Doted By The Regent King-Chapter 537: Plotting

Wufu was training his slaves on one side, while on the other, Ah Jiu had just received a "Confession Letter" from the Li Family showing their sincerity. It contained General Li the Elder’s handwriting, first admitting to poor oversight, which led to the loss of the Tiger Talisman, and then with great remorse, he mentioned that the border was now unstable and that he would have personally come to apologize if not for this.

There were two pieces of information in there: one was the confession, and the other was a reminder to Ah Jiu that the border was unstable. He could not manage both ends and if he was not careful, there would be devastation.

This was undoubtedly a threat because he was holding onto the Tiger Talisman, meaning no troops could be mobilized at the border. If there was a defeat, it would be Ah Jiu’s fault.

Ah Jiu slapped his palm onto the paper and scoffed coldly, "Does Li Changyong really think he’s the only capable general in Beiyue, and that the border cannot be stabilized without him?"

Yuan Ye remained silent. The Li Family had defended the border for many years and built deep authority, indeed giving the impression that nobody else could replace them, as no one else could calm the border quickly.

If it weren’t for the Li Family being part of the Loyalist Party and guarding that place for generations, perhaps the Emperor wouldn’t have let them grow so powerful there.

But to threaten a prince like this?

Yuan Ye also sneered along, deep authority could be gradually infiltrated and slowly dissolved, depending on whether the Imperial family was willing.

"Milord, this Confession Letter is quite a tangible lever in your hands," Yuan Ye put his thoughts aside and said, "Even if we want to move against the Li Family, now is not the time."

Ah Jiu huffed coldly, "I’m not in charge of this empire, I don’t care if they go to hell."

That was said in a fit of anger, and Yuan Ye did not know how to respond.

Ah Jiu then picked up the Li Family’s gesture of goodwill again, his expression growing colder as he went through it.

The Li Family’s sincerity came in the form of a trade route, one they had carved out themselves, and it included some of the Li Family’s overt powers; this was their submission to Ah Jiu, equivalent to a surrender.

Ah Jiu knew about this trade route; handled properly, it could yield several hundred thousand to one million taels annually. If the Li Family continued to grip it tightly, hmph, with both money and military power, were they planning to revolt?

"He’s really generous," Ah Jiu’s expression was very unpleasant, "And he’s not afraid of me delivering this straight to the Emperor."

"That might not be their hope that you do deliver it to the Emperor, to show their loyalty to the throne," Yuan Ye spoke softly, "If you don’t deliver and keep it yourself, then you create mutual leverage. He’s definitely an old fox."

This gesture of goodwill was also like a hot potato; if delivered to the Emperor, what emperor wouldn’t like such a large sum of silver? He might very well turn a blind eye, considering it could enrich the national treasury.

If not delivered, and Ah Jiu kept it for himself, then he would essentially hand over a lever to the Li Family, creating a mutual constraint. You have my Confession Letter, but I also have the handle of you accepting my benefits. Should Ah Jiu wish to move against the Li Family, they could likewise hand this lever to the Emperor. freewebnøvel.com

Ah Jiu’s face soured as he deduced Li Changyong’s intentions, looking as if smothered in excrement.

"Does he think I wouldn’t dare to take it?" Ah Jiu said sternly, "I want him to know there’s no meat I wouldn’t dare to eat."

He tossed the Tiger Talisman and ordered, "Tell Li An to roll back and tell their old man that I’ve accepted their sincerity."

"Yes."

"That Li Jin, use the silver generated from this gesture of goodwill to push him up, and pull down that waste Li An," Ah Jiu immediately added, "I want to see how Li Changyong and his son deal with the rock falling on their own feet."

Thinking he wouldn’t dare, he was all the more defiant. Once Li Jin was turned, wouldn’t the Li Family be in his pocket? Only as long as Li Jin wasn’t a fool.