Chapter 1099
The Martial Emperor's Foresight
Chapter 1099 The Martial Emperor's Foresight
In front of the Meridian Gate of the capital,
Zhang Jinyu sat in the carriage, silently alighting from his horse, his heart filled with shock. This Minister of Justice had just left the palace and entered the Grand Secretariat. Was this because he was favored by the Emperor, or did the Emperor have other plans?
It seems yesterday's interrogation wasn't just a formality. Given this, regardless of the reaction from Chang Le Palace, even the Emperor himself is probably getting restless. Is he testing the waters, or has he truly made up his mind?
The thought that many officials' residences in the capital were being watched by the Imperial City Guards meant that this day would eventually come. However, with the support of the retired emperor and his powerful relatives, the situation was too unpredictable.
"My lord, Minister Song, no, Grand Secretary Song has already returned to his office. It seems this case won't be closed so easily. I wonder how Grand Secretary Song will handle the retrial?"
Ningbian was still somewhat worried that if this matter implicated the Marquis's mansion and caused the princes to accuse him, it would create further turmoil.
"Let's go to the palace. This isn't about the case anymore. No matter how high those princes jump, they're just a dish in the Emperor's hands. It's up to His Majesty to choose."
Zhang Jinyu sighed. The former crown prince was so powerful; he could kill him without hesitation. What kinship was there to speak of? It was all for his own selfish reasons. Fortunately, the retired emperor was outwardly cultivating Taoism. If the retired emperor had focused on his cultivation and not concerned himself with politics, things might have turned out well. But it's better to be safe than sorry. They say that the older people get, the more they fear death. Clinging to power so tightly, who knows what might happen?
"Yes, Your Excellency."
And so, as the imperial eunuch alighted from the carriage and beckoned a young eunuch to lead the way, they entered through the Meridian Gate.
"My lord, this way, we need to hurry."
Her father-in-law's anxious expression was clearly genuine, and this made Zhang Jinyu's heart tighten even more. She quickly followed, taking a detour from the east side of Hanyuan Hall, passing through a bamboo grove, and following a small path to reach the courtyard of Yangxin Hall.
Inside the courtyard, Eunuch Yun, the head steward of the front hall, was already waiting. Zhang Jinyu clasped his hands in greeting, about to ask a question, when he was immediately interrupted by Eunuch Yun.
"Greetings, Your Excellency. The Emperor is waiting for you in the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Please come in."
Make way, point to the entrance of the hall, Zhang Jinyu nodded, and quickly stepped inside.
Upon arriving at the entrance of the Imperial Study, Zhang Jinyu did not wait. He straightened his official robes and stepped inside. The bronze incense burner in the Imperial Study emitted wisps of smoke. The Emperor's fingertips trembled slightly as he held the writing brush. A secret memorial from Jingnan had already come into view. It contained only one sentence: "Yu Shiyuan, the Provincial Governor of Jingnan, is affiliated with Prince Zhongyi." The few hasty strokes were almost earth-shattering. Even Zhang Jinyu, standing in the center of the hall, did not notice.
Dai Quan's face turned deathly pale. He stood there, suppressing his shock. How could there be any trace of the Prince of Loyalty in the south of the capital? Was it a hoax, or was someone impersonating him to disrupt the court?
Seeing that the atmosphere in the room was not right, Zhang Jinyu deliberately made his footsteps louder as he walked around the carved lattice door. The cloud patterns embroidered with gold thread on his black brocade robe appeared and disappeared with his steps, and the jade pendant with dragon pattern hanging at his waist made a clear sound.
"Your subject Zhang Jinyu pays his respects to Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
After a loud shout, he knelt down and the Martial Emperor raised his head and stared at Marquis Luo Yun for a few moments. The man looked much thinner.
"Rise, and offer a seat to Marquis Luoyun."
"Thank you, Your Majesty,"
Zhang Jinyu never refused to sit down. When the Emperor asked her to sit, she would sit down. Standing was tiring enough, and when Dai Quan brought over a stool, Zhang Jinyu didn't stand on ceremony and plopped down on it. However, she felt that the stool was a bit hard and uncomfortable.
The Empress pushed the teacup over the jade table, the tea reflecting the memorial in her hand. She paid no attention to Luo Yunhou's actions and asked directly.
"I heard that when you were attacking the prefectural city south of the capital, you discovered that the provincial governor, Yu Shiyuan, was suspected of defecting to the enemy. Do you have any explanation?"
Zhang Jinyu was taken aback upon hearing this, looked up at the Empress Wu behind the imperial desk, and nodded.
"Your Majesty, this is indeed true. During the battle in the Anyang Mountains, I noticed something was amiss. The soldiers of the Taiping Rebellion were using the exact same battle formation as the imperial guards, which was unbelievable. Later, when they stormed into Linshan County, the leaders of the rebel sect escaped through a secret passage in the Provincial Administration Office. My son and I searched for two days but found no trace of them. If that old thief did not defect to the enemy, who would believe it?"
Zhang Jinyu was somewhat surprised. These words had already been written in the memorial, so why was His Majesty only asking about them now? As soon as these words were spoken, the air in the hall froze instantly.
Emperor Wu stroked the sandalwood paperweight, recalling the secret report hurriedly delivered by his guards. He knew that the news on it was pretty much true. It seemed that his good "elder brother" might still be alive. He wondered how many followers he had in the court. His originally calm heart began to ripple.
"Marquis Luoyun, the day after tomorrow is the Emperor Emeritus's birthday banquet. In the early morning, all officials will enter, and by noon, they can present their congratulatory messages and prepare for the banquet. At that time, all civil and military officials will participate in this grand event. I am somewhat worried, after all, the remnants of the two sects have not been eliminated, and I fear that there may be changes in the capital. I hereby issue you a secret order to mobilize the elite troops under your command to enter the capital to maintain order. They will be stationed on the east bank of Yunshan Mountain, or at your residence!"
The Martial Emperor suddenly lowered his voice and stared intently at Marquis Luo Yun.
"Without alerting the local authorities, we will enter the capital at night and go directly to Chongwen Gate. We will then send half of our troops to garrison Hanyuan Hall. There is a side gate on the east side that leads to the hunting grounds and can be used to store provisions and weapons."
Zhang Jinyu suddenly looked up and summoned his border troops to the palace. Was he about to take action against the Left and Right Guards of the Imperial Guards and completely eliminate the hidden dangers?
"Your Majesty, I have heard that the Left and Right Guards of the Imperial Guards have been trained and the supplementary soldiers of the Right Guard have been assembled. May I ask if this is an order from Your Majesty?"
After finally decimating the Right Guard of the Imperial Guard on the battlefield, upon returning to the capital, a messenger from the Imperial Guard informed them that the Right Guard Commander, He Xiaocheng, had immediately returned to camp to replenish the troops, even more than before. However, the Empress Dowager, with a complex expression, remained silent. Instead, Dai Quan, standing beside the imperial desk, sighed and explained.
"It is understandable that the Marquis is unaware of the Imperial Guards. In addition to the elite troops under the command of the Marquis of Baoning, the Imperial Guards also include the Left and Right Guards, which are under the command of Chang Le Palace. Furthermore, there is a supplementary battalion of 100,000 Imperial Guards. Most of these people are nobles. After the commander returned, he was ordered by Chang Le Palace to mobilize and replenish the troops. According to the rules, there is nothing wrong with it."
Although there were no mistakes, the Emperor must have felt uneasy about these matters and wouldn't let it be known to outsiders. Zhang Jinyu instantly understood that Chang Le Palace had clearly prepared a backup plan. Even if the Right Guard was wiped out, as long as the officers were still alive, they could be replaced.
Considering His Majesty's orders, it's clear he was prepared. The Imperial Guards, with their large numbers on both the left and right wings, coupled with what the Grand Chancellor just said about the many opportunists within the ranks, could be difficult to manage if they were to turn against him at a crucial moment.
“Your Majesty, the Imperial Guards cannot be moved without authorization. However, if they are moved, the Left and Right Imperial Guards will likely be on guard, just like last time. I believe that if Your Majesty is determined, we can strike first. Today, let the Marquis of Baoning and I lead the troops to take action and relieve Your Majesty’s worries.”
This can be seen as Zhang Jinyu siding with the emperor and demonstrating his loyalty. Since the emperor has this intention, Zhang Jinyu feels that it's better to act first than to be caught off guard. He directly takes down the two commanders on the left and right, and then directly takes control of the two imperial guards—simple and straightforward.
He spoke frankly, which terrified those around him, especially Dai Quan, whose pale face was already covered in cold sweat as he advised him.
"My lord, you must not be rash. The Emperor Emeritus's birthday banquet is approaching, and the regional military governors and princes are returning to the capital. How can we really resort to arms and ruin this joyous occasion?"
He spoke haltingly, constantly wiping the fine sweat from his forehead with his sleeve. If he really made a move against the two guards commanders, Chang Le Palace would surely find out, and then he feared it would disrupt the stability of the court.
"You should take precautions, but there's one thing: the court must not be in chaos, nor can the interior be in chaos. Therefore, this plan cannot be implemented."
A glint flashed in the Emperor's eyes. "As expected of Marquis Luo Yun," he thought, "direct and straightforward. He hasn't failed me in my previous training." However, the Emperor interrupted Marquis Luo Yun, saying, "The court is in dire need of rebuilding. If chaos breaks out in the palace, how can the region remain peaceful, especially considering my brothers?"
"You'll understand once you see the memorial from the Jingnan Secret Guard."
"Yes, Your Majesty,"
Zhang Jinyu cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, realizing his earlier remarks had been somewhat extreme. If he were to actually attack the two Imperial Guards, capturing the perpetrators would be one thing, but failing to do so would inevitably provoke a backlash from the two guards, leading to chaos in the capital and the loss of the court's authority. Alternatively, it was possible that His Majesty still harbored doubts about the Imperial Guards. If so, Prince Teng would certainly have been present during today's audience. He glanced at the door of the Imperial Study, but there was no movement.
After getting up, he walked to the imperial desk, picked up the memorial on the table, opened it, and read it.
The yellowed memorial was stained with ink:
"Yu Shiyuan, the Provincial Governor of Jingnan, is allied with Prince Zhongyi!" He had guessed correctly. But Prince Zhongyi—could he be the former Crown Prince? His hand, holding the memorial, clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. If that Crown Prince were still alive, maintaining the status quo in the palace until he reappeared would be best. Even if the former Crown Prince made a move, given the Emperor Emeritus's nature, he would certainly do everything in his power to stop him. The Emperor's precautionary measures were precisely for the sake of stability. He recalled the casual conversation he had with Prince Jin in the prefectural city, as if it were still yesterday.
Just then, the lattice door creaked again, and Prince Teng, dressed in a black Beijing garrison uniform, the fish-shaped tally at his waist gleaming coldly in the sunlight, entered the imperial study and immediately knelt on one knee.
"Your Majesty, your subject Wang Ziteng pays his respects. Long live the Empress Wu!"
"Rise. Is the Beijing Garrison still safe?"
Empress Wu's expression remained unchanged, but her gaze had already shifted to Prince Teng. He still seemed to be in relatively good spirits. Zhang Jinyu quietly closed the memorial, put the secret report back on the table, took a few steps back, and stood side by side with Prince Teng.
"Your Majesty, the capital garrison has begun to rest and reorganize. The elite troops under my command have been replenished and trained by 20,000 men, and another 30,000 elite troops are stationed in Tongzhou. If Your Majesty needs them, they can be recalled immediately."
