Chapter 298: Madness
Chancellor Pang was carried onto the carriage and sent back to the Chancellor’s Mansion.
His old wife, sons, and grandsons gathered around the bed, all with faces ashen like those mourning the dead, just as if they were about to send Chancellor Pang to his final rest. Chancellor Pang felt extremely unlucky and waved his hand, telling his sons and grandsons to withdraw, leaving only his old wife.
Madam Pang cried softly, “Has the Emperor gone mad! Assistant Minister Han and Director Ma are both old ministers of the Eastern Palace. They followed him and barely escaped the Capital City, only to live a few good years in Bohai Commandery. And now they died in vain in Youzhou!”
“Now, the Emperor even wants you to go to your death! You must not go! Youzhou has become General Pei’s domain. No matter who goes, it’s just a group of ‘bandits’ coming. No matter how many men you bring, they cannot withstand the bandits’ assault.”
Chancellor Pang sighed incessantly, “Then what should I do? I collapsed before the Emperor, yet he still refuses to let me off, saying to wait a few days for me to recover before setting out.”
“This old life of mine will most likely end up in Youzhou.”
Madam Pang fiercely wiped her face with her sleeve and said through gritted teeth, “You might as well quit this damned Chancellor position. Why not resign outright, and our whole family return to the ancestral home.”
“We can’t go back.” Chancellor Pang let out a long sigh, “The realm is in chaos, refugees and bandits everywhere, military generals carving out territories everywhere. Where is there now any peaceful haven.”
“If our whole family of old and young leaves Bohai Commandery, we simply cannot survive. You and I are both advanced in age, and we have a bunch of sons and grandsons. We must consider them.”
Madam Pang burst into bitter tears again, “Then what are we to do! Knowing full well it’s a pit of fire ahead, are we just to jump in with eyes wide open?”
Chancellor Pang smiled bitterly, “The Emperor wants to use this old Chancellor’s face to test General Pei’s sharp blade.”
“I served in the Eastern Palace for over a decade, followed the Emperor to Bohai Commandery to establish the new dynasty, and became Chancellor. The Emperor has made me the Imperial Envoy; I cannot defy the decree.”
“Assistant Minister Han and Director Ma were killed one after another. When it comes to me, I am after all the Chancellor of the Imperial Court, with some seniority and face. If General Pei has the ambition of a swan, he will not easily strike me down. Perhaps, there is still a chance of survival.”
Madam Pang cried until her tears ran dry and accepted her fate, whispering hoarsely, “I will go pack your luggage for you.”
Chancellor Pang hummed in acknowledgment and instructed, “Do not delay Wen Niang and Meng Liulang’s wedding. Hold the happy event soon. In case something happens to me, the Beiping Army can look after the Pang Family to some extent.”
Madam Pang paled and agreed.
That very evening, Meng Liulang came.
“In a few days, I will set out for Youzhou.” Chancellor Pang mustered his spirits with difficulty and entrusted his family to Meng Liulang, “The Pang Family’s old and weak will have to rely on you for much care from now on.”
Meng Liulang felt utterly suffocated, “The Son of Heaven acts willfully alone; is he to be allowed such reckless behavior?”
Chancellor Pang looked deeply at Meng Liulang, “When the lord wants the minister to die, the minister must die. That is a true loyal minister! Back when the Capital City was in great chaos, your father knew it was a path to death, yet he still led troops to rescue the Eastern Palace. In the end, he was wrapped in horsehide and died honorably!”
“How is that the same!” Meng Liulang said angrily, “To die on the battlefield is the most ideal death for a military general. To die in vain for a muddled ruler’s selfish desires is foolish loyalty!”
Chancellor Pang tugged at the corner of his mouth in self-mockery, “Foolish loyalty is still loyalty. I have received the Imperial Decree; I must go to Youzhou.”
Then, he solemnly instructed, “Keep an eye on Zhang Father and Son. They have been too quiet lately; anything unusual must have a cause!”
Meng Liulang scowled and agreed.
