Chapter 1 Back to Danyang

Leaving the Di River and passing through Thunderclap Cliff, Ye Tao didn't linger on the road. However, the long journey still took him more than twenty days to return to Danyang.

On the third day after he set off from Thunderclap Cliff, the war report of the Benlang Plains annihilation battle caught up with him. As he expected, although arduous, Dai Yun had led the allied forces to victory. He learned that one of the reasons the Kerka tribal alliance had stalled was that some tribes wanted to divide the Benlang Plains first, while others preferred to raid south and then return to the northern grasslands, not even wanting the seemingly conquered Benlang Plains. These differing opinions left the Kerka tribes exhausted from mediation. Just the day before, they had reached an agreement to continue south and held a large banquet at the Kerka tribe's camp. Upon receiving this news, Dai Yun didn't even wait for the other four troops to attack simultaneously. He launched a night raid on the Kerka tribe's main camp. Although the Kerka tribe's scouts didn't allow Dai Yun's forces to reach the camp gates unnoticed, the short forty *li* warning time was insufficient for the tens of thousands of Kerka troops. With preparation against unpreparedness, organization against disorganization, and attacking at night when the Kerka couldn't leverage their numerical advantage, the results were quite gratifying. While the other four armies attacking separately had mixed results in their battles with the Northern tribal alliance, the defeat of the Kerka tribe and their pursuit northward was a significant victory. Dai Yun deliberately allowed teams of "breakthrough" messengers to escape, letting them seek help from other Northern tribal alliance members stationed elsewhere. Faced with attacks themselves, these messengers might cause those tribes to collapse even faster. By the time the war report reached Ye Tao, Dai Yun had annihilated 110,000 enemies at the cost of 44,000 casualties on their side, capturing over a hundred tribal leaders and important figures, completely driving the Northern tribes out of the Benlang Plains. The Blood Kirin Army and the Iron Cloud Riders led the charge, along with elite cavalry from the Yunzhou tribal alliance, in a rolling pursuit. Dai Yun made it clear in the war report that for the Blood Kirin Army, achievements were no longer the issue. Allowing them to continue fighting was primarily to give the Blood Kirin cavalry more combat experience, especially in grassland warfare and continuous operations.

The casualties suffered by the Blood Kirin Army were not small, with over 1,700 casualties reported. However, the Blood Kirin Army, having demonstrated their power and boosted their morale, were full of fighting spirit and confidence. Having undergone the test of brutal battles and emerged victorious, they had even more of the aura of the world's strongest army.

On the day he returned to Danyang, Ye Tao was surprised to find people waiting to greet him ten *li* outside the city. As a governor-general, he could enjoy such treatment upon returning from an expedition. However, in reality, his position as governor-general in Yunzhou had already been revoked. The successor to the Canal Governor-General was none other than Prince Tan Weiming of Dongping. After all, there were now too many scions of influential families serving in the Canal Governor-General's office. Tan Weiming certainly lacked direct experience in managing a local government, but he was, after all, the Prince of Dongping, the future ruler of Dongping. He could keep these scions in check, and taking over the organizational structure that Ye Tao had already established was a good experience for his local government internship. The king's arrangement was likely more focused on those young people in the Canal Governor-General's office who were gradually demonstrating their abilities in various fields, giving Tan Weiming the opportunity to interact and communicate with them to prepare for his own future governing team. Undoubtedly, compared to Ye Tao, who reluctantly accepted the governor-general appointment, this current "governor-general" was much more serious about his work, and the support he received from all sides was also much more resolute.

However, with Ye Tao's departure, Suo Zheng returned to the Blood Kirin Army, Military Supervisor Lu Dan also wanted to follow Ye Tao to his next position, and Feng Zi had only taken a position in the Governor-General's office out of respect for Ye Tao. Tan Weiming actually had to reorganize the entire Governor-General's office. As for disbanding the personal guard after Ye Tao's departure, no one mentioned such a thing, because Ye Tao's next position might not be as governor-general, but it would at least be at the same level as a second-rank governor-general. Given Ye Tao's temperament and abilities, this appointment would certainly not be a civil servant position in the central government. It would be more convenient to keep the guard.

The fact that Tan Weiran also appeared in the crowd welcoming Ye Tao surprised many interested parties. He was, after all, a prince, but Tan Weiran's attitude was very calm. He only said that he was welcoming Ye Tao in a personal capacity, not representing the royal family. Nevertheless, everyone noted the Tan family's high regard for Ye Tao.

