Chapter 372: Midnight in the Forbidden City, the Slayer Wears Armor

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"Sword Snow Stride," by Fenghuo Xizhu

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The night duty post for the Department of State Affairs (Shangshu Province) was located on the east side, inside Longsheng Gate within the palace grounds. A row of low-slung tiled houses stood beneath the palace wall, appearing extremely humble compared to the grand and magnificent buildings of the Central Secretariat and Chancellery (Zhongshu and Menxia Provinces). Tonight, Zhang Julu, the current Prime Minister, personally entered the palace for night duty. Among the officials of the Three Departments, the old Grand Tutor Sun Xiji of Western Chu had been transferred out of the capital to become the Commissioner of Military and Political Affairs for the former Western Chu territories. The Central Secretariat was already vacant, leaving two of the three key positions empty, which was highly irregular and against dynastic protocol. Currently, both court and commoners speculated who possessed the qualifications and fortune to replace Sun Xiji and ascend to prominence. Lu Daolin, the leader of the Jiangnan Daoist sect, had only been promoted to Minister of Rites less than a year ago, making Huan Wen, the Libationer of the Imperial Academy, the immediate choice for such a high-ranking position.

In the main hall of the Department of State Affairs, besides a central, low-ceilinged room known as "Zhang Lu" where Zhang Julu was seated, the easternmost room housed Lu Baijie, Lu Daolin's younger brother. Lu Baijie, the newly appointed Vice Minister of War and known as the "Tangxi Sword Immortal," also happened to be on duty. Although the Ministry of War was controlled by Gu Jiantang and famously unyielding, maintaining a clear separation from the other five ministries, its seals and official stamps were uniquely kept in a side room of the main hall. Zhang Julu, known for his strict governance, surprisingly turned a blind eye to this, indicating that Grand Minister Gu's rank was not merely one grade higher than the other five ministers, but his actual power was undeniably far superior, beyond a mere difference in rank.

However, Lu Baijie, a newcomer to the inner circles of the capital's officialdom, was not deterred by these distinctions. When he occasionally encountered Prime Minister Zhang, their interactions were more than just perfunctory nods and greetings; they would stop and converse for a few moments, always enjoying their talks without any pretense. Zhang Julu was currently perusing a banned book, confiscated from the former Chu territories, written by a "mad scholar." Surprisingly, Sun Xiji, who was heading to Guangling Province to pacify public unrest, had specifically written a letter on behalf of this scholar, pleading for leniency. Zhang Julu received the letter during the day but did not reply immediately. Instead, he requested a copy of the banned book from the palace archives and began to read it meticulously. Just as he furrowed his brow, the current Prime Minister, with his green eyes and purple beard, heard a burst of boisterous laughter from outside the main hall. There were only a handful of old men who dared to be so loud within the inner court.

Zhang Julu put down the banned book and glanced at the full moon hanging high outside the window. Inside the room, several high-ranking officials from the Six Ministries instinctively stopped writing or put down their books, all looking towards the Prime Minister. Zhang Julu smiled and gestured with his hand for them to disregard him. Unlike when the previous Prime Minister was in charge of the Department of State Affairs, the officials in "Zhang Lu" now, though all holding ranks of fourth grade or higher, were almost a full generation younger than their predecessors. There were few white-haired, dim-sighted septuagenarians; most were around fifty, with one Vice Minister of Personnel entering the central government in his early forties. Zhang Julu gently stepped over two thresholds and walked out of the main hall, privately known by the court as "Zhang Lu." He saw the familiar face of Huan Wen, the Libationer of the Imperial Academy. In addition, there was Lu Daolin, the Minister of Rites, who should have been on duty before the emperor in Chonghua Palace at Ganxi No. 2 Residence in the western part of the Imperial Palace. A prince leaving the capital to take up a fiefdom was a matter of utmost importance, affecting everything. The Imperial Clan Court, Ministry of Rites, and Central Secretariat, among others, had to expend considerable effort and ensure not a single mistake was made.

