TGPSAC – Chapter 116

A major event occurred in the middle of the second month. The Yanbei defense line was completely breached, and the Beining army was now marching toward the capital.

The investigation revealed that the Duke of Xin had led his officers and soldiers in a retreat, heading for Jiangning.

No wonder the Yanbei defense line had been so fragile. It turned out they had been planning to leave all along and had never put up a real fight.

First, there was An Yizhi’s incident. Her troops were scattered across various towns, and without their commander, they could only follow her previous orders to defend their positions.

But watching the Duke of Xin’s forces flee and the Beining army advance unimpeded filled them with anxiety.

The Beining army was too numerous, and without a commander to lead them, acting rashly could result in even greater losses.

Just as they were growing anxious, an order arrived from the Grand Princess, instructing them to observe the situation and continue defending their current towns.

An Yizhi was recovering and would soon return to reorganize the army. They would counterattack then.

At the same time, Yu Jiuzhou convened a meeting of the Grand Secretariat.

Her body was recovering well. A month had passed, and she was almost back to normal.

However, the toll on her constitution would need to be replenished bit by bit.

With the nutritious meals Chi Wan prepared, the daily massages and internal energy transfers, and acupuncture every cycle, it wouldn’t be long before Yu Jiuzhou’s body was as strong as it used to be.

Once Yu Jiuzhou’s internal energy cultivation reached a minor level of mastery, her physical constitution would become even stronger.

For now, she was perfectly capable of holding cabinet meetings and handling memorials.

But Chi Wan, having gained experience during this period, had also become proficient in these matters. With the two of them working together, things were much easier, and they weren’t consumed by official duties all day.

No wonder they said diligent emperors had short lives. With so many tasks draining one’s mind and body every day, it would be a miracle to live long.

The emperors who knew how to enjoy life, on the other hand, lived long and well.

Chi Wan was also a member of the Grand Secretariat, her seat to Yu Jiuzhou’s left.

All the members of the Grand Secretariat were present. There were also many officials who, though not Grand Secretaries, were qualified to attend and observe.

Since becoming regent, Yu Jiuzhou had brought in many of her trusted followers to observe in order to dilute the Grand Secretariat’s power. They were poised to take over the positions of the Grand Secretaries at any moment.

The Grand Secretariat was established to divide the power of the chancellery, distributing the authority of a single chancellor among several individuals.

But under a powerful Grand Secretary, the authority they wielded was no different from that of a chancellor.

Zhang Juzheng once said: “I am not an advisor, but a regent.”

The difference between a regent and an advisor was vast. A regent could make decisions directly on behalf of the emperor.

When a Grand Secretary’s power grew immense, they too could bypass the emperor and rule the country.

Initially, the Grand Secretariat had served its purpose. But as the power of the civil officials gradually grew, the emperor began to lose control. Thus, the Directorate of Ceremonial was established, using eunuchs to counterbalance the Grand Secretariat.

But what if the Directorate of Ceremonial and the Grand Secretary colluded? Then the emperor could be treated like a fool.

At the beginning of a dynasty, the meritorious nobles and military generals held great power. To control them, it was often necessary to elevate civil officials.

When military power became too great, it could threaten the foundation of the state. The Song dynasty had the “cup of wine to dismiss military power,” and the Ming had Old Zhu’s slaughter of military officials.

But once the status of civil officials rose and the balance of power was lost, factional strife intensified, and policymaking became conservative. Most importantly, in military affairs, they were unable to defeat their enemies, yet they had to listen to a group of men engage in armchair strategy.

Just like now. The members of the Grand Secretariat began to voice their opinions on the Duke of Xin’s flight and the Beining army’s advance on the capital.

“Your Highness, this minister believes that at such a critical juncture, the Dragon Guard Army should be deployed.”

“Without a military tally and an imperial edict, the Dragon Guard Army will not move.”

“The capital is in peril, the nation is fractured, and the people are suffering. When the capital faces such grave danger, it is precisely the time for the Dragon Guard Army to act.”

“Can the Dragon Guard Army even be revitalized? They have not fought a war in a very long time.”

“Have the troops of the Capital Camps fought a war? If they don’t go, are we to rely on the Capital Camps? They only have a hundred thousand men.”

“Hmph, a valid point. The Dragon Guard Army was established to protect the nation. If it cannot protect the nation, then it has no reason to exist.”

The Grand Secretariat debated heatedly, but Grand Secretary Gao Zheng remained silent. Only when the others had finished did he speak. “Your Highness, the Dragon Guard Army must be deployed. Even if not for this battle, things have come to a point where they should no longer exist. This is the perfect opportunity to disband them.”

