Chapter 79

A few days later, Chu Shaoling received a message from the Empress Dowager in the Imperial City. The beginning of the message was similar to what Chu Shaotao had sent, but since the Empress Dowager's message arrived a few days later, it contained some additional content.

After reading it, Chu Shaoling handed the letter to Wei Ji with a smile: "The Imperial City is quite lively now."

After the Emperor fell into a coma, the Empress Dowager was the sole authority in the Imperial City. Various voices arose in the court - some wanted Chu Shaoling to return to handle state affairs, some wanted to summon Chu Shaoyang back from his fief to attend to the Emperor, and even more ridiculously, some petitioned to have the Fifth Prince enter the court to learn governance.

The Empress Dowager listened to none of them. She decisively reorganized the cabinet, either finding faults to dismiss the ministers favored by the Emperor or granting them the privilege of retirement due to old age. Within a few days, those deliberately stirring up trouble were dealt with, and the Empress Dowager promoted old ministers like Marquis Zijun. The court quickly became much quieter.

After the incident, the Empress Dowager had the members of the Zhen household and Chu Shaoruan's direct subordinates detained. Several prestigious families in the Imperial City collapsed overnight.

The Empress Dowager only had them detained but did not punish them. Firstly, she wanted to wait for the Emperor to handle it himself. Secondly, the Empress Dowager's energy was dwindling day by day and she really could not deal with so many matters.

However, those people were quite ungrateful. Those detained wailed every day, wanting to write confessions in blood to appeal their grievances. Those not detained sought help everywhere. It gave the Empress Dowager a headache.

Chu Shaotao kindly suggested to the Empress Dowager to kill a chicken to warn the monkeys. The Empress Dowager thought it made a lot of sense. She first executed Zhen Jiaxin who was struggling the most vigorously. After the great shock, the others indeed quieted down a lot. Only then did the Empress Dowager have time to write to Chu Shaoling.

After carefully explaining the matters of the court, the Empress Dowager advised Chu Shaoling not to listen to slander and violate orders to return to the capital. The Emperor was not in any dire state. Bringing troops back now would not be to visit a sick Emperor but to rebel. The Empress Dowager had already taken this opportunity to promote her own people. The Imperial City could not fall into chaos for the time being.

Finally, the Empress Dowager couldn't help but speak with schadenfreude about the situation in the Cold Palace: After Zhen Jiaxin was executed, Consort Li was quite grief-stricken and tried to hang herself several times but was rescued. Now she had lost her appetite and looked haggard, not knowing when she would go accompany her old father.

Chu Shaoling, afraid of demoralizing the troops, did not tell the officers about the matters in the capital. Everything in the army remained as usual. Two days later, the army arrived at Karakash on the northwest border. The northern army had arrived five days earlier than Chu Shaoling's forces. On the day Chu Shaoling arrived at Karakash, countless military tents could be seen stretching across the northwest border, with thousands of "Chu" banners erected, forming a unique landscape on the northwest frontier.

After the two armies met, Chu Shaoling first arranged which officers would command which troops. After finishing the tally, General Bai Yunjiang asked doubtfully, "Your Highness, there are still 6,000 elite soldiers brought from the Imperial City that have not been assigned. Are these Your Highness's personal guards?"

Chu Shaoling put down his brush, looked up and said, "General Bai misunderstands. I came to the northwest to live and die together with you officers and soldiers in resisting the Liaoliang barbarians. How could I keep private guards to save my own life? These 6,000 men are under the direct command of General Wei Ji."

As soon as these words came out, the tent fell silent. The officers who didn't know the inside story looked at each other. What did His Highness mean by this? If Chu Shaoling had kept these men for himself, so be it. But to give 6,000 elite soldiers to a child, what was this for? To accompany him to play?!

Along the way, Chu Shaoling kept Wei Ji by his side every day. When the other generals ate from a large pot, Wei Ji was eating exquisite food in Chu Shaoling's fancy carriage. When the other generals slept on horseback, Wei Ji was curled up in Chu Shaoling's arms, covered with a thick, soft blanket. All along the way, Wei Ji's food and lodging were the same as Chu Shaoling's. The other officers all saw this. Some with narrow minds had long been discontent. Who would have thought Chu Shaoling would be even more wanton.

