Chapter 302: Limited Support! ( words long chapter!)

After reading the letter that Song Wenhui wrote to Murong Yuliang, although Ye Mingsheng threatened Murong Yuliang, he still had to consider the overall situation in his heart...
Although the Cui family's support for Murong Yuliang was not strong, they had already made their attitude clear by sending Cui Dakai. And now Murong Yuliang has the support of Song Wenhui. With the two bargaining chips of the Cui family and Song Wenhui in hand, things became very tricky.

Ye Mingsheng's current strategy for himself is to build high walls, store up grain, slowly become king, quietly farm and accumulate strength, waiting for the moment when the wind and clouds gather.

Although it was easy to deal with Murong Yuliang in Fengzhou, it was only a matter of a few words from Ye Mingsheng, but the problem was how would things end after Murong Yuliang was dealt with?

After dealing with Murong Yuliang, Ye Mingsheng will inevitably become the target of public criticism and the focus of everyone's attention!
In this way, Ye Mingsheng is destined to no longer be able to make a fortune in silence. Now Chen Dechang is trying to sabotage him, and once he reveals his strength, Chen Dechang will definitely be more wary of him, and might even cut off the supply of food, wages, military equipment and other resources to him.

As for Song Wenhui, even though his attention is currently attracted by Chen Dechang, after all, he is the governor of Liaoyang for more than ten years. If he pays a little attention to him, it will be enough for him to drink a pot of water...
Therefore, when things are developing in a direction that is unfavorable to him, Ye Mingsheng must not act on impulse. He must make a more rational, mature and smarter decision.

And Ye Mingsheng obviously did this too!
When discussing government affairs with Murong Yuliang, Ye Mingsheng discovered that this former Hanlin scholar, an old bureaucrat who had been in the Zhou Dynasty for decades, was indeed not an ordinary person. He had mature political ideas and rich experience in handling government affairs.
As for their abilities, it goes without saying that 60 to 70 percent of the successive ministers of the six ministries and cabinet elders of the Great Zhou Dynasty had served as Hanlin scholars. In other words, those who could reach the position of Hanlin scholars would be the key candidates for future senior officials of the Great Zhou Dynasty!

Ye Mingsheng, who already had the idea of ​​giving up power, naturally had a new consideration in his mind after realizing Murong Yuliang's ability...
But Ye Mingsheng also had his own concerns. After all, Murong Yuliang would definitely not be loyal to him. Ye Mingsheng was also very self-aware and knew that with his current reputation and power, he would definitely not be able to make Murong Yuliang loyal to him.

However, handing over the political affairs of Fengzhou to a person who is not loyal to him is indeed a risky thing for Ye Mingsheng, who wants to run Fengzhou as his base.

However, after carefully weighing the pros and cons, Ye Mingsheng decided to give Murong Yuliang a limited amount of power, allowing him to exercise some of his power as the prefect within the scope he set for him.

In this way, Ye Mingsheng can reduce some of the burden and devote his energy to more important areas. Secondly, he can also stick to his own strategy of keeping a low profile and making a fortune in silence.

As for the risks brought by using Murong Yuliang, on the one hand, Ye Mingsheng can strengthen his infiltration of the people around Murong Yuliang, and on the other hand, Ye Mingsheng, who controls the power of appointment and dismissal of officials in Fengzhou, can replace all the officials under Murong Yuliang with his own people, so that if Murong Yuliang loses his support, his decrees will not be able to leave the prefectural government...
After thinking for a while, Ye Mingsheng seemed to have thought of something. He opened his eyes and instructed the guards outside the door:

"Call Ye Tie to me!"

"Yes, handsome!"

After receiving the summons from Ye Mingsheng, Ye Tie immediately rushed from the military camp to Ye Mingsheng.

"Master, do you have any instructions?" After entering the study, Ye Tie bowed and asked Ye Mingsheng:
"How is your subordinate Zhu Shanyan?" Ye Mingsheng glanced at Ye Tie and asked:
"After enforcing military discipline, I can now get out of bed and walk!" Ye Tie told Ye Mingsheng everything:

Recalling Ye Tie's plea when he punished Zhu Shanyan last time, and the list of appointments and dismissals of the military attachés of the Fourth Battalion submitted by Ye Tie yesterday, Ye Mingsheng asked Ye Tie again:
"What do you think of him?"