“The Dragon Guard Army is a force of two hundred thousand. They have lived in Dragon City for generations and have formed their own community. How many of them are still loyal to Great Zhou and willing to fight for it? This minister believes the Dragon Guard Army must be deployed, but not all of them.”

Only then did Yu Jiuzhou show interest. “What is your suggestion, Grand Secretary Gao?”

Gao Zheng rose and cupped his hands. “Your Highness, send an imperial envoy to Dragon City to re-recruit soldiers. Those who are willing to enlist will remain soldiers of Great Zhou. Those who are unwilling, after we repel the Beining army, must be moved out of Dragon City. The court will arrange good fields for them in various provinces, but they absolutely cannot be allowed to remain in Dragon City.”

The original intention behind establishing the Dragon Guard Army was good, but it would be disastrous if it evolved into a military threat. If these men were no longer capable, there was no need for them to occupy a place in the army’s ranks.

Loyalty might last for one or two generations, but what about three or five?

The emperors of Great Zhou had changed many times; the hearts of the Dragon Guard Army had likely changed long ago.

It wasn’t that Chi Wan didn’t believe such a clan could exist, one that honored a promise for thousands of years. But the situation in Dragon City had been investigated—by the Embroidered-Robe Guard, no less—so she had the right to speak on the matter.

The people’s hearts had indeed changed. A portion of them still honored the promise, another portion wanted to farm peacefully and live quiet lives, but the danger lay with the third group: the ambitious and restless, and their numbers were not small.

This was the result of the investigation Chi Wan had ordered the Embroidered-Robe Guard to conduct. For Gao Zheng to say this today, it seemed he had long been aware of the situation.

She and Yu Jiuzhou had also discussed this matter. As Gao Zheng said, the present was indeed a good opportunity.

Chi Wan glanced at Yu Jiuzhou, then rose and said, “This minister believes Grand Secretary Gao’s words are reasonable. Let those who want to live peaceful lives do so, and let those who still wish to be soldiers continue to be soldiers.”

Give the soldiers of Dragon City and their families a choice. Some things couldn’t be handled too harshly.

Seeing the Fuma voice her support, the cabinet members knew that Her Highness the Grand Princess must have agreed.

They used to think the Fuma was the Emperor’s person. But in the past two or three months, the Fuma had handled so many memorials on behalf of the Grand Princess, it was obvious that the Fuma was actually the Grand Princess’s person.

Chi Wan’s gaze swept over the faces of the officials. “Who do you all think is suitable for the role of imperial envoy?”

Dragon City was not an easy place to go. The number of soldiers there, including their families, was immense. Many of them knew each other. Dealing with one might mean uprooting a whole basketful of connections.

This imperial envoy not only had to be able to command the respect of the Dragon City soldiers but also couldn’t use forceful suppression that might arouse their resentment. Simply put, they needed to have both high IQ and EQ.

After a long pause, Gao Zheng suddenly said, “Your Highness, Fuma, this minister chooses Lu Xin.”

Lu Xin was indeed a good choice. Her abilities were beyond question.

Every task Chi Wan had assigned her had been completed brilliantly.

In the end, Yu Jiuzhou made the decision. “Lu Xin will be the primary envoy, with Duan Yun, the Earl of Wukang, as her deputy. They will take one hundred Embroidered-Robe Guards and one thousand Jinwu Guards to Dragon City.”

Lu Xin was skilled in both civil and military affairs, highly capable, and adept at handling people. She was currently serving as the Vice Minister of the Grand Court of Revision.

This was a perfect opportunity to promote her to Vice Minister of War, rising from the senior fourth rank to the senior third rank, a leap that would make her a high-ranking official in the capital of Great Zhou.

When a capital official went to the provinces, even a common seventh or eighth-rank official would be treated with respect by the local prefects and magistrates.

A third-rank official from the capital with real power was a high official even in the capital, let alone in the provinces.

A Vice Minister of War, accompanied by a titled commander of the imperial guards—such a combination was more than sufficient.

However, the matter of how to defend the capital against the Beining army had yet to be decided.

The memorials these past few days had revolved around several topics.

The first was the invasion of the Beining army and all related matters.

Many wanted to use this opportunity to eliminate their political rivals.

The second was the matter of moving the Imperial Grandson to the Eastern Palace.

This was indeed necessary. The Eastern Palace was a symbol of orthodoxy, and the Imperial Grandson’s residence there would be an affirmation of ritual propriety.

The third matter was that the Princess’s Residence could not serve as the long-term center of government.