Wei Zhan had been on tenterhooks the whole way, fearing that Chu Shaoling's excessive favor towards Wei Ji would make the officers jealous. Now it had indeed turned out this way. Wei Zhan turned his head to glance at Wei Ji. Wei Ji pursed his lips and said nothing.

Chu Shaoling had not discussed this matter with Wei Ji beforehand. But in this situation, if Wei Ji spoke out to politely refuse Chu Shaoling's intention, he could extricate himself, but it would inevitably make people think Chu Shaoling was fatuous and incompetent. In Wei Ji's heart, protecting Chu Shaoling was the top priority. So although he disagreed, he didn't say anything, slightly lowering his head and remaining silent.

Bai Yunjiang was very dissatisfied in his heart. He was already 53 years old this year. Whether he could go to the battlefield again in the future was still uncertain. Whether his name could go down in history depended on this campaign. He didn't expect that he would be making a wedding dress for someone else. Bai Yunjiang couldn't hold back and said loudly, "Wei Ji has no military exploits and no qualifications. How can he command 6,000 elite soldiers?"

Chu Shaoling raised an eyebrow and chuckled, "When General Bai first went to the battlefield, I'm afraid you also had no military exploits and no qualifications."

Bai Yunjiang was stumped by Chu Shaoling's words and his anger rose even more. He said, "It's understandable that Your Highness wants to promote the guards by your side. It's just that 6,000 elite soldiers are too many! For the first time on the battlefield, 1,000 would be enough."

"General Bai overthinks. I naturally have my considerations," Chu Shaoling said indifferently. "Wei Ji was indeed my personal guard before, but he is no longer so. Wei Ji is now a disciple of Great General Zhang Lifeng. Before the expedition, Zhang Lifeng earnestly entrusted him to me. I can't let Great General Zhang lose face. Besides, being Zhang Lifeng's disciple, he shouldn't be too bad."

With Zhang Lifeng's name brought up, Bai Yunjiang had nothing more to say. He sat down angrily and said no more.

Chu Shaoling took a sip of tea, looked at Bai Yunjiang and said lightly, "There are still soldiers being recruited outside. You should still call me Grand General. Calling me 'Your Highness' all the time, if others hear it, they will inevitably think there is no discipline in my camp."

Bai Yunjiang was rendered speechless by Chu Shaoling for a while, his face turning red. He cupped his hands and said, "Yes."

Chu Shaoling put down his teacup and continued arranging, "The Liaoliang soldiers all withdrew a few days ago. The scouts reported that the Liaoliang king is also gathering soldiers. A fierce battle is inevitable. This time we will cross Karakash and attack Liaoliang directly. But to avoid future troubles, we will still evacuate all the people of Karakash. Guardian General Wei will handle this."

Wei Zhan stood up, bowed his head and said, "I accept the order."

Chu Shaoling waved his hand and continued, "This morning I have already sent an envoy to Liaoliang. Let's see how the Liaoliang king responds."

Lian Yu raised his head and asked, "What did the Grand General say to the Liaoliang king?"

Chu Shaoling smiled faintly: "I want the Liaoliang King to offer five thousand young girls and boys each, one hundred thousand taels of gold, ten thousand fine horses, and thirty thousand young slaves and servants. I also want him to promise that the Liaoliang people will retreat three hundred miles from the northwest border and never be allowed to invade again. If the Liaoliang King agrees, I will withdraw my troops."

Upon hearing this, everyone couldn't help but secretly sigh at Chu Shaoling's ruthlessness. Young children, able-bodied men, gold, horses - everything Chu Shaoling wanted could shake the foundation of Liaoliang. Lian Yu laughed and said, "If the Liaoliang King agrees, Liaoliang will have no hope of rising again in twenty years."

"I know he won't agree, that's why I said it." Chu Shaoling sneered inwardly. If peace talks were easily reached, where would Wei Ji's military merits go? The Liaoliang King should also want peace talks at this time, but these conditions forced him to go to war. The generals also knew the game.

Chu Shaoling smiled, "I won't let you generals come all this way for nothing. What I said just now wasn't to scare the Liaoliang King, it's my bottom line. As long as the Liaoliang King doesn't agree, my Great Chu's army will not leave Liaoliang for a day. Let's see who can outlast whom."

