But she knew Xie Ji; he wasn't the kind of person who enjoyed acting. Now, however, he seemed to enjoy it. It wasn't hard to guess that he had new advisors helping him devise strategies.
"It seems there are quite a few people around me with their own agendas." Xie Lanzhi chose a seat and sat down, not touching any of the fruits on the table.
Yelü Lili put down his pipe: "This is an internal matter of the Northern Region. I'm sorry to have dragged you into it."
Xie Lanzhi said, "If you can't guarantee that you'll have the final say, then I'll withdraw."
Yelü Lili assured him, "Yes, but you'll have to wait a month."
"Ten days," Xie Lanzhi said. "The initiative is in my hands, not yours."
Yelü Lili considered it for a moment, and finally nodded.
Soon after, the authorities began arresting Hu people, especially merchants, who were all arrested and imprisoned. Then, those who smoked Fushou cakes were arrested and forced to quit.
Cut off the commercial chain of Fushou Gao (a type of rice cake), and focus on cracking down on the internal aristocracy.
The cleanup campaign lasted for eight whole days before the effects of the longevity cake were completely eradicated. Meanwhile, Xieji received cattle and sheep from the various powerful tribes as compensation.
In addition, a Hun merchant was released on bail with a large sum of money.
Xie Ji couldn't figure it out. He couldn't understand why he should accept money to protect the Hun merchants, since the Hun merchants were now a notorious and universally hated group.
He asked his advisor Xie Xiu what to do.
Xie Xiu said, "General, although you have enough food, you don't have enough money. If you want to build your own power, you have to start from this aspect."
A general was permitted to maintain a private army, ranging from a thousand to ten thousand. However, they had to pay for it themselves, and the number they could maintain was limited. The Xie family's effective control over funds prevented anyone from maintaining a private army that exceeded their authority. Due to the Xie family's financial monopoly, many generals rarely recruited more than a thousand soldiers.
Xie Ji now considers himself a Grand General, and logically, he shouldn't be inferior to Xie Guang. If Xie Guang can have a thousand private soldiers, why can't he have two or three thousand?
He asked, "Can it really be like that?"
Xie Xiu said, "The clan's rules seem to be based on admiring the strong and bowing down to them. If you can completely crush Xie Guang, will anyone still be dissatisfied?"
Xie Ji's eyes flashed, and he felt that his advisor had hit the nail on the head.
He nodded immediately: "We'll do it your way. And what's the merchant's name?"
Xie Xiu said, "Anshan. A merchant from Anshan is the son-in-law of a foreign vassal. That's why he's being paid a large sum of money to protect him."
Later, the merchant named Anshan redeemed himself for 10,000 taels of silver and was secretly transferred out by Xie Bing and sent out of the Red River.
Yelü Lili's men discovered this and reported it to him.
He immediately informed Xie Lanzhi.
After several days of investigation, Xie Lanzhi realized that Xie Ji's troops had indeed done a good job of adapting to local customs. However, everything has two sides, and human nature's greed for power and money is always ever-present.
Yelü Lili put down his pipe and drove away the palace maids. After the maids who were watching him obediently left, he was dismissed.
He said, "The Marshal probably didn't expect that after just a short absence, without your deterrent presence, some people have become complacent."
Xie Lanzhi replied, "What good would it do you to withdraw Xie Ji? Someone else might not be as clever as him."
Yelü Lili asked her, "Then can you tell me why you chose him? It was simply to nurture his ambition."
“It’s simple, because he listens. Even if he develops ambitions.” Xie Lanzhi was not afraid of this at all. It wasn’t because she was arrogant and didn’t take precautions, but because she knew Xie Ji very well.
Xie Ji's eyes are only on Xie Guang. He wants everything that Xie Guang has. Everyone has a competitive spirit, but she won't suppress him just to undermine him.
Yelü Lili hadn't expected her to be so generous. Unlike the lords she had met before, who would monitor and be wary of anyone under their command who tried to overstep their authority, had ambitions, or even wield significant power.
He is an example of someone who was suppressed by his father, the Khan.
"Can you tell me why you trust Xie Ji so much?"