Political decrees should not be issued from the Princess’s Residence, but from the Imperial Palace.

There were many other topics, but these three were the most frequent.

Regarding the Beining army, Yu Jiuzhou decided to involve more people in the discussion, not just the Grand Secretariat, but also the Chief Military Commissions of the Five Army Camps and the high-ranking officials of the Ministry of War. They were the experts.

In truth, there wasn’t much to discuss. The Princess’s Residence did not lack funds. As for troops, the Capital Camps had one hundred thousand soldiers, with sixty thousand currently combat-ready in the capital. There were also one hundred thousand soldiers who had been transferred from various regions; they hadn’t gone far and could be recalled immediately.

With a combined force of over two hundred thousand, it was nearly impossible for the Beining army to take the capital.

Moreover, the capital had a continuous supply of provisions. What did Beining have?

Oh, Beining also had provisions. Some of the gentry and powerful clans in Yanbei were providing logistical support to the Beining army, hoping they would overthrow Great Zhou.

But they failed to consider what would happen to this land if it fell under the control of a foreign people.

A group of selfish individuals who disregarded the greater good of the nation and the survival of the common people did not deserve to live in this world.

Gao Zheng had executed a batch of them, but not all. After all, investigation and evidence gathering took time, and the underhanded methods of investigation were not suitable to be brought into the light.

But now, with Beining invading, those rats in the gutters within had to be cleared out by extraordinary means.

The Grand Secretariat meeting dispersed, leaving only Yu Jiuzhou and Chi Wan in the conference room.

Yu Jiuzhou looked at Chi Wan and asked, “What do you think about Guiyi moving into the Eastern Palace?”

“Of course not.”

Chi Wan shook her head without hesitation. “At least not now. The people in the Imperial Palace are too mixed and disorderly. It needs to be reorganized first.”

With so many people in the Imperial Palace, and no telling who they truly served, how could she dare let Guiyi live there without replacing a batch of them?

Yu Jiuzhou thought the same. “We’ll clean out the Eastern Palace first, then the entire Imperial Palace.”

Guiyi would certainly move into the Eastern Palace eventually, but as for when, that was for her to decide.

There was no rush. This task couldn’t be completed in just a year or two.

The third matter did indeed require attention. It was an issue of ritual propriety.

Yu Jiuzhou walked out of the meeting hall and was met by a gentle breeze.

Chi Wan reached out her hand to feel the breeze. The temperature felt to be around ten degrees, not terribly cold.

But when the wind blew, there was still a chill in the air.

She stepped in front of Yu Jiuzhou, blocking the oncoming breeze. “Your Highness, the wind is strong.”

“It’s fine.”

Yu Jiuzhou closed her eyes, opening them only after a long moment. “What Great Zhou lacks most right now are commanders.”

Without commanders, having soldiers was like having a swarm of headless flies.

Xu Chenlu had not yet gained full control of the hundred thousand troops from outside, so they couldn’t be deployed for now.

The next battle would rely on the Capital Camps. It was unknown how many from the Dragon Guard Army would be willing to enlist.

But an army’s strength lay in its quality, not its quantity. Forcing the Dragon Guard Army onto the battlefield would likely be a waste of provisions and could lead to mass desertions.

Hearing this, Chi Wan looked at her, hesitating, but she knew she had to take responsibility. “Your Highness, I am the commander of the Capital Camps.”

“No.” Yu Jiuzhou refused without a second thought.

“You know how to train soldiers, but you have never commanded them in battle. Absolutely not.”

Chi Wan reached out to touch her head, but she dodged.

“Are you angry?” Chi Wan asked, tilting her head.

Yu Jiuzhou huffed and strode toward Yongning Courtyard.

Chi Wan followed behind, not daring to bring up the topic again. But finding a suitable commander was easier said than done.

She was the Great Demon King of the Capital Camps. The entire force both respected and feared her. If she gave an order, they would obey without a second thought.

No one was more suited to be the commander of the Capital Camps than her. Furthermore, she was the Fuma, the Grand Princess’s spouse, and the Imperial Grandson’s mother. If someone of her status went to the battlefield, it would galvanize the people of the capital and its surrounding areas, creating a war of the entire populace.

Yu Jiuzhou was right; she had never fought a war and might not be able to lead an army. But right now, there was no better commander to be found.

Great Zhou had long valued civil officials over military ones. The Shengyuan era had seen few wars, and thus no young commanders had been cultivated.

There was only An Yizhi, and she couldn’t be worked like a donkey.

Xu Chenlu was also a very capable commander, but she had her own mission.

