Chapter 147 Chain Reaction: A storm begins with a ripple, and a wave begins with a gentle ripple...
So, Huo Qubing was the only one kept in the dark from beginning to end.
This realization hit him like a ton of bricks, leaving him dizzy and disoriented. Therefore, from Songyang County to the present day, throughout the entire Xin Dynasty, he was the only one excluded from this open secret, like a fool.
Even Du Fu, who seemed naive to worldly affairs, began to see through the clues as they spent time together day after day.
After all, Django—or rather His Majesty—never seemed to have made any deliberate attempt at a sophisticated disguise. Those subtle habits that he inadvertently revealed would naturally be noticed by those who were interested over time.
Huo Qubing was not lacking in insight; on the contrary, he was extremely perceptive on the battlefield. He simply never, in the slightest, associated the identity of a "woman" with Magistrate Jiang, who was chatting and laughing alongside him.
Because he was so familiar with it, that most fundamental truth became the only blind spot in his mind.
He recalled past events, those details that had seemed slightly "different" yet had been overlooked, now serving as evidence. It wasn't that he was careless; rather, the facts he had firmly believed in had blinded him to the possibility of another possibility.
An indescribable emotion surged within him—shock, realization, and a touch of resentment and disappointment at being excluded by his friends. They all knew about this huge matter, yet they kept it from him alone.
His Majesty... even kept it from him.
"This is really... unexpected." He muttered to himself, his voice tinged with bitterness and self-mockery, standing alone as he processed this revolutionary realization.
Meanwhile, Zhuge Liang, who had revealed the truth, had already quietly departed, his feather fan waving gently, concealing his achievements and fame. To him, this was merely a small interlude in his busy military affairs. With the new dynasty newly established and the imperial army pressing in, he still had tough battles to prepare for and too many complex situations to strategize.
Military affairs were numerous and complex, leaving no extra time for Huo Qubing's personal anxieties.
Meanwhile, in the study on the other side of the county government office, Jiang Ge, who had just been crowned emperor, was holding a cup of bubble tea and sipping it slowly.
She leaned against the desk, with urgent reports and financial records from various regions spread out in front of her, sent by Zhuge Liang. Her brows furrowed and relaxed at times.
The bright yellow robe, a symbol of supreme power, was casually draped over a rack to the side.
Unbeknownst to her, in the same space, not far away, Huo Qubing was experiencing a profound emotional upheaval after inadvertently uncovering her greatest secret, undergoing a massive shock of cognitive upheaval.
One space, two states of mind.
Completely different.
/——-
The news that Jiang Ge had proclaimed himself emperor in Songyang, establishing the state of "Qi" and changing the era name to "Wuxing," spread like wildfire across mountains and passes, radiating across the Central Plains at an astonishing speed. This was undoubtedly a colossal boulder thrown into this already turbulent world, capable of altering the very fabric of history, stirring up not just ripples, but towering waves.
Inside the Golden Palace, the oppressive silence was almost palpable. Beneath the golden dragon pillars, the eunuchs standing there held their breath, afraid of offending the young emperor on the throne.
The emperor's face was no longer simply gloomy, but a steely ashen color mixed with rage, humiliation, and a hint of barely perceptible fear. He had only been on the throne for a year, and he considered himself more diligent than his predecessor, yet why were natural disasters and man-made calamities constantly occurring, and now even in his own backyard, a traitorous rebel had emerged, declaring himself emperor!
More information about the false emperor Jiang Ge was being reported by the Minister of War, who was kneeling below and his voice trembling.
"He has implemented the so-called equal land distribution and tax exemption policies in Songyang to win over the hearts of the people, and... he has also recruited a group of rebellious generals such as Zhao Kuangyin and Huo Qubing. Now, the number of soldiers under his command who can fight is probably over tens of thousands..."
"Tens of thousands of rabble! It's Django again!"
