Chapter 140: Welcoming His Majesty
Zhenzhou, Lelang City. This place is now Wu Hanluan’s main base. All kinds of fighting arenas in the city have been demolished, and cockfighting and dog fighting are no longer allowed. In their place is a deep dungeon.
Due to the devastation caused by Prince Lelang here, it still hasn’t recovered. Mad soldiers often appear on the main streets.
That is, every eighth day in the city, the Evil Moon in the Sky hangs in the sky. If the moonlight is red, someone will burst out from their home onto the main street, holding weapons and shouting “Fight, fight!” Then they start hacking at people. Wu Hanluan stationed troops here to suppress this “madness.”
He buried the Golden Dou in the place that was originally a fighting arena and is now a dungeon. And every time a city resident suffers from madness, he sends people to bring them into the dungeon, tie them to a chair, pry open their mouth, and pour a bowl of fecal soup down their throat to cure this madness.
And it actually works. After this bowl of green soup is poured in, the abnormal blood-red color on the mad patient’s body quickly fades, then their gaze becomes dull, they grin foolishly, sleep it off, and recover to normal, with no relapse afterward.
The entire Lelang City has restored its normal laughter, and Wu Hanluan feels relieved because those madmen have been “turned toward goodness.” Of course, “when poor, cultivate oneself; when successful, help the world.” While tending to Zhenzhou, Wu Hanluan has not forgotten under heaven.
Likewise as someone who has held power for over a decade, half a year ago Wu Hanluan keenly sensed the purpose of Emperor Shu’s rash deployment of the Royal Army this time: on one hand to deal with Prince Bo, on the other to warn others. Thus he came to Zhenzhou in advance to prevent the local Da Yao Bureaucratic System from defecting.
The Royal Army’s failure this time also made Wu Hanluan deeply worried. Just as Wu Hengyu was gloating, Wu Hanluan immediately adjusted his thinking. Now he also needs to figure out where Emperor Shu is and why it has fallen to him to welcome the emperor.
Therefore, after confirming the Northern Army’s failure, Wu Hanluan dispatched scout troops to search eastward, just in time to encounter the group delivering Emperor Shu’s decree.
…In Lelang City here, there is no longer a blood moon but a Green Moon…
On November 7th, Wu Hanluan had Wu Hengyu stay behind to guard, while he himself rode a Winged Tiger, leading a team of Dragon Horse Cavalry, and hurriedly rushed to the emperor’s presence.
After the entire army crossed various small roads and shortcuts, when Wu Hanluan saw Emperor Shu’s Imperial Carriage and the weather-beaten Emperor Shu himself, he dismounted neatly and led everyone to kneel down.
Wu Hanluan: “Your minister, the General Who Pacifies the South, has arrived late to receive Your Majesty. Please punish me, Your Majesty.”
Emperor Shu sat steadily in the carriage, pausing for a full five breaths to confirm Wu Hanluan’s proper attitude, then nodded and said: “My Dear Minister, you have merit in aiding the king.”
In just six short words, the characterization was complete, with nothing more to say. Then people around Emperor Shu and Wu Hanluan discussed escorting the Son of Heaven’s procession back to Yao Capital City.
Wu Hanluan knew that the earlier long kneeling was Emperor Shu giving him “authority,” to make him realize that his current merit was not yet enough to touch the Imperial Family, let alone stand as an equal.
Of course he also understood that Emperor Shu in the tent was not truly indifferent to his show of loyalty. He must be watching his every move.
After this military failure, Emperor Shu clearly sensed disloyalty around him and naturally wanted to observe the surrounding situation at all times.
Wu Hanluan was very sensible. He dismounted and walked, and had the cavalry team hand over more than half of their horses to Emperor Shu’s people to ride, maintaining conduct that did not exceed protocol.
And to maintain his deference, Wu Hanluan proactively lowered his own “status,” positioning himself as Emperor Shu’s servant.
Three days later, after Wu Hengyu brought fifteen hundred soldiers via the Grotto-Heaven, the imperial procession officially set off. The carriages were no longer as hurried as before.
