Love Lock

Chapter 230 Sending Troops to Punish
The ivory tablet in his hand gleamed coldly in the lamplight: "Your Majesty, this old minister dares to speculate... that Marshal Cao and Lord Sun might... be unable to control their own destiny?"

These words caused an uproar in the entire hall.

"Ah? This..."

Upon hearing that his younger brother might have been taken into the control of the King of Cangzhou, Minister of War Cao Ge felt a chill run down his spine, staggered backward, and bumped his official hat on the shoulder of a colleague behind him.

Inside the main hall, the ministers began to discuss amongst themselves again, their voices growing louder and louder.

"No way, the King of Cangzhou no longer has military power, where did he get such ability?"

"That's right, Marshal Cao has 100,000 troops under his command at Beiguan!"

“The King of Cangzhou has lost his military power from the court, but didn’t Young Master Wei just say that the King of Cangzhou was privately amassing troops?”

……

"Silence!" Li Zhongxin shouted.

Once the crowd quieted down, Emperor Jing turned to look at Cao Ge, his gaze sharp: "Minister Cao, have you received any letters from your younger brother recently?"

Cao Ge steadied himself, thought for a moment, and shook his head. "Your Majesty, my younger brother's letter came at the end of the year. The family always thought he was too busy with affairs in the Northern Pass to come."

Upon receiving Cao Ge's reply, Emperor Jing suddenly laughed, a laugh that sent chills down everyone's spine.

"What a fine King of Cangzhou!" He uttered each word as if squeezing them out from between his teeth. "He privately garrisoned deserters from Jingzhou, built private fortresses, and embezzled taxes. Good! Good! Good!"

Emperor Jing said "good" three times in a row, and looking at the crumpled sketch of the fortress in his hand, he suddenly calmed down.

The courtiers stole glances and saw that Emperor Jing's face was so wet it looked like water could be wrung out, and the cuffs of his dragon robe were trembling slightly with his shaking arms.

Just when everyone thought they were about to be met with Emperor Jing's fury, he suddenly calmed down.

His slow, deliberate unfolding of the crumpled paper caused the temperature inside the hall to plummet.

"What? The King of Cangzhou has privately built a fortress?" Prime Minister Wei was standing close by and clearly heard Emperor Jing's murmured words.

This veteran of three reigns, known for his composure, now had his pupils shrink to pinpoints: "Your Majesty, what is the design of this fortress?"

"Take a look for yourselves!" Emperor Jing closed his eyes, raised his hand, and handed the blueprints to Li Zhongxin.

Li Zhongxin respectfully accepted it and passed it around among the officials. After a short while, a collective gasp of surprise rippled through the crowd.

Minister of War Cao Ge hurriedly stepped forward: "Your Majesty, judging from this map, the outer wall is jagged, and the arrow towers are mutually supporting, making it... easy to defend and difficult to attack!"

"My esteemed minister, you truly deserve your position in charge of the Ministry of War; you saw the gravity of the situation at a glance." Emperor Jing's voice was as light as a snowflake, yet it weighed heavily on the shoulders of his ministers. "My dear ministers, what should we do now?"

The hall was deathly silent for a moment, then a heated debate erupted.

The Vice Minister of Revenue was the first to step forward, his goatee trembling: "I do not believe the Prince of Cangzhou would be so foolish! Last year, when the war at Beiguan was critical, he even voluntarily donated 30,000 shi of grain. I beg Your Majesty to send an imperial envoy to verify this again, lest a loyal minister be wronged!"

"Your Excellency is mistaken!" The chief clerk of the Ministry of Justice sneered, then turned and held his tablet. "Your Majesty, I suggest that we send troops to punish them immediately, while they are still weak."

"Hmph! Ridiculous!" General Feng Jian of Zhenyuan said with disdain, "Gentlemen, don't forget that Zhao Zun, the Prince of Cangzhou, is a hero who resisted foreign enemies. Moreover, Zhao Zun no longer has military power. Even if he privately garrisoned the deserters from Jingzhou, what would he use to rebel? The grain, supplies, and weapons alone would be enough for him to prepare for ten years!"

