Chapter 1050
Building Momentum for the Prince of Jin
Chapter 1050 Building Momentum for the Prince of Jin
A tranquil oasis amidst the bustle.
The hardest places to trace are these taverns and brothels, where the number of patrons is countless, not to mention those whose faces you can remember.
These days, the Taiping Sect has almost no open strongholds left in the capital. The sect has fallen and its members have scattered. Some of the outer members have provided clues from traitors. Fortunately, many of those who remained in the sect had already laid out covert measures according to the orders of Sect Leader Chu.
Especially this tavern, located near the street corner of the south gate, any commotion could be observed from inside, and today, just as expected.
Chief Pan's face was grim. He thought about how he had sent men out of the city to search for the group outside, but there had been no news of them since. It seemed that their fate was probably grim as well.
"No matter how they bite, they are all people of the imperial court. I received news that Master Chu has led the remaining main force back to Lingnan and ordered us to lie low for the time being. We can stir up trouble in the capital, but we cannot test the waters. We don't know what the situation is with the White Lotus Sect. They want us to investigate why they were defeated in the battle of Xihe County."
Holding the wine cup to his lips, he took a sip, seemingly enjoying it. His companion, Hall Master Luo, was somewhat puzzled. Defeat was one thing, but why the need to investigate the reason for it?
"Brother, what do you mean by 'clearly investigate'? In a battle between two armies, there are naturally winners and losers. A loss is a loss. Could it be that the White Lotus Sect is hiding its fighting strength? If you ask me, it's because they haven't been out in the ground for years, and now that they've suddenly come out, their legs are clumsy."
"Haha, yeah, big brother, everyone's bragging about those women. In my opinion, it's all just bragging. If it weren't for us holding them off, they would have run away long ago."
Master Wanxiang shook his head. As the saying goes, "You can only tell if it's a mule or a horse by taking it out for a spin." The White Lotus Sect couldn't even take down Xihe County. No wonder they were slaughtered and scattered back then, with some dying and others fleeing.
“You guys are spouting nonsense. These things must not be spread. Manager Chu’s suspicions are not unreasonable. Marquis Luo Yun has never fought against the White Lotus Sect from south to north. The situation in Xihe County is even more strange. After attacking the county city, he clearly had the upper hand, but he was defeated instead. Yangping collapsed at the first touch. Do you think there is something fishy going on here?”
Pan Chaozuo had also read the secret report in the past few days and felt something was amiss, but given the current situation, no one dared to draw a conclusion.
“Oh dear, brother, you just love to think about these things. Prince Bei Jing brought his most trusted and elite troops from the Northern Prince’s Mansion, including the Vanguard Army. They were all fighting desperately. How could those women from the White Lotus Sect withstand them? They must have run away. Why are you talking about these things? I think that since there are rumors in the capital, we might as well take it a step further.”
Wan Sheng may not be skilled in warfare, but he's adept at stirring up rumors in the capital. Several vassal kings have entered the capital, and Marquis Luoyun has also returned. Perhaps he could even get involved in the affairs of the Four Kings and Eight Dukes?
"Oh, then tell me what's next?"
Hall Master Luo also became interested. He glanced around and, seeing that no one was paying attention to this corner, leaned forward slightly and asked.
"Shopkeeper, listen carefully. The two armies are fighting fiercely outside the city, and the ground is littered with corpses. It's clear that they went all out. The princes have just arrived in the capital, so how can they be at ease? If that's the case, why not spread a message that Marquis Luoyun was ordered by the palace to intercept and kill them? These are all rumors in the capital. The princes have entered the capital, and they're going to change the world!"
These rumors actually originated from their own mouths. The two men gasped, realizing how coincidental it was—how could they have run into each other on their way back to the capital?
Leader Pan squinted, stroking his chin; his thick beard was pressed into an irregular shape, revealing his inner anxiety.
"Alright, since we're all coming here anyway, it's impossible for nothing to happen. Let our people take action. The palace may or may not know, but we just need to make sure those censors know."
"Yes, boss."
The two men, their faces grave, nodded in agreement. The censors in the capital were like deadly swords.
"Your Highness, Your Highness, a report from our intelligence network in the south of the city states that several princes and Marquis Luoyun have entered the city. Moreover, the rumors circulating outside the city are true; the military police are still clearing away the corpses."
Inside the Listening Tide Pavilion at the Princess's residence, a woman in a moon-white palace dress sat quietly. On the table in front of her was an ancient zither. She was offered a bowl of tea and lit an incense burner, but no lingering sound came out.
