(There is a plot but no protagonist, so be careful when purchasing) This is making things difficult for me, moneybag General Liu.
In the capital of Taijing, there were no corpses strewn about, nor were there any ruined walls.
Although soldiers were everywhere, creating a tense atmosphere, civilians could still move around in the neighborhoods and pass through checkpoints to enter and exit the markets. Many shops on the streets had closed their doors, with long queues forming in front of the rice and oil shops.
A minor official from the Taijing Prefecture yamen loudly read out the decree just issued by the ministers of the Wenyuan Pavilion in front of the shops, claiming the rebellion had been quelled, the conspirators had been captured, and Taijing would soon return to normal, so the people need not panic-buy rice and grain.
Those rice merchants who had jacked up prices were already being locked up by the officials, prepared to be taken away.
Despite their fear, the civilians still cheered at this scene.
The Sixth Prince peered out of the carriage, his expression slightly disdainful.
“Such merchants deserve a lesson,” said a personal guard of General Liu, feeling vindicated.
“It’s about capturing people and then extorting money,” the Sixth Prince sneered, pointing out, “Look at these yamen runners and soldiers, whether they are guarding against the merchants or the civilians around cheering.”
General Liu coughed lightly, urging caution before Lord He could hear the commotion, whispering, “Your Highness, it’s better to be careful with your words.”
Since entering the city, the Sixth Prince’s defiant attitude had become more evident. General Liu couldn’t understand why; wasn’t this the time to pretend to be filial and show a humble and obedient side to the Emperor?
The Sixth Prince had seemed a bit odd when he first heard of the Second Prince’s rebellion, and now even more so.
In General Liu’s view, Taijing’s quick return to order after a coup d’état was commendable. It indicated that the ministers and high officials had not been affected, and they had no intention of stirring up trouble to disgust people.
—As a military officer often suppressed by the civilian official group, General Liu had grievances against certain people in the court.
Not participating in the conspiracy didn’t mean one could rest easy.
The court would always seize the opportunity of purging rebels to bring about earth-shattering changes, and those demoted or dismissed were considered lucky. One might face numerous charges from the Imperial Censor at court one day, and then a faction among the officials would act together, stripping one of official position and attire and throwing one into prison.
For General Liu, the most dangerous aspect was his lack of powerful backers in court.
His only support was the Emperor himself. To gain the Emperor’s trust, military officers had to be lone supporters, and since his military power and influence were not large enough for the civilian officials to regard him differently, he had no one to speak up for him.
General Liu was deeply troubled.
Even more troubled were the imperial guards in the convoy going to the imperial tombs with the Sixth Prince; the streets of Taijing were filled with the imperial army and yamen runners, yet not a single imperial guard could be seen.
General Liu slowly realized something was amiss. Although the city checks were strict, when encountering stubborn jianghu people, the city patrol and yamen runners only made a show of chasing and scolding without using bows and arrows. It seemed they were ordered to capture if possible and let go if not, indicating they didn’t have a kill order. The convoy had only been troubled upon entering the city, but after that, everything went smoothly, with no one coming to pick a quarrel or eunuchs coming to deliver decrees.
Thus, they entered the inner city with trepidation.
Finally, someone arrived, a serving secretary from the Wenyuan Pavilion.
A serving secretary, a minor sixth-rank official, usually came from the Hanlin Academy. Their mentors were ministers or they themselves joined powerful factions in the court, being groomed as potential future Prime Ministers. However, even if their career went smoothly, it would take at least twenty years to reach the position of Prime Minister, with countless unforeseen events possibly obstructing their path.
They seemed to have a promising future but were actually running errands in the Wenyuan Pavilion, assisting the ministers.
Seeing such a person blocking their way with the imperial guards, the people in the convoy looked uneasy.
Lord He, confident in his status, looked down upon the other party.
Aside from him, everyone else was wondering why a sixth-rank serving secretary was sent to welcome them. If it was a highly trusted official by the Emperor, the low rank wouldn’t matter, but the current serving secretary was not such a person.
What did this mean? Did the Sixth Prince no longer have any chance of ascending to the throne? Was the Sixth Prince about to face misfortune? Or was the Emperor deliberately suppressing the Sixth Prince? Or… did the Emperor really still hold power over the court? Logically, for the sake of balancing power, even if the Emperor killed the Second Prince and appointed the Third Prince as the heir apparent, he wouldn’t just sideline the Sixth Prince. Instead, he would need to bring this younger prince forward to experience and temper in the Eastern Palace.
Being experienced in court politics and highly cautious, everyone felt a chill upon further thought.
The serving secretary calmly announced the decree, essentially stating the Second Prince’s conspiracy, the Emperor’s fury, and the order for a thorough investigation. It mentioned the Second Prince’s collusion with the commander of the imperial guards and the hiring of jianghu assassins to attempt an assassination in the palace, with the assassin still at large. Thus, the order was given for the imperial guards to escort the Sixth Prince into the palace for strict protection.
Lord He was distracted, and General Liu dared not act rashly, so he watched helplessly as the Sixth Prince was taken away.
