Chapter 78 Please Go to the Border
In the early morning, a cold drizzle fell across the capital. Jiang Lin arrived at the imperial palace in a carriage from the Marquis Xiaoyao's mansion. An Feng held an oil-paper umbrella for him and draped his robe over his shoulders. "Master, it's cold today, so be careful." Jiang Lin nodded, gazing at the Qinzheng Hall in the distance. He lowered his eyes in thought for a moment before walking towards it. Civil and military officials had already returned to their seats. The emperor, clad in his dragon robe, sat at the top, looking down at his subjects, his face filled with worry.
The emperor threw the memorial in his hand away, looked at the silent officials, and shouted, "Three or four urgent memorials have arrived from the border, saying that foreign countries are ready to make trouble, repeatedly harassing border soldiers and trying to provoke war. What are your opinions on this matter?"
Jiang Lin looked at his colleagues around him. They all lowered their heads and dared not look at him directly, keeping silent to protect themselves.
Their attitude angered the emperor, who became even more furious. He pointed at the Minister of War and demanded, "You! I allocate funds to you every year to keep the soldiers refreshed and strong, but when war breaks out, you just stay in the barracks, afraid to go out and fight the enemy?" The Minister of War stepped aside, holding the jade plate in his hand, respectfully lifted the hem of his robe, and knelt on the ground. His voice was clear and neither humble nor arrogant, saying, "Your Majesty, please understand."
"The soldiers are ready to go out to fight at any time, but since ancient times, winning a battle requires a general who knows how to command. Without a general at the helm, the whole battle is lost. Going out to fight is nothing more than walking into a trap and dying in vain." After the Minister of War finished speaking, the Qinzheng Hall fell into a deep silence. It was almost audible, as if one could hear the men swallowing their saliva. Their legs trembled with nervousness, fearing the emperor would become enraged and chop off their heads.
The Minister of War had previously had a difficult relationship with Qin Guang. He felt that Qin Guang was too impulsive, unconcerned with the social etiquette of the court, and lacked the ability to navigate social interactions. He believed that Qin Guang would inevitably fall into trouble. He repeatedly reminded him of this, but Qin Guang dismissed it. Over time, the Minister of War became reluctant to pay attention, and their relationship gradually faded. However, the Minister of War knew Qin Guang's ability to lead troops in battle, and that the title of General Protector of the Nation was not earned in vain.
"You mean, in my court, apart from Qin Guang, there is no other general who can win a battle?"
The emperor's face grimaced as he slammed the dragon table before him, frightening all the civil and military officials to their knees. Only the princes in front and Jiang Lin remained standing straight. The Minister of War knelt below, his forehead pressed to the ground, his voice undiminished as he spoke, "Your Majesty, since the exile of the general, several generals in the court have retired, citing age as an excuse."
"After they returned to farming, there are no generals left in the barracks with experience leading troops in battle. This is the current reality..." The Minister of War spoke with a near-death resolve, simply to let the emperor know that the foreign nations dared to challenge him so frequently because they saw no one in their court who was capable of fighting. The punishment and charges brought against the general had chilled the hearts of countless soldiers on the front lines.
Gu Mingqi frowned impatiently at the emperor's wavering expression. He stepped out and looked at the Minister of War. "Your Excellency, is it true that Qin Guang was born a victorious general? Every general has to fight his way through the dead, collecting heads one by one. Now you're just trying to shirk responsibility, but don't you want to select a few pillars of talent from the barracks and train them?"
"If what you said is true, then if we leave Qin Guang, we will not be able to survive? Will we not be able to defend the world?"
Gu Mingqi bowed, not forgetting to pick out words the emperor wanted to hear, and said loudly, "The world belongs to your majesty, and people of insight are naturally willing to serve your majesty. I believe that as long as you are willing to look, there are people in the military camp who are worthy of being appointed. As for Qin Guang, he has made mistakes, and his crimes are unforgivable. Your majesty will deal with him, and exile is a lenient punishment. No one in the court should mention this matter again."
"Your Majesty..." Gu Mingqi's few words made the emperor's suspicion and fear of Qin Guang reach a peak again.
The Minister of War stared down at the ground, a chill running down his spine. He had originally hoped to use today's events to see if he could get Qin Guang to redeem himself for his crimes, even if it meant being a mere pawn, so he could return temporarily and avoid the hardships of exile. He hadn't expected Gu Mingqi to be so ruthless.
Jiang Lin looked at them silently, but couldn't help sneering in his heart.
Gu Mingqi was so wary of Qin Guang, presumably because he knew some of his darkest secrets, or perhaps had some crucial clue that could shake his position. It seemed that only after meeting Qin Guang in person could he learn anything. Jiang Lin made a decision, coughed lightly twice, and walked out, covering his face with a paper fan. "The Seventh Prince is right. If Your Majesty doesn't mind, I am willing to go to the border in your stead."
"As long as the unrest on the border continues, I will not return to the capital."
"Jiang Lin is willing to share your majesty's worries," he said in a clear voice as he knelt on the ground. The emperor stared at Jiang Lin carefully, his eyes looking at him with a complicated expression. "You are weak and need to rest well in the capital every winter. Now that Marquis Xiaoyao is not in the capital, you should not leave. There are always others to do these things, so you don't need to come..." The emperor's words to Jiang Lin were full of care.
Many ministers were thinking about it silently in their hearts, but did not dare to speak out.
There were many rumors circulating, claiming that Jiang Lin's birth was auspicious, or that Jiang Lin bore a striking resemblance to a childhood friend of the emperor, leading to a partiality for him. Regardless of the rumors, the bottom line was the emperor's care and concern for Jiang Lin. Every winter, precious medicinal herbs and various treasures were sent from the palace to the Marquis Xiaoyao's residence. Jiang Lin was also free to enter the palace and even go directly to the Qinzheng Hall.
No unfavored prince in the harem could obtain this honor.
Many eyes were fixed on Jiang Lin, thinking he was merely pretending to gain the emperor's favor. But no one expected Jiang Lin to continue with his firm statement, "I wish to proceed to the border. Your Majesty, please grant me permission."
"You..." The emperor looked at Jiang Lin, raised his hand, and hesitated several times. He could feel Gu Mingqi's scrutinizing gaze, so he simply waved his hand and sighed, saying, "Since the prince is willing to share my worries, I will have them help you pack your things and leave soon. I hope you can handle the border affairs as soon as possible. I will reward you handsomely when you return!"
The emperor made the promise without hesitation. Jiang Lin bowed and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty. I will definitely not let you down!"
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