"The governor of Xiliang, Lin Yi?"
Inside the Great Ning Dynasty's imperial palace, Li Anlan looked at the memorial in his hand, a cold smile curling at his lips.
He had always regarded Lin Rusong as his greatest enemy because Lin Rusong was difficult to deal with. But now, this arrangement of Lin Rusong's made him unable to hold back a laugh. It was sheer wishful thinking!
Lin Rusong wanted his son Lin Yi to become the governor of Xiliang and hold sole control over all military and civil affairs. He wanted Lin Yi to build another Xiliang.
That was what Li Anlan found most laughable. Lin Rusong had only managed to establish Northern Liang because the Great Ning Dynasty had yet to rise, allowing him to exploit an opening.
Now that the Great Ning Dynasty stood over it, how could he tolerate the rise of a second Northern Liang?
Besides, Lin Rusong thought far too highly of his son.
What right did a good-for-nothing young master like him have to become a second Lin Rusong? Did he think the emperor was thin air?
Seeing the emperor's reaction, Wei Tong said gravely from beside him, "Your Majesty, this so-called Xiliang was originally Dayu Pass, though Xiliang occupies only one corner of it. For Lin Yi to try to carve out another Northern Liang here is rather beyond his abilities!"
As the head of Great Ning's intelligence organization, Wei Tong knew this information inside and out.
All manner of forces were entrenched in Dayu Pass. Even the Great Ning Dynasty had failed to conquer it completely and could only occupy a small portion. For Lin Yi to follow his father's example and build a new Northern Liang would be as difficult as ascending to heaven.
Lin Yi's enemies were not just the barbarians of the Northern Region, but also the emperor before Wei Tong.
"Hmph, I know he cannot do it, but our Prince of Northern Liang does not think so. He not only personally recommended Lin Yi as governor of Xiliang, but actually hopes I will also hand over the portion controlled by Great Ning. Sheer wishful thinking!"
Li Anlan said with a cold smile.
What a joke. Dayu Pass was so important. How could he hand it over entirely to Lin Rusong? Wouldn't that be giving someone else the key to the front gate?
Wei Tong nodded and said with a smile, "He is opening a lion's jaws to make demands. I expect the Prince of Northern Liang also knows Your Majesty will not agree and is merely seeking credit from Your Majesty at most. In my view, the Prince of Northern Liang should be trying to temper his heir."
That was right. He was tempering his heir.
Only amid slaughter could he obtain an heir capable of bearing the weight of Northern Liang. It seemed the Prince of Northern Liang had also realized that the emperor was determined to deal with Northern Liang, and so had begun to grow anxious.
For once he, the Prince of Northern Liang, died, if the new heir had no means of his own, it would be impossible to hold on to Northern Liang.
Using this method to temper an heir was rather brutal.
A hint of a smile flashed in Li Anlan's eyes, both appreciative and mocking. At last, he said softly, "The Prince of Northern Liang truly is a ruthless man. Sending his own son here to temper himself-is he not afraid his son will go and never return?"
Go and never return!
Wei Tong's pupils contracted. The emperor probably intended to make a move against the Heir of Northern Liang.
In Northern Liang, it was difficult for His Majesty to touch Lin Yi. But once Lin Yi reached Xiliang, nothing would be off-limits. This heir would probably be in trouble.
Li Anlan looked at Wei Tong and said gravely, "Notify the ministers. Since the Prince of Northern Liang has submitted a memorial, we must naturally discuss it and see what these ministers of mine think."
The moment he said it, Wei Tong understood instantly and went straight off to notify the ministers.
"Xiliang?"
The ministers who hurried over were utterly baffled by this place called Xiliang. Wasn't there only a Northern Liang? How had a Xiliang appeared as well?
Only after Wei Tong showed them the map did they realize it concerned the Prince of Northern Liang.
That was a taboo subject!
