Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 813 Giving Gifts
Duke Wei nodded in satisfaction as he looked at the letters delivered by the generals.

The money spent over the years has not been wasted; all the manpower cultivated has been put to good use.

The emperor and empress dowager, who spend their days confined to the palace, may be able to guess some of the Chiang family's intentions, but they have absolutely no idea how many years of effort the Chiang family has put into this, or when they began this game.

When the Taizu Emperor ascended the throne and the Chiang family was forced to relinquish military power, the entire clan lived in constant fear, dreading that a single decree would condemn them all to death. From that moment on, the Chiang family ancestors understood that loyalty to the emperor and the country was utter nonsense; it was far better to ensure the prosperity of the clan.

They openly refused to compete for anything, instead focusing all their money and energy on the sea, gradually growing stronger without anyone noticing.

According to their calculations, these secrets should not be known to others now. However, after Wang Yan returned to the capital from Daming Prefecture, he followed the clues and actually found out about Xia Mengxian. The Xie family even led the merchants to arrest the third manager.

Duke Wei narrowed his eyes. The Xie family was clearly targeting Xie Yizhi, but they inadvertently set their sights on their business at sea. It was as if they had done it on purpose.

“It’s still a bit early,” said Duke Wei. “Give us some more time, and we can have those people under our control.”

At that time, not only an emperor, but the fate of the entire Great Liang Dynasty will depend on their will.

Perhaps they will want a new dynasty and install a new puppet ruler. After all, when two countries are at war, the interests are greatest, and they gain the most.

Turning to the last page of the letter, the Duke of Wei's gaze darkened: "Has the Zeng family not replied yet?"

The steward whispered, "No, but... Zeng Yue has returned with the accounts. Marquis Changyuan can no longer remain uninvolved."

“That old scoundrel,” said the Duke of Wei, “is always the most cunning. He may seem to be on our side, but he will always stay far away from any dangerous situation.”

The manager said, "Even with such caution, we still managed to get hold of something against you."

Duke Wei said, "Which of the powerful and noble families is clean? With so many people under their command, how do they support themselves? If we want to find them, we can naturally do so." The emperor has the power to control his ministers, so what difference does it make if they hold dirt on these people?
As the two were talking, the confidant brought another message through the door.

The steward picked up the letter and handed it to the Duke of Wei. Upon reading its contents, a smile immediately appeared on the Duke's face.

“Good,” said Duke Wei, “the old scoundrel has finally agreed to send troops.”

The steward was still somewhat worried: "Should we send one of his generals?"

Duke Wei said, "At this point, he knows he can no longer play tricks on me... His eldest son led troops to the northwest, but only with five hundred men."

At this point, the Duke of Wei paused, then praised, "The old man isn't stupid; he guessed what I would do next."

The massacre of the He family army might not even require the Zeng family's troops, but everyone must eat from the same pot so that they can feel at ease with each other. The troops left behind are for Bianjing.

Because the battle of Bianjing is the most important.

Dealing with He Tan was just an excuse to allow everyone to openly allocate troops and supplies. No one could just close their eyes and let thousands of troops suddenly appear under the walls of Bianjing.

Only by mobilizing all troops can the objective be changed at any time and place, and the emperor's inner circle be purged directly in the capital.

……

Zeng Jiqing led his troops to the northwest overnight. Marquis Changyuan instructed his retainers: "The rest of the troops must also start training from now on. In these days, intensify the inventory of military supplies. When the army sets off, if the weapons in the armory are unusable, I will definitely kill you all."

"Here."

As the servants departed, Marquis Changyuan entered the mansion to continue arranging follow-up matters.

Zeng's army hadn't left their base for a long time, but fortunately, they never stopped training and were always ready to unleash their weapons.

"Where is the lady?" Marquis Changyuan asked.

The steward whispered, "Madam suffered a heart attack yesterday and has been resting in the main house."

This old woman probably never imagined her life could turn upside down. She'd been living such a comfortable life that she'd almost forgotten they came from a family of military generals.

