Chapter 1075
Knowing I Can't Go Alone
Chapter 1075 Knowing I Can't Go Alone
The sun was shining brightly outside.
Inside the main hall of the Honglu Temple, all was silent. The bronze bells on the corner tower outside made a soft, muffled sound in the wind. The shimmering shadows of the bamboo grove outside the hall were imprinted on the mottled walls, adding to the solemn atmosphere.
In the center of the main hall of the Honglu Temple, the magnificent gate, carrying a somewhat eerie atmosphere, suddenly opened wide. Many of the accompanying dancers and singers hurriedly ran out. Only after they left did the gate close again, locking away the oppressive atmosphere that had been there.
In the main hall,
The five princes also put down their wine bowls, their expressions solemn. Several princes looked at the Prince of Han, whose previous words were truly frightening. The Prince of Zheng asked in a low voice.
"Lang Yun has been stationed in the south for over thirty years. Although he is old and frail, his soldiers and provisions have always been plentiful. He should be in good health, so how could he not come to the capital?"
“Yes, Brother Wang, in the south, everyone knows that the Lang family has made great contributions in guarding the border. Even if they are suspicious of him, they will not do anything to him. Why would they not come to the birthday banquet?”
King Song shook his head, finding it utterly unbelievable. The journey north wasn't limited to land; a water route could also reduce travel time. How could they simply not come?
Only Chen Wen, his hand resting on the Longquan sword again, suddenly spoke.
"What you mean, Brother Wang, is that Lang Yun, the Prince of the South, is a person who seeks fame and fortune. In fact, in the battle three years ago, the allied forces of the three southern kingdoms won, while the Lang family suffered a crushing defeat and has not yet recovered. If Lang Yun leaves, Nan Yun County will likely be attacked by the three kingdoms. At that time, Lin Jian County will be isolated and everything will be over."
The chilling words echoed through the hall, sending a chill down the spines of the other princes. If what he said was true, the south was on the verge of collapse, and the closest territory to these prefectures was the fiefdom of the Prince of Wu. Of all the princes, he was the least likely to believe it.
"Fifth Brother, it's been a long time since I called you Fifth Brother. You must not talk nonsense about this. Even if Lang Yun is useless, his 400,000 Lang family troops are not made of mud. They can't even defend a prefecture. Linjian Prefecture has many mountains and forests. Even if they were given the Three Kingdoms, it would be useless. Nonsense, nonsense."
The King of Wu, with his corpulent body, waved his hands repeatedly. If the Lang family dared to conceal the truth, it would be a crime of deceiving the king.
Seeing that the King of Wu was anxious, the King of Chen also had a smile on his face.
"Sixth Brother, why are you in such a hurry? It's just a guess. Who knows what really happened? Your calling me 'Fifth Brother' has touched my heart."
Perhaps due to the sudden interruption, the atmosphere in the hall finally melted away, and King Zheng sighed, his hoarse voice carrying over.
"Third brother, tell me what the reason is,"
The King of Han was startled, then relaxed, nodding and shaking his head.
"What Fifth Brother said is pretty much true. However, it wasn't the three kingdoms in the south that attacked. Instead, the Lang family mobilized 100,000 troops to march south. When they passed the Lishan Pass, they were ambushed and suffered heavy losses. After retreating, the allied forces of the three kingdoms followed and fiercely defended the city of Linjian County. The battle lasted not a month, but a year. Both sides suffered heavy casualties, which is why they had to withdraw. However, the Lang family has a new army at their disposal."
He had gone to great lengths to uncover these hidden details, but unfortunately, it was all in vain.
Everyone gasped. They wondered how much the Lang family had sacrificed to keep the war a secret until now.
"Hehe, what a fine family, the Lang family, what a fine family. Since that's the case, if these two families don't come, we'll just have to face them in the capital. Whether it's Shui Rong or Mu Shi, we're not without a chance. If we can get the Emperor Emeritus to take charge, then we can each rely on our own abilities in the future. What do you say?"
Prince Zheng instantly thought of many things. Since the Gong and Lang families weren't sending anyone, there was still a chance for things to turn around in the capital. As long as the retired emperor could regain power, there would be a chance for the future.
"it is good,"
"Okay, I'll listen to my second brother."
"good,"
Several people echoed his sentiment, which seemed fair, but what should be done about the current situation?
"Someone, issue the order: use the royal carriages and prepare congratulatory gifts for Prince Jin and his entourage—no, also for Marquis Luoyun and his entourage. They should all travel via the southern route of the city."