The decree then mentioned Lord He, ordering him to return home to rest and wait for the court meeting in a few days.
Seeing the serving secretary about to leave, General Liu couldn’t help but ask, “Did His Majesty mention me?”
The serving secretary glanced at him. Since General Liu’s injuries had not healed, he was not wearing armor but a fourth-rank military officer’s uniform. There was no distinction in the uniform of a fourth-rank military officer, but there was a difference in armor regulations. The serving secretary apparently did not remember who General Liu was, mistaking him for a military officer escorting the Sixth Prince from Yongzhou, and casually said, “No, the commanding officer should return to the prefectural posthouse to wait for news.”
General Liu: “…”
Officials from outside the capital, either on official duty or for reporting for duty, because they had nowhere to live, would stay in posthouses bearing the prefectural insignia, which were set up by the court at no cost to the officials themselves.
If he were a fourth-rank commanding officer from a locality, indeed he would only be able to go to the posthouse, even if he had bought a house in Taijing, it would be in the outer city. Officials on duty naturally stayed near the Imperial City in the North City and the Inner City, where houses were unaffordable due to their exorbitant prices.
Yet, he was a General who had once saved the Emperor! The Emperor had rewarded him with a mansion! Even though it was rarely inhabited and not large, he still owned a house!
This serving secretary was not sent by the Emperor!
General Liu did not believe the Emperor could have forgotten him, not out of vanity, but because the Emperor had urgently summoned him to inquire about the gold mine in Silang Mountain.
His association with the Sixth Prince’s party was because the Sixth Prince had gone missing while playing in the Yongzhou Imperial Tombs, and Lord He, seeking help from the government, incidentally involved him as he was passing by, asking him to assist in the search. Then, the chaos at the Imperial Tombs occurred, and Lord He and General Liu each sent a secret report to the Emperor.
Therefore, officially, General Liu was not traveling with the Sixth Prince.
However, in Lu Zhang’s view, he was very aware of this matter, and whether it was because of the gold mine, the Imperial Tombs, or understanding the actions of the Sixth Prince along the way, Lu Zhang could not possibly ignore General Liu entirely, not to mention not mentioning him at all, with the person delivering the decree even unaware of who General Liu was.
General Liu’s head buzzed.
He stopped his personal guard with a look and glared threateningly at the imperial guards and soldiers who had accompanied them.
“Yes, yes, we will head to the Yongzhou posthouse now,” General Liu turned and said with a smile to the serving secretary.
The serving secretary, sensing something amiss, looked suspiciously at General Liu, took mental note of this incident, offered a perfunctory bow, and then left with his people.
The personal guard cursed under his breath as he watched him leave.
Some quick-witted imperial guards also realized that since General Liu had been suppressing bandits in Pingzhou, he should be staying at the Pingzhou posthouse.
“Something’s not right.”
“Could it be that the Second Prince is in power?”
“Idiot, if the Second Prince were in power, it wouldn’t be him being labeled a traitor; it would be the Third Prince!”
Everyone suddenly understood. Right, the Second Prince’s impetuous nature didn’t seem like someone capable of plotting a rebellion! Even if the Second Prince was foolish, the commander of the imperial guards wasn’t.
“…Not a single trusted imperial guard in sight, and our commander is among the traitors!”
“The Third Prince truly keeps his cards close to his chest.”
The group speculated incorrectly, twisting the truth in another direction.
Smart people are often defeated by absurd realities.
No matter how they thought about it, the civilian official group secretly plotting, instigating the Second Prince to rebel, bombarding the imperial palace with cannons, then taking advantage of the chaos to control the capital, colluding with the Third Prince to place the Emperor under house arrest, and executing the Second Prince, seemed very plausible.
The Third Prince’s only opponent now would be the physically weak Crown Prince.
The Sixth Prince, young and without power, would find it hard to turn the situation around.
General Liu hurried back to his mansion, sending his personal soldiers to gather information. He paced back and forth in the flower hall.
The household servants, due to his long absence from the capital, were usually very lax but now stood trembling, head bowed, reporting the recent events in the capital to General Liu.
Mainly, it was about the comet seen on the Lantern Festival and the double dragon phenomenon in the sky a few days ago.
General Liu didn’t hear what he wanted to know and was getting anxious when his personal guards gradually returned.
“General, there’s trouble! The Crown Prince is critically ill, said to be within this month. It was kept very secret, but with Taijing under martial law, those involved in handling the affairs became scared and let the news slip.”
“Really?”
“General, this is terrible! The Northern Zhenfu Division is surrounded by the Imperial Guards… and so is the Southern Zhenfu Division, those Jinyiwei are trapped inside, it’s said to have been four days already.”
“What?!”
General Liu Dan slammed the table and stood up. Although he was annoyed by the Jinyiwei, the emperor’s real downfall was bad news for General Liu Dan. The Third Prince had risen to power with the support of the civilian official group, making the days for military officers even tougher.
“How bold, aren’t they afraid that everyone in the court and countryside will know, earning a bad reputation?”
