Chapter 95: The Lone Commander Goes to War
The Crown Prince's words surprised everyone in the hall. Even the Emperor raised his eyebrows involuntarily. Last time, the Crown Prince had been so eager to volunteer, but this time he was willing to concede to the Prince of Huan and the Prince of Tai.
"If the Crown Prince were to choose one of the two, who does he think is more suitable?"
For a moment, the air seemed to freeze. Everyone held their breath, waiting for Jiang Chen's answer. Although no one could figure out the Emperor's deeper meaning in asking such a question, the Crown Prince's answer was undoubtedly weighty.
"Your Majesty, I believe..." Jiang Chen glanced at the lower right corner, paused, and then replied, "At present, the most important thing at the border is to stabilize the situation. My elder brother has always been calm and resourceful. If Father asks, I think my elder brother is more suitable."
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone's attention turned to the emperor. The emperor pondered for a moment, then nodded slightly: "Then... appoint Prince Huan as the Grand General of the Army, Qi Mao as the Left General, and Liu Ziyue as the Right General, to assist Prince Huan in going north to quell the rebellion in the northern frontier. The Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue will cooperate in this effort. Shen Xun has made meritorious contributions in escorting grain and fodder, and will be promoted to Minister of Agriculture, accompanying Prince Huan on another northward expedition to oversee the transportation of grain and supplies."
"Your subject accepts the imperial decree and expresses gratitude."
A chorus of kneeling figures appeared behind him. Jiang Chen's eyes remained calm and undisturbed. The emperor, as his father, was indeed ruthless. He had clearly seen through his little scheme, but he hadn't exposed it. Unfortunately, he was going to disappoint the emperor. His purpose in attending court this morning was not really to volunteer for a personal expedition.
"Brother—" King Zhao followed King Huan and was about to speak when several officials came over to offer their congratulations. King Huan nodded casually with a calm expression, and he and King Zhao quickened their pace.
Receiving honors before going to war is different from other things. Jiang Yu doesn't need these flattering words at this moment. He is about to leave the capital and has countless things to deal with. He really has no time to be polite and polite with these people.
The two walked side by side toward the palace gate. King Zhao spoke quickly and in a low voice: "The Ministry of War has approached Qi Mao, and the Ministry of Revenue's envoy has gone to the Ministry of Agriculture. Someone is deliberately blocking our way to plant people in the ranks."
"Do you know what you're saying?" King Huan glared at him. "The left and right generals are the sixth prince's men, the grain transport is the fifth prince's men, so what if it's difficult to place the accompanying officials? Do you expect me to go to the northern frontier and play the role of a lone commander?"
King Zhao was chilled by this question. Did he not want everything to go as he wished? Although his father had appointed his eldest brother to lead the army, he had also made them hinder him at every turn. By letting them fight amongst themselves, the emperor had decided that none of the various factions would gain any advantage this time.
"Then I'll go to the Ministry of Revenue. Brother, you go back to your residence first. Mr. Du and the others have already arrived."
"Wait a minute—" King Huan grabbed his arm, causing King Zhao to stumble. "Although things are complicated and chaotic now, you must not lose your composure. Remember to think things through before you act. Even if things don't work out, always strive for stability."
"Okay...I understand..."
King Zhao was momentarily dazed. By the time he regained his senses, King Huan had already boarded his carriage and left.
With the imperial edict issued, the numerous government offices in the capital were thrown into chaos, and the Prince of Thailand's residence was bustling with activity. In the past, military officers would at least find a pretext to conceal their comings and goings, but now that both the Qi and Liu families had been promoted, the Prince of Thailand's residence was too lazy to put on an act anymore.
Upon learning that the Crown Prince had failed to personally lead the expedition, some of the officials in the Eastern Palace were also inquiring about the Crown Prince's whereabouts. Shen Yujiao walked from the backyard to the front hall to comfort everyone, welcoming and seeing off wave after wave of people with a combination of coaxing and persuasion.
The Huan Prince's residence is currently the busiest place, with people from all walks of life coming and going. Some even bump into people in their haste to run in and out of the residence. The Huan Prince is sitting in his study, dealing with four or five matters at the same time. Everyone comes to ask him questions, and he is barely holding on, though his mind is still relatively clear for the moment.
The commotion and noise outside the palace could not reach inside. At this moment, the emperor and Jiang Chen were sitting facing each other under the window of the imperial study. Each of them held a piece, and black and white pieces were intertwined on the chessboard. The emperor had a smile on his face, while Jiang Chen was calm and composed, as if they were completely unaware that the capital was in complete chaos.
"Chen'er has not only made great progress in political affairs, but his chess skills have also become much more refined."
Playing chess is the best way to see a person's character. The emperor had not known when it was last time he and Crown Prince Chen were so engrossed in a game of chess. He felt that his son was a completely different person now that he was playing chess.
