Sooner or later, the struggle for the three vassal territories will begin. What Emperor Hongzheng so-called the right opportunity had not arrived yet, only because there were no reasonable grounds for action. Just him robbing and murdering a civilian family was absolutely not enough to propose the withdrawal of the vassal land. In his previous life, it was because Jing Shao met with danger while fighting in the Yunnan-Tibet region that Emperor Hongzheng ordered the Southwest King to send troops to reinforce him. How could they have known that the Southwest King, on the grounds of little harvests and having suffered natural disasters, would make the imperial court first pay for army provisions before providing troops, provoking the Emperor to become enraged, and send an imperial decree about taking back the feudal territory? At that time, Jing Shao who had spent much effort and had just defeated the southern barbarians, could not yet return to the capital, and was imperially decreed to command the army and go west, to directly fight the southwestern vassal territory.
In this life, there was no need for him to go and expand efforts without getting any results in the disorderly campaign against the chaotic southern barbarian rebellion. The sooner the war against the three vassal states began, the better. Jing Shao was pondering deeply on his horse's back, thus when he snapped out of it, Xiao Hei had already somehow walked to the Second Imperial Palace.
"You rascal, still thinking about the fresh grass in brother's residence." Jing Shao pulled Xiao Hei's ears, finding it funny. Going to the Second Prince's Palace as soon as he came out of the Imperial Palace, would surely arouse suspicion. As he turned the horse's head from side to side, he ran into Jing Chen who just returned after getting off duty.
"What are you doing standing in front of the door, why not go in?" Jing Chen stepped off his palanquin and saw his younger brother, bored, pulling at his horse's ear in front of the door. As a brother, he felt as if he had lost face and couldn't help frowning. The only man in the capital who would dare let their horse run loose in the middle of the street was this younger brother of his that caused him endless worries. This time he was in a daze in front of his own door. Could it be that he rushed himself into another disaster?
Jing Shao flipped himself off the horse, scratched his head and said: "Wanted to find a person to go drinking with, unconsciously rode a horse to the front of elder brother's door."
Jing Chen glared at him: "You are this old now, still always thinking about riding horses and drinking wine. How unbecoming!"
Jing Shao smiled and gave the horse to his elder brother's servant to lead away, himself walking abreast his brother: "Let's go to Hui Wei Restaurant, it's very close to here."
Jing Chen massaged his forehead, letting the palanquin porter return to the residence, walking on foot with Jing Shao to Hui Wei Restaurant.
* * * * *
It was still not yet time for a meal and there were not many people in Hui Wei Restaurant. Jing Shao asked Boss Zhou, who was dressed all in dark red silk, for a private room.
"You know who this Zhou Jin is?" Jing Chen saw the two's extremely familiar manner, and couldn't help but wrinkle his brow.
"Of course I know," Jing Shao poured a cup of tea for his elder brother, "Xiao Yuan is just and honest, and he is not inflexible with his service to the people. Elder brother can try to win him over to your side."
"If only you knew how to act appropriately too, that would be good," Jing Chen nodded. Today at the Ministry of Rites, there were officials talking about how the Cheng Wang Fei and the Assistant Minister Xiao's wife were close, thinking that Cheng Wang and Xiao Yuan certainly must be involved with each other. He could see that his older brother understood the advantages and disadvantages of this and didn't plan to meddle.
