The wind remained chaotic in Yanjing that afternoon. Qin Hui followed Wuzhu back to the Fourth Prince's residence. Reaching the backyard, the other attendants tactfully withdrew. However, the two did not enter the house to converse. Instead, upon reaching the open space in the center of the backyard, in front of the rear building, Wanyan Wuzhu suddenly stopped, clutching his riding whip. Without turning around, he directly asked, "Scholar Qin, repeat to me those words you spoke three nights ago."

Qin Hui only paused for a moment before standing respectfully with his hands clasped. He spoke from behind Wuzhu:

"The Taizu's (Emperor Taizu of Jin) might in establishing the nation is the foundation of the Jin's people's hearts and its legitimacy. Grand Marshal Nianhan was removed from the line of succession during Taizu's time in exchange for sole command of the Western Route Army, a fact known to all. Therefore, the Grand Marshal can only be a powerful minister, not aspire to be the ruler. If he shows any inclination to become the ruler, the hearts of the Jin people will be filled with suspicion and fear... This is the first reason."

Perhaps due to his frequent reading of outdated official gazettes, Qin Hui was accustomed to enumerating points when discussing important matters.

"The reason the Grand Marshal was able to stand before Taizu and be hailed as the most meritorious official in establishing the nation was ultimately due to his ability to fight well with the Western Route Army. Unfortunately, the battle of Yaoshan half a year ago shook the army, Lou Shi died in battle, and the Western Route Army was divided in two. Although he temporarily holds command of the Daming Prefecture troops, it is only superficial control, and they are not sincerely loyal. Therefore, his foundation has been damaged... This is the second reason," Qin Hui continued, still standing respectfully. "Having lost substance without the name, the Grand Marshal's power has greatly diminished. At this point, he should have retreated modestly and sought rest... The Grand Marshal himself understands this, otherwise he would not have returned north with the Fourth Prince that day, but..."

"But the Emperor suddenly suffered a stroke. With so much power within reach, the Grand Marshal ultimately could not resist reaching out. His monopolization of power has startled both inside and outside, causing unease. Since the Grand Marshal knows his own internal weakness and knows that people are not convinced, he pretends to be reckless and extravagant, quickly seizing military power and stabilizing the situation to seek stability." Wuzhu suddenly interjected, still without turning around. "So, in the end, the Grand Marshal's side seems to be at its peak, but it is precisely at its weakest, is that what you mean?"

"Yes... Throughout history, there have been many such powerful ministers in the Central Plains dynasties. The principle is always the same; once they reach out, they will experience extreme prosperity followed by decline. But no one can resist reaching out."

"Well said... Once you reach past the line, there is no turning back." Wuzhu sighed to the sky.

"The Fourth Prince is Taizu's own son, different from the Grand Marshal."

"Not much different." Wuzhu came back to his senses and continued, "Let's not talk about that. That day you also said that to remove such a powerful minister, it is necessary to dig out his confidants, just like Lü Bu eliminating Dong Zhuo in the Three Kingdoms... I deeply agree with this principle, but why did you want me to choose Yin Shuke over Wanyan Xiyin?"

Qin Hui knew this was a crucial question and dared not be negligent. He immediately stepped forward, almost touching Wuzhu's back, and answered seriously, "Fourth Prince, I know that the Fourth Prince has a better relationship with Wanyan Xiyin, and you both have great plans to reform the country and ensure the Jin's lasting prosperity... But what needs to be done now is not about comradeship, but about interests; not about the long term, but about the present... Although Xiyin is somewhat dissatisfied with the Grand Marshal's imprisonment of the Emperor's sons, there is no immediate conflict of interest between them. But Yin Shuke is different. He has been eyeing Huo Nü in Yan'an, not because he is dissatisfied with Huo Nü, but because after Lou Shi's death, he wholeheartedly wants his younger brother, Ba Lisu, to control the Western Army and ensure the family's wealth and prosperity, but the Grand Marshal cannot satisfy him!"

