____
“Heed my decree… Go invite Uncle here.” ____
Li Feng’s whole body shook, Chang Geng watched him fall down on the throne with a blank expression. Suddenly, at the area outside of his rational sense, a type of cruel satisfaction was arising in him. However, Chang Geng was very strict towards himself, he pinched his palm in silence and pressed back the bloodthirsty pleasure – he knew it was the Bone of Impurity messing with him, it was not his true self.
Chang Geng opened his mouth and spoke with not much sincerity: “Your Majesty, please take care.”
It seemed as if the person who said he wanted to kill Li Feng was not him.
Yan Bei w.a.n.g just spoke up, the other dumbfounded magistrates in the main hall immediately reacted and followed his lead: “Your Majesty, please take care.”
Li Feng’s eyes slowly fell on Chang Geng. This was his only brother in name, but he seldom ever noticed him. Since his Royal Highness Li Min inherited his t.i.tle and entered the court, he almost never spoke up, nor did he deliberately acquaint himself with other magistrates. He did not even use Gu Yun’s name to make conversation with military officers. He only occasionally chatted with a few poor scholars about poetry and books.
Chang Geng acted as if he had not noticed his gaze at all, his face remained unchanged. “General Zhao had sacrificed himself, there is no barrier left in the Eastern Sea. Westerners would immediately be able to make a direct push to Da Gu Harbor as soon as they turned north. It was too late to say anything now, Royal Brother please get rid of distracting thoughts and immediately come to a decision.”
Of course, Li Feng knew this, but his heart was a mess, he momentarily did not know what to say.
At this time, Imperial Uncle w.a.n.g, who had been turned ashen by rumors revolving around him in the common folks for these several days, watched the Emperor’s face and dared to say, “Your Majesty, there is only one big garrison that is the Northern Camp in the outskirts of the capital, surrounded by nothing but even plains. If we were to clash with them here, our troops will certainly be insufficient.”
“Moreover, the case of Tan Hong Fei’s rebellion is still inconclusive. There is almost no leader in the Northern Camp right now. If the entire Sea Dragons in Jiangnan were to be destroyed, what could the Northern Camp do? Who could protect the safety of the capital? The best course of action at this moment is to…how about we…ah..”
w.a.n.g Guo did not finish his sentence, for the eyes of the group of generals in the hall were nailed to him like Baihong arrows.
This old b.a.s.t.a.r.d had not even yet cleaned his own behind. A slight wind just rose up and he already dared to convince His Majesty to move the capital elsewhere, if it weren’t for this situation of enemies invading from outside and chaotic state of affairs on the inside, perhaps everyone would have cut him to pieces.
w.a.n.g Guo swallowed thickly and breathed out, bending his back, not daring to look up.
Li Feng’s expression was unfathomable. He was quiet for a moment then completely ignored w.a.n.g Guo and only said: “Let Tan Hong Fei return to his position, give him a chance to atone for his wrongdoings with merits… I called you all here for discussion, anyone who still talked bulls.h.i.t, then get out right now!”
In this urgency, even the crude language belonging on the street could come out of the Emperor’s mouth. The hall instantly fell into dead silence, red and white flashed on w.a.n.g Guo’s face.
Li Feng impatiently turned to the Ministry of War: “Subject Hu, you are in charge of military affairs, holding the Drumming Orders, what do you say?”
The Ministry of War was naturally born with a pale and green complexion combined with a long face. His name was ‘Hu Guang’, which sounded similar to ‘sweet melon’, thus some people would secretly call him Minister Melon in private.
As Minister Melon heard Li Feng’s words, his face twisted into a bitter melon. In name, the Drumming Order was issued by the Ministry of War, but how could the Ministry of War dare to send them out? He was only but a pen in the hands of the Emperor, would a pen dare to have an opinion?
Hu Guang wiped a cold sweat, talking with a lack of confidence: “Oh… Your Majesty is right, the capital is the foundation of our Great Liang. It is the place where the people’s hearts turn to. How could we let those foreigners barge in here? What kind of proper order would that be! Even if we only have a single p.a.w.n left, we have to fight to the end. If we were to retreat now, it would only dishearten the troops.”
Li Feng truly had no patience to listen to his nonsense repeating like a spinning wheel, he immediately intercepted him: “I asked you how to fight!”
Hu Guang: “…”
Everyone was glaring at w.a.n.g Guo, but the man was right. If the Jiangnan Navy commander had already died in battle, who could be in charge of the Eastern Sea? How were they suppose to mobilize troops?
In the event of the foreigners going north, how many rounds of cannons could the Northern Camp and the Imperial guards be able to block?
On a certain level, w.a.n.g Guo could also be considered as courageous, at least he had dared to speak of the truth that everyone else could not.
