Chapter 1107
Lord He's Thoughts
Chapter 1107 Lord He's Thoughts
The Jade Rabbit sets in the west and the Golden Crow rises in the east.
The next day,
The news of the massacre of the Jiaofangsi by the two sects has spread throughout the capital, and not only are the common people horrified, but many wealthy merchants and noble families in the capital, including the sons of noble families, are also filled with fear. As a result, business is dismal in the major brothels in the capital today.
Marquis Luoyun's residence,
Zhang Jinyu had already gotten up leisurely and led Ning Bian and others to the barracks in the backyard. He ate with the soldiers, which consisted of naan bread rolls with meat, a bowl of white porridge, and some pickled vegetables. When they were almost full, a personal guard came to report.
"My lord, the guest room in the west wing of the front courtyard has been cleaned up and the person has already left the mansion. Before leaving, they left a memorial for you."
The guard bowed and handed over a folded document. Zhang Jinyu took the brocade cloth, wiped her mouth, and accepted it.
"Okay, I understand. You can go now."
"Yes, Lord Marquis."
The guest room in the front yard is occupied by the new governor of Qingyang County. He's probably going to take up his post in the northwest. I wonder if he'll take Lady Ding with him. What do you say? Sister-in-law is always the closest.
Upon opening the memorial, one could see that it mainly concerned the situation in various prefectures in the northwest, especially in Qingyang Prefecture. Most of the officials there had already joined the Western King's forces. Fortunately, the generals of the Western King's army were all transferred from the Ministry of War in the capital, so they could still be trusted. However, if the Western King's army were to march into the pass, it would be impossible to stop them.
"My lord, did you say something?"
Ning Bian slurped up a mouthful of porridge, swallowed it, and noticed that the Marquis was staring intently at the memorial without moving. Slightly worried, Zhang Jinyu snorted coldly and threw the memorial on the table.
"Most of what we say is useless. The court is only interested in maintaining the status quo in the northwestern prefectures. Even the Lang family in the south, as long as they don't enter our territory, will not be criticized too much even if they really turn against us. This prefect of Qingyang may have many ideas, but they are just ideas. If he could be promoted to the Northwest Military Governor and have military power, perhaps he could get a share of the pie. Right now, tsk tsk, he's just trying to protect himself."
Zhang Jinyu's mind was no longer on the sordid affairs in the Northwest, but on the matters in the capital, the affairs in Jiangnan, and the secret reports sent from beyond the Great Wall. Fortunately, everything was on track and the army's supplies were no longer a concern. However, the secret report from the Jurchens seemed somewhat inappropriate. Looking at the table, he saw another bowl of porridge being served. Just as water overflows when full, the moon waxes and wanes.
"The most important thing now is the affairs of the capital. As for the affairs of Jiangnan, as long as the supplies are sent to the border as scheduled, there is no need to worry about them. However, regarding the border, is the intelligence sent by Ya Yu true or false? The ferocity of the Jurchens is well known. Even the Donghu cavalry did not have a complete advantage. In the battle south of the Han Sea, the Jurchens suffered a crushing defeat. What do you think?"
Some thoughts lingered in his mind. He recalled the historical records from his previous life, which stated that the Jurchens eventually stole the dragon vein and took control of the Central Plains. No matter what, they were quite capable. Huang Jitai was also a powerful ruler with his Eight Banners Jurchens, who had achieved numerous military exploits. How could he have fallen in the north? It didn't make sense. The Yuezhi people in the north were still alive and still incredibly strong. It really was...
"My lord, I have also read the secret letter sent from beyond the pass. We also found Donghu people near Pingyun City in the west. However, three days later, the Donghu people urgently retreated north. There must be something going on. Now that I think about it, it was the threat from the Yuezhi. As for the Jurchen's defeat, there may be something we don't know. Huang Jitai is not a weak person. We don't know the specifics yet."
In the past few days, Ningbian has been compiling intelligence from beyond the Great Wall. Judging from the intelligence from both the east and west, the Yuezhi in the north are on the verge of resurgence. The Jurchens have already suffered two defeats: one against those beyond the Great Wall and another against the Yuezhi. If they suffer another defeat, the Jurchens may cease to exist.
Zhang Jinyu finished his bowl of congee, still pondering the Jurchens. If he had the chance, he could annex them, and all of Liaonan would fall into his hands. He could then station a large army in Pingliao City to defend against other forces from the north. And how many people could Liaonan support?
