Dark Sand: My Players Are All Actors
Chapter 522 - 271: Managing by Dividing the River

Chapter 522: Chapter 271: Managing by Dividing the River

After reading the secret letter, Qin Huizhi’s expression changed drastically as he hurriedly stuffed the letter into his sleeve.

A moment later, he took out the secret letter again and carefully read it twice.

Unlike the deceitful and ruthless Qin Huizhi that many envisioned, the real Qin Huizhi from history was actually a tempestuous, poorly restrained, easily angered man without much depth.

For instance, in history, he often quarreled with his colleagues and friends without any sense of propriety. He had virtually no friends throughout the court, and even his own followers were frequently purged and replaced, with only Wang Ciweng consistently remaining on his side.

Such a man, lacking in capability, emotional intelligence, and morals, could only maintain control over state affairs until his death with the support obtained through betraying his country to the Jin people.

General Han Fuyue’s secret letter appeared to delight the cunning yet impatient Qin Huizhi immensely.

"General Meng has traveled a long way, much effort indeed. What General Han has written in the secret letter... is it truly so?" asked Qin Huizhi, looking at Meng Lin before him with a pleasant veneer, his sycophantic intentions overflowing.

Meng Lin nodded, "Yes, Prime Minister Qin. The reason General Han sent me is indeed to show his sincerity.

"As long as Prime Minister Qin is willing, General Han is ready to cooperate from within and without, helping you rise even higher.

"Please believe, Prime Minister, that in this regard, the Zhao Yi Army is much more reliable than the Jin people.

"Moreover, with the support from the Jin people already secured by Prime Minister Qin, if he were now also to have the backing of the Zhao Yi Army, wouldn’t such a matter be readily achievable?"

Qin Huizhi laughed heartily, clearly very pleased, "I always thought General Han was a wise man, indeed he is, indeed he is!"

Despite feeling somewhat nauseated upon seeing Qin Huizhi’s countenance, Meng Lin couldn’t do much but maintain his smile for the mission entrusted by General Han.

Previously, Meng Lin was the deputy general who had initiated a mutiny just when Qin Huizhi had ordered Tian Shizhong to lead a flanking force to collaborate with the Jin people against the Zhao Yi Army.

By that time, Meng Lin had already become one of Zhao Haiping’s mainstay generals.

After all, Meng Lin had staked his entire fortune and even his family’s lives on the mutiny.

Should the Qi Dynasty decide to retaliate, it was possible that they could execute his entire family for treason.

Though the threat from the Zhao Yi Army subsequently prevented the Qi Dynasty from taking drastic actions, even going as far as arranging for the reunion of many Zhao Yi Army soldiers’ families in the Northern Land, Meng Lin’s loyalty to the Zhao Yi Army need not be questioned.

To Qin Huizhi, Meng Lin certainly harbored deep-seated hatred.

But for this mission, he indeed was the most suitable candidate.

After exchanging pleasantries with Qin Huizhi at the meeting, the conversation finally veered towards the main topic.

Qin Huizhi lowered his voice, "General Meng, regarding what General Han mentioned in the secret letter, how should it be approached?"

Certainly, Qin Huizhi harbored ambitions.

Strictly speaking, he was incompetent in all aspects except his formidable ability to cause destruction.

While he lived, with the promises from the Jin people, he held the position of sole Prime Minister for over a decade. He even harbored ambitions to usurp the throne.

But due to his insufficient capabilities, these plans had never materialized.

In his more than ten years as the sole Prime Minister, with his immense authority where the Emperor couldn’t dismiss him and he could arbitrarily place or remove officials, he caused a great deal of trouble, only managing to promote unscrupulous individuals, leading to decayed military readiness and a politically corrupted atmosphere. His plots to usurp the throne were far from successful; indeed, incompetence achieves nothing regardless of the endeavor.

Now, General Han Fuyue’s secret letter presented him with a vision of seizing power over ten years earlier; how could he not be anxious?

Yet at the moment, Qin Huizhi clearly didn’t understand how to proceed.

He did have the treacherous will, but Emperor Gaozong of Qi was still the undisputed sovereign of the Qi Dynasty. Although the earlier recall of General Han had somewhat lost the people’s hearts, he hadn’t truly wrongfully killed General Han so public resentment wasn’t that great.

Moreover, even if he had killed General Han, it wouldn’t be enough to destabilize the Emperor’s position.

Under such circumstances, given Qin Huizhi’s limited intellect, he simply couldn’t see how to manipulate the situation.

Initially harboring deep hatred for General Han, he instantly changed his demeanor when he heard that General Han could help him "ascend to the grand treasure," immediately bootlicking.

Before Meng Lin arrived, Zhao Haiping had already briefed him in detail, so when Qin Huizhi inquired, Meng Lin replied as instructed in a smooth narrative.

"Prime Minister Qin, the key to this matter lies in... Emperor Yuansheng."

Listening to Meng Lin’s analysis, Qin Huizhi’s eyes gradually brightened.

To directly usurp Emperor Gaozong’s throne was indeed a daunting task.

Even with Qin Huizhi’s political influence, achieving this was nearly impossible with his political acumen.

But, what if Emperor Gaozong was first deposed in favor of Emperor Yingzong, and then Emperor Yingzong was also dethroned?

Wouldn’t adding this intermediate step greatly increase the chances of success?

The biggest challenge in seizing the throne lay in obtaining legitimacy.

For royal relatives of the Qi Dynasty striving for the throne, especially someone like Emperor Yingzong—a brother to the Emperor—it was just like puncturing a layer of paper, easily torn.

Yet for a subject like Qin Huizhi aiming to seize the throne, it was troublesome, like crossing a mountain.

Of course, even if Emperor Yingzong sought the throne, despite it being just a layer of paper, it required the push of a sufficiently influential minister to tear it.