"Has a doctor been called to examine you?"

The steward said, "Yes, please. Another female physician is coming today." Marquis Changyuan paused, frowning as he looked at the steward: "A female physician?"

The steward nodded and said, "That female doctor somehow found out about the lady's illness and came to us on her own initiative, insisting that she could cure the lady's ailment."

Marquis Changyuan's expression grew even more somber: "How long have you been here?"

"She arrived shortly after you left the residence, about an hour and a half later."

Marquis Changyuan stopped asking questions and strode towards the main house. Few people knew about the lady's heart ailment, so how could she have summoned a female physician? The lady wouldn't just leave anyone in the mansion so casually; there must be something wrong.

Marquis Changyuan's mind was racing with thoughts as he finally walked into the main courtyard. The servants in the courtyard were about to bow to him when they saw him, but he waved them off. Just as he was about to ask a question, he heard his wife's voice from inside the house: "I feel much better."

Marquis Changyuan breathed a sigh of relief for the time being, at least his wife was safe now. He was really afraid that someone would suddenly come and target his family first.

The curtain was lifted, and the housekeeper came out.

"Is it the Marquis?" asked the Lady of Changyuan Marquis.

Marquis Changyuan simply didn't respond and stepped across the threshold.

There were two unfamiliar faces in the room, and Marquis Changyuan's gaze immediately fell on them.

One of them was a girl of sixteen or seventeen, sitting next to the old woman. When she saw him enter, she stood up and bowed, like a junior meeting an elder, with a slight respect. However, this expression only lasted for a moment before she returned to normal.

She clearly knew he was looking at her, but she didn't flinch and met his gaze with composure.

Marquis Changyuan frowned, surprised that despite his experience and status, he couldn't outdo the woman in terms of presence.

Changyuan Hou shifted his gaze from the woman's face to another person, who had just removed her veil to reveal a monk's hat underneath. This was a nun.

This nun, whom Marquis Changyuan recognized, was none other than Jingyuan, who served the Empress Dowager.

"Amitabha." Jingyuan raised her hand and chanted the Buddha's name before falling silent, clearly indicating that this matter was not initiated by her.

A flicker of surprise crossed Marquis Changyuan's mind. This woman was trusted by the Empress Dowager even more than Jingyuan. Thinking of this, he looked at the girl again: "Who are you?"

"Xie Yuyan," Xie Yuyan said, "I have come to see the Marquis on the orders of the Emperor."

Marquis Changyuan's eyes narrowed, and after a moment he sat down in the main seat with a stern face: "You are Xie Yisong's daughter? Or rather, you are Wang Yan's betrothed?"

These words carried a hint of disdain, deliberately ignoring her own importance and treating her as a woman dependent on others.

"Isn't it a bit late for Lady Xie to come at this time?" Marquis Changyuan said. "If you were here to ask us to send troops, you wouldn't need to ask again. My eldest son has already led troops to the Northwest."

Xie Yuyan replied calmly, "Marquis Changyuan is mistaken."

“I have something that Marquis Changyuan will surely want.”

Just as Marquis Changyuan was about to chuckle and wave his hand in refusal, he heard the woman's voice suddenly become solemn, her eyes calm as a cold pool.

"The Emperor has sent me to ask a question: Does the Marquis intend to lead three thousand iron cavalry in rebellion?"

Marquis Changyuan's expression changed, and he stood up abruptly.

Xie Yuyan's face suddenly became dignified, as if she had become a different person. She stared at Marquis Changyuan, who vaguely saw another person through her.

The person sat upright on the throne in the Chuigong Hall, wearing a dark blue silk robe with tassels hanging down, but his face was not clearly visible. He looked like the current Empress Dowager, but it seemed that he was not.

Xie Yuyan slowly spoke: "After decades of being both ruler and subject, I am ultimately a sentimental person, so I will present the Marquis of Changyuan's residence with a generous gift at this time."

(End of this chapter)