“…General, there’s worse news. Several days ago, the Jinyiwei Tongzhi Gong Jun was dispatched to Shangyun Mountain to capture the troublemakers from the jianghu who entered the capital. But he never returned, and after that, the capital was put under martial law. General Tan of the Jingji Left Camp then took troops to suppress the rebels, heading towards Shangyun Mountain. General, do you think they’re after the jianghu people, or are they dealing with Tongzhi Gong?”
General Liu Dan was stunned and quickly urged, “How did you find out about this?”
“The Southern Zhenfu Division is in chaos. It’s said that there’s nothing left inside the yamen to stave off hunger. They argued with the Imperial Guards, and the noise could be heard from afar!” A personal guard sneered disdainfully, “Those Imperial Guards are laughable, thinking they could completely suppress Jinyiwei. They boasted in the quarrel, saying Tongzhi Gong might have died at the hands of those jianghu bandits.”
General Liu Dan shook his head, “Tongzhi Gong has a higher reputation in the Southern Zhenfu Division than the commander of Jinyiwei. Such insolence from the Imperial Guards is like stirring up a hornet’s nest.”
“Is that so? No wonder!” The personal guard quickly added, “Once the Jinyiwei heard this, they were enraged and hurt many Imperial Guards. Without drawing blood, they dislocated several arms, claiming that their Tongzhi knew martial arts and with Shangyun Mountain being so vast, how could anything happen to him. Then the Imperial Guards slipped up, revealing that General Tan of the Jingji Left Camp brought cannons with him, cannons! To bombard the mountain directly!”
Even General Liu Dan was left speechless.
How could the capital become so chaotic?
“What’s the situation now between the Imperial Guards and the Southern Zhenfu Division?”
“It’s unclear. A brother is watching over there; I came back first to report to the general.”
General Liu Dan frowned deeply, regretting, “We shouldn’t have entered the capital. If we had delayed outside for a while, we could have observed the situation clearer. Now we’re caught in this whirlpool, I don’t know how we can extricate ourselves.”
“That’s easy, why don’t we sneak into the Imperial Guards’ ranks and see what happens?” suggested the personal guard.
“That won’t work. Although the serving secretary might not recognize me, once he reports back, my identity can’t be concealed. If they come looking and can’t find anyone, I’m afraid they’ll directly label us as rebels.” General Liu Dan sighed deeply, rubbing his temples.
This is truly being trapped in a city of worries.
Just as General Liu Dan was worrying, another personal guard hurried in.
“General, something strange has happened!”
General Liu Dan didn’t show the same astonishment as before, he simply raised his eyelids and commanded, “Speak!”
This personal guard was younger. He leaned in and whispered mysteriously, “Something happened at Lord He’s house!”
“Hmm?”
“I just followed to Lord He’s house, and guess what, General, Lord He is currently raging at home! His servants originally wanted to keep it a secret, but they couldn’t hide it. Lord He went home to change clothes, but in his house… pfft.”
General Liu Dan stared at the personal guard, who quickly straightened his face and said seriously, “All of Lord He’s clothes were stolen, except for his purse and silk stockings, nothing was left! Even his shoes were gone!”
“…What would a thief do with these clothes? Were the official robes also stolen?”
“Indeed, five or six official robes are gone, and so are the jade belts, official hats, and boots.”
General Liu Dan pondered, “Could someone be planning to impersonate Lord He?”
“Not just that, according to the servants at Lord He’s house, all the rice and grain vanished, leaving only a pile of cabbages in the kitchen.” The personal guard barely suppressed his laughter and whispered, “I guess these items might end up in the homes of the poor in the west city, robbing the rich to help the poor, it sounds like something out of a story.”
General Liu Dan said with irritation, “Enough, why would a hero who robs the rich to help the poor steal official robes? What times are these? People still do such things…”
Before he could finish, he noticed the last returning personal guard’s expression was off.
And beside that personal guard, there was a short figure dressed in grey armor, at first glance, one might think he was also one of his personal guards.
“You—”
The unexpected visitor lifted his head, his expression grim.
“It seems General Liu is not welcoming me.”
“Sixth Prince… How did you get out?” As soon as General Liu Dan spoke, he remembered that the Sixth Prince had previously managed to slip out unnoticed, and even Lord He, with his men, had nearly turned over the imperial tombs without finding him.
General Liu Dan’s face turned sour, standing before him wasn’t a prince but a huge problem.
A trouble that could cost him his head!
“Your Highness’s status is noble, with chaos rampant in the city now, you really shouldn’t be running around wilfully.”
“General Liu, you are the emperor’s trusted aide, and he will surely summon you first.” The Sixth Prince stared at him, pursing his lips, “When that time comes, please take me into the palace as your personal guard. Even if you refuse, if I can find General Liu’s Mansion, I can make others find their way here too, General. You wouldn’t want to be labeled a traitor, would you?”
General Liu Dan’s face turned cold, unmercifully ordering his personal guards to chase the person away.
