Here lie his academic supporters, countless talents, and his highly esteemed reputation in this place.

Now, Xu Mansion in Jiangning Prefecture and Yingtian Prefecture is bustling with visitors and a constant stream of carriages and horses.

Many southerners eagerly await Champion Hou to stand up and voice their concerns. They no longer wish to be exploited by the North; this is both the heartfelt sentiment of the southern gentry and the demand of the common people.

They may not understand the grand principles of national unity, but they know that giving up the North would mean paying fewer taxes. At least, that's what the southern officials are saying.

This notion may not dominate the Court, but it gains traction among the people, with some tabloids secretly fanning the flames to boost sales.

Xu Qing arrived at Yannian Palace to meet the Emperor.

"My Champion Hou has returned." Faced with the Northern conflict and chaos, the old Emperor remained calm as though everything was within his control, showing no anger.

Xu Qing first respectfully offered his greetings, then skillfully flattered a little.

After the pleasantries, the old Emperor inquired about the situation in the Southern Ocean, and Xu Qing answered truthfully.

The old Emperor nodded in satisfaction and then addressed the most urgent current issue: "Xu Qing, what do you think?"

Without hesitation, Xu Qing replied, "Your Majesty, I am willing to lead an army of a hundred thousand northward to relieve the siege and restore peace to the North."

"How do you plan to handle the Nine Borders situation?"

"Kill!" Xu Qing declared resolutely.

In his view, the Border Town generals, by leveraging border threats for power, had received ample military funding from the Court, yet allowed the grassland army to reach the Capital. It was simply treating the Court as fools, and the actions of the Border Town military leaders had completely crossed the Court's bottom line.

The old Emperor said with relief, "All Ministers are for their own interests, but only you, Xu Qing, are wholeheartedly for the public good."

Evidently, the disputes among Court Ministers greatly displeased the old Emperor.

This was not a simple Northern-Southern conflict but a grave issue of the Border Towns daring to admit the grassland army for their interests.

For the Court to allocate such a large military salary each year, only to have this kind of repayment from them, was something that had already touched the old Emperor's bottom line and could not be tolerated.

"When I returned, I had already dispatched people to transport grain from the Southern Ocean to use as military supplies."

"Will this affect the situation in the Southern Ocean?"

"Yes, but the Southern Ocean can fight once more."

The old Emperor praised, "Xu Qing, I trust you to handle matters, so I'll leave this responsibility to you."

"As you command."

Exiting Yannian Palace, Xu Qing took a breath of relief.

He knew well that no matter how much the old Emperor played political games, he, at least, understood the big picture.

Many Court Ministers only considered their own faction's interests, blind to the long-term consequences.

In this era, technology was hard to block; Southern firearms could soon be learned by the North.

Moreover, Grandmaster Murong was certainly no mediocrity, and with the Black Mountain Old Demon backing him, allowing them to occupy the North would truly put the Great Yu Dynasty in a passive position.

This would be a phenomenal detriment to the Great Yu Dynasty's fortune.

The grandest achievement of the Grand Ancestor of this dynasty was reuniting the North and South, divided for hundreds of years. To see the separation arise in his and the old Emperor's time would render him unworthy of being called Wenqu Star, and the old Emperor would not be worthy of being called a rejuvenator of the dynasty. Their previous achievements would all become a joke.

Xu Qing certainly would not allow such a situation to occur.

Xu Qing proceeded directly to the temporary Cabinet to gather everyone for a small meeting.

Though he was not the nominal Grand Secretary, he carried out all duties associated with that role upon his return.

As long as the Emperor did not oppose, he could firmly grasp the authority of affairs.

Of course, the old Emperor had no intention of granting Xu Qing the title of Grand Secretary.

Xu Qing did not mind this.

The rise of Yao, Shun, and Yu was simple, stemming from winning people's hearts; where people's hearts lie, there too lies power. A title without the support of people's hearts is a spring without source, a tree without roots.

Now was not the time to contest titles with the old Emperor; the situation was akin to the "Two Saints in Court" previously where the Heavenly Empress held power, the Emperor remained in the shadows, while the Empress took center stage, handling the hard and arduous work, gradually gaining substantial power.

"The route of national unification must be adhered to for hundreds and thousands of years, undisturbed. This is fundamental national policy. Right now, many voices among the public are intentionally seeking to divide the North and South, which this Marquis absolutely will not allow."

Xu Qing looked at Minister of Rites Cheng Guang and continued, "Minister Cheng, this trend must not be allowed to grow. I require the Ministry of Rites to immediately start closing down every publication house involved in these discussions without exception. Additionally, any public scholars mentioning this matter shall have their titles stripped."

"Ah, stripping titles, isn't that too severe a punishment?" Cheng Guang, though displeased with such divisive rhetoric, couldn't help but shiver at Xu Qing's order.

Xu Qing smiled slightly, "I will request the Emperor to immediately open another examination session." He paused and continued, "South Zhili has nothing else but people aspiring to be officials as numerous as loaches."

Cheng Guang sighed secretly; he knew that some scholars perhaps did not truly desire North-South division but merely followed blindly.

Moreover, should Xu Qing act so harshly against the scholars, his reputation among the scholar community would surely be irreparably tarnished, and surely unofficial histories would later harshly criticize him.

Xu Qing understood these consequences but made the decision resolutely regardless—a true man indeed!

Xu Qing then looked at Chen Fu and ordered, "Minister Chen, I need you to ensure the military rice and provisions are replenished as much as possible. The deadline is within a month."

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