Chapter 34 Breaking the Camp
On the 30th of the third month of the third year of Yongsheng, the capital city completely fell into the hands of the rebels.
The Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and a host of princes, nobles, and high-ranking officials fled south in panic.
The capital is now in the hands of the rebels, whose leader has declared that he will support the valiant prince, who resides in his fiefdom of Gaoqing Prefecture, as the new emperor.
We are just waiting for the prince to return to the capital and ascend the throne.
They continued to send people to capture Emperor Yongsheng and others.
The news was received in Nanjiang County, Guangyue Prefecture, on the fourth day of the fourth lunar month.
Not only Nanjiang County, but the entire Guangyue Prefecture, and even the entire Shunchang Kingdom, were shaken by this.
I thought Prince Wu Yong's defeat was inevitable.
Forced into their fiefdom by the general, they put up a desperate resistance.
Who would have thought that there were rebel forces responding to him around the capital?
It's roughly equivalent to the war being almost over.
My house was burgled.
The Nanjiang County government office was in chaos. Su Qing spent some effort calming everyone down: "The capital is 1,200 li away from here. We are not in danger for the time being."
"No matter how the external situation changes, holding Nanjiang County is the top priority."
The war started quickly, but ended very slowly.
All anyone can do is wait and search for hope.
After saying these words, Su Qing glanced in the direction of Gaoqing Prefecture, where the general's troops were still stationed.
With him around, the area east of Gaoqing Prefecture, which includes their region, is safe.
Su Qing was vaguely worried, but on the surface, he instructed Wu, Gong, and others to organize local militia training and allocate funds to repair the village fortifications.
During this period, more than a dozen troublemakers were severely punished.
Normally, a beating with a board would suffice, but after the capital was captured, everyone was given a beating and then sent to various villages to build defensive fortifications.
With this firm and decisive action, the hearts of ordinary people in Nanjiang County have finally been calmed down.
During this time, even Fei Yang and Hua Jingming had already left.
The incident in the capital was sudden, and Lian Feiyang immediately led the soldiers who had recovered from their injuries to the front line.
Hua Jingming also rushed back to the prefectural city to discuss with his family how to deal with the situation.
However, before Hua Jingming left, he took Su Qing to the Gu family's house.
The Gu family couple are already lying in their hospital beds.
Gu Congsi is in the capital, but his whereabouts are currently unknown, and no one knows his situation.
I heard that after the rebels entered the city, they looted the people and burned down many government offices, including the Imperial College.
Just a short time ago, Gu Congsi's name was the envy of all the officials in the Guangyue Prefecture.
Everyone knows he is exceptionally talented.
Everyone knows that after he entered the Imperial Academy, he was highly regarded by the emperor even before taking the provincial examination.
Some people want to sabotage Su Qing's marriage.
She was afraid that her fiancé would speak to the Emperor, and even more afraid that after Gu Congsi finished the imperial examination, Su Qing would also rise to a higher position.
Now, everything has vanished.
The imperial examination that everyone was eagerly anticipating had long been forgotten.
They even have to take the provincial examination.
It's a miracle that I survived.
When the Gu couple saw Su Qing and their son's friend coming over, they struggled to get up, especially looking at Su Qing.
Su Qing sighed: "I have already sent someone to inquire about the situation."
"Nineteen candidates from Nanjiang County went to the capital, and each one of them was of utmost importance."
Hua Jingming glanced at her.
Despite the Gu family's attitude towards her, she was able to comfort them without holding a grudge.
They even arranged for people to take care of him.
It seems that my good friend Gu Congsi did not make a mistake in liking the wrong person.
After Hua Jingming left, he comforted her, saying, "I'll let you know as soon as I have any news."
"Fortunately, Guangyue Prefecture is far from the capital, so the rebels in the capital will not leave. The area is relatively safe for the time being."
The fear is that the new rebels might actually bring Prince Wuyong to the capital.
By then, Shunchang Kingdom would have two emperors.
That was the true beginning of chaos.
