Chapter 113: In the Forbidden City, on the Grassland
Just two days after Xuanye said he had a dream, Xiu Yu had almost the same dream. In the dream, Ke Jing left the Forbidden City and married Galdan.
When Xiuyu woke up, her forehead was covered in sweat. She was puzzled. In the original history, Kejing should not have been born, so why did she and Xuanye both have such a dream?
Xuanye had just finished reviewing a memorial and was about to retire when he saw Xiuyu sitting on the bed with a frown on her face, clearly deep in thought. He sat down beside her, held her shoulders, and asked, "Yes, what did you dream about? Did you have a nightmare?"
"Didn't you say you dreamed a few days ago that Kejing married into the Dzungarians? I actually dreamed of that, too." Xiu Yu leaned on Xuanye's shoulder, calming down for a long moment before saying, "In my dream, Kejing's face was covered in tears. She didn't want to go, but she had to, and I was completely powerless to stop her."
"It's a dream, it's not real." This time, it was Xuanye's turn to persuade Xiuyu: "Besides, I can't let our Kejing marry Galdan. Perhaps it won't be long before Galdan and I fight. I will win, and Galdan will lose. If Kejing dies, how will she cope?"
"Yes." Xiu Yu naturally had this concern: "I know that the emperor will win and Galdan will lose. If Galdan has that idea, he is destined to be the loser."
Xuanye touched Xiuyu's forehead and reassured her, "I've actually already set a date for the expedition. Now that all the Mongolian tribes have grievances against Galdan, we should take this opportunity to march north. The timing, the location, and the people are all right. Therefore, Kejing, don't give Galdan any chance. The dream we both had is truly just a dream. There's no need to worry about it."
"Then..." Xiu Yu looked at Xuan Ye and asked, "Will you take me with you?"
"Of course I'll take you with me." Xuanye smiled. "This time, I'll bring the firearms from the southern suburbs. As the designer, don't you want to go and see how powerful they are?"
Xiu Yu was somewhat nervous, after all, she had never been to a place like a battlefield.
Xuanye saw the hesitation in Xiuyu's eyes and asked, "Why, are you a little timid now that the time has come?"
"Of course not." Xiu Yu raised an eyebrow. "I am the daughter of the Guo Luoluo family. The men of the Guo Luoluo family are all heroes on horseback, and the women are naturally no less capable."
"I will not allow you to ride a warhorse to fight the Dzungars." Xuanye took Xiu Yu into his arms and said, "I will appoint my brother and my younger brother as generals, and they will kill Galdan without a single survivor."
Xuanye was always the type to act immediately upon his resolve. After the 100,000-man army had assembled, he handed over all important court affairs to Yinreng, then mounted his warhorse and marched north with the army. Xiuyu, wearing the military uniform Xuanye had worn in his youth, followed him.
The army was marching at a fast pace. When they were camping at night, Xuanye was reading a book in the tent with a frown on his face.
"Are you worried?" Xiu Yu handed Xuanye the wine bag filled with kumis. "Galdan's strength is indeed not to be underestimated."
After hearing Xiu Yu's question, Xuanye put down the book in his hand, took a sip of mare's milk, and then said, "In fact, it was because I let Galdan go that we had to lead the army in person today."
"How do you say it?" Xiu Yu sat next to Xuanye, ready to listen to the story.
"You hadn't even entered the capital at that time. During the Three Feudatories Rebellion, I made the most wrong decision in my life."
Xiu Yu nodded and thought to himself, abolishing the feudal system was not your most wrong decision. Your most wrong decision was probably appointing a crown prince at such a young age.
Xuanye continued, "Back then, Galdan was already showing signs of trouble, but the Qing army couldn't split its forces to deal with both the Three Feudatories and Galdan simultaneously. Tolerating him would only breed trouble. Now, the territory Galdan has occupied is almost catching up with that of the Qing."
He spoke lightly, but Xiu Yu could hear the helplessness in his voice.
"Don't worry, the army of justice will always win, just like you won and Wu Sangui lost."
"Yes, just like I won and Wu Sangui lost. I will always win." Although Xuanye said this, he was clearly uneasy. He looked at the mountain of information at hand and said, "I have collected all the information on Galdan. Before he was born, he was regarded as the reincarnation of a living Buddha. Before returning to secular life, he studied Buddhism with the fourth and fifth generations of the patriarch. He can be said to be a man of both civil and military skills."
