Chapter 125 Rewarding the Army with a Thousand Dollars: Beware of Jiang Ning and Chen Liangyu.
At the end of the sixth year of the Zhenyuan era, the war in the northern border became critical.
Chen Liangyu maneuvered and maneuvered with the Yong army in the Yunya military town and the area surrounding Jingzhe Lake, simultaneously overwhelming Yunya military town with his large force and attacking the grasslands east of the lake. Yunya military town became bait to lure the Yong army, which was besieged by Chen Liangyu for nearly twenty days. The Yong reinforcements suffered defeat after defeat, and the city was running out of arrows and food. Seeing that this important border town of Yong was within reach, Zhai Ji suddenly issued an imperial edict to personally lead the expedition, which greatly boosted the morale of the Yong army.
When the military report reached Yongdu, Chen Liangyu urgently requested that Yongdu allocate supplies.
Xie Yuan summoned the Grand Secretary and the Ministers of the Six Ministries to the palace for a meeting.
During the current court discussion, Xun Shutai, the Minister of Revenue, submitted a memorial to Xie Yuan, stating: "This year, there have been wars in both the southern border and the western mountains. The national granary has only 400,000 shi of grain left. If all of it is transferred to the northern border, Yongdu, the southern border, and the various prefectures and counties in the western mountains will probably have no surplus grain to get through the winter."
"The military situation is extremely urgent, General, why don't you requisition grain on the spot?"
The Grand Secretary Cheng Lingdian said, "Absolutely not! Forcibly requisitioning grain from the people will inevitably lead to popular uprisings, which is a grave taboo!"
Xie Yuan pondered for a moment, then said, "If the northern border falls, the other prefectures and counties will also be difficult to defend. Issue my decree that the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War allocate military supplies according to Chen Liangyu's needs, without delay!"
Cheng Lingdian said, "Your Majesty, I have another matter to report."
Xie Yuan asked, "What brings you here, Minister Cheng?"
"Your Majesty, Emperor Zhai Ji of Beiyong has personally led the expedition, which has greatly boosted the morale of the Beiyong army. The soldiers in the northern border are fighting hard in the snow. If we only provide them with food and fodder, it may not be enough to boost their morale. Your Majesty is busy with state affairs. Perhaps you could send an envoy to comfort the army with imperial wine to show your imperial favor. You could also order the envoy to procure food and fodder from the prefectures and counties along the way to relieve the urgent need for supplies in the northern border."
Xie Yuan asked, "In your opinion, who is suitable for this task?"
Rewarding the army on behalf of the emperor is usually done by direct princes of the royal family. Even though the Great Lin currently has no princes or noble descendants, it is absolutely forbidden to send anyone to do so casually.
Looking across the government and the public, there is only one person who can shoulder this heavy responsibility.
"Your Majesty, the Princess is highly respected. If she were to comfort the soldiers on Your Majesty's behalf, it would surely boost morale. Moreover, the Princess is familiar with the agricultural and grain tax situation in various prefectures and counties, making her the most suitable person to allocate military provisions along the way."
Minister of War Sheng Xiuyuan said, "I second that proposal."
"We second that proposal!"
...
The murmurs in the Chongzheng Hall fell silent. The ministers, unable to discern the Emperor's intentions, stood with their heads bowed below the throne, offering no further words.
After a long silence, Xie Yuan cleared his throat and said, "In that case, Jiang Ning shall go to the northern border to reward the troops on my behalf, and be granted the title of Pacification Envoy. All prefectures and counties along the way must cooperate fully! I hereby bestow upon Jiang Ning the ceremonial regalia, a scarlet robe with four dragon patterns, a three-tiered crown, and a jade belt, to demonstrate the Emperor's grace. In addition, the Ministry of Revenue shall immediately allocate 200,000 shi of grain, and the Ministry of War shall dispatch an additional 2,000 men to escort him. Summon Jiang Ning to the palace to receive the imperial decree."
"Your Majesty is wise!"
The officials dispersed and retreated towards the palace gates. Xie Yuan summoned Yan Feng into the hall. He was engrossed in the Ministry of War's memorial requesting the transfer of grain and fodder from the southern border and the western mountains, writing in red ink as he wrote. Yan Feng did not notice the stern look in Xie Yuan's eyes when he entered the hall.
