273: Chapter 0273 Unable to Resist Temptation

"You?"

Emperor Hong looked at Crown Prince Li Chenghao, frowned, and said, "Very well. The Crown Prince has a sense of responsibility; My heart is greatly comforted!"

"As the Crown Prince, this is my duty!" Crown Prince Li Chenghao said righteously.

"Crown Prince! Please think twice!"

Minister of Revenue Wang Qirui stood up and said anxiously, "There is no known cure for the plague. The Crown Prince is of noble status; to put yourself in danger is truly inappropriate!"

"Minister Wang, I am bringing my Imperial Father's condolences to the people of the Great Gan. How can I fear death?" Crown Prince Li Chenghao insisted.

Tears welled up in Wang Qirui's eyes. "For the Crown Prince to have such a heart is truly a blessing for the Great Gan! This subject admires you!"

Emperor Hong narrowed his eyes. "Prime Minister Yang, what is your take?"

Prime Minister Yang Gengzhong stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I believe the Crown Prince's inspection tour is slightly inappropriate."

"Prime Minister Yang, what do you mean by that? Are you saying that I am less capable than the ministers present of representing my Imperial Father and the Imperial Family?" Crown Prince Li Chenghao said displeased.

"That is not what this subject meant."

Prime Minister Yang Gengzhong continued, "It is just that the Crown Prince is far too important to the Great Gan. Since the founding of the Great Gan, there have been quite a few plagues."

"However, there has never been a precedent for the Emperor or the Crown Prince to personally go down to provide disaster relief and condolences, because the plague is impossible to guard against. A slight carelessness could throw the world into chaos."

Crown Prince Li Chenghao snorted coldly. "Then, Prime Minister Yang, who do you think can share the burden for my Imperial Father? Could it be that you, the head of the Cabinet, intend to go to Yong Province yourself?"

Prime Minister Yang Gengzhong's gaze swept over the people behind, lingering slightly on Wang Qirui.

Wang Qirui turned pale with fright, his hands clenched and trembling.

Fortunately, Prime Minister Yang Gengzhong did not name him, but instead said, "I recommend the Minister of Personnel, Official Xie Tong."

As soon as these words were spoken, the hall fell into absolute silence!

Many exchanged glances and nodded tacitly...

It had long been rumored that Official Xie Tong was exceptionally talented, a child prodigy, and backed by the powerful Xie Clan; he was a candidate for the next Prime Minister.

It seemed that Prime Minister Yang Gengzhong was impatient to "send away" this junior.

But this move was actually very dangerous.

Once Official Xie Tong returned safely, he would most likely be promoted, and the position of the Junior Grand Secretary of the Cabinet would be within his grasp.

"I think Prime Minister Yang's proposal is excellent. Official Xie Tong is exceptionally talented and still young in the Cabinet; he is much better than us old bones!"

Wang Qirui hurriedly stood up. After all, since Prime Minister Yang Gengzhong had "let him off," he naturally had to return the favor.

As for Official Xie Tong... he was his competitor anyway, so it was a matter of convenience!

Emperor Hong looked at the silent Official Xie Tong and asked expressionlessly, "Official Xie, are you willing to go?"

Official Xie Tong stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and said, "Sharing the burden for Your Majesty is the duty of us subjects; I cannot shirk this responsibility."

"However, there is one thing I do not understand, and I beg Your Majesty to allow me to ask Prime Minister Yang."

Emperor Hong nodded. "Granted. I also wish to know."

Official Xie Tong smiled and immediately looked at Prime Minister Yang Gengzhong.

"Prime Minister Yang, why did you recommend me? Could it be that you also think I am young?"

Prime Minister Yang Gengzhong smiled gently. "As far as I know, Marquis Xie Shang is your cousin by blood, and you have known each other since childhood."

"The Linyuan Marquis Mansion has immense influence in the Northern Territory. With Prince Bai dead, it can be called the number one noble house of the Northern Territory."

"If you go, the Marquis of Linyuan will surely provide full assistance, which will naturally be of great benefit to the disaster relief!"

These words were flawless. The civil and military officials present secretly gave a thumbs up.

It is no wonder you, Prime Minister Yang Gengzhong, are the Prime Minister! Eliminating political rivals, yet you make it sound so reasonable!

