Chapter 139
There was a reason Cui Ermeng was called “Fierce Cui.” Now everyone had seen it for themselves.
Fortunately, when the Empress lost her temper, The Emperor had already run out of his. If both of them had been furious at once, the result would have been a full-blown storm.
It was Grand Secretary Shen, relying on his seniority and years of service, who ventured to intercede. “Your Majesty, please calm down. The little princess is so delicate; we mustn’t startle her.”
But neither the Emperor nor the Empress paid him any mind. Only after the Empress had run out of things she could throw did she let The Emperor help her back to her seat.
The Emperor’s grand chair was the only one left standing. The Empress sat down, leaving The Emperor with no choice but to stand.
Neither of them thought anything of it. Their outrageous antics could fill a whole chest, and this was hardly worth mentioning. Grand Secretary Shen and the others simply pretended not to notice.
Especially at a moment like this. Though the couple had both cooled down, no one dared risk provoking another spark.
The Emperor had already resumed his usual casual tone. Bending his head, he asked, “She still hasn’t woken up?”
“No.” Cui Lanyin looked worried. “She just rolled over, then went right back to sleep.”
There was nothing the Emperor could do. He pinched the bridge of his nose. “She takes after me. Try not to worry.”
So after all that commotion, the little princess had only rolled over before falling back asleep?
It made sense. With parents as fierce as these two, ordinary noises probably wouldn’t startle the little princess.
The Empress gave a cold snort and turned a displeased gaze on Zhou Heng. He shuddered and nearly buried his head in his collar.
Only then did the Empress turn to The Emperor. “Are you leaving, then?”
The Emperor nodded. “In five days.”
Then he looked at Xu Xian. “Mobilize the Sixteen Garrisons of the Capital Region, the Left Guard of the Imperial Guard, the Left and Right Cavalry Guards, and the Left Eagle Guard—a total of two hundred thousand troops. We march north in five days.”
Xu Xian had been waiting for this moment. He immediately answered, his voice full of vigor, “Your servant obeys.” Then he asked, “Shall I go to the Ministry of War myself to collect the mobilization order and military tally?”
The Emperor called for Hong Ji. “Draft another decree, ordering the Ministry of War to issue the mobilization order and military tally. They must be delivered to Commander Xu within half an hour.”
Hong Ji answered loudly and took the freshly drafted decree dismissing Meng Zhen into the inner room.
Xu Xian continued, “I’ve checked the figures. The grain produced by the state farms in the various regions is no longer enough to cover ordinary needs. We must ensure that provisions and equipment for two hundred thousand troops arrive on time.”
“The provisions have already been sent ahead to the northern regions. A fleet of grain ships will follow along the way, so Marquis Xu need not worry.” This time, the Empress answered him. “The Commerce and Trade Office has prepared ample supplies of military equipment. Marquis Xu can collect whatever he needs from Commissioner Song and Administrator Jiang at any time. If you require anything else, just ask. It can be prepared immediately; there will be no delay to military affairs.”
Xu Xian stared in astonishment. Then he bowed deeply to Cui Lanyin. “I’ve led troops into battle many times, but this is the first time there’s been no delay or obstruction. Before the army has even set out, the provisions have already arrived, and the equipment is ready as well. On behalf of the soldiers going to war, I thank Your Majesty.”
When he raised his head, Grand Secretary Shen and the others nearby could see the redness at the corners of his eyes. Those who had lived through the war twenty years ago could not help but feel a pang of grief.
“Marquis Xu and the thousands upon thousands of soldiers are fighting for Great Yong. I should be the one thanking you.” Cui Lanyin returned his bow with the same formal courtesy a man might show. “There is only so much The Emperor and I can do for you. We can only do our utmost to ensure that, wherever you are and whatever the circumstances, you have nothing to worry about at home.”
“With The Emperor and Your Majesty behind us, we would have no regrets even if we fought to the last drop of blood.” Xu Xian bowed once more to the Emperor and Cui Lanyin. “My nephew Xu Gu and my son Xu Yi are also willing to join the campaign. We beg Your Majesty’s permission.”
For once, the Emperor’s expression turned serious. “Won’t you leave one of them behind?”
“I had meant to leave one behind, but my nephew and son refused to yield to each other. I thought it would take more time to prepare provisions and equipment, so I hadn’t decided.” Xu Xian spoke frankly, then gave a wry shake of his head. “The men of the Xu family are born to ride into battle and fight on the field. If even Deputy Commander Meng is going, those two certainly won’t hold back. They’ll be overjoyed when I tell them.”