When the army arrived at Heluo Prefecture, the governor responsible for receiving them saw Wu Hanluan driving the emperor’s carriage at the front of Emperor Shu’s group and suddenly woke up to the situation.
This governor immediately knelt down and noticed people beside him foolishly kneeling too, creating no other movement. So he turned back, slapped a clueless person kneeling along beside him, and had him lower his head and run off to notify the musicians to play the ceremonial music.
…The truly important “chess piece” is disguised as insignificant…
Here Wu Hanluan was acting like a servant driving the strange beast to the stable, while over there, a disciple quietly came over from the army. Looking around and seeing no one, he leaned in and said: “Master. A letter from the Capital City. The Imperial Court has promoted you to Yunxiang Marquis.”
Wu Hanluan was slightly startled inside. He was not surprised that his family had been enfeoffed. Wu Yuanchang had endured in the North for a great victory, so this time the Imperial Court definitely could not muddle through the Zhenzhou campaign again.
But this enfeoffment should not have come from Yao Capital City, because he was currently hosting Emperor Shu.
Wu Hanluan whipped this personal soldier who delivered the message, cursing angrily: “What Yunxiang Marquis? I am just a lowly foot soldier driving the carriage for His Majesty.” He then gave this fool a look, signaling him to watch the people around and not speak carelessly.
After one breath, Wu Hanluan cursed: “Get lost now!” This personal soldier who came to report the good news slunk away dejectedly.
After these few years, Prince Zhou’s faction finally remembered the connection between their side and Wu Hanluan.
Originally, to Prince Zhou, Wu Hanluan was just a local lapdog begging the Prince’s Mansion for connections.
Emperor Shu had just lain down when he received a report from the Secret Guard. Shocked by this, Emperor Shu dispatched Secret Guards to monitor Wu Hanluan’s army.
With all sleepiness gone inside the tent, Emperor Shu pondered for a bit, then summoned Wu Hanluan for an audience.
After three incense sticks, outside Emperor Shu’s military tent, Wu Hanluan, who had just changed clothes, was hastily summoned for an audience. When the eunuch lifted the curtain and said: “Ting Marquis, please.” Wu Hanluan understood why he had been called.
The eunuch stared intently at Wu Hanluan. If the slightest hint of abnormality appeared on Wu Hanluan’s face, he would immediately wave his hand for the axe-wielders to seize Wu Hanluan.
…Ministers must serve closely to dispel suspicion, yet when the monarch is in distress, he too must draw close to win over…
In Yao Capital City, inside the study, Prince Zhou was discussing with his civil officials and advisors how to control the Capital City. The Prince’s Mansion sorcerer Su Kang (Su Wang’s younger brother) lit a fire basin here, and the smoke formed a barrier to prevent Secret Guards from spying.
First to be appeased were the Border Army. This wave of enfeoffments gave Zhu Liqiang and others extremely high marquisates, including enfeoffments to Wu Hanluan in the Southern Border; but for the currently most important Eastern Market Army—Prince Zhou’s most important civil minister and advisor—they held back the enfeoffment Prince Zhou had originally prepared for Wu Fei, reasoning that Wu Fei was fierce and unyielding, and after the late emperor’s passing, he might be hard to control, so just promote Wu Hanluan for now; as for Wu Fei, observe his future performance.
These people who could stand before Prince Zhou were all direct descendants of their families! Back then, compared to sending their concubine’s sons to serve as non-commissioned officers under Wu Fei, they were warming the hot stove beside the heir apparent.
But now the lowborn disciples at the Eastern Market Army have suddenly risen, making those who considered themselves the family’s most favored feel unbalanced inside. Subconsciously, they think that even if Wu Fei’s merits are high, he still needs to wait his turn according to “seniority and generation.”
Just as Emperor Shu gave Wu Hanluan a show of authority before rewarding him, Prince Zhou was learning to do the same with outer ministers.
And now that these advisors around Prince Zhou have taken power, they decided that as “predecessors,” they must reinforce the concept of hierarchy and seniority with this group of “little mom-born” at the Eastern Market Army. They also want to control the Eastern Market Army’s new nobles but can’t let go of their arrogance.