Official Xie Tong also looked enlightened. "So that is it. It has indeed been a few years since I have reunited with my brother."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Hong immediately slapped the table. "In that case, Xie Tong, I appoint you as the 'Northern Inspection imperial envoy' to supervise the plague eradication and disaster relief."

"I, Xie Tong, obey the decree!"

After the court session.

Crown Prince Li Chenghao glanced coldly at Prime Minister Yang Gengzhong and left directly.

Prime Minister Yang Gengzhong received a message from Zhao Yunting, telling him to go to the Imperial Study.

Arriving at the study, Emperor Hong was looking at the battle reports from the Northern Territory.

"Lu Sanchuan has taken the remaining 150,000 troops and surrendered to the Zhenbei Army."

"This kid, Lin Xiao, is really not afraid of bursting his stomach in one go."

Prime Minister Yang Gengzhong smiled. "The Zhenbei Army's own strength is no more than 30,000. The rest are a mixed bag, and many are even hostile to each other."

"I imagine it won't be long before the Zhenbei Army itself falls into chaos. By then, Your Majesty can reclaim the military power."

Emperor Hong chuckled. "This Lin Xiao is still too young. Attacking a city is easy; holding it is difficult."

"Does he really think that Prince Bai's order for the White Kings Army to surrender to him before he died was out of good intentions?"

"That was digging a pit for him, waiting for him to jump in. Unfortunately... hot-blooded young people simply cannot resist temptation."

Having said this, Emperor Hong looked up and said, "Prime Minister Yang, tell me, why exactly did you send Official Xie Tong to Yong Province?"

"I know the Crown Prince cannot go, and Minister of Revenue Wang Qirui is the Crown Prince's man, so he cannot go either."

"They do not want to share the burden for Me; they want to find an opportunity to meet with Lin Xiao."

"But Official Xie Tong... is there anything special about him? If we are talking about the relatives of the Marquis of Linyuan, there is more than just Official Xie Tong in the court."

Prime Minister Yang Gengzhong sighed heavily and said solemnly, "Your Majesty, I am seventy-three this year, and lately I have felt increasingly physically exhausted."

"In the Cabinet, only two people have not taken sides with the Crown Prince or the vassal kings: Minister of War Wei Mingzhuang and Official Xie Tong."

"But Minister of War Wei Mingzhuang is too rigid, and because of the matter regarding General Mu Tiexin, he has many misunderstandings about Your Majesty."

"Therefore, the only one who can take over the position of Chief Grand Secretary and allow me to retire with peace of mind is Official Xie Tong!"

Emperor Hong nodded, a hint of emotion in his eyes. "You want to give him a push so he can become the Junior Grand Secretary of the Cabinet as soon as possible?"

"Correct. If one wishes to share the burden for Your Majesty, one must be willing to go through Blade Mountain and seas of fire!"

Prime Minister Yang Gengzhong said, "Once Official Xie Tong returns, I am willing to strongly support him for the position of Junior Grand Secretary in court. I hope Your Majesty will grant it then!"

"You have a good heart. As long as Official Xie Tong handles the task well, I agree."

"Thank you for your imperial grace!"

Three days later.

Yong Province City.

As the 150,000 troops of the White Kings Army returned to Yong Province, a full 200,000 troops of the Zhenbei Army had gathered in Yong Province.

This did not even include the tens of thousands of Border Army and Militia stationed at the northern border.

The area around Yong Province City was unprecedentedly "lively."

Lin Xiao ordered that the White Kings Army and the soldiers of the other battalions all camp separately for the time being.

Eat, drink, maintain protective measures, and then treat the wounded and train as usual.

Zhao Yunting, Lu Sanchuan, and the others followed the rules, but the uncertainty of the future still made them quite worried these past few days.

But Lin Xiao did not seem to be in a hurry; instead, he was busy handling the internal affairs of Yong Province and managing the plague.

And... renovating the Bai Princes Mansion.

Since the "Prince Bai" had agreed to the decree of bestowing favors, there was no need for the mansion to exist.

Furthermore, because Prince Bai had been slow to formally marry a wife and appoint an heir, the mansion was directly taken over by Lin Xiao and converted into the "Generals Mansion."

Early in the morning, braving the cold wind, Lin Xiao was pacing back and forth at the entrance of the mansion.

Mu Wanying accompanied him, her face also full of anticipation.

Not long after, a carriage came down the street and slowly stopped.