“The Sixth Prince was brought into the palace, this person’s identity is unclear, and you let him in! Make him leave!”
The Sixth Prince wasn’t annoyed; he fixedly looked at General Liu Dan and said, “General, about the person you met at the imperial tombs, won’t you introduce them to me?”
General Liu Dan’s heart skipped a beat, though his face remained expressionless.
The personal guards, less composed than General Liu Dan, slowed their actions.
Seeing this, the Sixth Prince said more confidently, “General Liu might not know, but I have learned martial arts, and my senses are sharper than most. That day, near the forest by the imperial tombs, I heard your personal guards mention a name.”
“…”
“Imperial Teacher Meng, an interesting title, who is this person?”
General Liu Dan, facing the confident Sixth Prince, felt a headache coming on.
The Sixth Prince chuckled, “Later, the imperial tombs were stormed by a group of jianghu people. After investigating, I even heard that a former palace servant, named Aunt Yu, saw someone whose figure, temperament, and gaze were strikingly similar to the former dynasty’s Imperial Teacher Meng Qi, just much younger. Aunt Yu insisted it was Imperial Teacher Meng, saying there’s no second person in the world with such presence. Unfortunately, her description reminded me of two strangers I encountered near Lu family estate by the imperial tombs. One of them was exactly as she described, unforgettable and unmatched in this world.”
“I don’t know what Your Highness is talking about. I’ve been fighting in the northern borders for years, then suppressing bandits in Pingzhou. I’ve hardly spent time in Taijing, barely recognizing the officials of our dynasty, let alone any former dynasty’s Imperial Teacher!”
Seeing General Liu Dan’s unmoved appearance, the Sixth Prince nodded and said calmly, “Let’s not talk about that, let’s discuss the precarious situation you’re in now. Being a miscellaneous rank general of the fourth grade puts you in a precarious position, with the Prime Minister’s single order able to strip you of your command or accuse you of crimes. You’re a trusted official of the emperor, but once the new emperor ascends, your place will be taken by his confidantes. Would you be content with that, General? Your troops, who followed you through life and death in the northern borders, handing them over to someone else, would they be willing? Would they end up well?”
The Sixth Prince pointed southward, sneering, “If I were the new emperor, I’d just need to send these men to the Yangtze defense line, forcefully ordering an attack on the old lands of Yuechu. These men would naturally become names on the casualty list of the Ministry of War.”
General Liu Dan, cunning as he was, remained silent.
Dealing with someone like the Sixth Prince, keeping a cold face and ignoring him was the best strategy.
Seeing his agitation failed, the Sixth Prince changed his approach, “Or perhaps, General, you’re considering fleeing with your troops.”
He clapped his hands twice, laughing sarcastically, “That’s a fine idea, but unfortunately, your old troops are in Pingzhou. What can you do after you escape back there with your personal guards? Pass through Yongzhou to seek refuge in the domain of the Third Prince of the Chu dynasty, or flee to the southwestern King Tianshou? General, after you cleared out a branch of the Holy Lotus Sect, could you really stay with King Tianshou?”
General Liu Dan was astonished, how did the Sixth Prince know about his actions in Qinghu Town, Pingzhou?
The Sixth Prince only smiled, not speaking. He naturally wouldn’t foolishly reveal how he got the confidential reports from Pingzhou through the Crown Prince and the commander of Jinyiwei.
“…Thus, it seems, General, your only option is to lead your men far beyond the borders, or to hide in the mountains, in places beyond the reach of the imperial edict, and claim a mountain as king. Right now, there’s a chance to change your fate in front of you, it depends on whether you can grasp it!”
“Is it to bring you into the palace?” General Liu Dan sneered.
“No, I want to meet that Imperial Teacher Meng!”
The Sixth Prince’s eyes shone; he wanted to meet the legendary figure who had effortlessly entered the Northern Zhenfu Division, leading to the death of the deputy commander of Jinyiwei.
Missing him at the imperial tombs was a regret for the Sixth Prince.
Thinking back to when he eavesdropped on Imperial Teacher Meng discussing Lu family estate with that doctor, the Sixth Prince was even more excited. A capable and unique individual who did not covet the throne, described by his eldest brother as a sage for the ages, was truly rare!
“What, what did you say?” General Liu Dan was dumbfounded.
“I, the prince…”
The Sixth Prince thought silently, he needed to find a reliable assassin, unlike the inept one his second brother found, that Qingwu Ancestor was no good! Imperial Teacher Meng was different!
“I can promise Imperial Teacher Meng the position of Prime Minister, not just me, my eldest brother would agree too!” The Sixth Prince said through clenched teeth, believing the Crown Prince would surely agree with him.
General Liu Dan and his personal guards: “…”
Imperial Teacher Meng doesn’t want the seal of office; he only wants the money bag.
The author’s note:
General Liu Dan: It’s always the Imperial Teacher who comes to rob me, I’ve never gone looking for the Imperial Teacher, how do I go? Hang the money bag around my neck, holding a gong and walking through the streets?
You’re making it difficult for General Liu Moneybag!
