Three
The emperor pondered: "After Bai Yi receives the supply of medicine, he still needs to offer sacrifices at the ancestral temple. How should I respond?"
Just as the inner monitor was reciting the memorial, the old ministers at the bottom of the steps had already furrowed their brows tighter and tighter. At this moment, it was their turn to speak, and two or three of them almost rushed to open their mouths.
In the end, it was the Grand Tutor Xie Qiwei who suppressed the ministers with his seniority, stepping forward to say: "Your Majesty's words are indeed correct! The royal family holds great importance; even if they were to come, it would not be a matter of the moment. If tens of thousands of troops were to enter Tianqi City, would it not cause chaos similar to that of Ying Wuyi entering the city? What do the common people know? How can they distinguish between Ying Wuyi and Bai Yi? They would only say that a feudal lord has led troops into the imperial capital, which would be detrimental to Your Majesty's reputation!"
Minister Bai Yi of the State of Chu presents a memorial
I believe that Bai Yi is now only two days away from the imperial capital on horseback. If he is not allowed to enter the capital, it may lead to unforeseen complications. However, allowing him to take pride in his achievements is even more unacceptable. He should be permitted to pay his respects, and then we should dispatch the Feathered Forest Heavenly Army to protect and restrain him along the way. Another elder statesman stepped forward, stating, "Since the reign of Emperor Rose, the only one capable of truly restraining the feudal lords is Emperor Feng Yan. These lords have been waging wars for years, and Your Majesty's mediation has proven ineffective. Who among them is not vying for the position of hegemon in the Eastern Continent?" Since the reign of Emperor Rose, the only one capable of truly restraining the feudal lords is Emperor Feng Yan. These lords have been waging wars for years, and Your Majesty's mediation has proven ineffective. Who among them is not vying for the position of hegemon in the Eastern Continent? They still maintain respect for the imperial family, but that is only because they have not yet truly become hegemonic and still rely on the imperial family's prestige. If they were to truly become hegemonic, would they still regard Your Majesty and us loyal subjects of the imperial family? The battle between Bai Yi and Ying Wuyi, is it for the imperial family or for Chu Wei? I find it difficult to say! If they were to truly become hegemonic, would they still regard Your Majesty and us loyal subjects of the imperial family? The battle between Bai Yi and Ying Wuyi, is it for the imperial family or for Chu Wei? I find it difficult to say! Who dares to say that once Bai Yi steps into Tianqi, he will not further threaten Your Majesty?
"Nian." The emperor raised his hand
"Your Majesty, please remain calm," a soft female voice came from behind a gauzy curtain. "You have always been so impatient since childhood, and now that you are the Emperor, how can you still lose your temper like this?"
The emperor pondered slightly and nodded his head
This is the memorial submitted by Bai Yi, the Emperor's voice was lazy and slow, with a hint of hesitation. "It arrived here the day before yesterday, and I have discussed it with several court officials for an entire day, but we could not reach a conclusion and can only temporarily set it aside. However, Bai Yi's envoy arrived yesterday on horseback, urging me to respond. I believe this action is inappropriate; the royal family is of great importance, and according to ancestral customs, even if we are to pay our respects, we should formally request three times and wait for the calculations of the Bureau of Astronomy to determine auspiciousness or inauspiciousness. Bai Yi's repeated urgings, but this is not something that can be decided hastily. I believe this action is inappropriate; the royal family is of great importance, and according to ancestral customs, even if we are to pay our respects, we should formally request three times and wait for the calculations of the Bureau of Astronomy to determine auspiciousness or inauspiciousness. Bai Yi's repeated urgings, but this is not something that can be decided hastily. However, he is a key minister in the service of the nation, and refusing him would cool the loyalty of the feudal lords. I am hesitating, unsure how to handle this. What are everyone's thoughts?
Currently, I am leading the troops to guard Shangyang Pass, in order to prevent any further disturbances from treasonous subjects. However, the enemy forces are fierce and barbaric, and our army has suffered heavy losses, with a shortage of medical supplies, leaving the injured without treatment. Therefore, I respectfully request that Your Majesty lift the prohibition on the lords entering the imperial capital, and grant mercy to the loyal soldiers, allowing them to enter the capital to replenish food, medicine, and other supplies, and to treat the injured on the spot. In this way, the various armies will also be able to pay their respects at the ancestral temple and perform the sacrificial rites to honor the spirits of the emperors of past dynasties.