As for the near guard army that will guard the capital in the future being mostly Eastern Market Army, they know it too, but that habitual arrogance makes these “hot stove warmers” feel they don’t need to coax the Eastern Market dandies who “just lit the cold stove.”
Of course, these advisors’ arrogance toward the Eastern Market Army’s current commander is even more extreme. Through “insider information,” they believe Wu Fei will be kicked out in the future, so they disdain to “waste” favors on Wu Fei.
Note: The news that Wu Fei will be demoted and sent away from the capital in the future came from Emperor Shu inadvertently chatting with some old courtiers.
Prince Zhou was originally hesitant, but under the “well-reasoned” persuasion of the civil ministers, he still dispatched an eunuch to the North to deliver a golden plaque, requiring Wu Fei to first show his submission, then he (Prince Zhou) would consider rewarding the Eastern Market Army lineage.
…Management always thinks frontline wages are too high…
At Huangyu City. As Prince Zhou began to award merits for this phase of the Northern war situation, the boys around Wu Fei went from eagerly hoping for marquisates to having defeated tens of thousands of False Hao troops; this is no longer “hoping” but rightfully demanding it.
Even if Prince Zhou’s faction informs these border-fighting generals that Prince Zhou is very gracious to their families and tells them not to be anxious, but! In their eyes, this is not grace but using their families to threaten them.
Wu Fei is very clear: “(Yao Capital dandies) They are the little ones at home, now they want to rise at home, why doesn’t Your Highness Prince Zhou directly reward them in the Imperial Court’s name? Instead circling around to first favor their families, then let those old family heads protecting the direct line pat their heads and praise this wave of returning prodigals?”
Wu Fei may not be well-versed in family matters, but Prince Zhou’s faction absolutely does not understand “blood labor for blood reward”!
As for—the Imperial Court wanting to change commanders? Joke, even the most self-important Yao Capital disciples, after the baptism of the Bo Prefecture campaign, are convinced by Wu Fei’s professional competence.
The external enemy is not yet eliminated, and right now this burden can only be shouldered by Yuan Chang.
On November 10th, with the imperial envoy’s message from Yao Capital City, after collective discussion among the Eastern Market Army’s upper echelons, they reached two consensuses: first, Prince Zhou is not yet the Son of Heaven; second, they were dispatched to Wu Fei by Emperor Shu, so the merits are up to Emperor Shu to decide.
…Perspective shifts to the South…
While waiting for Wu Hanluan to be received, Emperor Shu paced back and forth. At this time, Wu Hanluan was changing clothes next door, which is the procedure for an audience to ensure no sharp objects.
He was very aware that he could win over Wu Hanluan because he is now more legitimate, far steadier than Prince Zhou’s regency enfeoffments.
Even if only one tenth of Wu Hanluan’s brain remained, he would make the right choice in this court struggle.
Emperor Shu paced in the room looking at the secret report from the Capital City sent by the Secret Guard. As his steps stopped, he said in a tone seemingly sad but actually chilling: “It seems now that many people are hoping for Us to return to heaven.”
Emperor Shu knew very well what things in Yao Capital City were jumping around now. In Da Yao’s history, every hundred years four or five marquisates are enfeoffed, and every hundred years a batch of marquisates is eliminated.
In this generation, noble families have gradually seized court politics through debating scriptures, but to them, Emperor Shu is stingy; enfeoffing marquis is very hard. Only war merit can earn a marquisate.
Thus the group manipulating Prince Zhou definitely wants to gain status and ranks through supporting him.
And Emperor Shu is very angry: the son he left in the capital was his chosen successor, but now not only has he touched what he shouldn’t, but he’s messing around chaotically.
Until a few days ago, Emperor Shu still somewhat doubted the authenticity of Bo Prefecture’s great victory. After all, he had clashed with the Hao Army so many times and returned defeated, while Wu Fei’s flanking force recaptured lost territory, which gave the proud Emperor Shu some resentment.
Now Emperor Shu no longer denies the Eastern Market Army’s war merits, because he judges: whoever wants to secure control of the Capital City must gain control of this army. What is the Eastern Market Army? Its officer class are all Capital City nobles; now it’s a strong army, irreplaceable in Da Yao Capital City.
