Chapter 0022: Everyone Has Their Fate

Chapter 0022: Everyone Has Their Fate

Xiao Rong raised his hand and touched his philtrum, only to find it covered in bright red.

He stared at the blood for a moment before suddenly getting up and grabbing Ah Shu by the collar. "Where is The King? Where did he go?!"

Ah Shu: "…………" Here we go again!

Why does Master always mention The King first whenever he gets sick?

Ah Shu frantically tried to wipe the blood off Xiao Rong, but the more he wiped, the more it seemed to flow. At first, Xiao Rong insisted on knowing Qu Yunmie's whereabouts, but eventually, his hand fell limp, and he lay on the bed weakly, like a noodle.

But this feeling was different from when he had been sick before. In the past, he just felt weak; today, he felt weak and dizzy. Most importantly, why did he feel so feverish inside? He wanted to get up and move around, maybe even run a couple of laps.

Xiao Rong: "……"

This is bad, new symptoms are appearing. What has Qu Yunmie gotten himself into now? Did he do something reckless again?

Seeing that the bleeding wouldn't stop, Ah Shu rushed out to seek help from Gao Xunzhi again.

Gao Xunzhi heard Ah Shu's cries and hurried out, listening to him describe Xiao Rong's condition as they walked. When he heard about the uncontrollable nosebleed, Gao Xunzhi stomped his foot and slapped his forehead.

"Oh no! It must be too much nourishment for his weakened state!"

They had already reached the outer room, and Xiao Rong could hear what Gao Xunzhi was saying. Xiao Rong craned his neck to look at them, and Gao Xunzhi, seeing his movement, quickly approached. He knew a bit about pulse diagnosis and, after feeling Xiao Rong's wrist, confirmed the rapid and strong pulse. "Well, good intentions can lead to bad results. Go fetch a doctor immediately. Also, tell the kitchen to make a pot of jujube old chicken soup and loofah carp soup, and make sure not to add any salt!"

After saying this, Gao Xunzhi patted Xiao Rong's hand affectionately. "Good Ah Rong, let them replenish your blood."

Xiao Rong: "…………" It's not just about replenishing blood, right? It's also about producing milk, isn't it?

Don't think I don't know these are things you drink after giving birth!...

Gao Xunzhi only had a basic understanding of medicine and wasn't an expert. He saw postpartum women being given similar remedies, so he applied the same logic to Xiao Rong. Lying in bed with a handkerchief covering his mouth and nose, Xiao Rong couldn't speak and could only watch him gloomily.

Gao Xunzhi thought he was scared and comforted him. "It's nothing serious. It must be because the tonic you drank today was too potent. The King added ginseng to strengthen your body. Normally, there shouldn't be any problem with ginseng. This particular ginseng is strong yet mild, perfect for restoring vitality and energy. Even elderly people can drink it without fear of it disrupting their meridians. Perhaps your constitution... is just too weak?"

Even Gao Xunzhi sounded unsure, as he had seen many people take the same ginseng with various conditions, including those near death, without any adverse reactions like Xiao Rong's.

Xiao Rong, still bleeding from the nose: "……"

I really appreciate it. ＊

The next day, Xiao Rong got up looking pale.

Yesterday, the announcement was made to relocate the capital, and today, Qu Yunmie summoned everyone for a meeting to discuss the new location.

Xiao Rong had to attend such an important meeting, even though he was still angry at Qu Yunmie.

What was the point of giving someone a potent tonic? Last night, he listened to Gao Xunzhi explain all about the salt female ginseng, which essentially equated to a thousand-year-old ginseng root. For someone who looked frail but was actually healthy, drinking it caused a severe reaction, leading to a nosebleed.

Supported by Ah Shu, Xiao Rong went to the main hall with a full heart of resentment.

Today, everyone was present, including the entire advisory team. Gao Xunzhi sat at the front, and the four generals took their seats, each with their own ideas.

As soon as Xiao Rong entered, everyone looked at him. As he passed the advisory team, he encountered the old man who had insisted on taking his seat before. The old man, sitting down, glanced at Xiao Rong's pale face and felt an urge to give him his seat.

But before he could act, Gao Xunzhi waved Xiao Rong over. Xiao Rong lazily walked towards him.

Gao Xunzhi had reserved a seat for him right beside himself, and on the other side was Yu Shaoxie, the first brave warrior of the Northern Pacification Army. Across from him were the four generals.

Once Qu Yunmie arrived, the meeting officially began. However, Qu Yunmie kept glancing at Xiao Rong with a puzzled expression.