Xiu Yu only knew that Xuanye had defeated Galdan in history, but he didn't know Galdan's true background. Now, hearing Xuanye's introduction, he was somewhat surprised.
"So, you see him as an adversary."
"Yes, I consider him an adversary." Xuanye made no secret of his true thoughts. "I personally led the army because Galdan was far more formidable than Wu Sangui. If I didn't command the central army, I'm afraid the army would be unstable and suffer repeated defeats."
"Are you actually worried that you will be defeated again and again?" Xiu Yu also frowned.
"Last time, I was careless and let Galdan gain the upper hand, leading to the defeat of the Eight Banners." Xuanye felt somewhat ashamed when he mentioned the defeat. "This time, I know him, but he probably doesn't know me. Therefore, I suspect I will win."
***
In the Forbidden City, Crown Prince Yinreng experienced the feeling of handling state affairs for the first time. Suo Etu also assisted him wholeheartedly, wishing to instill all his skills into Yinreng.
It was almost midnight, and he had finally finished reading the memorial on his desk. Yinreng put down his pen and said, "I didn't expect Father to be so busy every day. It's really not easy."
"Your Majesty has been the Emperor for a long time, and he's already mastered these matters." Suo Etu handed another memorial to Yinreng. "With the Crown Prince's talent, he will surely be as adept as the Emperor in handling these matters in the future."
"I hope it's as my great uncle said." Yinreng looked at the memorial Suo Etu handed him, which listed the amount of food and fodder shipped to the front. "Didn't my father make arrangements for these before he left?"
"The Emperor has indeed made arrangements." Suo Etu hesitated for a moment, then said, "Your Highness, before the troops move, food and fodder must be sent first. This is something that must be guaranteed in war. If food and fodder are guaranteed, the Emperor will probably be victorious in this battle against Galdan."
"Since Father is leading the army in person, victory is inevitable." Yinreng's eyes were filled with admiration for Xuanye. "Actually, it's a bit of a waste for Father to be in charge of the central army. With his horsemanship, he could probably kill Galdan himself."
Soetu stroked his beard, seeming to want to say something but stopping himself.
"What does Uncle want to say?" Yinreng pondered and frowned: "You are not trying to make a fuss about food and grass, are you?"
Suo Etu said, "Galdan is a formidable opponent, and formidable opponents are usually difficult to deal with. Your Majesty, this battle will undoubtedly last a long time, and there may not always be sufficient food and fodder."
Yinreng quickly understood what Soetu meant. He lowered his voice and said, "Uncle, don't have any thoughts that shouldn't be thought of."
"My Lord Crown Prince!" Soetu said, a little annoyed at his lack of fighting spirit. "The Emperor is away at war, and you're the regent. This opportunity is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If you miss it, you might never have it again."
"I don't need such an opportunity." Yinreng looked at Suo'etu coldly. "If you say such treasonous words again, my uncle, I will no longer care about family ties." He leaned in front of Suo'etu and said, "I will send someone to arrest you and hand you over to my father when he returns."
"Your Highness is still young." Soetu shook his head and sighed, "In another ten or twenty years, when your great uncle is gone, no one will risk the crime of treason to say these things to you. Now, the eldest prince is in the imperial court and will surely return with military merit. The eldest prince has Lao Ming's support behind him. Lao Ming is different from your great uncle. He is a scholar, and scholars are much more cunning than your great uncle. At that time, Your Highness, you must be extremely careful."
"I think my great uncle is in pretty good health." Yinreng patted Soetu on the shoulder and said, "My great uncle will always be by my side and be my advisor!" After he said that, he stood up and walked out.
Soetu looked at Yinreng's back and shook his head.
***
Walking through the Forbidden City, Yinreng's face darkened, and so did his mood. He walked slowly across the bluestone floor, his hands clasped behind his back. He kept telling himself that as a filial child, a child raised with the love and care of his father, he should always put his father's needs first.
However, he had to admit that what Soetu said made sense.
He has indeed been the crown prince for a very long time...
"Second brother, the crown prince?" Yinzhen, who had just finished studying, walked out of the study with a little kid in tow, and happened to run into Yinreng. "Greetings to His Highness. It's late at night, and His Highness is out for a walk?"
Yinreng smiled and said, "It's my fourth brother." He patted the little boy's head and said, "Little Thirteen, aren't you bored being with your fourth brother?"
