Chapter 64: I won’t stop for anyone in the distant mountains
The snow on Qingyao Mountain had not completely melted yet. Climbing up the mountain road was not easy. Every time Xie Zhao reached a difficult part, he would look back to see if Lu Tingwan was keeping up.
It takes an hour to climb from the village to the top of Qingyao Mountain, and that's before it snows.
"We're there." The one who reached the summit watched her approaching the summit. Just one last step. Just climb over this rock and she'd reach the summit.
Xie Zhao extended his hand, "Come up."
Lu Tingwan stepped on it without thinking. Xie Zhao held her wrist, and she followed suit and stepped on it.
Just as he straightened his body, the setting sun in front of him entered his eyes, covering the entire Qingyao Mountain.
Lu Tingwan stood atop the peak for the first time, gazing down at the mountains. Golden light shone down upon the young woman's face, a shimmering golden glow. Qingyao Mountain, surrounded on all sides by mountains, felt like a world beyond the mundane.
A kind of hermit's comfort envelops people in the hustle and bustle of the world.
"This is my first time to the top of Qingyao Mountain." Lu Tingwan turned around and opened her arms in the open space, embracing the free wind, as if embracing her wandering soul.
At this moment, she was willing to be driven by this magnificent landscape.
Gradually, she lost her balance, her body leaned back along the center of gravity, and fell into the snow pile.
Xie Zhao gazed into the distance. "I haven't been here since the mountain roads were blocked by heavy snow in winter. Whenever I felt lost, I'd come here, feel the breeze, watch the clouds roll by, and many things I'd struggle with would eventually become clearer."
Lu Tingwan opened her eyes, the afterglow stung them. She covered half of them with her palm, leaving a slit, and half-closed her eyes.
Half of Xie Zhao's profile was obscured by the golden light, and she could only see his profile. Under the setting sun, the sharp outline softened a little.
Maybe Xie Zhao didn't figure it out, or maybe he just accepted it.
"The cloud bed cannot block the setting sun, nor can it trap the prey trying to break out of the cage." Lu Tingwan said with a smile as he basked in the afterglow.
"Do you feel you can see further here?"
Lu Tingwan sat up, his cloak covered with snow on his back.
"Can I see farther?" Lu Tingwan thought thoughtfully. "Although Qingyao Mountain is located on a high ground, it is surrounded by mountains, trapping it in the center. All that is left is distance."
Xie Zhao sat down next to her, not knowing whether she could see through him or not.
"So, you might think that standing on the top of a mountain doesn't necessarily mean you can see far."
Lu Tingwan side-glanced at him and said, "If your heart isn't broad enough, even if you're at the top, you'll still be able to measure whatever your eyes reach. If your heart is open, even the vast mountains and rivers will be beyond your reach."
After that, she added: "That being said, a mortal like me doesn't have such a broad mind."
She patted Xie Zhao on the shoulder and said, "But wherever your eyes go, that's where I am. It can't be wrong. Don't you think so?"
Only when you see the mountains and rivers and the living beings in the world can you see yourself.
She always likes to reorganize her views, break them down, face reality, and finally accept reality and make it reality.
Xie Zhao pursed his lips and smiled, chanting her name: "Jiang Yanli, Yanli..."
"Your name really suits your personality."
"My mother named me Yan. Originally, it wasn't Yan as in "Yan Gui Gui" (goose returning), but Yan as in "Yan" (disgusted). She had said this to Cheng Xianzhi as well, but her moods were different each time.
"Disgust?" Xie Zhao murmured.
"I didn't like this word, so I changed it on my own initiative." She spoke lightly, as if she was recalling an extremely memorable event.
"Parting is not abominable."
Suddenly, she stood up and shouted towards the empty space. The strong cold wind swept across her whole body, as if to blow her to the ground. However, she refused to surrender and resisted this force with all her strength.
"I, Jiang Yanli, will not stop for anyone."
Xie Zhao stared at her back, firm and resolute.
From today onwards, his desire to keep her was like the wind on Qingyao Mountain, which left no trace after blowing past, and also like the snow on Qingyao Mountain, which melted and disappeared.
They enjoyed a brief period of comfort, but they both realized that they were at the center of the storm, and they didn't know when the storm hidden behind them would come again.