After the disappearance of the former Minister of Works, Zhang Shiyang, the newly promoted Minister of Works said tremblingly, "Your Majesty, I think this fortress might have been used to defend against the Northern Barbarians..."

"Is Lord Li's eyesight failing?" Prime Minister Wei looked at him as if he were an idiot. "This is within the territory of Dajing! All the arrow slits of the fortress are pointing inward. What kind of Northern Di are you defending against!"

The argument grew louder and louder, and Emperor Jing coldly swept his gaze over the flushed faces below.

"Enough." Emperor Jing said in a deep voice, and the noise in the hall immediately froze.

He turned to Prime Minister Wei, who stood at the head of the civil officials, and asked, "What does the Prime Minister think?"

Wei Xiang straightened his sleeves, his voice steady as a bell: "Your Majesty, I believe it is better to believe it than not. Fortresses and arrow towers do not appear out of thin air, and Wei Dabao has personally witnessed the troop deployment."

He frowned, then suddenly emphasized, "Your Majesty, if we do not send troops to quell the rebellion now, it may lead to a great disaster."

Emperor Jing's pupils suddenly contracted. He certainly understood the gravity of the situation. Zhao Zun had been stationed at the Northern Pass before being enfeoffed as a king, and had been cultivating his territory in Cangzhou for many years. If he hadn't been prepared, how could he have dared to be so audacious?

"Draft an edict." Emperor Jing also felt he could not wait any longer. He stood up, the twelve tassels of his crown clinking together.

"Xuzhou and Cangzhou are separated by a river. Xuzhou needs to take the lead. Immediately dispatch 100,000 troops from Xuzhou to Cangzhou. It would be better if the imperial reinforcements arrived first."

...This is a dividing line for those who want to read further...

The capital issued an imperial edict to hastily mobilize troops from Xuzhou, while at this time, in Ganluo County, Xuzhou...

Inside the Xuzhou military camp, the newly paved cement road surface gleamed with a bluish-gray luster under the autumn sun.

Song Yuanqing was dressed in light black armor, the sword at his waist swaying gently with his steady steps, and the soles of his boots making a crisp sound as they stepped on the solid, flat road.

He would sometimes stop and stomp his military boots heavily on the ground, and sometimes he couldn't help but squat down and gently stroke it with his hand, a satisfied look spreading across his resolute face.

"This cement is truly amazing," he murmured to himself, gazing at the brand-new paving that ran through the entire military camp.

The training ground, which used to be dusty on sunny days and muddy during the rainy season, has now been transformed into a flat and sturdy drill ground, giving the entire military camp a new look.

As you turn the corner of the training ground, the deafening shouts of battle rush towards you.

Hundreds of soldiers are drilling on the newly paved cement floor, with rifles standing like a forest and swords flashing like snow.

Song Yuanqing stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his sharp gaze sweeping over each formation.

He noticed that the soldiers moved more nimbly than usual, the clanging of armor mingling with shouts, and each face radiating high morale.

"General!"

At this moment, a guard ran over quickly, knelt on one knee, and presented a gold-embossed invitation with both hands.

"General. Someone from the Prince of Cangzhou's residence has come, saying that the Prince specifically instructed that this gift be personally delivered to you. Please do us the honor of attending and drinking in the celebratory wine."

Song Yuanqing accepted the invitation; the bright red cover, adorned with gold-painted mandarin duck patterns, shimmered in the sunlight.

He ran his thumb along the delicate silk paper and slowly unfolded the inner pages. In an instant, the names Zhao Zun and Han Lei, side by side, pierced his eyes like needles.

The autumn wind swept across the training ground, swirling up a few withered leaves.

Song Yuanqing's fingertips unconsciously tightened, causing tiny creases to form on the edges of the invitation.

His past with Zhao Zun flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern—

Mornings spent studying side-by-side in the Imperial College, sparring on the drill ground, and supporting each other through the wind and snow at the border.

This invitation, which should have brought him joy, now felt like a dull knife, slowly cutting into his heart.

"Han Lei..."

The name rolled gently between his lips; it was the first time he had ever heard Han's full name.

The bright-eyed, white-toothed, charming and sweet girl in my memory seems to be standing right before me. I can still picture her focused profile as she calculates quotes, her lively eyes as she discusses projects, and the faint scent of jasmine lingering on her sleeves.