Although unprepared for such a welcome, Ye Tao greeted everyone, received the document from the Ministry of Personnel requiring him to report for duty within ten days, and slowly entered Danyang with the group. In the carriage, Ye Tao handed Tan Weiran a neatly bound plan that was over three inches thick, asking him to pass it on to Tan Xiaopei. Ye Tao particularly emphasized the importance and confidentiality of this document. Delivering this document through Tan Weiran was safer than sending it to the king directly using his current authority of direct confidential reports. After all, although no one was authorized to view confidential reports, there would still be a record of the submission time. By going through Tan Weiran, even that trace would be eliminated. Tan Weiran only glanced at the thick plan before becoming captivated by its contents.

"Brother-in-law, you and my sister agreed on this, right?" Tan Weiran said with a smile, "My sister is being urged by Father to come up with a plan for the Dongping Central Document Bureau. She's also asked me several times for ideas on how to separate the Inner Affairs Guards from the Inner Court and establish an independent intelligence agency. My sister has come up with a plan for the organization of an intelligence agency, but she's unwilling to offer ideas on how to actually operate it. With this thing of yours, the intelligence agency will probably be much more interesting when it opens."

Ye Tao raised his eyebrows and said innocently, "This was just a sudden idea that I had. I gradually envisioned and perfected it. There are still many shortcomings before it can actually be implemented. Moreover, there are many preparations to be made before that intelligence agency can be established. It's not that simple. But the line we have buried in Xiling needs to be followed up on in a timely manner."

Tan Weiran nodded and said, "Father is still worried about who should manage the intelligence agency. It seems like you're very suitable, brother-in-law. To be able to come up with such a... such a detailed plan, I don't think there's anyone like that in the Inner Affairs Guard. Zeng Man's methods and the current manager's methods are really... really uninspired."

Ye Tao said nervously, "Please don't, I don't want to manage any intelligence agency. I'm happy to offer ideas, can't you let me relax for a while? Your sister wrote to me saying that the Document Bureau still needs many new tools for confidentiality, document filing, and management. Wouldn't it be better for me to help your sister finish that first?"

Tan Weiran said dismissively, "My sister might not really manage this for long. Why are you all so lazy? Many of the Dai family's industries in Yunzhou need to be transferred from their private ownership to government ownership, or sold off to trustworthy merchants. To avoid suspicion, the Dai family has to give up a lot of privileges, but how to transfer these industries is a big problem. If it's not handled well, it will become the Dongping government seizing the Dai family's assets. Father and the Dai family's elders want the Dongping Inner Court to acquire them at a suitable price and manage them. The valuation in between, and how to make these businesses that we're completely unfamiliar with, is a headache. Moreover, the Dai family's assets are huge, and how to pay for them is another problem. Although the Inner Court is now wealthy, it... can't afford a state, right? Almost the entire Yunzhou is the Dai family's private property. Father hopes that my sister can take on this matter. As for the Central Document Bureau, it seems that they're preparing to let Huang Situ continue to prepare it, and they're preparing to let your senior brother solve those technical problems. As for you, don't waste your talents on small things."

Ye Tao said with a wry smile, "What do you mean by wasting my talents on small things? I only have so much ability."

Tan Weiran chuckled and said, "What do you mean by so much ability? Father greatly admires your terms regarding the Yunzhou tribes. However, it has caused a lot of controversy in the court, and recently, everyone has been busy preparing for the Yunzhou handover. They need to select the first batch of officials to enter Yunzhou, send troops to take over Yunzhou's defense, prepare a large amount of funds to dismiss or reorganize the original city defense forces in Yunzhou, and even prepare a large number of gifts to befriend the local gentry and wealthy households in Yunzhou and understand the local situation... Although the Dai family has been helping with all their strength, there are really a lot of things to do. Even I've been dispatched until my feet don't touch the ground."

Ye Tao teased, "You're busy, but haven't you found a good marriage?"