Su Qing and Hua Jingming had anticipated this.
But no one can say for sure about Gu Congsi's situation.
I just hope Gu Congsi is lucky and manages to escape from the Imperial College and quickly return to Guangyue Prefecture and Nanjiang County.
This is where it's safe.
Hua Jingming thought for a moment and said, "If any of your colleagues in the government cause you trouble, just mention my name."
"I will also put in a good word for you in the prefectural city."
However, there is a drawback.
"At the cost of my reputation?" Su Qing laughed.
If she nominally relies on Gu Congsi, it's not a big problem, since they are engaged.
If it were Hua Jingming instead, who knows what those people would say?
Hua Jingming wanted to explain, but Su Qing said, "I thought it was something important, as long as it's useful. I'll need your help dealing with things in the prefectural city."
Hua Jingming smiled, waved his hand, and rode away on horseback.
He asked one unnecessary question.
On the sixth day of the fourth month, Su Qing went to the Gu family again.
After the Gu couple calmed down a bit, they looked at Su Qing with embarrassment, but still wanted to ask about Gu Congsi's situation.
There is no answer now, and the two are quite disappointed.
They are now completely listless and dare not go out.
Not long ago, they were the envy of everyone, the parents of the scholar Gu.
But things are completely different now.
They were afraid of stepping out of their homes and being looked at with pity.
Su Qing came over to check on the situation, and then took Zhu Shuli to the Medical Training Department.
The medicinal herbs will be ready for harvest in a month.
With the capital occupied by rebels, panic gripped the region, and the price of medicinal herbs soared once again.
Just when you think the price of medicinal herbs will drop, something unexpected always happens.
But compared to grain, the price increase of medicinal herbs is nothing.
In many places, grain prices have at least doubled.
In fact, the grain prices in those areas that have reduced their farmland to grow medicinal herbs will be extremely high this year.
Only Nanjiang County remained stable, which allowed it to continue integrating the medicinal resources of the six nearby counties.
They also contacted merchants willing to purchase medicinal herbs.
Several Jiangnan merchants, led by the Ye family, were still willing to do business amidst the chaos.
Fortune favors the bold; that's exactly what they are.
This situation continued until early May, when the medicinal herbs were harvested.
Nanjiang County, and other parts of Guangyue Prefecture, seem to be gradually returning to their usual atmosphere.
Ultimately, the capital was too far away from them, and war was even further away.
Everyone's life will continue as usual.
However, with more patrolling constables, the local militia's training increased considerably.
Everything else seems to be the same.
The harvest of medicinal herbs added to the festive atmosphere in the area.
After the medicinal herbs were sold at the end of last year, every household benefited from it.
They can't wait any longer this year!
To Su Qing's surprise, she received a letter from Ye Shanming.
Around this time last year, the Ye family invested in the Nie family's medical clinic and started trading medicinal herbs together.
Ye Shanming even came over in person to tell her that the local area was going to become a logistics transit hub.
After that, everything went smoothly in the war.
By the end of the year, they had achieved a series of great victories.
Unexpectedly, a year later, the situation has become even worse.
The capital city has fallen.
The emperor fled.
Su Qing shook her head, and after opening Ye Shanming's letter, she was so surprised that she sat up abruptly.
Ye Shanming's letter revealed something extremely important.
That is the emperor's movements.
From March 30th onwards, the whereabouts of the emperor and his entourage were largely unknown.
Now it's the sixth day of the fifth lunar month, the pursuers have lessened, and we finally know where the emperor has fled to.
"In Jinling." Su Qing read the letter over and over. "They actually fled to Jiangnan?!"
Ye Shanming also wrote in his letter that Nanjing was crowded with high-ranking officials and nobles.
The former dynasty's temporary palace has also been prepared, and the emperor, empress dowager, and others have already moved in. They will soon be governing here, and the news will be announced to the world to reassure the people.
This made Su Qing's heart sink.
The situation at the imperial court was worse than she had imagined.
The best course of action after the rebels captured the capital was to wait for reinforcements nearby and then retake it.
