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Chapter 93: Arrangements
After returning home, Li Jian Cheng changed his clothes, finally feeling relaxed. Xiao Chanyan reached out to touch his shoulder and said, "You're drenched in cold sweat. Was the audience with His Majesty not smooth?"
"It's fine. I finally got what I wished for; His Majesty has appointed me as the Zhuojun Prefect and Deputy Commander."
Xiao Chanyan frowned slightly. "Zhuojun is not a good place right now. My husband, perhaps you should wait a bit longer. If you're really anxious, I can go to the palace to ask Aunt for help."
"There's no need; I have my own plans."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Chanyan stopped trying to persuade him further and gently helped him change his clothes. She took care of everything within her ability, honoring her father and respecting her in-laws.
After chatting for a while, Li Jian Cheng went to speak with his parents. The Dou Family was also not very supportive of his move to Zhuojun, but as the saying goes, a grown son cannot be controlled by his mother; the Dou Family had no choice but to accept it.
Li Yan then asked, "What is the reason behind this?"
"Naturally, it's to repay His Majesty's grace and contribute to the campaign against Goguryeo."
As the saying goes, secrets are best kept hidden; until it becomes necessary, no one would hear any rebellious words from him.
Although the emperor currently imposed heavy labor on the people and enjoyed building palaces, his achievements were evident. In just four years, he had shown grace in the south, established authority in the north, and made strides in the western regions. He repaired canals, established the Eastern Capital, and revised laws—his contributions were undeniable.
If he were willing to slow down now, he might even become a revered emperor throughout history. Therefore, anyone who revealed ambition at this time would be courting death.
Li Jian Cheng would naturally not take such risks, and Li Yan was not his only son.
Once the imperial decree was officially issued, Li Jian Cheng prepared to leave the capital for his new post. Due to special attention from the emperor, Xiao Chanyan was allowed to accompany him.
However, before leaving the capital, there were still some matters that needed to be arranged in advance. Back when Yang Su was still around, Yang Xuangan had been appointed as Yingzhou Governor. The local officials attempted to conspire against him due to his youthfulness, showing how rampant their ambitions were.
Zhuojun had a fierce local culture, and its local powers were even more formidable. The previous prefect had been demoted due to insubordination from lower officials who obstructed progress and caused delays in completing tasks.
Li Jian Cheng did not have time to test their waters; after all, he didn't have much time left to manage the local affairs slowly. Thus, he headed straight for Dou Kang's residence. Having served as Governor of Youzhou for seven or eight years, he believed there were still some trustworthy officials in Zhuojun.
The two families were originally close relatives; Dou Kang had been involved in the Han Wang rebellion but managed to escape thanks to Li Jian Cheng's intervention. Now that their families were connected through marriage—Dou Dan had married Li Jiancheng's second sister—their bond was even stronger.
Dou Kang, upon hearing the purpose of the visit, did not hesitate at all and immediately penned several letters: "Jian Cheng, these families have considerable reputation in Zhuojun, and many of their offspring have served in the local counties. The Zhang and She families have maintained close ties with me over the years.
Although the other families still offer gifts during festivals, their distance is quite evident. You may try to win them over when you visit, but do not trust them too easily; people's hearts can change quickly."
Dou Kang's ability to respond to Han Wang back then was naturally due to his complete control over Youzhou. While he spoke of caution, it was clear he had confidence in his position.
Years ago, he had taken full responsibility for raising troops, and the heads of those families not only owed him favors but also had their weaknesses in his hands. If they did not comply with his wishes, they could expect their entire clan to face dire consequences.
Li Jian Cheng expressed his gratitude, and Dou Kang instructed a servant to send the letters to Zhuojun: "Additionally, I have some old cavalry generals in the Zhuojun military; I will send word to them shortly."
As he spoke, he dismissed the servants and lowered his voice: "There’s no need for pretense between our families, Jian Cheng. Have you sensed something?"
Li Jian Cheng was surprised by the question: "Sensed what?"
Dou Kang licked his lips: "Do not be fooled by my current lack of official position; for the past twenty years, I have served as Governor of Liangzhou, Qizhou, and Youzhou. I still have many old acquaintances. The emperor is currently so eager for quick results that the local populace cannot bear it; unrest is already brewing."
"Then we should just quell it with force. Even if Han Wang raises an army of three hundred thousand, they cannot escape defeat. What can a mere group of rebels accomplish?"
Dou Kang studied Li Jian Cheng's expression seriously: "They may not achieve much on their own, but once chaos erupts, Yang Family's World will become unstable. A change of dynasty could happen overnight."
Li Jian Cheng stood up to take his leave: "Uncle, I cannot listen to this any longer. I advise you not to speak of it either; if this reaches His Majesty's ears, it would be a grave matter."
Dou Kang grasped Li Jian Cheng's arm: "What is there to fear? It’s just us here; our families share both glory and misfortune."
"The emperor has already killed He Ruobi without hesitation, but what about Gao Shan? He is a meritorious minister from the Sui Dynasty; even the predecessor emperor did not execute him. Now that the emperor has acted against him, public sympathy will wane significantly."
Li Jian Cheng could not argue further and pleaded: "Uncle, we truly cannot discuss this anymore."
Disappointed, Dou Kang released his grip: "You lack ambition. If I were in your position, I would fight for it. If successful, you would establish your lineage; if defeated, at least you wouldn't face death alone."
Li Jian Cheng fled from Dou Residence, unable to comprehend why this old man was so intent on opposing the Sui Dynasty when his mother was a princess and the predecessor emperor had treated him well.
Shaking his head, he made his way to Yu Shiji's residence. As Zhuojun Prefect, he oversaw various officials including prefects, military officers, clerks, and city magistrates under his command. Below the Deputy Commander was a fifth-rank Vice Deputy Commander as well.
After establishing connections with Dou Kang, it would be best to have the ability to promote or demote them at will. This way, Zhuojun would be completely under his control, eliminating the need to expend effort in scheming against them.
Currently, the most favored individuals in the court by the emperor are Yuwen Shu and Yu Shiji, both wielding immense power. These two are also extremely greedy; one enjoys taking wealthy merchants as sons, while the other sells positions out of fear of his wife. Naturally, resolving matters with money is preferable to relying on personal connections.
In front of the Yu Residence, a young man dressed in splendid attire had been waiting for some time. He was pacing back and forth anxiously. Upon seeing Li Jian Cheng arrive, he hurriedly approached and greeted him with great admiration.
This young man is Xiahou Yan, the son of Yu Shiji, though not by blood—he was a gift that came with his father's marriage.
Xiahou Yan was quite excited: "I have long heard of your esteemed name, Lord. I have yearned to meet you for ages, but due to my own lack of talent and virtue, I dared not seek an audience."
"Brother Xiahou is too modest. Jian Cheng has always believed in forming friendships based on affinity. The moment I laid eyes on you, I felt as if we were old friends. It is a pity that I must soon depart for my post and cannot share a few drinks with you; what a regret!"
Xiahou Yan's excitement surged: "To hear such words from you, Lord, I would gladly die at this moment without any regrets."
Li Jian Cheng was quite taken aback; it seemed he was not merely being polite. He quickly replied, "Oh, why do you say that?"
Xiahou Yan clearly had a lot on his mind but felt it inappropriate to express it here. He suppressed his feelings and said, "Please forgive me for my rudeness; let us enter the residence first."
…
(End of Chapter)
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