Song Yuanqing took a deep breath, carefully folded the invitation, and put it into his pocket.

He turned and looked towards Cangzhou, where clouds drifted and rolled across the horizon.

Song Yuanqing sighed deeply.

In terms of friendship, he and Zhao Zun were classmates at the Imperial Academy since childhood; in terms of martial arts, he and Zhao Zun admired each other; and in terms of social status, he came from a prestigious family, while Zhao Zun was also from a prominent family in the capital.

Whether from a public or private perspective, it was perfectly reasonable for Zhao Zun to invite him to his wedding. But for some reason, he always felt that Zhao Zun was showing off and asserting ownership over him by sending him the invitation.

He admitted that he had different feelings for Han Lei, but now that he knew Zhao Zun and Han Lei were a couple, he naturally understood the principle of not coveting a friend's wife and would never overstep the bounds.

After thinking it over, he decided to openly offer his congratulations and blessings to them.

Since fate had ordained it this way, Song Yuanqing, with the bearing of a general, should personally go to congratulate his old friend. However, the journey was long and arduous, enough for him to bury certain thoughts he shouldn't have in the deepest corner of his heart forever.

He opened the invitation, looked at the date again, and then turned to look at the guards beside him.

His voice was so calm and steady that it revealed no emotion whatsoever: "Go to the storeroom and fetch the pair of gilded silver inlaid pots, and prepare ten bolts of top-quality Shu brocade. I will be going to Qingshui County in a couple of days."

After his personal guards left to carry out their orders, Song Yuanqing walked alone to the command platform.

The setting sun cast his long shadow, which was slanted across the new cement ground.

He suddenly recalled the tone of voice and interaction between Han Lei and Zhao Zun during their last fight.

"Congratulations!" Song Yuanqing raised an imaginary wine glass to the setting sun, a restrained yet bitter smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

As dusk deepened, scattered lights appeared throughout the military camp. Song Yuanqing straightened his armor and strode towards the central command tent…

The news of the Prince of Cangzhou's rebellion struck like a thunderbolt. Before the imperial court's proclamation to mobilize troops to suppress the rebellion was officially posted, rumors had already spread like wildfire throughout the streets and alleys of the capital.

In teahouses and taverns, peddlers and laborers whisper among themselves; in grand mansions, servants and maids also murmur amongst themselves.

The entire capital city was like a pot of water about to boil, calm on the surface but turbulent undercurrents.

"Have you heard? That guy in Cangzhou is going to rebel!" Old Wang, who sells steamed buns in the West Market, said in a low voice, his rough fingers tapping unconsciously on the cutting board. "The imperial court is mobilizing troops."

The woman squatting in front of the stall picking through vegetables suddenly looked up, not even bothering to pick up the cucumbers that rolled off her bamboo basket onto the ground.

"But Cangzhou is guarded by the King of Cangzhou? This... how is this possible!" Her voice suddenly rose, attracting several porters carrying loads to come closer.

"Shh-"

Old Wang looked around nervously and wiped the sweat from his brow with his flour-covered hands.

"Last night, I saw with my own eyes the express courier galloping out of the capital. This morning, the soldiers guarding the city at Caishikou were whispering among themselves, saying that they were going to mobilize the troops from Xuzhou to attack."

Everyone gasped upon hearing this. Old Zhang, the oil seller, suddenly had tears in his eyes and tremblingly pulled out a faded amulet from his pocket.

"The old Duke Zhenguo saved the lives of our entire village back in Longxi! That year, the Turks were raiding our grazing land, and if it weren't for the old Duke Zhenguo leading his troops to our aid under the cover of night..."

He choked up as he spoke, the oil gourd jingling as it swayed at his waist.

These words immediately caused a small stir among the crowd.

The shop assistant at Lin's Cloth Shop angrily tugged at the measuring tape in his hand: "It must be those civil officials in the court causing trouble again! I saw it when the Prince returned to the capital to report on his duties at the end of the year; those people in the court are all scoundrels!"

"That's right!" The tea stall owner slammed the copper kettle down with a "bang," sending scalding steam billowing high into the air.