As the voices were heard, Liu Yue slowly stepped inside, dressed in simple, plain clothes.
"Oh, so it seems that Marquis Luoyun is quite bold. None of my brothers are known for their good tempers, yet he dared to use such force. I wonder if it was the palace's doing or his own idea,"
Zhou Xiangxue spoke softly, reaching out her hand to the guqin, gently plucking the strings. An elegant, clear sound emanated from the strings, yet there was something unusual about it.
Liu Yue carefully approached, then knelt down and refilled her master's tea, replying;
"My lord, the information we've gathered is clear. It wasn't Marquis Luoyun who struck first, but rather His Highness the Prince of Han's men who fired their crossbows first, killing the Imperial Guards. Only then did Marquis Luoyun order a counterattack, and they then brought out their ballistae, killing many more people."
This explanation made the princess pause, somewhat incredulous. The Prince of Han's men had struck first, and Marquis Luoyun even possessed a crossbow; was this truly an attempt to kill?
"This is intriguing. Brother Wang made the first move, and Marquis Luoyun brought crossbows with him when he entered the capital with the army. What were they thinking? The Imperial Guards must have been the same group that followed Prince Teng south. It seems there's more to this than we know."
As if talking to himself, he tried to come up with a reasonable explanation, but he still felt that something was wrong, so he continued to ask questions;
What was the reaction from inside the palace?
"Reporting to Your Majesty, Chief Eunuch Dai personally left the palace with the troops of the Imperial City's Southern Garrison, and blocked their way at the entrance of the South Market Street. First, he ordered the princes to return to the Court of State Ceremonial to rest, and then the carriages of Marquis Luoyun and Prince Jin headed towards the palace."
Liu Yue put down the teapot and replied carefully. Now that all the forces in the capital have gathered, her master no longer has the advantage, and there is still no response from Chang Le Palace.
"Yes, that's right. What's the saying? No matter how close brothers are, they can't compare to sons. Since Prince Jin is in Marquis Luoyun's ranks, killing a few people is no big deal. Perhaps these things weren't done by Marquis Luoyun, but by the eldest prince."
Zhou Xiangxue's eyes lit up. Perhaps many people had overlooked the three princes. His Majesty's intention in sending them on this expedition as military supervisors might not be a misdirection for their respective factions to establish their own governments and military headquarters. Could it be that His Majesty prioritized Prince Jin? But then she thought of Prince Bei Jing, Shui Rong, who had decisively defeated the White Lotus Sect's main force of hundreds of thousands of troops in Xihe County, and how Prince Wei had been besieged in the county city without ever retreating an inch.
The King of Chu also personally went to the front lines and, together with the King of Dongping, launched a surprise attack on Yangping, which was won in one battle. It seems that the path to the succession has already begun.
"Well, Master's suspicions are not wrong. Our men saw the First Prince not far behind Marquis Luo Yun, right there in the Imperial Guard's formation."
Liu Yue thought about it and realized it was true. In that case, wouldn't the capital be even more bustling?
"This is evidence. Since the capital is so lively, we should join in. There are so many restless people in the capital, and so many rumors. No one would believe that there is no one behind it. So, adding fuel to the fire is just as good as it seems. Do you understand?"
It's interesting to think about. My brothers probably don't know that before they came, there were already rumors about "changing the world." If there are any other rumors now, wouldn't that just add fuel to the fire?
"Yes, Master, I understand. But there is one more thing. Our caravan that came back from the North said that Marquis Luoyun has recovered Pingliao City outside the pass. Now, the entire area outside the pass is under his control. Moreover, even after collecting taxes, a single trip to the area outside the pass can yield more than double the profit."
Liu Yue only learned these things when she went to the Chamber of Commerce to check the accounts. She never expected that the wealth and prosperity outside the pass was so rare. No wonder the court sent those refugees outside the pass, and Marquis Luoyun was able to stay.
The princess, who was still sipping her tea, suddenly brightened up and burst out laughing.
"No wonder Marquis Luoyun is so imposing. He has the entire area outside the pass under his control and has no worries about the rear. I don't know what those Jurchens are thinking. So many people died for Pingliao City back then, but now they are handing it over. Times have changed, and in the end it was all for nothing."
Perhaps thinking of herself, a look of sorrow filled her eyes. Such a stunning figure, that short-lived wretch of the Su family, was not fortunate enough to enjoy it. It's a pity, Marquis Luo Yun already had wives and concubines. If it had been earlier, well…
"My lord, Marquis Luoyun has returned with such a great victory. Is his title possibly being promoted? I've heard that the Marquis spends a lot of time at the Rongguo Mansion."
