The evening.
Yang Residence.
Within the back manor, each step revealed a new scene, incorporating countless strange flowers and plants. The garden was grand and magnificent, a feast for the eyes.
Yang Xian, a man of middle age, dressed in purple official robes, strolled through the garden, feeling utterly lost in the moment, his mind wandering.
He recalled the admonitions of his late mentor before his departure.
"Those who hold high office must remain calm and unhurried to go further. They must never be overly eager for speed.
He then recounted a parable: 'It is the roadside children who kill the lord's horse!'"
This saying originates from the *Fengsu Tongyi* written by Ying Shao of the Eastern Han dynasty.
It states: "When the senior officials' horses are fat, onlookers admire them. The riders, pleased by the praise, push their horses relentlessly until they die."
The gist of the story is that a man was skilled at raising horses. He rode his horse at a gallop, and people by the roadside continuously praised its speed.
The more they praised him, the more he reveled in it, urging his horse faster and faster, until the animal, exhausted, died.
To bring about someone's downfall, one can resort to "beating to death," meaning direct confrontation, or "praising to death," meaning by constant flattery, leading them into a trap of their own making, step by step, as they become intoxicated with self-admiration.
The latter meaning is the essence of "it is the roadside children who kill the lord's horse."
However, having risen from humble beginnings as a minor official, and now on the cusp of a significant appointment, how could he possibly be willing to miss this opportunity?
He had waited twenty years for this chance and absolutely would not give it up.
Meanwhile.
The reason Liu Bowen had dismissed his beloved disciple was that he had detected Yang Xian's burgeoning ambition.
He understood that Yang Xian had not heeded his words at all.
"Everyone understands the principle of 'praising to death,' but what is the reason for its repeated success?"
"It lies in its blend of boastful flattery and the art of praising virtues. When these are unleashed simultaneously, they dazzle the recipient, leading them unknowingly astray.
The most classic historical example of 'praising to death' is Guan Yu's demise at Mai City and the loss of Jingzhou.
In the twenty-fourth year of Jian'an (219 AD), Guan Yu launched the Xiangfan campaign.
The campaign proceeded smoothly; Guan Yu defeated the seven divisions led by Yu Jin, Yu Jin surrendered, and Pang De was killed.
At one point, Cao Cao even considered relocating the capital to avoid Guan Yu's formidable presence.
However, following the advice of Chen Qun, Sima Yi, and others, Cao Cao wrote to Sun Quan, urging him to attack Guan Yu from the rear, while simultaneously reinforcing Fancheng.
Before launching his attack on Cao's forces, Guan Yu, concerned about potential actions from the Eastern Wu, had stationed defensive troops along the borders of Jingzhou, such as Jiangling and Yidu.
Lu Xun, who was in his early twenties and not yet renowned, penned a letter to Guan Yu filled with extreme flattery.
From the outset, he bestowed a high compliment upon Guan Yu and simultaneously dug a pit for him.
The letter read: "Greetings, my idol! I am your fan and deeply admire your demeanor. I hope to receive your guidance and assistance.
Your valor in beheading Wen Chou and Yan Liang, and capturing Yu Jin, fills me with admiration and praise, as boundless as the Yangtze River.
I believe your achievements will be eternal, lasting for millennia, for ten thousand years, and forever renowned.
For you are the foremost general of this era, a solitary moon hanging high, casting all stars into dimness, a god of war."
Following this, Lu Xun stated that as a mere scholar, he felt overwhelmed to be appointed as a commander on the front lines.
However, he expressed his joy at being neighbors with Guan Yu, as he would have the opportunity to meet his idol.
Consider the phrase: "the foremost general of this era, a solitary moon hanging high, casting all stars into dimness, a god of war." How skillfully crafted are these words.
This flattery was precisely what Guan Yu’s heart desired.
In terms of flattery, Lu Xun was unrivaled, the best in the world.
It was no wonder that upon reading Lu Xun's letter, Guan Yu perceived him as humble, fervent, and loyal.
Reassured and no longer suspecting any machinations from the Eastern Wu, Guan Yu gradually withdrew troops from the Jingzhou border defenses to concentrate his assault on Fancheng.
The dreadful nature of such a "black fan" is, to some extent, more terrifying than an enemy.
Lu Xun cut off Guan Yu's retreat, while Cao Cao led a large army to engage him. This pincer attack resulted in Guan Yu's defeat and death.
From Guan Yu's perspective, had he not been careless and failed to realize the Eastern Wu's ulterior motives, how could he have been defeated and killed?
Viewing the situation from this angle, Guan Yu was indeed "praised to death" by the novice Lu Xun.
Guan Yu's death cemented Lu Xun's reputation and his place in history as a renowned strategist.
Even the Martial Saint Guan Yu could not resist the power of "praising to death." Can his current disciple, Yang Xian, with his unprecedented ambition, withstand it?
Liu Bowen mused, sighing silently.
If it were merely a scheme set by Li Shanchang, he would have had a fighting chance to help his beloved disciple escape this predicament.
