowed solemnly. "This old man's meager reputation doesn't carry that much influence."

Zhu Youning glanced at him. "General Wang, there's no need to be modest. That'll only waste time. I like getting things done efficiently."

Wang Shifan had no choice but to nod.

Zhu Youning continued, "I've heard it said that the court is the foundation of the realm, the ruler is the foundation of the court, and the newly enthroned ruler is the foundation of the ruler's reign. If the foundation is not upright from the start, how can one hope to set the realm right? Yizong, Xizong, and Zhaozong presided over the beginning of the Tang Dynasty's decline, and one incompetent ruler followed another. During the Qianfu era, severe drought and locusts ravaged the land, and the people rose up in rebellion. All that chaos was caused by the incompetence of those three Tang emperors. The realm truly ought to abdicate to Liang."

Wang Shifan's brows had drawn tight, and his expression had turned grave.

Perhaps he had already experienced Zhu Youning's blunt, no-nonsense way of speaking and acting. He now realized how serious the matter was.

Sure enough, Wang Shifan murmured, "Your Highness is right. But throughout history, not every ruler who lost his realm was foolish, incompetent, or tyrannical..."

Zhu Youning understood the unspoken meaning behind Wang Shifan's words: he was trying to clear Emperor Zhaozong's name.

It was true that Emperor Zhaozong of Tang was somewhat better than Emperor Yizong and Emperor Xizong, and not quite so absurd or incompetent. But so what?

Zhu Youning immediately cut Wang Shifan off without the slightest hesitation. "General Wang has spent his whole life fighting battles, and lost far more than he won. Do you know why? Because you refuse to change! You want to have it both ways! When you pursued Cui Anqian, the man Emperor Zhaozong of Tang sent to replace you as Pinglu Jiedushi, why didn't you remember the emperor's kindness? Why didn't you show your loyalty to him and simply give up the position of Jiedushi?"

Wang Shifan's thoughts had been laid bare. His face flushed red.

Wang Shifan couldn't argue back. He truly wasn't a loyal subject; he had simply done a good job of cultivating that image.

Zhu Youning had always thought Wang Shifan was slippery. He scolded him again, "A person has to see himself clearly. Others may not know what kind of person you are, but you should know it yourself. Take me, for example. I've never thought of myself as a good person."

Zhu Youning spoke quickly and plainly, showing Wang Shifan no respect at all.

"And don't you know how miserable the people of the Tang Dynasty are? Why did Huang Chao rebel, and how did he gain such strength? Don't you know? You're no loyal subject, yet you pretend to be one and whitewash the peace. What good does that do? Find people to write some articles describing absurdities like Emperor Xizong of Tang playing polo and gambling away the three Sichuan circuits. Help clear Great Liang's name, denigrate Tang and exalt Liang. Can you do that?"

"Your Highness certainly speaks bluntly." Wang Shifan was advanced in years, yet Zhu Youning's words had left him sweating profusely. Only now did he realize Zhu Youning was no easy person to deal with. He hurriedly bowed. "This old man can do it! I can!"

Zhu Youning nodded. "Good. Have your former students write more articles. From integrity and morality to the greater good, clear the Great Liang Dynasty's name completely! His Majesty obtained the throne through abdication, so his claim to the realm is entirely legitimate. Also, after you return to Qingzhou, establish more academies and schools, and recruit students widely. Don't bother teaching them all that Confucian stuff; just teach them to read and write. Aim for quantity, not quality! If you do a good job, I'll protect your Wang family's wealth and honor from now on! A noble title and rewards are well within reach!"

Wang Shifan's face reddened slightly, but he still made up his mind with firm resolve. "This old man will not fail Your Highness's trust!"

"I'm a man of my word." Zhu Youning waved a hand and said casually, "You may go."

While Zhu Youning was assigning Wang Shifan his duties, Miaocheng Tian and Xuanjing Tian also received a letter from Fengxiang.

The letter had arrived by carrier pigeon. These pigeons had been specially trained by the Huan Yin Workshop for conveying intelligence.

"Elder Sister, what does it say? What orders did the Empress give?"

Miaocheng Tian quickly scanned the letter, her expression grave. "The Empress told us not to return to Fengxiang for now. We're to stay by Zhu Youning's side and watch his every move. The moment Liang State is about to make a major move, we must report it to the Empress at once."

Xuanjing Tian furrowed her brows. "But if we do that, won't we be putting ourselves in danger?"

Miaocheng Tian sighed helplessly. "Silly girl, though we're the Nine Heavens Holy Concubines, with lofty status in the Huan Yin Workshop, in truth we're no different from anyone else there. We have no choice in what we do. Whatever the Empress orders, we must obey!"