An elderly minister with white hair and beard, the current prime minister, stepped forward shakily, his voice filled with weariness and an almost numb anger. "Your Majesty! This wolf's ambitions are blatantly obvious! Several previous attempts to suppress him were thwarted by the lack of courage and effort from our soldiers, allowing him to succeed by chance. Later, Your Majesty showed mercy and granted him amnesty, hoping he would repent and return to the right path. Unexpectedly, this traitor has outwardly complied but inwardly defied, using this respite to grow so powerful! Now he has even brazenly declared himself emperor, an unprecedented provocation against our dynasty! If we do not quell this quickly, how can our national prestige be preserved?!"
His voice echoed in the empty hall, yet it carried a hint of weakness beneath his outward strength.
Speedy?
What can we use to level the gap?
Several ministers immediately echoed his sentiments, but their voices were far less loud and firm than before: "The Prime Minister is absolutely right! They must be severely punished!"
"The most urgent task is to select a capable general to lead the elite troops and wipe out Songyang in one fell swoop!"
However, when the emperor's cold gaze swept over the ranks of military officers, those usually fierce generals all lowered their heads, looked away, or pretended to cough, and not one of them dared to step forward to volunteer!
Deathly silence descended once more.
After all, General Lu was a cautionary tale for them.
An awkward, suffocating atmosphere filled the air. The emperor's heart sank deeper and deeper. He recalled his previous military campaigns against Songyang, all of which had ended in defeat, and now... he had even declared himself emperor.
shame!
This is an utter disgrace!
In the imperial court, besides useless anger and shirking responsibility, is there not even a single person who can share his burdens and dare to lead troops into battle?
These military generals, who usually pride themselves on being pillars of the nation, turned into cowards when it came to the crucial moment!
Was it out of fear of Qin Shubao and Huo Qubing's bravery? Or out of fear of Zhuge Liang's wisdom?
The young emperor felt an unprecedented sense of powerlessness, which quickly transformed into an even more intense rage. He slammed his fist on the imperial desk, causing the imperial brushes on the brush holder to tremble violently.
"Useless! A bunch of useless trash!" His voice was shrill, full of frustration. "They eat the king's food all day long, but when it really matters, not one of them shares the king's burdens?!"
When the news reached the ears of local warlords, prefectural governors, and powerful warlords with their own armies, the reactions were even more complex.
Some relatively loyal or cautious officials immediately submitted a memorial to the court, denouncing Jiang Ge's rebellion and expressing their willingness to prepare troops and horses, ready to be dispatched by the court at any time to jointly punish the traitor.
But only they themselves know how much of it is genuine and how much is just polite talk.
More often than not, people simply observe in silence.
"Jiang Ge... I thought he was just a minor county magistrate, but I never expected him to have such courage?"
Inside the residence of a military governor, the battle-hardened governor gazed at the map marking the territory of the new dynasty, his fingers unconsciously tapping the table. "To declare himself emperor... heh heh, this is certainly a good start for the people." An unfathomable light flickered in his eyes.
The imperial court is being challenged and weakened time and time again.
Perhaps, chaos has truly arrived, and for those who hold military power, this chaos means endless possibilities.
Some smaller separatist forces began to secretly plot.
"Brother, the imperial court is in a terrible state right now. Shouldn't we... also take action?" someone suggested to the leader in the stronghold's assembly hall.
"Move? How? Like Django and declare ourselves emperor? Do you and I have that ability and prestige?" The leader was more clear-headed. "However... while the court's attention is drawn to those people in Songyang, we might be able to take over that wealthy county town next door and expand our territory and strength."
Django's declaration of himself as emperor acted as a powerful catalyst, greatly stimulating the nerves of ambitious individuals across the land. Forces that had been patiently waiting for an opportunity began to feel they could no longer afford to wait.
The news sparked a huge controversy among scholars. In teahouses, taverns, and academies, heated debates could be seen everywhere.
"Absurd! Utterly absurd!" A dogmatic scholar cried out in anguish. "The fundamental principles of ruler and subject, father and son, are established! How dare a mere county magistrate usurp the throne and claim supremacy? This is intolerable to Heaven and Earth! Scholars should condemn this with their words and writings, and vow never to associate with such a treacherous minister!"
