Chapter 137 Chapter 137 Fang Ying was surprised: "If it really comes next year...
Fang Ying asked in surprise, "Are we really going to move the capital next year?"
Ji Yanlang shook his head. "The higher-ups said 'change of garrison'. About half of the Imperial Guards, Sima, and Infantry will be transferred to Luoyang for garrison, and all of our new cavalry battalions will be relocated to Xijing."
"No wonder the Crown Princess asked me to prepare early..."
Ji Yanlang said, "Don't worry. Although they're talking about families accompanying the army and getting houses and land there, we're not like that. Shortly after arriving in Xijing this year, the government granted mansions to both Uncle Zhou and Prime Minister Pang. Since the decision to move the capital has been made, I think our family won't be left out."
"But if you move to Xijing, won't you be able to come back?" It's not known when the mansion will be granted to you.
Ji Yanlang smiled and held Fang Ying's hand. "Let's wait and see. Anyway, we won't move for now. The infantry will be transferred first in September. The Crown Princess also said that we will accompany the emperor. It will have to be next spring, right?"
Fang Ying wanted to ask more when word suddenly came in from outside that Erlang had returned home.
"I'll go see my second brother first, and then I'll talk to you when I come back." Ji Yanlang put his arm around Fang Ying's shoulders, stood up and went out.
Fang Ying stared out the window and pondered for a while. When she turned around to call for help, she found that Lichun and the others were all looking at her, as if they wanted to ask something but didn't dare to.
She first ordered the dinner menu, then asked Lichun, "What are you staring at?"
"Madam, do we really have to go to Xijing?" Lichun asked.
"Well, now that my husband has gone, can we still stay in Tokyo?" Fang Ying said, her eyes sweeping over everyone, and she ordered, "Keep your mouths shut and don't spread rumors."
The maids all responded in unison, but their expressions showed a hint of melancholy.
Fang Ying knew why they were melancholy. Bianjing was prosperous, and the Ji family's mansion was large and comfortable to live in. However, no one knew what Xijing was like. Not to mention what kind of accommodation they would get when they went there, they would have to start from scratch to decorate it.
But the emperor was determined to move the capital, and Ji Yanlang moved to Luoyang, so she could no longer stay in Bianliang, and the couple, and father and daughter were separated.
Moreover, as he said, since the emperor has decided to move the capital, he will grant houses to civil and military officials in Luoyang sooner or later. When they go there, even if they live in a worse place for a while, they will eventually live in the mansion of the county duke.
Fang Ying made up her mind and stopped thinking about it. When Ji Yanlang came back from the front yard, she said, "I thought you were going to have dinner with Second Uncle."
"What? Didn't you prepare my meal?" Ji Yanlang joked.
Fang Ying smiled and said, "It's ready, but she didn't say where to send it." As she said that, she turned around and told the maid to go to the kitchen to serve the meal.
Ji Yanlang sat down and said, "My second brother said that it has been circulating in their government office all day. Next year, Prime Minister Ji will probably accompany the emperor to Xijing, along with Prime Minister Pang and Uncle Zhou."
"Didn't Mr. Pang and Uncle Zhou also go this year?"
"Yes, but next year he will probably be like us, taking his family with him and settling down in Luoyang." Ji Yanlang explained, "The emperor appointed a crown prince at this time, firstly to comfort His Highness, and secondly, when the emperor goes to Xijing next year, His Highness the crown prince will stay in Tokyo to govern the country, which will make the change of title more legitimate."
He leaned closer to Fang Ying and lowered his voice, "But if this is the case, it will be impossible for Uncle Zhou to remain in the court."
"Is the emperor even on guard against Uncle Zhou?" Fang Ying was a little shocked.
"There's nothing we can do about it." Ji Yanlang sighed.
Fang Ying thought for a moment and asked, "If we mobilize troops for garrison duty, will we only mobilize the Imperial Guard Division? What about the Palace Guard Division?"
Ji Yanlang said, "The guards of the Imperial City from the Palace Guard will not be moved. The Inner Palace Guards will definitely accompany the guards. I heard that some of the guards stationed outside will also be transferred to Xijing."
"Where's the commander-in-chief?"
Ji Yanlang glanced at Fang Ying and gave her a thumbs up: "My lady, you are so talented and intelligent that you surpass many ministers in the court."