"Try to find out the current situation of the Jurchens. Huang Jitai's Eight Banners troops are all elites, so find out how many losses they have suffered. We don't need to worry about those auxiliary troops. If there is an opportunity, we might as well let Wuyayu take action. The Jurchens have retreated from northern Liaodong all the way to central Liaodong, and they are not far from Pingliao City."
His eyes flickered, and Ning Bian understood the meaning behind them perfectly. He nodded and replied in a low voice.
"What you say is absolutely right, but the Jurchens have only increased the amount of supplies they are buying, without taking any other action. Moreover, a secret agent has reported that the Jurchen Eight Banners troops have not suffered many losses. In this case, even if the Yuezhi win, it will be a Pyrrhic victory."
Since we've never had any dealings with the Yuezhi people, it's really hard to guess what they were like.
"Hmph, this is called putting on a brave face. In battles between two armies, the losing side always suffers greater losses. How can the winning side suffer more losses than the losing side? If you say that the Eight Banners troops suffered no losses, who would believe it? It is probably Huang Jitai trying to cover up the truth by replacing the Eight Banners troops with auxiliary troops. Therefore, if the Yuezhi people go south, even the Jurchens in Liaozhong may not be able to hold on. At that time, Pingliao City in the northeast will be face to face with the Yuezhi people."
Fortunately, these things should come later. The Jurchens are unwilling to accept defeat and will likely think of a counterattack. If the Yuezhi act impulsively and fall into an ambush, this battle in Liaobei will take a long time.
"What you say makes sense, Your Excellency. I have already sent word back to keep a close watch,"
Ningbian had already finished his meal, and the surrounding soldiers were already fully armed and ready to go. He wondered where the Marquis would be inspecting today.
"My lord, where shall we lead the troops on an inspection tour today?"
After all, the weather was hot, and wearing armor made it even more unbearably hot. The capital city had only cobblestone streets, with not a single place to find shade.
But Zhang Jinyu smiled mysteriously and gave the order;
“In the next few days, Kang Mengyu will also lead his troops to patrol the Meridian Gate, and we will also stroll around the Meridian Gate. So, the Imperial Guards on the left and right will probably not ignore us. Do you remember how many taverns, teahouses and inns there are in the central area outside the Meridian Gate? In that case, the Marquis’s Mansion will book them all so that the brothers can go in and rest their legs. In this hot weather, why rush?”
Of course, the money for the entire venue would still be paid on credit. Whether or not it would be paid depended on the attitude of the two generals of the Left and Right Guards. Ning Bian was somewhat surprised; wasn't the Marquis's behavior a bit too arrogant and domineering?
“My lord, if those censors find an opportunity to impeach you, wouldn’t that be inappropriate? After all, the market area over there is under the jurisdiction of Lord He of the Military Command.”
It's also a matter of reputation for the Military Command. Yesterday's massacre at the Music Bureau has already caused quite a stir. If the Marquis goes there today, it might cause misunderstandings.
"It's precisely because Lord He is in charge that we can go openly and legitimately. Besides, I paid for the entire place, not that I'm eating and sitting for free. On such a hot day, we should at least take a break."
Seemingly unconcerned, Ningbian nodded thoughtfully.
"Yes, my lord, I will make the arrangements immediately."
In just a short while
The deep sound of horns echoed throughout the Marquis's residence. Immediately afterwards, a large number of elite soldiers in golden armor, riding horses, began to pour out of the Marquis of Luoyun's residence. A total of more than 5,000 armored soldiers headed towards the Meridian Gate of the capital. Similarly, the Left and Right Guards of the Imperial Guard, who had already received the message from the secret guards, had also begun to set off. Today, He Xiaocheng, the commander of the Right Guard, and Yi Anxin, the commander of the Left Guard, had each led 5,000 troops from the Imperial Guard camp in the East City to guard the Meridian Gate. Inside, there was also a secret order from Chang Le Palace.
Just as turmoil was brewing in the capital,
At the west gate, a convoy was already approaching menacingly. The captain guarding the city straightened up abruptly, gripping his sword hilt, and stared ahead, trying to guess whose carriage it was.
A black torrent gradually emerged from the smoke and dust, five hundred cavalrymen clad in shiny black armor, the plates of which gleamed coldly in the sunlight. Long swords were uniformly slung across their waists, and crossbows hung on the left side of their saddles. What was most astonishing was the perfectly synchronized marching rhythm of the five hundred cavalrymen. Not a sound could be heard, only the faint rustling of iron armor spreading in the wind.