"Although Zhu Shanyan has never read military books, he is extremely brave in battle and always leads his troops in every battle. He is a rare and fierce general!"

"This man is also from Fengshan County. When he was young, he took you as his role model. When our army was recruiting soldiers in Fengshan County, Zhu Shanyan immediately joined the army despite his family's dissuasion. He was one of our first batch of recruits. What's more commendable is that he is also loyal to you, young master."

When Ye Mingsheng asked, Ye Tie tried very hard to say good things about his subordinates in front of Ye Mingsheng so that Ye Mingsheng would approve the promotion of Zhu Shanyan.

Ye Mingsheng fell silent after hearing this. Just when Ye Tie was feeling a little uneasy and didn't know what Ye Mingsheng was thinking, Ye Mingsheng suddenly said:
"Tell him to go to Fengzhou Prison. Zheng Xu is right there. He can choose an arm or a leg!"

Ye Tie was stunned when he heard this. He didn't expect Ye Mingsheng to suddenly mention this. Although he wanted to ask Ye Mingsheng whether he agreed to his promotion of Zhu Shanyan, he thought about it and didn't speak. He bowed his head and said:
"I understand. I'll let him go right now!"

Although Ye Mingsheng agreed that Murong Yuliang would return Zheng Xu to him, he did not promise Murong Yuliang not to punish Zheng Xu!
This villain Zheng Xu relied on the fact that he was Murong Yuliang's steward and openly instructed his servants to attack the military officers of the Zhenwu Army and obstructed official duties. If Ye Mingsheng doesn't punish him, how should he govern the army?
The officials in Fengzhou would also think that Ye was afraid of Murong Yuliang and the Murong family...
"How is the formation of your Fourth Battalion going?" After explaining Zheng Xu's affairs, Ye Mingsheng asked about the business.

Ye Tie said directly: "Reporting to Master, the formation of the Fourth Battalion is in progress. I have selected more than ten military officers from the Third Battalion, plus the ones you sent from the Guards, the backbone is almost complete."

"The North City Camp has also handed over a thousand new recruits to us. According to the plan, the remaining thousand new recruits will also be handed over to us in half a month. Everything is going smoothly and is progressing steadily according to the plan. There are no problems."

Ye Mingsheng nodded with satisfaction after hearing this, and then explained:
"This time I send you to Xiangshuiyuan. On the one hand, you must cooperate well with Guo Zhiping and protect the Dalongchang Company operating there."

"Also, I have something else for you to do!"

"I have assigned a task to Huo San. He will send a few people to your place to register as military attachés of the Fourth Battalion. You must give them as much convenience as possible and cover their work!" "I understand. I know what to do." Ye Tie said without hesitation after hearing this. Then he seemed to have thought of something and looked at Ye Mingsheng with some hesitation.

Seeing this, Ye Mingsheng said directly: "If you have any questions, just ask!"

"Master, can you tell me what they are going to do? I can prepare myself..." After getting Ye Mingsheng's permission, Ye Tie no longer had any scruples and asked immediately:
Ye Mingsheng pondered for a moment. He had not originally planned to tell Ye Tie, but after hearing what Ye Tie said, he felt that there was some truth in it. Since he wanted Ye Tie to cooperate with Huo San, he should give Ye Tie some clues. Besides, he did not need to doubt Ye Tie's loyalty.

"There's something wrong with the Dalongchang Company. I'm going to ask Huo San and the others to investigate. This matter is top secret and you must keep it confidential!"

Ye Tie also understood the seriousness of the matter after hearing this, and his expression immediately became serious. He said to Ye Mingsheng very seriously: "Master, please rest assured, I am keeping my mouth shut!"

After finishing the serious business, Ye Mingsheng gave some instructions and Ye Tie was asked to go down and do the trivial matter.

Considering the mysterious interest group behind An Zhirong and his men, Ye Mingsheng was a little timid and did not dare to directly close the trade route to Xiangshuiyuan, but as the saying goes, "Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will win every battle."

Ye Mingsheng naturally wanted to know more information about them. Moreover, Ye Mingsheng also planned to trade with the Khitans next, so he also needed to get some information from the Dalongchang Trading Company.

