"If I recall correctly, he's already over sixty by now..."
After pondering for a long time, Cai You finally said in a low voice.
"That's right, he should have retired years ago. However, because now, as soon as the court's negotiations with the Jin have made substantial progress, it will be an existential war, so the Emperor has kept him on, not allowing him to retire!"
Since he was going to help Zhong Shidao with his official transfer, Bai Shizhong naturally had to understand him somewhat.
Earlier that day, he had even specifically asked people to retrieve all of Zhong Shidao's official documents and meticulously read them three or four times.
But documents were just documents; no matter how detailed these things were, nothing could be discerned in such a short time...
"What do you think this person helping him with the official transfer is plotting?"
The vast study fell silent. After a long while, Cai You spoke again.
"I just can't figure out why that person is doing this..."
Bai Shizhong also gave a wry smile. He couldn't figure out Yuan Xingchi's intentions at all at the moment.
If this person was Zhong Shidao's man, would he need to get involved in such a matter?
The few paintings he had sent were enough to settle everything.
But if this person was not Zhong Shidao's man, then this matter became even more interesting.
Even if he wanted to find an excuse to approach him, he wouldn't need to play such a trick, would he?
Could it really be as he himself said, that he had once received a favor from Zhong Shidao and wanted to present this as a birthday gift?
"Do you think someone is trying to win over Zhong Shidao?"
As Bai Shizhong was lost in thought, Cai You suddenly said.
"Win him over? He's just a military officer. Even if the Zhong family has some influence, it's only within the Western Army. What's the use of winning him over?"
Bai Shizhong frowned, unable to understand the purpose of winning over Zhong Shidao.
At this moment, although the overall court situation was becoming increasingly volatile, all of this was because there was no strong Prime Minister to suppress the situation.
As a result, the people below were all harboring their own intentions.
But even so, he still couldn't figure out what the use of winning over Zhong Shidao would be.
Shouldn't gathering popular support be something the Emperor does?
Even if some prince... no, thinking of this, Bai Shizhong suddenly froze.
If it were an ordinary prince, of course, it would be useless.
But what about someone of the caliber of the Crown Prince or Prince Yun?
Once they ascended the throne, with Zhong Shidao's prestige in the army, they could immediately help them grasp military power and stabilize the situation.
In the final analysis, holding military power, no matter how much these scholars and officials stirred up trouble, it would only be temporary.
At most, they would just shout a few times. Over time, they would fall apart on their own.
"You mean, a prince has made a move?"
Bai Shizhong swallowed hard with difficulty and then lowered his voice, saying.
"Our Prince Yun has definitely not made a move. Otherwise, he would only need a single command, and there would be no need to find someone to do such a thing!"
First, Prince Yun could be ruled out, as Cai You and the others were currently aligned with Prince Yun.
If he truly needed it, it would be a matter of a single word, and there would be no need to make things so complicated.
Moreover, given Prince Yun's current status, if he were to do this, there would be simpler ways.
He could directly submit a memorial on behalf of Zhong Shidao and plead for favor with the Emperor. With the Emperor's imperial decree, the subsequent matters could be handled much more beautifully.
"Then if it's not Prince Yun, it must be the Crown Prince!"
In Bai Shizhong's view at the moment, the only ones qualified to inherit the throne, besides Prince Yun, were the Crown Prince.
"If it's not the Crown Prince, then it must be Prince Xin!"
Cai You said this with a somber face, and the entire study once again fell into silence.
If this matter was handled by the Crown Prince, then it was very clear; the Crown Prince intended to influence the choice of Prime Minister.
But if this matter was done by Prince Xin, then things would be even more troublesome...
The most crucial problem was that, at this moment, neither of them had any evidence to prove their conjecture.
"But does Prince Xin have this kind of scheming ability?"
After a moment, Bai Shizhong couldn't help himself and asked the biggest doubt in his heart again.
"If it were before, I wouldn't believe that he did this. But haven't you seen that he has quietly taken over two positions of guardianship! I've always felt like a master has suddenly appeared by his side, but I'm not sure who this person is right now..."
Originally, Cai You had also considered whether the person strategizing for him might be Han Mo.
However, as time passed, Cai You himself dismissed this thought.
After all, to complete such a task required not only political insight but, more importantly, the ability to control human nature and the court situation.
No matter how smart or capable Han Mo was, he was just a youth not yet twenty. Was there really someone in this world who knew everything from birth?
But besides him, he really couldn't think of anyone else by Prince Xin's side at this moment!
After the two studied for a long time, the problem returned to its original point, and Bai Shizhong's heart was still filled with fog...
"Let's not worry about who did it for now. The most crucial problem is what we should do... This thing is a death warrant!"
Thinking of the content of that letter, Bai Shizhong felt a headache coming on at the moment.
Even he himself couldn't understand what kind of donkey kicks he had received in his head back then to write such a thing.
"Wang Bo..."
Cai You muttered softly, his slender fingers tapping back and forth on the chessboard, completely lost in thought again.
"How many times has Yu Shen's resignation been submitted..."
After about fifteen minutes, Cai You's eyes suddenly lit up, and he asked in a low voice.
"It's been submitted four times already. I estimate the imperial edict should be issued within these one or two days!"
According to normal procedure, when a Prime Minister resigns, the Emperor would naturally try to retain him, even if it were just for show. He should do it four or five times.
Even those who served for a long time might not be dissuaded after seven or eight attempts.
Although it was a performance, it also represented the Prime Minister's status in the Emperor's heart.
Yu Shen had only been in this position for a short time. The procedure had already gone through four rounds, and Yu Shen's fifth resignation had already been submitted. By rights, the Emperor should approve it within these one or two days at the latest.
"You just focus on your own matters. After Yu Shen resigns, I will immediately arrange for someone to submit a memorial and push you into the position of Minister of Personnel!"
"What if Wang Bo brings this out?"
Bai Shizhong looked at Cai You with some worry.
"Do you think the Imperial City Department is just for show? If he doesn't make a move, so be it. But if he dares to move, then it will be a fight to the death!"
Cai You sneered and then lowered his voice, saying.