Chapter 143: The Emperor and the Crown Prince

"Grand Marshal, I feel that fighting a war should not be so rigid."

After thinking for a moment, Li Yun spoke up, "If holding our ground is feasible, I will hold it for however many days are needed. Once a suitable opportunity arises, taking the initiative to attack Qiantang will not be a problem either.

"If holding is impossible, and we cannot manage even a single day or two, we must retreat when the time comes."

Su Jing looked silently at Li Yun and shook his head. "That is why your tactical approach is unconventional.

"The entire battlefield should operate as a cohesive whole. You are a captain commanding a few hundred men, so you can afford to focus solely on the city of Linshui. But I am the commander-in-chief, and I must view the entire battlefield.

"When necessary, not only will I order you to hold your ground for seven days, but even if I were to order you and your men to attack Qiantang, you would have to do it as long as it benefits the strategic situation."

Li Yun frowned and was about to retort when the Grand Marshal continued, "You have a natural talent for warfare, and in the future, you may command a great many troops. When the forces under your command are large enough, you will understand the reasoning I am sharing with you today."

Li Yun suppressed his urge to snap back at the stubborn old man and instead said, "Grand Marshal, I believe the location of Linshui County is of great importance.

"It is very close to Qiantang. If we wish to attack Qiantang, we are currently lacking a secure foothold.

"Therefore, Linshui can be used to draw in the enemy and wipe out a portion of them, but it must never fall back into enemy hands. If the enemy dispatches too many troops, I do not believe the Grand Marshal should continue to risk Linshui; rather, the main army should be moved to Linshui as quickly as possible.

"Victory relies on orthodox strategy."

Looking straight at Su Jing, he said in a deep voice, "My unit has already engaged those rebels, and they are nothing special."

"I am aware of that."

The Grand Marshal maintained a calm expression and said, "Their foundation lies solely in Yuezhou. After breaking through Qiantang, the rebel leader Zhao's forces suffered a devastating blow, and now they number fewer than ten thousand."

Sighing lightly, he added, "Following the fall of Qiantang, these rebels have lost the support of the people. Fighting them bit by bit will eventually wear them down to death, but it would inevitably cost more lives among both the common folk and our own soldiers."

Looking at Li Yun, he declared, "We will set a limit of seven days. After seven days, regardless of how many men the rebel Zhao has sent to Linshui, or whether he has sent anyone at all, the main army will march into Linshui."

"Li Zhao."

Li Yun was startled for a moment before nodding. "Subordinate is here."

"This is a military order. You are in the army now."

With no other choice, Li Yun nodded and said, "Subordinate obeys!"

Su Jing patted Li Yun's shoulder and smiled. "Good lad, you will have a bright future. Now, escort me on a tour of Linshui.

"I shall stay in Linshui for two days before returning to Ningguo to take command of the troops."

With that, he looked at Li Yun with a smile. "My report has already been dispatched to the capital via a six-hundred-li courier. Within ten days, the court's reward for you should arrive."

Li Yun did not care much for the imperial court's rewards. After all, he had joined the army merely to leverage their influence, having long since decided against serving the imperial court.

If the court were to appoint him as a local military officer, he would likely accept it, as it would grant him a legitimate position to build his own domain. But if they ordered him to take up an office in a place like the capital, he would not even bother to pay them any mind.

Therefore, he paid little attention to Su Jing's words and instead led the Grand Marshal to inspect Linshui County.

***

While Su Jing was inspecting Linshui, his dispatch had already reached the capital via the rapid six-hundred-li courier.

In the Chongde Palace, a palace eunuch knelt on the floor and kowtowed. "Your Majesty, a great victory at Qiantang! A great victory at Qiantang!"

The Emperor beckoned, signaling the eunuch to present the memorial. Taking the document and glancing through it, a smile first appeared on the Emperor's face. He then set the memorial aside and said indifferently, "Summon the Crown Prince."

"Yes."

The eunuch respectfully withdrew, scurrying on small steps to summon the Crown Prince. Meanwhile, His Majesty picked up the memorial once more, read it through again, laid it aside, and muttered to himself.

"The old fellow still has some real capability after all..."

After murmuring this, the Emperor looked at the pile of memorials stacked beside him, lost interest, and commanded, "Send them all to the Secretariat."

The Secretariat was the office where the chancellors handled affairs.

The reigning Son of Heaven had never been particularly diligent in state affairs, usually leaving government matters to the chancellors in the Secretariat.

However, ever since the rebellion in Yuezhou broke out, His Majesty had grown uncharacteristically industrious, frequently reviewing and approving memorials of late.

Most likely, this stemmed from a sense of psychological guilt—believing that the outbreak of a local rebellion was a failure of his own governance, which was why he had become somewhat more diligent.

Now that Su Jing had arrived in the field and achieved a major victory, the Emperor grew somewhat lax once again.

Just as His Majesty was beginning to feel drowsy, the Crown Prince hurried in, fell to his knees, and kowtowed to the Son of Heaven. "Your son pays respects to Your Imperial Father."

"There are no outsiders here, dispense with grand ceremonies. Rise."