However, the Emperor and Empress Dowager went to Jinling, a thousand miles away, and directly governed there.
This only illustrates one point.
In their judgment, neither the capital nor the surrounding troops would help them, and they wouldn't be able to return anytime soon.
Su Qing felt a headache coming on.
They're all a bunch of useless trash!
The troops and generals near the capital could not be controlled.
Rebellion was inevitable, wasn't it?!
And how exactly did the emperor obtain his position?
Why is it so unstable?!
I'm speechless.
However, that wasn't Ye Shanming's focus.
"Gu Congsi is safe and sound. He is always by the Emperor's side attending to his illness, so it is inconvenient for him to write letters and send them out. He asked me to help you report that he is safe and sound."
The emperor and his entourage are now like frightened birds.
He would meticulously examine all the correspondence between everyone around him.
Before their location was widely publicized and a provisional court was established, it was not advisable to send letters out, lest they be suspected of colluding with the rebels.
Who would have thought that Gu Congsi, who was going to the capital to take the exam, would end up following the emperor to Jinling and even meet Ye Shanming?
Regardless, as long as everyone is safe and sound.
Although it was a done deal that she and Gu Congsi broke off their engagement.
But even disregarding this relationship, there's still something to worry about.
After all, they've spent so much time together.
However, Su Qing did not tell the Gu family couple immediately.
After all, if we say that Gu Congsi is safe, we need to explain the reason and where he is.
Su Qing did not trust either of them.
Just a few days after Ye Shanming's letter arrived, Su Qing was busy with the purchase of medicinal herbs when Hua Jingming also sent a message, saying that the situation was similar and that she could rest assured.
However, Hua Jingming added that they might not have to cancel their engagement.
Nobody has time to compete for Su Qing's position now.
Furthermore, since Su Qing already has control over all the medicinal herb cultivation in Guang Le Fu, there is no need for him to break off the engagement.
They manage quite a lot.
Su Qing replied to both of their letters and then went back to work on the medicinal herbs.
The trade of medicinal herbs in the surrounding counties basically has to go through Nanjiang County.
As I mentioned before, she wanted to set up a medicinal herb trading center.
This battle accelerated the progress of this matter.
After all, in the midst of chaos, it's really difficult to find a place where both buyers and sellers can feel at ease.
Confidence is a very precious thing.
Fortunately, Nanjiang County can give everyone confidence.
"I feel very at ease here. Prices are stable and people live and work in peace and contentment. It's completely different from the panic in other places."
"Yes, the Nanjiang County government is too stable, and the public security is well managed."
There's even a rumor.
Magistrate Su Qing was even able to mobilize wounded soldiers to help.
In other words, even if there is a problem here.
She was also able to organize a resistance immediately.
Everyone knows about what happened in Yaogu Village before, right?
She can organize several people in a short time.
If something really happens, even more people will be willing to risk their lives for her.
With a magistrate like this in charge, everyone can sleep more peacefully.
In retrospect, it was a wise choice for Magistrate Su to build city walls and construct defensive fortifications in each village after he had made his money.
Even the money spent at the injury and rehabilitation center could be heard making a sound.
Su Qing felt rather helpless when she heard these words.
She didn't think that much when she did it.
Even when he first became a county magistrate, all he wanted to do was take care of his family.
Of course, it's another matter if, as you do it, you feel that you should take on responsibility.
Just as Su Qing put down the official document in his hand, he saw County Magistrate Tian rushing over.
Since the general's great victory last year, County Magistrate Tian has stopped drinking heavily and seems to have emerged from the shadow of war.
During the coup in Beijing this year, although he did not drink heavily, he was constantly on edge, wishing he could be busy with official duties all the time.
Zhu, the clerk beside Su Qing, noticed something was wrong and quickly said, "County Magistrate Tian, would you like to take a rest?"
Fei Kaiyu, who followed Magistrate Tian into the room, snorted and also advised, "Magistrate, let's go have a meal. I've been following you all day and haven't eaten yet."