Although everyone felt that Chu Shaoling was ruthless, they couldn't help but secretly look forward to it. Although Chu Shaoling had a bad temper, one would never suffer a loss under him. As a military officer, who doesn't want to establish merit and make a career? But how do achievements come about? They are piled up with human heads.

After explaining everything clearly, Chu Shaoling said, "These few days, the generals and soldiers should rest and recuperate. After receiving the reply from the Liaoliang King, the war can begin. Who is on patrol today?"

No one answered. After a while, Bai Yunjiang said in a low voice, "It's this general's turn today."

"Thank you for your hard work, old general. Although the war has not yet begun, you must still be careful and cautious." Chu Shaoling didn't even glance at Bai Yunjiang, gave a few more instructions, and then ordered everyone to disperse.

"Your Highness," Wei Ji looked at Chu Shaoling hesitantly and said in a low voice, "Why didn't Your Highness tell me beforehand?"

Chu Shaoling smiled, "If I told you, would you have agreed? Forget it, it's not a big deal. I really don't understand what those people are thinking. Do I need a reason to promote you? It's ridiculous that Bai Yunjiang, at his age, still wants to haggle with me over these things."

Wei Ji knew that Chu Shaoling was also a bit angry today, so he persuaded, "The old general acts upright and sits straight. There are some things he can't bear to see. Your Highness made him lose face in front of so many people, so he couldn't back down and lost his composure."

Chu Shaoling laughed, "What can't he bear to see? Whoever I favor, naturally I have to treat them a bit better. He's dreaming if he wants me to treat everyone the same, isn't he?"

Wei Ji didn't know whether to laugh or cry, "Your Highness, how can you make the crooked reasoning sound like the right reasoning? Your Highness is becoming more and more..." The following words were not good to say. Wei Ji knew he misspoke and stopped talking.

However, Chu Shaoling perked up and said with a smile, "Forget it, what were you just about to say?"

Wei Ji hesitated slightly and said in a low voice, "Your Highness is becoming more and more unreasonable."

"How am I becoming more and more unreasonable? I have never been reasonable." Chu Shaoling untied the clasp at his collar, took off his outer robe and put it aside. He walked over, hugged Wei Ji, slightly lowered his head to look into Wei Ji's eyes, and said coldly after a while, "I didn't climb to my position today to be reasonable, nor to uphold justice for anyone. I want to be emperor not for the sake of the people or the ministers. I just want to do as I please, to dote on my beloved as I wish."

Chu Shaoling took a step forward, tightly pressed against Wei Ji, and quietly looked at Wei Ji's clear eyes. He said softly, "I finally climbed to this position, why should I still restrain myself everywhere? So what about the bigger picture? That's just the fart talk of incompetent people. I want to favor whoever I want to favor. Even if they are discontent, so what? What can they do to me?"

Looking into Chu Shaoling's eyes, Wei Ji only felt his heart beating like a drum in his chest. He clearly disagreed with Chu Shaoling's words, but he couldn't refute them. He was not an ungrateful person. Chu Shaoling did all this for him, all for him.

Chu Shaoling chuckled, "What's the matter? Can't argue with me?"

"Your Highness," Wei Ji lowered his eyes, not knowing what to say. After a while, he said, "I understand Your Highness's intentions. I'm clear about it all. Your Highness treating me like this, I'm actually happy in my heart, but..."

"No buts." Chu Shaoling felt a little relieved in his heart. His whole heart was for Wei Ji's sake. If Wei Ji himself was still ungrateful and came to lecture him with those high-sounding principles, it would be too ridiculous. Fortunately, Wei Ji was not such a person. If he liked it, he liked it.

Chu Shaoling, having received his lover's response, felt extremely happy and said lazily, "If you like it, shouldn't you thank me for the favor? General Wei, that's six thousand elite soldiers..."

Wei Ji paused, his face slightly red, and said in a low voice, "I... I thank you for your grace."

"That's more like it." Chu Shaoling hugged Wei Ji and kissed him, instructing in a low voice, "In the future, no matter what I reward you with, as long as you obediently thank me for the favor, it's fine. Understand?"

Wei Ji nodded timidly, "I understand."