Xie Lanzhi smiled faintly, not giving a direct answer: "That's for Your Highness to guess. As for the matter of the longevity cake, I hope it won't come back. Otherwise, I don't know what I might do that would cause losses to both countries."
"Don't worry, I know very well that once you get infected with this stuff, it's very difficult to get rid of it, and no one can stay out of it," Yelü Lili assured him. "I also have to think about my people."
Xie Lanzhi said, "And didn't you just have something to tell me?"
Yelü Lili almost forgot.
He raised his finger to his forehead, clearing his head from the herbal medicine, before saying, "We captured a merchant here who was wearing a wolf-patterned ornament, which is only possessed by the royal family of the Hu and Xiongnu."
"What was the merchant's name?"
"Anshan."
When Xie Lanzhi heard the familiar name, her fingertips twitched slightly.
It's him again?!
A note from the author:
Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 11:27:59 and 18:40:38 on December 31, 2021!
Thank you to the little angel who watered the nutrient solution: 51838864 (1 bottle);
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
Chapter 112 Xie Lanzhi's Attitude
Xie Ji filled three boxes with the 20,000 taels he had amassed and carried them to the main account. He even personally opened them and placed them in front of Xie Lanzhi.
Looking at the rectangular silver ingots, Xie Lanzhi sat on the wooden couch. She raised her cup and asked Xie Shangguang to pour more water. Xie Shangguang silently poured half a cup, but she didn't drink any more and put it on the table.
Instead, Xie Lanzhi took a new teacup and had Xie Shangguang fill it to the brim. She then got up and handed it to Xie Ji.
Xie Ji happily took the water glass and drank it all in one gulp without thinking.
"Marshal, these were all plundered from those who curry favor with the Hun merchants," Xie Ji said. "Please accept them, Marshal."
"What use do I have for these?" Xie Lanzhi closed one of the open boxes, withdrew her hand, turned her back, and said, "Take them back. Use them however you want."
Xie Ji was utterly shocked. Why didn't the Marshal want the money? Back in Tianjing, she had been swindling money from all the Xie family officials, even profiting from the palace's fruit and vegetable business. Didn't all of that show she was short of cash?
Could it be that they think money is...dirty? Thinking this, Xie Ji's face immediately darkened. Xie Shangguang felt a pang of pity; the feeling of offering a warm welcome only to be met with a cold shoulder was indeed unpleasant.
But he knew that the marshal hated Xiaoyao Pills the most, and now that his fifth uncle was offering this dirty money as tribute, it was really inappropriate.
"Marshal. It's me." Xie Ji tried again to explain and ask her to accept it.
Xie Lanzhi interrupted him: "Do I need to repeat myself a second time? Take the silver back."
Xie Ji dared not disobey, and could only silently lower his head: "Yes!"
He had his guards take the three large boxes back to his quarters, and then waited in the main tent before Xie Lanzhi sent him away.
Xie Ji returned to the military camp looking dejected.
Xie Shangguang and Xie Ying silently stayed by Xie Lanzhi's side. After she finished reading the military documents, she first asked Xie Ying, "Has your fifth uncle always been like this?"
Xie Shangguang was full of doubt. Why was the marshal asking about Gou Ying this time?
Xie Ying clasped her hands in a salute before saying, "Fifth Uncle is always suspicious, but he would never be like this in front of the Marshal."
He drank the cup of water the marshal offered without hesitation. Even though subordinates dared not doubt what their commander ordered them to do, they would rush to do it even if it meant chewing charcoal.
But Xie Ji was, after all, a great general, so it was a bit unreasonable for him to show no doubt whatsoever.
Xie Shangguang finally understood the marshal's meaning. She meant that even her fifth uncle didn't doubt the water's safety. Wasn't that a good thing, considering his unwavering loyalty to her?
Xie Lanzhi did not show much expression in response.
She said, "Shang Guang, send all the official documents to Xie Ji. From now on, you don't need to send them to me anymore."
Is the marshal relinquishing control?
Xie Shangguang didn't dare to ask any more questions. He walked to the table piled with official documents, bent down and scooped them into his arms, then carried the stack of documents to the General's main account.
