Chapter 1109
Street Market Turmoil
Chapter 1109 Street Market Turmoil
With the birthday banquet approaching
The atmosphere in the capital was becoming increasingly tense and uneasy.
Zhang Jinyu led 5,000 elite troops from the east side of the street into the northern section of the market. At this moment, there were no ordinary people on the street. Even the small vendors had hidden themselves and moved to other places. Only the shop owners and their employees were standing in front of their shops waiting.
Almost the instant Zhang Jinyu arrived with his troops, every room, whether it was a tavern or a teahouse, was filled with armored soldiers. They continued until they reached the teahouse at the street corner opposite the Meridian Gate. Zhang Jinyu, accompanied by his personal guards, sat down and gave a shout.
"Shopkeeper, bring us some good tea, and also prepare some tea for the brothers."
"Welcome, gentlemen, please come in."
The shopkeeper was already waiting in the hall. When he heard the general leading the group shout, he dared not refuse. The waiters and waiters in the hall immediately got to work.
This movement occurred only on the east side of the street, while there was no sound on the west side. Many people crowded together, craning their necks to look and watch the excitement. It was during this moment that a commotion suddenly broke out behind them. Three thousand heavily armored soldiers from the Military Command suddenly appeared from nowhere, and several captains at the front were waving their whips and shouting.
"Get out of the way, get out of the way!"
Behind them, Nan Wenyi led his army and hurriedly arrived at the street corner. Looking around, he saw that the teahouse across the street was already full of soldiers from the Marquis's residence. He had no choice but to look towards the street to the west.
"Guards, everyone, go to the restaurants and teahouses to rest."
"Yes, my lord."
Before Master Nan could say anything more, his lieutenant and captain immediately obeyed the order. Regardless of the onlookers or the diners in the tavern, all of them were driven away by the soldiers who rushed in. Anyone who resisted was beaten. In an instant, the West Street was filled with the cries of the people.
The commotion had clearly reached East Street. Zhang Jinyu was sitting by the window, dressed in short, tight-fitting clothes, idly waving a folding fan. His gaze, however, was fixed on the opposite side of the street through the window lattice. Under the shade of the locust trees outside the building, soldiers leaned against the trunks in twos and threes, their armor removed and piled aside, revealing their sweat-soaked short clothes. Some were fanning themselves with straw hats, while others were drinking heavily from large, rough porcelain bowls. Three thousand soldiers were spread out along both sides of the street, their formations seemingly disorganized yet subtly disciplined.
"My lord, this awful weather is going to melt us."
Lieutenant Zhao Wu wiped the sweat from his brow and placed a bowl of chilled plum juice on the table; it had been stolen from the teahouse's kitchen.
"There's been absolutely no movement from the various Imperial Guard units. Could something have gone wrong?"
Zhang Jinyu took a sip of plum juice, the cool sweetness sliding down her throat, but it couldn't suppress the sharpness in her eyes:
"What's the rush? We need to stay calm, especially now. Nan Wenyi is leading a heavily armored army. Wearing iron armor in the sweltering summer heat will be even harder for them than for us."
He tapped the table lightly with his folding fan, then, remembering that his men were also wearing heavy armor, gave the order.
"Let the brothers take turns resting, make sure there's plenty of water, and take off their armor, lest anyone really gets too hot and dies."
I was sitting in a chair, sipping tea and snacks. Although it was past afternoon, the sun was blazing, making the ground scorching hot. Even when a breeze blew, it felt like waves of heat were rolling in.
Watching the commotion on the west side of the street, Zhang Jinyu squinted, finding it interesting.
"Look at them. Everyone says that the soldiers of the Military Command are bullies who prey on the weak and fear the strong. Now it seems that this is indeed the case. They are quite skilled at driving away the people. I wonder if they will still be so imposing on the battlefield."
As if in jest, the surrounding guards, captains, and lieutenants all grinned, some of them bolder than others, who shouted back,
"My lord, please don't be offended. If it were up to me, a single charge would surely break through their formation. They would be begging for mercy, crying for their fathers and mothers."
"That's right, my lord. Look at those soldiers. When they were chasing people away, they weren't idle. They even took the money pouches from the diners' waists. They're obviously experienced. I'm just afraid that once they get to Jingnan, they won't be as quick. Haha."
Some captains, unafraid of making things worse, pointed to the west and laughed rudely, causing all the surrounding officers and soldiers to laugh as well.
Ning Bian didn't seem to notice, and quickly glared at the people around him, his laughter immediately subsiding.
