Chapter 50 Recruiting Soldiers She had held hands for so long, and surprisingly, she didn't want to let go...
Passing through Cangnan, we arrived at Linxia.
The road was uneven for miles, filled with the glint of swords and the shadow of blood.
The imperial edict tore away the last layer of veneer of peace and tranquility.
The weather is about to change; a storm is brewing.
Chen Liangyu's troops shook off the ambush at the border between Linxia and Cangnan.
Upon entering Linxia territory, a troop of light cavalry in armor was greeted and led the way to the Linxia garrison camp.
The heavy wooden gate to the camp and the high fence stood prominently, and a group of people surrounded a young couple, gazing at the camp from the front, as if they had been waiting for a long time.
Xie Yuan, dressed in a brocade python robe, stood tall and imposing, possessing the dignity befitting a regional prince. Beside him was Xun Shuheng, the pregnant Princess Consort of Shen.
Chen Liangyu reined in his horse at the very front, the horse's hooves kicking up dust.
The carriages and people behind them also stopped in their tracks.
The carriage came to a stop, and someone immediately placed a low stool beside the carriage shaft. Dai Qing first lifted the curtain and got out of the carriage, then turned to help Xie Wenjun.
Xie Wenjun gripped the handrail on the car wall, her face deathly pale.
She vomited on the way.
The journey was fraught with both open and covert conflicts, inevitably requiring her to navigate winding mountain roads with numerous twists and turns. The various sizes of loose stones caused her considerable hardship, and the wheels would frequently sink into the deep ruts, only to bounce back up suddenly, causing her to veer east and west.
She couldn't withstand such a bumpy ride and vomited several times. She didn't eat much and couldn't vomit anything.
The car suddenly stopped, making her feel dizzy.
Chen Liangyu dismounted, bowed, and greeted Xie Yuan and Xun Shuheng, who were waiting in front of the camp. She then walked directly to Xie Wenjun's carriage and asked, "Princess, are you alright?"
Xie Yuan stepped forward to greet them, and a group of people followed suit.
"It's alright."
As expected.
Even when she was in so much pain that her back slumped and her thin lips were bloodless, she would only say "I'm fine" to outsiders.
During these days of wandering, she lost most of the hairpins and ornaments on her head when she left Yongdu. She asked Yuanrong and Daiqing to put away the rest. She wore her long hair down and tied it up simply with a ribbon in the middle.
Only now did she understand why Chen Liangyu had called her elaborate headdress of gold hairpins and jeweled ornaments cumbersome when she went to the Marquis of Xuanping's residence to learn riding and archery. At the time, she had thought it was because she disliked Chen Liangyu that she couldn't stand the gold hairpins and jeweled ornaments she had carefully chosen to wear to see her. They were indeed quite cumbersome.
Xie Wenjun stepped one foot out of the carriage, and suddenly everything went black before her eyes, and she could see nothing at all.
She quickly grabbed the car body to steady herself.
Yuan Rong quickly reached out and steadied her, preventing her from falling straight down.
Chen Liangyu's brows furrowed.
She quickly moved a step forward, stood in front of Xie Wenjun, and extended her palm.
Xie Wenjun paused for a moment, and when her vision returned, everything was blurry and indistinct. She grasped the hand that reached out from under the carriage, thinking it was Dai Qing, but as soon as her palm touched it, she realized something was wrong.
The texture doesn't feel right.
Dai Qing's hands were well-maintained, but this hand had calluses on the palm.
She was no stranger to that old, heavy feel; the moment she touched it, she knew who T was.
A force instantly reversed her grip, strong and powerful.
Chen Liangyu leaned forward, put his other arm around Xie Wenjun's waist, and gently lifted her off the carriage to everyone's surprise.
The person is very light, and the arms feel almost no pressure.
"The person is almost gone."
After saying this, Chen Liangyu let out a soft but clear sigh. She seemed deeply remorseful as she spoke.
Upon seeing this, Xun Shuheng's face inadvertently showed a subtle hint of surprise.
Given the manner of Chen Liangyu, whom she knew in Yongdu, it wouldn't be unusual for her to lend a helping hand. But this hug, with its carefulness and tenderness, made her wonder if she was imagining things.
Chen Liangyu was a self-disciplined and principled person.
One should have clear boundaries in one's conduct and not compromise one's principles.
