Chapter 297: Madness
Assistant Minister Han and his group encountered bandits on the road and were all killed. Assistant Minister Han was beheaded, the imperial decree in his bosom was torn to shreds, and was blown away by the wind to an unknown place.
This news reached Liaoxi City, and Pei Qinghe was quite satisfied. She smiled at Pei Yun and Pei Yan, “The Fanyang Army has finally been put to use.”
Pei Yun smiled and chimed in, “General Lu is weak and useless, but Lu Feng is not bad. With proper training, he is a promising military general.”
Pei Qinghe nodded slightly, “General Lu can’t turn the corner for the moment. Once Lu Feng returns to ‘persuade’ General Lu, the entire Youzhou will be in my hands.”
Pei Yan muttered, “Why go to such trouble. Just send troops to wipe out the Fanyang Army and plant the Pei character flag.”
Pei Qinghe unceremoniously smacked the back of her head, “All you think about is killing. Can’t you use your brain? The Fanyang Army has at least seven or eight thousand men after all, and they haven’t spared their elite soldiers. Since we can take it with gentle means, why fight to the death? War kills people; they will die, and our soldiers will die too. It will also implicate innocent common people.”
“Moreover, there are so many garrisons in the Northern Lands, all watching. If I brutally wipe out the Fanyang Army, which other armies would dare surrender to me?”
“Subduing the enemy without fighting is the way of a king.”
Pei Yan was already used to it and even considerately lowered her head to spare the general from having to tiptoe, “Yes, yes, yes. I don’t use my brain and spoke nonsense. General, don’t be angry!”
These words of admission of fault were said very smoothly. She had said them countless times before, without any sincerity.
Pei Qinghe was amused by the anger. She said to Pei Yun, “Even Pei Xuan and Pei Feng can lead troops on their own, but she makes no progress.”
Pei Yun smiled and teased, “It’s also because you spoiled her. If you really can’t bear it, just send her to garrison troops and lead soldiers, and she’ll be trained through rolling in the dirt.”
Youzhou is such a vast territory, with plenty of county towns needing garrisons. Isn’t it easy to send Pei Yan off? Isn’t it because Pei Qinghe can’t bear to?
Pei Qinghe coughed, “I’ll consider it.”
Pei Yan grinned happily and smugly shook her fluffy big head, “The general can’t do without me by her side. Cousin Sister Yun, don’t stir things up.”
After a few jokes, they quickly returned to the main topic.
“The matter of Assistant Minister Han encountering bandits will soon reach the Imperial Court,” Pei Yun said in a low voice. “I wonder if the Son of Heaven will let it rest!”
A cold glint flashed in Pei Qinghe’s eyes, “He has sat on the Dragon Throne for a few years and thinks he can really command the Northern Lands. One imperial decree has offended both Madam Zhang and my Pei Family Army. If he continues to be so stubborn, nothing good awaits him.”
She appeared calm and composed in front of others, but in truth, rage surged in her heart.
It was inconvenient to act personally, so she borrowed the sharp blade of the Fanyang Army to kill the Son of Heaven’s imperial envoy and his group, finally venting some of her anger.
Emperor Jian’an should have received the news by now. What would his reaction be?
……
Emperor Jian’an’s reaction was beyond everyone’s expectations.
Assistant Minister Han was killed by bandits, and the imperial decree went missing. After Emperor Jian’an’s rage, he immediately issued a second imperial decree for the marriage grant.
The one personally appointed by the Son of Heaven with heavy responsibility was an old minister of the Eastern Palace, now the Director of the Ministry of War.
Before Director Ma set off, he had even arranged his affairs. Amid the tears of his wife and children and the sympathetic gazes of all the civil and military officials, he departed.
This time, just as he entered Youzhou territory, he encountered “bandits” and was similarly completely wiped out.
The bad news reached the Imperial Court again, shocking all officials. At the court assembly, they cursed the bandits while bitterly advising the Son of Heaven not to issue any more imperial decrees.
