Great Ming, the Imperial Study.
Wei Jinzhong stood bowed before the emperor. "Your Majesty, that Yuwen Huaji from Great Sui has considerable ambitions. He has been stirring up some court officials, seeking the title of Duke."
The Emperor of Great Ming frowned slightly. A Duke? Wouldn't that let Yuwen Huaji establish an aristocratic clan again, just as he had in Great Sui?
He refused to surrender his military authority and wanted to guard Great Sui's former territory as a Duke. How was that any different from granting him a fief?
Even Great Ming's imperial clansmen had no fiefs now.
Unfortunately, taking over Great Sui could originally have gone smoothly, but Cheng Shifei had been transferred to the Great Song front ahead of schedule so he could command the invasion. That had left some loose ends in the offer of amnesty to the Yuwen Clan.
"If only Master Lin would return. With Master Lin here, would Yuwen Huaji dare make these demands?"
The Emperor of Great Ming felt somewhat vexed. Unfortunately, although Master Lin was the Imperial Preceptor, he was often away from Capital City, especially lately.
Had it been any other court official, he would long since have ordered him back. But with Master Lin, he did not even dare urge him.
Perhaps he should have Yunluo speak to Yuwen Huaji?
Yunluo had studied under Master Lin for so long, and her martial arts were quite good. He wondered whether she was a match for Yuwen Huaji.
In any case, Cheng Shifei had said he could not defeat Yuwen Huaji, so the other experts at court certainly stood no chance.
Seeing the emperor's troubled expression, Wei Jinzhong said softly, "Your Majesty, there is actually another expert available to our court."
"His name is Lan Haiping. He was once a Thousand-household