"Just like when you, my lord, led three hundred barbarian cavalry straight into Qian State without a word."
"Perhaps."
The blind man was adept at understanding people’s hearts. Zheng Fan didn’t directly refute, because most of the ti, people’s eyes aren’t focused on themselves.
"Make sure the supplies are ready this ti," Zheng Fan instructed.
"Rest assured, my lord. Even with the additional hundred or so of Xue Three’s n, our logistics face no pressure at all."
This scale of deploynt is indeed much lower than previously anticipated.
Deploying a thousand versus fifteen thousand soldiers doesn’t rely an fifteen tis the logistical pressure; also, these thousand soldiers will be fully supplied without needing subsequent replenishnts.
Small troops penetrating deep into enemy territory must live off the land, no argunts there.
"Xue Three said that this ti you’re staying behind to guard the house."
"Don’t worry, my lord. I will certainly keep the house well-protected."
"Hmm."
"By the way, my lord, should we report the teor in a morial?"
"Send a notice to Fengxin," Zheng Fan said.
Whether to send it to the court or not is up to Lord Jingnan to decide.
After all, teors, in this era, are considered mysterious and often bear significant ominous portent, but Zheng Fan was born under the red flag.
"Yes, I understand. However, I think you, my lord, should be more mindful."
"Hmm? What do you an?"
"In the original world, a teor is just a teor. It’s estimated that thousands of tons of teors fall on Earth every year, but most are burnt up in the atmosphere."
"What’s the matter?"
"But in this world, I always feel that you can’t fully trust science. I’m not just talking about the warriors, swordsn, and mages in this world; even the place where you live and the people living with you, my lord, you shouldn’t trust science too much either."
"Blind man, what do you an?"
"I always feel that sothing might happen."
...
Yanjing, Imperial Study.
The Crown Prince and Ji Chengjue sat facing each other.
The Crown Prince had just ended the mourning period and looked noticeably thinner and more weathered.
On the other hand, Ji Chengjue, facing him, seed to have been living comfortably after his marriage, having put on so weight.
The Crown Prince’s mourning period was not as long as that of officials. If so officials lost both parents but held important positions the court couldn’t do without, the emperor might exempt them from mourning obligations at his discretion.
After all, the emperor cos before one’s parents. With an imperial edict, you have a legal basis to forgo mourning.
Most officials don’t wish to mourn anyway, as positions in the court are limited and difficult to attain. Mourning for three years might an losing their position.
If that’s the case for officials, it’s even more so for the nation’s heir, the Crown Prince.
Letting the Crown Prince mourn for three years could cripple the foundation of the nation, could it not?
Nonetheless, though he’s out of mourning and can attend to affairs, there are still many rules to observe regarding dress, diet, and behavior. The Yan State had stabilized over the last few generations, leading to more rules. In earlier tis, there weren’t so many customs.
But they were always mocked by the Qian people as barbarians lacking etiquette. Despite frequently claiming that the Qian people were inept and teaching them with swords and spears, they gradually began to establish proper rituals and rules.
The Crown Prince seed finally disinterested in putting on the act of "brotherly love."
Ji Chengjue appreciated the peace and quiet.
On his wedding day, Ji Chengjue had openly declared his intent to join the struggle for the throne. His side was gaining montum and revealing its plans, whereas the Crown Prince’s side was losing ground with the Empress’s passing, the princess leaving the capital, and the wedding plans nearly falling through.
Most importantly,
it’s been a long ti since the Empress passed,
yet no morial concerning her has co from Lord Jingnan.
Military mos have been sent, but as her brother, a morial should have been sent to the capital to mourn the Empress. Of course, Lord Jingnan’s current position is indispensable, handling the major affairs with Jin State and Chu people, so the Emperor and the court would issue a comforting edict and persuade him to forgo coming to the capital.
That’s the process, but Lord Jingnan avoided even the formalities.
Though it’s understood both in court and in the streets, considering his past ruthlessness, returning because of a sister’s death would be contradictory. Is it necessary?
The problem is, the Crown Prince urgently needs external support to help him secure his position in the East Palace, and Lord Jingnan’s disregard nearly equates to indifference to the Crown Prince’s status.
Ji Chengjue yawned, holding the customs list of trade caravans from Beifeng Prefecture in one hand and a caravan list from the Qian State in the other. The latter couldn’t be officially disclosed, only shown to Zhao Jiulang and the emperor, as border tensions were rising, yet trade continued—sothing unspeakable.
The two Princes sat opposite each other, sipping their tea.
Sitting in silence,
Ji Chengjue began to suspect sothing. Earlier, upon arrival, Wei Zhonghe ntioned the emperor was napping, and suggested waiting, but after more than an hour, he was still asleep?
The emperor remaining asleep was one thing, but Wei Zhonghe was also absent, leaving the two Princes waiting in the Imperial Study’s adjoining hall unattended?
Moreover,
since Ji Chengjue’s mory began, the emperor never had a habit of napping. Despite his cold deanor as a father, he dedicated himself to emperorship diligently.
With this in mind,
Ji Chengjue rose and addressed a young eunuch standing beside him:
"Inform Eunuch Wei that so matters at the Ministry of Revenue need attending. I’ll return once the emperor awakens for peace-keeping."
"Yes, Your Highness. I understand."
Just as Ji Chengjue moved to leave,
Wei Zhonghe’s voice echoed:
"Notice from His Majesty..."
Ji Chengjue stumbled,
his mouth forming a silent shape:
Běn? Bān? Bèn?
"Here!"
Oh!
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