Although she is polite and respectful, it seems that no one can truly be close to her.
Knowing her character all too well, Xie Wenjun never expected her to do such a thing in front of everyone.
She couldn't resist getting close to him several times, and allowing her to walk hand in hand seemed to be the maximum Chen Liangyu could accept. If she tried to cross the line again, she would probably turn on her on the spot, coldly telling her to respect herself.
Hugging someone so intimately in public is inappropriate and not in her style.
Chen Liangyu seemed completely unaware of the unusual situation outside.
She moved closer, lifting herself up to support Xie Wenjun with her body, her gaze fixed on the path beneath her feet.
The Linxia camp was situated between two mountains, with a stream nearby. Stones from the mountains rolled into the stream, their edges smoothed by the flowing water over the years, accumulating on the bottom and banks. Occasionally, a few stones would be picked up by soldiers in the camp to play with, and then carelessly discarded wherever people walked.
Chen Liangyu pushed aside a fist-sized pebble with his toe and said, "Be careful."
Xie Wenjun silently concealed her physical weakness. This was the Linxia camp, and the group of people behind Xie Yuan were mostly well-known generals. Xie Wenjun had come with an imperial decree, and she could not afford to lose the dignity of the royal family.
She tried to pull her hand away from Chen Liangyu's grasp, but she was only temporarily tired and not yet so weak that she couldn't stand up. As soon as she moved, her hand was gripped even tighter by the five fingers that suddenly tightened.
She looked over.
Chen Liangyu remained calm, letting his tightly clenched hands fall down and disappearing into his sleeves.
Chen Liangyu's clothes were collared and narrow-sleeved, with the cuffs secured by a leather strap. This allowed her to maintain her composure even when wielding a spear or sword, but it also concealed nothing.
They had no choice but to use Xie Wenjun's wide sleeves to cover themselves.
Chen Liangyu: "Greetings, Your Highness Prince Shen, and Your Highness the Princess."
Xie Wenjun: "Third Brother, Sister-in-law Wang."
"No need for formalities." Xie Yuan first looked at Chen Liangyu, then his gaze fell on Xie Wenjun's face, and said, "Jiang Ning, you've suffered."
Between the camp gate and the central command tent was a wide training ground. On all sides of the training ground, military flags fluttered in the wind, and patrolling soldiers moved between the tents.
The soldiers drilled, the clanging of their armor deafening.
Temperatures were hidden and exchanged under the watchful eyes of everyone, and they held each other's hands like this, even their steps were in sync.
In the small corner of my palm, another place of peace of mind was created.
That unwavering support seemed capable of withstanding all the storms of the world.
Xun Shuheng was feeling heavy, so she supported her waist and walked slowly, with Xianyu helping her from the side.
Her protruding belly blocked her view.
She couldn't see where she was standing, and her steps were sometimes unsteady.
Chen Liangyu offered a helping hand, saying, "The military camp is too filled with the atmosphere of killing, and the wind is strong in the mountains and by the water. It is cold and damp at night. The princess is pregnant and it is not advisable for her to come here."
Xun Shuheng tidied her wind-blown hair and said, "Your Highness also said so. It was my persistent pleading that made me want to see my old friend earlier, which is why you allowed me to come."
Although it was a friendly exchange between old friends, the atmosphere was not relaxed.
"Liangyu, the Marquis's mansion is different from the Xun mansion, which is full of scholars. You must have a way to contact your family. Have you heard any news from Yongdu recently?"
Upon hearing the words "Yongdu," Chen Liangyu's palms began to sweat slightly.
The next instant, she felt the hand beneath the wide sleeves being grasped and squeezed tightly.
In that secluded place, no bigger than a cuff and only the two of them could feel it, Xie Wenjun was also trying to give back to her to support her strength.
The situation in Yongdu has changed drastically, and the Xun residence is now under constant guard and imprisonment. Xun Shuheng is now the Princess Consort of Shen. If Xie Yuan raises an army, how will Prince Qi deal with the Xun family? It remains to be seen whether he will kill them to eliminate future troubles or threaten and exploit them.
Chen Liangyu said in a hoarse voice, "The Xun family is safe for the time being, so please rest assured, Your Highness."
A flag with lion and tiger patterns was planted in front of the central command tent.
Xie Yuan spread an imperial edict out on the table.