Fang Ying pressed his hand down: "I'm talking to you seriously."
Ji Yanlang said seriously, "I am also serious. The Palace Marshal also had an escort this spring, but it is hard to say this time."
The current commander-in-chief of the Palace Front Department is called Zhang Shouzhi. He was promoted step by step from the chief military officer after the previous commander-in-chief was dismissed after the last defeat in Youzhou.
He was originally an old subordinate of the emperor, but before the emperor ascended the throne, Zhang Shouzhi was just a military leader. It was only in recent years when those founding heroes were demoted or unemployed that he came to prominence and took charge of the Palace Front Office.
"Why?" Fang Ying was puzzled.
"Because this palace commander is cautious and taciturn, he has no friendship with Uncle Zhou, let alone with the princes. In other words, he is a loyal minister who is only loyal to the emperor."
Fang Ying vaguely understood that if the emperor completely trusted Zhang Shouzhi, he would most likely leave him in Bian Jing to look after the prince, but if the emperor did not trust anyone, it would naturally be more reassuring to keep him by his side, and it would be enough to leave a deputy in the Bian Jing Palace Front Office.
She expressed her thoughts, and Ji Yanlang said again: "I said that with your talent, it would be a waste if you can't become an official."
Fang Ying glanced at him sideways and didn't bother to pay attention to him.
Ji Yanlang said seriously, "I'm serious. What we just discussed, at least half of the people in the court haven't thought about it yet, and they are still confused."
"It doesn't matter if you don't understand it, you're just following orders."
Even if they thought of it, what could they do? Even the Crown Prince could only accept it and obey his father and the emperor.
"Then I'd rather be clear about it." Ji Yanlang said, "Besides, my father is stationed in Zhenzhou to defend against the enemy. We brothers have to be the eyes and ears for the affairs of the court to prevent any mistakes and disasters."
That's right. Fang Ying nodded and went back to the previous topic: "If that's the case, I'm afraid there will be quite a few people accompanying us to Xijing next year."
"Yes, that's why I told you not to rush. If the Prime Minister, the Palace Marshal, and perhaps even the Prime Minister, all accompany the emperor to Luoyang next year, and the emperor nominates some royal relatives, such as the Prince of Cai and the Prince of Qi, to accompany him, then they will all be granted mansions. Even if our family is not among the first batch, we will almost be in the second or third batches."
"Will they take back the mansion in Bian Jing?" Fang Ying was curious.
Ji Yanlang was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "You've stumped me." After thinking for a moment, he said, "It shouldn't be. Most of the ministers in the court are against moving the capital. If we want to take back the mansion in Bian Jing, wouldn't it be even more..."
Fang Ying couldn't help but smile: "Yeah."
At this time, the food was delivered from the kitchen. The two stopped talking and went to eat first. After the meal, Fang Ying remembered that she would invite Aunt Deng and her daughter to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, and discussed with Ji Yanlang what dishes to cook to entertain them.
"Should we also tell them about going to Luoyang?" she asked finally.
Ji Yanlang nodded and said, "It's easy for them to talk to us. They can stay or go with us. It's up to them."
Fang Ying was surprised: "If the capital is really moved, our whole family will move to Luoyang. Are you really willing to let them stay in Bianjing?"
"What's there to worry about? The farm is still our farm, and Bianjing is still Tokyo. It won't be abandoned just because Luoyang is the capital. The canal is still open."
Fang Ying said: "Of course I know, but I thought..."
"Do you think I want to keep them, mother and daughter, by my side all the time like I did when I first returned home?" Ji Yanlang asked.
Fang Ying nodded.
Ji Yanlang said, "At that time, I was only thinking about fulfilling my filial duty to Brother Deng. I never thought about or asked Auntie and my sister what they wanted to do with their lives. It was only after seeing how happy they were living on the farm these past two years that I finally understood."
Ordinary people have land and houses. Who would be willing to give up their peaceful and stable life and move around as he pleases?
Fang Ying actually thought it would be a good idea for Aunt Deng and her daughter to stay in Bian Jing, but if she said this, it would seem as if she was bothered. Now that he has figured it out himself, it is of course the best.