“Brother Li, you are mistaken.” Someone immediately retorted, “The court is corrupt, treacherous officials are in power, the oppressive government is like a tiger, and the people are displaced! Jiang Ge has been able to gain a foothold in Songyang and has so many generals under his command, he must have something extraordinary about him! We who study should strive to save the people! If he can truly relieve the people’s suffering and rescue them from fire and water, why should we be so fixated on his background?”
"Indeed! Moreover, the imperial court is currently preoccupied with its own problems, and heroes are rising up all over the land. Whoever can end this chaos and bring peace to the people will be the true chosen one! This Jiang Ge, perhaps..."
Such debates unfolded across the country. Although mainstream public opinion remained on the side of the imperial court, condemning Django as a traitor, a different voice began to emerge. People began to wonder what kind of person this suddenly appearing emperor was, that he possessed such courage and power.
In the general populace, especially among those suffering from taxes, corvée labor, and the ravages of war, the spread of news took on a more simplistic and secretive character.
"Have you heard? A new emperor has emerged in the north, named Jiang Ge, and he's distributing land to the poor over in Songyang!" Farmers whispered among themselves during their breaks in the fields.
"Land distribution? Is there really such a good thing? Isn't that like a dream?"
“It’s absolutely true! My cousin’s neighbor came back to visit relatives, and he said that people there don’t have to pay as much tax now, and the soldiers don’t mistreat ordinary people anymore…”
"Sigh, if only we could do that here too..."
Their voices were low, filled with wariness and a hint of longing that they dared not reveal too much.
Django's policies, through word of mouth among merchants and refugees, were simplified and embellished, yet they also planted a seed of "hope" in the hearts of countless people struggling on the brink of life and death.
They don't understand any principles of ethics or morality; all they know is that whoever can keep them alive and make them live a decent life is the one they look forward to.
The news even reached the grasslands beyond the Great Wall.
Inside the golden tent, the fierce tribal chiefs listened to the scouts' reports, their eyes gleaming with a wolf-like light.
"Is the imperial court in the Central Plains in turmoil again? Has a Han Chinese named Jiang Ge declared himself emperor?"
"Yes, Great Khan. They are mobilizing troops and preparing for a civil war."
"Good! Very good!" The Khan laughed heartily, raising his hand to drink mare's milk. "Let them fight! The harder they fight, the better! When they are both exhausted, it will be time for our warriors to march south and seize grain, cloth, and women!"
The internal strife in the Central Plains was undoubtedly a golden opportunity for the foreign tribes who had been eyeing the area.
They began to prepare for war, ready to take advantage of the chaos.
In this chaotic situation, all sorts of people began to appear on stage.
A down-on-his-luck scholar, who boasted of his extraordinary talent, packed his bags and prepared to go to Songyang, hoping to gain merit in the new dynasty.
Some low-ranking officials who were not successful in the old dynasty secretly wrote letters, trying to establish connections with the new regime and leave themselves a way out.
Some extraordinary figures and skilled craftsmen became interested in this new emperor who dared to challenge the old order and set off to see for themselves what kind of place it was.
In a small town far removed from the turmoil, an old man paused slightly, his teacup still in his hand, a flicker of reminiscence in his eyes, upon hearing the name "Django." He murmured to himself, "Magistrate Django... is that you? I never imagined you'd really come to this..."
A breeze begins with a ripple on the water, and a wave is formed from a gentle ripple.
The news of Django's ascension to the throne is like a boulder thrown into the torrent of history, and the chain reaction it has triggered has only just begun.
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Author's Note: After nearly twenty days of hiatus, I want to apologize to all my readers who have supported me. Some events in my real life have had a significant impact on me, causing me to temporarily lose the mental state I need for writing. I've tried forcing myself to write, but the content I've produced is far from the required standard. I'm very sorry everyone, I will resume normal updates. [Hands clasped in prayer] Thank you all for your support.
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