Chapter 224: Father Ling and Mother Ling’s Funeral
All women, whether slaves or concubines, were to be sent to the refugee camp, starting with basic work points to earn civilian status in the border city.
As for those officials, they were all to be sent to perform forced labor! And this matter was to be recorded in detail and sent to Chang’an, then announced nationwide.
The border city would not have brothels or entertainment venues, nor gambling houses. Prostitution was forbidden, and women were strictly prohibited from engaging in the sex trade. Public officials were also strictly forbidden from patronizing prostitutes.
In the beginning, these officials were like those sent to the refugee camp, full of unwillingness and grievances. They contacted their colleagues and clamored to see His Majesty.
Looking through historical records, I have never heard of any official being sent to perform forced labor for hosting banquets! Furthermore, throughout Great Xia, except for the border city, I have never heard of officials being punished with forced labor anywhere else!
To have me, a dignified imperial official, work alongside a bunch of commoners, carrying mud and moving stones, isn’t this preparing to work us to death?
Jinsui truly gave Cheng Yu the order: “The louder you shout, the heavier the work. The loudest shouter will activate the Huo Imperial Guards version 2.0.”
“Huo Imperial Guards version 2.0? May I ask Miss Ling, what does this mean?”
“To work like oxen and horses, pulling plows and tilling fields!”
Cheng Yu laughed, then thought and said, “But if you disgrace those officials like this, I’m afraid they will retaliate in the future.”
Jinsui scoffed, “Can I still be afraid of their retaliation? I understand what you’re worried about; scholars with their pens have many ways to deal with a woman like me.”
But I have more experience in controlling public opinion! Jinsui rested her chin on her hand and pondered, “The Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching, a day for sacrificing to ancestors, but our border city ancestors are not buried here.
How about this, let’s hold a grand sacrifice to the soldiers in the Martyrs’ Cemetery, praising their achievements in the battle to defend the border city. Let their deeds be written into operas and sung.
The entire border city will be mourning, while officials in Chang’an are feasting and enjoying themselves with song and dance. Let’s see whose pens are mightier, or whose mouths are mightier!”
Jinsui not only wanted to use public opinion but also to completely brand these officials as criminals, letting everyone from Chang’an know that daring to patronize prostitutes in Chang’an, no matter how high your rank or how powerful you are, will be severely punished!
Gambling houses and brothels are the most influential things. As long as they exist, even soldiers with strong wills will eventually be influenced by those around them to indulge.
Especially in other prefecture cities of this era, gambling houses and brothels are still legal. Even if some people are forbidden to go openly, they can still go and have fun in secret.
Therefore, we must take a zero-tolerance approach, investigate and handle strictly, and begin with the most severe measures to prevent them from taking root.
Jinsui sneered, “The officials in Chang’an are really giving me trouble! Three batches have arrived, and two batches are causing trouble.
How about this, Lord Cheng, you lead people to compile a ‘Code of Conduct for Public Officials’ and give lessons to every new official arriving in the border city.
Things that are normal in Chang’an but absolutely forbidden in the border city. What violations and disciplinary actions will be taken, all written clearly.
Most importantly, tell them that if they commit offenses in Chang’an, they can get off lightly by finding connections. But in the border city, this is absolutely not feasible!
If you don’t want to live and eat with refugees in the refugee camp, or work with captives and criminals in the forced labor camp, just try it!
Don’t think this young lady only knows how to punish and not kill! His Majesty has shed rivers of blood in Chang’an, and I can do the same in the border city!”
Soon, the fourth batch of officials arrived. On their first day, instead of a banquet, each person received a red book and had to attend three days of intensive lectures! They had to memorize the code of conduct for border city officials.
There would also be exams. Those who failed would continue to attend classes, and those who passed would be taken to see the refugee camp, the forced labor camp, the base’s gunpowder launch, and the reclaimed farmland…
They had to write a report every day, no less than five thousand characters. Military training was unnecessary; running around to various places every day would definitely exceed ten thousand steps.
Not only officials needed training, but their families did too. Their training was much simpler: all men would go to the military camp for training, and women would be sent to Chen Yunniang to listen to the experiences of former officials’ wives at the academy.
No matter what your official position, the border city would not collapse without you. Jinsui felt that even without her, the border city could develop well.
Therefore, even if some officials clamored that they had important responsibilities and must take office as soon as possible, Jinsui calmly said, “Those who have not passed the assessment must continue to study! Don’t worry, no matter how important your position is, can it be more important than His Majesty’s? His Majesty hasn’t arrived yet, what are you rushing for?”
Even the old censors were the same. However, Jinsui was somewhat considerate towards them and provided them with carriages. But they still had to travel all over the border city and submit reports.
As I understand it, censors are meant to find fault, criticizing the emperor from above, officials from below, and various policies. I’ll give you an opportunity: find ten flaws for me every day. If you can’t find them, you won’t pass the assessment…
The officials in Chang’an complained bitterly in private, not understanding why His Majesty allowed this ‘madwoman’ to manage the border city and gave her so much power.
