Chapter 586: Chapter 241 Sedimentation
"Excellent! Very excellent!"
Gazing upon the golden, bountiful wheat ears in the fields, the Saint repeatedly voiced his approval.
As an Emperor, if one could ensure that his subjects were well-fed and clothed, no longer suffering from famine, then he would be deemed a Wise Emperor of a glorious era.
Regrettably, it was He Xi who had produced the high-yield grains, and the Saint felt a tinge of disappointment.
There was no helping it, for He Xi was a chess piece covertly placed by the Saint.
Initially, the Saint wanted to use He Xi to leverage the massive stone that was the Guo family, while seeking an opportunity to break the game.
It wasn’t that the Saint didn’t care for emotions or kindness; it was simply that—
How could one tolerate others snoring beside their couch?
Through the ages, there has not been a single emperor who could endure the military power falling into the hands of others.
His own troops, yet they bore the title of "The X Family Army."
The Daxia Dynasty, was it the Royal Family’s or the Guo family’s?!
This was undeniably the greatest challenge to the imperial power.
The Saint knew that Prince Consort Guo, his brother-in-law, was sufficiently loyal, and he also believed that the Guo family wouldn’t easily rebel.
However, the Saint didn’t want to place the safety of himself and the stability of Jiangshan in the hands of another’s loyalty.
He wanted to hold absolute power, whether it concerned major or minor matters within the court or the border forces thousands of miles away; they should not only recognize Prince Consort Guo but also know who the Emperor was!
The Saint’s plan had started smoothly, and indeed He Xi was a clever man.
The Saint merely hinted subtly, and He Xi understood intuitively, even making connections with Deputy General Ma.
Some plans had already begun to unfold, just waiting for the right time, and great things could be achieved.
However, just when everything was progressing well, unexpected changes occurred frequently.
Firstly, Prince Consort Guo suddenly proposed to resign from his post to recuperate.
The Saint was pleased that Prince Consort Guo was willing to withdraw from the Guo Family Army.
But the Saint also knew that the Guo family wouldn’t easily give up control of a hundred thousand strong army.
Prince Consort Guo’s retreat was merely to reduce the court’s suspicion of the Guo Family Army.
And now, just as the Saint was pondering having Deputy General Ma replace Prince Consort Guo, news came from the border.
The Hulu had raided a certain Border City, and Deputy General Ma was ordered to go to the rescue; in the midst of the battle, he was surprisingly killed by the Hulu’s stray arrows.
The Saint: ...
Even a fool would come to their senses.
Deputy General Ma’s background had been exposed by the Guo family, and his death was both Prince Consort Guo’s revenge and also a warning from the Guo family to the Saint, this Emperor—
Buddy, don’t meddle with the Guo Family Army.
How the Saint hated this deep inside, yet he was unable to voice his suffering.
He not only couldn’t fuss over this matter but also had to restrain his anger and discontent as he promoted Guo Dalang to be the General of Army on the Northwest Road.
Of course, Guo Dalang was no Prince Consort Guo; his prestige within the Guo Family Army could not compare to that of his own father.
If Prince Consort Guo was the Lion King, then Guo Dalang could at most be considered an inexperienced young lion.
For Guo Dalang to completely control the Guo Family Army and pose a threat to imperial power, he still had a long way to go.
Moreover, Guo Dalang was the Saint’s own nephew, and there was a blood relation between them.
Unless in a desperate situation, Guo Dalang would not easily rebel.
Guo Dalang was more worthy of the Saint’s trust than Prince Consort Guo.
This was also one of the reasons the Saint was willing to make concessions.
Although he could not eliminate the Guo Family Army directly, reducing its threat to the imperial power was also beneficial.
The Saint and the Guo family had reached a temporary balance.
But, both the Saint and the Guo family were well aware that this balance would eventually be broken.
The Saint was wary of the Guo Family Army, and the Guo family did not want to end up like fish on the chopping board; a struggle was inevitable between them.
He Xi was just a minor character, but for the Saint, he was a chess piece that could potentially overthrow the Guo family.
If used properly, he would serve great effect.
The result—
Alas, becoming a capable and hard-working official wasn’t too bad either.
Actually, if possible, the Saint did not wish to involve Princess An Kang.
"..." Looking at the bountiful wheat field and then at the elegant young man with muddy feet, the Saint silently sighed in his heart, and completely abandoned the chess piece He Xi.
Though He Xi could no longer be used, the Saint wouldn’t give up on continuing to dismantle the Guo family.
Hence, before long, the Saint supported another small piece.
Like He Xi, this person came from a poor family, but he wasn’t a civil servant; he was a military general.
Years ago, relying entirely on Prince Consort Guo’s patronage and assistance, he gradually rose from a big-headed soldier to become a commanding officer with real power.
This person truly appreciated Prince Consort Guo’s kindness, but he coveted even more the grand promise made by the Saint—to replace the Guo family and become the War God of the Northwest for the Daxia Dynasty!
He Tiantian: ...Hehe, another opportunity to fleece someone.
It must be said, with Student Xiao D’s God’s Eye View, He Tiantian seemed to have activated an additional cheat.