How could drinking a tonic make him look even more ill?

Xiao Rong struggled to resist rolling his eyes.

As the meeting progressed, everyone became engrossed in the discussion, and the atmosphere grew increasingly tense.

Relocating the capital was a major decision, one that would be recorded in history. Moreover, everyone understood the implications of the move. This city was currently the royal capital, but in the future, it would become the national capital.

Opinions varied widely, and even the advisory team didn't try to smooth things over. They wanted to be part of the creation of the new royal capital and thus offered their suggestions. Chang'an, Luoyang, and Jinan were the top choices. The first two had natural fortifications, while the last was close to the birthplace of Confucius and Mencius, making it a sacred place for the advisory team.

Xiao Rong, supporting his head, was amazed by these fools.

Fortunately, others weren't as crazy and quickly ruled out Jinan. It wasn't that Jinan was bad, but it wasn't suitable as a capital due to its lack of natural defenses and proximity to the Yellow River, which could cause flooding.

Choosing a capital primarily depended on geographical advantages, ensuring safety above all else.

That was everyone else's opinion, not necessarily Xiao Rong's. However, he had self-awareness and knew his ideas were too advanced for this era. So, he came prepared to serve as a safeguard. If others' ideas made sense, he wouldn't intervene; if they didn't, he would step in.

Soon, the Chang'an and Luoyang factions began arguing. The Chang'an faction emphasized its historical significance, while the Luoyang faction highlighted its central location and prosperity.

Chang'an indeed couldn't compete with Luoyang. After being ravaged by the barbarians, Yanmen County was rebuilt thanks to Qu Yunmie's return. Chang'an, however, suffered repeatedly and was occupied by various forces, none of whom could hold it exclusively. Daily battles left it nearly deserted, even after Qu Yunmie expelled all the invaders.

Relocating to Chang'an would be a costly endeavor initially, requiring significant effort and resources. But an empty city had its benefits, allowing them to build according to their vision. Despite being empty, Chang'an's existing palaces and residences could still be used.

Leaning back in his chair, Xiao Rong's eyes fixed on the opposite wall, lost in thought, unaware that Qu Yunmie had been staring at him for some time.

For some reason, seeing Xiao Rong's detached demeanor bothered Qu Yunmie. He didn't want Xiao Rong to be idle.

Representatives of the Chang'an faction, Yu Shaoxie, and the Luoyang faction, Gongsun Yuan, were engaged in a heated debate when The King suddenly spoke up. "Mr. Xiao, what are your thoughts on relocating the capital?"

The debate paused as everyone turned to look at Xiao Rong, who was slouching in his seat.

Xiao Rong: "……"

Under everyone's gaze, Xiao Rong straightened his posture and cleared his throat before responding. "I believe both Mr. Yu and General Gongsun have valid points."

Qu Yunmie: "Oh? Valid points, but not entirely convincing. Are you suggesting that neither Chang'an nor Luoyang is suitable for the new royal capital?"

These words caused Yu Shaoxie and Gongsun Yuan to sit up straight, their gazes toward Xiao Rong no longer as calm.

Xiao Rong: "..." You're so annoying.

But surprisingly, Qu Yunmie had hit the nail on the head. Xiao Rong did indeed think neither of them was any good, both being equally mediocre. That's why he made that remark; truly, the sensitive and suspicious King had struck true. ...

Having said this much, Xiao Rong secretly sneered and then spoke slowly, "Since the King has seen through it, I'll be honest. The place I personally favor for the capital relocation is Chenliu."

Everyone was stunned, then started chattering.

"Chenliu? It's not even as good as Jinan."

"Chenliu is unacceptable, absolutely unacceptable. It used to be a secondary capital of Jinling, and Sun Renluan has always wanted to reclaim it. How can the King move there?"

"Chenliu is a plain. If the barbarians invade again, they could march directly from Shanhai Pass through Youzhou to Chenliu! Mr. Xiao's suggestion is too shortsighted!"

"Exactly, how can we move the capital to Chenliu? It has never been a royal city. The only King of Chenliu met such an unfortunate end—it's too inauspicious."

Xiao Rong had merely suggested it without intending to join the debate, but hearing these objections, his temper flared.

He narrowed his eyes, signaling the start of a confrontation.

"Truly, dragons have nine sons who pacify the world, while pigs have a litter that just digs at the walls."

Everyone: "..."

How dare he attack us personally!

