The Old General, Bristling with Battle Flags

The ties between the various feudal lords and the Hundred Families were growing weaker, and His Majesty’s actions were aimed at using Bai Dingshan, through the Flower and Bird Envoys, to put pressure on the local feudal lords and prefects.

“In each town, select one hundred beautiful women from good families!”

This sentence flashed through Bai Dingshan’s mind.

Is the new ruler a king who lusts after beauty?

He pondered for three seconds, then shook his head.

He is not.

Every town—this is His Majesty giving the Flower and Bird Envoys the opportunity to monitor the localities, precisely to prevent anyone from perfunctorily treating the monarch and harboring ulterior motives!

Bai Dingshan already had a plan in mind, feeling that he was indeed quick-witted to arrive at such a detailed conclusion.

He even sneered inwardly at the other members of the royal family, especially Wei Yanwu, who was diligent in government affairs, widely recruited talents, and established the status of the Dragon Gate.

His actions would be considered with jealousy by the monarch; managing his Dragon Gate so excellently, did he perhaps want to go a step further?

Going a step further meant…

So that’s what you’re up to, Wei Yanwu!

You speak of business, but your mind is full of schemes.

Bai Dingshan slammed the table hard!

I understand, I understand everything, Your Majesty!

Bai Dingshan stroked his beard, a smile appearing on his face, like a great general sitting in the central command tent, his back covered in flags, directing thousands of troops and horses.

It’s a pity that some people can’t perceive His Majesty’s true intentions in selecting concubines; they’re afraid their true colors will be exposed!

Thus, Bai Dingshan summoned Cang Tingbo again, meticulously breaking down his analysis from beginning to end, and expressing his thoughts.

Cang Tingbo nodded after carefully considering his words.

“You’re right.”

As expected of the most quick-witted person in our Qilin family.

He also felt that the new ruler was putting pressure, not only on the Grand Tutor and Grand Commandant but also on the local feudal lords, the ministers, and those deeply entrenched small factions.

The Grand Commandant is still too inflated, ignoring the danger.

He sighed.

However, it’s understandable that the Grand Commandant is inflated. Of course, he would be inflated; the new ruler’s authority has been sidelined, he is a Grand Commandant of three dynasties, he has military power, and he is a minister entrusted with the late emperor’s charge. Why wouldn’t he be inflated?

I would be inflated too if I were him.

The Grand Tutor is too careless!

Starting with the inscription during the sacrificial ceremony, the new ruler’s subsequent actions were all linked in a series of interconnected schemes. The young man doesn’t abide by the morality of the martial world, preying on the old!

He designed it so that the Grand Tutor and Grand Commandant couldn’t stop him from promoting Bai Dingshan, then used the Grand Tutor’s momentum to replace the Grand Commandant, and further used the merit of suppressing the rebellion to promote trusted ministers and establish a good image as a monarch among the soldiers and Jianghu people.

When he returned to court, he directly granted the privilege of not bowing while bearing a sword, further suppressing and testing the bottom line of the Grand Tutor and Grand Commandant, thereby allowing Bai Dingshan to fully grasp military power and foster a third-party force in the court.

This move is perfect.

The only not-so-good thing is that he doesn’t quite regard their Qilin clan as a Qilin.

But this is both a risk and an opportunity for the Qilin clan. You must know that the Qilin clan was the main force in the court hundreds of years ago, only to have declined now.

Moreover, the new ruler has clearly gained the upper hand in the first round.

The Grand Tutor’s initiative to propose selecting concubines is the most significant signal!

The old man has also seen through the new ruler’s actions, but he understood a little too late, so he immediately came up with a new strategy.

Cang Tingbo even speculated maliciously about the reason for the Grand Commandant’s unfavorable war situation.

He knew the Grand Commandant’s abilities better than anyone else.

The Grand Commandant’s inability to advance in Jiang Qi for several months might have been due to the Grand Tutor’s machinations.

The Grand Tutor is also using the new ruler’s hand to suppress the Grand Commandant.

Now, the situation where only the Grand Commandant is injured has been achieved in the court.

“The new ruler is truly… full of schemes!” Cang Tingbo praised. He looked at Bai Dingshan, “What do you think the new ruler will do next?”

“His Majesty’s arrangement and promotion of me must be in the hope that I will play an important role.”

Bai Dingshan began to think, “The position of Military Observer is destined to attract controversy, as well as attacks from court officials…”

“Suddenly entering a high position will inevitably arouse jealousy.

My recruitment of Jianghu heroes may be impeached, but if His Majesty really wants me to do something, he will maintain a semblance of decency to some extent by demoting me to protect me, and silence public opinion.”

“Yes, that’s what I think too.”

…

The next day, another court session.

The Nine-Room Great Hall

Yesterday, after Yan Shou completed the rewards and bestowals, he thought of Bai Dingshan again.

He didn’t sleep all night!

Yes, demote him, he must be demoted!