On the Mid-Autumn Festival, Fang Ying brought Aunt Deng and her daughter over. She first accompanied them to visit the garden, and then held a banquet in her own courtyard.
Ji Yanlang was not comfortable sitting at the same table with Deng Hehua, so Fang Ying asked for two tables to be set up. She and Deng Hehua sat in the inner room, while Ji Yanlang accompanied Aunt Deng to drink in the outer room. There was also Hong'er who wanted to join in every fun. She would lean on Fang Ying to eat meat, and then run out to see what her father was drinking.
However, having this little guy busying around inside and outside does add a lot of laughter and joy.
The guests and hosts enjoyed the meal very much. After the meal, Aunt Deng drank too much and took a nap. She didn't wake up until 3 p.m. Ji Yanlang arranged for someone to send Aunt Deng and her daughter back home.
Fang Ying fiddled with the tiger-head hat and shoes that Aunt Deng and Hehua had made for Hong'er, and asked Ji Yanlang, "What did Aunt Deng say?"
"What?"
Fang Ying looked up at him. The couple stared at each other for a moment. Seeing that he still didn't understand, Fang Ying said, "Luoyang."
"Ah," Ji Yanlang suddenly realized, "I did tell her, but she didn't understand what moving the capital meant. I had no choice but to say I would go to Xijing next year and that I didn't know when I would be back. The aunt was a little drunk at the time and just said, "Go ahead, go ahead."
Fang Ying laughed: "It seems that today is not the right time to discuss this matter."
"Well, let's wait until we have time. We won't go until next year anyway."
Fang Ying did not mention it again. In the evening, a family dinner was held in the mansion. The three families watched the moon and drank together, but they still couldn't help but talk about moving the capital.
"I'm afraid that next Mid-Autumn Festival, Liu Lang and Liu Niang won't be able to watch the moon with us." Yue Qing'e sighed.
Gao was also reluctant to leave, and Fang Ying consoled her, saying, "Even if we go first, within two years everyone will have gone and reunited in Luoyang."
Although the three families had separate tables for the family dinner, there was only a screen between them. If the conversation was a little louder, both sides could hear it.
Ji Yanlang, with his sharp ears, continued, "Yes, I've been there twice, and this time I stayed for a few months. I really feel that Luoyang is no worse than Bianjing..."
He began to tell his brother and sister-in-law about the scenery of Xijing, from peonies to White Horse Temple, from Mangshan to Longmen Grottoes. Everyone was listening attentively for a while, and their homesickness quietly dissipated.
After the Mid-Autumn Festival, on the 18th day, the prince took the throne in the Eastern Palace. The people in the capital were still unaware that the capital was going to be moved, and everyone was filled with joy.
Taking advantage of this joyous occasion, Deng Hehua and Wang Shu also got married successfully on the 20th. Before Ji Yanlang explained to Aunt Deng about going to Luoyang, the government granted the Prince of Cai, the Prince of Qi and the two eldest princesses the Xijing mansions.
He, Fang Yingti's previous Privy Councilor and Minister of the Three Departments, as well as another Prime Minister Wang Hui and two ministers who served as Vice Prime Ministers were also among those who were granted houses.
"The prince hasn't been given a house. It seems that they don't plan to move them there first." Fang Ying said.
Ji Yanlang said, "They're probably worried that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will be uneasy."
After all, the emperor is nearly fifty years old. Although the crown prince has been decided, if something happens to the emperor in Xijing, there are other princes around him, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is far away in Bianjing. It is possible that someone will have ulterior motives and try to succeed to the throne in front of the coffin.
"So, having Uncle Zhou as a bodyguard is a good thing?" With Uncle Zhou around, at least no one will be able to take advantage of this loophole, right?
Ji Yanlang nodded: "Of course, in fact, compared to others, the emperor still trusts Uncle Zhou more."
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The author has something to say: Palace Marshal is a respectful title for the highest officer of the Palace Front Department; the Prime Minister is the Three Departments Envoy, in charge of financial power; the Privy Minister is the Privy Envoy, the chief officer of the highest military institution, the Privy Council, who has the power to mobilize troops but does not command them.
Zhou Guojiu (chief of the Imperial Guard) and the commander-in-chief of the Palace Front Command commanded the troops, but had no power to mobilize them.
All these systems were established to prevent military generals from rebelling.
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