Liu Yue cautiously reminded them that the Rongguo Mansion had already proposed marriage to the Meng family, and Manager Yu, in his capacity as the manager of the Red Chamber, had also sent congratulatory gifts.
"If he had made a great contribution on his own, perhaps it would be possible, but for now, we can only mention his title of Marquis of Guannei. He often visits the Rongguo Mansion, isn't he? Aren't his wives and concubines there too? By the way, how is the marriage between the Rongguo Mansion and the Meng family going?"
Zhou Xiangxue put down her teacup, and having forgotten about the matter after hearing it, she realized she had forgotten all about it.
"The Rongguo Mansion has already sent betrothal gifts, and Manager Yu has also sent congratulatory gifts. It is said that the Meng family is very satisfied. Meng Yueyun even wrote a couplet in response to the mansion, which the old lady saw and liked very much."
"Hmph, that old lady has a good plan. Let's wait and see."
"Yes, master."
A soft sigh escaped, and perhaps because the sun was setting, the waters of Qinghu Lake began to ripple, the sound of waves reaching Tingchao Pavilion and the ears of everyone present.
In the house,
Quietly, the servants who had been shopping had already returned to the mansion. The princess was extremely strict in managing her household; after sunset, no one was allowed to enter or leave the mansion. Therefore, as evening approached, the mansion remained closed to guests, and the gates were bolted shut. Little did they know that these actions were being watched by someone with ulterior motives. Across the street, as soon as the princess's mansion gates closed, someone returned, packed up their stall, and it was unclear how long they had been observing.
Within the Imperial Palace
Marquis Luoyun had already escorted Prince Jin to the Meridian Gate, where the Imperial Guard camp was already on guard. Zhang Jinyu was somewhat impressed; indeed, wherever one place moved, everything else followed. It seemed His Majesty had already been on guard for some time.
He glanced back at Steward Dai and the following carriage, and called out,
"Your Highness, we've arrived at the Meridian Gate."
Perhaps due to the fatigue from riding in the carriage, Prince Zhou Ding of Jin squinted and dozed off for a while inside the carriage.
Hearing the Marquis's call, he lifted the carriage curtain and looked out. The Meridian Gate was right in front of him. How could they have gone so fast? He yawned, grabbed the carriage door, and got off the carriage.
"My lord, bring the command flag. Let's go to the palace together."
"Here."
Zhang Jinyu's expression froze. He hadn't expected His Highness to remember this matter. He hesitated for a moment, then dismounted and took out a thick layer of folded flags from the bundle on Ningbian's back. A thick, pungent smell of blood wafted out. These were the blood flags left behind after each battle when various units were wiped out. Although no one raised the flags anymore, their spirits remained.
Zhang Jinyu stood before the Prince of Jin, his face solemn. These ordinary soldiers had died for their country, and their deaths were worthy of their cause. He presented the offerings with both hands.
"Your Highness, the remnants of the left wing of the Capital Garrison, the right guard of the Imperial Guard, and the various prefectural armies of Sizhou, Hongnong, and Tongzhou are all here,"
These so-called broken flags were the flags of the Great Wu Dynasty left behind by the flag bearers after all the soldiers and generals of each camp had died. They were all tattered and bloodstained, and some had even been burned. But Zhang Jinyu ordered people to collect them all. He had once asked the Prince of Jin about this matter. Those who die for their country should be respected by the world.
The Prince of Jin, fully armored with his hair tied up, stood ramrod straight, his face solemn. After adjusting his robes, he accepted the gift with both hands.
"My lord, please follow me into the palace to petition for the soldiers' merits."
"promise."
Zhang Jinyu responded, then looked behind him. Kang Mengyu's Imperial Guards had not left and there were still five thousand men there. Suddenly, he raised his arm and shouted.
"Great Wu will surely prevail!"
In just a moment, the majority of the people in front of the Meridian Gate shouted in unison.
"Victory is certain, victory is certain, victory is certain."
The overwhelming momentum startled the Imperial Guards, who tensed up, and many of their warhorses snorted uneasily. Even Dai Quan was somewhat surprised, never expecting that Marquis Luoyun would create momentum for Prince Jin. Could there be a deeper meaning behind this?
"Very well, follow me into the palace."
Prince Jin, his face flushed, responded loudly and stepped into the Meridian Gate first. The rest of the Imperial Guards were not allowed to enter. Zhang Jinyu gave Ning Bian a wink, and the two followed behind. Dai Quan and the others were only stunned for a moment before reacting quickly, dismounting and following.