"Your humble servant greets Your Majesty."
Xie Yuan raised his eyes. "How many people from the Inspectorate are still in the Xuanping Marquis's residence in Suzhou?"
Yan Feng said, "Your Majesty, there is a man named Xing Rui in the residence of the Marquis of Xuanping in Suzhou. He was a subordinate of the General when he served as the Commander of the Southern Army. This man is deeply trusted by the General."
Xie Yuan read his name aloud and asked, "Ying Rui, is he a suitable candidate?"
Yan Feng said, "His father was a senior prosecutor. His parents were both in Yongdu. He is simple-minded and knows the rules."
Xie Yuan said, "Jiangning is going to the northern border to reward the troops. If he sees any clues, he should record them in detail and not miss a single word."
He wanted to see clearly whether the two women were truly loyal or treacherous.
"Your humble servant obeys the decree."
Xie Wenjun entered the palace at the second quarter of Shen time, wearing a white fox fur cloak embroidered with a blue phoenix pattern in gold thread, the tail of which moved without wind as he swept across the stone steps outside Chongzheng Hall.
She knelt on the platform outside Chongzheng Hall to receive the imperial decree.
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Now that the enemy has invaded and the flames of war have not yet been quelled in the north, and our soldiers are still fighting and bleeding, I am deeply concerned. Therefore, I hereby appoint Princess Xie Wenjun as the Pacification Envoy, to travel north on my behalf with imperial credentials, and bestow upon her one thousand taels of gold, one hundred bolts of brocade, and ten carts of fine wine to reward the soldiers guarding the border. All hardships in the army may be reported truthfully; all loyal and brave soldiers may be commended on the spot; all matters concerning the supply of military provisions in the prefectures and counties along the way may be handled as appropriate; she is hereby ordered to depart immediately, arrive at the northern border within fifteen days, reward the army for three days, and then return immediately. This is my decree!"
Xie Wenjun raised her hands, "Your Majesty, I accept the decree! Long live the Emperor!"
The bright yellow scroll landed in her palm, but Xie Yuan never showed up or summoned her to the Chongzheng Hall.
Xie Wenjun received the imperial edict and the envoy's instructions, bowed in the Chongzheng Hall, and the wind he stirred up when he stood up stirred up the fine dust on the platform.
As Xie Wenjun turned to leave, she suddenly stopped and turned back.
High up there, the candlelight shone a little brighter, casting Xie Yuan's silhouette onto the rosewood window frame, where it remained motionless for a long time.
The guards accompanying the troops on this expedition were not all from the Changning Guard. Xie Yuan also transferred two thousand men from the northern suburban camp to accompany them, so that she would remember that this trip was "to bestow favors on behalf of the emperor." The deadline was tight, and military provisions needed to be dispatched along the way; fifteen days was too short.
If handled properly, Xie Wenjun's prestige in both the court and the army will surely increase greatly. This is what worries Xie Yuan the most. Therefore, even matters such as rewarding the troops have to be calculated with such precision.
He was forced into this situation and had no other choice. If he had any other options, Xie Yuan would never have let Xie Wenjun go to the Northern Border.
Not far after Xie Wenjun turned the corner of the covered walkway, the sound of a teacup shattering came from Chongzheng Hall.
She paused for a moment, then walked out of the palace without looking back.
The hand hidden inside the white fox fur cloak clenched and unclenched, the comforting envoy also feeling her body heat. Xie Wenjun barely suppressed the uncontrollable smile on her lips.
We will depart immediately.
She was about to see her.
She always said in her letters that she would wait for the war to end. Xie Wenjun waited and waited, year after year.
In truth, all she really wanted was to go to the North to see her.
A thick stack of imperial edicts lay on the desk. The eunuchs of Chongzheng Hall were carefully cleaning up the broken teacups and leaving the hall. Under the candlestick, a figure wrapped in a black brocade dragon robe leaned slightly forward.
Xie Yuan unfolded a memorial, which was a report on the plague in Xiling.
He then flipped through several more memorials.