However, the one who placed his beloved disciple, Yang Xian, in his current position was not Li Shanchang, but the current Emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang.
Yang Xian's several promotions had encountered no obstruction!
To be frank, in the officialdom, very few are fortunate enough to be promoted. Far more are those who have merit but are not elevated!
Yang Xian did not receive special treatment, but his promotions based on merit and achievement were the dream of ninety-nine percent of officials.
It was precisely because of this that Yang Xian could enter the Zhongshu Sheng at such a young age, while simultaneously defeating his greatest rival, Hu Weiyong!
...
"Esteemed mentor, your disciple disappoints you once again. Succeed or perish."
"I am forty-two this year; I can wait no longer!"
Seated on a stone stump, Yang Xian contemplated for a long time, finally resolving to take a gamble.
If successful, he would be second only to the Emperor; if he failed, at most, he would lose his life.
Three days later.
Yang Xian arrived at the Imperial Garden. Outside a small stone pavilion, he saw a white-haired general striding out.
Yang Xian immediately stepped aside, bowing respectfully as he said, "Greetings, Elder Xu!"
The arrival was none other than Xu Da, the foremost general. Upon seeing Yang Xian, he merely offered a polite greeting, "Young Chancellor Yang is also here..."
Then, he strode away, clearly not paying much attention to Yang Xian.
Although both held positions in the Zhongshu Sheng, Xu Da was the Right Chancellor, with disciples and former colleagues widespread throughout the military. Even the Emperor could not easily move him; this was his foundation.
Yang Xian was acutely aware of the gulf between himself and such a formidable figure. He wore a beaming smile, projecting an image of harmlessness.
After watching Xu Da depart, he finally straightened his body, his eyes holding a hint of depth.
At that moment, a eunuch in purple robes approached, announcing, "The Emperor summons Chancellor Yang Zuo to an audience!"
Yang Xian immediately composed himself and entered the small pavilion. He discovered that besides Zhu Yuanzhang, there was a third person in the pavilion!
This man possessed piercing eyes, an eagle-like gaze, and a commanding presence. His walk was that of a tiger. It was evident at a glance that he was an extraordinary general, rarely seen in the world.
His name was Lan Yu.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, the hundred thousand troops have completed their training, and provisions are ample. Dealing with the Mongols will not be an issue..."
Lan Yu bowed respectfully and said.
"Good. I shall issue a decree to commend you all!"
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded with satisfaction.
Seeing Yang Xian's arrival, he smiled slightly and waved for Lan Yu to withdraw.
"Your Majesty!"
"The wind heralds the coming storm, the tower is full of it..."
Xu Da, the elder statesman of the Huaixi faction, gazing at the fine rain outside the window, felt his heart sink.
From the ten thousand scholars who had jointly petitioned with blood-soaked letters, to the movements and arrangements of personnel within the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Eastern Depot, and the Imperial Army, he had noticed it all.
He found it hard to believe that the current Emperor, who had once been as close as a brother to them, would act against his old comrades.
But the facts were before him, and he had no choice but to believe.
...
Meanwhile.
"I never expected to have underestimated these people's greed..."
"Initially, I only wanted to investigate whether any of my old brothers were plotting rebellion."
"But unintentionally, like a willow shedding its seeds, it has borne fruit, revealing so much filth and disgrace..."
Zhu Yuanzhang sat on the dragon throne, looking at the documents in his hand, muttering in disbelief.
Shortly after deciding to act against his old comrades, Zhu Yuanzhang had already dispatched the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot to gather compromising materials on officials of the Huaixi faction.
Under the joint investigation by the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot, they uncovered numerous wrongdoings committed by these Huaixi nobles.
Minor offenses like bullying the innocent and seizing farmland were not even worth mentioning.
What angered Zhu Yuanzhang more was that these Huaixi nobles had exploited their power to contend with the state for profit.
In this world, due to differing positions and perspectives, there will always be disagreements on any matter.
This is a person's ideology, and ideologies are difficult to change artificially.
Some prefer sweet, others salty. Some worship Buddhism and Taoism, while others believe they would be better off without them.
If the two sides argue, each has their own reasons, and neither can convince the other; this is ideology.
There is only one matter upon which the vast majority of people in this world agree: having money is better than not having money!
Of course, a tiny minority, considering themselves aloof and unconventional, would regard money as dirt and be nauseated by the smell of wealth.
Some even claim their greatest suffering is having too much money and not being able to spend it all.
However, the reason these individuals utter such vexing words is precisely because they are not lacking in money.
Never have we heard of a poor person disdaining abundant wealth.
Even those at the apex of the Great Ming Empire, the many officials in the imperial court, are no different.
The functioning and protection of the imperial court, the Emperor's vanity and love of display, the embezzlement and misappropriation by corrupt officials, the realization of ambitions by capable ministers and martial generals, the salaries for soldiers and clerks to support their families – which of these matters does not require money!
Yet, these ministers of his, under the guise of serving the nation and the people, have amassed wealth on a grand scale.
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