Upon arriving at the city gate,
The lookout suddenly shouted;
"It's the banner of the Western King's Mansion."
The city gate captain also saw the leader holding up a black flag with a gold-embroidered "West" character fluttering in the wind. He swallowed hard, subconsciously waved his hand to signal for passage, his fingers trembling slightly.
After the entire convoy entered the capital, it headed straight for the Western Prince's residence, leaving the city gate guards looking at each other in bewilderment. Only the Imperial City Guards hurriedly rode away.
Almost at the same moment,
Another procession arrived at the South Gate. Unlike the somber atmosphere at the West Gate, a dozen or so carriages carrying a theatrical troupe led the way on the official road outside the South Gate. They played music and sang, and behind them was the convoy of the Prince of Nan's mansion, escorted by five hundred armored soldiers on horseback. The leader, riding a white horse, was handsome and dashing. This was Lang Yun, the heir of the Prince of Nan's mansion, who had unexpectedly come from Jiangnan.
On the city wall,
Han Ling looked somewhat surprised.
"My lord, what is the purpose of the Lang family's ostentatious entry into the city?"
Fu Yuncheng, now dressed in his official robes, stood atop the city wall, taking in the view of the scene below, and shook his head.
"No matter how flamboyant this heir is, entering the city to congratulate the Emperor Emeritus is perfectly acceptable. However, with the Southern Prince absent, it's likely the Western Prince won't come either. Alas." A soft sigh escaped her lips. The situation was unavoidable. If the two princes returned, perhaps the court's suspicions would lessen.
"Yes, sir, I had spoken too much."
Han Ling's lips twitched. He was afraid that he and Lord Fu would still need to keep watch at the south gate. He didn't know if he could attend the birthday banquet tomorrow.
As soon as the two royal convoys entered the capital in a grand manner, the news spread like wildfire throughout the city.
The first to receive the news was Commander He of the Military Command. He knew everything from the Imperial Guards' intentions to the mobilization of the Capital Garrison and Marquis Luoyun's army. Furthermore, with the arrival of two princes' chariots in the capital today, misfortunes seemed to be piling up.
"Reporting, sir, Imperial Guards have already set up camp on the west side of the Meridian Gate, supposedly to prevent assassination attempts by traitors."
"Reporting, Your Excellency, there are Imperial Guards (left and right guards) stationed outside the Meridian Gate on the east side, supposedly to prevent attacks from rebels."
"Report, sir, the streets north of the central market area have been taken over by Marquis Luo Yun. He says he's thoroughly investigating the whereabouts of the traitor from last night."
All in all, in no time at all, his personal guards reported to him repeatedly. Even if He Yongxi had the best temper, how could he tolerate it? He slammed his hand hard on the table, his beard trembling with anger.
"Nonsense, utter nonsense! What are they trying to do? Deploying troops without authorization, are they planning a rebellion?"
He knew a little about what happened last night, but the Imperial Guards' movement could plunge the capital into panic. Those gathered inside were only a few military commanders, Zuo Anhe, Wu Shiqi, Song Bozhen, and Nan Wenyi; only Fu Yuancheng remained at the south gate, keeping watch.
The other clerks all sat there, eyes downcast and seemingly unmoved, which only fueled He Yongxi's anger.
"You guys are always talking non-stop, what's wrong, you're all mute today?"
Suppressing his anger, he looked at the group. The latter lowered their heads, especially the man on the left, who sat silently in the lowest seat. When he saw the old man looking in their direction, he quickly closed his eyes.
"Alright, since you won't talk, I'll call on you. Zuo Fangzhong, you seem restless. You speak now."
When the name was mentioned, Zuo Fangzhong's face flushed red instantly, then turned pale. He looked at the others stammeringly, but no one responded, so he had to speak up.
"Your Excellency, as far as I know, the Imperial Guards' movements today, as well as the Marquis of Luoyun and the Commander of the Capital Garrison's entry into the city last night, were all carried out with the Emperor's orders and were not arbitrarily mobilized. Even the Left and Right Imperial Guards had imperial orders from the Retired Emperor, supposedly to prevent assassination attempts by the Taiping Sect and the White Lotus Sect. I suppose that's correct."
He reluctantly replied that in the capital, the Imperial Guards were not to be trifled with by the Military Command; besides, they all had secret imperial orders—how could they be controlled?
The others nodded in agreement, since the Military Command only had three thousand heavily armored soldiers, who were all staying in the yamen.
But He Yongxi was so angry that he laughed.