The Emperor did not try to dissuade him. He nodded. “Then let them both take the post of commander first. You can decide whether they serve with the Imperial Guard or the Sixteen Garrisons of the Capital Region.” He was leaving the appointment of the campaign’s officers entirely in Xu Xian’s hands.
Xu Xian was so moved he could hardly put it into words. He was completely won over by the Emperor and Empress’s generosity and way of doing things.
Grand Secretary Shen and the others had not even had a chance to speak before the matter was settled.
Only after their initial shock did they realize why The Emperor had summoned them to the West Pavilion that day: he had intended to discuss sending troops north. Zhou Heng’s delivery of an urgent dispatch had interrupted the meeting and turned events into what they were now.
The Empress and the Commerce and Trade Office had already prepared all the provisions and equipment without spending a single coin from the state treasury. That left the ministers with no grounds to demand a place at the table.
The southward evacuation two years earlier had been so chaotic it was little different from a panicked flight. Many of the court officials had developed a fear of war.
For years, Great Yong had adopted a defensive, retreating stance against the Tatars. Even the two great pillars of its military strength, Wang Xiao of Gansu and Shaanxi and Meng Zhen of Shanxi, had grown weary of fighting and begun to consider making peace with the Tatars.
Chief Minister Li had given the matter a great deal of thought. If The Emperor’s accession to the throne had not interrupted him, he might already have sent envoys to negotiate.
But the Tatars lived off what the land gave them. How could they leave a prize as rich as Great Yong untouched? The so-called peace talks would mean surrendering land and silver in exchange for a few years of calm. Once the Tatars’ insatiable appetites were no longer satisfied, their armies would descend upon Great Yong.
Knowing that was one thing; still, people clung to wishful thinking. The Tatars were a people of the saddle, and surely they could not cross the great river. With the river as a natural barrier, they could always abandon the northern regions as a last resort and divide the realm along its banks.
No one had expected The Emperor and the Empress to make their preparations in secret and decide to send troops north without so much as a discussion.
Now that the Tatar Khan Wumuhan had sought a marriage alliance for his youngest son, the Emperor and Empress had an even stronger justification for war.
Xu Xian would lead his nephews and son into battle with all his might. The Emperor had ordered Cui Su’s Left Imperial Guard to join the campaign, and the Empress had not objected at all.
With the Emperor and Empress so resolute, and the Xu family so fearless in the face of death, the ministers could no longer cling to their fear of war. Grand Secretary Shen immediately declared, “Though we remain at the rear, we will do our part.”
Minister Gu and the others voiced their support one after another, and the hall filled with fervor.
The Emperor said, “Then give the Empress your full support. When we win a great victory over the Tatars, your names will have a place in the record of merit as well.”
Hadn’t they already been helping the Empress manage court affairs? The Emperor rarely had so much to say, so why add this unnecessary remark?
They had begun to nod their agreement, but then stopped. Grand Secretary Shen asked in alarm, “Your Majesty, are you going to… personally lead the campaign?”
The Emperor said lightly, “With Marquis Xu commanding the army, I merely want to inspect the northern regions.”
Minister Gu and the others joined Grand Secretary Shen in urging him to reconsider. “Your Majesty is the pillar of the realm and its people. You must not place yourself in danger!”
The Emperor swept his gaze around the room and scoffed. “The Tatars aren’t capable of hurting me.”
He repeated what he had once said to Cui Lanyin: “I may not be able to rout ten thousand troops, but taking an enemy commander’s head amid ten thousand soldiers is child’s play for me.”
Grand Secretary Shen and the others followed his gaze to the wreckage scattered across the floor. Hearing such a bold declaration from him, they were left with nothing to say.
That afternoon, The Emperor issued a proclamation to the people. Copies were posted at every city gate and along all the main routes in and out of the cities.
The Proclamation to the People had been drafted by Hong Ji. It contained no ornate language, only the plainest and most easily understood words—anyone who had finished studying the Thousand Character Classic could read it.
It listed the Tatars’ countless crimes and declared that so long as the northern lands remained unsettled, Great Ying could never know peace. Marquis of Pacifying the North Xu Xian would lead an army north that very day to drive out the foreign invaders. The Emperor would guard the nation’s frontiers and travel north with the army to inspect the northern lands in person…
This Proclamation to All the People was like thunder exploding over a tranquil lake, sending towering waves through Yingcheng and the prefectures around the capital.