Hu Guang suddenly became a rotten bitter melon, cold sweat dripping similar to running juice.
Just then, Chang Geng suddenly spoke up.
The young Yan Bei w.a.n.g stepped forward: “Would Royal Brother be willing to listen to a few words of mine?”
Hu Guang cast a grateful glance over at him, Chang Geng gently smiled: “Royal Brother first cease your anger, water that had been spilled cannot be taken back, the dead cannot be resurrected. The predicament of the border on four sides has become an established fact, it is useless to argue and be angry. Rather than a commotion, it’s better for us to think about what else we could do to save this situation.”
Perhaps because he had followed a monk for a long time, his body did not linger the flame and smoke of the common world. Standing in front of the hall, his calmness soaked through the insides, even the fire of rage had unconsciously eased up with him.
Li Feng secretly let out a breath and waved his hand: “Go on.”
Chang Geng: “At the moment, the Central Plains has been caught in the fire, the soldiers have been moved, but the rations have not been prepared. It is inevitable to witness the scene of insufficient supplement, thus I ask of Royal Brother to please open the national treasury and send out all Ziliujin. This is the first matter.”
“Yes, you have reminded me,” Li Feng turned to the Ministry of Housing, “Immediately coordinate with the others…”
“Royal Brother,” Chang Geng interrupted him. “Your subject had said to send out everything – in this extraordinary period, the Drumming Order had already become a burden. The generals are still carrying shackles as such, does Royal Brother wish to tie them up to go on the battlefield?”
If someone else were to speak these words, it would have been extremely offensive, but there was no telling why, coming from the mouth of Yan Bei w.a.n.g, no one could feel angry.
Hu Guang who had just been left aside quickly followed suit: “Your subject agrees.”
Not waiting for Li Feng to open his mouth, the group from the Revenue faction had bubbled up, the Minister of Revenue raised his voice: “Your Majesty, we absolutely must not. At this time, the distribution of Ziliujin truly could solve the urgent need, but allow your subject to say a few unpleasant words. In case when this situation is prolonged, after solving it today, what will come of tomorrow? Are we going to use the portion of next year?”
The commander of the Imperial Army perhaps truly wanted to cut down the head of the Minister to wrench out the water in his brain, he instantly retorted: “The enemies have already pressed on at the door, but in all of you gentlemen’s heads are careful calculations for the meager daily expenses, this general truly had his eyes open.”
“Your Majesty, if we do not extinguish this fire, how could there be a ‘tomorrow’? In case when all four sides are trapped in a dead end, simply relying on the few small Ziliujin mines in the territory of our country, even if we turned over three feet of land, we will not be able to last for long!”
Hu Guang seemed to fear that he could not have an input. With his face red, he shouted at the top of his lungs: “Your subject agrees!”
Chang Geng had only said one thing, he hadn’t had the chance to speak of how to suppress the enemy, yet a chaotic argument had already broken out. He did not speak up and patiently stood still on the side, waiting for them to finish their battle of words.
Li Feng’s brains seemingly wanted to crack open. Suddenly, he came to a realization. These ‘pillars’ of the court could only ever care about the measly matters belonging in the one square of land they stood on. If they all were to be fired to the kitchen, perhaps they could argue out a table full of new dishes as vast as a nation.
“Enough!” Li Feng burst out.
The surrounding was silenced, Chang Geng continued his words in a timely manner: “Your subject had not finished yet, for the second matter – Your Majesty please be ready to retract back our forces.”
As soon as this statement came out, the ministers once again boiled up. Even the wrath of the Son of Heaven could not hold back the noisy commotion in the hall. Several older men seemed to be ready to smash their heads against the pillar.
Li Feng’s eyes twitched, the flame of anger rushed to his throat. He could barely hold back to not slash out on Chang Geng. He frowned, trying to suppress his anger and whispered a warning: “A Min, there are certain things you must think of carefully before you speak it out, the ancestors had pa.s.sed down this nation to my hands, not for me to cut the land to raise the tigers.”
Chang Geng remained unchanged: “Your subject would like to ask Royal Brother to please feel the pockets. Using all of our nation’s resources right now, how many territories will we be able to save? This is not ‘cut the land to raise the tigers’, but instead, a warrior cutting his hand. Not cutting when it should be cut, waiting until the poison had soaked deep, until after we have been utterly defeated by the Westerners, would we decide to cut it only then?”
His plain tone of voice resembling the reciting of the a.n.a.lects of Confucius was like a bucket of cold water, pouring onto Li Feng’s head without mercy.
Chang Geng did not look up to see the Emperor’s expression, he continued on: “Thirdly, Master w.a.n.g has said it well, right now the northwest still had the Black Iron Camp, even if they have suffered heavy loss, they could still hold on. The one of utmost importance right now is the Eastern Sea, once the foreigners go north, the Northern Camp’s fighting power is quite concerning. Reinforcements near and far have all been pinned down and may not be able to arrive in time, what would Your Majesty plan to do?”