(There is a plot but no protagonist, so be careful when purchasing) This is making things difficult for me, moneybag General Liu.
In the capital of Taijing, there were no corpses strewn about, nor were there any ruined walls.
Although soldiers were everywhere, creating a tense atmosphere, civilians could still move around in the neighborhoods and pass through checkpoints to enter and exit the markets. Many shops on the streets had closed their doors, with long queues forming in front of the rice and oil shops.
A minor official from the Taijing Prefecture yamen loudly read out the decree just issued by the ministers of the Wenyuan Pavilion in front of the shops, claiming the rebellion had been quelled, the conspirators had been captured, and Taijing would soon return to normal, so the people need not panic-buy rice and grain.
Those rice merchants who had jacked up prices were already being locked up by the officials, prepared to be taken away.
Despite their fear, the civilians still cheered at this scene.
The Sixth Prince peered out of the carriage, his expression slightly disdainful.
“Such merchants deserve a lesson,” said a personal guard of General Liu, feeling vindicated.
“It’s about capturing people and then extorting money,” the Sixth Prince sneered, pointing out, “Look at these yamen runners and soldiers, whether they are guarding against the merchants or the civilians around cheering.”
General Liu coughed lightly, urging caution before Lord He could hear the commotion, whispering, “Your Highness, it’s better to be careful with your words.”
Since entering the city, the Sixth Prince’s defiant attitude had become more evident. General Liu couldn’t understand why; wasn’t this the time to pretend to be filial and show a humble and obedient side to the Emperor?
The Sixth Prince had seemed a bit odd when he first heard of the Second Prince’s rebellion, and now even more so.
In General Liu’s view, Taijing’s quick return to order after a coup d’état was commendable. It indicated that the ministers and high officials had not been affected, and they had no intention of stirring up trouble to disgust people.
—As a military officer often suppressed by the civilian official group, General Liu had grievances against certain people in the court.
Not participating in the conspiracy didn’t mean one could rest easy.
The court would always seize the opportunity of purging rebels to bring about earth-shattering changes, and those demoted or dismissed were considered lucky. One might face numerous charges from the Imperial Censor at court one day, and then a faction among the officials would act together, stripping one of official position and attire and throwing one into prison.
For General Liu, the most dangerous aspect was his lack of powerful backers in court.
His only support was the Emperor himself. To gain the Emperor’s trust, military officers had to be lone supporters, and since his military power and influence were not large enough for the civilian officials to regard him differently, he had no one to speak up for him.
General Liu was deeply troubled.
Even more troubled were the imperial guards in the convoy going to the imperial tombs with the Sixth Prince; the streets of Taijing were filled with the imperial army and yamen runners, yet not a single imperial guard could be seen.
General Liu slowly realized something was amiss. Although the city checks were strict, when encountering stubborn jianghu people, the city patrol and yamen runners only made a show of chasing and scolding without using bows and arrows. It seemed they were ordered to capture if possible and let go if not, indicating they didn’t have a kill order. The convoy had only been troubled upon entering the city, but after that, everything went smoothly, with no one coming to pick a quarrel or eunuchs coming to deliver decrees.
Thus, they entered the inner city with trepidation.
Finally, someone arrived, a serving secretary from the Wenyuan Pavilion.
A serving secretary, a minor sixth-rank official, usually came from the Hanlin Academy. Their mentors were ministers or they themselves joined powerful factions in the court, being groomed as potential future Prime Ministers. However, even if their career went smoothly, it would take at least twenty years to reach the position of Prime Minister, with countless unforeseen events possibly obstructing their path.
They seemed to have a promising future but were actually running errands in the Wenyuan Pavilion, assisting the ministers.
Seeing such a person blocking their way with the imperial guards, the people in the convoy looked uneasy.
Lord He, confident in his status, looked down upon the other party.
Aside from him, everyone else was wondering why a sixth-rank serving secretary was sent to welcome them. If it was a highly trusted official by the Emperor, the low rank wouldn’t matter, but the current serving secretary was not such a person.
What did this mean? Did the Sixth Prince no longer have any chance of ascending to the throne? Was the Sixth Prince about to face misfortune? Or was the Emperor deliberately suppressing the Sixth Prince? Or… did the Emperor really still hold power over the court? Logically, for the sake of balancing power, even if the Emperor killed the Second Prince and appointed the Third Prince as the heir apparent, he wouldn’t just sideline the Sixth Prince. Instead, he would need to bring this younger prince forward to experience and temper in the Eastern Palace.
Being experienced in court politics and highly cautious, everyone felt a chill upon further thought.
The serving secretary calmly announced the decree, essentially stating the Second Prince’s conspiracy, the Emperor’s fury, and the order for a thorough investigation. It mentioned the Second Prince’s collusion with the commander of the imperial guards and the hiring of jianghu assassins to attempt an assassination in the palace, with the assassin still at large. Thus, the order was given for the imperial guards to escort the Sixth Prince into the palace for strict protection.
Lord He was distracted, and General Liu dared not act rashly, so he watched helplessly as the Sixth Prince was taken away.