"When the Grand Marshal went south to Daming Prefecture, he originally wanted General Yin Shuke to return to Taiyuan to take control of the Western Route Army, but General Yin Shuke refused." Wuzhu sighed again.

"That's because General Yin Shuke is just like General Talan; he is getting old and doesn't want to live a life of hardship anymore... I'm afraid that General Lou Shi's death also somewhat shocked him. In the future, if there are major battles, they will probably start from the Western Route Army's side, but his eldest son died in battle, and his younger children will need his brother's care in the future, so he is particularly concerned about Ba Lisu's affairs."

"Indeed, I saw that he had lost his edge as early as when he was the Yanjing Garrison Commander, only wanting to muddle through in the central government and seek long-term wealth."

"It is precisely to take advantage of his desire for wealth. As long as someone has a desire, he can be used... The Grand Marshal cannot satisfy him, but the Fourth Prince can." Qin Hui quickly persuaded again. "Anyway, it's just empty promises, we can discuss it later."

"We still need to be trustworthy." Wuzhu finally chuckled.

And Qin Hui was completely relieved... This was a promise.

However, at this moment, the pale-faced Wanyan Wuzhu turned around and asked Qin Hui curiously, "Scholar Qin... You say that everyone has desires. Nianhan seeks power and stability, I seek to rebuild the Jin's iron cavalry, Xiyin seeks to unify the Jin's governance, Yin Shuke seeks family wealth, even Ba Lisu is seeking control of the Western Route Army, even Zhao Gou in Cangzhou to the south is seeking to drive us across the Yanshan Mountains to avenge himself, and those people in Five Nations City to the north are seeking to return south, but what are you seeking? Why are you so concerned?"

Qin Hui stood respectfully in silence for a moment, then slowly raised his head, met the other's gaze, and said through gritted teeth, "Fourth Prince, I don't want to walk with my head down anymore. I also want to seek wealth and prosperity here in the Jin!"

Wanyan Wuzhu stared into the other's eyes for a long time, and seeing that the other party did not waver at all, he threw away his riding whip on the spot, placed his hand on the other's shoulder, rubbed it, and then laughed again, "Scholar Qin is capable of being a prime minister... If things are successful, we'll also create a Department of State Affairs. I'll decide, Xiyin will be the Right Prime Minister, and you'll be the Deputy Prime Minister!"

Qin Hui instinctively wanted to thank him, but upon hearing the word "Prime Minister," he was speechless and momentarily dazed.

When he came to his senses, his heart was pounding, and he was about to prostrate himself in gratitude, but he did not expect the other party to turn around and enter the house directly, "Scholar Qin, don't move around these two days, and don't worry about anything else. Just bring your wife here and live in my house!"

Qin Hui could only hastily bow.

The next day, the city of Yanjing was calm and peaceful. That afternoon, the Fourth Prince of the Jin Dynasty, Wanyan Wuzhu, took the initiative to meet Grand Marshal Wanyan Nianhan. Nianhan was about to win over and elevate Wuzhu to suppress others, so he naturally welcomed him warmly.

After they met and sat down, Nianhan heard a proposal from Wuzhu that caught him off guard, causing him to exclaim in astonishment, "Honor the Emperor as the Supreme Emperor and support Anban Bojilie (Wanyan Helici, Wuzhu's nephew, who lost his father early) to ascend the throne?"

"That's right." Wuzhu said solemnly. "The current situation is chaotic and the people are uneasy, all because the Emperor suddenly suffered a stroke and cannot handle affairs... Even you, Grand Marshal, have attracted much criticism for this."

"Who is criticizing?" Nianhan smiled awkwardly and stroked his beard.

"Everyone is criticizing!" Wuzhu still said solemnly. "Not only is the Jin side criticizing, but the Song side is also criticizing. The superiors are criticizing, and the inferiors are criticizing. The Zhao Song Emperor is asking in court whether the Emperor is really suffering from a stroke, which is clear evidence! Not only that, but these days, I have also received letters from my old subordinates in Daming Prefecture and my old friends in Liaodong, asking me for details, asking whether the Emperor really suffered a stroke or was harmed by the Grand Marshal?"