Apocalypse City, Taiqing Palace, East Side Hall
This is an excessive statement, Xie Qiwei said, Bai Yi's character is well known throughout the Eastern Lands, and he has always been proud. During the time of the late emperor, his reputation was valued, and he was summoned multiple times, but he always declined. To say that he is proud of his contributions now is a baseless assumption. If a stern warning is issued at this moment, it will only further cool the hearts of the feudal lords
Your Majesty, may you be in good health
However, the Princess Consort changed her tone, stating, "If Bai Yi were to pay a visit himself, that would be one thing. But with tens of thousands of troops entering the city, disturbing the populace, and the potential for conflict, it could harm the peace of the imperial capital. Wouldn't it be obvious to someone as clever as Bai Yi that we are monitoring him? I have listened to everyone's opinions and still believe that Your Majesty's concerns are valid. Refusing might alienate the lords, while agreeing could lead to various troubles, and the imperial capital is not yet prepared. Now, if we wish to warm the hearts of the lords, it would be better to first send envoys with medicine to express our condolences to the soldiers. As for the matter of bringing troops into the imperial capital, it would be wise to wait a few more days, at least until the Imperial Astronomical Bureau has calculated the auspiciousness or inauspiciousness of the heavens before proceeding."
The Duke of Guo, Ying Wuyi, does not respect the royal protocols, leading troops privately into the imperial capital and disturbing the royal family for years. The feudal lords harbor a loyal heart towards the king and are concerned for Your Majesty's safety, having prepared for a long time. Now, in the name of Your Majesty's illustrious reputation and with the unwavering loyalty of the feudal lords, I, Bai Yi, will gather an army of seventy thousand from the feudal lords of Chu, Wei, Xia, Tang, Jin, Chun, Chen, and Xiu to decisively battle Ying Wuyi at the Shanyang Pass. With the assistance of divine might, we will defeat the traitorous minister and establish Your Majesty's authority throughout the land. Now, in the name of Your Majesty's illustrious reputation and with the unwavering loyalty of the feudal lords, I, Bai Yi, will gather an army of seventy thousand from the feudal lords of Chu, Wei, Xia, Tang, Jin, Chun, Chen, and Xiu to decisively battle Ying Wuyi at the Shanyang Pass. With the assistance of divine might, we will defeat the traitorous minister and establish Your Majesty's authority throughout the land
The emperor sat high upon the steps, while the ministers stood in two rows. The morning sunlight filtered through the intricately carved window panes, casting golden, eye-catching spots of light on the thick wool carpet. This autumn had turned cold early, and the charcoal braziers had already been set up in the eastern side hall, providing a warm and cozy atmosphere. The emperor, urged to rise early by the eunuchs and concubines, felt the warmth lulling him to sleep, propping his dizzy head with his hand as he leaned against the armrest of the throne. Young palace maids, dressed in light garments with thin gauze covering their chests, lined up to present the royal ministers, who had risen early for court, with mutton soup brewed with white ginseng to ward off the chill of the journey. These esteemed old ministers were already quite advanced in age, and rising early in the cold almost took half their lives.
The emperor was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly realized, clapping his hands and laughing: "The strategy of the princess is indeed beyond comparison, even for men"
Her words were like a cooling medicine, instantly extinguishing the emperor's anger. The emperor was taken aback for a moment, then showed a look of joy: "The princess has remained silent all this time; now that she speaks, she must surely have a well-thought-out plan."
Pass the paper and pen! Pass the paper and pen! Reply to Bai Yi immediately! The emperor could no longer contain himself and called out loudly for the eunuchs
The emperor slightly opened his eyes and looked down from his elevated position, observing the ministers lined up below, all slurping soup with their lips. In the eastern side hall, there was a chorus of swallowing and sucking sounds, which made him feel somewhat uncomfortable. Ever since the army withdrew from Tianqi, it seemed that there was an additional group of ministers attending court, and the emperor was not entirely familiar with their names; some of them appeared to have not been seen for several years. However, they were all elderly officials with bent backs and white hair. Compared to a few days ago, it seemed that there were even fewer young ministers present.
