Forcing Him to Write Books!

"Pacify the Marshfolk before Qiu Yan does, win the hearts of the Southern Border garrisons before Qiu Yan does, and build connections throughout the Southern Border officialdom before Qiu Yan does—this Tian Youqing has no small ambitions."

Back at the Zhang Residence, Zhang Lian recalled Tian Youqing's plans from their earlier secret meeting and could not help sighing repeatedly.

At his side, his two sons, Zhang Xiping and Zhang Xifan, listened quietly. The moment Zhang Lian returned home, he had summoned them both over, clearly having matters to explain.

"Tian Youqing is that certain he can stay one step ahead of Qiu Yan in everything? He clearly wants to hollow Qiu Yan out, using his own abilities to highlight Qiu Yan's incompetence. But..." In recent days, Zhang Xifan had developed an inexplicable awe of Qiu Yan. "As your son understands it, Qiu Yan is no ordinary figure. By himself, he is no less capable than the entire Secretariat Office. The work of dozens in the Secretariat Office can be finished by him in the blink of an eye!"

Zhang Xifan's son, Zhang Hai, had originally served in the Secretariat Office. When Privy Councillor Wang Jing sought an alliance with Zhang Lian, the condition he offered was to make Zhang Hai the proper head. Who could have expected a Cheng Yaojin to charge out midway? Qiu Yan had descended into the office from nowhere and stirred the winds and clouds. Forget making Zhang Hai the proper head—before long, Qiu Yan had seized control of the entire Secretariat Office, leaving even Wang Jing unable to interfere. When this first happened, Zhang Xifan had been somewhat furious. But after learning all that had occurred, his fury had turned instead into fear. Now, hearing that someone planned to deal with Qiu Yan, his first