"My lord, it seems to be the arrangement of Lord He of the Military Command. These three thousand heavily armored soldiers are Lord He's confidants. Although no blood has been shed, in the battle south of the city, all three thousand men charged into the battlefield without a single one falling behind. They still have courage."
At this moment, Zhang Jinyu nodded as well. The teacup in her hand emitted a clear, emerald-green fragrance. This teahouse actually had pre-Qingming Longjing tea; she had underestimated it.
"He has guts, but if he doesn't change his outwardly fierce but inwardly reserved nature and his tendency to bully the good, he will not amount to much. He can only win in one battle. If he loses in one battle, all his guts will be wasted."
After only a couple of glances, he turned his gaze to the area not far from the Meridian Gate. The various units of the Imperial Guard had just arrived at the Meridian Gate. To the west, Kang Mengyu led five thousand troops, who were already standing in batches under the western palace wall. At least they had some eaves for shelter. The remaining half of the troops had moved to the western market area to escape the summer heat.
On the east side, the Imperial Guards on the left and right had arrived, but the sun was in the west and the bright sunlight was intense, so it was hot for everyone. Perhaps knowing that the heat was unbearable, only the five thousand soldiers of the Left Guard hid under the palace wall, while the five thousand soldiers of the Right Guard rushed to the other side of the market and occupied a street, taking turns to stand guard.
As a result, people from all directions gathered in front of the Meridian Gate, crowding into the market area, and the people complained bitterly.
But this eerie atmosphere persisted until the sun began to set.
"Report, Your Excellency, the carriages of the Western Prince's Mansion and the Southern Prince's Mansion have entered the capital. The Western Prince's Mansion's carriage has been staying indoors since returning to the mansion, while the Southern Prince's Lang's carriage has been ostentatiously scattering copper coins all the way before finally returning to the mansion."
The messenger's hurried words piqued Zhang Jinyu's interest, as she had been idling all afternoon.
"Judging by the time, it's time to come to the capital. No matter how far the journey, today is the last day. If we don't come now, are we going to wait until tomorrow to enter the capital at the banquet? Your Highnesses, it's time to come to the capital."
What I'm most curious about is the figure of Xi Wang Gongze. If he returns to the capital this time, all the rumors will be dispelled. If he does return in the future, many rumors will be proven true.
"Reporting to the Marquis, our scouts have reported that neither of the two princes has returned to the capital. There are rumors among the people that the Khan of the Xianbei has begun to mobilize troops from the royal court to the Western Regions. He has already mobilized 300,000 troops for the eastern campaign in Gaochang. Upon receiving the news, the Western King has already withdrawn to Liangzhou overnight."
The messenger wiped the sweat from his brow and quickly reported back. Zhang Jinyu sneered. The timing of this news was too coincidental; who would believe it unless it was meticulously planned?
"Someone come here and give him a bowl of tea to quench his thirst."
He turned to look at Ningbian and smiled.
"It seems that if that prince in the west cannot lead his army into the pass in this lifetime, he will never set foot inside the pass again. I think the Xianbei people's actions are meant to intimidate the Western Regions. As for the eastern expedition, whether it is to fight the Donghu people or invade Liangzhou, it is still unclear. That old fellow, the Western King, is seeing enemies everywhere."
If he were to become the Khan, his job would simply be to stabilize the kingdoms of the Western Regions. As long as the Western Regions remained peaceful, the Xianbei people's coffers would be full, making it easy to support their numerous tribes. However, if war were to break out prematurely, victory would be fine, but defeat would threaten the very stability of the royal court on the Holy Mountain.
"My lord, although that's how it's said, the Xianbei are indeed gathering troops in their eastern campaign. With 300,000 troops, the Western Prince's Mansion is under considerable pressure."
Ningbian was also somewhat tempted. Although the Xianbei people might not necessarily invade Liangzhou, it was still necessary to remain vigilant at all times. Who wouldn't covet the trade routes along the Liangzhou corridor?
"It's true that there's a lot of pressure, but the fear is just a facade. Over the past ten years, the Western King's Mansion has accumulated considerable resources. I think the Xianbei might be looking for an opportunity to take a bite out of them. However, the cities in the northwest are well-fortified and easy to defend. Unless the Xianbei are hot-headed, they won't dare to challenge us. They might even be eyeing the Donghu people instead."
As Zhang Jinyu spoke, she glanced at both sides of the Meridian Gate. Although the Imperial Guards were elite, the intense heat was unbearable for ordinary people, let alone those soldiers in iron armor.
really,
In less than an hour, the Imperial Guards, who had already rotated three times, were all exhausted. The western Imperial Guards had reduced their numbers to only five hundred men standing in the shade, while the eastern Imperial Guards, on the left and right, maintained a constant presence of one thousand soldiers.
