Chapter 211

Chapter 211

After the military exercises concluded, the Emperor and Empress, along with the Crown Prince, had a simple meal at the Southern Camp before preparing to return to the city. A group of military officers continued to escort the royal entourage.

Empress Guo once more called for Tong Sui to join her in the carriage.

However, Empress Guo was feeling unwell, and after speaking with Tong Sui for a while, could no longer bear the fatigue. Worried that Tong Sui might find it dull, she handed her a book she had brought along before lying down in the soft, comfortable brocade quilt and falling asleep.

Once Empress Guo had fallen asleep, Tong Sui took a handkerchief to wipe her hands and gently opened the *Essential Techniques for the Common People* in her lap.

The carriage traveled on the official road, and the smooth journey rocked gently, allowing Empress Guo to enjoy a good hour of sleep.

Empress Guo seldom shifted her position once she was asleep, so when she opened her eyes, Tong Sui did not notice.

After a while, Empress Guo fully woke up and realized that Tong Sui was still kneeling in the same position as before her nap, holding the book with both hands, her brows furrowed, as if deeply engrossed in the book or trying to endure something.

Empress Guo glanced at the thickness of the pages Tong Sui had read and smiled. "What time is it? You've actually read quite a lot?"

Tong Sui hurriedly put down the book and knelt to face Empress Guo. A palace maid came to help Empress Guo with her hair, and Tong Sui answered with her eyes lowered, "We should be entering the capital in half an hour. I did flip through many pages, but it was more like skimming. I hope Empress won't find it rude."

Empress Guo: "Why did you skim through it? Weren't you interested in what the book says?"

Tong Sui, her face warming, explained, "I come from a farming family and really like this book, but Mr. Jia's writing style is quite formal and literary. There are many characters I don't recognize, so I could only pick out the ones I know and try to understand them as best as I could. It was quite uncomfortable to read."

Empress Guo laughed. "I should have brought a novel to keep you entertained."

Tong Sui: "I still prefer this book. If not for Your Highness's recommendation, I wouldn't have known there was a book specifically written about farming."

Empress Guo: "There are all kinds of talents under heaven, so naturally, there are books related to every industry. When I was young, I loved reading military strategies. In middle age, I favored the Four Books and Five Classics. It was only in my later years that my interests became varied, and I wanted to read any book that seemed interesting."

Tong Sui: "You're still in your prime, Empress. Why talk about growing old? My grandfather, though in his sixties, is still practicing medicine at the clinic, busier than ever."

Empress Guo: "One needs a strong body for that. Anyway, enough about me. How long have you been married to Xiao Zhen?"

Tong Sui: "It's been exactly two and a half years."

Empress Guo: "Before, you were busy with military affairs and spent little time together. Now that peace has been restored for half a year since you entered the capital, why haven't you had any good news yet?"

Tong Sui, noticing Empress Guo's gaze toward her abdomen, blushed and replied, "I don't know. My mother specifically asked my grandfather to check my pulse, but he couldn't find any issue. Perhaps the fate for a child hasn't arrived yet."

Empress Guo: "The Emperor has praised your grandfather's medical skills. Since he said there's no problem, it must be a matter of fate. Don't worry. I have an aunt who only conceived four or five years after marriage. Both you and Xiao Zhen are in good health. When the time is right, you'll surely have a child."

Tong Sui: "Thank you for your kind words, Empress."

Before entering the city, Tong Sui got off the carriage.

The Xingping Emperor had state affairs to attend to and instructed the Crown Prince to escort Empress Guo back to the Western Palace.

Upon arriving at the Western Palace, Empress Guo changed into casual clothes, dismissed the attendants, and spoke to the Crown Prince alone. "What do you think of the three military camps?"

Han Bao: "The soldiers are strong, and the horses are vigorous. Feng Ji, Lu Gong, and Xiao Mu are indeed talented in training troops."

Empress Guo: "Among the officers of the three camps and the Imperial Guard, which ones do you think can be trusted, and which ones need to be watched?"

