Chapter 150: The Rebel Minister

Emperor Tianchen had just passed away, and according to the mourning customs, Hua Qi's wedding should have been postponed. However, with Xiao Chiye having rebelled against Qidu and Qidu seeking aid from Qidong, the Empress Dowager and the cabinet held numerous discussions before finally deciding to proceed with Hua Xiangyi's marriage in July.

This time, the Empress Dowager spared no effort in preparing an extravagant dowry for Hua Xiangyi, surpassing even the grandeur of a princess's. The ceremonies were arranged according to imperial princess protocols, with the farewell procession led personally by Han Cheng, accompanied by countless attendants and maids.

Hua Xiangyi climbed into the carriage, and just as it was about to depart, the Empress Dowager took two hurried steps forward, almost calling out to her. But she had to maintain her dignity, so she allowed the pearls at her ears to sway gently while she held onto Aunt Liu Xiang's hand, whispering, "My dear child..."

The procession left Qudu and followed the official road to Qidong, where it would skirt Chazhou. Han Cheng, initially worried about bandits from Chazhou, had brought along the Eight Great Camps for protection. To his relief, their journey was uneventful, and Luo Mu even took the opportunity to present a congratulatory gift. They proceeded southward, where Qi Zhuyin was already awaiting them within the borders of Qidong.

Speaking of Qi Zhuyin, Han Cheng's horse drew alongside the carriage, and he addressed Hua Xiangyi through the curtains, "I suppose Miss Third hasn't had the pleasure of meeting her yet?"

A soft hum came from within.

Han Cheng enjoyed his seniority and, upon hearing this, perked up. "This old servant would like to have a casual chat with Miss Three. Qi Zhuyin, despite being a woman, is not someone easy to deal with. Miss Three, living mostly within the palace walls, might not be aware of the intimidating presence she assumes when she comes to the capital every year. During the Xiande era, when the Ministry of Finance was strained, she dared to have her personal guards block Vice Minister Wei's carriage in order to secure funding for the Qidong army. But since the ministry truly couldn't provide the silver, she resorted to befriending the scoundrels who dabbled in counterfeit money in Jidu. She even mingled among them on the streets."

Hua Xiangyi had only seen Qi Zhuyin through a screen, at a grand banquet where all the officials were men in that kingdom. Qi Zhuyin was an exception. She hadn't stood out much in Qidong in her early years. Before Qi Shiyu had relinquished his military command, people had been speculating among her brothers. After the battle to rescue Qi Shiyu, Qi Zhuyin was initially denied entry to the capital. The court delayed for months, using the excuse of "pending investigation of her military achievements." Just as she was about to be granted a title, the Jade Dragon scandal erupted. Even with the Empress Dowager's intervention, Qi Zhuyin merely succeeded Qi Shiyu as the commander, not inheriting his noble rank. In other words, every battle Qi Zhuyin fights now is solely for Qidong's prestige, not for herself. If she doesn't marry in this lifetime and retires in her old age, she would still be known as a "Qi family woman," without a noble title to her name. On the contrary, her brothers could easily reap the rewards by producing a son as soon as possible.

As Han Cheng continued his conversation, Hua Xiangyi inside the carriage seemed to have fallen asleep. Gradually losing interest, Han Cheng ceased speaking with an awkward smile.

The procession rode on until the late afternoon when a streak of red appeared on the horizon. Heat waves rolled, hooves thundered in unison, and the light cavalry, stretching for miles, donned red robes. The banners of Qidong fluttered in the wind, advancing like a mighty dragon. Swirling sand enveloped Han Cheng, dusting his face and hair.

Qi Wei was the first to dismount, waving the flag and calling out, "Pay respect — Hail!"

The light cavalry followed suit, dismounting and kneeling on one knee in perfect synchronization, their armor clinking as they raised their arms. In unison, they shouted, "Welcome, Lady!"

These two deafening roars startled the palace maids who had emerged from the capital, and even Han Cheng almost put a hand to his chest. Brushing off the dust, he frowned and asked, "Where's the Commander?"

Hoofbeats approached, and the red figure reached the carriage. Ignoring Han Cheng's attempt to intervene, Qi Zhuyin used her scabbard to lift the curtain, peering inside with a tilted head.