Wang Ziteng had already spotted Marquis Luo Yun when he entered. Recalling his earlier suspicions, it seemed His Majesty was about to make some moves.
"Alright, you're the most reliable one. Quality over quantity is the key to victory, so in that case..."
The Emperor tapped his finger on the table, pondered for a moment, and then gave his orders.
"The remnants of the two religions are still around, and I am somewhat worried about the safety of the people in the capital. I am even more worried about the Emperor Emeritus's birthday banquet the day after tomorrow. Therefore, I need to mobilize 20,000 elite troops from the Beijing Garrison to enter the city. There are Imperial Guards stationed at Xuanwu Gate to the north of the palace, Xizhi Gate to the west, and Chengping Gate to the east. They will be stationed together with your troops to guard the palace. The garrison will be located in the Left Camp of the Imperial Guards. Remember that."
"Yes, Your Majesty, I have remembered."
Although Wang Ziteng was somewhat flustered, how could he refuse? He had some questions he wanted to ask, but he didn't know where to begin.
"Just remember that. I've heard that quite a few generals in the Beijing garrison have become rather arrogant and domineering in the capital since they returned."
Perhaps it was a test, or perhaps there was still suspicion in his heart, but the Martial Emperor suddenly asked about the Anhu Camp. Prince Teng did not dare to think too much and replied with his fists clasped.
"Your Majesty, the officers and soldiers of the army that marched south have not left their camps since returning. Even if they were to return to the capital, they would need to be checked and registered. It seems these are all rumors."
Wang Ziteng quickly denied it, his expression remaining calm and composed.
"That's good. A country has its laws, and a family has its rules. Merit should be rewarded and mistakes should be punished. We must not lose face for the court. The day after tomorrow is the Emperor Emeritus's birthday banquet, a time for universal celebration. The Emperor Emeritus also wishes to hold a 'Thousand Autumns Banquet' outside the palace in the capital. How about that?"
Zhang Jinyu was somewhat taken aback, not understanding what the "Thousand Autumns Banquet" was. However, Wang Ziteng beside her had his pupils shrink slightly and his body stiffened. The so-called Thousand Autumns Banquet was set up by the retired emperor to show his filial piety when he ascended the throne. He invited commoners and officials who were over sixty years old to attend the banquet. In reality, it was a way to put the four kings and eight dukes in a low light. Now that the old story has been brought up again, it is clear that the real intention is not what it seems.
"Your Majesty, this is a time of great prosperity for the court, and the Emperor Emeritus's birthday banquet should be a cause for universal celebration."
Reciting from the script, Wang Ziteng could only bow deeply, while Zhang Jinyu followed suit and answered along with him.
"It should be a cause for universal celebration,"
"Very well, since both of you agree, let's hold the Thousand Autumns Banquet at the Court of State Ceremonial."
The Emperor's gaze swept over the two men, a slight smile playing on his lips. He was using this opportunity to send a warning to these vassal kings.
"Yes, Your Majesty,"
The two men clasped their hands in obeisance and accepted the order. Since the banquet was being held at the Court of State Ceremonial, and their manpower wasn't needed, and these shouldn't be Emperor Wu's hidden schemes, then the princes within the pass were no longer a threat. So, who was Emperor Wu guarding against with these arrangements?
Zhang Jinyu was suddenly startled. It was said that the four princes and eight dukes were deeply intertwined, and with the birthday banquet approaching, both the Western Prince Gong family and the Southern Prince Lang family had submitted memorials requesting to return to the capital. Now, with only one day left, he hadn't seen either of these princes. Could something have gone wrong?
"Your Majesty, everyone says it is a time of universal celebration. I have heard that the Western Prince and the Southern Prince have already set off for the capital, but I have not heard any news of their return. Am I mistaken, or did I hear wrong?"
"You remember correctly, and you heard correctly. It has been a long time since I have seen the two princes. Unfortunately, the weather has not cooperated, and the border is unstable. The two princes had to turn back halfway, and they will not be able to attend the birthday banquet the day after tomorrow."
