stonecrandall Chapter 1025 The Conditions Offered by Gao Lin! Recruitment!
Chapter 1025 The Conditions Offered by Gao Lin! Recruitment!
Gao Yao not only bestowed upon him the surname Gao and named him "Niu," but also entrusted him with the important task of protecting the capital region. In his heart, Gao Yao was not only a monarch, but also a figure like a brother and a father. Even if Gao Yao pointed to a pit of fire and told him to jump in, Er Niu would never flinch.
But now that Gao Yao is gone, who should he listen to? What should he do? Erniu wasn't stupid, but he knew his wisdom was far inferior to that of civil officials like Xiao He and Chen Ping. He had previously braced himself to seek advice from Grand Secretary Xiao He, hoping to get some guidance. However, Xiao He avoided him, citing his busy schedule, and only sent a message through his servant: "This is a matter of the general's family, but also a matter of state. Please consider it carefully and act accordingly."
Erniu understood Xiao He's predicament. At this critical juncture, if Xiao He, as the head of the civil officials, were to meet privately with him, a military general who held considerable military power, whatever they discussed would be enough to arouse endless suspicion. Not only would the other princes and court officials be suspicious, but even the shrewd Queen Lü Zhi in the harem would likely immediately focus her attention on the two of them.
At that point, the question wouldn't be about which prince he supported, but rather whether he harbored ambitions of forming cliques or even plotting treason. This wasn't about whether Gao Yao trusted Xiao He, but rather the natural chain of suspicion at the top of power. Xiao He's self-preservation made Er Niu feel even more isolated and helpless, as if he were walking alone on the edge of a cliff.
At this moment, facing the visit of Gao Lin, the rightful eldest son, Erniu could only be on his guard. He carefully chose his words and said cautiously, "Young Master, you flatter me. This humble general firmly believes that His Majesty is blessed with great fortune. He has turned many crises into opportunities in the past, and this time he will surely turn misfortune into good fortune and return safely soon. This humble general only needs to perform his duties diligently, stabilize the morale of the army, and wait patiently for His Majesty's return." He tried to steer the conversation toward loyalty to Gao Yao and waiting, subtly avoiding the choice of taking sides.
Gao Lin seemed to have anticipated Er Niu's response. He smiled slightly, his smile gentle, but his eyes were sharp as a hawk's as he slowly revealed the true purpose of his visit: "Uncle's loyalty to Father is evident to Heaven and Earth, and Gao Lin feels it deeply. However, things are unpredictable, and as subjects and sons, we should always be mindful and prepared for unforeseen circumstances. Today, Gao Lin has come here without permission because I have a request that I hope Uncle will grant."
He paused, his gaze meeting Erniu's slightly uneasy eyes, his voice clear and firm: "Gao Lin has long admired Bi'er's virtuous and gentle nature, and hopes to be united with you, Uncle, by marriage. If you, Uncle, are willing to grant my request, I, Gao Lin, can immediately go to the palace to inform my mother and ask her to personally preside over the marriage. What do you think, Uncle?"
"What?!" Erniu was shocked upon hearing this, almost dropping the teacup in his hand. He exclaimed in disbelief. He had never expected Gao Lin to play the "marriage alliance" card! Bi'er was his eldest daughter, sixteen years old, indeed a year older than Gao Lin, and they were a good match in terms of age.
But Erniu was by no means hopelessly stupid. He instantly understood the political implications behind this marriage—once he agreed, he would be binding his life, his fortune, and even the fate of his 70,000-strong army to Gao Lin! This was tantamount to publicly declaring that he, Gao Niu, was on the side of the eldest son, Gao Lin!
As for Gao Lin's claim of long-standing admiration, Er Niu didn't believe a word of it. His daughter, Bi'er, was only of average appearance and temperament. Her needlework, music, calligraphy, and painting skills were all just average, far from stunning. More importantly, Er Niu still held old-fashioned ideas and believed that women shouldn't show themselves too much before marriage. Therefore, Bi'er rarely went out and seldom even frequented the social circles of noble ladies in Xianyang.
As a noble young master, Gao Lin's daily activities almost never intersected with Bi'er's. How could he possibly have the opportunity to admire the daughter of a general who rarely left the house? This excuse was far too far-fetched. Indeed, many families had come to propose marriage before, but they were all after Gao Niu's military power. The so-called "genuine affection" seemed so pale and laughable in this arena of power.
Erniu's heart was in turmoil. He forced down his emotions and tried to make his voice sound calm: "Young Master... I'm afraid this matter is very inappropriate! His Majesty is currently away on a distant expedition, and his fate is unknown. As a general trusted by His Majesty, I am filled with anxiety day and night, hoping only for His Majesty's safe return. At this critical time, I have no heart to arrange my daughter's marriage. Moreover, marriage is a matter of parental consent. With His Majesty not here, how dare I make a decision on my own? In my humble opinion, this matter... would be better discussed after His Majesty's triumphant return. What do you think, Young Master?" He tried to use his concern for Gao Yao and the tradition of "parental consent" to politely decline this extremely risky marriage.
Gao Lin was clearly prepared. He did not show the slightest displeasure at Er Niu's refusal. Instead, he leaned forward slightly, lowered his voice, and spoke with a more earnest and authoritative tone: "Uncle, please forgive my bluntness, but you know the current situation in the court and among the people better than anyone else. Father has been out of contact for a long time, and various forces are stirring up trouble. I am here today not only on my own behalf, but also because Mother Consort... has the same intention."
He paused deliberately, letting the weight of the word "mother" sink into Erniu's heart, before continuing, "We are not doing anything rebellious; on the contrary, it is to prepare for the worst! If Father returns safely, everything will be fine, and this marriage will be the icing on the cake, strengthening our bond. But... if something unexpected happens, an accident we do not wish to see, the court will be in turmoil, and the foundation of the nation will be shaken. Only with the strong support of a pillar of the state like you, Uncle, can we quickly stabilize the situation, ensure that the foundation Father has worked so hard to build does not crumble, and ensure that the Great Qin... no, our Gao family's empire can smoothly transition!"
Gao Lin's words struck Er Niu's psychological defenses like a heavy hammer. He not only invoked Empress Lü Zhi, but also laid out the noble cause of stabilizing the court and preserving the foundation.
Seeing Erniu's shifty eyes and struggling expression, Gao Lin knew the time was right and finally offered his most tempting yet most lethal bargaining chip: "Uncle, your loyalty to Father and your meritorious service are known throughout the court. If this matter succeeds, you will not only be a national hero but also my maternal relative, one of my own! When Father's last wishes are fulfilled, and we sweep away all rivals and unify the world, with your illustrious military achievements and this connection, being granted a marquisate or a high-ranking position will not be enough to repay your contributions! At that time, I, Gao Lin, will strongly recommend you to my mother and the court officials to be granted... a royal title! A fiefdom, a permanent governorship, sharing the fate of the nation! This is what is worthy of your achievements and loyalty, Uncle. Don't you agree?"