Nianhan sighed faintly, then chuckled, "So, what did the Fourth Prince say?"

"I naturally told the truth..." Wuzhu said slowly. "But so what? When the Emperor suffered a stroke, several of us were there, so of course we know how the accident happened, but only those of us who were there know. Back in Yanjing City, no one in the city dares to believe it! Grand Marshal, I don't believe you don't understand this principle, otherwise why would you later imprison Pu Luhui (Wu Qimai's eldest son) and the others? Isn't it because you are clear in your heart that whether you do it or not, you will bear the infamy."

"So, you want me to simply support Helici, that little brat?" Nianhan asked with a smile that was not quite a smile.

"Helici is originally Anban Bojilie, and his succession is legal and reasonable. Moreover, supporting Helici has three benefits for the Grand Marshal." Wuzhu continued to say calmly, as if he had come prepared. "One is that Helici is young, and the Grand Marshal can continue to hold power... We don't need to pretend like the Song people in this matter. The second is that if we support Helici, everyone in the world will know that the Grand Marshal has no intention of usurping the throne, and the people's hearts will be at peace. The last is that if we support Helici, and the Emperor becomes the Supreme Emperor, the Grand Marshal doesn't have to keep imprisoning Pu Luhui and the others... We are all relatives, why should we make such a fuss?"

Nianhan's heart was greatly moved, but he did not show it on his face. He only asked, "Did the Fourth Prince think of this himself?"

"I forcibly detained Scholar Qin at home and forced him to think of a solution." Wanyan Wuzhu did not panic at all.

Nianhan nodded and chuckled, "I was wondering why you brought Scholar Qin and his wife to your house... So that's what you were waiting for!"

"Then..."

"This matter is not urgent." Nianhan waved his hand. "Let me think about it more."

Wuzhu was helpless and could only take his leave.

After Wuzhu left, Nianhan thought it over and over again and felt that it made more and more sense. But at this time, he could not help but be sensitive and suspicious, so he did not sleep well all night. The next day, he summoned Wanyan Xiyin and Wanyan Yin Shuke, his two trusted lieutenants, to ask for their opinions.

Unexpectedly, one of his trusted arms felt that it was somewhat inappropriate, and the other simply opposed it directly.

"Grand Marshal, the Emperor has suffered a stroke, and it is appropriate to support Anban Bojilie to succeed him. The Fourth Prince's words also make sense, but this kind of thing still needs the Emperor's consent... If the Emperor agrees, then it is to protect and support the country. If the Emperor does not agree, it is called acting arbitrarily to abolish and establish, which is inappropriate." Wanyan Xiyin frowned.

"The Emperor is in that state, how can he agree?" Yin Shuke sneered.

"What if it's inappropriate?" Nianhan stopped Yin Shuke and stroked his beard.

"When the new Emperor grows up, he will still have conflicts with the Grand Marshal." Xiyin was completely helpless.

"How can we care so far?" Nianhan finally sighed. "Yin Shuke, what do you think?"

Yin Shuke, who had long been impatient, blurted out, "The Fourth Prince has no good intentions..."

"How so?" Nianhan's spirits lifted.

"Helici is, after all, Taizu's direct grandson, and Wuzhu's nephew." Yin Shuke shook his head. "If Helici succeeds to the throne, not to mention the three older princes, even Taizu's other sons, as well as the Meng'an and Mouke everywhere in the Eastern Route Army, will all surround the new Emperor and form a united front, with no more discord. At that time, not only will the Grand Marshal's plan to elevate the Fourth Prince to suppress the others fail, but I am afraid that before Helici grows up, he will turn around and give the Grand Marshal a stroke... At that time, we people can only come over to serve the Grand Marshal with medicine."

"Nonsense!" Nianhan immediately scolded, but then thought about it seriously. "So, you mean it's best to just continue like this?"

