A Single Tie Of Long Hair Seals A Lifelong Commitment - Chapter 50.2

Chen Liangyu offered a helping hand and said, “The military camp has too much of a murderous atmosphere, and the wind in the mountains and by the water is strong. It gets cold and damp at night. It is not suitable for the Princess, who is pregnant, to be here.”

Xun Shuheng tidied the hair that the wind had messed up, saying, “His Highness said the same thing, but I insisted on coming, wanting to see an old friend sooner, so he allowed me.”

Although it was a reunion of old friends, the atmosphere was not light.

“Liangyu, the Marquis Mansion is different from the Xun Mansion, which is full of literati. You must have a way to contact your family. Recently… have you heard any news from Yongdu?”

Suddenly hearing the word ‘Yongdu,’ Chen Liangyu’s palm sweated slightly.

The next moment, she felt the hand under her wide sleeve being gripped and squeezed back.

In that hidden place, only the size of a cuff, where only the two of them could feel it, Xie Wenjun was also trying to return the strength and support.

Yongdu had already changed. The Xun Mansion was guarded day and night. Xun Shuheng was now Princess Shen. If Xie Yuan raised an army, how would Prince Qi deal with the Xun family? It was unknown whether he would kill them to eliminate future troubles or use them for threats.

Chen Liangyu’s voice was slightly hoarse, “The Xun Mansion is safe for now, Princess, please rest assured.”

A flag, adorned with a lion and tiger pattern, was planted in front of the central military tent.

Xie Yuan spread an imperial edict on the table.

The bright yellow background and the characters written in vermilion ink were particularly striking. The dragon-and-cloud pattern undoubtedly came from the palace, but the place where the crimson seal should have been stamped was empty.

An imperial edict without the Imperial Seal.

Yan Feng said, “Half a month ago, there were already rumors among the people that the Emperor intended to abdicate in favor of Prince Shen. The edict arrived just a few days ago, ordering His Highness to return to the palace immediately after receiving the decree, and not to bring any troops.”

Return to the palace alone.

That would likely be a one-way trip.

Where did the rumor of abdication come from? The news of Xie Yu’s death was still kept secret half a month ago. With the Crown Prince still alive, who would spread rumors that the throne was to be passed to Prince Shen? Yongdu was under lockdown and martial law. Even she only found out about the Crown Prince’s assassination from Xie Wenjun. Besides Xie Wenjun and Rong Jun, who else knew about the Crown Prince’s death?

The Flying Moth could transmit messages.

The Flying Moth’s messages were not meant to be leaked, but if the person who created it wanted to find out something through it, it would be as easy as turning over one’s hand.

Chen Liangyu felt a little regretful that she hadn’t detained Jiang Bojin, or just killed him. He wanted to stir up trouble in a chaotic world, and he was full of tricks to incite others. Letting him go would only plant a hidden danger.

Xie Wenjun said, “Of course we must return to Yongdu, but not alone. What is your plan, Third Brother?”

Xie Yuan said, “We must plan carefully.”

Xie Wenjun’s spine was stubbornly straight, trying hard to hold firm, yet Xun Shuheng still noticed the discomfort immediately.

Xun Shuheng quickly scanned everyone’s faces—all wore the same grave expression, the same unspoken understanding.

She should avoid being a hindrance.

Xie Yuan had not told her to return to the residence. She looked down, stroking her belly with her fair, scallion-like fingers, and said to Xie Yuan, “I feel uneasy and physically unwell in this camp. Why don’t the Princess and I return to the residence first? We can discuss family matters when Your Highness and Liangyu have finished setting up the new camp and returned.”

“That works.” Xie Yuan nodded upon hearing this, “Yan Feng, prepare the carriage to take the Princess and Princess back to the residence first.”

The carriage drove away, kicking up dust and leaving the people and the rolling dust behind.

Chen Liangyu curled her hand into a fist, feeling empty.

Her palm was empty, and a part of her heart also felt inexplicably hollow. It was as if some bond had been formed; after holding hands for so long, she actually didn’t want to let go.

Chen Liangyu and Xie Yuan ascended a lookout tower.

Looking out into the distance, it was a magnificent landscape.

Two sentinels were pacing back and forth, keeping watch around the tower. Xie Yuan raised a hand, and the sentinels bowed before climbing down the wooden ladder.

Chen Liangyu had brought nearly 30,000 troops. The existing Linxia Grand Camp tents were insufficient for the large army to stay, so the soldiers below were busy accelerating the expansion. The camp area was not big enough, so some of the soldiers’ tents were pitched outside.

Chen Liangyu said, “Before coming to Linxia, your subordinate also received a verbal order, commanding your subordinate to return to Yongdu immediately without delay.”