Just at this time,
Across the street, the sound of horses' hooves echoed again. A number of cavalrymen escorted a carriage to a tavern at the west end of the street. A large entourage followed behind. Just as they entered the tavern, the official turned to look in their direction, but unfortunately, the movement was too quick to discern who it was.
"Did you get a good look at the person who just went in?"
"Reporting to the Marquis, the previous commander was General Nan of the Military Command, and this one now appears to be General Wu Shiqi, the Assistant Commander of the Western City Military Command."
Upon hearing the mention of Lord Wu, Ning Bian's expression turned somewhat strange. The Wu family of the capital was no ordinary family; even Zhang Jinyu had heard of them. Wu Shiqi, the Wu family, seemed a bit odd to him, and asked.
"Which Wu family? That name sounds familiar." Things are complicated, and some things may sound familiar, but ultimately, you can't remember them.
"My lord, this Lord Wu is from the Wu family in the capital, and he is Consort Wu in the palace."
Zhang Jinyu pointed quietly into the palace, and then suddenly realized that the graceful figure of Consort Wu was still in her mind. The most beautiful woman in Juxian Tower was Consort Wu. She wondered how the Wu family's detached residence was doing now.
Looking out the window again,
The sky at the end of June was like a blazing fire. The streets were scorched by the scorching sun, as if they were braised iron. If you poured a pot of tea on the bluestone pavement, it would steam and emit white smoke. If you stepped on it, you could clearly feel the heat. Even if the wind blew by, it felt like being licked by flames.
West side of the street intersection
Inside the restaurant, the Deputy Commander of the Military Affairs Department, Lord Nan, was restless and irritable. He couldn't even drink the tea on the table. The captains who served him had already taken off their armor and were resting by the window with their eyes closed. They were no longer as arrogant as they had been outside.
Nan Wenyi paced back and forth, standing by the second-floor window, his gaze sweeping across the east side of the street like a hawk. His black outfit accentuated his muscular physique, and beads of sweat trickled down his strong jawline, splashing onto the ground and leaving a small wet patch.
"My lord, Envoy Wu has arrived."
Suddenly, a bodyguard whispered a report to him.
As Nan Wenyi turned around, steady footsteps echoed down the stairs. Wu Shiqi, dressed in a crimson official robe, entered the teahouse with more than ten personal guards. He was slightly plump, with a perfectly measured smile on his face. He was playing with a jade pendant in his hand. He looked around and saw that the place was full of soldiers from the Military Affairs Bureau. Fortunately, he could cool off in the restaurant.
“Nanjing University, this awful weather is scorching hot, thank goodness you chose such a cool place.”
"Brother Wu is well-informed. Right now, all the troops are gathered together, which is quite boring."
Nan Wenyi clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, his tone flat and emotionless.
"Please come in. The Longjing tea is still cool from the fresh brew. Have a sip to cool off in the summer heat."
"it is good."
Since someone had invited him, Wu Shiqi was determined to stay. The two went into the inner room, with guards standing outside. After the guards entered and sat down, Lord Wu casually took the teacup, drank it all in one gulp, and wiped his mouth.
"Excellent tea! Pre-Rain Longjing. I never expected this restaurant to have such high-quality tea. It's rare indeed. Brother Wenyi, Lord He was worried about things here and specifically sent me to check on things. When I first arrived at North Street, there were no civilians left on the road. The east and west sides had been occupied by various units of the Imperial Guard. Moreover, what about Marquis Luoyun's side..."
"Five thousand soldiers occupied the entire street, supposedly to escape the summer heat, but it looked more like a military formation."
Nan Wenyi tapped his fingertips on the table, his expression solemn. The world knew of Marquis Luo Yun's brilliant military strategies; how could he possibly be spending his summer away in a teahouse?
"We're just keeping an eye on this place to prevent any major chaos. If things really get out of control, who can the two of us manage?"
Wu Shiqi nodded in agreement, then smiled and said:
“Brother Wenyi is right. None of us can control this. The Marquis is the same. He can lead troops, but he insists on occupying these taverns and teahouses. Anyone who doesn’t know better would think he’s going to hold a banquet here. These Imperial Guards are really good at imitating him. Why don’t we go and see the Marquis?”
"Haha, Brother Wu is truly courteous; it is I who have been in the wrong."
Nan Wenyi laughed heartily, straightened his official robes, and the two exchanged a glance before getting up and going downstairs at the same time.