Hua Xiangyi, not yet veiled and wearing a golden phoenix crown, stared at Qi Zhuyin in shock, her heart pounding. Uncertain of the purpose behind this action.

"Ah, there you are," Qi Zhuyin greeted, "Young lady."

Han Cheng was alarmed, quickly covering the carriage window and reprimanding, "We're not even in Cang County yet! How can the Commander lift the curtains for Third Miss so casually?"

"I just wanted a glance," Qi Zhuyin withdrew her hand, seemingly amused, "How many times have you stopped along the way? By our estimated schedule, we should have arrived yesterday."

Han Cheng, riding alongside Qi Zhuyin's horse, explained, "The journey is long, and haste makes mistakes. I thought the Commander would be waiting for us on the south side of Tea Province, but alas, no one was there."

"I've just returned from the border province, so I don't have much time left," Qi Zhuyin said, turning back to Han Cheng. "Why did you get off your horse?"

Han Cheng surveyed his surroundings and replied, "It's already the hour of You now, so we should be here..."

Qi Zhuyin pointed her riding whip eastward. "If we ride for a while longer, we'll reach Cezhou by the hour of Hai. There's a bridle path there, and the road to Cangzhou will be smoother. Get back on your horse."

Exhausted from a day of riding, Han Cheng still wanted to say something, but Qi Zhuyin had already taken off. Qi Wei mounted his horse and, with a detachment of light cavalry, surrounded the procession. He politely addressed Han Cheng, "Commander, let's go."

Despite his high rank in Qidu, Han Cheng had no jurisdiction over military or civil affairs. The Jin Yiwei might be powerful in Qidu and elsewhere, but they posed no threat to Qi Zhuyin. As the supreme commander of the armed forces in Qidu and the other four eastern provinces, this was her territory, and Han Cheng had no say here. Besides, even the Empress Dowager now relied on the Qidu garrison.

Grudging as he felt, Han Cheng couldn't show it and could only smile at Qi Wei before resuming their journey.

Hua Xiangyi, still reeling from the fleeting glimpse she'd caught, leaned slightly to peer through the gap in the carriage curtains. She saw Qi Zhuyin's figure riding ahead.

Tall and slender, Qi Zhuyin must have dressed up especially for the occasion. With her hair not piled into the usual elaborate bun favored in Qidu, but still elegantly arranged, she wore no red hairpins or delicate combs adorned with pearls, giving her an air of simplicity and efficiency.

She was beautiful.

Hua Xiangyi was about to study her more closely when Qi Zhuyin suddenly turned her head.

*Xiao Chiye's lips offered congratulations, but he still instructed his people to prepare a gift. Xiao Jiming also had to prepare a present; their relationship with Qi Dong was not bad, and despite the current subtle tension, their bond remained, especially towards Qi Zhuyin.

The grand wedding of Hua Qi and Xiao Chiye signaled Empress Dowager's temporary victory in the Qidu power struggle. The cabinet could only maintain stability by supporting the crown prince, allowing them room to maneuver. At this critical moment, Xue Xiuzhuo made a wise decision. He petitioned the cabinet for negotiations, sending Jiang Qingshan back to Juexi, securing Qidu's granaries.

Yao Wenyu sat in a sedan chair, pushed by Qiao Tianya. The weather in Cizhou had been unfavorable lately, with autumn rains on the horizon, casting a bleak atmosphere upon the outskirts of the city. Yao Wenyu, deprived of sunlight for days, now seemed like a jade exposed to the elements.

"Exactly as you predicted," Shen Zechuan observed the frosty leaves and solemn landscape, standing beside Yao Wenyu. "He indeed transferred Jiang Qingshan back to Juexi."

"I had thought that even for the sake of suppressing Zizhou, Jiang Qingshan should have been sent to Huaizhou." On this rare occasion, Zhou Gui was dressed in a sturdy riding attire and had arrived on horseback himself. He wiped away beads of sweat as he said, "Luo Xi Pass is nestled right next to Quancheng, which is the ancestral home of the Xue Clan. He ought to have been greatly concerned about it, yet unexpectedly, he truly consented to releasing Jiang Qingshan back to Juesi."