In Hanzhang Palace, the prefect of Tanzhou submitted a memorial to the capital, which was presented to the Ministry of Revenue. Liu Baiqi, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue, began his report: "Your Majesty, the prefect of Tanzhou has reported that bandits have been rampant in the Qingyao Mountains, an area under Tanzhou's jurisdiction. Since last winter, the bandits have become increasingly rampant, breaking into the city in the middle of the night to rob homes. The people are complaining bitterly, and the merchants are in a state of panic. Therefore, I request that the capital send troops to suppress the bandits."
Cheng Xianzhi stood in the court without moving, but he came after all.
Duke Jiang returned to the court from Shanhaiguan, the intensity of the battle still lingering. He spoke with awe, "These are just small bandits. Tanzhou governs eleven counties, and the troops there aren't enough to resist them? Does the annual military rations allocated by the court go into the pockets of the prefect or some other official?"
Gongsun Yin took his time, listing the details: "Duke Jiang has long resided at Shanhaiguan, constantly battling the Turks. He defended the border for Dalan. Naturally, the capital's elite forces are deployed at Shanhaiguan, and the food, weapons, and equipment they receive are all top-notch. Naturally, he cannot understand the difficulties faced by local officials."
"According to the Minister of the Central Secretariat, I am judging others by my own standards?" Duke Jiang sneered.
Cheng Xianzhi followed suit, "Last year, Tanzhou submitted a petition requesting troops to the Ministry of War. Due to the intensifying winter snowstorms, the official roads were blocked, and the court was burdened with the heavy burden of military supplies from Shanhaiguan, so this matter was delayed. Your Majesty, my original intention was to wait until the spring, then raise troops from Kyoto and march to Tanzhou and Binzhou to completely eliminate the bandit dens along the way and ensure the safety of the people."
Li Tingfeng sat on the dragon throne, his expression unwavering. When he tilted his head, the pearl curtain swayed. "Suppressing bandits is beneficial to the people's livelihood. The war in Shanhaiguan has just subsided, and the national treasury has been relieved. Suppressing bandits is beneficial to both the country and the people. In my opinion, this is a feasible move. What do you think, Queen Mother?"
Queen Mother Jiang said in a long voice: "Duke Jiang quelled the rebellion at Shanhaiguan, and his prestige spread far and wide. This time, we will send troops to suppress it. Under the command of Duke Jiang, we will surely achieve a great victory in no time and restore peace to the people of Bin and Tan states."
Queen Mother Jiang directly appointed Jiang Haiyi as the chief commander of this bandit suppression campaign, in order to guard against Cheng Xianzhi.
Jiang Haiyi disagreed. He thought it was too drastic to ask the Duke of Protector of the Country to confiscate the petty bandits.
Having lived on the battlefield for a long time, he only fought against soldiers and disdained to fight against bandits.
He was unclear about the Queen Mother's intentions.
Gongsun Yin knew that Jiang Haiyi was arrogant and conceited, so he would naturally not be able to take on the task smoothly.
Seeing that Jiang Haiyi didn't immediately agree, Gongsun Yin took the opportunity to say, "Duke Jiang is the Duke of the Protectorate. They are just a bunch of young men who have taken over the mountains and become kings. There's no need for a duke like him to go and suppress them. Lest the world think that there are no other capable generals in the capital who can lead the troops to fight. When Duke Jiang goes to Shanhaiguan in the future, the capital should have a general who can intimidate the local people."
"What the Minister of the Central Secretariat said resonates with me very much," Li Tingfeng said, lifting the wide sleeves of his dragon robe. "Duke Jiang has worked hard for the country and deserves to rest and recuperate. The banditry in Tanzhou is nothing to be feared. Looking around the court, I already have a suitable candidate."
Seeing her brother's lack of comprehension, Empress Dowager Jiang observed that the Minister of the Central Secretariat, Cheng Xianzhi, and the Emperor were all in unison, clearly possessing an agenda. As if seeing through their own intentions, she said leisurely, "Since the Emperor has already chosen someone, who will lead the troops to eliminate the bandits in the two states this time?"
Without waiting for Li Tingfeng to assign him anything, Cheng Xianzhi took the lead and said, "Your Majesty, I am a humble official, but I will lead the troops to eliminate the bandits."
As the Queen Mother expected, Cheng Xianzhi had to gain a firm foothold after becoming the Shangshu and was eager to make achievements in order to win the hearts and minds of the six ministries and even the court and the people.
