Chapter 70 The Crown Prince Plans to Lead the Campaign Personally
The emperor raised an eyebrow slightly, surprised by his son's bluntness. This son was decisive and ruthless in politics, with a deep mind, but on this matter, he was stubborn to the point of being inhuman.
"You are the crown prince, and will be the emperor in the future. Having three palaces and six courtyards is the norm. Is it... too early to shut everyone out for the sake of just one person?"
“Father,” Xiao Jingzhan rose, knelt down, his tone respectful yet firm, “I will devote myself to the affairs of the court and not let you worry. As for the affairs of the inner court, they are my personal concerns. I humbly request that you allow me to make my own decisions.”
The emperor looked at his kneeling son, speechless for a moment. He recalled his own youth, when he too had favored a particular concubine, yet ultimately could not withstand the test of time and the prevailing political climate. His son, however, was more decisive, and more… devoted?
"Aren't you afraid I'll blame Lady Su? Aren't you afraid she'll be branded as 'jealous' and 'obligated to have the emperor's favor,' which would be detrimental to her and the Crown Prince's palace?" the emperor asked in a deep voice.
Xiao Jingzhan raised his head, his gaze clear and upright: "It is I who dislike others, what does it have to do with her? She is virtuous and kind, and she advised me, but I ignored her. Your Majesty is wise and discerning. Lady Su has given birth to children for the royal family and has made contributions to the country. She deserves more than enough reward, so how can you blame her?"
His words were all reasonable, taking full responsibility upon himself, and highlighting Su Jingyu's merits and virtues, leaving the emperor speechless for a moment.
The emperor looked at his son's calm yet determined face, and after a long while, he shook his head with a smile, a hint of helplessness and emotion in his voice: "I... can never win an argument with you."
Xiao Jingzhan's expression relaxed slightly, and he kowtowed again, his tone extremely sincere: "Your subject thanks Father Emperor for not forcing me."
This thank you was heartfelt and genuine.
How could he not know that his son was deeply in love with Su? He had seen how anxious his son was when Su was pregnant and giving birth.
Now the Crown Prince has three heirs, each with exceptional talent. The eldest son, Chengyu, is intelligent and lively; the second son, Chengye, though young, is already showing maturity; and the eldest daughter, Anning, is lovely and graceful. With a plentiful line of children, the foundation of the nation is solid. Since his sons have no interest in other matters, why should he be the villain, forcing unrelated people into his sons' lives and causing discord between father and son, and unrest in the Crown Prince's palace?
"Rise." The Emperor waved his hand, his tone softening. "Since you have made up your mind, I will say no more. However, as the Crown Princess, Su will be the future mother of the nation. Her virtue cannot be compromised. You need to guide and instruct her more, lest she lose her sense of propriety because of your favor."
"Your subject will remember Your Majesty's teachings." Xiao Jingzhan stood up, a great weight lifted from his heart. He knew that his father had tacitly approved.
"As for those beauties who were presented to us..." The emperor pondered for a moment, "I will find a reason to send them back with generous rewards, or arrange for them to be placed elsewhere, so as not to make things difficult for you."
"Thank you for your consideration, Father Emperor," Xiao Jingzhan said sincerely.
After discussing family matters, the focus shifted to national affairs.
The emperor's expression turned serious. He took several secret reports from his desk and handed them to Xiao Jingzhan: "Take a look at these. The northern border and the western frontier have been quite unsettled lately."
Xiao Jingzhan took the report, quickly glanced through it, and his brows furrowed. The report concerned several border passes and markets where caravans had recently been robbed, border residents had gone missing, and small villages had been attacked. The perpetrators were swift and decisive, leaving almost no clues at the scene except for signs of burning, killing, and looting. Local officials reported that they suspected small groups of Hu (non-Han) or barbarian cavalry were responsible, but lacking direct evidence, they could not launch an attack and could only strengthen security, while the people were already filled with fear.
