GBP Chapter 639 "Colluding with Each Other"
Chapter 639 "Colluding with Each Other"
"You want Shandong and Guangdong?" Wen Tiren glared at Liu Ye. "What kind of plan is this, using the military to govern the people?"
"Well, to put it simply, it's military control. I have to call the shots in the Dengzhou-Laizhou region and Qiongzhou, and the local governments have to listen to me."
Wen Tiren was silent for a moment before replying, "Under the vast heaven, all land belongs to the emperor; on the shores of the earth, all people are subjects of the emperor. The entire world belongs to His Majesty. Do you know what your request means?"
Liu Ye said calmly, "I know, it's become a lawless place under the rule of the Ming Dynasty."
"Since you know this, why did you still do such a rebellious thing?" Wen Tiren said with exasperation, "You are skilled at making money and training troops. At such a young age, you are already a general guarding a region, holding the rank of Right Vice-General. You are also the only military officer in this dynasty to be granted a title. Your future is limitless. Making such an unreasonable request, whether you can do it or not, is tantamount to ruining your future..."
"Future prospects, heh..." Liu Ye chuckled softly. "Grand Secretary, even if I fawn over the Emperor, what can he give me? A few dozen bushels of rice a month, or a title that I can only look at but not eat? Now that we are alone, let me be bold and ask a blunt question: how many more years do you think the Ming Dynasty will last?"
Wen Tiren was struck dumb, as if by lightning. Liu Ye's words were like daggers, beyond arrogant; they were downright treasonous.
He was stunned for a long time, then pointed at the other person with a trembling finger and said, "The current emperor is wise and devoted to the affairs of the country, and there are many upright officials in the court..."
"Don't try to fool me with those high-sounding words," Liu Ye interrupted him. "I don't deny that the emperor is diligent and hardworking, but governing the country isn't something that can be achieved through mere diligence. Anyone with eyes can see that since his ascension, he has faced internal and external troubles, and the situation is deteriorating day by day. As for the so-called 'all officials are in the court,' others may not know what's going on, but don't you, Grand Secretary, know? This is nothing but the Donglin Party trying to glorify themselves. According to rumors, you, Grand Secretary, are a lone minister fighting against the Donglin Party..."
Upon hearing this, Wen Tiren was speechless.
From entering the cabinet as a Grand Secretary to ascending to the throne of Grand Secretary, Wen Tiren remained steadfast for years amidst the rapid turnover of cabinet ministers. His success wasn't based on talent, but rather on his ability to restrain the Donglin Party through his cunning and manipulative tactics—a strategy tacitly approved by Emperor Chongzhen. No emperor could tolerate factionalism and control of the court by his ministers.
Liu Ye said leisurely, "We've digressed a bit. Let's get back to the main point. The reason I want to completely control Qiongzhou and even Guangdong and Guangxi, and get rid of all constraints, is because this is where I rose to power. Moreover, it's a very safe place, free from the harassment of bandits and Tartars. I rely on this place for making money, training troops, and cultivating land; its importance is self-evident. As for Shandong, its location is very delicate. To the west, it can contain the bandits, and to the east, it can cross the sea to restrain the Tartars. With the current strength of the Qiongzhou navy, a two-pronged approach is enough to influence the overall situation. Does this make sense to you, Your Excellency?"
Wen Tiren remained silent for a long time before speaking with difficulty: "Now that it's just the two of us in the study, tell me the truth: do you want to emulate Emperor Taizu of Song and stage a coup at Chenqiao Mutiny, where you were forced to wear the yellow robe?"
Liu Ye replied slyly, "That was said by the Grand Secretary, I don't acknowledge it. Besides, Qionghai Town is currently just a prefecture with only a little over ten thousand soldiers. They wouldn't dare to harbor any disloyal intentions. Moreover, the Ming Dynasty has vast territory, and even a broken ship has three pounds of nails. It's not comparable to the Later Zhou Dynasty, which only has a few provinces..."
These words, seemingly a show of loyalty, were actually quite clear, and the shrewd Wen Tiren understood them immediately. Liu Ye's true meaning was: "Right now, my territory is insufficient, my troops are too few, and I cannot control such a vast area as the Ming Dynasty for the time being." Combining this with the preceding words, Wen Tiren understood Liu Ye's overall intention: to turn Guangdong and Guangxi into his main rear base, then occupy Shandong, using its unique geographical advantages to influence the national situation. Once he had trained enough troops, the initiative would be in his own hands, and he could then decide whether to follow the path of Zhao Kuangyin or Cao Cao, depending on the specific circumstances.
Wen Tiren never expected that his attempt to find this "ally" to understand the ins and outs of his trip to the capital would lead to such a wealth of information. He was extremely uncomfortable, wishing he had never heard these words to avoid being caught in a dilemma. However, words spoken are words that cannot be taken back, and he could not pretend he hadn't heard them. He had to make a statement.
Liu Ye, seemingly wanting to further complicate matters, added, "Of course, if the Grand Secretary thinks what I said makes some sense, please put in a good word for me in court so that I can get what I want; if you think these words are treasonous, you can also petition the Emperor and have the Embroidered Uniform Guard arrested..."
Wen Tiren was completely dumbfounded. Either he boarded your pirate ship or they would break off relations. Damn it, this was forcing him to take sides! He was now the Grand Secretary, second only to the Emperor in the Ming Dynasty. Why should he bet on a local general like Wen Tiren? Couldn't he at least assess the situation first?
He was in an extremely difficult situation. In such a short time, it was impossible for him, as the Grand Secretary, to accept an olive branch offered by a Guangdong general; but it would also be extremely unwise to break off relations. Not to mention the large army outside the city that was eyeing him covetously, Liu Ye dared to swagger into the city, and the one or two thousand men he brought were not to be trifled with. When this guy got angry, he even dared to kill the garrison eunuch, and it was said that he had also arrested the Tianjin general and the military commissioner. He was practically lawless. If the Embroidered Uniform Guard dared to touch him, the Northern Garrison Command would probably be razed to the ground.
He sighed deeply: "Zhiwen, you're putting me in a position of disloyalty and injustice! To condone and indulge your actions would be disloyalty; to report you to the Emperor would be injustice..."
Liu Ye seemed to see through his thoughts and said with a smile, "Your Excellency is overthinking things. I am still a subject of the Ming Dynasty, receiving a salary from the court and fighting for it. I am merely discussing the various possibilities for the future with you, Your Excellency, as a way to prepare for the future and open up more paths for myself and Your Excellency. What crime is there in that?"
Wen Tiren thought for a moment. As long as the two of them didn't spread what happened in the study, no third person would know. Although the situation in the Ming Dynasty might not be as perilous as Liu Ye described, having another option seemed like a good thing. Besides, he had been cautious and trembling all the way to the position of Grand Secretary. He didn't know what tomorrow would bring. If he placed all his bets on the emperor, and lost the emperor's favor, he could fall from grace in an instant. This was something he, who was obsessed with power, could not accept.
Having thoroughly considered the pros and cons, Wen Tiren's gaze gradually hardened.
“Your words make sense. So let’s discuss how to control Guangdong and Guangxi and Shandong as you wish…”