Pingyang Fu of the Red Chamber

Chapter 1160 The Capital City Reacts Quickly
The bugle call to assemble the troops resounded throughout the capital.

The atmosphere in the capital, which had been somewhat peaceful, immediately became tense.

Spies from various factions converged on the West Market. When they saw that it was Marquis Luo Yun's troops leaving the capital in a triumphant manner and slowly heading towards the West Gate, the eyes of the entire capital turned to them.

Zhao Wu, accompanied by a group of personal guards, followed behind. When they arrived at the West Market, he reined in his horses, clasped his hands in greeting, and said.

"My lord, take care on your journey. I'm returning now. Is there anything else you'd like to convey?"

Even a strong and robust man showed a hint of reluctance on his face. It is said that a scholar will die for one who understands him, and he felt uneasy not being by the side of the Marquis.

"Go back and tell Madam that once the war outside the pass is over, I will return to the capital. Everything in the manor will be under her control. Don't overthink it."

Sitting on his horse, Zhang Jinyu looked back. Though he had a thousand words to say, it was time to say goodbye. He waved and said no more. He followed the army into the West Market and then ordered that the soldiers could buy any food along the street. In this way, they rushed towards the dock.

After arriving at the dock,

The garrison commander Lü Guangju, who had been waiting for a long time, knelt before the Marquis's army upon seeing them arrive.
"This humble general, Lü Guangju, the garrison commander, pays his respects to Your Excellency."

"Get up and talk."

Zhang Jinyu gestured for him to rise, noticing that General Lü's spirits had changed; it seemed the deficit at the Imperial Guard headquarters had been covered.
"My lord, we have four warships, twenty-five merchant ships, twenty guard warships, and thirty-five cargo ships, plus one warship belonging to the Marquis's residence, making a total of eighty-five large ships, which can transport more than ten thousand troops. Well, that's more than enough."

After getting up, Lü Guangju began to report on the situation at the dock. He had received the order from the Marquis's mansion earlier and immediately led his troops to seize all the available ships at the dock. Fortunately, the western dock of the capital was bustling with many ships coming and going. In other places, it would have been impossible to gather enough ships in such a short time.

"Very well, thank you very much, General Lü. Time waits for no one. This time we will be traveling north by water, and we will need your continued protection."

Zhang Jinyu solemnly clasped his hands in a fist salute, then looked at the army behind him and immediately shouted,
"Everyone board the ship, quickly."

Almost instantly, the entire dock was cleared out, and a large group of soldiers began to board the ships one after another. Even the warhorses were led onto the cargo ships, and many soldiers were left on board to take care of them. Several hours later, everything was finally settled.

When Zhang Jinyu boarded his own ship, Lü Guangju immediately signaled with flags, and the entire fleet at the dock began to set sail and enter the depths of Anhu Lake.

As the first warship carrying hundreds of cavalrymen untied its moorings and slowly sailed away from the dock amidst the deep and powerful sound of horns, its huge sails, like a giant signal flag, crashed down onto the calm waters of the capital.

In an instant, countless eyes hidden in the shadows lit up throughout the capital city, and invisible intelligence, like a dense spider web, shot from the West City Wharf to every corner of this giant city.

Marquis Luo Yun's decisive departure has prompted many forces to eagerly seek the reason.

"Report, Your Highness, Marquis Luoyun went to the West City Wharf. With the assistance of the Imperial Guards, he gathered a large number of ships and has now departed by boat. The Imperial Guard general personally led his troops to escort him. When I returned, Marquis Luoyun's men were no longer at the wharf."

Inside a partitioned room on the second floor of the Youlai Inn, several spies sent out by princes had hurriedly returned, heads bowed, reporting their findings with considerable surprise.

The group, who were already half full, put down their bowls and chopsticks, and Zhou Zhengbai immediately asked;
Are you sure Marquis Luo Yun has already left?

"Yes, my lord. I saw with my own eyes that Marquis Luoyun's ten thousand soldiers, along with their horses, boarded the ships. I only returned to report after the fleet had left."

The scout lowered his head and clasped his hands in a respectful gesture.

Zhou Xingshan's eyes lit up, and he took out a silver ingot from his pocket and tossed it over.
"Good, well done, you deserve a reward, but you can't let your guard down. Go back to the dock immediately and wait. If there's still no movement from the east by tomorrow, then withdraw. If there is any movement, investigate and report back."

"Yes,"

The scout clasped his hands in acceptance of the order, took the silver, and quickly retreated away. Only Prince Zhou Lianghao of Wu asked in confusion.