He delivered the document and left quickly.
In the general's main tent, Xie Ji sat at the official desk, looking at the piles of documents with an uncertain expression.
However, Xie Xiu, the advisor beside him, said, "General, it would be better to deal with today's official documents."
Xie Ji felt as if he had found his pillar of support, and he hurriedly asked his staff, "Tell me, what does the Marshal mean by this? Is she blaming me?"
"You don't need to worry. The Marshal has delegated authority to the General because she trusts him." To reassure the General he was serving, Xie Xiu specifically asked, "Also, please tell your subordinates everything about your visit to the Marshal's tent."
"Sir, it's like this." Xie Ji told Xie Xiu everything. He wasn't without suspicions, but the marshal didn't show any intention to target her.
Judging from her past actions, she would usually set traps to eliminate anyone who opposed her or defied her. But with Xie Shi, anyone who dared to disobey or betray her would be met with her direct attack. She wouldn't even give them a chance to explain.
The Marshal always acted swiftly and decisively when dealing with the Xie family.
After hearing this, Xie Xiu quickly advised, "Then General, there's no need to worry. The Marshal didn't blame you; she really wasn't interested in the money. Besides, the investigation into the Fushou Cake has nothing to do with you. The Marshal is a wise ruler; she won't wrongly blame you."
“Otherwise, when she ordered Crown Prince Yelü to clean up the Xiongnu and the Dafan of Luochuan, you should have punished them long ago. Why wait until now to settle accounts?”
"Besides, you don't need to belittle yourself or ignore your contributions and role in the capital. For the Marshal, any action to punish you would be more harmful than beneficial. So it's better not to punish you and just let you be. As long as you act prudently from now on, you won't arouse the Marshal's suspicion."
"Could that really be the case?" Xie Ji was extremely uncertain. He couldn't see through the marshal's thoughts at all, whether he meant to blame him or not. Or perhaps, as his teacher had analyzed, the marshal would be lenient towards him because of his hard work.
He really lacked the confidence to be certain.
Xie Xiu said, "If the general wants to dispel his doubts, why not try it himself?"
Xie Ji suddenly looked up, his expression one of disbelief: "You, you want me to test the Marshal's bottom line?"
Xie Xiu nodded: "Don't worry, as long as you don't go too far, the marshal won't blame you, and your test was not intended to challenge the marshal."
"I believe that you are acting in the best interests of the Xie clan to ensure the smooth operation of trade in Shangdu. Therefore, Marshal, you will not hold it against me."
Xie Ji was skeptical, but the gentleman was right. His current indecisive attitude would only arouse the marshal's suspicion. As long as he fulfilled his responsibilities and did not cause any losses to the Xie family, the marshal would certainly not blame him.
"Sir, Xie Ji is truly fortunate to have your assistance!" Xie Ji suddenly stood up and bowed to Xie Xiu to express his gratitude.
Xie Xiu appeared flattered and quickly bowed, lowering his head even more than Xie Ji.
"General, you flatter me. If you hadn't transferred me from the Southern Region to Tianjing, how could I have had the honor of following you and serving you?"
"With our hearts united, how can the Xie family not prosper!"
"Yes, the Xie family will surely be blessed by their ancestors and their water transport will prosper."
In the afternoon, thousands of horses gathered on the plank road on the border between Yifan and the Xiongnu, and with Xie Lanzhi as their leader, they galloped along the plank road toward the mountain wall of Yelü Lilixiu.
A vertical wall, somewhat like a mini Great Wall, was built along the border walkway. It winds and twists for about five kilometers, mainly blocking the weakest point of the border.
The terrain here is low-lying with many flat valleys, making it easy for the Xiongnu cavalry to advance. Therefore, the construction of a 5,000-meter-long mountain wall was just to fill the weak points. Several runways were also set up on the west side to facilitate the movement of cavalry from the northern regions. The south side is mostly uneven, and some trenches similar to battle trenches were dug, about 1.5 meters deep and no more than 20 centimeters wide, about the width of a person standing sideways.