Against a bright yellow background, the characters written in vermilion ink stand out prominently. The dragon and cloud pattern undoubtedly originated from the palace, yet the place where the large vermilion seal should be is empty.
An imperial edict without the imperial seal.
Yan Feng said, "Half a month ago, rumors began circulating among the people that the Emperor intended to abdicate in favor of Prince Shen. The imperial edict only arrived a few days ago, ordering Your Highness to return to the palace immediately upon receiving it and not to bring any troops with you."
He returned to the palace alone.
Then I'm afraid they'll never come back.
Where did the rumors of abdication originate? The news of Xie Yu's death was kept secret half a month ago. With the Crown Prince still alive, who would spread rumors that the throne was to be passed to Prince Shen? Yongdu is under lockdown and martial law; even she only learned of the Crown Prince's assassination attempt when she saw Xie Wenjun. Besides Xie Wenjun and Rong Jun, who else knew of the Crown Prince's death?
Horseflies can carry messages.
The flying flies do not transmit information outwards, but if their creators want to find out something through them, it is incredibly easy.
Chen Liangyu felt a pang of regret; he should have detained Jiang Bojin or killed him outright. Jiang Bojin wanted to stir up trouble in the chaotic world, and he was also adept at fanning the flames. Letting him go would only sow the seeds of future disaster.
Xie Wenjun said, "Of course we will return to Yongdu, but not alone. What are your plans, Third Brother?"
Xie Yuan said, "Let's discuss this further."
Xie Wenjun stood up straight with an air of stubbornness, trying her best to keep it taut, but Xun Shuheng still noticed something was wrong at a glance.
Xun Shuheng quickly scanned everyone's faces; they all had the same solemn expression, the same unspeakable look.
She should avoid suspicion.
Xie Yuan didn't tell her to go back to the manor. She glanced down, her white, slender hands stroking her belly, and said to Xie Yuan, "I feel unwell and anxious in this camp. Why don't I go back to the manor with the princess first, and we can discuss family matters after Your Highness and Liangyu have finished setting up the new camp and returned to the manor?"
"Very well." Xie Yuan nodded upon hearing this and said, "Yan Feng, prepare a carriage to send the Princess and the Consort back to the residence first."
As the carriages and horses drove away, they kicked up dust, leaving people and the dust behind them.
Chen Liangyu clenched his fist, but it was empty.
Her palms felt empty, and so did her heart. As if bound by some kind of bond, she found herself reluctant to let go of the hand she had held for so long.
Chen Liangyu and Xie Yuan climbed onto a lookout tower.
Looking into the distance, one sees beautiful mountains, clear waters, and stunning scenery.
Two sentries were pacing back and forth around the watchtower, keeping watch. Xie Yuan raised his hand, the sentries saluted, and then climbed down the wooden ladder.
Chen Liangyu brought nearly 30,000 troops, and the military tents in the Linxia camp were insufficient for the army to fit in, so the soldiers were busy expanding the camp. Due to the lack of space in the main camp, some soldiers set up their tents outside.
Chen Liangyu said, "Before arriving in Linxia, I also received an oral order, instructing me to return to Yongdu immediately without fail."
She and Xie Yuan received the imperial edict to return to Yongdu almost one after the other.
Xie Yuan asked, "What are your plans?"
"Since I have brought a large army here, rather than returning to Yongdu by imperial decree, Your Highness should know my intentions."
"You mean, raise an army to defend the emperor?"
Chen Liangyu smiled and said, "I once asked Your Highness if you would like to become a wise and magnanimous monarch?"
Xie Yuan looked around to make sure there were no bastards around, and said, "You're too bold. Although the Crown Prince is dead, His Majesty is still alive. Prince Qi is just looking for a pretext to accuse me and you of treason. If you raise an army and declare independence now, wouldn't that be exactly what Prince Qi wants, giving him a handle to use against you?"
“No, it’s not about establishing an independent regime with an army,” Chen Liangyu said, “it’s about legitimately succeeding to the throne!”
"Your Highness, please issue an order immediately that the military garrisons of Linxia and the neighboring Cangnan County and its surrounding areas cease their rotational guard duties to preserve their strength. Currently, the Linxia camp and my troops, along with the garrison troops of Chong'an County and the eight cities of Dongbaiyue, number only a few hundred thousand. To attack Shangyongdu, our forces are still insufficient."
Xie Yuan: "Then, according to your opinion?"