Chancellor Pang sighed, “Your brother is seriously injured and cannot set out to return for the time being. This Chancellor will soon have to set out and depart as well. From now on, no one will be there to advise or restrain you; you must stay vigilant yourself. Do not act impulsively and rashly, falling into Zhang Father and Son’s traps and schemes.”
Meng Liulang sneered coldly, “When that father and son make their move, I will respond accordingly.”
If he were the type to heed advice, he would not be Meng Liulang.
Chancellor Pang had dealt with Meng Liulang for several years and knew his foul temper well, shaking his head helplessly with a wry smile.
Chancellor Pang lay on the bed for five days, and Emperor Jian’an sent Imperial Physicians consecutively for five days. On the sixth day, Chancellor Pang could get off the bed and walk. He went to the Palace to give thanks, then came out holding the Imperial Decree.
By coincidence, he ran into General Zhang head-on.
General Zhang glanced at Chancellor Pang and said with a smile that did not reach his eyes, “Sir Chancellor, on this trip to Youzhou, you have Five Hundred Son of Heaven’s Guards accompanying you. The Emperor thinks highly of Chancellor Pang, even giving Guard Commander Gao Yong to Chancellor Pang. Those bandits without eyes will surely take a detour.”
Chancellor Pang smiled as usual in response, “As a minister, sharing the Son of Heaven’s worries is my duty. The errand is not difficult; there is no need for this Chancellor to go personally. With General Zhang holding down the Imperial Court, petty villains surely dare not stir. This Chancellor is much relieved.”
General Zhang smiled inscrutably, “With me here, the Imperial Court will surely be safe and sound. Chancellor Pang, go with peace of mind!”
Chancellor Pang laughed heartily, “That last remark does not sound very auspicious. Such jokes cannot be made.”
General Zhang cupped his hands, and Chancellor Pang also cupped his hands slightly. They passed each other by.
The procession for Chancellor Pang’s journey was much grander than that of Assistant Minister Han and Director Ma. The accompanying Five Hundred Son of Heaven’s Guards were all clad in soft armor, riding splendid warhorses, carrying bows and arrows and sharp blades.
Such elite soldiers were something ordinary bandits would not dare approach; they would have to detour and evade from afar.
However, Gao Yong did not dare be careless. Each day, they marched only forty li. Some scouted ahead, some brought up the rear, and he also sent more than twenty elite soldiers with skilled horsemanship to scout on both flanks. This eliminated any possibility of a raid.
Traveling this way, it would take twenty days to reach Liaoxi City.
Chancellor Pang thought to himself that Commander Gao, with his thick eyebrows and big eyes, turned out to have some cunning as well. This was deliberately slowing the marching speed to give Pei Qinghe ample time to respond and handle after receiving the news!
Speaking of which, Commander Gao and Pei Qinghe had some private ties. Pei Qinghe would hardly strike down Commander Gao ruthlessly.
Emperor Jian’an had truly gone to great pains to ensure the Imperial Decree safely reached Liaoxi City.
……
“This dog emperor has no capability in governing the court; all his thoughts are on crooked paths.”
News from the Capital City arrived quickly.
Pei Yan cursed Emperor Jian’an roundly, nearly bursting with foul language, “Should we send a message to the Fanyang Army and have them make a move?”
Pei Qinghe’s eyes flickered, “We should send a message, telling the Fanyang Army to hold position and not act.”
“The Fanyang Army can defeat ordinary soldiers by outnumbering them, but Commander Gao has brought Five Hundred Elite Cavalry. The Fanyang Army is no match for him.”
“Moreover, Commander Gao and our Pei Family Army do have some ties of lineage after all. Chancellor Pang is also an acquaintance of several years and once aided our Pei Family. We cannot simply kill them outright.”
Pei Yan was quite irritable, “Then what are we to do? Just wait for them to come and proclaim the Imperial Decree?”
Pei Qinghe smiled faintly, “No rush. I have my own plan to deal with it.”