But news of what happened at the palace gates spread far and wide.
Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, in the Imperial Study
Several senior officials had already entered the hall to wait, especially the Grand Secretary, who was sitting inside, but his eyes were half-closed, and it was unclear whether he was asleep.
At this moment, the west window opened, and the afterglow of the approaching sunset bathed the entire imperial study in a light that made it seem like a fairyland. Several shouts followed, breaking the quiet and peaceful atmosphere in the hall.
After a while,
Then a eunuch, who was in charge of affairs, hurried into the imperial study to report.
"Your Majesty, His Highness Prince Jin, along with Marquis Luoyun and others, has entered the Meridian Gate."
The Martial Emperor, his face flushed, had already sat up and asked;
"What was that loud shouting outside just now?"
"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Just now, outside the palace gate, after Marquis Luoyun presented some things to Prince Jin, the Imperial Guards who followed from outside the city shouted the words 'We will win!' in unison, their momentum was impressive."
The eunuch immediately knelt down and loudly congratulated him, his face flushed with excitement. These words of congratulation caused the several elders present to have different expressions, especially Lu Wenshan and Gu Yichen. The two men exchanged glances, as if asking questions. Was Marquis Luoyun building momentum for Prince Jin?
"Haha, this kid, still putting on this show,"
The Emperor was overjoyed; the day's unhappiness vanished instantly. It was truly rare for Marquis Luo Yun to understand the Emperor's will.
“Your Majesty, this is not just a show. This old minister believes that the young should have the spirit of the young. Marquis Luoyun and Prince Jin led the main force of the court to sweep away the civil unrest in the south of the capital. Now that they have returned in triumph, forgive this old minister for speaking out, but it is only right to show off like this.”
An aged voice rang out, and Li Chonghou, perhaps having woken up, straightened up from his slightly leaning posture and replied with a smile.
"Your Majesty, I agree with what the Grand Secretary said. The chaos in Jingnan lasted for more than two months and affected the entire Jingnan region. Even Runan City and Xihe County were not spared. Now that the court has won a great victory, the three armies have gathered more than 600,000 troops. They are well-trained and well-supplied. It is only right to let the world know about this and deter the world."
Lu Wenshan was quick to act, bowing slightly towards the dragon throne. It could be said that the imperial army was currently at its strongest, and who in the world dared to stand in its way? Even Gu Yichen, who was usually taciturn, stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, the army of Marquis Luoyun, which has been pacifying the south, is already on its way back to the capital. The armies of Prince Bei Jing and Prince Wei are also not far from the capital. Even Prince Dongping and Prince Chu, who are leading a part of the Jiangnan camp, have already returned by water and will be able to return to the capital tomorrow. This should be a cause for celebration throughout the land and a deterrent to those who are petty and despicable."
His eyes darted around, and his words were meant to intimidate the petty scoundrels, though it was unclear who he was referring to.
However, having vented all her pent-up frustrations, and in the midst of great joy, even if the Emperor harbored some resentment, she glossed over it.
"Very well, what you ministers say makes sense. When the army returns to the capital, we will surely celebrate with the whole nation. Grand Secretary Gu, have the Ministry of Revenue prepared the pension and reward money?"
This is the crux of the matter. With the Emperor Emeritus's birthday banquet approaching, expenses are flowing out like water. If there is also a nationwide celebration, will the Ministry of Revenue have any money available without using its reserves? This question also drew the attention of the other cabinet ministers.
But Gu Yichen remained calm and composed. He took out an account book from his sleeve, opened it, and replied without changing his expression.
"Your Majesty, the Ministry of Revenue has already prepared the funds. Currently, taxes in the capital have doubled in all markets and wards, and many local bullies have been apprehended. The income tax is sufficient."
"That's good. We must not be lenient with those wealthy merchants who have a grudge against the people; taxes must be levied on them equally."
The Emperor understood perfectly well that the stories behind the confiscated property of those merchants were all laid out on his desk.
"Yes, Your Majesty, this old minister obeys."
Gu Yichen readily agreed, stating that as long as money entered the Ministry of Revenue, he wouldn't ask where it came from.
While the discussion was taking place in the Imperial Study, Zhang Jinyu and his entourage had already arrived at the Yangxin Hall courtyard. Before Dai Quan could say anything, the Prince of Jin, anxious, didn't stop to announce their arrival and strode in. The others paused briefly, but didn't stop, following him into the hall.
"Reporting, Your Majesty, His Highness Prince Jin and Marquis Luoyun have arrived in the hall!"
"Quickly, call them in!"
(End of this chapter)