Li Heng finally became somewhat useful. His role was to tell the officials about Miss Ling’s past crazy deeds when they were on the verge of collapse.
He would also comfort them, “Compared to that, Miss Ling’s temper has improved a lot! Just follow her arrangements. Isn’t it just writing policy essays? We’ve written them for the imperial examinations for so many years, what’s wrong with picking up the pen again?”
If there were truly stubborn ones, Li Heng could only bring Jiang Nansheng over. He would then display his scar, and even the most stubborn ones would become obedient.
And that official who lost a finger was even more useful. As long as he extended his hand, even officials who cursed Jinsui in their hearts would lower their voices, fearing that this ‘madwoman’ might hear them.
They came to the border city in advance because His Majesty was going on a killing spree in Chang’an, and they were afraid of accidentally getting caught up in it. They never expected to suffer a different kind of torment in the border city!
The officialdom in the future would not be easy to navigate!
In late October, Grandpa Ling and Jin’an returned with the coffins of Father Ling and Mother Ling. They traveled so slowly because they were carrying the coffins.
In addition, Grandpa Ling had ‘absorbed’ several small Taoist temples in Luocheng, and nearly a hundred Taoist priests came to the border city with them.
The funeral for Father Ling and Mother Ling was not grand, with only the three members of the Ling family and some old friends and former colleagues from the border city. Jinsui did not allow any of the newly arrived officials from Chang’an to attend.
The couple were buried in the same grave. Jin’an and Jinsui carried the coffins, and Grandpa Ling personally carved the tombstone for his son and daughter-in-law.
After the funeral, Grandpa Ling insisted on not returning to the Ling Residence to live, saying that once the Ling Residence was planned for the capital city by the imperial court, their family would live in the Taoist temple.
Of course, Jinsui, due to her official duties, still had to live in the Ling Residence.
The Taoist temple was only one-third built, and the living quarters were very simple. Jinsui disagreed. Grandpa had lost a lot of weight during his trip to Chang’an, and his hair had turned completely white.
She wanted to help Grandpa regain his health, so how could they not live together?
Grandpa Ling sighed and said, “I just want to spend time with your father. Alas, I was an unqualified father, never spending time with him since he was young.
As for Jin’an, it is right for a filial son to observe mourning. We are not building a temporary shelter at your parents’ grave. There are many people in the Taoist temple, and the living quarters are also good.
Don’t try to persuade Sui Sui anymore, let us live here until the fifth seven days!”
The fifth seven days meant thirty-five days. By then, the Taoist temple would be half completed, and Grandpa would not leave.
Jinsui no longer persuaded them and moved in with Grandpa and Jin’an. As for matters in the city, with Cheng Yu in charge, she would still return to the Prince’s Residence daily to meet with officials.
Jin’an was much more devout than her in guarding the graves of their parents.
After the trip to Chang’an, this child seemed to have grown a lot taller, appearing like a young man.
Although his eyes were filled with sorrow, Jinsui could see the peace of a child, rather than the heavy responsibility that only adults possessed, as before.
With their parents buried, a burden was lifted from Jin’an’s heart.
The siblings often sat by the grave for half the day. Jin’an would kneel, but Jinsui always pulled him to sit, “Don’t worry, Mom and Dad won’t be angry if we don’t kneel for a long time!
They’ll be happy if we sit here with them. You’re still growing, and kneeling for too long will hurt your legs and be bad for martial arts training.”
The Taoist temple was lively, but the grave area was quiet. The siblings leaned against each other, silently looking at the tombstone or the clouds. When Jin’an cried, Jinsui would turn her face away and pretend not to see.
After he finished crying, she would give him tissues and an energy bar.
“You can’t eat meat.”
“This is vegetarian! It only has sugar and nuts. Eat some, or your heart will be bitter and your mouth will be bitter too. Honestly, at your young age, why are you more melancholic than Grandpa?”
Jin’an whispered, “If only Mom and Dad were still alive! In the border city, they would have been very happy.”
Jinsui rubbed his head, “Then we will live well for Mom and Dad! By the way, has Father’s case been cleared up?”
Jin’an nodded, “His Majesty personally investigated it. Father discovered a group of bandits hiding horses and weapons in the mountains of the county he governed. After he reported it, he was forbidden to investigate.
But that group of bandits robbed civilian women. Father, in a fit of anger, personally led the yamen runners to pursue them and reported the matter again to the Jingzhao Prefecture.
Coincidentally, His Majesty was inspecting the Jingzhao Prefecture at the time and heard about the case, so he sent troops to assist the county in suppressing the bandits. However, at that time, no one knew that these were not bandits at all, but troops hidden by the Prince Yu’s Faction.