Fei Kaiyu is now a scholar, and everyone calls him Scholar Fei.
However, he wasn't so happy. First, the scholar's banquet was canceled, and second, when he returned, his seat was indeed taken away!
Previously, it was Scholar Gu, who was Magistrate Su's fiancé, so he couldn't make a fuss about it.
Now it is Zhu Shuli's turn, but the county magistrate says that he will take the imperial examination in the future, so Zhu Shuli is more suitable than him.
How could anyone be more suitable than him?!
The next provincial examination is still a long way off!
He could continue working as a county magistrate's clerk.
Su Qing was too lazy to say more, so he told him to work under Magistrate Tian. Magistrate Tian was a veteran official, and he could learn a lot from him.
Moreover, County Magistrate Tian's condition is not good, and someone must keep an eye on him.
County Magistrate Tian stared at Su Qing for a long time before his hands stopped trembling. He took a deep breath and said, "Sir, the city wall has been repaired. Is there any other work? I have nothing to do."
Su Qing certainly couldn't let him continue working, so she said, "Why don't we go to the kitchen and see what's going on with the food? The third batch of patrol officers just returned today."
"The county constables work in four shifts a day, patrolling day and night."
“The villages below also have local militia organizations that patrol.”
"We have also increased the number of guards at the city gate, so we will know immediately if anything happens."
It seems to be talking about security arrangements.
Actually, it was to put Magistrate Tian's mind at ease.
Scholar Fei pulled Magistrate Tian to the kitchen for a meal, leaving Su Qing and Clerk Zhu behind with a sigh.
Luo, the registrar, Gong, the clerk, Wu, the constable, Wu, the constable, and others each had their own duties, and the entire Nanjiang County operated in an orderly manner.
Therefore, the emperor's temporary residence in Jinling and his presiding over the affairs of the court did not cause too much of a stir.
Many people have found that they have a strong ability to withstand pressure.
Even if the Emperor were to visit Nanjing, they wouldn't be surprised if he came to Nanjiang County instead.
The imperial court issued an official document, and the news was also sent from the prefectural city of Guangle to all counties.
If that's the case, then we can also talk about how Gu Congsi was safe and sound, and even stayed by the Emperor's side.
Su Qing explained to everyone, "Gu Anshou and others were already highly regarded by the Emperor. On the day of the incident, guards went to the Imperial Academy to inform the Chancellor to evacuate."
"These candidates, who were favored by the emperor, were placed in the ranks of officials and left the capital with the rest of the palace."
"Some people did not escape, but fortunately Gu Congsi remained calm in the face of danger and comforted the emperor many times, which made him even more valued."
The journey from the capital to Nanjing was indeed not easy.
These top officials from various regions who narrowly escaped death will likely become favorites in the central government.
Among these people, Gu Congsi was the leader.
After hearing what happened...
Everyone was in disbelief.
After learning that the Imperial College in Beijing had been burned down, everyone assumed that Gu Congsi was dead.
After all, if they could escape death, they would definitely return to Nanjiang County as soon as possible.
Most of the nineteen candidates who went to the capital to take the imperial examination this year were like this.
After the mutiny in the capital, they rushed home and are still in shock at home.
Even if they are injured and cannot come back, they still try their best to write letters home.
Even the news of the two scholars who died at the hands of the rebels was relayed back by their acquaintances.
However, there was no news of Gu Congsi.
It turns out he wasn't dead after all.
He even became a favorite of the emperor!
This time, they're real celebrities!
When people in the prefectural city found out, they were even more jealous of Su Qing.
She thought she was going to become a widow, but Hua Jingming from the Hua family insisted on protecting her.
Everyone thought that the young master of the Hua family was going to become Su Qing's backer.
Now we know that her fiancé is not only alive, but also has direct access to the heavens.
Okay, okay.
This female county magistrate is so lucky.
While enjoying the sour taste, they also went to Nanjiang County to make trade.
Throughout Guangyue Prefecture, anyone who wants a share of the medicinal herb business must work harmoniously with Su Qing as a colleague.
never mind.