All things considered, Chi Wan was the most suitable choice.

Back at Yongning Courtyard, Yu Jiuzhou was still sulking.

Chi Wan grabbed her hand and pulled her into her lap.

“Your Highness, it’s not good to get angry and harm your health.” She wrapped her arms around Yu Jiuzhou, hooked a hand under her chin, and gently kissed her.

After the kiss, Chi Wan rested her head on Yu Jiuzhou’s arm and coaxed in a low voice, “It’s not that I’m eager to go to war. But with Beining attacking, we have to fight a battle to defend the capital. The commander is crucial. Whether we go out to meet them or defend the city, no one is more suitable than me. I am the commander of the Capital Camps.”

Defending the capital was one thing. If the capital stood, its people stood; if the capital fell, its people would be gone.

But meeting the enemy in battle was another. They couldn’t just let the Beining army reach the foot of the capital’s walls.

Therefore, Chi Wan had to go to the Capital Camps and set up an ambush along the path the Beining army was bound to take. She absolutely could not let them break through the defensive lines around the capital.

As long as they didn’t let the Beining army actually reach the capital, An Yizhi could reorganize her forces, and Xu Chenlu could take control of her three hundred thousand troops. The three forces could then encircle and annihilate the Beining army in one fell swoop.

There was certainly danger. If there were no danger, Yu Jiuzhou wouldn’t be trying to stop her.

But as things stood, there was no commander in the court more suitable than her.

Yu Jiuzhou raised a hand to stroke her face, rubbing it helplessly. “I know.”

It was precisely because of this that her heart was torn.

Selfishly, she didn’t want Chi Wan to go. But as Chi Wan said, no one was more suitable.

Chi Wan tilted her head up slightly, nuzzling against Yu Jiuzhou’s arm as if asking for a kiss.

Then, with a sudden movement, she shifted Yu Jiuzhou so she was straddling her lap, facing her. Chi Wan rested her head against Yu Jiuzhou’s chest.

Her nose was filled with a familiar fragrance, but this scent now carried a hint of milk. She froze for a moment, then remembered something.

She felt her body temperature rising, heat flooding her face and neck. Her face must be red.

Chi Wan couldn’t help but nuzzle closer, her throat bobbing. She used all her self-control to pull back and create some distance between them.

Yu Jiuzhou could see a certain longing in her eyes. Her gaze was like a flame, igniting something deep within her.

But Yu Jiuzhou could only shake her head firmly. “No.”

Chi Wan looked aggrieved. She hadn’t even said anything yet.

“Just for a little while.”

Yu Jiuzhou didn’t believe her “little while.” “You may not.”

“Why?” Chi Wan didn’t understand.

“Wait a little longer.”

Chi Wan tilted her head. “Chenchen and Guiyi aren’t drinking it.”

Now it was Yu Jiuzhou’s turn to be confused. “What aren’t they drinking?”

Had she misunderstood? Was what Chi Wan wanted to do different from what she was thinking?

Chi Wan’s heated gaze swept over her, and she seemed to understand her meaning.

Then Chi Wan said very seriously, “It must be uncomfortable to be so full, isn’t it?”

Alright, Yu Jiuzhou understood.

It wasn’t that she was depriving the two children. There was simply too little, and they could only nurse two or three times a day, which wasn’t enough to fill them up.

At most, it was a way for the children to feel their mother’s love.

If Yu Jiuzhou felt uncomfortable while the children were sleeping, Chi Wan would use her hands to express the milk, bit by bit.

Every time this happened, it was a kind of torment for Chi Wan.

Lately, Chi Wan often kissed Yu Jiuzhou, but they were always brief, as both were afraid of losing control.

It was only today, when she buried her head there and her nose was filled with that intoxicating scent, that the idea had come to her.

It just seemed that Yu Jiuzhou had misunderstood her.

At this moment, Yu Jiuzhou also realized she had misunderstood. What had she thought Chi Wan was trying to do?

To be precise, it wasn’t that Chi Wan didn’t want to.

But out of consideration for Yu Jiuzhou’s body, she definitely needed to continue recuperating.

Chi Wan just wanted a taste. Why was it that after giving birth, Yu Jiuzhou’s body had an extra hint of a milky scent that was so intoxicating?

Realizing she had overthought things, Yu Jiuzhou said nothing, but Chi Wan could see her tacit approval at a glance.

Her Highness was stubborn. When she wanted something, she wouldn’t say it herself, but would hint or tempt Chi Wan into losing control.

If Chi Wan wanted to do something, Yu Jiuzhou would feign resistance or give silent consent, only letting herself go after the lamps were out.