"Yes, Your Highness."
As the guards outside the hall responded, the sounds of clinking glasses and exchanging toasts filled the hall again. Meanwhile, at the foot of Honglu Temple Mountain, the carriages of the five princes, with their royal banners raised, headed south of the city under the escort of their guards.
News of this action reached Youlai Restaurant.
This banquet
After several rounds of drinks and dishes, and just as the party was about to end, a steward came to report.
"Reporting, Your Highness, the carriages of the five princes from the Court of State Ceremonial have already bypassed the south of the city and are heading this way."
"What? They really came?"
King Wei was extremely surprised. It was almost noon, and the banquet was almost over. Could it be that his uncles had eaten their fill and were out for a walk to digest their food?
Even Shui Rong and Mu Shi looked puzzled. Only the Marquis of Xiangyang seemed uneasy, anxiously giving instructions to the Marquis of Luoyun who was still leisurely eating and drinking.
"My lord, several princes have arrived. What do you think?"
Zhang Jinyu was somewhat surprised. He had asked the wrong person. Given his temperament, he would never really pay attention to these people. He would eat and drink as he pleased. They were here, so what else could he do but sit and watch?
"Brother Bai, it's almost noon. What can we do now? I've never heard of people in the capital coming back for a second round of banquets after finishing their first one."
They had turned against each other before, and now he still had to go out to greet them? How shameless! He was giving the Prince of Jin plenty of face. The words were a bit harsh. The Marquis of Xiangyang gave a wry smile. He had really asked the wrong person. He turned to look at the eldest son of the Li family beside him.
"Young Master, I didn't expect the princes to be so persistent. The caravan is almost here, what can we do?"
The question is so urgent, why not hold another banquet and have someone sit with you for a while?
"Brother Bai, don't be anxious. The Marquis is right. They've come, so they're here. The banquet time has passed. How can we start the banquet again? I've never heard of a host's banquet being reopened after the appointed time. That's how it is in the common people, so we should do the same. Besides, I guess this is a royal procession. The princes are probably still resting at the Court of State Ceremonial."
Li Chaosheng picked up his teacup, took a sip, and swallowed. He had already lost face today; if he tried to fight again, he feared he would lose even more face.
Upon hearing this, Bai Guangju's expression softened, and he rose and bowed.
"In that case, let me go and greet you. It is the face of the court, Your Highness. Please be seated."
Just as he was about to take his leave and lead someone out to greet him, he was suddenly pulled hard on the elbow as he turned around, stopping him in his tracks.
However, Marquis Luo Yun used his greasy hands to pull the person back. At this moment, Zhang Jinyu had already eaten and drunk her fill and was in a good mood, but the way Marquis Xiangyang was acting was not right. How could someone go out to greet someone once and then come to greet them again? Wouldn't that expose what had happened before?
"Brother Bai, why are you in such a hurry? They are just arrogant vassal kings. They come as they please. They are not short of legs. There is no need to greet them. Just sit down and wait."
The overwhelming smell of alcohol hit him, and though the words seemed casual, they were from the bottom of his heart. Bai Guangju gave a wry smile and said.
"My lord is probably drunk. You must not say such things. I can still walk these few steps."
“Look at you, with all this wine, how can you say you're drunk? Besides, you can walk these few steps, so if they come, they can walk too.”
Zhang Jinyu wore a half-smile. Whether she was truly drunk or feigning it, her hand remained firmly planted. Deep down, she harbored some anger. Her perfectly good day had been ruined by these princes. She wasn't afraid of scheming and intrigue, but she feared these shameless individuals.
Seeing that Marquis Luo Yun wouldn't loosen his grip, the others also seemed thoughtful, especially Shui Rong and Mu Shi. It would be self-deception to say they weren't angry. The two exchanged a glance, then rose, cupped their hands, and took their leave.
"Your Highness, we are feeling unwell and must take our leave now. Please do not be angry."
Without waiting for the astonishment on the faces of Prince Jin and Prince Wei, he bowed and then left the restaurant together. This departure was somewhat abrupt, but Zhang Jinyu secretly admired him. It's said that those who have lived in the capital for a long time see things with profound insight; perhaps this was the best outcome. "Ahem, Your Highness, I am not a good drinker. I have drunk too much and my head is spinning. I will return to my residence first. I take my leave."
Li Chaosheng didn't give the others a chance either.