After expressing his gratitude, the Crown Prince stood up, hands hanging respectfully at his sides. "I wonder for what matter Your Imperial Father has summoned me?"

"There is news regarding the Yuezhou rebellion, sent by Su Jing. Have a look."

Looking somewhat surprised, the Crown Prince hastily nodded. "Yes, your son obeys."

He stepped forward to receive the memorial, read through it, and then laid it down, bowing and smiling to the Emperor. "A great victory at Linshui, congratulations to Your Imperial Father.

"Your Imperial Father's wisdom illuminates all, and your choice of personnel is impeccable. Not long after dispatching Grand Marshal Su, the rebellion in Yuezhou has already been suppressed. I imagine that before the end of this year, Grand Marshal Su will return in triumph."

"I summoned you here not to listen to your flattery."

Pleased in his heart, the Emperor lowered his head to take a sip of tea to conceal his expression, then slowly said, "Read it again. Can you discern anything unusual from it?"

Puzzled, the Crown Prince picked up the memorial and read it a second time. Then, looking up at his father, he said, "Your Imperial Father, aside from a certain captain deliberately mentioned by Grand Marshal Su, there seems to be... nothing out of the ordinary?"

"In a report to the imperial court and to me, he omits the senior officers of the army, yet highlights a mere low-ranking captain who originally started out as a petty thief-catching constable."

The Emperor stared at the Crown Prince.

"Take a guess, what is Su Jing trying to do?"

The Crown Prince thought for a moment and replied, "Naturally, he wishes for the court to bestow rewards upon this captain."

The Emperor nodded. "Go on."

After pondering further, the Crown Prince suddenly understood and said, "Your son understands. Grand Marshal Su sees that his family has been re-employed by the court, and knowing that Your Imperial Father will likely employ his son to command troops in the future due to his achievements in Yuezhou, he wishes to cultivate a trusted faction for that son of his."

Only then did the Emperor nod with satisfaction. "The Crown Prince has finally shown some improvement over these years."

The Crown Prince quickly lowered his head. "All of this is thanks to Your Imperial Father's guidance; your son is filled with awe and gratitude."

His Majesty said indifferently, "Su Jing has always been unruly and headstrong in his youth. Since the Crown Prince understands his intentions, you shall take this memorial along with the chancellors in the Secretariat and handle it cooperatively.

"Send a reply to him as soon as possible."

Clasping the memorial in his hands, the Crown Prince respectfully lowered his head. "Your son obeys the command."

Just as the Crown Prince was about to take his leave, he heard His Majesty speak again. "The former Governor of Xuanzhou, Tian Jing, died in the Ministry of Punishments prison a few days ago. Does the Crown Prince know about this?"

A jolt ran through the Crown Prince's heart, and he shook his head hastily. "Your son knows nothing of it."

His Majesty stood up, looked at his respectfully bowing son, and sighed. "This matter can be big or small. A provincial governor is no minor official; how could he simply die for no reason in a prison?"

Taking a deep breath, the Crown Prince lowered his head. "Perhaps... perhaps he committed suicide out of fear of punishment..."

"The former Vice-Governor of Xuanzhou, Cao Rong, also died in prison. Did he too commit suicide out of fear of punishment?"

"Their offenses,"

His Majesty stared at the Crown Prince and continued, "did not seem to warrant the death penalty, did they?"

The Crown Prince kept his head lowered in silence.

The Emperor went on, "Because of this matter, Gu Yuan from the Censorate has sought an audience with me several times these past few days, demanding that the court thoroughly investigate the incident. Tell me, Crown Prince, should this matter be thoroughly investigated?"

The Crown Prince nodded.

"Your Imperial Father holds supreme wisdom, your son dares not presume to meddle..."

"I naturally hold supreme wisdom; what I wish to hear now is how the Crown Prince views the matter."

"Your son, your son..."

Taking a deep breath, the Crown Prince lowered his head. "Your son believes that the Ministry of Punishments should be ordered to thoroughly investigate the governor's death and give an account to the world."

Since the man died in the prison of the Ministry of Punishments, it fell under their jurisdiction.

Leaving the investigation of the Ministry's affairs to the Ministry itself already made the Crown Prince's stance clear.

The Emperor gazed quietly at the Crown Prince for a moment before speaking. "Very well, let it be handled according to the Crown Prince's wishes."

The Crown Prince breathed a sigh of relief and bowed his head. "Your Imperial Father is truly wise."

"I... am growing older by the day."

His Majesty patted the Crown Prince's shoulder and said, "The Crown Prince should pay more attention to affairs of state and visit the Secretariat more often.

"However,"

The Emperor's tone shifted abruptly. "You are the heir to the throne and the future emperor. In your actions, you must remain upright and cultivate virtue.

"Some things that ought not be done must not be done."

Trembling with apprehension, the Crown Prince replied, "Your son obeys."

Returning to his seat, the Emperor stated indifferently, "The Pei family lad has also reached the right age to do some service for the court. Send him out.

"Let him go to the provinces to temper himself for a few years."

The Crown Prince lowered his head once more.

"Your son... obeys."

(End of this chapter)