Chapter 517 A Thousand-Mile Raid to Rescue the Mission!
Emperor Renxiao: "I am aware of the laws previously implemented by Lanxi, and they were authorized by me. You ministers need not comment!"
The courtiers looked as if they had choked on their words.
"I have seen all the changes in the capital. During the period of raising troops, I made several unannounced visits to the countryside. I have also seen that the people are living in peace and contentment, with enough to eat and wear."
"I personally visited the Ministry of Revenue and the national treasury to inspect the reserves. The current reserves in the national treasury are more than the total reserves of the previous three years combined. I believe that Lanxi may not have done enough in some areas, but these achievements that are on the surface cannot be denied by any official!"
The courtiers were speechless again.
"When I ate yesterday's meal, I had golden rice brought to the palace from the Northwest. One ear of corn was transported all the way from the far Northwest to the capital, and it was still very fresh." Emperor Renxiao seemed to be genuinely pleased, with a slight smile on his lips and a gentle expression.
"I have already ordered some golden rice to be placed outside the palace. When the court session ends, each official can buy four grains to take home and cook. One grain of golden rice is enough to fill a child's stomach. Two grains of golden rice are enough to fill a grown man's stomach. This fine golden rice is not picky about location or soil; it can be grown in both the north and the south."
"There are also golden beans and sweet potatoes, which I have also tasted. They are not only delicious but also very filling when made into three meals a day. More importantly, they are highly productive. One acre of land can produce thousands of kilograms. They are simply divine gifts, gifts from heaven. They are worthy of being placed on the altar and offered to the heavens. They are worthy of my kneeling and worship!"
Emperor Renxiao's words were passionate and deeply moving.
"Is there anything else you're not satisfied with?"
This statement left the court officials speechless once again.
"Is there anyone in your family who doesn't have enough to eat?"
"Has anyone starved to death on the streets of your hometown?"
Are families in your hometown impoverished, and are the people suffering terribly?
"Ignoring these serious problems, you've gone mad and are targeting only Shen Lanxi?"
"You've studied hard for years to become officials, and the strategies for governing the country you learned in your books are meant to be used to attack a woman?"
The officials were no longer just speechless, but filled with fear.
“It was our narrow-mindedness that led us to do so!” one official knelt down.
"It was I who was out of touch with reason!"
"I am ashamed..."
Emperor Renxiao sighed and said, "I know what you are thinking. Now that Shen Lanxi has gone to the southwest, how is your action any different from replacing the commander-in-chief before the battle?"
Many officials bowed their heads, feeling deeply ashamed.
"Alright, I'll pretend today's events at court never happened. Let's discuss who should be appointed to govern Shu and Ganzhou!"
The atmosphere in the imperial court was oppressive. The officials were all very careful, afraid of saying the wrong thing and incurring bad luck, so they dared not speak casually.
Therefore, the matter between Ganzhou and Shu was not resolved before the court session ended.
The Vice Minister of War walked out of the palace gate in a daze, as if in a dream.
What's wrong, Your Majesty?
His Majesty wasn't like this before.
Chen Qing caught a glimpse of Wu Yanzhi out of the corner of his eye and immediately took off after him!
...
Shen Lanxi ran all the way, only eating some pancakes and drinking some water at noon, resting briefly, and then continued on her way.
The incident in the southwest is not a fabrication; something really happened.
The mission was sent out through her, and it had to return through her as well.
Zhou Ruyuan had cultivated deep roots in the Southwest for many years and had many old subordinates. If he wanted to do something there, it would be a piece of cake.
This time, she planned to bypass Zhou Ruyuan and first go to the southwestern foreign lands to investigate.
When she was resting in the evening, she gathered her bodyguards together, ate dinner, and discussed the upcoming plans.
The people who followed her included her former subordinates from the Northwest, members of the Imperial Guard, secret guards, and secret guards given to her by her mother.
At this point, Shen Lanxi had integrated the various factions together and began assigning them different tasks.
"Once we enter the Southwest, we must break up into smaller groups and enter the Southwest in batches and in different directions."
"Team One, you will dress up as merchants."
"Second team, you dress up as refugees fleeing the war."
"Team Three, you dress up as local outsiders."
"Fourth team..."
...
"Your goal is to obtain a map of the southwest region after you enter it!"
"Then find out if the Prince of Zhennan has staged a coup, where he is, and how many troops he has!"
"After the envoys of the Great Zhou arrived, did they make contact with the foreign tribes? Are they safe?"
"What are the movements of the foreign tribes? What is the background of their leaders? What are their objectives? Are they seeking war or peace? Have they experienced internal strife? How is their power distributed?"
"Remember, do not attract attention."
"The Southwest must already know that the Imperial Court has sent me, so we must race against time and enter together before the Southwest realizes what's happening, understand?"
Everyone: "Yes!"
After a night's rest, we set off again.
This time, the journey was more purposeful than the first. Everyone was assigned tasks, and the uncertainty about the future was gone from their eyes, replaced by a determined light that was determined to do their best to complete the mission.
After traveling day and night for ten days, the horses couldn't take it anymore and had to be replaced, so the process of changing horses was repeated throughout the journey.
Horses can be replaced, but people cannot.
Even strong, well-trained men find it hard to keep up with such a long run, but Shen Lanxi's figure remains like a long spear, firmly running at the forefront.
One day, two days, three days, changing horses repeatedly, the men were grimacing and barely holding on, but Shen Lanxi still ran steadily in the lead.
The soldiers and guards, who had initially looked down on and were unconvinced, quietly transformed into those who admired, respected, and were completely convinced of their superiority, no longer harboring any thoughts of provocation or contempt.
He truly deserves to be called the Regent of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Grand Marshal of the Armed Forces of the Realm, and the man who successively conquered Dongchuan and the Northwest.
She truly deserves it!
Those who secretly despise and belittle women should see this! How valiant Shen Lanxi is!
Five more days passed in the blink of an eye, and they were already close to the southwestern border.
Shen Lanxi decided to start acting according to the plan.
“You all look like refugees right now, without even needing to disguise yourselves!” Shen Lanxi joked.
Many people lowered their heads in embarrassment, but their expressions were unusually relaxed.
"From now on, let's split up and proceed!"
"I obey the Regent's decree!"
The dozen or so groups of people quickly dispersed, leaving only Lanxi and the ten guards behind her.
"Let's take action!"
They acted swiftly, and it's estimated that the Southwest didn't expect them to arrive so quickly, so they entered the Southwest very smoothly.
The southwest region is home to many ethnic minorities, who are very xenophobic. They will immediately raise an alarm if a stranger enters.
Following the instructions in the secret letter, Shen Lanxi led her men into the mountains near the wolf clan.
According to the secret letter, the delegation lost contact after entering the wolf clan. The Great Zhou Dynasty negotiated with them, but the wolf clan denied that the Great Zhou delegation had entered their territory.
The delegation of over forty people couldn't have simply vanished into thin air; she was more inclined to believe that these forty people had already joined the wolf clan.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com