Many of those living in Yingcheng and the surrounding prefectures had followed Emperor Xuanning south two years earlier. Their memories of the Tatar army laying siege to Yancheng remained vivid. The humiliation of being driven from their homes like stray dogs still haunted their midnight dreams—it was a disgrace carved into their very bones.
Now that the Emperor was heading north to oversee the campaign, those northerners who had migrated south wept tears of gratitude and praised him as a wise and benevolent sovereign.
No matter how wealthy and prosperous the south was, they could never bring themselves to abandon their homeland.
The game played at Grand Empress Dowager Chen’s birthday banquet some time ago had also produced the desired effect.
Once they learned that Cui Su would be joining the Left Guard of the Imperial Guards on campaign, the sons of many military families flocked to the Grand Commander’s Office to volunteer. They all wanted to accompany the army to war.
The Emperor had intended from the beginning to restore the prestige of the military nobility. With the exception of only sons, anyone with even a little skill in archery and horsemanship was accepted into the Left Guard of the Imperial Guards, where they were placed under Cui Su’s command for training.
Xu Xian kept Xu Gu by his side and assigned Xu Yi to Cui Su’s command as well.
It was only after Xu Xian received the military equipment from the Office of Commercial Taxation that he realized the Empress had been far too modest. This was not merely adequate—it was abundant.
The commercial taxes collected by the Office of Commercial Taxation, along with the silver earned from the palace goods the Empress had previously put up for sale, had all been spent on this.
Before long, everyone in Yingcheng knew about it. Praise for the Emperor and Empress could be heard everywhere. Even Emperor Gaozong had never enjoyed such immense popularity among the people.
When Jiang Shi arrived to deliver the second batch of military equipment, he completed the handover and then presented Xu Xian with a long saber in both hands.
“Marquis Xu, please try this saber.”
It was identical to the new long sabers issued to the cavalry. Its blade was black and dull-looking, utterly unremarkable at first glance.
Xu Xian had even wondered whether there had been some mistake in issuing such a weapon to the cavalry.
He raised the saber and swung it at the corner of a table. He had barely used any strength when, with a sharp crack, the corner was sliced off as cleanly as if it had been cut by a line.
Never before had he seen such unmatched sharpness. Only then did Xu Xian realize that he had judged it by its appearance. He carried the saber outside and began slashing, sending a blur of flashing steel through the air. Everywhere the blade passed, branches as thick as bowls dropped cleanly to the ground.
A surge of heroic spirit rose in Xu Xian’s chest. With such a fine weapon, he would leave not a single Tatar soldier alive to flee!
He immediately replaced his own saber with it and asked Jiang Shi, “Was this made by the Ministry of Works? Does the Ministry truly have such a gifted craftsman hidden away?”
There was no longer any need to keep it a secret, so Jiang Shi replied, “It was devised by my uncle-in-law. The one Marquis Xu is holding was made by his own hands. He said that a treasured blade belongs in the hands of a hero, and hopes that this saber will help Marquis Xu achieve unparalleled feats on the battlefield.”
Xu Xian was filled with solemn respect. He had never imagined that Cui Sheng—who appeared so refined and mild-tempered, and always seemed ready to pick up a spatula and head into the kitchen—possessed such extraordinary talents hidden beneath the surface.
“Brother Cui is truly gifted. I will certainly not let his good intentions go to waste.”
Jiang Shi continued, “My uncle-in-law is also working on a fine bow with a longer range. He has reached a critical stage and cannot leave it for even a moment. Otherwise, he had intended to deliver this saber to Marquis Xu in person.”
Xu Xian’s heart surged with excitement. If there were bows capable of shooting even farther, they could send the Tatars straight to meet their ancestors.
At court, The Emperor specifically commended Cui Sheng by name. Only then did the officials and the members of the Cui family learn that he had been quietly accomplishing such a great deed.
If this campaign ended in a decisive victory, Cui Sheng would undoubtedly have rendered an immense service.
The Cui family had Cui Sheng silently developing weapons for the nation, Cui Su accompanying the army into battle, and Hong Ji laboring away in the Western Pavilion—all of them indifferent to fame and profit. Who could still claim that the Cui family’s rise in status was solely the result of relying on the Empress?
Xu Xian would be the first to stand up and refute them. He spoke each word with ringing conviction:
“Having a family of imperial in-laws like the Cui family, who work so diligently for the nation, is a blessing for Great Ying.”
Here it is!
The heat has been making me so restless that even turning on the air-conditioning didn’t help. I only just managed to finish typing this so late tonight. I’ll get it done earlier tomorrow, okay? [Kisses]