"Brother, why should we send him back? Marquis Luoyun has already left. Shouldn't we send the message back?"

The most important thing now is to send the information back and keep an eye on the changes in the city.

But Zhou Xingshan, the heir apparent of the King of Han, shook his head.

"Oh dear, why are you in such a hurry? Everyone says that Marquis Luoyun is a brilliant strategist. What if he uses a trick, and the fleet goes to Anhu Lake, goes around for a while, and then comes back? We must be careful."

"No way."

Zhou Lianghao murmured to himself, "It's obvious to everyone that Marquis Luo Yun doesn't seem to be coming back. Others may not know what's going on outside the Northern Pass, but they know it all too well. If Marquis Luo Yun doesn't return, and his foundation is lost, then it will be troublesome."

The others thought about it and agreed. Zhou Xingshan chuckled dryly.
"You never go too far wrong."

He covered it up with a single sentence, and seeing that the dishes on the table had gone cold, he ordered another set of dishes to be served.

But ultimately, it's a matter that happens in the capital, and it can't be kept secret.

The Li residence on the east bank of Qinghu Lake.

In the quiet study, the walls were filled with rare and ancient books. Wisps of smoke rose from the Boshan incense burner, exuding a calming woody fragrance. On one side of the desk, the white-haired and bearded Grand Secretary Li was playing chess with an advisor. The white jade-like chess pieces landed on the rosewood chessboard with a crisp sound.

at this time,
The steward of the manor hurried in and reported in a low voice with his hands at his sides.
"Master, a servant reports that reliable news has arrived from the docks outside the west city: Marquis Luo Yun's troops have all boarded the ships, the main force has set sail, and the fleet has left the capital and is heading north by water, escorted by the Grand Canal Guards."

Chief Minister Li was engrossed in playing chess when he heard this. His hand paused slightly as he placed a black piece in the corner, but he didn't say a word. Instead, he stared at the black and white pieces on the chessboard, as if the chaotic situation was a microcosm of the court. Some people play chess, and some people make pieces. Perhaps, Marquis Luoyun, the chess player, had also made a move.

Seeing this, Li Chaosheng wisely stopped what he was doing and waited for his father to speak.

"He left after all... He left so decisively. There are few in the world who can act as quickly as Marquis Luoyun."

"Yes, sir. According to the scouts, after Marquis Luoyun entered the palace, he did not return to his residence. Instead, he left the palace alone, leading a large army directly to the dock to board a ship. The whole process took less than three hours. I calculated that if he traveled by water day and night, he could reach the border in less than seven days."

The old butler waited there, carefully choosing his words.
"Hmph, seven days is too long. At the speed of Marquis Luo Yun's troops, he can reach Yunyang County in three days, and then return to the border in five days at most. Seven days is enough time for him to return to Pingyang County and lead his troops into battle."

Li's voice was deep, carrying a calm that came from having seen the vicissitudes of life, yet it also carried a heavy weight. There were very few people in the entire Guanzhong Plain who could do this.
"Furthermore, Wei Zhanying's document requesting the troops to return to camp ultimately falls under the purview of the Ministry of War. Without the official seal and imperial approval, it's not something Prince Teng could possibly do..."

At this point, recalling Wang Ziteng's predicament, a barely perceptible smile flickered across the corner of Prime Minister Li's lips, whether it was approval or mockery was unclear.

"Fortunately, the palace sent a letter in the end, ordering him to return to camp. Prince Teng was a sensible man; he hadn't made a move before, but he left after receiving the imperial order. However, with Marquis Luoyun's departure, the string of the Beijing Garrison, which had been so taut, has finally been loosened."

What does a loosened bow signify? It signifies that the various forces previously suppressed by this bow now have room to maneuver and even contend.

Premier Li slowly rose, strolled to the window, and gazed at the lush greenery and vibrant life in the courtyard.

"There's something I don't understand. The Jurchens just suffered a great defeat, so why are they suddenly advancing westward? Marquis Luoyun doesn't seem like a spineless coward either. Sending a defeated army to fight Marquis Luoyun's elite forces might not end well."

Before he could finish speaking, he turned to look at his son, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.
"It's because of Marquis Luoyun's suppression of the battle in Jingnan that the old trees in the capital, with their deep roots and lush foliage, are now free from the sword hanging over their heads. I'm afraid they'll start to stir. Those self-serving princes, military governors, and those nobles of the Four Kings and Eight Dukes will surely be eager to make their move."

"Father, are you saying that because Marquis Luoyun was in the capital, there were fewer problems in the Guanzhong region, and that once Marquis Luoyun leaves, the Guanzhong region will continue to experience turmoil?"