She and Xie Yuan received the order to return to Yongdu almost simultaneously.

Xie Yuan asked, “What are your plans?”

“Since your subordinate brought the large army here instead of obeying the summons to return to Yongdu, Your Highness should know my intention.”

“You mean, to raise an army to support the King?”

Chen Liangyu smiled and said, “Your subordinate once asked Your Highness if you were willing to become a wise and magnanimous monarch?”

Xie Yuan glanced around, confirming there were no eavesdroppers, and said, “You are too bold. Although the Crown Prince is dead, the Emperor remains. Prince Qi is looking for an excuse to label this Prince and you as traitors. Raising an army for yourself at this time would play right into Prince Qi’s hands, giving him leverage.”

“No, not raising an army for yourself,” Chen Liangyu corrected, “but inheriting the legitimate line of succession!”

“I ask Your Highness to immediately order that the military garrisons in Linxia and the neighboring Cangnan Prefecture and its surrounding areas cease rotating guard duty, and conserve military strength. Even with the current Linxia Grand Camp and my men, plus the garrison of Chong’an Prefecture and the eight cities of Dongbaiyue, we only have over 100,000 men. To attack Yongdu, the military strength is still insufficient.”

Xie Yuan: “Then what is your suggestion?”

“Recruit soldiers, recruit a new army.” Chen Liangyu said, “Under the Fubing system, morale is low. There are many people who have lost their land now. If a war breaks out, there will inevitably be many deserters.”

Under the Fubing system, one person joining the army could exempt the entire family from taxes. They farmed during the busy season, trained during the slack season, and went to war when needed.

“Stationing soldiers among the farmers is certainly more beneficial than detrimental during peacetime, but it is difficult to sustain during wartime. If war breaks out during the busy farming season, should the soldiers farm or go to war? If they go to war, the fields are abandoned, there is no food, and the court cannot collect enough taxes. If tax grain cannot be collected, the Ministry of Revenue cannot allocate military funds and supplies for the war. In the long run, the troops will be exhausted, and the national treasury will be depleted.”

“Now, local aristocratic families and officials are greedy and are vying to encroach upon the common people’s land. Farmers lose their land, and joining the army does not provide military pay. How can the livelihood of the generals and their families be guaranteed?”

The Crown Prince and the Right Minister Zhang Diancheng established the Department of Agriculture and Sericulture, using an iron fist to forcibly curb land consolidation, which had achieved results. But strong suppression inevitably breeds rebellion. When Prince Qi issued the decree to abolish the Department of Agriculture and Sericulture in his fiefdom, he tore open the gap, which also indirectly motivated the aristocratic officials’ rebellion against the Crown Prince.

Thus, after the Crown Prince’s death, Zhang Diancheng was quickly imprisoned and executed.

The Department of Agriculture and Sericulture existed only in name.

The court is now in chaos, and no one can reorganize the Department of Agriculture and Sericulture and suppress the escalating land consolidation in various places at this time. Even if there are honest officials who seek to work for the people, seeing how the Crown Prince and the powerful Right Minister were treated, who would dare to step forward?

“Therefore, those who join the army should be provided with military pay by the court. This can solve the current problem.”

It makes sense!

Xie Yuan listened to her silently, the reasoning clear, then suddenly remembered something.

“This Prince… I don’t think I agreed to rebel yet, did I?”

“If you don’t raise an army, is Prince Shen planning to obey the decree and return to the palace?”

Chen Liangyu held the Lancang Sword in front of Xie Yuan, “The Crown Prince is dead. Your Highness is Prince Qi’s biggest thorn in the side, and a fight to the death is inevitable. This sword was personally bestowed by the Emperor, the Sword of the Founding of the Nation. It can protect Your Highness to ascend the throne smoothly.”

The wind rose from the valley, whistling across the vast world, arbitrarily tugging at people’s clothes. The fluttering robes and the flag on the camp gate were swept into the sky full of dust.

“Why choose this Prince?”

Xie Yuan narrowed his eyes, like a deity looking down upon the world. The lookout tower was more than ten zhang high, and everything within sight became small. The soldiers busy pitching tents were like a drop in the ocean, a grain of sand on the coast.

“It has been many years. This Prince has never asked you why you are so persistent in wanting this Prince to ascend the throne?”

Chen Liangyu said, “To be honest with Your Highness, my original intention was that my deepest wish could perhaps only be achieved with Your Highness’s help. If even Your Highness is unwilling to see it through, then there is even less hope for others.”

“What can this Prince do?”

“Your subordinate asks for nothing else. I only ask that after Your Highness ascends the throne, the Jixian Gate of the Imperial College will forever be open to women.”