Jiapingguan Chronicle

Chapter 2835 Master Qingsong 53.0
Hearing Song Yaojia's words, Shen Cha was stunned. She looked at Shen Haolin with a puzzled expression and asked, "Reinstate his old subordinates? She Nanqi has already resigned from his post and taken over military power. Where are his old subordinates? His old subordinates..." She frowned slightly, "should all be registered and reassigned by the Ministry of War. How can they still have their own old subordinates? This doesn't make sense."

“What the eldest brother said is right. It’s not just not quite right, it’s completely wrong.” Merlin thought similarly to Shen Cha. She looked at Song Yaojia and said, “When She Nanqi was questioned, it should have been in the early years of Emperor Taizong’s reign. Even if there were still some old subordinates at that time, it’s outrageous that they were still there when the late emperor was in power. What exactly was the She family thinking?”

"What do you think?"

"If you ask me, it's definitely not a good intention, right?"

"Don't jump to conclusions so hastily. Maybe it wasn't that She Nanqi had any improper thoughts, but rather that he had discussed it with Emperor Taizong back then, and that Emperor Taizong had given his permission?"

Is that still possible?

After hearing Song Yaojia's words, Merlin was stunned for a moment, then looked at Shen Cha, wanting to hear what she had to say.

“It’s not impossible, but it’s not very common, it’s extremely rare.” Shen Cha smiled bitterly, looked at Shen Haolin, and then at Song Yaojia. “Besides, these are secrets that are deleted after being read, so even we might not know about them.”

“That’s right!” Song Yaojia snapped her fingers lightly and said with a smile, “Back then, Emperor Taizong asked His Highness the Eagle King, not his uncle, but his uncle’s father. That’s why I know a little bit of the story behind this.”

"But...Emperor Taizong didn't like She Nanqi, right?"

“Yes, there’s nothing we can do about it. The two of them basically can’t see eye to eye.” Song Yaojia smiled helplessly and said, “Emperor Taizong really didn’t like She Nanqi and he also disliked what She Nanqi did during the suppression of the rebellion. Although he knew that it was out of necessity and that no matter who was in that situation, the choice they made might not have been better than She Nanqi’s, Emperor Taizong still hated him.”

“It’s not that I dislike him, it’s just that I don’t like the look of him, right?” Shen Cha raised an eyebrow. “If I really disliked him, I wouldn’t even want to look at him, let alone allow him to keep his old subordinates.”

“They probably don’t like each other. They grew up together and have old grudges.” Seeing Jin Miaomiao looking at her curiously, Song Yaojia waved her hand and said, “Don’t ask, I don’t know.”

“Okay.” Jin Miaomiao looked disappointed. “Although I don’t like the look of them, we still share certain ideas.”

“Yes, they all think the remnants of the previous dynasty won’t give up so easily. They were able to attack Liuzhou this time, who knows where they’ll attack next. They’re like rats in the gutter, coming out to annoy us every now and then.” Song Yaojia smiled helplessly. “They all agree with His Highness the Eagle King’s idea that She Nanqi should take his old troops on a trip. As for what they’re going on, nobody knows. However, even without His Highness the Eagle King’s suggestion, Emperor Taizong wouldn’t have let She Nanqi retire so easily. You all know his principles for employing people, right?”

"I know." Shen Cha's expression was also very helpless. "Make the most of everything. Before you're eighty, you absolutely cannot retire."

“That’s right.” Song Yaojia snapped his fingers lightly and smiled. “So, although he was stripped of his military power, his seal was confiscated. His trusted deputy generals and his most trusted personal guards all followed She Nanqi.”

“His tiger tally probably can’t mobilize troops, right?” Shen Cha looked at Shen Haolin, then at Shen Cha, and said, “It’s just a symbol, isn’t it?” “It has to be submitted to the emperor first, and only with his approval can it be used, just like with Yangzhou Prefecture this time.”

"It's like an imperial sword; if any problems arise, it's used." Shen Cha sighed. "However, sending She Nanqi away with his deputy general—is it to have him train military talent?"

“At least when it comes to the critical moment, we can withstand the pressure and defend the city without waiting for She Nanqi himself to come.” Song Yaojia sighed. “The reason why Liuzhou Prefecture was attacked like that was because it lacked a leader.” He spread his hands. “If Liuzhou Prefecture had someone like She Nanqi who could make the decisions back then, perhaps the fighting wouldn’t have been so difficult.”

“That’s true.” Shen Cha stroked her chin. “But didn’t we say before that the whereabouts of the She family have always been a mystery, and no one knows anything about them?”

"They are indeed unpredictable, but according to the agreement, they are to send secret letters to the palace every ten days via express courier. As for what is said in them, they are all burned after reading, so no one knows."

"It's been going on all these years without stopping?"

“Yes!” Song Yaojia nodded. “Actually, no one really cares where they are. They just know they’re still here.”

"I never expected them to open a security escort agency." Shen Cha couldn't help but shake her head. "Now I understand why they chose to open a security escort agency."

"Why?" Jin Miaomiao looked at Shen Cha curiously. "What's the explanation for this?"

“She Nanqi was ordered to train military talents, but we can’t just talk about it on paper. Real combat is the most important thing. All military books and strategies must be put into practice to become our own. But…” Shen Cha spread his hands and said helplessly, “During the reign of Emperor Taizong, there were still some battles to fight, but after Emperor Gaozong, apart from the four border passes, there were very few wars in Great Xia. Even bandits didn’t need soldiers like the She family. It can be said that it was peaceful.”

"You mean they have nowhere to practice?"

“Yes, that’s why the Imperial Guards and the Patrol Battalions send people to the four major border posts for a year every now and then. Otherwise, pure training is meaningless. Soldiers always need to experience the baptism of the battlefield to truly grow. But,” Shen Cha sighed, “the border posts won’t help the She family train their troops. The She family also understands that although they are powerful, they are not enough in the major border posts. So, I guess after thinking for a long time, they can only rely on escorting goods to gain practical experience.”

"That's true," Jin Miaomiao sighed. "It's a choice made out of necessity."

"It's not a choice made out of desperation, but a very appropriate and suitable one." Shen Cha smiled at Jin Miaomiao and said, "They've seen all kinds of terrain, climates, and people. If any unexpected events occur, they'll have appropriate ways to deal with them." She looked at Song Yaojia, "Taking over Yangzhou Prefecture means sealing the city gates and checking people coming and going?"

“Yes!” Song Yaojia nodded. “The one who delivered the secret order from the late Empress Dowager was Uncle Shang. I heard he wanted to hold someone accountable, but when he saw that Cousin She was seriously injured and lying in bed, yet still insisting on issuing orders, he lost interest.”

(End of this chapter)