Chapter 141 Who Will Lead the Army in Lingnan, and Their Wedding Date...
The person who came was none other than Huan Xun, who had just come out of the palace after discussing the matter of the Northern Expedition against the Southern Yin.
His official robes proved that he came to Hongzheng Pavilion as soon as he came out of Dongguan Pavilion.
Before Yu Nie could even move, he was already in front of her, with a step between them.
Aunt Liu, who wanted to leave some alone time for the two of them, said a few words to Huan Xun and then excused herself, saying she was tired and needed to go back to her room to lie down for a while.
In the blink of an eye, only the two of them remained in the courtyard. Even Cuiwei, who had just returned with sulfur, wisely went to help brew tea.
Facing him again, Yu Nie couldn't help but recall that kiss, and a flush rose on her face.
Not wanting him to see through her thoughts, she calmly untied the cloth sash around her neck that bound her sleeves and led him inside to sit down.
Huan Xun glanced at the neatly arranged stone mill and sieve. The sieve contained freshly mixed gunpowder powder, and a stove near the west side was burning, containing charcoal made of willow wood.
This process, known as calcination and drying, aims to reduce the impurities in the charcoal, increase its activity, and improve the burning speed of the gunpowder.
He reached out and picked up a pinch of damp gunpowder powder, which felt slightly wet to the touch. He brought it to his nose and sniffed it lightly.
"The taste of the wine?"
"It's alcohol."
She explained, "Dry pounding the mixed gunpowder in a mortar can easily cause sparks and explosions, which is too dangerous. Adding a certain proportion of alcohol will eliminate the risk of friction ignition. In addition, gunpowder powder with alcohol as a medium will be more powerful and more stable after drying."
Hearing that she used alcohol, his gaze shifted to the simple distillation apparatus she had made herself: a distillation kettle for heating the fermented liquor, a pot for condensing the steam, and an earthenware jar for collecting the cooled liquid.
From the first step to the last, every step is meticulously executed.
Following his gaze, she said, "Later, I will give you the recipe for making alcohol. You can then give it to the army's medical officer and have him make a lot of alcohol. If anyone in the army is injured in the future, applying alcohol to the wound will be much better than disinfecting it with strong liquor, boiling water, or cauterization."
In this era, there is no concept of sterilization, and people are unaware that all tools that come into contact with wounds need to be disinfected.
In their eyes, alcohol and boiling water are used to wash wounds, not to eliminate germs.
Therefore, the infection and casualty rates on the battlefield are extremely high.
At this point, she looked slightly regretful: "It's just that the water-based powder and the night-shining powder are difficult to mix. The few bottles I mixed before took several years to produce, and only a small amount was produced."
"Even if we had a prescription, it would probably be useless, as there wouldn't be enough time before it could be put into use."
Distant water cannot quench immediate thirst. The refining of Water-Burning Powder and Night-Shining Powder is too difficult. Otherwise, if she couldn't refine gunpowder, she could still use Water-Burning Powder as a small backup plan. Unfortunately, she has no way out.
He washed the powder off his hands in a bowl next to him, and soon a layer of dark brown particles settled at the bottom of the clear bowl.
“Whether there is water or not doesn’t matter.” He looked at her. “What you have done is enough. On the battlefield, thousands to tens of thousands of soldiers die from infected wounds. Sometimes, it even exceeds the number of those who die directly in battle.”
"With the alcohol you mentioned, casualties can definitely be reduced to some extent, which is more than I could ask for."
He seemed to have thought of something important: "However, you don't need to wait for me to give you the recipe for the alcohol. You can give it to the people in the Imperial Medical Bureau now and have them prepare it as soon as possible."
"Now?" She felt a growing unease.
Huan Xun hummed in agreement, then glanced at the eunuchs and maids helping around them, before saying to her, "Let's go inside and talk."
Realizing that something big was about to happen, Yu Nie didn't ask any questions and followed his lead, and the two of them entered her bedchamber together.