It’s all because of his antics, which made his already meager Fatuity Value likely to become negative.

The thought of Bai Dingshan bypassing him and having Cang Tingbo accompany him to suppress the rebellion, as well as widely issuing hero recruitment notices to Jianghu people, made his teeth itch.

Why are you meddling so much?

He stood up directly, not even shouting the usual slogan of “If there are matters to report, step forward; if not, adjourn the court.”

He waved his long sleeves, turned his back to the crowd, pressed the jade sword at his waist, and then directly called out a name.

“The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Bai Dingshan, suppressed the rebellion in Jiang Qi, and has made great contributions, so he should be rewarded!”

Huh? Another reward? The ministers were silent for a moment, unable to understand, and those who wanted to impeach him also withdrew their steps.

Bai Dingshan, however, felt a jolt.

It’s coming, it’s coming!

He’s definitely going to put pressure on me!

Bai Dingshan closed his eyes, then opened them, his mind clear.

He must show his utmost loyalty.

The old Qilin family is not like the other guys in the court; they still have to rely on the monarch to provide for them.

“Jiang Bohou.”

Bai Dingshan stepped forward with cupped hands, “Your subject is here.”

Yan Shou said, “You have merit, how about I further bestow upon you the title of Great General? As long as you can monitor the four directions for me, I will guarantee your family’s prosperity for generations.”

Bai Dingshan answered tremblingly, “Your Majesty, your subject is already content.”

Yan Shou waved his hand, “It doesn’t matter, how about I further confer upon your Qilin clan a hereditary title with no replacement?”

Bai Dingshan said in fear, “Your Majesty, this Qilin clan…”

Yan Shou laughed loudly, “Why hesitate? Why not quickly thank me?”

Bai Dingshan cupped his hands, knelt down, “Your subject—thanks Your Majesty!”

What else could he not be thankful for? It was too obvious!

He had just called him Jiang Bohou, and now he wanted to bestow the title of General and increase his rank. What was His Majesty trying to do?

Was he trying to raise him up high, only to let him fall to his death?

Of course not.

This was clearly some kind of protection!

Yan Shou suddenly said again, “Although you have made great contributions in suppressing the rebellion, arbitrarily employing Jianghu people is inappropriate.

Since I have appointed you as an Inspector, I intend to change the Meridian Gate to the Xuanwu Gate, leaving the position of gatekeeper vacant.

Jiang Bohou, are you willing to share my burden, sweep the streets, and guard the city gate?”

The stick has finally come down!

For some reason, Bai Dingshan suddenly breathed a sigh of relief.

It’s not dismissal, nor is it being idled, and even less is it the deprivation of military power.

It seems that His Majesty is letting him sweep the streets and guard the gate, but in reality, it’s a disguised form of protection, allowing him to secretly observe.

As long as he performs well, he will be employed again in the future.

Seeing that Yan Shou’s actions were exactly the same as what he had thought about last night, Bai Dingshan smiled more brilliantly than the sun, cupped his hands, knelt down, and prostrated himself three times,

“Your subject, Bai Dingshan, thanks Your Majesty”

For a moment, tears welled up, and genuine emotions were revealed.

Everyone else was dumbfounded.

What is this…

Yan Shou was also dumbfounded.

I’m mocking you, not to mention demoting you and asking you to sweep the floor. Why are you so happy?

If you’re happy, then how can I be happy?

If I had known, I would have dragged you out and cut you a few times in court.

The ministers were still stunned by the previous conversation between King Zhou and Bai Dingshan.

What kind of unbelievable operation was this?

But after hearing King Zhou’s demotion of Bai Dingshan, the censors were first stunned, then gradually reacted.

We haven’t even advised him yet.

But it was too late.

Did I operate in the opposite direction again?

Yan Shou felt that there was nothing wrong with what he did.

One moment his general made meritorious contributions and was ennobled, and the next day he demoted him to sweep the streets.

Was it so excessive, so humiliating that none of the ministers offered any advice?

Are you going to scold me?

Aren’t the censors doing their jobs?

He looked around a few times. Some people wanted to speak but stopped, but no one really stood up.

Yan Shou couldn’t understand, but he was very happy.

Bai Dingshan, you won’t cause any more trouble for me, will you? Next is the selection of concubines.

After all, how can a fatuous ruler indulge in the beauty of the harem without one?

That’s also a problem.

After thinking about it, Yan Shou decided to “humiliate” Bai Dingshan again.

Not only did I demote you, but I also want your Qilin family to marry off your daughter.

That way, you will definitely be dissatisfied, right?

Look, I even specially changed the city gate to the Xuanwu Gate.

Forcing loyal ministers to rebel is also a link that must be tasted among the fatuous rulers of past dynasties.

After thinking about it, Yan Shou opened his mouth:

“Jiang Bohou, I have heard that your Qilin family has a daughter named Lin Qingyan, who is extraordinarily beautiful?”