Thirteenth Prince Yinxiang shook his head like a rattle: "Fourth brother taught me arithmetic, and fourth brother is really good at arithmetic."
Yinreng nodded: "After all, Fourth Brother's arithmetic was taught by Concubine Yi herself, so naturally he is very good."
"The prince is still the most powerful." Yinzhen naturally had to compliment Yinreng.
Yinreng asked again, "At this hour, are you planning to send Yinxiang back to his mother?"
"Let's go to Yikun Palace and meet up with my fifth brother and the others. Will the Crown Prince come with us?"
Yinreng shook his head: "You guys should get together, I'm a little tired."
Yinzhen picked up Yinxiang and said to Yinreng, "Father, you are leading the army in person, and the affairs of the country are handled by the prince. It is really not easy."
"Actually, you are all capable now." Yinreng patted Yinzhen on the shoulder and said, "When will you show your true abilities and become my good helper?"
Yinzhen smiled and said, "If the Crown Prince has any orders, Yinzhen will never refuse them, even if it means going through fire and water."
"I've been waiting for you to say this!" Yinreng said with a smile: "Brothers like you and I must work together to protect the country, and only then can the country be forever stable."
After watching the prince return to the palace, Yinzhen took Yinxiang towards the Yiku Palace.
Yinxiang grabbed Yinzhen's clothes and said, "Fourth brother, why doesn't the Crown Prince play with us? Aunt Tao's barbecue is delicious, and the Crown Prince is really not lucky enough."
Yinzhen said calmly, "The Crown Prince has the world in his heart, so he naturally wouldn't care about a barbecue."
"That's how pitiful the second prince is." Yinxiang smiled innocently, "It's better for us to do this."
Yinzhen asked, "Why do you say that?"
"I can rely on my fourth brother and beg him to teach me math, my fifth brother to teach me Manchu, and my ninth brother to teach me how to use an abacus. But I can't and dare not ask my second brother, the Crown Prince, to teach me these things." Yinxiang counted on his fingers, "That's how it is for me, and the other brothers are actually the same. The second brother, the Crown Prince, is like this. It's lonely at the top!"
Yinzhen was amused by Yinxiang: "You little guy, the prince is the future heir to the throne, and he is different from us."
"Oh." Yinxiang nodded seriously: "Then Fourth Brother, let's go to Yikun Palace and barbecue."
***
As if by telepathy, Xiu Yu, who was far away in the northern frontier, handed the roasted lamb leg to Xuanye and made a casual joke, saying, "The two armies haven't clashed yet, so we can still have a peaceful meal. Those dry biscuits will probably come in handy in a few days."
"It's not that bitter." Xuanye took a sip of wine and handed the wine bag to Xiuyu. "Galdan needs to eat too. If his Mongolian soldiers eat dry biscuits every day, it won't be long before they don't want to fight for Galdan anymore."
"Then if we find a way to cut off Galdan's food supply, then we won't have to spend a single soldier of the Qing Dynasty, right?" Xiu Yu joked.
Xuanye said, "That's a good idea. We can send a small team out to see if there's any way to cut off Galdan's food supply. If this plan works, Yu'er, you'll be credited with a great achievement!"
"I just said it casually. It doesn't count." Xiu Yu also took a sip of wine.
Xuanye actually couldn't eat much. Seeing that Xiu Yu had no desire to eat, he ordered the guards outside the tent to take out the roasted lamb leg and distribute it to the soldiers.
Xuanye asked with a smile, "Are you worried about Yinqi and the others?"
Xiu Yu shook her head: "With Xiao Tao and the Imperial Concubine here, I think Yinqi and the others might have a more comfortable life than when I was around. After all, without any constraints, they can just do whatever they want."
"Yinqi is not like that." Xuanye quickly judged his son: "If anyone has the ability to lift the roof of your Yikun Palace... I think Yinzhen can do it."
"He is a bit naughty." Xiu Yu felt that Xuanye's words made sense: "Yin'er was already very naughty when he was young, but he is not like Yin'er, who actually fed you to death with a tank of fish."
Xiu Yu smiled and shook her head: "I don't know whose temper this fellow Yinzhen inherited."
"Then it's probably up to you." Xuanye quickly threw the blame away: "When I was young, I was very well behaved and I raised fish well."