On the table, Cuiwei had arranged various pastries and fresh fruits. The tea was not yet ready, but Yu Nie and Huan Xun had no time to care about that.
After sitting down, Yu Nie dismissed the maids at the door, glanced outside, and pressed for an answer: "Has there been any new development in the court?"
She guessed, "Is it about the northern frontier? Or is there a new development regarding the southern border?"
“It is Nan Yin,” Huan Xun replied.
"Could it be that Zhao Yunfu is really planning to strike first in Nan Yin?"
Huan Xun did not deny it and recounted to her the things that had been decided at Dongguan Pavilion at noon.
As expected, rather than waiting for others to prepare, Zhao Yunfu preferred to take the initiative and seize the initiative.
He had no intention of waiting for Xiao Daozun to have everything ready before making his own plans, thus putting Beiye in a passive and predicament situation.
“But if we fight on two fronts, the national treasury will inevitably be strained. If we make a mistake, Beiye will be doomed. Doesn’t Zhao Yunfu think that this is too risky?” Her concerns were not unfounded.
The national treasury was already empty, as the four major aristocratic families had embezzled a considerable amount.
Now, we have to fight two major battles at the same time, and money is needed for all of them, including provisions, military pay, conscripts, weapons and armor.
Warfare is all about money and supplies; if the treasury collapses, the front lines will crumble without a fight.
At that time, before the good news arrives, the bad news of the mutiny will probably reach the court first.
Immediately afterward, Yu Nie guessed, "Could it be... that he's going to increase taxes and impose exorbitant levies?"
In her understanding, it was not uncommon for ancient emperors to turn to the common people to raise funds for their armies.
However, the common people had only recently acquired land, and in some places the land reform had not yet been fully implemented. The people of the Imperial Horse Administration were fighting against the local wealthy and powerful.
If taxes are forcibly levied rashly, the people who cannot survive will become a source of unrest. Doing so is tantamount to drinking poison to quench thirst; it is creating displacement and turmoil with one's own hands.
Before the battle even begins, the heartland may already be engulfed in flames of war, and public resentment may be boiling over. At the same time, this gives foreign enemies an opportunity to take advantage of the situation.
In short, in her view, waging war on two fronts when the national treasury was not strong was a huge military and political adventure.
This is not just a gamble on winning or losing, but a gamble on the fate of the entire nation.
If any link in the chain breaks down, it will trigger a chain reaction of collapses, ultimately leading to the downfall of Beiye.
Huan Xun peeled a tangerine and handed it to her.
"When it comes to things that threaten the foundation of the nation, Zhao Yunfu would rather kneel down and endure hardship, suffering humiliation and the chill of a blade, than allow the country to change hands and the nation to collapse."
"You mean he has found a way to solve the problem of food and pay?" She understood the implication in his words.
"My wife is indeed intelligent." He gazed at her and smiled.
A blush rose on her fair neck at his sudden praise, and she feigned arrogance, saying, "I have no money to pay you, Your Excellency, for such praise."
"Money is not important, I have plenty of it." He was dressed in an official robe, exuding the seriousness of a scholar, but what he said was clearly not the case: "What I want is far more valuable than money."
Not understanding his meaning, she put a segment of orange in her mouth and asked rather innocently, "What's that?"
He tapped his fingers lightly on the table, his languid demeanor tinged with a hidden aggression. His dark, deep eyes swept over her lips, which were stained with tangerine juice, before he lowered his gaze.
"What is it? Why aren't you saying anything?" she inquired.
"It's nothing." He looked up again, sat up straight, and didn't answer her question directly: "When the time comes, you will know."
Just then, Cuiwei came in carrying the brewed tea: "My lord, princess, the tea is ready."
After saying that, Cuiwei gently placed the tea from the tray in front of the two of them.
The aroma of rice and herbs filled the air.