"You certainly know how to talk, rambling on and on, yet you've covered all the ground. Since you've brought up the matter of the Jiaofangsi, let me ask you: the Jiaofangsi was massacred last night, have the culprits been found?"
This is also why He Yongxi was furious. Right under the noses of the Military Command, the traitors of the cult had slaughtered the Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau), leaving a bloodbath. If it weren't for the Imperial City Guard coming to inform them, the Military Command would have been completely unaware.
After hearing this, sweat beaded on Zuo Fangzhong's forehead.
"Your Excellency, the Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau) is within Lord Nan's jurisdiction. I am stationed in the East City and have no jurisdiction over this area. When I went on duty today, I already ordered the search and arrest of the traitors and scoundrels."
"Better to die than to die myself; it's not my responsibility anyway." Upon hearing this, Lord Nan Wenyi, sitting on the right, immediately stood up.
"Your Excellency, this was indeed my oversight. Last night at midnight, fires broke out in many places in the market. I led men to put out the fires, so I neglected the Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau). But I never expected that the cultists would be so audacious. After all, the Jiaofangsi has many veteran soldiers as guards. It is truly unpredictable that they would be so easily defeated."
Nan Wenyi did not deny it, after all, it was his own negligence. But the strange thing was that the many veteran guards in the Jiaofangsi did not fight to the death to ask for help, which was really puzzling.
"Hmph, there's no point in saying more. Once something goes wrong, no amount of reasons will help. Now that the Imperial City Guard has taken over the case, the Military Command has lost face. But the Meridian Gate is of utmost importance and cannot be ignored. Nan Wenyi, this market area is under your jurisdiction. Today, you will lead three thousand heavily armored soldiers to guard the northern district. Don't let any petty scoundrels take advantage of the situation."
He Yongxi thought for a moment. He couldn't go to the Meridian Gate, but if Marquis Luo Yun could go to the north entrance of the market, he might be able to go too. In case of an emergency, he could still salvage the situation.
"Yes, sir,"
Nan Wenyi's face turned pale. His trip to the Meridian Gate would inevitably draw the attention of the entire court and the public. If anything went wrong, he feared for his life and fortune.
"Go."
He Yongxi waved his hand, feeling somewhat uneasy. He wondered if the Emperor had a deeper meaning, or perhaps something had happened to the Emperor Emeritus. Tomorrow was the Emperor Emeritus's birthday banquet, a day of universal celebration, and he needed to enter the hall to offer his congratulations. Therefore, after thinking it over, and looking at the others in the hall, he could only be extremely cautious.
"You lot, you'll have to work hard for a few more days. These days, you need to keep a close watch on the city gates. There can't be any mistakes during the birthday banquet. So, for tomorrow's birthday banquet, you can just present the congratulatory letter and you can stay on the city wall to stand guard."
Hearing the old man's earnest words, the group understood and quickly stood up, bowing in unison.
"Yes, sir, I obey your command."
At this time,
On the Rongguo Mansion side, perhaps on orders from their master, many members of the Jia family and servants of the Rongguo Mansion went to sweep the entire Ningrong Street, cleaning it until it was spotless. Even the gate towers of the two mansions were wiped clean.
Inside Rongqing Hall, in the Lotus Fragrance Pavilion,
The women gathered here, and even Lin Daiyu, who usually stayed at home, brought her two daughters, Qingwen and Xueyan, to the main hall. They sat down in a corner, remaining quiet, but the table was already laden with tea and snacks.
When the Xue family mother and daughter entered and found this place, Xue Baochai, accompanied by her maid, sat there and whispered some words with Daiyu.
Just as he opened his mouth to ask, the three girls at the other table, along with Shi Xiangyun who had come with them, chuckled and said something.
"Oh, Xiangyun, how have you been these past few days? I heard that your second brother came to see you yesterday. Is something wrong?"
Xichun, the most curious girl, spoke the fastest, and her question also drew the attention of the others sitting nearby.
“It’s nothing, I just wanted to ask about the embroidery. You all know, last time I was embroidering a lotus pond pattern, and it’s almost finished. My second brother said he liked it, so I offered to give it to him, but he refused. Instead, he gave me a gilded incense burner.”
Her face flushed slightly, and she continued;
"I'll just consider it an exchange and accept the incense burner. I suppose this was a gift from my second brother to Sister Meng. I wonder if Sister Meng likes it or not."
Hearing this, the girls were filled with curiosity; it was truly a rare sight. Just then, the curtain fluttered, and a figure entered.
(End of this chapter)