Thinking of this, the Martial Emperor's face turned ashen. Even if he wanted to talk to them about some important matters, he could no longer do so.
The court's trust was becoming increasingly uncertain. Zhang Jinyu thought to himself, "Sure enough, the problem still lies with the Four Princes and Eight Dukes. If the two princes return to the capital to attend the birthday banquet, perhaps there will still be some trust between them. But if they miss this opportunity, it's likely that there will be no more trust between them in the future."
Upon hearing this, the two remained silent. Seeing that things were arranged properly, the Martial Emperor no longer needed to keep them around.
"You two, go back now and prepare. When the time comes, you may bring the secret order into the city."
Immediately, Dai Quan approached and handed over a blue jade tablet with the character "纂" engraved on it. Without examining it closely, the two clasped their hands in farewell and departed.
After leaving the Hall of Mental Cultivation,
Wang Ziteng couldn't help but press for more information from behind.
"My lord, do you really think that leading troops back to the capital this time is to prevent the heretical cultists from causing trouble?"
Feeling uneasy, although he had a premonition, at this moment, Wang Ziteng's courage had vanished without a trace, after all, the Emperor Emeritus's majesty was etched in his mind.
Zhang Jinyu was walking ahead when she heard this. She stopped, turned around, looked at the person behind her, and smiled.
"General, there's no need for such wild thoughts. Since His Majesty said it's to prevent bandits from causing trouble, then it is to prevent bandits from causing trouble. There are some things that are better left unsaid."
"Yes, Your Excellency is absolutely right."
Some things cannot be said outright; they can only be understood intuitively. Prince Teng steadied himself and had already devised a plan. After returning to the camp, he ordered Wang Ren and Jia Lian to muster the troops and prepare. But how should he deal with the situation at the palace?
As dusk fell at the entrance to the South Gate, it gradually enveloped the entire capital city.
Inside the North Street Restaurant,
The ornately decorated gatehouse stood quietly. In the elegant room by the window on the second floor, candlelight flickered, casting dappled shadows on the windowpanes. On the carved wooden table, several delicate dishes were served with a pot of fine tea, adding a touch of gloom to the quiet night.
Dressed in coarse cloth, Chu Yiyue, the vice leader of the Taiping Cult, sat hunched over, accompanied by the Left Protector and others, sipping tea and snacks, silently waiting.
Before coming here, after I led the main force south from Jingnan, I encountered the remnants of the Left Protector's forces in Chizhou. After reorganizing the military affairs in Chizhou, I detoured north from Jingzhou and returned to the capital. It was all for the Emperor Emeritus's birthday banquet. How could such a lively occasion be complete without the congratulatory gifts from the Taiping Sect?
Looking down into the courtyard of the restaurant, there was still no sound coming from within.
"Reporting, Master, I have learned that the Prefect of Qingyang has been imprisoned by imperial decree. Furthermore, there are rumors that the princes of the Western Prince Gong family and the Southern Prince Lang family may not be able to come to the capital."
suddenly,
From outside, a waiter dressed as the shopkeeper, Luo Fei, walked in, bowing, carrying a pot of tea. He placed the pot of tea on the table.
Upon recognizing them as their own people, the trusted guards inside all lowered their hands from their waists. Hearing this, Left Protector Zuo Ling glanced again at the courtyard, which remained bustling with activity, as diners from all directions came and went from the restaurant.
"That's strange. We just had preliminary discussions with the Taiping Cult about intercepting and killing officials from various regions to pay tribute, and then the two princes suddenly stopped coming. What a coincidence!"
The leader of the Chu sect picked up the teacup, and the crystal-clear tea soup came into view. He held the teacup close to his nose and took a deep breath. It was indeed Jinling Yunwu tea, a rare treasure in the world. It was mellow and fragrant, making people feel like they were floating on air. He couldn't help but mutter to himself.
"Excellent tea!"
(End of this chapter)