Promote one and suppress the other
Xie Lang said with a somber tone, "The conflict between the local gentry of Jiangdong and the migrants from the north has a long history and they have never been at peace. Since you value the country and its people above all else, I am willing to pay any price for a long-term solution. Lingying, whatever conditions you propose, I will agree to them, because you are very perceptive, and this is exactly what I want right now."
A Qiu finally understood what Consort Chen meant when she said, "With your intelligence, even a sober Emperor could get what you want from him."
She finally understood why Zhao Lingying dared to promise the two sorcerers that even if she failed, she could ensure their survival and safe return home.
No matter how cunning Zhao Lingying was, she was a trustworthy person throughout her life, whether she was an enemy or a friend.
In this situation, she inexplicably recalled the legend of Yanling Jizi hanging his sword that Zhao Lingying had once mentioned to her.
Zhao Lingying smiled and said, "Now that things have come to this, I know exactly what I want, brother. Let me first tell you my grand plan for Anjiangdong that will last for generations."
She took a deep breath and chuckled self-deprecatingly, "If the people of Wu in later generations knew that this strategy came from me, they would probably curse me endlessly a hundred generations from now."
If Jiangdong is to be made to behave itself and submit to the rule of the Southern Dynasty, then the Jiangdong gentry will inevitably be firmly suppressed by the northern aristocratic families, and their local interests will also be damaged. This is a self-evident fact.
Xie Lang said in a deep voice: "The gentry of Wu have long been content with their local area and only know how to protect their local family interests. They have no vision for the world. If politics is entirely in their hands, the Southern Dynasty's ambition to advance and restore the Central Plains will inevitably shrink. For the sake of the world, we can only keep them in their local position."
Zhao Lingying smiled bitterly and said, "I knew this all along, which is why I devised this plan for His Majesty long ago. But when a person is about to die, he is bound to feel the attachment to his homeland, hence the sigh. My family sent me to the palace back then, hoping that I could win a place for the Jiangdong gentry in politics. They never expected things to turn out this way."
Xie Lang remained silent for a moment before saying, "Those who plot for the world do not cherish their own lives, nor do they seek the benefit of their family or clan. This was the common agreement we five made when we swore our oath."
When Zhao Lingying heard him mention the oath they made years ago, her eyes suddenly lit up with a fervent light, and she said in a hoarse voice, "Yes! This is why the five of us, despite coming from completely different backgrounds, have been able to be loyal and devoted to each other for so many years."
She stopped talking and said decisively, "The strategy for governing Jiangdong can be summed up in one sentence: use Jiangdong to control Jiangdong, and use the local gentry to check and balance the local gentry."
Xie Lang looked thoughtful.
Zhao Lingying continued, “Among the major clans in Jiangdong, the Zhao clan of Wu County is the most prominent, but there are also the Qi clan of Yixing and the Bai clan of Qingzhou. Previously, our southward-migrating clans, due to their concentrated population and the continuous influx of officials crossing the river, have been encroaching on fields, lakes, and farms in Jiangzuo, causing resentment among the local gentry, who have united to resist. The current rebellion in Wu is merely a concentrated eruption of these contradictions.”
Xie Lang said somewhat helplessly, "I have ordered that, with our Xie family as the leader, all aristocratic families moving south should, as far away from Taihu Lake and the Yangtze River as possible when acquiring property and relocating, in order to alleviate this problem."
Zhao Lingying nodded and said, "That's only one point. I also thank Your Majesty on behalf of the Wu people. But human desires are endless. It's human nature to want more after getting what you want. Those who have no ambition to plan for the world but want to take advantage of it are a perfect example of my cousins. Therefore, reducing conflict and easing tensions is only one aspect. Another aspect is to find a way to weaken the power of the Jiangdong gentry themselves."
She paused for a moment, took a deep breath, and continued, "But this matter cannot be handled by the Southern Dynasty's central government, because any action we take in this regard will only provoke their sensitivity and incite fierce resistance from the united Jiangdong gentry. Your Majesty's actions have successfully made the Jiangdong gentry temporarily ignore our threat. However, Your Majesty must then select from among the Jiangdong gentry those powerful families who can be won over and who themselves aspire to rise in status, bestow upon them honors and positions, and promote one while suppressing another to distinguish between the noble and the lowly. In this way, the contradictions among them will inevitably intensify, leading to infighting."
When she uttered her last words, she was already breathless. A Qiu could tell that although Zhao Lingying showed no signs of exhaustion on her face, she was still experiencing a final burst of energy before death.
Xie Lang listened quietly without interrupting, realizing that given her current state, every extra word she uttered was precious.
Zhao Lingying, catching his breath, said, “A perfect opportunity is right before us. Those two great sorcerers who cast spells on His Majesty are from the Qi family of Yixing. In truth, they are peaceful and unassuming; I forcibly abducted them. If His Majesty simply does not pursue their crimes and releases them back to their hometowns, he will surely gain the Qi family's favor. As for me, His Majesty can accuse me of abusing power and manipulating the monarch, and have me torn apart by chariots. Although my cousins have frequently raised armies with great fanfare, I suspect they are mostly bluffing to increase their bargaining power with the central government, rather than truly being prepared for a desperate battle to seize the throne.”
A sneer appeared on her lips as she continued, "The reason is simple. They were all wealthy men who lived in comfort and were attached to their land. If they had a choice, who would risk their lives? Not to mention that the odds of winning are slim, even if they did win, they would still have to deal with the Hu cavalry that could invade from the north at any time. It wouldn't be an easy or peaceful life."