They could not help looking at Li Anlan, wanting to read the emperor's expression before deciding what to say.
Seeing their reactions, Li Anlan's eyes flashed with amusement. He said gravely, "I hear this is the result of a quarrel between the Prince of Northern Liang and his son, and so they intend to build a separate Xiliang. My ministers, do you think the Heir of Northern Liang can build another Northern Liang?"
Gulp!
Hearing those damning words, they could not help drawing sharp breaths, turmoil surging in every heart.
Though the emperor spoke with a smile, they could all feel a murderous intent. Northern Liang was what His Majesty feared most, so how could he tolerate the rise of a second Northern Liang?
Chancellor Lu Yafu's pupils contracted. Just as he was about to speak, Tan Cheng, the minister of ceremonies, stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, Lin Rusong's actions are undoubtedly the height of arrogance. He has no right to rename Dayu Pass Xiliang. He is practically trying to rebel!" Tan Cheng said with a cold smile.
He had gone mad!
As minister of ceremonies, Tan Cheng ranked below the chancellor. Yet not only had he spoken before the chancellor, he even dared to confront the Prince of Northern Liang head-on. Did this fellow have a death wish?
Chancellor Lu Yafu was one thing, since he was already largely despised by the emperor, but was the Prince of Northern Liang so easy to provoke?
As the only prince with a different surname from the imperial family, how could the Prince of Northern Liang's reputation be undeserved? Leaving everything else aside, Zhang Huisheng's entire family had recently been slaughtered by mysterious bandits. That affair was probably connected to the Prince of Northern Liang.
Tan Cheng had stood up to the Prince of Northern Liang. One had to admit, he had guts.
Zhang Zhiwei, the minister of the palace, even gave him a thumbs-up and whispered in admiration, "Impressive, Minister of Ceremonies. Are you planning to remonstrate with the throne even at the cost of your life?"
"Hmph, this is the capital of the Great Ning Dynasty, not Northern Liang!"
Tan Cheng curled his lip in disdain. So what if he was the Prince of Northern Liang? This was the capital.
As minister of ceremonies, he was also normally responsible for matters such as tribute from the vassal states. He knew full well how overbearing Northern Liang was, as stinking and hard as a stone in a latrine. How could he let Lin Rusong have an easy time?
Hearing the rash young man's words, Zhang Zhiwei could not help twitching at the corner of his mouth.
How had this fellow become minister of ceremonies? He should have been grand commandant. The man was utterly fearless.
Li Anlan watched his ministers' reactions from the dragon throne, a smile appearing at the corners of his mouth. Then he looked at Grand Commandant Qin Li and asked, "Minister Qin, do you think Minister Tan has a point?"
Everyone's hearts stirred. The grand commandant and the Prince of Northern Liang were like fire and water. What would he say?
Qin Li naturally knew why they were looking at him. He could not help smiling wryly as he said, "Your Majesty, Lin Rusong has not overstepped in any way.
"According to the information he submitted, the so-called Xiliang Commandery is actually only the size of two or three counties. And as a vassal prince, Lin Rusong is entitled to appoint a governor!"
He too wanted to set a trap for Lin Rusong, but the man truly had not overstepped, leaving him no way to start.
Of course, by convention, the court could also dispatch an investigating censor.
But if an investigating censor went to that forsaken place, his life and death would probably no longer be his own to decide, and he would be at the mercy of the Heir of Northern Liang.
"So that is how it is!"
They were all somewhat speechless. After all that, Xiliang turned out to be only two or three counties. Was His Majesty making a mountain out of a molehill?
Hearing his answer, Li Anlan's eyes flashed with amusement. He nodded and said, "In that case, it is in accordance with the law. Let the Heir of Northern Liang give it a try. Who knows? He might succeed."
Everyone wore a strange expression. If he really succeeded, His Majesty would probably fly into a rage.
Lu Yafu sighed. Northern Liang would probably fall into turmoil again.