"Your Highness, I dare not accept your tutelage. I am but a humble commoner, only interested in tending to medicinal herbs. I beg your Highness's pardon." Xiao Man said indifferently. It wasn't just the Prince of Chu who desired military power; the Crown Prince and the Prince of Qi surely did as well, yet none dared to make the first move.
Nangong Yan rose and bowed deeply to Xiao Man, "This humble prince knows you are a recluse of great wisdom. I beg for your assistance."
Xiao Man quickly stepped forward to help him up, "Your Highness honors me."
However, Nangong Yan steadied himself and did not rise. Xiao Man sighed, "I receive my lord's sustenance, and thus I must be loyal. Though my talents are meager, I dare not fail to do my best. As for tutelage, I cannot claim that. I have a few thoughts that I shall share with Your Highness. How you choose to act is entirely up to your discretion."
"Thank you, sir." Nangong Yan's face lit up with joy. He then stood straight, sat down again, and continued the game of chess.
"Currently, there are only three individuals in the imperial capital who hold military power: His Highness the Prince of Qin, the Grand General, and the Duke of Chen," Xiao Man said as he made his move. "With the Grand General's sudden illness, it is likely that aside from the Prince of Qin, the other princes will covet the military power held by the Grand General."
Nangong Yan nodded in agreement. Indeed, the Shen Du Battalion, which was directly responsible for the capital's security, was under Xiao Zhen's command. To initiate any uprising, one would inevitably have to seize control of the Shen Du Battalion to have a chance of success.
"My advice to Your Highness is not to touch the Shen Du Battalion, especially since you are to marry the Duke of Chen's daughter. You must not show even the slightest hint of coveting the Shen Du Battalion," Xiao Man raised his eyebrows and looked at the Prince of Chu. A prince who did not wish to become emperor was not a good prince, and a prince who could grow to adulthood safely was not to be trifled with.
"This humble prince does not understand."
"Your Highness is blinded by desire." Xiao Man poured a cup of cold tea and placed it before Nangong Yan. "By marrying the Duke of Chen's only daughter, you signify the support of the Duke of Chen's mansion. While the military strength of the Duke of Chen's mansion is not as great as that of the Prince of Qin or the Grand General, it should not be underestimated. Furthermore, Your Highness is already favored by His Majesty, which has drawn envy and hatred. If you were to add the Shen Du Battalion to this, it would not be adding glory but fanning the flames."
Nangong Yan frowned, "Are you suggesting that this humble prince should give up the Shen Du Battalion, which is within his grasp?"
"Within your grasp?" Xiao Man scoffed, "I think not."
Nangong Yan's mind raced. "Please continue, sir."
"The Grand General has always been in good health, yet he has suddenly fallen ill and is unable to attend to his duties. Do you not find this too coincidental?" Xiao Man said gently. "The Crown Prince was placed under house arrest due to the Jiang Zhou affair. As soon as he was released, the Grand General fell ill. The Prince of Qin is currently embroiled in a scandal during his engagement period, and the Prince of Qi is about to marry the Grand Tutor's daughter. Each incident, one by one, seems unconnected, yet there are intricate ties between them."
"Does Sir mean that the Grand General's illness is a trap?" Nangong Yan asked in surprise.
"Your Highness, even if it is not a trap, it is a death sentence for you." Xiao Man said gently. "Currently, the Crown Prince and the Prince of Qin are evenly matched. Your Highness and the Prince of Qi are in a weaker position. The Crown Prince is solely focused on guarding against the Prince of Qin. Your Highness can proceed with caution and secretly strengthen yourself. If, at this moment, Your Highness were to obtain the Shen Du Battalion, it would make both the Prince of Qin and the Crown Prince wary of you, and they might even join forces to deal with you."
Xiao Man paused for a moment. "Does Your Highness believe you could survive a combined attack from the Prince of Qin and the Crown Prince?"
Nangong Yan shook his head. "Individually, this humble prince is no match for either of them, let alone a joint attack. However, to give up such readily available military power makes this humble prince feel regretful."
"Your Highness need not regret it." Xiao Man placed a chess piece. "His Majesty will not allow the Shen Du Battalion to fall into the hands of any prince."
"Why?"
"The Shen Du Battalion is crucial for the security of the imperial city and will only be entrusted to someone His Majesty trusts. If the Grand General is ill and the military power needs to be transferred, it will undoubtedly be to someone unrelated to factional disputes and highly trusted by His Majesty. Yet, His Majesty has not made a decision for so long. Your Highness, what do you think is the reason?"
"Is my father trying to test us?"
Xiao Man looked at Nangong Yan with admiration. "At this time, whoever jumps out first will be the chicken His Majesty uses to demonstrate his power."
"This humble prince understands. However, this humble prince is in a weak position. Even after marrying the Duke of Chen's daughter, I cannot compare to my other brothers. Does Sir have any good advice?"
"Your Highness, you currently have only one enemy." Xiao Man spoke at a measured pace. "Does Your Highness know who it is?"
Nangong Yan thought carefully. "The Prince of Qin?"
"No, the Prince of Qin is temporarily an ally." Xiao Man placed the final chess piece. "Your Highness's enemy is the Crown Prince. As long as the Crown Prince remains the Crown Prince, none of you will have a chance. And the enemy of an enemy is a friend."
Nangong Yan looked at the chessboard. Unknowingly, he had reached a dead end. He had lost this game.
"Does Sir mean that this humble prince should unite with the Fourth Prince and the Thirteenth Prince to deal with the Crown Prince?" Nangong Yan asked Xiao Man with great interest.
"If Your Highness only wishes to remain a carefree prince, then you need do nothing. If Your Highness desires that position, then your greatest enemy is the Crown Prince. Only when the Crown Prince falls will others have a chance, isn't that so?" Xiao Man picked up his tea and drank, observing Nangong Yan from the corner of his eye.
Nangong Yan pondered for a moment. "The Fourth Prince and the Thirteenth Prince may not be willing to cooperate with this humble prince?"
"The Prince of Qin is powerful, and the Crown Prince can no longer tolerate him. With his own strength, he might be able to bring down the Crown Prince, but it would be at a great cost. In dealing with the Crown Prince, he will certainly cooperate with Your Highness."
"The Thirteenth Prince is dissolute and unrestrained, and even attends court sporadically. I fear he is more of a hindrance than a help." Nangong Yan could not help but look down on the Prince of Qi, given the things Nangong Yi did were indeed beneath notice.
"Your Highness, you only see the Prince of Qi's dissolute affairs, but you forget that the Ministry of Revenue is controlled by the Prince of Qi." Xiao Man said slowly. "In the future, whether it is you or the Prince of Qin who wishes to achieve success, you will inevitably have to win him over."
A faint glint flashed in Nangong Yan's eyes. Nangong Yi disliked the court, but the Jin family behind him was said to possess wealth comparable to the nation's. Coupled with his control over the Ministry of Revenue, to achieve success, military power and money were indispensable. He now had military power, but lacked funds.
"There are three prominent merchant families in the imperial capital: the Jin family, the Cen family, and the Shangguan family. Sir, which of these three families do you think can be won over?" Nangong Yan asked gently.
"I heard that Your Highness spent ten years in Jiangnan, and the Shangguan family's foundation is also in Jiangnan." Xiao Man refilled Nangong Yan's tea. "Does Your Highness have any dealings with the Shangguan family?"
Nangong Yan lowered his gaze, picked up his teacup, and took a sip. "Not dealings, precisely, but contact."
Xiao Man smiled meaningfully. "Does Your Highness intend to win over the Cen family?"