In the blink of an eye, Li Feng had been forced to age ten years by his words, after a long moment of feeling dejected, he finally said: “Heed my decree… Go invite Uncle here.”
As Chang Geng heard this order, he did not even blink. There was no joy or anger, as if this was what should be done, all according to reason and logic.
Zhu Little Feet did not dare to even breathe out, just as he was about to take his leave, Chang Geng suddenly reminded: “Your Majesty, escorting someone from the Imperial prison with only Eunuch Zhu would quite appear like a joke.”
He had instinctively distrusted any of the servants around Li Feng, including this man who has been secretly helping Gu Yun.
Li Feng said powerlessly: “What time is it already, still paying attention to such trivial details. Subject Jiang, you can go in my stead.”
Zhu Little Feet strode after Jiang Chong with small steps, he could not help but glance at Chang Geng far away.
He was an elderly inside this palace. In Great Liang’s court, every high ranking member of n.o.bility and royalty, there was not a single person whom he isn’t familiar with, Yan Bei w.a.n.g being the only exception.
He was carefully protected inside the Marquis’s manor since childhood. After growing up, he did not ‘work properly’ but instead mostly traveled everywhere and seldom ever shown himself. Aside from mixing in the crowd to listen to politics on the court, he almost never entered the palace alone and only went together with Gu Yun on the New Year occasion to pay regard. No one knew any information about him.
Not knowing anything means he himself was a variable.
Jiang Chong and Zhu Little Feet were fast on their steed, heading straight for the imperial prison. When nearing the destination, Zhu Little Feet suddenly remembered and said in a small voice, “No, Master Jiang, the Marquis will be entering the palace to meet the Emperor, it would be inappropriate while still wearing prison clothes. How about I send someone to check the first-grade formal attire made this year and fetch one right away?’
Jiang Chong was currently full of grief and indignation by the collapse of his home country, his soul was pulled back by the voice of the old eunuch, he did not know whether to laugh or cry: “When is it already? You still remember the little details, I…”
Before he had finished speaking, he could see a man charging towards them on a horse, arriving in the blink of an eye. He dismounted and paid his regard – it was Huo Dan, the commander of the Marquis’s manor house guards.
Huo Dan put his hands together: “Master Jiang, Eunuch Zhu, I am a servant from the Marquis’s manor, I was sent by the order of our Royal Highness to give this to the Marquis.”
With that, he brought up a formal attire with a suit of armor with both hands.
Jiang Chong was startled – he could tell that Yan Bei w.a.n.g was a meticulous person at first sight, but being careful to this extent?
Who was the Prince being on guard against?
Gu Yun was bored to death in the dungeon, swinging the fat mouse with its tail. Noticing the unusual flow of wind behind him, he looked back in some surprise and could vaguely see three figures coming in from the outside. The person leading walked as swiftly as the wind and seemed to be still wearing a formal attire.
Then, the door of the prison was unlocked wide open, and a special palace fragrance penetrated Gu Yun’s nose, dyed with the special sandalwood fragrance on Li Feng’s body.
Gu Yun narrowed his eyes and recognized that the tall man was Zhu Little Feet.
If he was to be questioned, there was absolutely no reason to send Zhu Little Feet directly. The type of people like Li Feng would absolutely not slap himself in the face as such either – arrested then released, released then arrested – thus this could only mean one thing…
The smile on Gu Yun’s face disappeared, he thought to himself: “What has happened?”
Jiang Chong said something quickly, Gu Yun wasn’t able to hear it at all. He could only catch a few words; ‘Enemy attack…Zhao… ‘. Not understanding anything, he had no choice but to blindly pretend to be steady while a mountain collapsed. Remaining unchanged, he nodded.
Jiang Chong was affected by his immovable calmness, for a moment, he could also feel very stable. His anxiety that was sometimes hot sometimes cold all fell into his abdomen, his tears almost fell down. “It is indeed a blessing for all the people that there are pillars like the Marquis in Great Liang.”
Gu Yun was puzzled, thinking to himself: “My mother, what is he saying again?”
On the surface, he only patted Master Jiang on the shoulder and said, “Lead the way.”
Fortunately, Huo Dan took a step forward and handed him the formal attire, then took down the wine bottle from his waist: “His Highness asked me to bring this for the Marquis to disperse the cold.”
Gu Yun opened the lid and could instantly tell from the scent that it was medicine. He was immediately relieved as if he had just been given amnesty and drank it all at once.