Because both the Dongping royal family and the Dai family needed to further deepen their relationship, they readily agreed to the marriage between Dai Xi, the youngest daughter of Dai Shiheng, the current supreme military commander of the Dai family, and Tan Weiran. The ages of the two were similar. The Dai family's elders were extremely satisfied with Tan Weiran's demeanor, and the Dongping royal family has always valued family and kinship. It's almost impossible for brothers to fight for the throne, so the Dai family is very relieved about this aspect of security. Although Dai Xi is not like Dai Yun, who can almost be considered a traveler and explorer of this era, she is not an ordinary lady from a wealthy family hidden in her boudoir. Dai Xi's maternal grandmother was also a very famous flower of the grasslands from the Shuobei tribe in those years. Although her mother was only relatively pretty, it seemed that the traits were passed down to Dai Xi, who surpassed her predecessors. With Dai Xi's identity and the Dai family's power, naturally no one would dare to fabricate the title of the number one beauty in Yunzhou. However, Dai Xi's appearance made Tan Weiran, who thought he had seen a lot in this regard, somewhat lost when he first saw her. Dai Xi had also spent a lot of time bouncing around on the grasslands since she was a child, and her personality was straightforward and lively. What was even more amazing was that Dai Xi seemed to have a different temperament with each change of attire. When wearing a long skirt, she was a lady. When she changed into hunting clothes and rode a horse, she naturally became heroic. When she wore the clothes of a grassland girl, she showed a natural and enthusiastic nature. When she put on the spare armor that Dai Yun had left in Danyang, the faint smile on the corner of her mouth and the confident light in her eyes would immediately remind people that Dai Xi's father was the current military commander of Yunzhou, and Dai Xi was the descendant of a military family...

Naturally, Tan Weiran was more than satisfied with such a fiancée. Recently, he had been finding various opportunities to deepen his relationship with his fiancée. And Dai Xi was obviously quite satisfied with him as well.

Tan Weiran raised his eyebrows triumphantly, then sighed and lowered his voice, "However, Military Supervisor Dai is a problem... I remember Military Supervisor Dai should be twenty-two or twenty-three years old, right? It is said that no one in Yunzhou dares to marry her. The Dai family now wants to arrange a marriage for Dai Yun, but Military Supervisor Dai's identity and experience are there, and those of suitable age and identity are already married. Military Supervisor Dai can't be a concubine, can she? Gao Zhuo is of suitable age, but the Dai family doesn't like Gao Zhuo's ways. The matchmaker was rejected when she suggested it, and this word was passed to Commander Gao. Now, it is said that the Dai family and Commander Gao are a little stiff. Now... Military Supervisor Dai's lifelong matter..."

After all, it involved a good friend and an old acquaintance, Ye Tao frowned. Perhaps because he was used to seeing women who didn't get married until their thirties or even forties, Ye Tao wasn't that sensitive to Dai Yun's age. Now that Tan Weiran said so, he realized that the problem seemed a little serious. He casually asked, "So what do you say now?"

Tan Weiran said helplessly, "She can't be a concubine, but she can be a imperial concubine."

Ye Tao said in surprise, "His Majesty was reluctant to marry Consort Lian at the beginning. Now he is willing to marry Dai Yun?"

Tan Weiran coughed and said awkwardly, "Not Father, but older brother. Although the age is not suitable, the identity is suitable... However, the ministers in the court are even less likely to support this suggestion. If the two of us brothers marry two women from the Dai family, this situation... you know how everyone will imagine it."

Ye Tao shrugged. This situation was naturally clear. Everyone would imagine that the Dai family had peacefully evolved Dongping with the help of two women. This association was really terrible.

Their conversation in the carriage continued. Suddenly, the carriage lightly jumped when it hit a stone, and the document from the Ministry of Personnel that Ye Tao had placed on the side of the shelf slid down. Tan Weiran saw this document, smiled wickedly, and said, "Brother-in-law, the duty report to the Ministry of Personnel is likely to be moved by Father to the imperial presence, and he will also ask about the Yunzhou tribal policy. I will remind you in advance. If there is anything you need to prepare, then prepare it first. Originally, according to Father's intention, you were going to be allowed to choose one of several positions this time you came back. One is the Director of the Ordnance Department of the Ministry of Industry, plus the title of Minister of the Ministry of Industry, one is the Deputy Military Supervisor of the Military Reviewing Office after the restructuring of the Two Armies Inspection Office, and one is the Liangzhou Governor-General, which you would probably like very much, so you can return to Yicheng and transfer Peng Detian to Yunzhou to act as an administrator... But now..." Tan Weiran waved the thick plan in his hand and said, "I guess you don't have much of a choice. Those positions are all third rank. At least the Director of the Intelligence Agency is expected to be second rank, which is a compensation for you in terms of rank. Although I know you don't want to, but... who made you so talented in this area?"