Li Chaosheng was somewhat puzzled. The imperial court had won the battle to suppress the rioters in Jingnan and its prestige had soared. Although Marquis Luoyun was the commander, it was the imperial court that had provided the manpower and effort. How could it be so complicated because of one person, especially with the constraints of Prince Bei Jing, Shui Rong, and Prince Dong Ping, Mu Shi?

“You know, if Marquis Luoyun were alone, he wouldn’t be so scary, but he is a feudal lord with hundreds of thousands of troops behind him. If he goes back this time, the northern border will be in flames. In that case, the northern border troops will be tied down. The interior may seem peaceful, but in reality, it’s sitting on a volcano. Or rather, we must eradicate evil completely. Marquis Luoyun has let the cult escape, and that is the biggest hidden danger.”

His voice deepened, his mind replaying the petitions from several princes at the banquet, their desire to form an army to eradicate the cult—a request likely with ulterior motives. Looking at the chess pieces on the board, he saw no longer a struggle between black and white, but a far larger and more dangerous game of chess after Marquis Luoyun's departure, where the entire capital now held sway over the world. Alas, he was too old.

"Chaosheng, keep a close eye on the people in the court, as well as the memorials and intelligence from various places within the pass, especially the movements of those princes. I suspect that the cult may make a comeback."

"What, Father? No way! Even if they want to make a comeback, the area south of the capital is already deserted for thousands of miles. How can they resupply?"

Li Chaosheng's expression changed drastically, but when he thought about the current situation in Jingnan, he couldn't believe it. The three counties in Lingnan had little arable land and scarce resources, so how could they support so many soldiers?

"Yes, we can't raise them ourselves, so we'll have to rob them. There's no shortage of people in the south. If they take over the three counties of Changyun first, replenish their supplies, and then head north, that might be a good option."

His cloudy eyes held a bitter smile, or rather, several vassal kings had colluded with the enemy, so they lacked nothing.

"My father meant that those princes would harbor bandits to enhance their own power."

The father dared not speak openly, but Li Chaosheng did. Now, looking back, those princes had planned this all along. How should the court respond?

"Yes, they want to collude with the enemy, so the court can only turn a blind eye. On the other hand, sometimes even a well-wielded sword can be used to its own advantage when one is not careful. The court can only try to hold the Linghe line, while they may be too clever for their own good."

As soon as those sinister words were spoken, everyone in the study shuddered. What credibility did the cultists have? They might actually be heading west to the grain-rich lands of Jingnan.

As the spies from the Li family mansion scattered in all directions.

The same applies to the other noble and aristocratic families.

Even inside the Prince of Bei Jing's mansion,
The chief secretary of the Prince's mansion, who had received the news long ago, had been standing respectfully in the study for a long time. At this moment, the study was filled with the aroma of meat. Shui Rong, dressed in a sky-blue silk robe, leaned against the Xiangfei couch covered with a white tiger skin, playing with a warm and smooth mutton fat jade pendant in her hand, her expression as lazy and indifferent as ever.

Inside the room, there was a stove with a pot of meat stewing on it, along with a pot of sake on the table, as if it were waiting for someone.

"You mean Marquis Luoyun has left and returned to the border region?"

"Reporting to Your Highness, after Marquis Luoyun gathered his troops, he went straight to the dock, escorted by the guards, and headed north by water. I heard that after Marquis Luoyun left the palace, he did not return to his residence to give any explanation and left in a hurry."

The scouts followed them all the way to the dock outside the west city, so they couldn't have made a mistake.

"Heh... interesting. The Jurchens from beyond the Great Wall have arrived at just the right time."

Shui Rong chuckled softly, leisurely stood up, and stretched her limbs.
"Your Highness, after Marquis Luoyun left the capital, the Imperial Guards in the capital also raised an army and returned to the Anhu camp. It seems that the order came from the palace and has nothing to do with the Ministry of War..."

The chief secretary's eyes flickered. A message came from the shadow guard that Prince Teng had received a transfer order from the Ministry of War, but he remained unmoved until an eunuch from the Hall of Mental Cultivation came to deliver the decree, at which point Prince Teng finally mobilized his troops.

"Hmph, Wang Ziteng is just showing his loyalty."

Shui Rong squinted slightly, looking at the stove inside the room where the stewed meat was already flavorful.

“The troop mobilization documents issued by the Ministry of War are not necessarily obeyed even by the military authorities unless they have the imperial edict’s seal. Wei Zhanying’s move at this time is obviously a bit strange. I wonder whose idea it is on the civil officials’ side.”

