Chapter 41: Su Shun's Poisonous Plan (Seeking Recommendation Tickets)

  Mu Yin looked at Rui Hua stealthily and said in a low voice, "These days are unbearable. Since the rebellion, I've been scolded every other day. Now it's even better, no need to enter the Zongren Mansion, directly into the heavenly prison."

  Zai Yuan also complained, "Who says it isn't? Just take the day before yesterday, Xu Guangjin's defeat at the hands of the bandits allowed the Longhairs to flow into Hubei, what does that have to do with me? The Emperor scolded me for a good half an hour, I really want to retire and return to my hometown."

  Rui Hua sighed: "What's the use of your complaints, don't even mention retiring to your hometown, being dismissed from office is already a blessing. Didn't you hear the Emperor say just now that he wants to throw us into the Heavenly Prison? The Zhuang people's mansion is still okay, everyone is relatives, and they can be released after being locked up for a while. What kind of place is the Heavenly Prison? I've never heard of anyone coming out alive from there."

  Mu Yin thought for a while, still couldn't think of any clever plan, and said in frustration: "Last time my idea was so good, I don't understand why the emperor didn't adopt it, and instead punished me by deducting my salary for a year."

  Rui Hua said: "What kind of clever plan is this, to invite foreigners to suppress the bandits? Not to mention whether they can eliminate the rebels or not, how will you let officials and civilians throughout the country view the Emperor? Are you not pushing the Emperor into a fire pit?"

  Mu Yin heard Rui Hua say this, and immediately became angry, arguing: "At that time you also agreed with my plan, if I hadn't taken the lead, it's possible that you would have been the first to present it to the emperor and gain merit. Now you're saying this... You're really a two-faced person."

  Zai Yan saw that the two were about to quarrel, and scolded: "You two want to fight? Go to Tianlao's place to fight later. What kind of place is this now? When the Emperor returns and sees you like this, who knows, he might directly have us dragged out of Wumen and beheaded."

  Rui Hua, as soon as he heard the beheading, immediately dared not speak again. After a while, he sighed and said: "If there is a person with a straightforward character, outstanding talent, and dare to remonstrate, who can take charge of the rebels and thorny affairs, our burden will be lightened."

  "With a straightforward personality, exceptional talent and daring to remonstrate with the emperor", Zai Yan and Mu Yin exchanged a glance, smiling together at Rui Hua.

  Rui Hua was stared at by them, thinking they were asking him to take the lead, and he hastily declined: "Hey, you've all known each other for decades, you can't push me into the fire pit, besides, I'm not that kind of selfless person, if I have to sacrifice myself, it's for my family, not for you two... this isn't worth it."

  Zai Yan said with a flattering tone: "Prince Zhengqin, you misunderstood. We don't want you to sacrifice yourself for the two of us, we want your younger brother to sacrifice himself for the three of us."

  Mu Yin also happily said: "I've also heard that your younger brother Su Shun has repeatedly advised the emperor and made him angry, but strangely he always manages to return unscathed. If he can follow the emperor every day, it would be beneficial for your family too."

  Rui Hua also happily said: "How come I didn't think of that? Last time, the foreigner's borrowing troops matter was also analyzed by him for me to listen to. En, good, let's do it this way."

  Mu Yin nodded and said: "When His Majesty returns, we three will jointly recommend Su Shun."

  Just now three people were looking forward to Xianfeng coming back late, but now they are staring at him eagerly.

  Xianfeng excreted the waste from his stomach and felt much better. Seeing the three still kneeling on the ground, he said irritably: "Alright, get up! Have you thought of any clever plan?"

  Xianfeng thought to himself, no matter what absurd plan they came up with, he would let them muddle through.

  Mu Yin spoke up first: "I'm ashamed, I couldn't share Your Majesty's worries. Just now, I thought left and right, my head spun several times, but finally, I came up with a brilliant plan. From now on, Your Majesty won't have to worry about the rebels again."

  Xianfeng originally wanted to joke: "Has your head not grown bigger?" Later, after hearing that he would no longer have to worry about the rebels, he suddenly became very interested and asked: "What's this extraordinary strategy? Tell me about it."

  Zai Yan was afraid that his contributions would be overshadowed by Mu Ying, so he hastily said: "This extraordinary strategy was thought of by me..."

  Xianfeng saw Ruihua's urgent face turn bright red, and smiled to interrupt Zaiyuan: "Prince Zheng, does this extraordinary strategy also have your share?"

  Rui Hua had never felt that the emperor was so wise before, and he hastily knocked his head in gratitude: "The emperor is wise."

  Xianfeng's face gradually darkened, and he was really fed up with the three of them being shameless and incompetent. However, since he had just ascended to the throne and had already dismissed many high-ranking officials in the court, it was not suitable for him to take action against them at this time. After thinking for a moment, he decided to scare them and give them a lesson. He slammed his hand on the imperial desk and said: "If your extraordinary strategy does not meet my expectations, I will immediately have all of you... beheaded in public along with your entire families."

  Zai Yuan heard that he was going to be beheaded and panicked, saying: "Your Majesty is wise, this wonderful strategy was actually thought of by Zheng Qin Wang and others, it has nothing to do with me, Your Majesty."