The money allocated for disaster relief and military expenses needs to be distributed, but many people have lost their land, so the governors of various prefectures have submitted memorials requesting tax reductions or exemptions.
Xie Yuan swept his wide sleeves across the memorials spread out on the imperial desk. The vermilion ink, still wet, blurred the edges, leaving a dark red trail. His vision grew increasingly blurry, and as the light dimmed, he struggled to make out the ink characters on the memorials.
Xie Yuan ordered Zheng Hechuan to open the bright window. Looking out, the outline of the palace wall outside the window gradually became blurred and doubled.
Zheng Hechuan offered a teacup and said, "Your Majesty, while state affairs are important, you must also take care of your health."
As the imperial eunuch in charge of Chongzheng Hall, he had lost count of how many days and nights Xie Yuan had spent there. "No matter how hard he works, even an iron body can't withstand it."
Xie Yuan forced himself to pick up his brush, but the characters on the Xuan paper shifted with the candlelight, and his eyes stung with a sharp pain.
Zheng Hechuan hurriedly put down his teacup and went behind the throne to massage Xie Yuan's temples.
After closing his eyes and resting for a while, Xie Yuan's vision became clearer.
Zheng Hechuan said, "Your Majesty, Consort Shu's palace has sent people to invite you many times."
"I have no desire to see her."
Xie Yuan was already in a state of agitation. If Zhai Ji hadn't suddenly amassed troops and the war in the northern border hadn't broken out again, he wouldn't have been so caught off guard. This agitation mostly stemmed from Bei Yong, so how could he possibly be in the mood to see Zhai Yu?
The person you really want to see doesn't come.
Xie Yuan asked, "Is everything alright in the Empress's palace?"
"Her Majesty the Empress and the unborn prince are both well. Since Your Majesty is concerned about Her Majesty, why not move to Fengyi Palace? Perhaps Her Majesty is looking forward to Your Majesty's visit."
The person he cares about may not want to see him.
Xie Yuan said, "She won't. She's still resenting me for Roujia's matter."
Zheng Hechuan said, "Her Majesty the Empress is the most sensible person; how could she possibly blame His Majesty?"
After massaging for a while, Xie Yuan's tense forehead relaxed. He suddenly remembered something, "Zheng Hechuan."
"Your servant is here."
"Send someone to Linxia and cut me a willow branch. No, wait until spring; willows in February are the best."
Zheng Hechuan said, "Your Majesty, why go to Linxia if you want willow branches? Yongdu also has willow trees."
“They are different; the willow wood of Yongdu is different from that of Linxia.”
The stern look in Xie Yuan's eyes faded, and a smile appeared on his face as he lowered his gaze. "Zheng Hechuan, tell me, is the Empress carrying a princess or a prince?"
Since it concerned the imperial heir, Zheng Hechuan dared not speak recklessly even if he had a few extra lives. His heart tightened, and he increased the force in his hand, causing Xie Yuan to let out a muffled groan of pain.
Zheng Hechuan hurriedly knelt down and begged for forgiveness: "This servant deserves to die ten thousand times, Your Majesty, please forgive me!"
Xie Yuan chuckled softly. He found it bizarre and absurd—what was this talk about husband, wife, and children with a eunuch? As evening approached and he grew tired, Xie Yuan asked Zheng Hechuan to help him to the inner palace to rest for a while.
The man reclined against a bright yellow satin cushion, and a young eunuch on duty outside the palace brought a food box to the inner hall. "Your Majesty," he said, "the Empress has prepared pigeon soup and would like some."
Xie Yuan immediately sat up straight, propping up his limp body. "Where is the Empress?"
The eunuch said, "Her Majesty the Empress is waiting outside the palace."
Zheng Hechuan's expression changed. Before Xie Yuan could speak, he quickly helped Xun Shuheng from the corridor of Chongzheng Hall into the inner hall. After they left, he twisted the little eunuch's ear and went to scold him elsewhere.
Xun Shuheng, supporting her waist, was about to bow when a hand helped her straighten up.
Xie Yuan quickly regained his composure and straightened his posture. He dismissed everyone in Chongzheng Hall.
"Empress, come with me."