“Recruit soldiers, recruit new troops,” Chen Liangyu said. “The morale of the soldiers is low under the Fubing system. There are many people who have lost their land. If war breaks out, there will be many deserters.”
Under the Fubing system, if one person joined the army, the whole family could be exempted from taxes. During busy farming seasons, they could farm; during slack seasons, they could practice martial arts; and when there was war, they could go to war.
"While integrating soldiers with farmers is certainly more beneficial than harmful in times of peace, it is unsustainable in times of war. If there is a war, it will coincide with the busy farming season. Should the soldiers farm or go to war? If they go to war, the farmland will be abandoned, there will be no food, the court will not be able to collect enough taxes, and if the tax grain cannot be collected, the Ministry of Revenue will not be able to allocate military expenses and provisions for the war. If this continues, the soldiers will be tired and the horses will be exhausted, and the national treasury will be depleted."
“Nowadays, powerful families and officials in various places are greedy and vying to encroach on the land of ordinary people. Farmers have lost their land, and those who join the army do not receive military pay. How can we guarantee the livelihood of the soldiers and their families?”
The Crown Prince and Right Chancellor Zhang Diancheng established the Agricultural and Sericultural Bureau, which effectively curbed land annexation through iron-fisted measures. However, such forceful suppression inevitably breeds rebellion. When Prince Qi issued a decree to abolish the Agricultural and Sericultural Bureau in his fiefdom, it opened a breach and indirectly fueled the rebellious thoughts of powerful families and officials against the Crown Prince.
Therefore, after the crown prince's death, Zhang Diancheng was soon imprisoned and beheaded.
The Agricultural and Sericultural Office exists in name only.
The court is currently in complete chaos, and no one is capable of reorganizing the Ministry of Agriculture and Sericulture to curb the escalating land annexation across the country. Even if there are upright officials who care about the people, seeing the Crown Prince and the all-powerful Right Chancellor meet such a fate, who would dare to be the first to speak out?
"Therefore, all those who join the army will be paid military pay by the imperial court, which can resolve this situation."
That makes sense!
Xie Yuan listened to her finish speaking in silence. She explained things clearly and logically, then suddenly remembered something.
"I... I don't recall agreeing to a rebellion, did I?"
"If you do not raise an army, does Your Highness intend to return to the palace by imperial decree?"
Chen Liangyu held the Lancang sword in front of Xie Yuan, saying, "The Crown Prince is dead, and Your Highness is the biggest thorn in Prince Qi's side. It is destined that we will fight to the death. This sword was bestowed by the Emperor and is the founding sword of the nation. It should be able to protect Your Highness and help you ascend the throne smoothly."
The wind rose from the valley, howling across the vast天地 (heaven and earth), wantonly stirring people's clothes, and the fluttering hems of robes and the flags on the camp gate were all swept into the swirling sand.
Why choose me?
Xie Yuan narrowed his eyes, looking down like a god surveying the world. The watchtower was over ten zhang high, and everything in sight seemed tiny. The soldiers busily setting up their tents were like a grain of millet in a granary, a scale in the vast ocean.
"For many years, I have never asked you why you are so determined to make me the emperor?"
Chen Liangyu said, "To be honest, Your Highness, my initial plan was that only Your Highness could help me achieve my long-cherished wish. If even Your Highness is unwilling to help me, then there is no hope for anyone else."
"What can I do?"
"This humble general has no other request, except that after Your Highness ascends the throne, the Jixian Gate of the Imperial Academy shall be open to women."
Author's Note: I'll punish myself with three drinks for stopping updates. As usual, leave a comment to receive a guilt red envelope!
The Fubing system: A "fu" was a military unit, designated as a region, and each fu had a certain military reserve. Fubing soldiers were farmers who did not receive military pay; they were responsible for their own food and clothing (paid work). They fought in times of war and farmed in times of peace. One person enlisting exempted their entire family from taxes. However, due to land consolidation and the resulting lack of land to cultivate, fewer people were willing to join the army, and the Fubing system gradually became unworkable.
Volunteer army: soldiers are paid military pay, and they are dedicated to fighting, resulting in strong combat effectiveness.
System changes always take time. During this period, the Fubing system and the mercenary system coexisted. Later, the mercenary system gradually replaced the Fubing system.
Rotation of guards: also called rotating guards, means that soldiers from various prefectures take turns guarding the capital.
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