Xiao Rong didn't care, "Chenliu isn't as good as Jinan? These two places have the same terrain! In fact, Chenliu is even flatter and more suitable for farming and habitation. Right now, the King has plenty of soldiers but lacks civilians. Chenliu is backed by the Great River above and the Ying River below, with well-developed water systems connecting to the Huai River. People from the south of the Huai River can easily reach here by land or water. With the Ying River, the King can also train a navy. The Northern Pacification Army has every type of soldier except naval troops. Do I need to explain the importance of naval forces?"

Everyone looked at each other, silent.

If Qu Yunmie were to become emperor, he would eventually face Southern Yong. One of the main reasons Southern Yong has survived until today is because the Huai River is difficult to cross, and the barbarians are not adept at naval battles, often retreating upon reaching the Huai River.

Even the barbarians have learned their lesson; why haven't they?

They remained silent, but Xiao Rong continued, "As for the lack of strategic advantages, if one day the enemy is already at our gates, does it really matter whether we have natural defenses? Throughout history, how many rulers trapped in defending their capitals have lasted more than ten years? When it comes to that point, it's better to decide the outcome sooner rather than prolong the suffering of the people."

One advisor couldn't accept this logic and glared at Xiao Rong, "How dare you boost the morale of others and diminish our own?"

Xiao Rong: "And how can you always think about hiding like a turtle?"

"..."

The man was left speechless. Xiao Rong took a deep breath and softened his tone, "I'm not saying that terrain isn't important. But we are all part of the Northern Pacification Army now. We must trust the King and the abilities of our soldiers. The terrain we should focus on is not within the capital but beyond its borders. Yuzhou, Jizhou, Dongyuzhou, and Xuzhou all have strategic advantages and are under the King's control. Chenliu is centrally located. Do you think the King cannot defend these areas?"

Everyone immediately looked up at Qu Yunmie, who smiled back—a smile filled with menace.

Everyone: "..." Daring not to speak.

Xiao Rong felt somewhat satisfied when he saw them behave. Since they had come this far, he decided to lay out his thoughts completely: "I have other reasons for favoring Chenliu. As one of the scholars mentioned earlier, Sun Renluan wants to reclaim Chenliu as a secondary capital for Jinling, and I share a similar idea. Ever since the heavy snowfall in the second year of Great Tranquility, the northern side of the Huai River has not yielded satisfactory crops. However, the southern side has seen little impact on grain production. In the future, we might need to transport food from the south to the north every year."

He spoke in a veiled manner, but most people understood, becoming pensive.

In truth, climate was just one reason. Factors such as humidity, soil quality, and crop varieties all contributed to higher yields in the south. At this time, the south began to develop rapidly, turning into a prosperous region.

There was no Grand Canal yet. When people thought of the Grand Canal, they often remembered its role in advancing transportation and the nightmare it posed for countless laborers, forgetting its primary function that lasted nearly a thousand years—transporting resources from the south to the north for the emperor and the court.

Digging the canal prematurely was not an option. Firstly, Xiao Rong wasn't heartless enough for that, and secondly, they didn't have enough manpower. Therefore, it made more sense to establish the capital near the Ying River, where the Huai River and the Ying River could still facilitate water transport. If needed in the future, they would only need to connect the Huai River with the Yangtze River, without the need for extensive labor.

Xiao Rong's reluctance to choose Chang'an as the capital stemmed from the same reasoning. He knew of Chang'an's rich history, but no one had chosen it as a capital since it was too far from the Yangtze River region, making resource mobilization difficult. Emperors were not philanthropists; they wouldn't let wealth slip away.

Understanding the logic behind Xiao Rong's words, the group fell silent for a moment, but soon someone whispered, "But it is indeed inauspicious."

Xiao Rong: "..."

Fine, he had nothing to say about that.

The devastating snowfall thirty years ago occurred precisely in the second year of Great Tranquility. The emperor who bore that era name was the most tragic in Yong Dynasty's history.

Yong Dynasty's emperors, except for the founding emperor who lived to be over seventy and reigned for thirty-five years, generally did not reign long. On average, their reigns did not exceed five years.

Emperor Great Tranquility was the younger brother of the previous emperor. Originally, Chenliu would not have been granted as a fief because it was too small. If it had been granted, the title should have been like the one Qu Yunmie received initially—Prince of Dai, while Chenliu belonged to Prince of Yu.

However, Emperor Great Tranquility's reign was truly tragic. His older brother was paranoid and feared that his younger brother would become ambitious once he left the capital. Thus, he constantly suppressed him, granting him the title of Prince of Chenliu and keeping him confined within the palace, forcing him to do eunuch's work. Court officials treated him poorly, not recognizing his status as a prince.