The decree then mentioned Lord He, ordering him to return home to rest and wait for the court meeting in a few days.
Seeing the serving secretary about to leave, General Liu couldn’t help but ask, “Did His Majesty mention me?”
The serving secretary glanced at him. Since General Liu’s injuries had not healed, he was not wearing armor but a fourth-rank military officer’s uniform. There was no distinction in the uniform of a fourth-rank military officer, but there was a difference in armor regulations. The serving secretary apparently did not remember who General Liu was, mistaking him for a military officer escorting the Sixth Prince from Yongzhou, and casually said, “No, the commanding officer should return to the prefectural posthouse to wait for news.”
General Liu: “…”
Officials from outside the capital, either on official duty or for reporting for duty, because they had nowhere to live, would stay in posthouses bearing the prefectural insignia, which were set up by the court at no cost to the officials themselves.
If he were a fourth-rank commanding officer from a locality, indeed he would only be able to go to the posthouse, even if he had bought a house in Taijing, it would be in the outer city. Officials on duty naturally stayed near the Imperial City in the North City and the Inner City, where houses were unaffordable due to their exorbitant prices.
Yet, he was a General who had once saved the Emperor! The Emperor had rewarded him with a mansion! Even though it was rarely inhabited and not large, he still owned a house!
This serving secretary was not sent by the Emperor!
General Liu did not believe the Emperor could have forgotten him, not out of vanity, but because the Emperor had urgently summoned him to inquire about the gold mine in Silang Mountain.
His association with the Sixth Prince’s party was because the Sixth Prince had gone missing while playing in the Yongzhou Imperial Tombs, and Lord He, seeking help from the government, incidentally involved him as he was passing by, asking him to assist in the search. Then, the chaos at the Imperial Tombs occurred, and Lord He and General Liu each sent a secret report to the Emperor.
Therefore, officially, General Liu was not traveling with the Sixth Prince.
However, in Lu Zhang’s view, he was very aware of this matter, and whether it was because of the gold mine, the Imperial Tombs, or understanding the actions of the Sixth Prince along the way, Lu Zhang could not possibly ignore General Liu entirely, not to mention not mentioning him at all, with the person delivering the decree even unaware of who General Liu was.
General Liu’s head buzzed.
He stopped his personal guard with a look and glared threateningly at the imperial guards and soldiers who had accompanied them.
“Yes, yes, we will head to the Yongzhou posthouse now,” General Liu turned and said with a smile to the serving secretary.
The serving secretary, sensing something amiss, looked suspiciously at General Liu, took mental note of this incident, offered a perfunctory bow, and then left with his people.
The personal guard cursed under his breath as he watched him leave.
Some quick-witted imperial guards also realized that since General Liu had been suppressing bandits in Pingzhou, he should be staying at the Pingzhou posthouse.
“Something’s not right.”
“Could it be that the Second Prince is in power?”
“Idiot, if the Second Prince were in power, it wouldn’t be him being labeled a traitor; it would be the Third Prince!”
Everyone suddenly understood. Right, the Second Prince’s impetuous nature didn’t seem like someone capable of plotting a rebellion! Even if the Second Prince was foolish, the commander of the imperial guards wasn’t.
“…Not a single trusted imperial guard in sight, and our commander is among the traitors!”
“The Third Prince truly keeps his cards close to his chest.”
The group speculated incorrectly, twisting the truth in another direction.
Smart people are often defeated by absurd realities.
No matter how they thought about it, the civilian official group secretly plotting, instigating the Second Prince to rebel, bombarding the imperial palace with cannons, then taking advantage of the chaos to control the capital, colluding with the Third Prince to place the Emperor under house arrest, and executing the Second Prince, seemed very plausible.
The Third Prince’s only opponent now would be the physically weak Crown Prince.
The Sixth Prince, young and without power, would find it hard to turn the situation around.
General Liu hurried back to his mansion, sending his personal soldiers to gather information. He paced back and forth in the flower hall.
The household servants, due to his long absence from the capital, were usually very lax but now stood trembling, head bowed, reporting the recent events in the capital to General Liu.
Mainly, it was about the comet seen on the Lantern Festival and the double dragon phenomenon in the sky a few days ago.
General Liu didn’t hear what he wanted to know and was getting anxious when his personal guards gradually returned.
“General, there’s trouble! The Crown Prince is critically ill, said to be within this month. It was kept very secret, but with Taijing under martial law, those involved in handling the affairs became scared and let the news slip.”
“Really?”
“General, this is terrible! The Northern Zhenfu Division is surrounded by the Imperial Guards… and so is the Southern Zhenfu Division, those Jinyiwei are trapped inside, it’s said to have been four days already.”
“What?!”
General Liu Dan slammed the table and stood up. Although he was annoyed by the Jinyiwei, the emperor’s real downfall was bad news for General Liu Dan. The Third Prince had risen to power with the support of the civilian official group, making the days for military officers even tougher.
“How bold, aren’t they afraid that everyone in the court and countryside will know, earning a bad reputation?”