However, between Huan Wen and Lu Daolin stood another man, most conspicuous in his imperial yellow dragon robe. Zhang Julu quickly stepped forward, about to bow in salutation, when the Son of Heaven gently held his arm. Zhang Julu then ceased his pretense of humility. From the corner of his eye, he noticed a young eunuch. "Young" was only in comparison to the former grand eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, Han Shengxuan. It should have been Han Diaosi accompanying the Emperor. Zhang Julu, who had always kept his distance from inner-court eunuchs, did not bother to investigate the intricacies of this situation; it was enough that he understood the implications.

Seeing that the Emperor and the two ministers had no immediate intention of entering the room, Lu Daolin respectfully excused himself first and entered "Zhang Lu."

The Emperor waited until the Minister of Rites had entered the room, then genially quipped, "Would my two esteemed ministers care to join me for a while in the Ministry of War's main hall? I know the tea there is excellent—authentic Spring God Lake pre-rain tea. Zhang Lu's tea isn't good; it's carelessly brewed and not palatable."

Zhang Julu, who in private interactions with the Emperor did not adhere to many formalities, laughed, "Alright. I don't like shamelessly freeloading wine, but freeloading tea, especially with Grand General Gu not present, wouldn't hurt to do a few times. Though I reckon Libationer Huan won't be very interested."

Huan Wen glared, "Green-eyed Zhang, are you already trying to set a trap for me right after seeing His Majesty?"

Zhang Julu irritably glanced at Huan Wen, whose hand was clasped behind his back. "Such a strong scent of wine—do you think I didn't smell it? You're playing innocent after gaining an advantage. When His Majesty bestows good wine, just shut up and drink it later, and don't make a drunken spectacle of yourself."

Huan Wen, whose shortcomings were exposed by his friend, burst into laughter. The Zhao Emperor, in a cheerful mood, walked with the two pillars of the nation towards the eastern wing of the Ministry of War's main hall. This area subtly rivaled "Zhang Lu," and was sometimes referred to as "Gu Lu." The Emperor merely smiled at these harmless disputes, even light-heartedly joking about them in front of Zhang Julu and Gu Jiantang without any reservations.

Stepping over the threshold, the Ministry of War officials from both the outer and inner rooms surged out and knelt down upon seeing the Emperor's personal presence in the main hall. Vice Minister of War Lu Baijie knelt at the very front, his voice the most impassioned and resonant. The Emperor bade everyone rise, with no intention of delivering a lecture. He simply instructed them to return to their desks and attend to military affairs, but kept Lu Baijie. The Zhao Emperor held Lu Baijie in high esteem, having repeatedly summoned him to the palace to discuss matters of state and even commissioned the "Tangxi Sword Immortal" to teach swordsmanship to several imperial grandsons. This immense favor allowed Lu Baijie to quickly establish himself in the capital's court, with no one daring to underestimate or disrespect him.

A colossal painting of the vast landscape hung on the main wall of the outer room. The Emperor allowed the three prominent officials to sit and enjoy their tea and wine, while he stood beneath the painting, holding a slender zitan wood rod, but not yet pointing at the grand artwork.

Zhang Julu took a sip of Spring God Biluo, a tea that became a tribute due to a poem, and whispered to the Libationer of the Imperial Academy on the adjacent chair, "Drink further away; your wine scent is overwhelming the tea's aroma."

Huan Wen retorted, "The room is only this big, and the wine is so fragrant! Where do you expect me to go?!"

After saying this, he asked the attendant in the main hall for another Quanyao cup, not known for grand artifacts, and handed it to Vice Minister of War Lu Baijie, smiling, "Tangxi Sword Immortal, let's drink heartily together, two against one. If anyone has to leave, it'll be that green-eyed Zhang, wouldn't you agree?"

Lu Baijie, with the demeanor of a scholarly general, accepted the cup with a smile and softly said, "I'll drink the wine. But as for whether that's the principle, Libationer, I truly wouldn't dare to say."

Zhang Julu laughed exasperatedly, "One is smoother than the next. The Libationer who carries the 'pure wind and bright moon'? The Tangxi Sword Immortal who is generous and straightforward? Why do they change their tune when it comes to me?"