It didn’t matter if the Son of Heaven issued imperial decrees; those who died were the pitiful officials sent as imperial envoys. They had finally endured to this day and really did not want to die under the blades of the “bandits.”
Chancellor Pang could not endure it anymore and stepped forward to persuade the Son of Heaven to abandon the idea of taking General Pei into the palace as Imperial Consort.
“…General Pei is valiant and godlike in battle, a born God of War. She leads troops to guard Youzhou and resist foreign enemies, establishing great military merit. Such talent for generalship should be on the battlefield, not confined to the Imperial Harem.”
“For the empire and state, for the common people of the Northern Lands, General Pei should remain in Youzhou.”
More importantly, for Your Majesty’s own safety!
If this continued, who knew what Pei Qinghe would do!
And there were General Zhang and his son watching coldly from the sidelines, their eyes sinister, who knew what ruthless moves they were holding back.
The usually mild-tempered Emperor Jian’an acted like he was possessed, listening to no one’s words. He personally wrote a third imperial decree.
The officials were nearly driven mad with anger and vented privately, “As expected of the Xie bloodline; when obsessed, he is not much different from the previous emperor.”
The previous emperor the officials spoke of was not Prince Wei, who ascended the throne and died two years later at King Qiao’s hands, but the tyrannical and brutal Emperor Jianwen.
Emperor Jian’an usually seemed mediocre and weak, but otherwise normal. Who would have thought he would become so deranged over General Pei.
Let the Son of Heaven write imperial decrees if he wants! As for the imperial envoy, whoever wants to go can go; they certainly wouldn’t.
The civil officials unanimously claimed illness and even skipped the morning court.
Emperor Jian’an directly sent people to summon Chancellor Pang into the palace: “Chancellor, you go to Youzhou on my behalf. You are the head of all officials, the Chancellor of the Imperial Court. With you as the imperial envoy for the marriage grant, it gives full honor and glory to General Pei. She will surely accept the imperial decree full of joy.”
Chancellor Pang: “…”
In these days, Emperor Jian’an had eaten poorly and slept badly, his eyes bloodshot like a wild beast trapped in a cage unable to escape. His gaze at Chancellor Pang was chilling, making one’s heart hair-raising.
Chancellor Pang was silent for a moment, then cupped his hands, “This old official obeys Your Majesty’s decree.”
Emperor Jian’an let out a long sigh of relief, his furrowed brows relaxing, “I knew it; Chancellor Pang is the most loyal to me.”
Before the words finished, Chancellor Pang’s body swayed a few times and suddenly fell straight down stiffly.
This sudden change caught everyone off guard. Guard Commander Gao Yong rushed over quickly but only grabbed a piece of Chancellor Pang’s sleeve, tearing it with a rip.
Chancellor Pang lay on the ground, eyes tightly closed, his old face deathly pale.
“Quickly summon the imperial physicians!” After all, he was an old minister who had accompanied him for many years, with different feelings. Emperor Jian’an was so anxious that sweat beaded on his forehead, urging repeatedly.
The imperial physicians hurried over and, not daring to move Chancellor Pang, squatted down to perform acupuncture on him.
After several shiny golden needles were inserted, Chancellor Pang laboriously opened his eyes and said intermittently, “This old official is fine. This old official will get up now and go to Youzhou to proclaim the imperial decree for Your Majesty.”
He could hardly catch his breath, yet he insisted on resolving His Majesty’s worries. This loyal heart and righteous courage moved heaven and earth.
Emperor Jian’an’s dragon eyes reddened with emotion. He bent down and gripped Chancellor Pang’s hand tightly, “The Chancellor is indeed a loyal minister, sharing my burdens. However, you just collapsed and fainted, with no strength. You must rest for a while…”
Chancellor Pang curled the corner of his mouth inwardly, but choked the next moment.
“Like this: Chancellor, rest quietly for a few days before setting off!”