“…General, there’s worse news. Several days ago, the Jinyiwei Tongzhi Gong Jun was dispatched to Shangyun Mountain to capture the troublemakers from the jianghu who entered the capital. But he never returned, and after that, the capital was put under martial law. General Tan of the Jingji Left Camp then took troops to suppress the rebels, heading towards Shangyun Mountain. General, do you think they’re after the jianghu people, or are they dealing with Tongzhi Gong?”
General Liu Dan was stunned and quickly urged, “How did you find out about this?”
“The Southern Zhenfu Division is in chaos. It’s said that there’s nothing left inside the yamen to stave off hunger. They argued with the Imperial Guards, and the noise could be heard from afar!” A personal guard sneered disdainfully, “Those Imperial Guards are laughable, thinking they could completely suppress Jinyiwei. They boasted in the quarrel, saying Tongzhi Gong might have died at the hands of those jianghu bandits.”
General Liu Dan shook his head, “Tongzhi Gong has a higher reputation in the Southern Zhenfu Division than the commander of Jinyiwei. Such insolence from the Imperial Guards is like stirring up a hornet’s nest.”
“Is that so? No wonder!” The personal guard quickly added, “Once the Jinyiwei heard this, they were enraged and hurt many Imperial Guards. Without drawing blood, they dislocated several arms, claiming that their Tongzhi knew martial arts and with Shangyun Mountain being so vast, how could anything happen to him. Then the Imperial Guards slipped up, revealing that General Tan of the Jingji Left Camp brought cannons with him, cannons! To bombard the mountain directly!”
Even General Liu Dan was left speechless.
How could the capital become so chaotic?
“What’s the situation now between the Imperial Guards and the Southern Zhenfu Division?”
“It’s unclear. A brother is watching over there; I came back first to report to the general.”
General Liu Dan frowned deeply, regretting, “We shouldn’t have entered the capital. If we had delayed outside for a while, we could have observed the situation clearer. Now we’re caught in this whirlpool, I don’t know how we can extricate ourselves.”
“That’s easy, why don’t we sneak into the Imperial Guards’ ranks and see what happens?” suggested the personal guard.
“That won’t work. Although the serving secretary might not recognize me, once he reports back, my identity can’t be concealed. If they come looking and can’t find anyone, I’m afraid they’ll directly label us as rebels.” General Liu Dan sighed deeply, rubbing his temples.
This is truly being trapped in a city of worries.
Just as General Liu Dan was worrying, another personal guard hurried in.
“General, something strange has happened!”
General Liu Dan didn’t show the same astonishment as before, he simply raised his eyelids and commanded, “Speak!”
This personal guard was younger. He leaned in and whispered mysteriously, “Something happened at Lord He’s house!”
“Hmm?”
“I just followed to Lord He’s house, and guess what, General, Lord He is currently raging at home! His servants originally wanted to keep it a secret, but they couldn’t hide it. Lord He went home to change clothes, but in his house… pfft.”
General Liu Dan stared at the personal guard, who quickly straightened his face and said seriously, “All of Lord He’s clothes were stolen, except for his purse and silk stockings, nothing was left! Even his shoes were gone!”
“…What would a thief do with these clothes? Were the official robes also stolen?”
“Indeed, five or six official robes are gone, and so are the jade belts, official hats, and boots.”
General Liu Dan pondered, “Could someone be planning to impersonate Lord He?”
“Not just that, according to the servants at Lord He’s house, all the rice and grain vanished, leaving only a pile of cabbages in the kitchen.” The personal guard barely suppressed his laughter and whispered, “I guess these items might end up in the homes of the poor in the west city, robbing the rich to help the poor, it sounds like something out of a story.”
General Liu Dan said with irritation, “Enough, why would a hero who robs the rich to help the poor steal official robes? What times are these? People still do such things…”
Before he could finish, he noticed the last returning personal guard’s expression was off.
And beside that personal guard, there was a short figure dressed in grey armor, at first glance, one might think he was also one of his personal guards.
“You—”
The unexpected visitor lifted his head, his expression grim.
“It seems General Liu is not welcoming me.”
“Sixth Prince… How did you get out?” As soon as General Liu Dan spoke, he remembered that the Sixth Prince had previously managed to slip out unnoticed, and even Lord He, with his men, had nearly turned over the imperial tombs without finding him.
General Liu Dan’s face turned sour, standing before him wasn’t a prince but a huge problem.
A trouble that could cost him his head!
“Your Highness’s status is noble, with chaos rampant in the city now, you really shouldn’t be running around wilfully.”
“General Liu, you are the emperor’s trusted aide, and he will surely summon you first.” The Sixth Prince stared at him, pursing his lips, “When that time comes, please take me into the palace as your personal guard. Even if you refuse, if I can find General Liu’s Mansion, I can make others find their way here too, General. You wouldn’t want to be labeled a traitor, would you?”
General Liu Dan’s face turned cold, unmercifully ordering his personal guards to chase the person away.
