In a secluded tavern, steaming dishes covered the table.
Jia Huan picked up a piece of bamboo shoot and sank into thought.
Pacification Commissioner Xuanyuan's case was like stumbling into a five-mile fog.
But at least he now had a clear direction.
He had to bring down the Viceroy of the Southern Borderlands. Winning Duan Qingwu's trust was secondary; the key was merit and sin value!
He needed at least eight embroidered Kirin Patterns at his waist, surpassing Pacification Commissioner Qin, to rightfully claim the second seat in the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Once he seized power, he could use Great Qian's ancestral precepts to silence every wagging tongue.
"Boss," Scholar called.
Jia Huan set down his chopsticks.
Scholar gathered his thoughts and said slowly:
"Li Rangzhi, Viceroy of the Southern Borderlands, comes from the Li Clan of Zhao Commandery, one of Great Qian's great aristocratic families. He helped the emperor ascend the throne and holds the title of marquis. Over twenty years ago, when His Majesty was still a prince, he and Li Rangzhi associated frequently."
Jia Huan nodded.
That was Scholar's strength: even while wearing himself out over official paperwork, he thoroughly studied the past careers of powerful figures.
"No wonder he's never fallen!" Water Skimmer chimed in:
"This governor-general has a rotten reputation throughout the Southern Borderlands, yet the Central Court hasn't made the slightest move. He's governed the region for a full eight years, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard Office has never even considered investigating him."
Clearly, every Thousand-Household Commander in the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and even the Pacification Commissioners, shared the same thought.
Earning the emperor's displeasure for a single achievement was sheer stupidity!
Bringing down Viceroy Li might win them glory, but afterward they would become thorns in the emperor's eye!
His trusted subordinates all