She rose and gave a graceful bow, then descended the pavilion with a swift and decisive movement. Everyone understood what was going on. Prince Jin waved his hand and said.
"In that case, this banquet shall end. Everyone says that drinking too much is bad, and I was being presumptuous. What do you think, my lord?"
"Haha, Your Highness is absolutely right. Everyone says that drinking leads to trouble, and it really does. Why don't you go back to your residence to rest? You smell of alcohol, so you should go back, wash up, and get some sleep."
Zhang Jinyu laughed heartily, slammed his hand on the table, left his words, and led his men downstairs. Several people followed behind. Even the Marquis of Xiangyang realized that this was indeed a strategic retreat, so he simply stopped mentioning what he had said before.
Inside the courtyard, carriages from various units were already prepared. After everyone boarded, the carriages slowly moved, heading towards the south street entrance, where they parted ways.
After a while,
The royal entourage, which had come from the Court of State Ceremonial, had already arrived at the entrance of the restaurant, where a steward from the royal residence was greeting them.
"King Zheng sent special products from Jingzhou as a congratulatory gift to Kings Jin, Wei, and Chu."
They called out three times, but no one came out of the courtyard. They grew puzzled. Before the manager could send someone inside to inquire, the restaurant owner, bowing, came out. Seeing the imposing motorcade outside, he instantly knew what had happened.
He quickly stepped forward and performed a deep bow.
"My lord, the banquet hosted by the nobles here has long since ended. All the princes have returned to their residences, and only this humble servant and his staff are left to clean up."
Fearing the visitor wouldn't believe him, he ordered his staff to open the courtyard gate. Inside, however, the courtyard was deserted, except for the hotel staff moving tables and chairs. This scene horrified the manager. What was he to do? How could he explain this to the Prince?
He asked huffily;
"How could it have dispersed so quickly?"
"My lord, it is already noon. At the hour of Chen (7-9 AM), the guests are eager to start their banquet, and I have been busy preparing for it. However, the restaurant is short of food and has to close down."
Manager Xin, with a pained expression, took out a silver ingot from behind his back and handed it over, repeatedly apologizing.
The steward of the Prince's mansion, who had been furious, finally smiled when he held the silver in his hand.
"Hmph, I knew you wouldn't dare to hide it. When did the princes leave?"
"In reply to you, sir, the noble guests left quite early, around the same time as you arrived."
Manager Xin could only answer truthfully, but how he said it was no longer his business.
"you,"
Upon hearing this, the manager wondered if they had known they were coming and that's why they left. But he couldn't explain this to them. His eyes darted around, and he scolded them.
"What? You've been gone for almost an hour. What's the point of coming here then?"
Before Manager Xin could figure out what was going on, the steward turned around, mounted his horse, and waved.
"Someone, unload the gifts and send them all to the princes' residences. There must be no mistakes."
"Yes, my lord."
The escorting guards all obeyed the order and unloaded the gifts in front of the restaurant's courtyard gate. The gifts were then escorted out by the imperial guards. Seeing that there was nothing to do, Manager Xin shrank back and returned to the courtyard, quickly ordering the waiter to lock the door.
The news of what happened here had already spread throughout the capital.
North of the capital,
On the eastern estuary of the Anshui River,
A large ship belonging to the Grand Canal transport office, escorted by several fast boats, headed straight for the capital. At this moment, the river was rippling with blue waves, and the villages on both banks were filled with wisps of smoke from their chimneys, creating a scene full of life.
After passing Fuling County, the city walls of the capital can be vaguely seen in the distance, their enormous shadows resembling a coiled dragon lying in the mountain stream. Before long, heading west downstream, one will reach Anhu Wharf; only then will one truly have entered the capital.
In the cabin,
The Jiangnan Provincial Governor, Lord Zhuang, the Inspector General, Lord Jing, and two county magistrates sat around the table. In front of them was a fixed table with only a few dishes of sauces, naan bread, and a pot of tea.
Zhuang Shouzhi smiled faintly.
"Lord Jing, come and try the steamed pickles I brought from my residence. They are a specialty of Jiangnan. If I can't return to Jiangnan this time, I'm afraid I won't be able to eat them again."
He shook his head with a self-deprecating smile. This trip to the capital was fraught with uncertainty; he hadn't even received Grand Secretary Lu's earlier letter, which meant the Imperial City Guard knew about it beforehand. If things went smoothly, he could retire and return home; if not, his reputation for this life would be ruined.