The Emperor, who had ventured out late at night, leaving several imperial chroniclers and eunuchs outside, heard this, turned, smiled, and asked, "Julu, tell me more about the North-South lists in the imperial examinations and the system of regional recruitment. I've read the memorial; although I recognize every one of the sixty thousand characters, there are still many points I don't understand. Especially the claim that while it's a powerful remedy now, after a hundred years, it will lead to factionalism and abuses—that memorial was strong at the beginning but weak at the end, vague and incomplete. Tonight, let's focus on this. Huan Libationer and Vice Minister Lu, don't just sit idle. If you have thoughts, speak freely. Whether it's tea or wine, I won't shortchange you. But if you can't explain yourselves clearly before dawn, don't blame me for being stingy! I'll charge you for how much tea and wine you've consumed, at market price—don't think of paying a single copper less!"

Zhang Julu turned to Huan Wen and Lu Baijie and chuckled, "So, who's being unreasonable? Me, or His Majesty?"

Both nodded and chuckled, "His Majesty even more so."

The Emperor laughed heartily, "If it were anyone else, wouldn't they be praising me to death right now for my diligent and frugal governance?"

The Zhao Emperor waved his hand, signaling the attendants to retreat into the inner room and close the door. He then chose an exquisitely crafted, valuable chair and sat down, still holding the sandalwood rod on his lap. He accepted a cup of invigorating tea from Lu Baijie.

They talked until dawn, the four of them still showing no signs of weariness, their conversation lively and engaging. Solely concerning diligence in governance, this Zhao Emperor could indeed be ranked among the top three emperors and monarchs in history.

Although some minor details remained unsaid, the Emperor still stood up, massaged his hands and feet, walked to the grand painting, and with his back to the three men, drew an arc at the convergence of Beiliang, Xishu, and the Western Regions, asking, "Have they all arrived?"

Zhang Julu gravely replied, "Sixty thousand cavalry. Another twenty thousand cavalry are on the post roads."

The Emperor, pointing at the grand painting with his wooden rod, smiled faintly, "Whether it's sixty thousand or eighty thousand, the significance isn't much different—unless sixty thousand becomes six hundred thousand."

Zhang Julu nodded.

The Zhao Emperor dropped the rod, went to the table, and gripped a porcelain cup whose tea had long grown cold, but he did not lift it. Perhaps he had no inclination to drink tea to quench his thirst. Or perhaps he feared his ministers would notice the tremble in his hand if he were to raise the cup. He looked down at the teacup and softly asked, "Will it happen?"

Zhang Julu calmly shook his head and said, "Rest assured, Your Majesty, there will be no fighting."

After hearing this clear answer, the Zhao Emperor smiled, put down the teacup he had not lifted, and looked up, saying, "You all should also rest early."

After Lu Baijie and the two older ministers respectfully saw the Emperor off from the main hall, Lu Baijie returned to the room alone and inadvertently glanced at the table. There were still slight ripples in the cup.

Perhaps no one would believe that a vast net had been cast on Beiliang's border. Gu Jiantang's former subordinates had deployed almost their entire force; sixty thousand troops, under the pretext of troop rotation, had rushed to a single location for garrison. Furthermore, an additional twenty thousand cavalry had urgently entered from Jizhou. The scale of this movement was enormous and utterly impossible to conceal!

The sixty thousand troops already in position were led by Cai Nan, a direct subordinate of Grand General Gu Jiantang's former forces. They had established a loose defensive line along the border, completely against conventional military strategy. This kind of defense, resembling child's play, could be torn apart not only by the formidable iron cavalry that had intimidated two dynasties in the north, but probably even by the regular cavalry of Prince Guangling and Prince Yanchi in a single charge. However, when General Cai Nan patrolled the front lines with hundreds of his personal guards, there was no sign of him intending to make any changes. It wasn't that the generals and commanders in the army had no doubts, but after one person questioned him directly and was severely reprimanded by Cai Nan, no one dared to risk his displeasure again.

Cai Nan rode north, a mix of emotions on his face, muttering to himself, "I only wish I had another forty thousand men to symbolically station along the entire border. That way, it would appear as if we're preventing Beiliang's iron cavalry from openly entering. Otherwise, if a real fight breaks out, can sixty thousand men huddled together truly stop them? But if you Beiliang army dare to charge in, what if my sixty thousand men are slaughtered by you? Open rebellion? I've been waiting for this day!"