"The Crown Princess enjoys playing chess, and I often accompany her in the Eastern Palace. I have naturally learned some of it through observation and practice."
She's the Crown Princess again.
The emperor lifted his eyelids and glanced at the crown prince. Jiang Chen noticed his gaze and nodded slightly. Both of them were clear-headed and understood that this was a tired excuse, but neither of them had the intention of calling it out.
Regardless of what the emperor was thinking, Jiang Chen was too lazy to pretend anymore. He simply didn't have time to study Crown Prince Chen's strategy. He had already drawn his sword in front of the emperor, so the contrast now was to be expected.
"The Duke of Cheng has done a good job of teaching. Now even I can't see through the Crown Prince's strategy," the Emperor said, his gaze suddenly turning sharp as he placed a white piece. "You've lost ground on the top. On the surface, you're working on the bottom, but in reality, you're gradually eroding it. So many pieces, this is no small-scale operation. What exactly does Chen'er want?"
Jiang Chen held the chess piece, his eyes lowered, a faint smile playing on his lips, and spoke in a calm and gentle voice: "May the world be blessed."
If there's anywhere in the capital city, besides the imperial palace, that's far from the hustle and bustle, it's probably the Prince Han's residence.
The war in the northern frontier is currently the most talked-about event in the capital. With the war raging, all refined and elegant pursuits must be put aside. Under such circumstances, who would still pay attention to the literati of the King of Han's faction?
"Why should Your Highness worry?" Princess Han's voice was gentle as she placed her delicate hands on the King's temples with just the right amount of pressure, each touch reflecting the tacit understanding that the couple had shared over the years.
"War is inevitable now. After the matter in the northern frontier is over, Your Highness will still be in power in this peaceful and prosperous era."
The King of Han opened his eyes slightly, his long eyelashes casting shadows around them. The room was brightly lit, yet he seemed unable to see anything clearly: "Ah Yin, this court... has never been mine."
“Your Highness…” Princess Han paused in her movements, kneeling beside her husband, her eyes filled with heartache as she looked at him, “Don’t say that.”
She understood the Han King's resentment, his unfulfilled potential and lack of recognition, the lack of opportunities for civil officials to make their mark during the border wars, and the fact that although he was born with great talent, his elder brother was both the legitimate heir and the eldest son. Jiang Jin was indeed a fine jade, but which of these princes wasn't a gem?
Upon hearing this, Jiang Jin chuckled silently. He took Princess Han's fingertips in his hand and kissed them tenderly before slowly lowering his head: "If this calamity hadn't occurred in the Northern Frontier, perhaps I could have planned my actions carefully. But now, Prince Huan, the Crown Prince, and Prince Tai are practically locked in a three-way power struggle. Ah Yin, I intend to make one last desperate gamble. If that fails..."
"What are you saying! Your Majesty is in the prime of your life. Even if your brothers currently hold the upper hand, how can Your Highness be sure there won't be a future for them—"
Halfway through her sentence, Princess Han's voice seemed to catch in her throat. Her bright eyes, which were filled with disbelief, looked at King Han. When King Han nodded almost imperceptibly, confirming her suspicions, Princess Han collapsed onto the couch as if all her strength had been drained.
Seeing her so shocked, King Han sighed softly, pulled his beloved wife into his arms, and murmured, "No one knows about this yet. If I lose, perhaps this news can save us once."
Unlike the King of Wu leaving the capital, the King of Huan's northward march was even more grand than before, with 40,000 troops breaking out of the capital, followed by 60,000 troops stationed in various places heading north. The two forces would meet halfway.
As the commander-in-chief, King Huan drank the farewell wine offered by the emperor and the crown prince at the city gate, watched by all the civil and military officials. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he received a dragon-patterned sword from the emperor.
On the morning of the expedition, King Huan, clad in gleaming silver armor, was bathed in the dazzling sunlight that reflected off his armor, making him appear as if he were a divine warrior descended from the heavens, about to lead his people into battle.
This was the first time that King Huan felt pressured by the expectations in other people's eyes. The higher the expectations that the officials and people north of the city gate of Xiajing placed on him, the more he felt as if a thousand pounds were on his shoulders. Through the heavy gazes, his eyes searched through the crowd.
Shen Yujiao stood far away. She could have chosen not to come today, but Consort Yao was forced to come by the Empress, and the Empress herself was unwilling to come. So she could only attend with Princess Huan. However, on such an occasion as the Xia army's departure, they, as women, did not stand in the front row. At this moment, they were standing on the city wall watching the army go.
