Is what Vice Minister Yang said credible?
After the court session ended, many members of prominent families gathered together to discuss what was to come.
Now that Vice Minister Yang is coming with great force, representing the entire scholar class, even aristocratic families cannot completely ignore the landlord class. Their business dealings with Jiangnan are likely to be ruined.
However, for them, it wasn't really about helping Chen Qing. Rather, the benefits offered by Jiangnan were substantial. If, as Vice Minister Yang said, Jiangnan could be easily reclaimed, then the industries currently produced in Jiangnan would naturally be no longer a problem.
It's in, there's no need to differentiate, it's all mine, seven for you and three for me!!
The reason Jiangnan is cooperating with them now is because the imperial court currently lacks the military strength to deal with Jiangnan's affairs, but Vice Minister Yang says that now is the best time to reclaim it?
"According to what Vice Minister Yang just said, Her Highness the Eldest Princess, for some unknown reason, has led her army of living corpses out of Nanming Prefecture. Moreover, the fog over Jiangnan is getting weaker day by day. According to reports from scouts, it is gradually shrinking and may even completely dissipate before long!"
"Completely dissipated." Several military officers frowned.
The complete dissipation might not be a good thing. The reason why the Princess has not attacked the court after swallowing 300,000 Golden Dragon Guard is because of the thick fog. Once the fog disappears, it will definitely not be a good thing!
"But isn't Princess Chang facing that one from the West Sea?" one of the military officers said. "If that's the case, it's not impossible to reclaim Jiangnan while Princess Chang is entangled with the West Sea faction."
Everyone fell silent.
The official road connecting Nanming Prefecture to the West Sea, Jiangnan, and the imperial court is crucial. Once we take it, we will have control of the entire Jiangnan hub. Moreover, the imperial court in Nanming Prefecture had fortifications built in the past. If we can reclaim it, even if the Princess returns to power in the future, we will have a chance to defend it.
Even if they couldn't hold out, they had already moved many things from Jiangnan in advance.
It seems like it's definitely worth a try?
"But is the key intelligence accurate?" a military officer questioned. "If Chen Qing has truly pledged allegiance to Her Highness the Eldest Princess, why would she abandon Nanming Prefecture at this time? From a geographical perspective, wouldn't it be more in Her Highness's interest to occupy Jiangnan and use it as a Jiangnan base to contend with that monster from the West Sea?"
"Perhaps there's some agreement with Chen Qing, or perhaps it's for some other reason." Some military officers gave hesitant reasons, but none of them felt quite right.
"Regardless, let's see the evidence that Vice Minister Yang presents first." One of the young men slammed his fist on the table and said, "Our fathers are not in the capital. We are guarding our family business, so we must be extremely careful. If there is an opportunity, we certainly cannot let it pass, but we must be absolutely certain!"
"Alright, Zhongze, your family is acquainted with those horse traders in the north. Have someone inquire whether Chen Qing is truly aiding the enemy in the north. Also, send people to Jiangnan to investigate whether, as Vice Minister Yang said, Her Highness the Eldest Princess has indeed withdrawn from Nanming Prefecture!"
"Good!"
"We must find the informant that Vice Minister Yang mentioned. Even if what he says is true, all the first-hand intelligence must be in our hands. We must not let those sorcerer families get their hands on it!"
Yes, yes, yes!
--
On the other side, immediately after the court session, Vice Minister Yang was taken to the residence of the Minister of Ministry of Personnel by the Nine Ministers!
"Why didn't Lord Yang inform us of this information immediately?"
Vice Minister Yang was very satisfied with everyone's attention. He stroked his beard and said slowly, "The intelligence is not yet confirmed, so it's not appropriate to speak directly to you, Ministers. The reason I brought some out earlier was mainly to strengthen the resolve of those military men. His Majesty is not in court now, and although the Empress is wise, she is still a woman. When faced with important matters, she will inevitably hesitate. If we don't present some intelligence to sway those military men, this meeting could go on until dark without any results!"
The ministers exchanged glances, and had to admit that Vice Minister Yang's move was indeed very astute in understanding people's hearts.
"Now that you've achieved your goal, Your Excellency, would you be willing to analyze the latest intelligence with us old folks?"
"Of course!" Vice Minister Yang laughed. "After all, the Confucianists are on the same side as you all, and there is a difference between them and those military men. But there are some things that need to be agreed upon. The things that Chen Qing has done in Jiangnan cannot all be given to you, otherwise it will be impossible to stabilize people's hearts."
"Of course we know that," the ministers nodded repeatedly. They couldn't keep all the benefits of Jiangnan to themselves; they had to leave some for their subordinates. After all, nominally, they were still the representatives of the literati!
Vice Minister Yang nodded. "According to my intelligence, that brat Chen Qing used some means to make an agreement with the Princess, which allowed her to withdraw from Jiangnan. He then mobilized the militia he had recruited over the years, intending to occupy Nanming Prefecture after the Princess's withdrawal."
"According to my information, Chen Qing assured the Eldest Princess that he would provide their army with provisions, ensuring she had sufficient supplies to resist that person in the West Sea. I'm not sure if this is true yet, but the fact that Chen Qing can provide provisions to both the Northern forces and the Eldest Princess suggests he has special sources of supplies. And some intelligence indicates that what Chen Qing currently possesses is indeed enough to undermine the foundation of the scholarly community!"
"What exactly is it?" the Ministry of Rites asked, frowning.
" The Mountain God food!" Vice Minister Yang lowered his voice. "I wasn't very convinced at first, but my men brought me some things."
As he spoke, Vice Minister Yang took out some dried worms and the latest plant varieties, saying, " Chen Qing is promoting some kind of Divine Path in Jiangnan, using a very special power. I personally believe it must be some kind of magic that can cause a surge in grain production. He has managed to feed hundreds of millions of people in Jiangnan with just some land surrounding the Mountain God!"
"Are you kidding me?" The other ministers looked on with amusement.
They are both leaders of ancient sorcerer families. Does such a technique even exist in this world? Their sorcerer families would have crushed the bloodline families long ago.
"I also find it unbelievable, but according to several intelligence reports, it is indeed true. Nowadays, many wealthy landowners in Jiangnan have no one to cultivate their fertile fields, yet Chen Qing is still able to provide enough food for everyone. Not only that, he can also sell grain to outsiders. What I said in court this morning was not an exaggeration. Grain dealers and horse traders in the north have been selling like crazy lately, all of them are buying grain from Jiangnan!"
"Moreover, it's said that after Chen Qing takes back Nanming Prefecture, he will open the port for trade with the north and transport more grain out. Whether this is true or not is still under investigation, but if it is true!"
Vice Minister Yang looked at Human Dao, "That means Chen Qing truly possesses the skill to cause grain prices to skyrocket!"