This woman is truly capable.
That engaged couple is really something else, there's nothing we can do about it.
The more praise they received from outsiders, the more complicated the feelings of the Gu couple became.
Su Qing didn't even bother to check on them. Knowing they had recovered, she decided not to visit them again and that it was best to have less contact in the future.
Su Qing was still busy with the transaction.
It's a pity that the prices of all kinds of supplies are rising now, otherwise she would have already started repairing the roads.
Previously, the official roads were sufficient.
Now, the arrival of medicinal herbs from all over the country has trampled the roads to a pulp, so we have to repair them here and there to make them barely usable.
During this period, Qi's eunuchs also came to pick up the medicinal herbs that had been ordered last year.
Despite soaring drug prices, these supplies will still be settled based on last year's drug prices.
Qi's subordinates exclaimed in surprise, "This year's medicinal herbs are more than 30% more than last year. Won't we lose money?"
Su Qing said, "Don't worry, this part will be borne by our government office and the various pharmacies together."
"We will settle the payment according to the price prepaid last year."
When Qi, the palace official, learned of this, he couldn't help but sigh.
Last year, everything was fine. He was generous and gave 100,000 taels of silver to Nanjiang County in one go, which earned him a few words of criticism from his superiors.
With prices soaring, Su Qing is still selling at low prices, which is a real help to them in solving a major problem.
Magistrate Su is compassionate, righteous, and capable.
Even if it doesn't involve children, one should still consider this friend.
"Stop talking, hurry up and send the supplies to the General."
"The imperial court has issued a new decree."
"Let the general lead his troops back to defend the capital as soon as possible, so that His Majesty and the Empress Dowager can return to the palace."
This was the first edict issued by the Jinling imperial court.
General Yan Zhengzhou shall immediately return to the capital, expel the rebels, and restore our capital!
Su Qing wasn't particularly surprised when she heard the news.
There aren't many capable generals in the court.
This general is number one; no one can claim to be number two.
The problem is that the rebel Prince Wuyong is still in Gaoqing Prefecture.
Will he retaliate once the general leaves?
There are also rumors that Prince Wuyong has left Gaoqing Prefecture, and he is rushing to the capital to declare himself emperor.
What if he hadn't left, and had stayed here to continue seizing territory?
have no idea.
No one knew the rebels' movements.
Even the imperial court is unsure about this, so don't make things difficult for a mere county magistrate like her!
Unless she becomes the prefect, these matters are not her concern.
Su Qing wasn't entirely clear on what was happening at the front lines.
She felt that the general was like a firefighter, putting out fires all over Shunchang Kingdom.
On the day the army broke camp, many people looked westward.
The people of Guangyue Prefecture were not happy about the general's departure.
If it weren't for him, the people of many counties would still be in the hands of the rebels.
Nanjiang County is naturally one of them.
Su Qing silently saw him off, but unexpectedly, Zhou Qianhu, whom she hadn't seen for a long time, secretly came to the yamen under the cover of night.
“Magistrate Su.” Commander Zhou hesitated for a moment before continuing, “The General is outside the city and says he wants to see you.”
General?
See her?
Without hesitation, Su Qing replied, "Okay, now?"
She was extremely curious about this general.
Despite the court's inaction and the court's fear of him, he still managed to win many battles.
This skill is truly amazing.
Who wouldn't want to meet someone like that?
Outside Nanjiang County, seven or eight soldiers stood with swords in hand.
The young general at the head, clad in black armor, stood with the posture of a pine tree. From a distance, he exuded an imposing aura, like a silent cheetah ready to tear the enemy's throat apart at any moment.
The deep night made his figure appear even more mysterious.
Silent yet filled with murderous intent.
The young general suddenly turned around, and his calm, water-like eyes met Su Qing's.
The murderous intent suddenly dissipated, transforming into an unfathomable river that threatened to engulf the person before it.
"Su Qing, Magistrate Su."
"Do you want to be the prefect of Guangyue Prefecture?"
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