"Yinqi is more like me." Xiu Yu didn't accept the blame: "He is down-to-earth, hardworking, and smart!"
Xuanye smiled and said, "Then...Yinzhen is the embodiment of the saying 'A dragon gives birth to nine sons, each one is different'?"
"Probably." Xiu Yu was a little tired, and his eyes gradually became hazy: "Your Majesty, aren't you ready to rest? Are you still planning a battle plan?"
"You go to sleep first." Xuanye took the booklet containing Galdan's life back in his hand and said, "I need to study Galdan further. Once I study him thoroughly, I will understand his military tactics."
Xiu Yu was a little worried: "Is the emperor a little nervous? When he really clashes with Galdan, his military tactics will become clear."
"It's okay." Xuanye said jokingly, "Or... you can't sleep well without me lying next to you?"
"Of course not." Xiu Yu stopped asking, "Then I'm going to sleep, and you shouldn't stay up too late."
***
On a separate note, in the Forbidden City's Yikun Palace, with Xiuyu away, Kejing, as the elder sister, naturally had the final say. But tonight, with the Imperial Noble Consort's presence, the children were a bit quieter.
Xiao Tao passed the roasted meat to the imperial concubines, princesses, and princes sitting around the table. Tong Jia Zifu smiled and said, "It's already this late. Yu'er isn't here, and neither is my cousin. Let's not talk about all the rules. Xiao Tao, please sit down too."
Xiao Tao smiled and said, "I dare not."
"Aunt Tao, please sit down." Ke Jing held Xiao Tao's arm and asked her to sit next to him: "Tong Fei's mother has said so. If you don't sit down, it would be disobedience."
As soon as Ke Jing finished speaking, the children sitting around the table, including Tong Jia Zifu, all laughed.
Yinzhen arrived a little late with Yinxiang. As soon as he entered the house, he saw his mother and his brothers and sisters laughing. He sat next to Tong Jia Zifu and arranged for Yinxiang to sit next to him. He smiled and asked Tong Jia Zifu, "Did mother tell them a joke? What's the matter that makes everyone so happy?"
"Your fourth sister told a bad joke." Tong Jia Zifu personally poured hot water for Yinzhen and Yinxiang, and said angrily, "We agreed to have a lively evening together, and you're so late with Yinxiang?"
Yinzhen replied, "You can't blame me for this! It was my thirteenth brother who asked me to teach him mathematics. My ability is naturally not as good as that of Concubine Yi's mother, so it took my thirteenth brother a long time to memorize the formula. I don't know if it's my fault or..." He glanced at Yinxiang and said nothing more.
After all, Yinxiang was still a little kid and didn't understand what Yinzhen meant. He was eating the meat that Xiaotao had picked for him on the plate.
Tong Jia Zifu smiled and said, "You must still be lacking in maturity. Wait until your mother, Concubine Yi, returns and ask her to teach Yinxiang again."
Yinzhen said, "My fourth sister, fifth brother, and I are all about the same age. Back then, Concubine Yi taught us all together. As for my thirteenth brother, I'm afraid only I, as the older brother, can be more diligent and teach him more. Concubine Yi doesn't have the time."
Yinxiang smiled and said, "Fourth brother is also very good at teaching. I am willing to learn from you."
Yinqi also said: "Fourth brother is indeed very patient, better than me and my ninth brother."
Tong Jia Zifu looked at Yinzhen taking care of Yinxiang and said, "It seems that Yinzhen really likes your thirteenth brother. It's nice to have a new little follower."
"It's because of a snot." Yinzhen would occasionally act like a spoiled child around Tong Jia Zifu. He stretched his arm in front of Tong Jia Zifu and said, "Mother, this dress is dirty. It's all Yinxiang's snot."
Tong Jia Zifu touched the back of Yinzhen's head and said, "Mother still has plenty of cloth for you to make clothes. I'll make new ones later."
Kejing, Yinqi, Yinlu, and Yinzhen looked at each other and honestly couldn't bear to watch...
It was Ke Jing, the eldest, who said, "I don't know when Mother will come back. Fourth brother is happier."
Yin'er's mouth was somewhat venomous: "Why is Fourth Brother still acting like a spoiled child in front of Concubine Tong's mother? This kind of thing is something that Eleventh Brother and Thirteenth Brother can do. People of our age..."