Cuiwei: "This is a fine tea that was recently offered as tribute. I added orange peel and dogwood to enhance the flavor and aroma. It's very refreshing."
This method of frying is common in Beiye, and some families even add rice to it.
After arranging the tea set, Cuiwei stood up, picked up the tray, and said with a smile, "This servant will go outside to keep an eye on things and prevent them from making a mistake. Please enjoy your tea, Your Excellency and Princess."
Yu Nie nodded slightly: "Once the charcoal in the pot is heated, let everyone rest and eat. We can finish the rest this afternoon."
"Understood, Princess." With that, Cuiwei's figure quickly disappeared outside the door.
Huan Xun picked up the warm tea and sniffed it; the rising steam blurred his stunning features.
He said, "Such fine tea will likely become even more precious in the future."
Yu Nie paused slightly as she was about to serve tea, then looked up at him and asked, "Why do you say that?"
He dropped his earlier joking manner and became more serious: "Because starting in three days, in order to have more military funds, Zhao Yunfu will issue an edict to tighten all the food, clothing and daily necessities of the royal family. Every penny saved will be used for military purposes."
He looked at the tea in his hand: "The distribution of such fine tea cakes will be greatly reduced in the future. Not only tea, but also brocade, porcelain, incense, and lamp oil will all be reduced."
Putting everything else aside, Yu Nie was still taken aback by Zhao Yunfu's actions. Emperors usually suffer for the people, not themselves, but he was able to set an example by becoming an "ascetic monk."
As he spoke, Huan Xun answered the question she had just asked about military expenses.
"The Gao and Li families have amassed a considerable fortune over the years. The confiscated assets are enough to cover eight years of fiscal revenue. This money can, to some extent, alleviate the problem of an empty national treasury."
Yu Nie knew more about the specific situation of the national treasury than he did; she didn't know how long the family's wealth could last.
However, she keenly noticed another problem: putting aside peacetime, the costs would be even greater during wartime. How long could this money support them in fighting the war?
Huan Xun, who had led troops in battle, obviously knew more about military expenditures. When she expressed her doubts, he gave a specific timeframe: "At most three years. The current funds can only last for three years at most."
Yu Nie: "So, we need to resolve the war within three years, otherwise Bei Ye will be dragged down?"
“That’s right…” Huan Xun replied, “But three years is enough.”
He said, "As long as the war in northern Xinjiang ends sooner, all the current concerns will disappear, and all the fighting will end sooner."
The Xiutu people's counterattack instantly turned all the court's previous praise for Yan Yue's imminent sweeping victory and pacification of the northern frontier into doubt.
Zhao Yunfu had always been wary of Yan Yue, who held military power, and this wariness was deepening as the war situation changed.
A more sinister speculation began to grow and spread in the shadows.
Some ministers in the court whispered among themselves, questioning whether his defeat was a carefully orchestrated move.
Just when victory seemed within reach, he allowed the tide of battle to turn, which led to speculation that he was harboring bandits to enhance his own power.
Even worse, some say he did this to preserve his strength and eliminate dissidents.
The troops garrisoning Lingnan are not Yan Yue's direct subordinates. If these troops are lost even slightly, he, as the Commander-in-Chief, will have one less check and balance on all military affairs, both inside and outside the capital.
Moreover, in everyone's eyes, only if the flames of war in the northern frontier continue to burn can his position as the commander of the northern frontier remain as solid as a rock, unshakable, and his personal power more secure.
Furthermore, the fact that his Northern Cliff Army was basically self-sufficient and operated outside the control of the central government made it increasingly dangerous in the eyes of the court.
However, with a major battle imminent, the imperial court could not confront him head-on and could only urge him to achieve a decisive victory as soon as possible so that it could allocate resources to support Lingnan and resolve the Southern Yin issue sooner.
To a certain extent, the battlefield in the northern frontier was the key to determining the life and death of Beiye. Huan Xun was not wrong in saying this.