Yao Wenyu held the cat within the folds of his sleeve as he spoke, saying, "Given the strategic positions of Luo Xia Pass and Quan City, it is only natural for both of you to harbor such concerns. As matters stand now, it would be most advantageous for Xue Xiuzhuo, and indeed the entire House of Xue, if Jiang Qingshan were stationed in Huai Prefecture."

Shen Zechuan's boots brushed over fallen leaves as he came to a halt, lost in thought.

If Jiang Qingshan were transferred to Huai Prefecture, it would serve two purposes: first, to vie with Ci Prefecture and prevent the formation of the Ci-Tea-Huai trade route; second, to ensure the safety of Quancheng and, in concert with Quancheng, exert pressure on Luoxia Pass, thereby indirectly pressuring Li Bei. These were all considerations that Shen Zechuan could make, and naturally Xue Xiuzhuo was equally capable of doing so. Yet, just as Yao Wenyu had foreseen, he still chose Juesi over the security of Quancheng.

"Xue Xiuzhuo has returned Jiang Qingshan to his place," Shen Zechuan said with a serious expression. "That's what makes him difficult to deal with."

This move not only signifies Xue Xiuzhuo's intention to stifle the development of Libei and Zhongbo through grain control, but also reveals that he holds no regard for the gains or losses of his own clan. In other words, he is devoid of personal ambition, setting him apart from Hua Siqian, Wei Huaigu, and others. His schemes do not serve the interest of a single faction.

"Jiang Qingshan is known for his strong-handed governance and remarkable effectiveness in managing local affairs. Rumors in the capital whisper that he tolerates no wrongdoing, yet, paradoxically, this is far from the truth," Yao Wenyu softly stroked the cat as he spoke. "Juexi, with its thirteen cities and two provinces and two ports under its jurisdiction, is undeniably the granary of Great Zhou today. The Xi Clan conducts their largest business ventures there, while even Huajia's waterway network in Dicha passes through it. If you've visited Juexi, you'd understand that its prosperity is anything but accidental. Jiang Qingshan possesses an extraordinary breadth of mind; he employs people regardless of their social standing and never shies away from major responsibilities. Yet, in matters of lesser importance, he demonstrates great tact and propriety—merciless when firmness is required, unyielding when leniency is due. Given such a capable Provincial Governor, it comes as no surprise that Juexi was able to swiftly recover after the natural disasters during the Xiande reign. It is precisely because of these qualities that Jiang Qingshan holds Xue Xiuzhuo as his lifelong confidant, their political views aligned and ambitions shared."

Zhou Gui nodded upon hearing this and replied, "I have long heard about their accomplishments in governance. When Yuan Fu promoted Xue Xiuzhuo to the Supreme Court, there was no opposition within the court."

"Yao Wenyu has also perused Xue Xiuzhuo's treatises," Yao Wenyu remarked. "Do you, Vice Governor, recall the Grand Tutor's aspirations?"

Shen Zechuan recited it effortlessly, for he had inherited from Qi Huilian and understood best what she had intended back then. After a moment of silence, he said, "Oversee the registration of the Great Zhou's population, survey the fertile lands across the realm, consolidate local miscellaneous taxes, and restore the balance of the national treasury."

Yao Wenyu gazed at the distant mountains and said, "This is what Xue Xiuzhuo aims to achieve. In that regard, his goal aligns with that of our teacher. Our teacher has the support of officials from humble backgrounds like Kong Qiu and Cen Yu, while Xue Xiuzhuo is backed by the pragmatic faction led by Jiang Qingshan. He is not alone in this endeavor."

But could the Great Zhou truly accomplish this now?

It took Qi Huilian many years to implement the Yellow Register system throughout the provinces. Why was the Eastern Palace framed for treason? Because after the implementation of the Yellow Register, land measurements would follow. The eight cities of Qudu had severely encroached upon civilian lands. Once enforced, the noble families would have to return these lands, face punishment according to the law, and even bear their own taxes. Killing the crown prince was a desperate attempt to halt the policy's progression. Hai Liangyi's guidance for Li Jianheng was meant to be a painful remedy, hoping that Li Jianheng could seize control of the cabinet, wield power, and bring about change from the top down. For this reason, he willingly acted as Li Jianheng's vanguard.

However, Li Jianheng was incapable of doing so.