Originally, after Jiang Haiyi returned to the capital, the marriage between the Jiang and Lu families could consolidate the Jiang family's position in the court, at least giving them a break after Cheng Xianzhi became the Shangshu.
But Cheng Xianzhi's ambition became more and more apparent. It was impossible for him to just want the real power of the six ministries. Now he had the power of 20,000 imperial guards. Li Tingfeng allowed him to mobilize and drive them at will, which meant that he recognized Cheng Xianzhi.
Even when he first became the Minister of State, he could not rest easy. He needed to spend more time than before to attend to court affairs. In just three months, the six ministries were quietly reorganizing their fortresses.
Han Zhou investigated every important position, the people who held them, their past merits and demerits, and compiled them into a booklet. When the time was right, it would be an east wind for them to compete with the Queen Mother's giant ship and help them rise to the top.
"Minister Cheng is the head of the six ministries and a pillar of the country. How can he rashly lead the army?" The Imperial Censor said urgently.
"Because you hold a high position, you must shoulder even greater responsibilities," Cheng Xianzhi bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty, this trip to Binzhou and Tanzhou will not only eliminate the banditry, but also provide an opportunity to understand the people's sentiments and observe their livelihoods. Your Majesty has drafted an edict to announce the dispatch of troops to suppress the bandits, so that everyone knows that the Lord of Dalan cares about the people's livelihoods. This coincides with the spring plowing season, so we can also understand the actual needs of the locals, which will benefit both the country and the people."
"As the head of the six ministries, I should know more about the affairs under their jurisdiction than anyone else. Only in this way can I better direct the six ministries, assist the king, stabilize the country, and strengthen the foundation of the nation."
"Lord Cheng, your loyalty to the emperor and your service to the country is truly a role model for us," Li Tingfeng praised, his demeanor radiating that of an emperor. "Pass on my decree. Cheng Xianzhi will be appointed commander-in-chief of the campaign against the bandits in the two prefectures. He will lead an army of 10,000 men and must return victorious."
"I obey your order."
Queen Mother Jiang had a faint smile on her face, and wherever her eyes swept across, a layer of ice was covered. When Jiang Haiyi received this gaze, the veteran who had fought on the battlefield actually had the illusion of being terrified, but his sharp eyes did not diminish in the slightest.
The camellias in front of the Jinhua Palace were in full bloom. Palace Master Hong handed over a jade pot half filled with clear water, which flowed along the roots and soaked the spring mud.
Jiang Haiyi had no patience for these flowers and plants. "The Queen Mother asked me to lead the troops to suppress the bandits at Jinhua Palace this morning. Didn't you want Cheng Xianzhi to lead the army?"
"Since my brother knows, why are you hesitating?" Queen Mother Jiang turned back slowly. Although she was nearly forty years old, she moved as gracefully as a willow, with a figure and temperament, as well as an unattainable dignity. In this harem, even if there were three thousand beauties, they could not compare to her grace and elegance.
"It's just to suppress bandits, Your Majesty, why is it necessary to mobilize so many troops? Even if the military forces of Bintan and Tan are weak, it is impossible that they cannot shake off a few bandits. Could it be that after all these years of me guarding the border at Shanhaiguan, the bandit problem in the prefectures and cities within Dalan has become rampant and a disaster?"
"Brother is only half right. Banditry is not something to be feared. Since ancient times, there have been cases of bandit uprisings and overthrow of dynasties. Last year, all the memorials submitted by local governments about banditry were intercepted by the six ministries and eventually sent back to the local authorities." A camellia blossomed gorgeously, standing out among the flowers. Queen Mother Jiang pinched it lightly with two fingers, and the camellia fell into her palm.
"How dare the six ministries be so arrogant and reject the local memorials?" Empress Dowager Jiang glanced at Lu Mingqian, who stood silently beside her. "How could the six ministries dare to act like this without Cheng Xianzhi's permission? Does Minister Lu know about this?"
"I just heard about it recently." After Cheng Xian came to power, Lu Mingqian's actual power was secretly weakened bit by bit by Cheng Xianzhi. As the Minister of State, the affairs he handled were either trivial matters or important matters that had been finalized. He had no place to do anything.
Although Lu Mingqian didn't say it, over the past few months, all the important matters he was originally in charge of have returned to Cheng Xianzhi's hands.
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