Using over 200,000 troops, only a small portion of whom are elite, to fight against the 800,000-strong army of the Southern Yin, which had been preparing for decades, is somewhat of a fantasy.
Xiao Daozun was an exceptionally talented military man. He and his younger brother Xiao Chengyan were completely different people. He was ruthless and cruel, and he valued martial prowess above all else.
Even if he wished he could tear him to pieces, Huan Xun would admit this.
However, such an opponent would make the duel even more interesting for Huan Xun.
After he finished speaking, Yu Nie sighed softly. The great war of the world was about to break out, and there was no possibility of turning back.
Thinking that someone would eventually have to lead the troops to conquer Nan Yin, she asked curiously, "Then... who did Zhao Yunfu choose to lead the troops in Lingnan?"
He looked at her and said seriously, "Me."
For a moment, she thought she had misheard, but then she thought again, how could she have been wrong?
Seeing that she was clearly taken aback, he smiled slightly, as if to comfort her: "The ones in Lingnan are the Red Armor Army. I'm quite familiar with them. I've been to that area before, so leading troops into battle won't be difficult for me."
Looking into his eyes, she didn't know where to begin or what to say.
She wanted to say that the Lingnan region is damp, with a cold and damp autumn, and plagued by miasma...
A sense of worry instantly gripped her heart, making her almost blurt out that it was bad for his health... but she stopped herself abruptly before she could finish speaking.
She realized that this was not just his affair; tens of thousands of Red Armor Army soldiers, also made of flesh and blood, were stationed here.
She couldn't just worry about his safety while neglecting tens of thousands of others.
The concern that was about to well up was swallowed back by her, turning into a bittersweet burning sensation.
She lowered her eyes, clenched her hands, and when she looked up again, only a barely suppressed calm remained in her eyes.
She forced a smile and asked, "Then... when do we set off?"
"Two days later," he replied.
"So fast?" She suddenly looked up, her eyes filled with undisguised astonishment.
He explained, "The spies reported that Nan Yin will probably send troops within seven days. We must seize the initiative and act quickly."
So, their wedding date...?
She subconsciously looked up and met his deep gaze.
Sure enough, he had thought of that too.
He suppressed the urge to take a step forward, calling her softly and gently, "Qiqi..."
He carefully chose his words: "I'm afraid our wedding will have to be postponed."
The moment she finished speaking, she didn't look up at him, as if intentionally avoiding his gaze.
“It’s my fault,” he said.
Upon hearing this, Yu Nie shook her head, and when she looked up again, a faint smile had appeared on her bright face. "National affairs come first. How could I be such a person who doesn't understand the bigger picture? This battle concerns tens of thousands of people. How can you and I put our personal matters first?"
After a pause, her dark eyes cleared, and she smiled brightly: "Go in peace, don't worry about me."
Her tone was calm and composed, and she seemed extremely sensible.
Looking into her eyes, he wished she wasn't so sensible, that she could be unreasonable in front of him, that would be better than this quietness.
Huan Xun's eyes flickered with emotion, and he was about to speak when Xie Cheng's voice came from outside.
"Sir, something has happened!"
He turned around, and Xie Cheng rushed in, not even having time to bow, his tone urgent: "Xiao Chengyan has escaped from the Siyi Residence, and the Wuwei Camp has sealed off the entire city and is searching house to house."
"What?" Huan Xun's expression changed slightly. He stood up, his previous tenderness instantly replaced by a chilling expression: "When did this happen?"
"It was discovered half an hour ago. The guards at the gate noticed that he hadn't touched the food that was delivered in the morning. When they got closer, they realized that the person lying on the bed wasn't him."
When Yu Nie, who had gotten up with him, heard that Xiao Chengyan had run away, he couldn't tell whether he felt relieved or something else.
They exchanged a glance, and for some reason, Yu Nie felt more and more that an unseen storm was rapidly approaching.
It seems things are really about to change...
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