He turned around and sat down, put down the jade pendant, poured himself a bowl of tea, and took a sip.
"Tell your subordinates to keep their hands to themselves and not cause trouble in this sensitive time."

Shui Rong's tone turned cold; it was precisely at times like these that she had to hold back.

"However, we can let the news through, but we must do it naturally. Now that Marquis Luoyun has left, we need to make some moves in Xihe County. Although we can't take that much, we can use Shizhou and Yangping, and even the important town of Runan."

The schemes of the Prince of Beijing's mansion are like spices in a dark room—intense yet elusive, their purpose seemingly unseen and impossible to fathom.

"Your Highness means to talk to the Eastern Prince's Mansion, but the soldiers of the Eastern Prince's Mansion's Jiangnan Camp are stationed in Runan City, and the people have long since fled here. How can we use them?"

The chief clerk was somewhat puzzled. In Xihe Commandery, only Jinzhou was still intact. Even if the people went back, they mostly stayed in Yangping and Shizhou. Although Runan City was large, the people did not go there. How could it be restored?

“We’ve taken in so many servants, and Runan City has a lot of farmland. Let them occupy it to farm, and that will provide enough grain. Who says we have to take grain from Xihe County?”

Prince Bei Jing, Shui Rong, and Elder Leng discussed for many days that since all the land in Xihe County had owners, they should look for unclaimed land. There were so many refugees, why not use them?

"Yes, Your Highness, I understand. Since we can go to Runan to farm, what about Huaizhou, Linzhou, and other places? There's plenty of land south of the capital."

The more the Chief Secretary spoke, the brighter his eyes became. If the Prince were in control of the southern part of the capital, then...

"Ahem, what are you thinking? We'll only farm in Runan City and won't go anywhere else. Jingnan looks deserted, and too many people are watching it. If the cult makes a comeback, everything will be over. After all, Marquis Luoyun is gone."

Shui Rong sighed. This decision was made out of desperation. If he could have taken advantage of the various sects in Xihe County, he wouldn't have thought of these methods. Now that Marquis Luoyun is gone, the court can be bogged down by the affairs in the north, and he can finally take action.

"Yes, Your Highness. I will handle this matter personally. I will take my leave now."

As the chief steward left, Shui Rong smiled calmly, picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of stewed meat, and put it in his mouth. It was delicious and fragrant.

One in motion, one still.

The Northern Prince's Mansion coveted the Eastern Prince's Mansion, and the Eastern Prince's Mansion also coveted the Northern Prince's Mansion.

Prince Mu Shi of Dongping, holding fish bait in his hand, sat in the pavilion beside the pond, raising his hand to feed the fish. Perhaps he had been waiting for a long time before he finally spoke.

"Now that everyone has left, many people will be on their way. Has the Northern Prince's Mansion sent any message?"

As he poured the last fish from his hand, the golden scales in the pond instantly splashed up, rippling across the water.

"Your Highness, the chief secretary of the Northern Prince's residence came and said that he wants to cultivate the farmland in Runan City. If the harvest is successful, the grain will be split equally with the Eastern Prince's residence. He also said that we should pay attention to the movements in Jingnan."

Li Dong, the commander of the Imperial Guard, was already standing solemnly beside him, waiting for the prince to ask questions.

But the prince clapped his hands indifferently, picked up the tea from the stone table in the pavilion, took a sip, and smiled.
"This is truly a stroke of good fortune. It seems that Shui Rong has no intention of making any major moves against Xihe County. That's strange. Since he wants it, then let him have it."

"Yes, Your Highness. There is one more thing. General Jiao from Suzhou wrote that the Suzhou Weaving Bureau has been rebuilt and that the richest man, Shen Wanhe, has begun to purchase raw silk on a large scale. General Jiao asked whether the weaving bureau will be needed to weave this year's brocade."

Historically, the Eastern Prince's Mansion had always occupied the manufacturing bureau for a period of time, and the brocade woven from it was of superior quality.
"Reply immediately. Under no circumstances should we touch those things in Jiangnan again. If Shen Wanhe wants raw silk, sell it all to him. You should know that the court's eyes are on Jiangnan right now, and the Ministry of Revenue's silver is almost gone."

Exposing the power of the Eastern Prince's Mansion for such petty gains would be a losing proposition.

"Yes, Your Highness, I obey your command."

Li Dong was about to get up when the Prince of Dongping stopped him and gave him instructions.

"I have sent people to keep an eye on various places south of the capital. I think the cult is probably not content with being left alone."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

(End of this chapter)