"It would be best if the Emperor could lie in bed for ten or eight years!" Yin Shuke, ignoring Xiyin's angry glare, did not hide his own intentions. "Then Helici should also die of illness, and it would be best to directly establish She Yema (Nianhan's eldest son) as Anban Bojilie."

"More and more nonsense..." Nianhan scolded again, but shook his head helplessly. "The key now is that, no matter what, the Fourth Prince and his people are going to put Helici on the throne. He came over yesterday to talk about it, which can be considered as being benevolent and righteous... The Fourth Prince is very capable."

Wanyan Xiyin and Yin Shuke did not speak... Obviously, they also felt that Wanyan Wuzhu was becoming more and more mature.

"Wuzhu told me about this yesterday, and this morning he directly invited his brothers over to the mansion for a gathering, probably to discuss this matter privately and bring his brothers together again." Nianhan explained the current situation a little. "In my opinion, if we really let their brothers make a fuss about this matter, and everyone above and below has an opinion, then we will be in trouble."

Wanyan Xiyin and Yin Shuke still did not speak. After a long while, Xiyin only sighed, "That's true, but I really can't think of a solution. We can only wait and see what Wuzhu's plan is and then respond."

Nianhan was completely helpless and could only let the two of them go back, then became even more suspicious.

But the two had just left the Grand Marshal's mansion when Wuzhu's move arrived directly, and Nianhan hurriedly sent someone to call the two confidants back.

"Go to see Anban Bojilie first?" Xiyin frowned.

"Yes, Wuzhu's idea is to let me see Anban Bojilie with my own eyes and test his abilities and character..." Nianhan also frowned. "This is too much pressure."

"But it's not good not to see him, right?" Xiyin shook his head repeatedly. "If you don't even see him, what does that mean? What will people think?"

"That's right, this Fourth Prince is really powerful, pushing me further and further in." Nianhan said somewhat irritably. "We have to see him."

"If we have to see him..." Yin Shuke suddenly interjected. "Should we let Helici come here, or should the Grand Marshal go to see Helici? What I mean is, after all, we just imprisoned Pu Luhui and the others, so we still have to be careful and must not go to Helici's side in person! We can't go to the Fourth Prince's mansion or anyone else's mansion to see him either!"

"But what does it mean to let Anban Bojilie come to see the Grand Marshal?" Xiyin also said somewhat irritably. "If I were Wuzhu, I would just disagree and make a fuss, to see who has more criticism?"

Nianhan finally spread his hands, about to make a decision.

But at this moment, Yin Shuke suddenly made a suggestion, "How about going to the Department of State Affairs? The Emperor's palace is the most awkward place, we must not go there. Yanjing only has that place that looks decent."

Xiyin's eyes lit up directly. "That's right!"

Nianhan also nodded in sudden realization.

Soon, Yin Shuke frowned again, "But after seeing Helici, what words should we use to send him away?"

Xiyin was furious again.

Nianhan stroked his beard and laughed, "What are you thinking about? Not to mention the matter of abolishing and establishing, I also want to see what Helici is really like... After all, he is Anban Bojilie, the next Emperor."

Yin Shuke finally shut up, while Xiyin hesitated to speak.

In this way, Nianhan also directly sent a reply to Wuzhu's side, agreeing that tomorrow all the Bojilies and Marshals would meet with the underage Anban Bojilie Wanyan Helici at the Department of State Affairs to make a statement together.

After learning that Wuzhu and the others had also dispersed and were silent that day, Nianhan even had the leisure to write a diary at home... This was a method learned from the Song people. According to some Han Chinese staff, Zhao Song's Emperor liked to write diaries. Of course, this diary was not the same as that diary. Nianhan was not so base as to talk about his personal thoughts and feelings in his diary, and he did not have the cultural level to do so because he learned to read late.

In fact, this Grand Marshal only wrote a single line on this page of paper - Xiyin has not been very good lately, he is getting closer to Wuzhu.

Then, he tore it up.