I glanced at Lord Jing again; he was in his prime, what a pity.
"Lord Zhuang, things have come to this point, so I'll refrain from making sarcastic remarks. We're all doing this for the sake of the court's reputation and for its sake. Now that things have come to this, I have something to say, and I have to get it off my chest."
At this point, his previous tense demeanor vanished. He picked up his chopsticks, took a bite of the pickled vegetables, and the rich aroma spread out, which he didn't know was why it smelled so good.
"What advice does Lord Jing have for me?"
"I dare not presume to offer my guidance, but after going to Jiangnan, I realized how difficult things have been for Lord Zhuang. The lands of Jiangnan have been almost entirely seized by those noble families to the north. The imperial court's taxable lands are all in Jiangnan, yet the taxes collected are less than what those families earn. How can the imperial court possibly be at peace?"
This inspector is utterly incompetent, but the account books and evidence I collected were all submitted ahead of time and have now apparently entered the palace. Coincidentally, the two honest county magistrates have also been implicated. I wonder if the two magistrates will have a peaceful life in the capital. Ahahaha.
The two exchanged questions and answers, and at the end, Jing Cunliang suddenly burst into laughter, a hearty laugh. With a shake of his body, he spilled the tea in his hand onto the ground, scattering it like scattered stars.
Even Xu Changwen and Xu Dong, who were present, were shocked. When they were in Jiangnan, they had investigated the changes in tax land and knew about the greed of those noble families. But they never expected that such things would happen inside. These lands might really be the result of insatiable greed.
"Impressive, Lord Jing, you've handled things with such meticulous care. But let me add one more thing: these people's greed is astonishing. And even if we know the land in Jiangnan has been seized through coercion and bribery, what means does the court have to reclaim it? You've offended far more than just these people."
Zhuang Shouzhi's expression also showed some shock. It seemed that Jing Cunliang was fooling the officials, but he was really capable. He had personally calculated the land that had been verified, causing the people in Jiangnan to suffer a great loss. Perhaps, leaving would be a relief. Thinking of this, how could Zhuang Shouzhi's face be good? After all, in his post, he had only turned a blind eye to what was done. Compared to Jing Cunliang's methods, although he was smooth, he was not as good. How could he, a proud man, be convinced?
These secrets deeply shocked Xu Changwen and Xu Dong, suggesting that the one making things difficult for the court might be the court itself.
"Lord Zhuang, you don't need to test me. Although I, Jing Cunliang, am not a good person, the blame for Jiangnan cannot be entirely placed on me. From the Tianbao era to after the Emperor ascended the throne, the Zhen, Shi, Wang, and Jia families have been buying up prime farmland in Jiangnan on a massive scale. Tsk tsk, in the first year of Yuanfeng alone, they more than doubled their wealth. Aren't they afraid of overeating?"
Jing Cunliang was almost all alone. He experienced two ups and downs in his official career. He only had a concubine in his hometown and a son. Now he had joined Prince Zhongshun and set up a business for the prince's mansion. This could be considered as repaying the kindness of his mentor. As for the end, it all depended on his mentor. Unfortunately, the policy of converting farmland into mulberry fields, which was originally a national policy of the court, ended up in a dead end. His mentor probably did not expect this.
"You underestimate them. I served as an official in Jiangnan for ten years. Jiangnan is so rich that it could rival the wealth of a country. They have so much silver, yet they are still greedy. If they want to touch Jiangnan, they will inevitably touch the capital. So, there is no solution. As for you two, you are like newborn calves that are not afraid of tigers. Whether getting involved is a blessing or a curse is unknown. Ma Guangcheng's death is not a pity, but you will be implicated in the end. You should be careful."
Perhaps having come to terms with it, Zhuang Shouzhi knew that at most he would be guilty of dereliction of duty, and the same applied to Jing Cunliang. After all, the Grand Secretary was still alive. But these two had instigated the major case in Jiangnan; how they would extricate themselves depended entirely on the capabilities behind their backs.
Little did he know that these words only strengthened Xu Changwen's resolve.
"Your Excellencies are both important officials of the court. I am but a humble official with little influence and a low rank. However, I believe that serving the court wholeheartedly is the proper way for an official. If this case is not investigated, it will not be enough to appease the people of the world. If it is not investigated, it will not be enough to be loyal to the court. Even if the road ahead is long and arduous, I will go alone!"
"The same applies to me!"
(End of this chapter)