Emperor Shu could smugly say: every young general was personally selected by him, forming troops of “family disciples.”
Originally, Emperor Shu would leave this army to Prince Zhou, as Prince Zhou’s team lacks people who control military power.
Looking back a few years, Emperor Shu had Prince Zhou supervise the army to let him independently discover a young general, but Prince Zhou was incompetent. Emperor Shu could only select some young people himself.
But Emperor Shu never expected that as soon as he loosened his grip a little, his power was “filially” taken by his son, so he could only first seize this card and hold it himself.
After confirming Prince Zhou had not yet enfeoffed Wu Fei as marquis, Emperor Shu breathed a sigh of relief!
As for why no marquisate? Emperor Shu understood it was the character of Prince Zhou’s advisors: all talk no action, great ambitions; after all, Wu Fei was particularly arrogant leading the Eastern Market Army in the city, looked down upon by these young people who fancied themselves close to control.
…The eunuch’s sharp voice began summoning Wu Hanluan…
Emperor Shu received Wu Hanluan and granted him a seat nearby. The priority topic, however, was not discussing the Capital City change, but chit-chat.
Emperor Shu joked: “That little kid of yours, when he came to Our place for audience, asked if the changed clothes could be taken back?”
Wu Hanluan felt a bit embarrassed. Wu Fei would indeed do such a thing. He then said: “Your minister lacks discipline.”
Emperor Shu said to Wu Hanluan: “This child Wu Fei is very good in the Capital City, very good. Now he has earned merits on the border, deeply pleasing to Us. We have long wanted to give this child a rank, but feared idle talk in the Capital City, so thought to first summon him as Our son-in-law, then take it slowly.”
Wu Hanluan hurriedly thanked His Majesty for the favor. —Yes, Emperor Shu’s meaning was obvious: he didn’t want to expose the Imperial Family shame. Enfeoffing Wu Hanluan a higher rank now would be undignified. In outsiders’ eyes, there would be rumors of “being coerced by a minister.”
And Wu Hanluan kept kneeling, indicating that though his family child (Wu Fei) lacks discipline, he would absolutely not err in loyalty and righteousness. Emperor Shu was quite satisfied with Wu Hanluan’s performance.
In political dealings, politicians fear hotheads. If Wu Hanluan showed dissatisfaction, it would be forcing the emperor to enfeoff him now.
If Wu Hanluan demanded it now, Emperor Shu would have no choice but to immediately fulfill Wu Hanluan’s request.
But for Emperor Shu returning to court, to balance the influence of Wu Hanluan’s “demanding enfeoffment on merit,” he must also promote those Northwest generals who accompanied his campaign and suffered heavy losses of personal troops.
To Wu Hanluan, this would devalue the marquisate he sought for his great merits in Lingnan and Wu Fei’s in Bo Prefecture.
Under the copper lamp’s firelight, after an exchange of facial expressions and unspoken implications between the two old foxes, Emperor Shu now stated his attitude to Wu Hanluan: “First undermine the legitimacy of that Capital City group, then add rank to the Wu Family.”
Wu Hanluan knelt and expressed thanks for the grace, agreeing to this deal.
But likewise delaying the “reward,” Emperor Shu’s method was far superior to Prince Zhou’s advisor circle; Emperor Shu let slip: “The position of General Who Subdues the North has been vacant in the dynasty for over fifty years.”
Wu Hanluan was moved to tears: “Your minister has received imperial grace for generations, seeks no prominence, only to repay Your Majesty’s favor.”
…Imperial might remains vast…
Several days later, Wu Hanluan dispatched another army of fifteen hundred, totaling three thousand from two armies, to escort Emperor Shu back to the Capital City, while along the way issuing documents to all levels of Da Yao bureaucrats stating the “location of the traveling court.”
Minor incident: Emperor Shu enfeoffed Prince Bo’s heir in Lingnan as King Xu Si.
In the Eastern Palace, Prince Zhou was favoring Consort Li in the warm hibiscus tent. This newly taken Consort Li was of heavenly beauty and shy, extremely skilled at serving, deeply favored by Prince Zhou.