Zhao Lingying summarized: "In other words, for those who are all bark and no bite and cowardly, Your Majesty only needs to publicly execute me to intimidate them and make them understand that the central government has no intention of compromising. At the same time, with Xiao Pei's navy making a strong show of proactive attack, they will feel guilty and will surely find a way to back down, and this situation can be broken. In addition, the two sorcerers of the Qi family will return to their hometown and will surely persuade the Qi family not to participate in the rebellion. Once the Zhao family is isolated, they will not have the ambition to stand out. Afterwards, Your Majesty can gradually divide and win them over, and the hearts of the people of Jiangdong can be won over, and a century of peace can be secured."
After saying this, Zhao Lingying's originally bright and clear eyes became clouded with fatigue, and the light gradually faded.
Only now did A Qiu realize how insightful and far-sighted Zhao Lingying was.
Although she held Xie Lang hostage because of a personal grudge, as a strategist of the Southern Dynasty, she was concerned with more than just one person's grudge.
Xie Lang disregarded everything else and personally stepped forward to support Zhao Lingying, shouting hoarsely, "Lingying, look what this is!"
His shout seemed to have used up all the energy he had just accumulated, but his purpose was to keep Zhao Lingying conscious.
Zhao Lingying, who had just closed her eyes, forced them open again and mumbled, "...White silk?"
Xie Lang pulled out a new silk handkerchief from his sleeve. It was as white as snow, soft and light, made of white silk fabric from the Wu region.
Before he came, he made a special trip to the palace's private treasury and picked out this handkerchief. A-Qiu didn't understand why he did this, but since Xie Lang didn't say, she naturally didn't dare to ask. It turned out that it was all for this moment.
Xie Lang let Zhao Lingying rest her head on his shoulder, his voice low and clear, each word spoken in her ear:
"The child you asked about did not die. I took advantage of the chaos in the palace to take her away from the Qiwu secret room and then sent her to the Xie family's villa in the countryside of Taihu Lake. Later, she was adopted by a kind-hearted farming couple who said that I had found her during the war."
He half-supported, half-embraced Zhao Lingying, sensing her impending departure, his voice gradually choking with emotion.
"...That child is fifteen this year. The farming couple has taught her very well. She has learned to weave and wash clothes very diligently. Because she remembers my kindness in saving her, every autumn harvest, she asks someone from the village to bring her hand-woven white silk as tribute. You are the head of the weaving workshop of the Imperial Household Department. Come and see if her skills are good?"
Zhao Lingying's vision was already obscured by a thin mist, and she could no longer see clearly. On her deathbed, upon receiving this joyous news she had longed for all her life, her eyes instantly lit up with light. She exclaimed, "Excellent!" She repeatedly stroked the silk handkerchief, praising, "It's woven so precisely and evenly; she must have been a skillful and meticulous girl. Very good, very good..."
Xie Lang said in a hoarse voice, "Lingying, if you don't die, I will bring her here for you to see soon, okay?" At this moment, Xie Lang had also lost his composure and was in a state of panic.
This was the second time in his life that he had witnessed a woman of paramount importance to him dying before his very eyes. The pain and regret he felt struck his heart once again.
Zhao Lingying waved her hand and laughed, "No need. I used to blame you for not caring about the life and death of this crown princess, but now I think... your arrangement is excellent. She no longer needs to have anything to do with us, and her mother will surely be at ease knowing this..."
Her eyes flickered, and she caught a glimpse of a golden light. It was the gold hairpin that she had given to A Qiu. She waved her hand and said softly, "You... come here."
For some reason, tears welled up in A Qiu's eyes. Knowing that she wanted the gold hairpin, he immediately leaned closer and lowered his head.
With trembling hands, Zhao Lingying removed the gold hairpin from her hair and said with a sigh of relief, "I have to break my promise this time... I gave you this hairpin on a whim when I thought I would never see that old friend again. Looking at you... it was as if I could see her. And now... knowing that she is still alive, I will give it to her as part of her dowry."
As she spoke, she forcefully shoved the gold hairpin into Xie Lang's hand.
Xie Lang held her hand as well, and said in a hoarse voice, "I will tell her that this was a gift from an aunt who has always cared about her."
Ah Qiu immediately said, "She'll definitely like it!"
Zhao Lingying smiled and said, "Heaven has been kind to me... I've always felt that child is still in this world... I can sense that she's not far from me. It turns out... she's in my hometown..."
Before her eyes, Ah Qiu, her face streaked with tears, gradually transformed into the image of another person in her blurred vision.
That was the look of amazement and bewilderment she felt when she knelt on the stone steps of the Shaofu residence and looked up to see the phoenix skirt sweep past.
The dignified and elegant young woman, dressed in cumbersome robes and a crown that seemed ill-fitting to her, glanced back at her somewhat shyly. She heard the man whisper something to the maid beside him.
The palace servants and eunuchs beside her shouted, "The Empress is about to depart!" A group of people escorted the young woman away, and only then did she turn around: that was the current Empress, the legendary talented woman from the Shangguan family.
Later, she was summoned to the Qiwu Palace for an audience.
The girl behind the screen said shyly, "I think those empress's clothes are all too ugly. Could you... make some new ones for me?"
As she knelt on the ground, her heart suddenly began to pound.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