Cai Nan thought this, but when he truly delved deeper, the idea of opposing that Grand General whose reputation far surpassed Minister Gu's still made him feel as if he were treading on thin ice. Like a pawn that has crossed the river, one cannot turn back. Cai Nan knew his own predicament. As for why there was such a commotion, Cai Nan only knew that Prince Zhao Kai had traveled far to the Western Regions. Surely, it wasn't that someone from Beiliang intended to assassinate this rising prince, was it? Though Cai Nan was a mere military man, he understood the simple principle that "a name not righteous leads to words not smooth." If Prince Zhao Kai, whose origins were vague, truly harbored such ambitions, he would certainly need to establish achievements like this. Moreover, with the capital currently in a critical period for princes to be enfeoffed as kings, if Zhao Kai could truly gain power in the Western Regions, Cai Nan knew with certainty, even just by thinking casually, that he would become a powerful regional prince. "Heh, if he became the King of Shu in Xishu, that would be interesting."

A scout galloped back, his face pale. After dismounting, he knelt trembling on the ground and reported, "The Beiliang cavalry has arrived! I don't know the exact number, but it's at least around ten thousand! And these ten thousand cavalry are the Great Snow Dragon Riders!"

Cai Nan's expression remained normal, but his knuckles on the hand gripping his saber turned white. Were ten thousand of the Beiliang King's personal cavalry few? Cai Nan felt it was far too many!

Gritting his teeth, Cai Nan ordered a trusted general behind him, "Issue the command: within a hundred li, gather all troops here."

Cai Nan looked out, and in his sight, yellow sand billowed. Cai Nan's lips were bitter. He took a deep breath. "Which adopted son will be leading them?"

Ignoring objections, he insisted on leaving his personal guards behind and charged forward alone. When Cai Nan was half a li away, he still dared not advance another half-step. Countless iron cavalry, stretching endlessly, halted solemnly on the vast plain. Cai Nan could see a royal banner with the character "Xu" fluttering fiercely in the strong winds and yellow sand. A single rider emerged from the formation and advanced slowly.

Cai Nan's eyes widened. His already somewhat strained breathing suddenly became ragged. An old man, armored, holding a spear. Cai Nan's mind went blank. Unconsciously, his hands and feet acted on their own; he dismounted and knelt on the ground, respectfully exclaiming, "Your subordinate Cai Nan pays respects to the King of Beiliang!"

The Grand General, a lone figure on horseback with a spear, gave a soft "hmm" as he neared Cai Nan. His warhorse continued to slowly step forward. Each hoofbeat echoed in Cai Nan's chest. Reining in his horse and halting, Grand General Xu Xiao, now once again armored and holding his spear, looked into the distance and softly asked, "Only sixty thousand men? Isn't Gu Jiantang being a bit stingy?"

Cai Nan, still kneeling on the ground, covered in coarse yellow sand, cared nothing for dignity or pride. He dared not speak.

The "Human Butcher" laughed, "Don't worry, I'm just waiting for someone; I'm not here to kill. As long as you don't interfere, this King has no interest in turning hostile with anyone."

Xu Xiao smiled, "Come, General Cai, let this King behold the might of the Gu family's iron cavalry."

On this day, when the King of Beiliang, Xu Xiao, arrived alone at the front, it was unclear who was the first to dismount and shout, "Greetings, Grand General!" The twenty thousand cavalry who had rushed there, densely packed, all knelt down.

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Even if I had a ticket to Eason Chan's farewell concert in my hand right now, I would absolutely not go. Because I insist on coming here to save face, even though I've never managed to grab the second floor (i.e., be the second commenter).

Even if I had a ticket to Eason Chan's farewell concert in my hand right now, I would absolutely not go. Because I insist on coming here to save face, even though I've never managed to grab the second floor.

Even if I had a ticket to Eason Chan's farewell concert in my hand right now, I would absolutely not go. Because I insist on coming here to save face, even though I've never managed to grab the second floor.

Even if I had a ticket to Eason Chan's farewell concert in my hand right now, I would absolutely not go. Because I insist on coming here to save face, even though I've never managed to grab the second floor.

Squeeze in! Didn't you notice, setting a small tail (signature) can sometimes be a headache. Seems like enough now, huh?

Finally updated! There's a beauty—above is heaven, below is the rooftop.

Looks like a bunch of strong front-row commenters are going to die!

Who can imagine that this 16-year-old girl was just a 12-year-old girl four years ago?

Occupying a spot!!!

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