He felt displeased and believed it was necessary to abolish the custom of serving soup to favored ministers before the morning court. Now that Ying Wuyi had been dismissed, it was the perfect time for him to focus on governance. He patted the armrest, and the palace maidens hurriedly came forward to take the soup bowls from the ministers' hands and retreated. The ministers took some time to wipe their mouths before they all clasped their hands and stood solemnly, awaiting the emperor's decree
The first day of the ninth month in the third year of the reign of Emperor Yin Cheng
The princess chuckled softly: "Your Majesty is still concerned about Bai Yi's military strength. However, since the Astronomical Bureau is to calculate the celestial signs, it is not a matter of a day or two. With supplies secured, Bai Yi has no reason to urge Your Majesty to step into the royal domain. At this moment, Your Majesty can immediately issue an edict to the feudal lords, including Bai Yi's lord, the ruler of the State of Chu, stating that relying on the loyalty of the feudal lords, the traitors have been defeated, the imperial capital has been restored, and inviting the lords to come to the capital to celebrate, along with rewards. These lords would be unwilling to come to Tianqi City with only a small entourage after traveling a thousand miles. However, if the lords do not come to the imperial capital to pay their respects, on what basis should their armies enter the capital to pay their respects?"
"Your Majesty is too kind," the Princess said as she gracefully bowed behind the gauze curtain. "From the responses of the feudal lords, it is not difficult to see their respect and loyalty towards Your Majesty. At that time, Your Majesty can treat them differently. Currently, Bai Yi has achieved an initial victory in leading the troops, and his prestige has reached its peak; no one dares to disobey his orders, and even the armies of the other nations cannot openly resist him. Allowing Bai Yi to enter the capital at this moment may only bolster his arrogance. However, Your Majesty must consider that among the six nations united to support the king, after the victory, only Bai Yi is in high spirits. Do the remaining five nations truly harbor no dissatisfaction?"
The princess fell silent with a smile at this point
These words align with the emperor's intentions, and the emperor nodded slightly, yet remained silent.
Only a few coughs could be heard in the hall, and no one else spoke. The emperor listened to the impassioned speeches of these individuals but received no useful advice, which made him increasingly anxious and filled with pent-up frustration. After waiting for a while, he could no longer contain himself, and he heavily struck the armrest of his throne, intending to return to his palace.
The inner official, who had long been waiting at the side, cleared his throat
A few people also wanted to speak up for Bai Yi, but upon glancing at the expressions of those around, they quietly withdrew.
The emperor furrowed his brow slightly, yet he could not reprimand the indignant old minister. This statement had torn apart the dignity that the emperor had strived to maintain in front of the feudal lords, yet it was an irrefutable fact. The ministers also felt a loss of face, but they could only suppress their displeasure. This group of royal ministers were descendants of noble families, originally of extremely high status, and those in high positions believed themselves to be worthy of standing alongside the feudal lords. However, after the reign of Emperor Fengyan, the power of the feudal lords gradually grew stronger, and the royal ministers, lacking military and financial power, had become mere decorations in the court, their influence and honor far from what it had been during the time of their ancestors.
The long princess behind the gauze curtain chuckled softly a few times: "Your Majesty, I am but a woman, merely offering counsel and sharing your worries. Ultimately, the final decision rests solely with your sovereign authority. I believe that Bai Yi's request is not excessive; historically, the army loyal to the throne must be rewarded, or else we risk losing the people's support. Who then can we rely on to confront Ying Wuyi? Moreover, if what Bai Yi stated in his memorial about the lack of medical supplies is true, it would be unreasonable to prevent him from heading north to treat the wounded and sick, as it goes against common human decency." I believe that Bai Yi's request is not excessive; historically, the army loyal to the throne must be rewarded, or else we risk losing the people's support. Who then can we rely on to confront Ying Wuyi? Moreover, if what Bai Yi stated in his memorial about the lack of medical supplies is true, it would be unreasonable to prevent him from heading north to treat the wounded and sick, as it goes against common human decency.
Your Majesty! An old minister, nearly unable to stand upright, charged out from the ranks like a fierce tiger, his beard and hair bristling, his anger evident in his words. "Bai Yi's proclamation is cold and indifferent, boasting of his achievements as if he were a great hero. This minister believes it is nothing short of arrogance! Although he has expelled Ying Wuyi, it is not solely the merit of the State of Chu and Wei. It is Your Majesty's authority that has commanded the respect of the feudal lords, which is why the six states have gathered their troops to support the throne. If it were not for this, how could Bai Yi have defeated Ying Wuyi? Now that Shangyang Pass has fallen, the proclamations from the other feudal lords have not arrived, yet Bai Yi continues to pressure Your Majesty, even attempting to lead his troops into the city. This minister believes this is no different from the actions of a traitor! Your Majesty should warn Bai Yi not to be arrogant in his achievements!"