“The Sixth Prince was brought into the palace, this person’s identity is unclear, and you let him in! Make him leave!”
The Sixth Prince wasn’t annoyed; he fixedly looked at General Liu Dan and said, “General, about the person you met at the imperial tombs, won’t you introduce them to me?”
General Liu Dan’s heart skipped a beat, though his face remained expressionless.
The personal guards, less composed than General Liu Dan, slowed their actions.
Seeing this, the Sixth Prince said more confidently, “General Liu might not know, but I have learned martial arts, and my senses are sharper than most. That day, near the forest by the imperial tombs, I heard your personal guards mention a name.”
“…”
“Imperial Teacher Meng, an interesting title, who is this person?”
General Liu Dan, facing the confident Sixth Prince, felt a headache coming on.
The Sixth Prince chuckled, “Later, the imperial tombs were stormed by a group of jianghu people. After investigating, I even heard that a former palace servant, named Aunt Yu, saw someone whose figure, temperament, and gaze were strikingly similar to the former dynasty’s Imperial Teacher Meng Qi, just much younger. Aunt Yu insisted it was Imperial Teacher Meng, saying there’s no second person in the world with such presence. Unfortunately, her description reminded me of two strangers I encountered near Lu family estate by the imperial tombs. One of them was exactly as she described, unforgettable and unmatched in this world.”
“I don’t know what Your Highness is talking about. I’ve been fighting in the northern borders for years, then suppressing bandits in Pingzhou. I’ve hardly spent time in Taijing, barely recognizing the officials of our dynasty, let alone any former dynasty’s Imperial Teacher!”
Seeing General Liu Dan’s unmoved appearance, the Sixth Prince nodded and said calmly, “Let’s not talk about that, let’s discuss the precarious situation you’re in now. Being a miscellaneous rank general of the fourth grade puts you in a precarious position, with the Prime Minister’s single order able to strip you of your command or accuse you of crimes. You’re a trusted official of the emperor, but once the new emperor ascends, your place will be taken by his confidantes. Would you be content with that, General? Your troops, who followed you through life and death in the northern borders, handing them over to someone else, would they be willing? Would they end up well?”
The Sixth Prince pointed southward, sneering, “If I were the new emperor, I’d just need to send these men to the Yangtze defense line, forcefully ordering an attack on the old lands of Yuechu. These men would naturally become names on the casualty list of the Ministry of War.”
General Liu Dan, cunning as he was, remained silent.
Dealing with someone like the Sixth Prince, keeping a cold face and ignoring him was the best strategy.
Seeing his agitation failed, the Sixth Prince changed his approach, “Or perhaps, General, you’re considering fleeing with your troops.”
He clapped his hands twice, laughing sarcastically, “That’s a fine idea, but unfortunately, your old troops are in Pingzhou. What can you do after you escape back there with your personal guards? Pass through Yongzhou to seek refuge in the domain of the Third Prince of the Chu dynasty, or flee to the southwestern King Tianshou? General, after you cleared out a branch of the Holy Lotus Sect, could you really stay with King Tianshou?”
General Liu Dan was astonished, how did the Sixth Prince know about his actions in Qinghu Town, Pingzhou?
The Sixth Prince only smiled, not speaking. He naturally wouldn’t foolishly reveal how he got the confidential reports from Pingzhou through the Crown Prince and the commander of Jinyiwei.
“…Thus, it seems, General, your only option is to lead your men far beyond the borders, or to hide in the mountains, in places beyond the reach of the imperial edict, and claim a mountain as king. Right now, there’s a chance to change your fate in front of you, it depends on whether you can grasp it!”
“Is it to bring you into the palace?” General Liu Dan sneered.
“No, I want to meet that Imperial Teacher Meng!”
The Sixth Prince’s eyes shone; he wanted to meet the legendary figure who had effortlessly entered the Northern Zhenfu Division, leading to the death of the deputy commander of Jinyiwei.
Missing him at the imperial tombs was a regret for the Sixth Prince.
Thinking back to when he eavesdropped on Imperial Teacher Meng discussing Lu family estate with that doctor, the Sixth Prince was even more excited. A capable and unique individual who did not covet the throne, described by his eldest brother as a sage for the ages, was truly rare!
“What, what did you say?” General Liu Dan was dumbfounded.
“I, the prince…”
The Sixth Prince thought silently, he needed to find a reliable assassin, unlike the inept one his second brother found, that Qingwu Ancestor was no good! Imperial Teacher Meng was different!
“I can promise Imperial Teacher Meng the position of Prime Minister, not just me, my eldest brother would agree too!” The Sixth Prince said through clenched teeth, believing the Crown Prince would surely agree with him.
General Liu Dan and his personal guards: “…”
Imperial Teacher Meng doesn’t want the seal of office; he only wants the money bag.
The author’s note:
General Liu Dan: It’s always the Imperial Teacher who comes to rob me, I’ve never gone looking for the Imperial Teacher, how do I go? Hang the money bag around my neck, holding a gong and walking through the streets?
You’re making it difficult for General Liu Moneybag!