However, today Prince Zhou did not whip her, but facing the summoned imperial physician, asked: “Is Consort Li pregnant?” The imperial physician said: “Absolutely true, already three months.”
Prince Zhou calculated: just right from his shot back then. As a man, facing his chance at a favored heir, he was very satisfied. He then issued a decree promoting Consort Li three levels and summoning her mother into the palace to care for her.
During this decision, Prince Zhou’s mind was blank, because all his energy was consumed by his father. At this moment, such bad news plunged him into an ice cave: his old man had not become the late emperor but had returned from the western hunt. Wu Hanluan’s three thousand troops were already escorting His Majesty past Ji Prefecture.
…Compared to the father, the son knows a few moves but is too immature…
In the palace, Prince Zhou smashed the inkstone, raging: “Ting Marquis, good, good, good. Refuses the respectful toast, drinks the punishment wine.”
At this time in Emperor Shu’s northbound decree, Wu Hanluan still referred to himself as Ting Marquis, whereas Prince Zhou’s prior Yunxiang Marquis was a Ting Marquis, one township with a thousand households, also called Qian Hu Marquis. While escorting Emperor Shu back, Wu Hanluan had not accepted Prince Zhou’s marquisate promotion, which was equivalent to declaring he did not recognize any ranks from Prince Zhou’s regency.
And this blocked the path for those wanting Prince Zhou’s promotions for quick advancement.
“The Wu Family uncle and nephew seem loyal but are truly corrupt ministers in the court. They blind the sovereign, sow discord in Your Highness’s father-son bond with His Majesty. Please, Your Highness, decide early.” Prince Zhou’s eunuch Su Wang quickly gave such advice.
This group of advisors dependent on Prince Zhou were now extremely hateful toward Wu Hanluan. Their arguing tones were like tearing silk.
The reason was this: “If you don’t accept enfeoffment, how can I? If I don’t, how can Your Highness Prince Zhou ascend the great treasure? If Your Highness Prince Zhou cannot ascend the great treasure, you, um, how can we advance!”
To these Capital City people clustered around Prince Zhou with him as core, Wu Hanluan should now accept the “Yunxiang Marquis” enfeoffment, which would force Emperor Shu to acknowledge the court change’s reality. After all, Emperor Shu had already lost the Zhanlu Army in the western hunt; Wu Hanluan just needed to express a little opinion to get the Qian Hu Marquis—clearly a win-win.
But! Where did they think that if Wu Hanluan really acted as this black glove, he would be recorded as a rebellious minister and thief.
Yet Wu Hanluan, as a military family relying on war merits for hereditary ranks, is currently a real-power fiefdom holder, a high-value target courted by all sides. Why stir into such a mess?
If taking such a trash role, Da Yao’s new monarch circle would not leave him a core position.
Stepping back ten thousand steps, even if Prince Zhou kept his word and left Wu Hanluan a core position, Prince Zhou’s faction! would not accept Wu Hanluan and would only assign him dirty work later.
And now this Crown Prince party doesn’t even have Prince Zhou’s personal letter, fundamentally not treating Wu Hanluan as core.
If Prince Zhou truly saw the Wu Family as confidants, then right after Wu Fei entered the capital as hostage, he should have acted to protect him.
Wu Fei seemed “arrogant” in the East Market, but it was actually his last indulgence before entering the battlefield. Prince Zhou should not have cherished his reputation but spoken a few fair words for the Eastern Market Army.
Cheng Ji did dirty work for the Sima family but got no promise of personal audience with Sima Zhao, instead subcontracted level two by Jia Chong.
Likewise doing dirty work, Li Shimin personally went to see Chang He guarding the Black Tortoise Gate! After all, these carry the name of “betrayal.” From Chang He’s perspective: you won’t even come personally to confirm my allegiance’s truth, yet make me do the highest-risk, mediocre-reward job?
Now these noble disciples around Prince Zhou, when push comes to shove, find their plot lacks border officials’ cooperation, yet feel: “Wu Hanluan not plotting with us is truly unwise.”