Han Bao thought for a moment and said, "Feng Ji, Lu Gong, Fan Zhao, and Luo Xiao have been loyal to the Emperor for years and can be trusted. However, Qi Heng was once the leader of rebels in the northern regions. Since he once harbored ambitions, he might rebel again in the future. Zhao Liangchen, as a border general, holds military power and should not be in control of the imperial army. Zhao Jin should no longer be in charge of the imperial army's command. Xiao Mu is old, and Xiao Zhen has always been respectful; he should be a loyal and capable general."

Empress Guo: "Feng Ji, Lu Gong, Fan Zhao, and Loro Xiao are indeed loyal to your father, but do you think they will remain loyal to you once the Emperor is no longer around?"

Han Bao's expression changed, and a fierce look appeared in his eyes. "Does Mother suspect something?"

Queen Mother Guo shook her head. "They are all loyal, but I’m reminding you that you need to balance kindness with authority when dealing with them. Use your relationship with your father to continue drawing them to your side, so they remain loyal to you out of both duty and fear of your authority. This way, they will be willing to serve you loyally for a long time."

Han Bao asked, "Showing kindness is easy, but how do I establish authority?"

Queen Mother Guo replied, "An emperor commands respect through wisdom and military strength. Since you lack both, your only option is to use political tactics to maintain control. You must ensure that no single family becomes too powerful. For example, with the two Grand Chancellors, Wei Qi and Song Lan, you need to use both without showing any obvious preference. As for the military officers, you must value the commanders of the three camps and the Commander of the Imperial Guard, but you should not allow the four of them to become too close."

Han Bao nodded.

Queen Mother Guo continued, "You’re right about Zhao Jin. As long as Zhao Liangchen is at the border, he shouldn’t control the capital’s military forces. However, you are mistaken about Qi Heng. He rebelled because the court was unjust and corrupt officials were cruel. Even when he knew the Shi family was doomed, he refused to surrender because he values loyalty and keeps his word. Your father has done him a great favor, and as long as you continue to value Qi Heng, he and his son Qi Ling may be even more reliable than Fan Zhao."

Han Bao said, "I see, no wonder the Emperor conferred the title of Loyal and Brave Marquis on him."

Queen Mother Guo warned, "The ones you truly need to be wary of are the Xiao Family."

Han Bao was shocked by his mother's words. How could it be the Xiao Family?

Queen Mother Guo explained, "The Xiao Family has too many talented young generals. Even though Xiao Mu is getting old, Xiao Zhen and Tong Sui are still formidable leaders who can command the loyalty of their troops. Moreover, the Xiao Family has long been known for its righteousness and generosity, earning the loyalty of the people in the northern regions and around Luoyang. While your father is here, he can keep the Xiao Family in check, but once he is gone, they will pose the greatest threat to you."

Han Bao asked, "Then what should we do? While Father is still here and they dare not rebel, should we kill them?"

Queen Mother Guo replied, "No, the world is not yet stable. The border generals still hold military power and have not fully submitted to your father. The southern courts are also eyeing us closely. Eliminating the Xiao Family now would be like cutting off our own arm. Once the empire is united and you no longer need the Xiao Family to secure your throne, you can find a way to act against them. Remember, as long as the Xiao Family is around, you must continue to maintain close ties with the veteran generals of the Jizhou faction and Qi Heng. You cannot afford to alienate them."

Han Bao said, "I am still worried about Qi Heng. Qi Yun is in the Xiao Family's Southern Camp and has been closely associated with them..."

Queen Mother Guo replied, "The Qi father and son are blindly loyal. They would rather sever ties with Qi Yun than betray you. However, Qi Yun is a slippery character. If the Xiao Family rises to power, Qi Yun will follow them to gain favor. But if they lose, he’ll switch sides and rejoin his father and brother."

Han Bao said angrily, "I hate these kinds of people who try to please both sides the most."

Queen Mother Guo said, "If a sly person can be used for our benefit, they become one of us. A seemingly upright person who harbors hidden malicious intentions is the real threat."

