My wife has a secret

Chapter 58 The Art of the Emperor
"What do you think?"

"I?"

Facing Shen Shuangxu's sudden question, Xu Qing's expression was somewhat innocent.

"When I was on my way back, Lotus Lord, who served the Queen Mother, specifically told me that any incidents in Jiangnan, big or small, could be dealt with first and reported later. No matter what rank the person held, or how many troops he commanded, the Xu family could afford to offend him."

Silence fell in the room.

Just a few words can determine the career fate of a provincial governor.

Only then did Xu Qing understand the extent of his aunt's abilities.

"I only pay attention to the White Lotus Sect. I am not interested in other things."

Shen Shuangxu's voice is as clear as a silver bell, like the evening breeze gently blowing across the fine sand. It has a unique texture that is unforgettable.

"I heard that you asked the Lu family of the third branch to contact the Huangling border troops who were heading south to ask for food?"

"Yes."

Xu Qing expected that this matter could not be hidden from Shen Shuangxu's eyes and ears, but he did not expect that the plan he had just implemented today would be discovered and seen through by the other party in advance.

It seems that Shen Shuangxu works for my aunt and has a huge intelligence network under his control.

"The White Lotus Sect stole military equipment and food, and their intentions should be related to rebellion. These things are related to the lifeblood of the soldiers and civilians in the border town. I want to help them relieve the pressure."

The rustling sound of writing behind the desk stopped, and then Shen Shuangxu's clear guttural voice was heard.

"The White Lotus Sect is rampant in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang areas, but the food and fodder prepared for Huangling Pass has not been stolen, and the weapons lost are only in Suzhou, and have not affected the other states."

"what?"

Xu Qing asked suspiciously, "Since the weapons and food are stored in the warehouses of various states, why not transport them to Huangling Pass?"

Xu Qing privately confirmed the map of Da Qi, and the topography on it was almost the same as the country he lived in in his previous life.

Huangling Pass is bordered by hills in the west, a steep ravine in the east, a mountain range in the south, and a long river in the north. It is a strategically located transportation route that is fought over by military strategists, and it is also the only way for the Hu people to move south.

From here to the south, there is a vast plain just a hundred miles away. Who wants to create trouble here?
"The ban on the transportation of food and military equipment is the intention of the palace."

There was a rustling sound, as if Shen Shuangxu got up from the stool and put on a coat.

Not long after, a pair of small and exquisite red and pink embroidered shoes came out. There were no stockings under the shoes, revealing the delicate and white instep.

The owner of the skirt crossed her legs and appeared in Xu Qing's sight.

"To be more precise, it was the Queen Mother and the Little Emperor who meant it."

The expression on Shen Shuangxu's face was no longer cold, and there was a deeper meaning in her beautiful face like that of a fairy.

"The Yang family army has governed Huangling Pass for many generations and has become the uncrowned king of the northwest border. Soldiers and civilians from the border towns only recognize the Yang family's handwritten orders and tiger talismans, and do not obey the imperial edicts issued by the capital."

"The reason why the Queen Mother arranged for you to marry Yang Xianning, the current head of the Yang family, was because she reached an agreement with her to use the marriage between the two families in exchange for the court's active support for the border."

Xu Qing knew that his marriage was not that simple, and his in-law relationships with the girls were becoming clearer.

Apart from the third and fourth wives who were childhood betrothals and concubines that she insisted on taking in, the first wife, Shen, was an outstanding woman carefully selected by her aunt to control the backyard for her. The second wife was more like a political exchange and marriage.

"The Queen originally wanted to keep the other party in Suzhou forever, and use Yang Xianning to control the border troops, or to use this to divide the internal power of the Yang family and let them side with the court. But the people of the Yang family are very smart. At the beginning, they only sent some confidants to attend the banquet and wedding banquet, and there was no substantial contact with the Xu family."

"Is this a power struggle? Is this the way the emperor controls people?"

After hearing this, Xu Qing was shocked and his scalp felt numb.

Things in the imperial court were far more complicated than he had imagined. Even though he had guessed the reason why the Huangling border troops could not get food and fodder, it was most likely because of the imperial court's order.

But the intention behind this is like a trap, one link after another, enough to make a simple-minded person fall into the abyss.

Shen Shuangxu raised his eyes, stared at him, and said in a calm voice: "In recent years, the court has suppressed the supply of military rations and weapons to Huangling Pass in order to force Yang Xianning to come to Jiangnan. Now that it is approaching the new spring and winter, heavy snow will soon fall on the border, and the other party has no other choice."

This is using the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians on the border to put pressure on Yang Xianning. No wonder those border soldiers were so anxious and even ran to the door of Xu's house to beg him.

"Since you have been involved in this storm, you need to understand the pros and cons. If you act rashly, it may affect the Queen's plan and allow the Yang family to keep their grievances... Of course, I have no intention of teaching you how to do things. Whether or not to help Huangling Pass depends on your inner wishes."

When Xu Qing saw Shen Shuangxu handed the decision-making power to him, he realized how heavy the burden of this matter was.

He didn't know how much his aunt doted on him, and what the consequences would be if he disobeyed her.

But Xu Qing has new plans for this matter.

"When people have no way out, they will definitely plan other ways out. Auntie pushed people too hard, which would only create irreconcilable conflicts and be counterproductive... You don't need to intervene in this matter, let me do it, and any responsibility can be pushed onto me."

There are 40,000 border troops stationed at Huangling Pass, but how many people live there?
Suzhou is the most prosperous town in the south of the Yangtze River in Da Qi. Thousands of refugees are gathered outside the city. The situation in other towns can be imagined.

Although Xu Qing doesn't quite understand the ways of emperors and political intrigues, as a time traveler from the previous life, he is very clear about the history of the collapse of the dynasty.

The Dazexiang uprising and the Yellow Turban Rebellion during the Qin and Han dynasties both resulted from officials forcing the people to rebel.

The pressure that Da Qi put on the soldiers and civilians at the border was no different from this.

"Now that you have an idea, just go for it."

Shen Shuangxu said this coldly, then returned to his desk and started correcting various trivial matters.

After Xu Qing disappeared outside the courtyard, Mingzhu pushed the door open and walked in, bowing her head and standing beside her young lady.

"Miss, are you satisfied with the young master's answer?"

Shen Shuangxu placed the case files behind him and replied calmly, "Not bad."

Mingzhu's face showed surprise. "Miss, you didn't like so many talented people in the capital at that time. Even the new champion with brilliant literary talent and unlimited prospects was only rated as average. Is Xu Qing so outstanding?"

"If the people do not fear power, then great power will come; do not be indifferent to where they live, and do not be dissatisfied with where they live."

Shen Shuangxu said calmly: "Xu Qing is different from the two saints in the palace. He can see all kinds of things in the world and sympathize with people's hearts and feelings... This alone makes him a rare superior."

"So the lady handed this matter over to him to handle, just to observe his character?"

　Happy Lantern Festival. Today's festival is a little short and weak, but tomorrow will be a big explosion.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)