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Chi Wan smiled, her eyes crinkling, and then lost herself in the intoxicating fragrance, not wanting to wake up.

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Yu Jiuzhou didn’t know why she had agreed to Chi Wan’s request.

The result left her feeling suspended and unfulfilled, with a strange frustration simmering inside her.

Chi Wan smiled with satisfaction, a smile that made Yu Jiuzhou want to hit her.

It was such a wicked smile. This scoundrel.

“Is Your Highness cursing me?”

Yu Jiuzhou shot her a look. “Am I not allowed to curse you?”

“Of course you are. After all, Your Highness is still partial to me.”

Compared to the two little ones, she was clearly the one who pleased Her Highness the Grand Princess more.

Yu Jiuzhou let out a helpless, soft huff, a coquettish sound that made one’s heart itch.

Chi Wan forced herself not to think too much about it, and instead picked Yu Jiuzhou up. “Your Highness, let me take you to wash up.”

It was already late outside. It was time to rest.

When the two were lying in bed, though the lamps were out, neither could sleep.

With matters weighing on their minds, they both had things they wanted to say to each other.

Although Chi Wan had changed the subject, some things would not change.

If they had insisted on talking then, Yu Jiuzhou probably wouldn’t have agreed. Now, lying together, their hearts were very calm.

Chi Wan’s hand moved slowly, searching for Yu Jiuzhou’s, and then their hands clasped together.

She said nothing, yet it felt as if she had said everything.

Yu Jiuzhou finally sighed. “I know your decision is the right one.”

As the commander of the Capital Camps, it was her duty to lead them to protect the capital. Chi Wan was also the Fuma and the mother of the Imperial Grandson. Her presence on the battlefield was necessary to inspire more people to fight desperately for Great Zhou.

If she, the commander of the Capital Camps, didn’t go to the battlefield, why should anyone else? Even if they went, they wouldn’t give it their all.

Moreover, there truly was no other suitable candidate.

Chi Wan snuggled closer to Yu Jiuzhou, pressing tightly against her. “Your Highness, I will be fine.”

She didn’t have some grand, selfless spirit. But her wife and children were in the capital. If she didn’t go, was she supposed to wait for Beining to reach the city gates?

Sometimes, when facing an external enemy, the most frightening thing was internal trouble.

At this very moment, their every move was being watched by the entire city’s populace and would be infinitely magnified. If they didn’t act without hesitation, who would fight desperately for them?

Besides, there were so many ordinary people in the capital, and many innocent people in the surrounding areas.

Chi Wan was not one to run from her responsibilities. If something was her duty to do, she would do it.

Yu Jiuzhou turned on her side, draping an arm over her and burying her head in the crook of her shoulder. “Then go. I will hold the rear for you.”

“Don’t worry.”

Chi Wan chuckled, trying to break the heavy atmosphere. “I’m a master, you know. Even if I can’t win, I know how to run.”

“No. You will definitely win.”

Yu Jiuzhou didn’t want to hear any talk of not being able to win or losing.

With Chi Wan about to go to war, even she, who didn’t believe in ghosts and gods, couldn’t help but become a little superstitious.

“Your Highness trusts me that much?”

“Yes.”

Chi Wan smiled. “Then when I return, I will be sure to serve Your Highness well.”

She stressed the word “serve,” and there was no way Yu Jiuzhou wouldn’t understand.

The usually stubborn Yu Jiuzhou did not refute her, nor did she act shy. She said with grave seriousness, “When you return victorious, I am yours.”

Chi Wan raised an eyebrow, pretending not to understand. “Your Highness is mine, and I am Your Highness’s.”

In the darkness, Yu Jiuzhou fumbled for Chi Wan’s ear and gave it a tug. “I said, I will let you serve me as you wish.”

Hearing that, the curve of Chi Wan’s smile widened.

That word “let” was used well, so well that it made her heart feel sweet.

“Really?”

“I never deceive people.”

Chi Wan also turned onto her side to face Yu Jiuzhou, propping her head up with an arm. Thanks to her internal energy, she could make out the contours of Yu Jiuzhou’s face in the dark.

She traced the face that made her heart flutter with her gaze, confirming once more, “I can do anything? No, wait. Will Your Highness cooperate with whatever I ask you to do?”

Yu Jiuzhou: “…” She felt as if she shouldn’t have made such a bold promise.

But since Chi Wan had said it, she had to force herself to be stubborn. “Of course.”

Just as Chi Wan thought, there were benefits to the Grand Princess’s stubbornness.

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