——

Back at the Xiao residence, after sending the old master back to the Duke’s estate, Tong Sui and Xiao Zhen returned to their room to rest.

After closing the door of the inner chamber, the couple lay in bed and talked.

Tong Sui asked, "Is Grandfather asking to step down to avoid attention, or is he truly exhausted?"

She knew that a personal attendant had been assigned to help the old master stretch his muscles, but Tong Sui had not seen it herself and did not know if the old master was truly unwell or just pretending for the sake of appearances.

Xiao Zhen replied, "It’s half and half. He needs to avoid attention, but he is also really old."

During campaigns, they usually got a few days of rest in camp or in a city after a long march. But for the past eight months, Grandfather had been on the move almost every day. In the Southern Camp, he had been preoccupied with preparing military horses and training soldiers, which wore him out.

Now, the 50,000 cavalry of the Southern Camp had become the strongest of the three camps, but at the beginning, the Southern Camp was the weakest. The camp was built from scratch, and the mules and horses were purchased in batches. The infantry, who had been converted into cavalry, found the training more arduous and dangerous than pure infantry training, and the soldiers' dissatisfaction had to be managed.

Tong Sui also felt aggrieved for her family. If the Xiao Family failed to train the cavalry properly, it would be seen as betraying the emperor’s trust, and the Xingping Emperor could punish them. If they succeeded too well, they might be envied by their peers and viewed with suspicion by the emperor.

To outsiders, the Xiao Family seemed to be highly valued and richly rewarded, but every step they took was cautious and precarious.

For example, when Fan Zhao invited the Xiao brothers for a drink, did the Xiao Family dare to get too close to Fan Zhao? Getting too close would make it seem like the Xiao Family was deliberately currying favor.

Tong Sui said with relief, "The Emperor has kept Grandfather in his position and entrusted you with the affairs of the Southern Camp. It seems that he still trusts us."

Xiao Zhen replied, "Only when the empire is at peace and the emperor still trusts us will we know if his trust is genuine."

The Great Yu Dynasty is surrounded by enemies like wolves. It would be foolish to kill meritorious generals now.

——

In late September, Empress Guo caught a cold, which reportedly became very severe, leaving her bedridden.

Tong Sui and other noblewomen began submitting requests to visit the imperial palace to see Empress Guo.

Empress Guo only met a few of them. From the Xiao Family, only Tong Sui and Lin Ningfang were permitted to enter the palace.

However, they only spoke a few words by her bedside before she drifted off to sleep again.

In the evening, Tong Sui informed Xiao Zhen about Empress Guo's condition, saying with a heavy heart, "I wonder if Her Majesty will pull through."

Xiao Zhen said, "Since the Empress fell ill, the Emperor has looked increasingly worn out, and his temper has grown more unpredictable."

The Xingping Emperor had never liked the entrenched aristocratic families. In the past, when these families caused trouble for the court, the two prime ministers could counsel the emperor to tolerate them. This time, however, with the emperor anxious and unsettled due to the Empress's illness, he became even more impatient. Today, the Xingping Emperor, already on edge, issued an edict to confiscate the property of an aristocratic family in the southern region. Even Wei Qi's attempts to dissuade him were unsuccessful, and the decree was already dispatched.

Two days later, just as Empress Guo's condition slightly improved and the Xingping Emperor finally showed a smile again, an urgent military dispatch arrived from Jizhou.

The Wu country, which bordered the northern regions of Jin and Jizhou, suddenly launched raids, robbing the people of their autumn harvest. When General Feng Duan of Jizhou led his troops to pursue them, he fell off his horse. Before he died, Feng Duan managed to deploy his troops to prevent further incursions by the Wu forces.

Feng Duan was Father Feng Ji and one of the most relied-upon old generals of the Xingping Emperor. Upon hearing of Feng Duan's death, the emperor was overcome with grief and nearly collapsed.

Once he regained his composure, the Xingping Emperor issued two orders:

First, immediately appoint Feng Ji as the general of Jizhou and send him to Jizhou.

Second, do not let anyone inform Empress Guo about this matter.