"Ninth brother, you're still young, aren't you?" Yinqi glared at Yinzhen. "Mother is away, and you envy Fourth Brother for having Mother around to take care of him. Just say it. What's the point of teasing Fourth Brother?"
Yinzhen said angrily, "Fifth brother, are you really my brother? Why are you speaking in favor of Fourth brother?"
Yinqi smiled: "Tong Feimu and mother have a good relationship. Fourth brother was also raised by mother. They are no different from brothers. Between fourth brother and you, whoever is right, I will help him."
Tong Jia Zifu spoke at the right moment: "Okay, if you don't eat now, it will be midnight! Are you going to sleep tonight?"
The back-and-forth fights between the brothers were really harmless, and soon they all became a group again, with the big ones bullying the small ones, and the small ones not sparing the big ones. In the Yikun Palace, it was just as Xiu Yu said, when there is no tiger in the mountain, the monkey becomes king!
***
As the 100,000-strong army marched, Kangxi studied and considered Galdan's actions all the way. Finally, he and his brother agreed to adopt a strategy of dividing and advancing to attack together to deal with the Dzungar army.
After all, Galdan was a man of both civil and military talents. Xuanye was studying Galdan, and Galdan was also studying Xuanye. In Tuocheng, the two armies fought for a month, but Xuanye's study was ultimately more thorough. Galdan gradually realized that he seemed to be losing this battle.
"Galdan actually asked for peace?" Xuanye looked at the peace letter in his hand, his words revealing some disdain: "Does he know the strength of my army?"
Prince Yu Fuquan said with a smile: "The emperor's army is naturally invincible and victorious in every battle!"
"Second brother, do you think Galdan's request for peace is true or false?" Although Xuanye was very satisfied with Galdan's letter of peace, he still hesitated: "Do we believe him?"
Fuquan said: "Galdan was frightened by the attack, so he probably had no choice but to submit this peace request."
"I have to go... I have to go..." Xuanye murmured, frowning for a moment as he looked at Fuquan: "The army is still in Tuocheng. Is there anyone watching Galdan?"
"Your Majesty's intention is..." Fuquan also frowned: "Galdan is pretending to seek peace in order to escape?"
Xuanye nodded: "It's possible. Second brother, you should send someone to keep an eye on them, just in case Galdan gives us a delaying tactic..."
As soon as he finished speaking, Prince Gong Changning hurried into the tent and said, "Your Majesty, Galdan escaped overnight!"
"What!" Xuanye slammed the table and stood up: "He ran away overnight?"
Chang Ning was also very angry: "When he sent the envoys out to negotiate, he was probably already preparing to escape. Now... I'm afraid he has already fled the border."
Xuanye sneered and tightly grasped the letter of peace sent by the envoy sent by Galdan, and the blue gold in his hand was exposed.
"Your Majesty..." Fuquan knelt on the ground: "Your Majesty, please forgive me."
"It's none of your business." Xuanye slowly sat down. "I was careless. I received this 'peace request' from Galdan, and you actually came to me to ask for peace. Second brother, you all go down first. I need to think carefully."
Fuquan and Changning looked at each other, saluted, and then bowed and retreated.
Xuanye was the only one left in the central army tent. He tore up Galdan's letter of request for peace and threw it all into the air. He could have killed Galdan, but Galdan sent someone to him. He hesitated for a while and lost the opportunity.
After hearing the news, Xiu Yu quickly came to Xuanye. She saw Xuanye burying his head in his hands. Although she could not see his expression, she could clearly feel his frustration.
"Your Majesty." Xiu Yu held Xuanye's shoulders, "I am here."
Xuanye simply leaned on Xiu Yu and said, "Yu'er, have I been fooled by Galdan?"
"Galdan is treacherous and cunning, while the emperor is upright and honest." Xiu Yu did not hesitate before making his final conclusion: "Even if the treacherous and cunning succeed temporarily, they will eventually fail."
"Are you trying to comfort me?" Xuanye simply put his arm around Xiuyu's waist. "Never mind. Perhaps it's fate. It's fate that allowed Galdan to escape this time... So, let's go back to the capital first."
Xiu Yu touched Xuanye's head and comforted him: "It's good to return to Beijing. You have been away for quite a while this time, so it's time to go back and visit."
"Galdan, I will never think of sparing his life again." Xuanye's eyes were filled with anger: "How dare you play tricks on me..."
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