CMWKSD -Chapter 260 Catching the Turtle in the Jar

Just look at Ji Yiqing—no wonder he’s already entered the Ministry of Personnel.

Everything he thinks about revolves around talent.

In the end, Ji Yiqing concluded with a single line: “Water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it.”

What he meant, in essence, was that the common people were the water, while officials and the imperial house were the boat riding atop it.

Thinking back on history, how many emperors had been overthrown in the end because they failed to act and lost the hearts of the people?

Everyone felt that Ji Yiqing’s words made perfect sense.

But the question was—how exactly was this to be done?

Fengyuan Emperor looked at Ji Yiqing and instantly grasped something.

He merely nodded. “This can work. But as for the concrete methods of implementation, it needs careful, long-term planning. Record it.”

This so-called “public opinion warfare” was something Jiu Yue had casually mentioned while chatting with Ji Yiqing.

After refining and expanding on Jiu Yue’s few remarks, Ji Yiqing integrated them into a formal plan.

To prevent Jiu Yue from acting without regard for consequences, it wasn’t just Ji Yiqing who had various contingency plans—Ji Chaomian had an entire long list as well.

Ideally, Jiu Yue wouldn’t need to use any of them; they could carry these plans out within the yamen themselves.

But if one day Jiu Yue were to do something that enraged the emperor…

These plans would become the things that could save her life.

So the two brothers would, every so often, add all kinds of strange and unusual items to them.

Jiu Yue had once said that public opinion could truly kill people.

She still remembered one of the most classic examples—monosodium glutamate being labeled as carcinogenic.

Overnight, it nearly disappeared.

Yet that was nothing more than a malicious rumor deliberately spread by another country, without a shred of supporting evidence.

And even after it was later clarified—so what?

The belief that MSG caused cancer had already taken root deep in people’s hearts.

Jiu Yue’s Dark Moon Pavilion was made up entirely of people from the streets and marketplaces.

They were the most suitable group to handle this kind of thing.

Add in the people from Eagle Eye, and if they wanted to spread something, it wouldn’t take long at all.

Still, Ji Yiqing felt that, to be on the safe side, evidence was necessary.

He would go back and discuss it with Shao Qing.

Or perhaps consult with the people from Eagle Eye.

All of this required an imperial order from Fengyuan Emperor.

It was definitely not something that could be settled today.

Having put forward such a practical suggestion, Ji Yiqing felt a surge of joy.

To have even a single contribution to a matter of such magnitude—how could he not be pleased?

Just as he was about to withdraw, Ji Chaomian also stepped forward with a clasped-fist salute.

“Your Majesty, Your Highness the Crown Prince, this minister also has a plan.”

Several military generals watched the Ji brothers go back and forth, each adding their own points.

Although they felt the civil officials’ refined phrasing was hard to understand—

Their strategies were genuinely effective.

If fewer people could die, everyone was more than happy to see it.

Fengyuan Emperor also grew interested. Ji Yiqing’s proposal had already surprised him.

Ji Chaomian was even more steady and composed.

What he was about to say would surely bring another pleasant surprise.

“Speak.”

“In Minyun Commandery, there is a band of mountain bandits who have entrenched themselves for many years. This humble official believes we can have Young General Shen Zongsheng lead troops to suppress them.”

General Shen was just about to say that they were discussing warfare—how had it suddenly turned into bandit suppression?

When Ji Chaomian continued.

“The matter of Young General Shen’s leg injuries—so severe he could barely walk—was known not only in Great Qi, but also in many other countries.”

“Young General Shen achieved fame at a young age and has long been known as the ‘Little God of War.’”

“The people of Great Qi felt sorrow and indignation for him, but other countries certainly did not. They would much prefer that Young General Shen never stand up again in his life.”

“Now that Young General Shen has fully recovered, Minyun Commandery is separated from Northern Barbarians territory by only one commandery.”

“Once Young General Shen leads troops to suppress bandits, it will certainly attract the attention of the Northern Barbarians. All we need is for it to catch the eye of Prince Hui of the Northern Barbarians.”

“That Prince Hui has used young children to refine medicine, yet has never been fully cured. This humble official believes he would very much like to know—how exactly did Young General Shen recover?”

The moment General Shen heard this, he understood what Ji Chaomian was plotting.

How were these two brothers’ minds constructed?

How could they be this clever?

He burst out laughing. “You want to lure that Prince Hui into Great Qi?”

Ji Chaomian nodded, serious and sincere.

“Exactly as General Shen has said. Though Prince Hui is disabled, his intellect borders on the monstrous. If this man is not eliminated, he will be a grave threat to Great Qi.”

“But if we send our soldiers to assassinate him, the price would be far too high.”

“He can use young children to treat his illness—one can imagine how much he cares about his disability.”

“So why not let him walk into the trap himself?”

Someone who agreed with Ji Chaomian—and who knew who had healed Shen Zongsheng’s legs—immediately said, “Then when the time comes, we can use Princess Xuyu as bait. It would be perfect to lure Prince Hui over and capture him like a turtle in a jar.”

As soon as the words fell, the Ji brothers and the father-and-son emperors spoke in unison.

“Absolutely not.”

They only wanted to lure Prince Hui over.

They had no intention of pushing Jiu Yue to the forefront.

That was far too dangerous.

They did not want to place Jiu Yue in harm’s way.

The four of them exchanged glances, none saying a word.

In the end, General Shen stepped in to smooth things over.

“Why must Princess Xuyu be dragged into this? We only need to let Prince Hui know that my son’s legs are not only healed, but that he can also lead troops into battle and move with swift, powerful strides.”

“Prince Hui will definitely want to know who cured my son’s legs.”

“As for Princess Xuyu, it’s best to keep that hidden. Don’t you know how capable the Princess is? Not the slightest mishap can be tolerated.”

“What if something were to happen? Or if Prince Hui, driven to desperation, were to abduct Princess Xuyu?”

“Wouldn’t that be a case of gaining nothing and losing everything?”

The person who had spoken earlier immediately realized his mistake and hurriedly said, “General Shen has thought it through far more thoroughly. The Princess is a blessing star of Great Qi—no mishaps can be allowed. I was thinking far too shallowly.”

Ji Yiqing let out a long breath of relief.

He feared encountering those stubborn types—

People who, seeing that Jiu Yue had high martial skill and superb medical abilities, would insist on her sacrificing herself for the greater good in such critical matters.

Ji Yiqing himself could make sacrifices.

But if it meant letting Jiu Yue sacrifice herself for someone else—

Leaving aside whether Jiu Yue, with her temperament, would ever do so—

More often than not, it would only mean others dying because of her.

Ji Yiqing was unwilling.

He did not want Jiu Yue to live constantly surrounded by danger.

Though this plan had been proposed by Ji Chaomian, It was, in truth, merely bringing matters forward in advance.

Shen Zongsheng’s legs were already fully healed.

He was originally meant to go to the border to replace Shen Zongnian.

Once he stepped onto the battlefield, within less than a year, everyone would know—

The Little God of War had returned.

But that would have been a year later.

It was better to proactively reveal it sooner.

That Jiu Yue had cured Shen Zongsheng’s legs was something everyone already understood.

It could not be hidden.

But there was always a difference between acting proactively and being forced into exposure.

If they revealed it on their own terms, they could first arrange sufficient protection around Jiu Yue.

At the very least, it would prevent something like Jiu Yue being abducted when the time came.