Huo Dan helped him change his clothes. For better or worse, this was much neater and tidy. The blinded Marquis had no choice but to go with the group to the palace. For the first time, he greatly looked forward to the quick effect of the medicine.
It was not until they reached the bottom of the palace wall that Gu Yun’s ears felt as if they were being p.r.i.c.ked by needles and slowly recovered.
He made a silent gesture to Huo Dan. Huo Dan instantly understood. He came close to his ear and repeated Jiang Chong’s exact words from the dungeon.
Gu Yun hadn’t listened to everything, yet his head that was aching enough to break had already snapped like a tightened bowstring. In front of his eyes were thousands of stars, his footsteps staggered in the state of panic. Huo Dan quickly held his arm: “Marshal!”
Jiang Chong was frightened. He did not know what happened to the Marquis of Order who just now was still as calm as ever, seeing that Gu Yun’s complexion was as unsightly as a dead man’s, he asked nervously, “Marquis sir, what’s wrong?”
‘The Black Iron Camp was damaged more than half.’, ‘Consecutive major gates of the Northern Frontier were defeated.’, ‘General Zhao had sacrificed for the country.’ and ‘Southwest supply storage was bombed heavily.’…these few sentences turned into a cl.u.s.ter of deadly blades and spiraled into all of Gu Yun’s limbs and body, his chest throbbed in pain, a mouthful of sour fluid rushed up his throat.
Blue veins were visible on his temple, cold sweat dripped down, although Jiang Chong knew that even in prison, no one would dare to torture the Marquis, he was still frightened: “What’s the matter? Do you need me to call for a carriage for you? Where is the doctor?”
Gu Yun’s body shook slightly.
Jiang Chong: “Right now the safety of all Great Liang lies on the Marquis’s shoulder, you must be strong!”
This sentence struck by Gu Yun’s ear as if they were thunder. His soul that was scattered to pieces all over the country was gathered together again inside his spine, he closed his eyes and forced himself to swallow down a mouthful of blood.
After a pause, under the intense gaze filled with fear and trepidation of Jiang Chong, he laughed hoa.r.s.ely as if nothing had happened. “I haven’t seen the sun for a few days, my head hurt a bit – It’s nothing, just an old problem.”
With that, Gu Yun lowered his head and slightly adjusted his Light Armor. He pulled his arm out of Huo Dan’s hand, threw the grey-haired mouse that had been nestled in his hand, and instructed him, “This is my brother mouse. Find him something to eat. Don’t let him starve to death.”
Huo Dan: “…”
As Gu Yun finished, he turned and walked into the palace.
At this time, in Jin Luan Hall, Chang Geng’s few words had led to a chaotic battle of words up until Zhu Little Feet raised his voice to announce: “The Marquis had entered the palace to greet the Emperor” that everyone instantly quieted down. For a moment, the main hall was engulfed in dead silence.
Gu Yun caught Chang Geng’s eyes as soon as he raised his head. The instant their gazes met, he could already see in Chang Geng’s eyes the raging storm that a thousand words could not describe even one of them.
As if there was n.o.body else surrounding him, Gu Yun then stepped forward to pay regard, appearing as casual as if he did not arrive from the prison but had just taken a day nap from his home.
Li Feng immediately announced the court to dismiss and drove out the loud-mouthed and the quarreling good-for-nothing bunch, keeping only Gu Yun, Chang Geng and a group of generals to discuss the adjustment for the capital’s defense throughout the night.
Master Feng Han who was reflecting on his actions behind closed door could not afford to not show himself. Ling Shu Inst.i.tute was ablaze with lights, working overtime to maintain the war equipment they had left in the capital.
All day and all night, until another fourth period of the night watch* had pa.s.sed, the horizon was cast in white, only then did Li Feng who had deep black circles under his eyes let them go back.
*From 1:00AM to 3:00AM
Before leaving, Li Feng called Gu Yun alone.
In the hall, all servants on the left and the right were dismissed. Only one ruler and one subject faced each other. Li Feng was silent for a long time, until the palace lamp sensed the sunshine and automatically distinguished it with a click, Li Feng came back to his senses, looking at Gu Yun with a complicated expression, he vaguely said: “…Uncle have had to endure injustice.”
Gu Yun already had a head full of empty courteous words, even without thinking, they could be blurted out with practiced ease.
Such lies as ‘Thunderstorm or rain, are all grace from the Ruler’ and ‘To be able to sacrifice for the country, there would be no grievances’ have lined up in a row, closely linked together under his flexible mouth.
Suddenly, however, his tongue seemed to had stiffened. No matter how much he tried, no words could come out. He could only lift his lips in a smile towards Emperor Long An.
It was indescribably rigid and somewhat unnatural.
For a long while, the two truly had nothing to say. Li Feng sighed and waved his hand.
Gu Yun lowered his eyes and turned to leave.