He grabbed Xun Shuheng's hand, its touch icy cold, and led her behind the imperial desk where he reviewed memorials. Behind the desk was a dragon-carved chair. Then he placed Xun Shuheng's hand on the dragon-carved armrest.
"Please sit down."
Xun Shuheng abruptly pulled her hand away, her expression changing drastically. She took a step back and said, "Your Majesty, I am terrified."
"I'll let you sit."
Xie Yuan insisted that she sit down and handed her the vermilion brush.
"His Majesty?"
Xun Shuheng was about to put down her pen and plead guilty, but Xie Yuan grabbed her wrist. "Da Lin has fifteen prefectures, more than three hundred counties, and over one thousand six hundred districts. There are many complicated matters. But you and the prince should not be afraid. From today onwards, I will teach you how to handle state affairs one by one."
"His Majesty!"
Xun Shuheng tried to get up, but Xie Yuan grabbed her shoulders and pressed her back onto the dragon throne.
"Let me finish speaking."
Xun Shuheng gradually calmed down and listened attentively.
Xie Yuan squatted down, becoming a head shorter than Xun Shuheng. To see her face clearly, he had to look up.
Since his ascension to the throne, he had wavered several times between thoroughly purging the rebellious faction of Prince Qi and allowing the Xun family lineage to remain. He feared that any remaining remnants would become a thorn in his side in the future, and he also knew that without his maternal family, his concubines would have a difficult time in the palace. He worried that one day his empress would be bullied, and he would be powerless to protect her due to the overall situation, leaving her to swallow her grievances. Therefore, although he had the intention to kill them over the years, he had never taken action against the Xun family, and had simply kept them out of the public eye.
The Xun clan is now reduced to only Xun Xian, a Left Chancellor in name only, and Xun Shutai, who has just been promoted to Minister of Revenue. Apart from these two, no other members of the clan have been promoted.
Fortunately, she never made things difficult for him.
For several years as husband and wife, she never asked anyone in the Xun family to be granted a title out of affection.
"My empress is no ordinary woman. She has been caught between me and the Xun family for so many years. It must have been difficult for you."
Under the candlelight, Xun Shuheng could see that Xie Yuan looked haggard and sickly, but his profile was still distinct and his eyes had become more capable and sharp than when they first became husband and wife.
“Years ago, my father suddenly bestowed a marriage upon me and ordered me to leave Yongdu and take up my fief. I was filled with resentment. Now I realize it was a blessing from heaven. If it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t have been able to marry you.”
"I will do my utmost to leave you and my son a peaceful world."
“But if one day I am gone, remember to be wary of Jiang Ning,” Xie Yuan paused, “...and Chen Liangyu.”
Xie Yuan placed a seal in Xun Shuheng's hand; it was a gold seal, his personal seal.
"I hereby entrust the Imperial Guard to you. With this seal, you can also command the troops in the southern border and the garrison in Linxia. Feng Jiakun of Zhudong is my former subordinate and will also obey your orders. If necessary, I will issue an edict allowing you to rule as regent. Empress, if I do not live to see my son come of age and assume personal rule, I entrust the great empire to you!"
Xun Shuheng looked at him, and in an instant, a strange feeling welled up in her heart, unusually strong. Unconsciously, Xun Shuheng reached out and touched Xie Yuan's face, her thumb stroking his brow, unable to smooth out the frown lines between his eyebrows.
Xie Yuan naturally wouldn't reprimand her for overstepping her bounds; instead, he took her hand in his.
"I hope you will not refuse!"
"Your Majesty is in the prime of your life, full of youthful vigor," Xun Shuheng said, her eyes glistening with tears. "Why are you telling me these things today?"
The slight tremor in his palm made Xie Yuan suddenly realize that his words had frightened Xun Shuheng.
He raised his hand and ruffled Xun Shuheng's hair, then smiled easily and said, "What the Empress says is true. I am at the height of my power, but the country is in turmoil and there are constant disputes in the court. What I said just now was merely a moment of weariness, and I have made the Empress worry along with me."
He whispered in Xun Shuheng's swollen belly, "Empress, give me a crown prince." It must be a prince!
Author's note: Thank you for reading this far!
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