The Crown Princess's formal attire is always gorgeous and elaborate, but today Shen Yujiao specially chose a more practical casual outfit. Standing next to the Princess of Huan, she looked less dignified and noble, but more heroic. Standing on the city tower, the cold wind blew the hem of her clothes, and her crimson robes looked like banners. Just one glance was enough to soothe Jiang Yu's restless heart.
There's nothing to be afraid of. He's a general; he will fight for his people, and he will fight for this moment when a gaze is cast from afar. Ah Jiao's approval will be his greatest glory.
After several years apart, their eyes met again. Jiang Yu quickly looked away, gripping his longsword tightly, suppressing the stinging tears in his eyes. He mounted his horse and raised his arm, shouting, "Let's go!"
It wasn't Jiang Yu's imagination; at the moment he looked over, Shen Yujiao was indeed looking at him as well.
She admired King Huan. The grand procession of this expedition showed that the emperor valued him and that officials and the people had high hopes for him. But the more this was the case, the more difficult King Huan's path would be. He was riding a tall horse and it was very bumpy.
On this journey north, he is destined to be hampered by the generals on both sides. In addition, there is Shen Xun, a close advisor of the Eastern Palace, in the team. If he can successfully recapture the city, that will be fine. But if these people are not of one mind and their efforts are not in the same direction, then Jiang Yu will have a very difficult time in the northern frontier.
"Although the Crown Prince was unable to personally lead the two expeditions to the northern frontier as he wished, this precisely demonstrates that the Emperor values the safety of his fifth brother."
"Sister-in-law, you are overthinking it. The Crown Prince is fine and is not troubled by this matter. It doesn't matter who leads the troops. As long as the northern border can be recovered, they will be meritorious officials of our Great Xia."
The city gate tower was built extremely high, and the two women wore forced smiles, making it impossible for those below to discern their verbal exchange.
"Then I will take the Crown Princess's auspicious words as a sign. On the day of His Highness's triumphant return, I will certainly offer him a toast."
“One cup is not enough?” Shen Yujiao tilted her head slightly: “Although I am husband and wife with the Crown Prince, we cannot share a cup of wine.”
"Yes, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess are very loving, but it is my sister-in-law who has been careless."
“Sister-in-law, you are the same as Prince Huan,” Shen Yujiao said in a slightly cold tone. “Husband and wife are one. Instead of focusing on other things, you should focus your attention on Prince Huan. It will certainly be difficult to defeat the Di army on this trip to the northern frontier. You don’t need to worry about the inner palace of the Eastern Palace.”
Princess Huan's smile froze completely. Her first reaction upon hearing the Crown Princess's words was disbelief. Their people were so well hidden; this was the first time in all these years that she had used the hidden agents buried in the Eastern Palace.
How come the Crown Princess caught him so quickly, even though it was only once, and right after he made his move?
The head eunuch of the Eastern Palace is ruthless. The people they infiltrated from various factions back then have been almost entirely wiped out. Now, he's the only remaining one. Could the Crown Princess's words mean...?
“It seems that my sister-in-law understands what I mean,” Shen Yujiao stepped forward and said, “It’s quite windy here. Now that I’ve seen you off, I’ll head back first.”
The moment she turned around, the smile vanished from Shen Yujiao's face.
She's been so busy lately that she's neglected managing the inner courtyard of the Eastern Palace. Luckily, Chu Rou is alert and informed her immediately after noticing the unusual activity.
Thinking about this, Shen Yujiao was both angry and amused; Liu Shi really couldn't hold her temper.
However, she probably never expected that the woman who was supposed to be at odds with her husband and represent the two families on the opposite side was actually an ally of the same camp.
She would never know that the Crown Prince's concubine had no affection for him whatsoever. No matter how hard she tried, she could never cultivate a favored concubine from such a concubine.
Lady Liu had indeed not thought of these things.
The wind on the city tower was too strong. She was dressed in her finest attire today, and for the sake of appearances, her body was already stiff with cold. She had come to see off Prince Huan, but who would have thought that on such a solemn occasion, her husband would not even give her a semblance of respect!
Others might not be able to tell, but she was standing right next to Shen Yujiao. How could she not know who the Prince Huan's gaze was on?
Okay, very good.
Long, sharp fingernails dug into the palm of the hand, which had been frozen for so long that it had lost all feeling of pain.
The maid had been enduring the pain for a long time, but seeing the bright red blood dripping from Princess Huan's hand, she could no longer care about anything else. Ignoring the risk of punishment, she rushed forward and wrapped Princess Huan's hand with a handkerchief. Her eyes reddened as she pleaded, "My lady, let's go. It's windy here, you..."
She choked back sobs, her voice trembling, "It hurts so much..."
Does it hurt? Liu raised her hand to look at the blood-stained handkerchief, a smile curling at the corner of her mouth, a smile full of sarcasm and self-mockery.
Her heart ached even more.
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