Xue Xiuzhuo realized this earlier than Hai Liangyi. He promptly abandoned Li Jianheng, no longer placing hope in the emperor or even the Li dynasty. He needed a new emperor, one who could calmly sit on the imperial throne, an emperor who wouldn't interfere with the cabinet, wouldn't sway between the noble families and the humble officials, and wouldn't favor the border regions holding military power due to familial bonds. Thus, he turned to Li Jianting.

But such schemes take too long. Every moment in Qidu brings change, and Shen Zechuan is the variable. In Qidu, he was at most an expendable pawn on Xue Xiuzhuo's chessboard, to be discarded after dealing with Xi Hongxuan and Wei Huaigu, just like Xiao Chiye, erased in the pouring rain. The fact that Xue Xiuzhuo had no personal desires was what made him terrifying. Xue Xiuyi had repeatedly ridiculed, mocked, and even humiliated Xue Xiuzhuo, but Xue Xiuzhuo didn't kill his elder brother by blood. In his eyes, Xue Xiuyi was insignificant, whether alive or dead, like the dust at his feet – it made no difference.

He wanted to kill Qi Huilian because Qi was the Grand Tutor of the Great Zhou Empire. He wanted to kill Yao Wenyu because Yao was an unparalleled genius. He had offered both choices, but they had both refused. If a strategist couldn't be utilized, releasing them into the wild was akin to presenting a renowned sword to another. Only by killing could one eliminate potential threats.

* * *

A lone wild goose flew across the horizon as frosty mist began to rise, turning the cold forest into a tapestry of colors. Qiao Tianya casually draped a cloak over Yao Wenyu; they were still in the woods.

Shen Zechuan tapped his fan against his palm, his gaze following the goose as it flew south. "Xue Xiuzhuo probably never imagined that the Great Zhou would crumble so severely a few years after tutoring the crown prince. There's no one in this world who can plan for every possible outcome. Lu Guangbai, driven to rebellion by the grain scandal, was the unpredictable factor. Qiudong missed the chance to capture Ce An when they lost Lu Guangbai, and Qidu's ambush transformed into a genuine release of the tiger back into the mountains."

Human circumstances were always unpredictable. Not only Lu Guangbai, but also Shen Zechuan, Xiao Chiye, Yao Wenyu, and countless others. Each person faced their unique challenges, rising to overcome them, breaking free from their constraints. In this chaotic era, the order of the world had crumbled, and anyone could strive for greatness. While some clung to the remnants of the past, others wielded their swords to break the stalemate.

This was the age of traitors and rebels.

Thick fog rolled in, and raindrops began to fall. Fei Sheng held an umbrella for Shen Zechuan as they turned their horses back, signaling the arrival of autumn in Cizhou. The wind billowed Shen Zechuan's sleeves, almost sweeping away his blue handkerchief. As he grasped it, the leaves from the sky brushed past him. Dry, golden leaves twirled in the air, battered by the rain before settling at Xiao Chiye's feet.

Gu Jin rode back, waving a small flag and shouting, "The horse path ahead has collapsed! Master, we're trapped!"

Xiao Chiye vaulted onto his horse, and Wu Ziyu rode up from behind, shouting through the rain, "Zhao Hui's troops haven't arrived, and the Tudala Dragon Flag is visible within ten miles. Hason's cavalry is nearby!"

"The wagons are too heavily loaded," Tan Taihu wiped the rain from his face. "Unless we abandon the grain and find another route, we'll surely encounter Hason's cavalry tonight."

"Given the shortage of supplies at the battlefield, if that grain falls into Hason's hands, His Highness will suffer a blow," Chen Yang said, pulling on the reins with cheeks flushed from the cold. "We can stay behind, but our lord must leave."

According to the military orders from the past few days, Xiao Chiye was supposed to detour from Dajing to the north, passing through the former garrison's horse track to supply Zhao Hui first before heading to the battlefield to reinforce Xiao Fangxu. They were supposed to be met by Zhao Hui's three Liuyang camps here, but Zhao Hui had not shown up. With today's torrential rain, it was impossible for Meng to fly far to scout the situation, leaving Xiao Chiye effectively blinded.

Xiao Chiye's eyes were disturbingly calm as he let the rain run down his cheeks. Amidst the din, he said in a low voice, "Change course. We're heading for Tudala Dragon Banner."