Chapter 839
Uneasy
Chapter 839 Uneasy
Pan Hong and his son remained ill until the emperor left the capital.
The emperor took many people with him, and the streets didn't change much, but several neighborhoods where officials lived became much quieter.
The street where Pan Hong and his family rented a place was much quieter than before. Many officials accompanied the imperial procession. With their father away from home, the children in the family seemed to be less mischievous. The daily commotion of scolding the children suddenly disappeared.
Pan Hong, who was lying on the deck chair sunbathing, felt very bored. He struggled to get up and slowly walked towards the door.
Pan Yue, who was sitting by the window holding a book, looked at him in surprise: "Father?"
Pan Hong waved to him and said slowly, "It's too quiet, I'm going out for a walk."
But his current physical condition prevents him from walking far, so he can only sit on the threshold, staring blankly at the quiet street.
It wasn't until evening, when children came running back from school, that the quiet streets came alive again.
Next door, across the street, the gate to the courtyard finally opened, welcoming the children home.
The mothers instructed their children: "Your father is with the emperor on his campaign, so you must not be naughty at home. How did you do in school today? Did you listen to your teacher?"
After asking the child, the neighbors noticed Pan Hong sitting on the doorstep and their voices softened slightly: "Master Pan, basking in the sun?"
Pan Hong nodded slowly and smiled gently: "Yes, sunbathing."
"Sunbathing is good; getting more sun is good for your health."
After chatting for a few minutes, they pulled their children home, closed the door, and their regretful voices drifted out from the yard: "...They've become so thin, and we don't know what's wrong with them. They haven't gotten better yet. It's so pitiful."
"His eldest son is also quite ill and hasn't left the house yet. His second son went to the front lines. I heard he also has a young daughter, who was abandoned at a young age because he was wrongly accused years ago. Sigh..."
Then, when we were having dinner that evening, the neighbors next door and across the hall brought bowls of chicken soup with several pieces of chicken, poached eggs, and stir-fried pork.
Neither the father nor the son needed to cook; they could simply have the old servant cook some rice for a meal.
The neighbors seemed to enjoy delivering vegetables to Pan Hong and his son; one day it was your family's turn to receive a delivery, and the next day it was mine.
A neighbor also taught Pan Hong to spread the clothes that he and his son were wearing at the door and let people step on them, so that the sick ghost would be taken away and he would be cured.
Pan Hong declined, saying that although their illness was not contagious, since the cause could not be found, they should not give away their sick clothes outside.
The neighbors sighed, "It's all the fault of Ghost Month. It's gloomy and hot during Ghost Month. Maybe you've been tainted by something unclean. We'll go to Baiyun Temple tomorrow to pray for you and your son and get you two amulets for peace. Maybe that will help."
Whether it was the amulets the neighbors had given them that were effective, or their illness had reached its worst, Pan Hong and his son were indeed getting better.
After July ended and August arrived, Pan Hong and Pan Yue were finally able to leave their home, one going to work and the other to school.
Their colleagues and classmates were shocked to see the two: "They're really that ill?"
The two looked like they were recovering from a serious illness; their faces were still pale, and their clothes hung loosely on their bodies.
Pan Yue said with a wry smile, "I'm much better now. A few days ago, I couldn't even get out of bed."
His classmates felt sorry for him and helped him sit down.
Pan Yue asked, "Has any news been sent back from His Majesty's personal expedition?"
"How could it be so fast after only seven days of travel?"
Pan Hong is also asking his colleagues this question.
The imperial court had much better access to information than the Imperial Academy, but the Court of State Ceremonies was not a very important department, and its officials did not receive much information.
“From the issuance of the imperial decree to the departure, only two days were prepared. In such a rush, how could things be any better? Last time I passed by the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue, both departments were extremely busy. I heard that the Imperial Astronomical Bureau calculated that it was the rainy season in the north. Marching in the rain, I'm afraid…” Pan Hong then remembered that Yin Song hadn't come since the very first visit. He was startled and asked, “Who from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau is accompanying the Emperor?”
When the emperor traveled, it was equivalent to taking the entire court with him, so not only were officials from the six ministries present, but the Imperial Observatory also had to send people to accompany him.
"The Director of the Imperial Observatory and Xia Qiu, along with a group of entourage, what's going on?"
Pan Hong opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word.
Yin Song also joined the army.
For some reason, ever since the emperor announced his intention to personally lead the expedition, his heart had been pounding rapidly, making him very uneasy.
Just as uneasy as Yin Song was Kuang Ye, the newly appointed Minister of War. He and Chen Xun had been forced to kneel outside the tent last night and were soaked in the rain all night. Today, he accidentally fell off his horse.
His men pulled him from under the horses' hooves and barely managed to revive him. He lay on the grass, staring blankly at the gloomy sky.
Han Wen, a senior official in the Ministry of War, wept beside him.
Kuang Ye barely came to her senses, glanced at him sideways, and smiled, "Why are you crying? I'm perfectly fine."
"The army doctor said that you have injured your leg and head, and you will experience dizziness and vomiting. Sir, please request an imperial decree to go to Huailai City for treatment?"
Kuang Ye suppressed the urge to vomit and slowly said, "His Majesty has personally led the expedition, how can we use illness as an excuse to avoid the war?"
He insisted on keeping up.
Han Wen had no choice but to wipe away his tears and, with his men, carry him to the carriage.
A vehicle specifically for transporting luggage had only a platform, not a carriage. Kuang Ye, with a leg injury, could no longer ride a horse, so he could only huddle among a pile of luggage, leaning against a box and swaying as he followed the group.
He looked at the endless column of soldiers, then looked back at the seemingly endless column of soldiers again, and an overwhelming sadness welled up in his heart. He felt that he was leading his soldiers into a war they were destined to die in.
Despite their superior numbers, superior weaponry, and even superior accompanying generals, he still had a feeling that defeat was inevitable.
He looked down at his palm, trying to raise it, but found it limp and motionless.
Three horses galloped towards them from the side. Among them was Chen Xun, the Minister of Revenue. He asked anxiously, "Old Kuang, what's wrong?"
Kuang Ye smiled at him and said, "I'm too old and useless. I even fell off my horse."
Chen Xun exclaimed "Oh dear!" and pointed to a person beside him, saying, "This is Yin Song, the Summer Official of the Imperial Observatory."
Yin Song clasped his hands in a salute from his horse and said solemnly, "Minister Kuang, there will be heavy rain tonight, and the rain may continue for three days. It is the rainy season in the north now. If we march in the rain, the soldiers may be at risk of frostbite."
Kuang Ye murmured, "It will also damage morale... The morale that His Majesty's personal campaign has inspired will be worn down."
If morale is eroded, the emperor's personal campaign will become meaningless.
Despite his illness, Kuang Ye said to Chen Xun, "Go and request an audience with His Majesty. I need His Majesty's presence to return to the capital."
Chen Xun felt that the emperor wouldn't listen to them, but they still had to try.
He sighed and nodded in agreement.
Fine, I've already been kneeling all night, so I might as well kneel for another night.
(End of this chapter)