It was also because this matter was exposed that the Prince Yu’s Faction resorted to desperate measures and framed His Majesty for rebellion. And Father, not knowing anything, was labeled by the Prince Yu’s Faction as an accomplice of His Majesty…”
Jinsui sighed. She herself had never met Father Ling, and the original owner had not spent much time with him. But judging by Grandpa Ling’s personality, it was not difficult to guess that Father Ling was also an upright gentleman.
Unfortunately, he was a minor official with no backing. In the den of wolves that was the capital, such a person could be crushed by the slightest move from a powerful figure.
Like Father Ling, like Wei Assistant Secretary, they did nothing wrong, merely performing their duties. But in the struggle for succession, even if you didn’t take sides and just did your job, you would become a stumbling block for others.
After Jin’an finished speaking, he suddenly whispered, “Sister, I don’t want to study for the imperial examinations, I don’t want to be an official.”
Jinsui was startled. This was Grandpa’s wish. She said softly, “The officials in the border city in the future will be different from those in Chang’an.”
Jin’an shook his head, “Officials are the worst kind of people, I don’t want to become such a bad person.”
Jinsui chuckled. Just now I said you were mature, why are you saying something so childish again?
“Then what do you want to do? Tell me, as long as you have a goal, I will support you in whatever you do!”
Jin’an clenched his fist, “I want to join the army, like Eldest Brother Han Xing, and become a general who only kills corrupt officials!”
Jinsui: … Han Xing, can’t you avoid killing people in front of my brother? Also, shouldn’t children be stunned by seeing people killed? Why are you getting addicted?
“Being a military general is also being an official!”
“That’s different!”
“Alright, then you can tell Grandpa yourself. But I’ll tell you, being a military general also requires studying! Do you know why your Eldest Brother Han Xing can be His Majesty’s blade, while Brother Hei Hu can only chase Hu people?”
Jin’an shook his head, “Why? Doesn’t Brother Hei Hu want to chase them himself?”
Jinsui smiled, “Because Brother Hei Hu doesn’t understand the Art of War! He only knows how to chase foreign enemies like a wolf chasing a rabbit. But Eldest Brother Han reads a lot and understands the Art of War, so he can kill foreign enemies and eliminate internal traitors!”
“There was also a military general who was very skilled but didn’t study. Do you know what he became in the end?”
Jin’an asked with great curiosity, “What did he become?”
Jinsui pointed to the Taoist priests in the distance and said, “He became a Taoist priest!”
Jin’an was greatly curious, “How is that possible? What military general would become a Taoist priest? It’s not like they’re powerful people with nothing better to do.”
Jinsui chuckled softly. If others saw them, the siblings laughing and joking at their parents’ grave, they would say they were unfilial.
“Are many powerful people in Chang’an becoming Taoist priests?”
Jin’an nodded, “Not only men, but there are also many female Taoist priests. They are all from powerful families and the gentry. Grandpa said they are not truly cultivating Taoism, and they tarnish the purity of the Taoist sect.”
Jinsui nodded. This was consistent with the stereotype of Chang’an. Cultivating Taoism had become a trend among the powerful there. After all, cultivating Buddhism required shaving one’s head and had many strict rules.
When cultivating Taoism, one could say ‘Tao follows nature’ and ‘follow one’s heart’ and do whatever they pleased. The good Taoism of the Three Pure Ones was defiled by them. Men only wanted to cultivate immortality and aphrodisiac pills.
Women were just adding another identity for themselves. Generally, female Taoist nuns were widows, and by cultivating Taoism, they could remarry into higher families. It was a ridiculous trend.
No wonder Gu Changxiao didn’t want to change Chang’an city, but instead wanted to relocate the capital to the border city! The evil customs of a thousand years were too difficult to correct. It was better to leave those evil customs in Chang’an and re-establish pure and righteous ways in the border city.
At this moment, Jin’an pressed, “Which military general became a Taoist priest?”
Jinsui first told him about Liu Yun’s glorious deeds. Gu Changxiao’s most formidable secret guard, who left half an enemy dead with one sword in the Northern Frontier, had the Princess of the Northern Frontier so infatuated that she called him “Master.”
He was a military general more trusted by His Majesty than Han Xing. If he had continued to serve in the army, he would have been ennobled sooner or later. As a result, for some unknown reason, he insisted on becoming a Taoist priest and even wanted to become Grandpa’s disciple!
It was all because he didn’t study enough!
This is what happens when military generals don’t study enough. What happens when sons of the gentry don’t study?
Yan Turtle is the best example. His elder brother studied a lot and was highly valued by His Majesty in Chang’an. He studied little and was tricked by me all day long…
Jinsui successfully confused Jin’an, “So, whether I want to join the army or become the Marquis of Yan Mountain, I have to study more?”
Jinsui nodded emphatically, “That’s right! Sister supports you in practicing martial arts and joining the army, but not studying is unacceptable.”
She successfully scared her little brother. This child was very sensible; he even brought books with him while guarding the graves. When he encountered something he didn’t understand, Jinsui could still lecture him.
In the blink of an eye, it was winter. It snowed in the border city, and Gu Changxiao had not yet set off.