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In the next three days, with Ye Mingsheng's tacit approval, Murong Yuliang hosted a banquet at Nanfuxiang Restaurant for hundreds of Fengzhou officials, both big and small. In front of everyone, Ye Mingsheng expressed his limited support for Murong Yuliang's work in Fengzhou as the general of Fengzhou. This banquet also marked that the relationship between Ye Mingsheng and Murong Yuliang had entered a honeymoon period...
What really surprised Ye Mingsheng was this guy Cui Dakai. Ye Mingsheng really thought he was too kind and thought he really wanted to see Ye Cui, talk to her, and reminisce about their old brotherly love.

Unexpectedly, this guy knew that he couldn't persuade Ye Mingsheng, so he played a roundabout way with Ye Mingsheng and went to ask Ye Cui for help.

No one knew what kind of magic potion Cui Dakai had fed Ye Cui, but when Ye Mingsheng paid her his respects as usual, she held Ye Mingsheng's hand and warned him that his immigration and land distribution policy had deeply hurt the interests of the aristocratic families, and that the aristocratic families were so powerful that it would not be a wise move to anger them.

Although Ye Mingsheng had a lot to say, in order not to make Ye Cui worry, he could only pretend to agree to Ye Cui's request.

After coming out from Ye Cui's place, Ye Mingsheng dragged Cui Dakai out. Cui Dakai was originally quite proud of his roundabout way of saving the country, and thought that Ye Mingsheng would definitely stop the policy of Fengzhou immigration and land distribution due to his mother's expectations. When he heard that Ye Mingsheng was looking for him, he was quite complacent!

He never expected that Ye Mingsheng would directly throw all the dark materials about him in front of him, including the kickbacks he took from the Cui family and the mistress he had over the years.

Seeing the appearance of these things, Cui Dakai was frightened and broke out in cold sweats. He knew very well that once these things were publicized by Ye Mingsheng, although the head of the family, Cui Shao, would not take his life, he would definitely take back all his power in the family. Without power and without any official position, his status in the family would plummet!
Not only that, if the tigress at home knew that he had a mistress outside and that they had a child, she would definitely chop him to pieces.

Cui Dakai was horrified and also very confused about where Ye Mingsheng got these things from...
Ye Mingsheng would of course not tell him that he had always valued the Cui family, a potential ally with whom he had a blood relationship. He knew that if he wanted to dominate Liaoyang, he had to get the support of the Cui family.

Therefore, Ye Mingsheng has been asking Huo San to collect information about the Cui family. Thanks to the efforts of Huo San, this capable man, Ye Mingsheng has gained access to the black materials of some of the Cui family's top leaders, including Cui Dakai.

Ye Mingsheng has been waiting for the right time for these negative materials to exert their power. He never thought that Cui Dakai would be so ungrateful and dare to play such a trick on him. He really deserves to be punished!
Under Ye Mingsheng's coercion and intimidation, Cui Dakai begged desperately, bowed repeatedly, and almost knelt down to Ye Mingsheng...

Seeing that his goal was achieved, Ye Mingsheng also warned him not to talk nonsense when he returned, otherwise he would make sure he would be in trouble if he did that again!

After Cui Dakai left with many thanks, Ye Mingsheng shook his head with some emotion. It was not like he had never thought about using the dirty tricks in his hands to develop a hidden agent among the higher-ups of the Cui family to secretly tip off himself.

But after careful study, he discovered that among the powerful senior members of the Cui family, including Cui Dakai, although each had their own faults, some were seeking fame and reputation, some were greedy for money and lustful, and some were obsessed with pleasure... but they all had one thing in common, that is, they were very loyal to the family and to the patriarch Cui Shao!
They may be coerced because of some evidence, but if the coercion will endanger the interests of the Cui family, they would most likely choose to surrender rather than accept coercion...
It was for this reason that Ye Mingsheng was so fearful and never took action. After all, if this kind of thing failed and ended up with losses and was discovered by others, he would have really offended the Cui family and would never have any dealings with them again!

After dealing with these matters, when Ye Mingsheng was planning to advance the progress of his marriage with An Miaoyi, his personal guard captain Ye Dong found some new things for him.

One morning, Ye Mingsheng had just sat down on the chair in the study when Ye Dong asked him mysteriously:
"Master, do you still remember the woman you met at Fengji Teahouse a few days ago?"

Ye Dong’s words immediately reminded Ye Mingsheng of that plump figure...
Although Ye Mingsheng, as the general of Fengzhou, was surrounded by women, the soft and tender voice and cold temperament still made Ye Mingsheng linger on them after many days.

(End of this chapter)