"Master Wang of Cangzhou defended against foreign enemies in the North Pass for many years. He risked his life to achieve his military exploits, but some people are just jealous and actually say that his achievements are too great to threaten the emperor."

She became more and more agitated as she spoke, the silver bracelet on her wrist jingling. "Now look what's happened! The rabbit isn't even dead yet, and they're already cooking the dog!"

Several young men who looked like scholars, who had been standing on the periphery, couldn't help but join in the discussion.

One of them, wearing a long blue robe, shook his head and sighed, "When the birds are all gone, the good bow is put away. The Prince has spent these years guarding the border for the sake of the Great Jing, and his body is probably covered with old wounds upon new ones. In the end…"

Before he could finish speaking, his companion tugged at his sleeve.

Suddenly, a troop of Imperial Guards emerged from the street corner, their gilded embroidered spring knives gleaming coldly in the sunlight.

The crowd scattered like birds and beasts, leaving only whispers circulating in the shadows of the eaves.

The old craftsman selling sugar figurines lowered his head and blew hard on the sugar syrup, but secretly added two extra pheasant feathers to the general figurine he had just sculpted.

That night, someone drew a simple sketch in charcoal on the notice board on Xuanwu Street—

A small figure wearing a crown is sawing through the pillar supporting the roof beam, and the two characters "江山" (Jiangshan, meaning "rivers and mountains") on the beam are about to fall.

At dawn, the painting, along with half of the wall plaster, was completely scraped off.

The following afternoon, sunlight filtered through the leaves and fell on the chessboard, casting dappled patterns of light on the black and white pieces.

In the pavilion of the Duke of Heng's mansion, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood. The Duke of Heng, Hua Yunxuan, was playing chess with his old friend, Shen Maoyuan, the former General of Zhennan.

Shen Maoyuan was the father of Princess Shen Yanru of Jingzhou. He was originally the General of Zhennan, stationed in the county town of Nanguan.

After Emperor Qianlong ascended the throne, he was among the officials who were replaced due to his suspicious nature.

Now retired and at home, he often invites Duke Heng to play chess and chat.

With a "snap," the Duke of Heng placed a black piece on the board, stroked his beard, and chuckled, "Old Shen, you're still as cautious as ever with your chess moves."

Just as Shen Maoyuan was about to respond, Lady Lin, the wife of the Duke of Heng, walked over quickly, lifting her skirt. The gold hairpin in her hair jingled with her hurried steps.

"Master! Master! Something terrible has happened!" Madam Lin's face turned ashen, and she gripped her embroidered handkerchief tightly in her hand.

The Duke of Heng didn't even look up, his eyes still fixed on the chessboard: "Madam, what's causing your panic?"

"Just now I went to the Mandarin Duck Hairpin shop to choose jewelry, and everyone on the street was saying..." Lin's voice trembled as she gasped for breath, "that Prince Zhao Zun of Cangzhou is plotting a rebellion!"

"Tch! What nonsense are you spouting!"

Duke Heng chuckled and slammed the chess piece in his hand onto the chessboard, causing several other pieces to jump.

His tone was full of trust in Zhao Zun and his son. "Zhao Zun and his son have been loyal and brave for generations. The North Pass has been plagued by war for years. If it weren't for Zhao Zun and his son leading the army to defend the North Pass and resist the three kingdoms, the Great Jing Dynasty would have been lost long ago!"

Shen Maoyuan also shook his head and said, "Sister-in-law, you must have misheard. Zhao Zun only voluntarily handed over the military power of Beiguan at the end of the year. If he really had ulterior motives, why would he do that?"

Madam Lin stamped her feet anxiously: "It's absolutely true! I heard that the imperial court is already mobilizing troops and preparing to attack Cangzhou!"

She stepped forward and grabbed the sleeve of the Duke of Heng, "Oh dear! What are you still playing chess for! The war in Cangzhou is about to break out, and our Tianyou is still in Beiguan!"

Duke Heng suddenly realized, "Oh right! Tianyou is still at the North Gate! If His Majesty also mistakes him for a traitor, then... oh dear!"

It's college entrance exam season again! I wish all my book lovers with children taking the exam the best of luck—may you answer all the questions correctly, even the ones you guessed wrong, and may you all achieve top marks!