As soon as they stepped out of the restaurant, they were hit by a wave of heat. As they crossed the street, two squads of guards led the way, and the two men walked side by side. The bluestone slabs were so hot that their boots felt like they were melting. When the soldiers on the east side saw them coming, they all stood up straight, their hands on their sword hilts and their eyes on alertness. The atmosphere suddenly became tense.
Zhang Jinyu, who was inside the teahouse, had already received news of the commotion and was waiting at the top of the stairs. When the two entered, she led Ning Bian and the others to greet them.
"Rare guests indeed! How could Commissioner Wu and Lord Nan have the time to grace our humble abode with their presence?"
"Your Excellency is being too polite."
Wu Shiqi cupped his hands and smiled, glancing around. It was no different from his own restaurant.
"Having heard that the Marquis is here to escape the summer heat, all the brothers have come to enjoy the benefits. This humble official and Lord Nan have come here specifically to have a cup of cool tea."
As they spoke, the three went up to a private room on the second floor. Guards stood outside the door, leaving only a servant to serve tea. The private room was spacious and bright, with an octagonal table by the window, on which were chilled watermelon and several plates of snacks.
After the three of them were seated, Zhang Jinyu personally poured tea for them:
"You two have worked so hard. I suppose it's because Master He is worried. Wearing armor in the sweltering heat must be even more exhausting than fighting a war."
"It's just part of my job, nothing too hard."
Nan Wenyi cupped his hands in thanks, then picked up his teacup and took a sip. His gaze swept over General Ning behind Marquis Luo Yun, and he sighed.
"The soldiers under your command are quite spirited, it seems they train diligently every day. I am very envious."
Whether it was true or not, Lord Wu, who was sitting next to him, always had a smile on his face.
“My lord, we are all serving the court, and there is no distinction between us. Speaking of which, the lotus flowers in the Imperial Garden were in full bloom yesterday. The Imperial Concubine was saying that if Lord Luo were here, he would surely be able to compose a fine poem.”
Whether it was a change of topic or not, the three people at the table suddenly fell silent. Even Nan Wenyi had a strange expression. This Imperial Concubine, isn't she the Imperial Concubine Wu of the Wu family? How could such words be spread? Or was Brother Wu doing this on purpose?
Zhang Jinyu gently waved his folding fan and couldn't help but take a closer look at the person in front of him. Although this Consort Wu was famous in the harem, His Majesty had many concubines around him. Why was it that only this woman thought of him? If anyone was thinking of someone, it was probably the older sister from the Guo family who was thinking of him. He smiled and said.
"Minister Wu, you jest. I am but a military man, how could I know anything about poetry? I have heard that you are currently investigating a corruption case in the Ministry of Works. How is it progressing?"
The topic suddenly shifted to official business, and the atmosphere became subtle. As for the Ministry of Works, it was nothing more than the renovation of houses in the capital and the Ministry of Works' recruitment of craftsmen to build mausoleums. The house renovations were just a matter of money, but there were some rumors circulating about the mausoleums. However, sending the Military Commission to investigate the mausoleums was like forcing a duck onto a shelf. It was unclear why Lord He would take on such a hot potato.
Wu Shiqi's smile remained unchanged, but his expression was not as natural as before.
"My lord, these are all trivial matters, not worth your concern. It's understandable that some craftsmen might embezzle some silver, and it's easy to investigate. However, there are quite a few Imperial Guards in Beidao Street. Why did you choose to station troops here? Is there some deeper meaning behind it?"
This market area was the most prosperous place in the capital. The occupation of several streets naturally aroused discussion among the people of the capital.
"It was just a coincidence. Last night, the Jiaofangsi (a government-run entertainment district) was massacred by thieves and bandits. Otherwise, why would I have led troops into the city? It was for the sake of the capital's security. There might be spies of the bandits around here."
Zhang Jinyu picked up a slice of watermelon, took a few bites, and smiled. However, to the two men, this only added a hint of fear. After all, they knew what had happened the night before—the entire brothel had been almost completely wiped out.
"Ahem, what you say is very true, Your Excellency. The treacherous cultists are rampant and have committed crimes that are too numerous to record. Your Excellency has brought troops here to reassure the people of the capital, and I admire you greatly. As for the Imperial Guards, they are to your north. I implore Your Excellency not to be angry. Please let it pass without saying anything. If it is really necessary, I will take some men to persuade them."
In the end, it's still best to urge Marquis Luoyun to exercise some restraint. Don't be fooled by the large number of Imperial Guards on the left and right; when facing Marquis Luoyun, these 10,000 soldiers are really no match.
(End of this chapter)