  Mu Yin also thought that being imprisoned in the heavenly prison was better than beheading, and cried out: "Your Majesty, this wonderful strategy has nothing to do with me, it's something Prince Zheng came up with himself. If you don't believe me, ask Prince Yi."

  Zai Yan saw the emperor looking at him and hastily nodded like a chick pecking at rice.

  Xianfeng saw Ruihua's anxious face turn bright red, with sweat dripping from his forehead from time to time. He was really afraid that Ruihua would be frightened out of her wits and said: "Alright, Prince Yi, you tell me, what is this good idea that made the three of you...ministers agree unanimously."

  Zai Yan saw the emperor nod to him, and without forgetting, he poured a chamber pot on Prince Zheng's head: "It was Prince Zheng who wanted to promote his brother Su Shun. He told me that the country is in danger, it is exactly the time to recommend talents without avoiding relatives."

  Mu Yin also nodded and said: "I also think this plan is feasible, please Your Majesty's wise decision."

  Xianfeng also thought of Su Shun, intending to summon him into the palace to ask for advice. Unexpectedly, those muddled eggs could also think of it, and for a moment they didn't understand whether their own brains had become stupid because they talked too much with them, or if being together with them made their brains smarter.

  Xianfeng shook his head and smiled, "Alright then, send someone to inform Su Shun to enter the palace. Let's see if he has any good ideas. I'll heavily reward him if he does. As for you three, don't kneel anymore. Considering you still have a bit of loyalty left in you, I'll pardon you this once."

  Ruihua listened to Xianfeng's pardon and reward, and immediately her face was no longer red, nor did she sweat. With a satisfied expression, she looked at Zaiyuan and Muyin, who both had bitter faces.

  In less than half an hour, Su Shun hastily arrived and as soon as he entered the imperial study, he shouted to Xianfeng: "Your Majesty is overjoyed! The rebel is at his last gasp!"

  Xianfeng was both surprised and delighted, thinking that the front-line officers and soldiers had won a great victory, and hurriedly walked down to ask: "Is it Xu Guangjin or Zeng Guofan?"

  Su Shun looked puzzled and said in a low voice: "I don't understand what Your Majesty means, I was saying that the bandit Han has settled in Nanjing is good news."

  Rui Hua, Mu Yin and Zai Yuan were all stunned, each blaming Su Shun. If they were to infuriate the Emperor, wouldn't disaster befall the three of them?

  Xianfeng was indeed furious and said: "Ridiculous, the rebel's capture of Nanjing is exactly when they were at their most arrogant, how could disaster befall them?"

  Xu Shun explained: "Although Nanjing is an important place for grain transportation and the screen of Suzhou and Hangzhou, what's the use of the rebels occupying only one place? Grain transportation has been successfully transported to Tianjin by sea in the 6th and 28th years of Daoguang. Xiang Rong is still defending Zhenjiang, which is a hundred miles away from Nanjing, and can reach the city under the city overnight. If Xiang Rong is sent to establish a large camp under the city of Nanjing, threatening Nanjing at all times, the rebels will not dare to attack the rich areas of Suzhou and Hangzhou, risking being cut off from their rear."

  Xianfeng heard such an absurd suggestion and asked in response: "Is this feasible? What if Yongying's troops are defeated, wouldn't that be even worse?"

  Xu Shun said straightforwardly: "The Green Camp and the Eight Banners do not dare to fight in the open, can they still not defend? Xiang Rong has 800,000 troops in Zhenjiang. If the rebels attack Jiangsu, Shanghai, Jiangxi, and Zhejiang, Xiang Rong will inevitably divide his forces to rescue them, giving the rebels an opportunity to defeat them one by one. If we gather them under Nanjing City, not only will Suzhou and Zhejiang be unharmed, but also the rebels will be tied up in Nanjing without food or supplies, and within three to five years, the rebels will collapse on their own."

  Xianfeng was not stupid either. Su Shun explained half of it and he thought this plan was wonderful. He immediately said with joy: "What you said, is very much in line with my heart, I will definitely reward you heavily."

  Xianfeng looked at Ruihua and the other two and said, "I heard you three want to jointly recommend Su Shun, so what official position do you plan to recommend him for?"

  Mu Yin, seeing an opportunity to win favor with the Emperor, quickly formed an alliance with Su Shun, this new imperial favorite, and said: "I beg to report to Your Majesty, General Su is capable of speaking his mind and offering advice, and he is also well-versed in military affairs. I recommend that Su Shun be appointed as the Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Guards and concurrently serve as the Ceremonial Envoy."

  Xianfeng carelessly sipped his tea and said: "It's just such a small official, it's not worth the trouble of having you, the Minister of War, take action."

  Zai Yan saw that Xianfeng disliked the low rank of the official, and took the opportunity to say: "I recommend Su Shun as a palace guard, so he can always be by Your Majesty's side."

  Xianfeng put down his teacup and remained silent.

  Ruihua boldly said: "Although Su Shun is my younger brother, the state is in turmoil and I can no longer care about idle chatter. I recommend Su Shun as the Minister of Works and grant him 'Learning to Walk among the Grand Ministers', please Your Majesty's approval."

  Zai Yan and Mu Yin were both startled, looking at Rui Hua together: You really dare to say that.

  Xianfeng considered it and said: "Agreed"