"Your Majesty, I also received a similar report recently." Xiao Jingzhan closed the secret report, his eyes turning cold. "This is not an isolated incident. The Northern Di, the Western Rong, and even several tribes further afield seem to have tacit agreement to simultaneously carry out small-scale disturbances. Their purpose is probably not simply plunder."
"Oh? Tell me about it." The emperor leaned forward slightly.
"Your Majesty, I believe this is a test," Xiao Jingzhan analyzed. "In recent years, our dynasty has displayed its military might and national power, which has made them wary and dare not openly provoke us. Therefore, they send small elite forces, disguised as bandits, to harass us across the border. First, to test the strength and speed of our border defenses; second, to sow discord among the people, disrupt trade, and undermine the stability of our borders; and third, to plunder wealth to sustain their war effort. They are cunning, showing respect to our faces while stabbing us in the back. All the money and livestock they obtain are stained with the blood of our border people!"
His voice deepened, carrying a chilling edge: "Furthermore, upon careful investigation, these places that were attacked, though seemingly scattered, are in fact strategically located, either as supply routes or near mineral deposits. Their ambitions may extend beyond mere plunder."
The emperor's face was grave: "I share this thought. These barbarians are cunning, their wolfish hearts remain undiminished. Their previous respectful demeanor at court was merely out of fear of their military might. Now that they see our country is peaceful and prosperous, they are stirring again, resorting to these petty and thieving acts! Do they really think my blade is dull?!"
"Father, please calm your anger." Xiao Jingzhan said in a deep voice, "Since they dare to come, they must have something to rely on. They are familiar with the terrain, highly mobile, and good at hiding. The local garrison forces are scattered and it is difficult to form a joint force to encircle and suppress them, so they have repeatedly succeeded. If this continues, the border will be unstable, the people will be restless, and the trade will be devastated, which will be very disadvantageous to us."
"What is your plan?" The emperor looked at his son, his eyes filled with both scrutiny and trust.
Xiao Jingzhan stood up and walked to the huge border map hanging in the sky. He pointed to several places and said, "Your subject believes that we should eradicate this scourge with swift and decisive measures. First, order Zhou Feng, the general guarding the northern border, and the governor of the western border to strengthen their defenses and conduct thorough patrols. If any small groups of bandits are encountered, they should be resolutely wiped out without needing to ask for instructions."
Secondly, the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue were instructed to secretly allocate elite cavalry and crossbowmen, equipped with light armor and fast horses, to form several "border patrol elites," not confined to any one location, specifically tasked with pursuing and suppressing such bandits, and granted them the authority to make independent decisions on the spot. Thirdly, the border markets were to be strictly investigated; all suspicious merchants and goods of unknown origin were to be thoroughly examined to cut off their avenues for profiting from the sale of stolen goods.
He paused, then placed his finger heavily on a point on the map, his voice resolute: "However, this is merely a temporary solution. The barbarians fear our power but do not cherish our virtue. If this provocation is not severely punished, they will surely escalate their actions. Your subject requests permission—to personally go to the northern border!"
The emperor's pupils contracted slightly: "You intend to personally lead the army?"
“It will not be a large-scale military campaign.” Xiao Jingzhan turned around, his eyes flashing like lightning. “Your subject will only take the Crown Prince’s guards and three thousand elite cavalrymen, under the pretext of patrolling the border and pacifying the border people, and head north. After arriving at the border, we will openly patrol, while secretly working with Zhou Feng, using the ‘Border Patrol Warriors’ as the spearhead, to launch a proactive attack, cross the border, and pursue the masterminds behind these bandits. We must thoroughly investigate and eliminate them to serve as a warning to others! At the same time, we will reorganize the border troops, investigate internal spies, and reopen the border markets to reassure the people.”
His gaze was intense, sharp and piercing: "Since they dare to reach out, I will chop off their claws! Let everyone know that the borders of Dasheng are not to be provoked! The people of Dasheng will not be bullied! Whether it is open or covert attacks, those who invade our territory and harm our people, no matter how far away, will be punished!"
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