His older brother probably faced retribution and died in the second year of his reign. After the founding emperor's death, the court was rife with intrigue. The previous emperor was quite powerful, so his death was met with relief. They learned from this and decided to install a weak ruler, which led to Emperor Great Tranquility's ascension.

To be honest... his entire life was plagued by misfortune. Bullied as a child, he continued to be bullied even after becoming a prince. Finally, when he became emperor, he could at least enjoy a semblance of good fortune. But shortly after his ascension, temperatures dropped, and in the following summer, it snowed in April—a bad omen. By winter, a terrible snowstorm struck, leading everyone to believe that Emperor Great Tranquility was unworthy, thus inviting disaster.

His situation worsened. He issued numerous self-reproach decrees and was completely sidelined by ministers. Sometimes, he went days without food. The palace was in turmoil, and outside, the Hu people raided the south, while floods and droughts ravaged the north and south. Refugees roamed everywhere, and rebellions broke out across the land, all targeting Emperor Great Tranquility as if his very existence was a sin.

One night in the fifth year of Great Tranquility, he was strangled to death by ministers while sleeping.

Even after his death, the tragedy continued. He was only in his teens and had only one infant son. The ministers installed the infant as emperor to maintain control over the court. However, the chaos was overwhelming, and the minister who killed the emperor was himself assassinated by those loyal to the royal family. Amidst the political upheaval, no one remembered the infant emperor. When they finally recalled him, they found the teenage empress holding the infant, both frozen to death in the cold of the previous night.

It was truly a horrific end.

Even Xiao Rong couldn't claim it was auspicious without lying. He feared that if he did, lightning would strike.

Similarly, he couldn't dismiss the importance of auspiciousness, given how superstitious people were at the time. He had no choice but to concede.

Xiao Rong fell silent. Gao Xunzhi glanced at him but showed no intention of helping. He sighed inwardly, agreeing with Xiao Rong's logic but acknowledging the inauspiciousness.

Yu Shaoxie blinked, sensing that Chenliu was already out of contention. Could he now suggest Chang'an again?

He sat up straight, barely lifting his buttocks an inch, when he heard Qu Yunmie suddenly speak: "This Prince also believes Chenliu is excellent."

With a thud, Yu Shaoxie sat back down. ...

Everyone looked at Qu Yunmie in shock. Xiao Rong's words were merely a suggestion, but when Qu Yunmie spoke, it seemed like a final decision. This time, their opposition was even more intense. Just the banner of Chi You could make the people believe that Qu Yunmie was a harbinger of disaster. Now he wanted to move the capital to Chenliu—wasn't this jumping from one fire pit into another?

Moreover, public opinion was secondary; they genuinely feared that Chenliu was an unlucky place! Xiao Rong remained silent.

In history, there were only two Chenliu Kings. The first met a gruesome end, and the second fared no better.

Huang Yanjiong, seeking to ride on the emperor's coattails, declared himself the Chenliu King. After defeating the Northern Pacification Army and capturing the Northern Pacification King, he was at the height of his power. However, he was too cruel and arrogant. In the year following Qu Yunmie's death, the Dongyang King attacked under the banner of divine justice, with Jian Qiao leading the vanguard, who had managed to keep the remnants of the Northern Pacification Army alive.

Huang Yanjiong lost, but he did not let anyone capture him. He committed suicide in Chenliu. With the Dongyang King's approval, Jian Qiao dragged Huang Yanjiong's body out, ground the flesh into chaff for dogs, crushed the bones to fill roads, and even stuffed his hair into pig troughs, feeding it to the pigs until nothing was left.

No matter what grudges they held in life, the two major contenders for power ultimately died in the same place, which evoked a sense of melancholy.

Xiao Rong didn't speak, while others opposed too vehemently. Qu Yunmie, who disliked opposition, couldn't stand it anymore and suddenly stood up: "I am the Northern Pacification King, not some Chenliu King! Everyone has their own fate; what does a city have to do with it! According to your logic, shouldn't everyone in Chenliu County be dead by now!"

With the King enraged, no one dared to speak. Usually, Yu Shaoxie would dare to, but today he didn't feel particularly angry about it; he couldn't muster any righteous indignation. Gao Xunzhi also dared to, but after opening his mouth, he suddenly turned to look at Xiao Rong.

Gao Xunzhi signaled with his eyes: You should persuade the King quickly.

Xiao Rong, looking into his eyes, had no idea what he meant.

Gao Xunzhi: "…………"

Didn't you communicate with the King this way last time? Why doesn't it work with me!

Author's note: