Green Mountain-Chapter 583: Night Patrol
Wu Yun meowed, "The Emperor said that the Jing Dynasty would definitely want to bring back the Council Chief Executive Officer Yuan Cheng. The noble Yuan family of Shangjing would not allow Yuan Cheng to be dishonored in the Ning Dynasty. It’s either war or a swap, and the envoy is probably already on the way... The Emperor said Yuan Cheng should be returned to the Jing Dynasty to balance Minister of the Secretariat Yuan Xiang and Vice Minister Lu Jin."
"The Emperor said to guard against military generals killing the envoy. The Longevity Army, Five Armies Camp, and border army are all pro-war. If they were to kill the envoy, it could cause chaos. But he hasn’t decided whom to send to Chongli Pass to escort the envoy to the Imperial Capital; this matter must be kept secret."
"It’s not just military generals who want to kill the envoy. Lu Jin’s Military Intelligence Department would also try everything to kill the envoy and Yuan Cheng. This mission is perilous, and someone from the Twelve Signs will follow in secret."
In Renshou Palace, the ministers stood with their heads lowered as Wu Yun freely relayed the secrets.
Despite the Jing Dynasty Military Intelligence Department’s painstaking efforts, they couldn’t place a spy beside Emperor Ning, yet Wu Yun achieved it.
Imperial Secret Agent, mighty and fierce.
Chen Ji quietly raised his eyes to look; Emperor Ning sat cross-legged on the throne.
The last time he saw the Emperor’s visage was during the reception of the Korea Envoy. The Emperor was clothed in a fur cap, donned an official hat, and draped in a purple robe, solemn and majestic.
This time, Emperor Ning wore a black brocade Daoist robe, embroidered with the twenty-eight constellations in golden thread, with a simple wooden hairpin in his hair.
The majesty remained, yet it was less solemn.
As Chen Ji was observing, he happened to meet Emperor Ning’s gaze. The Emperor’s eyes were like sharp blades, forcing Chen Ji to quickly lower his head again.
Emperor Ning gently stroked Wu Yun’s head and slowly spoke, "Recently, I don’t know why, but a strange wind is blowing in the Imperial Capital, strange events happening one after another. First, someone set a fire on Chessboard Street, then someone dared to impersonate the Jiefan Guard during the spring hunt to assassinate, and a few days ago, a madman collided with the Five Cities Military Department in front of Anding Gate. And today, during the champion’s parade, someone dared to collide with the Imperial Guard... All of you are the supporting ministers of our Ning Dynasty, so tell me what’s going on with our Ning Dynasty? Is it that I, as the Emperor, lack virtue, causing demons and monsters to wreak havoc in the human world?"
The ministers inside the hall all kneeled down, "Your subjects deserve death!"
Emperor Ning chuckled, "Just joking with all of you, don’t take it seriously. Official Chen, you say first, your Chen family was exiled to Lingnan, how did they end up becoming wealthy in Jinling? Not only did they spend a fortune to buy an estate, but they also bought twelve concubines imported from Nanyang in one go."
Official Chen bowed lower, "Your subject deserves death."
Emperor Ning nonchalantly said, "I just want to know, was the Official aware?"
Official Hu turned to look at Official Chen, and Official Chen confidently replied, "In reply to Your Majesty, your subject was not aware."
Emperor Ning patted Wu Yun’s head and placed it on the throne, then stood up and descended from the throne, "Official Chen has to manage a large family, so it’s understandable that you are unaware. The main culprit of this case is Chen Lizhi, not only forging household registration for Chen Wenren but also sending someone to serve hard labor in Lingnan in place of Chen Wenren, truly deceiving everyone with good tactics."
Official Chen trembled as he kneeled on the ground, "The family style is improper, this old subject holds some blame as well."
Emperor Ning lazily asked, "Official, what do you think I should charge Chen Lizhi and Chen Wenren with?"
"I will leave it entirely to Your Majesty’s discretion," Official Chen said softly, "This subject feels ashamed and wishes to retire to Lu State, return to the Chen family to study, and have the Chen family serve Your Majesty’s new administration tirelessly until death."
Emperor Ning casually said, "It’s good that the Official has this intention. But there’s no need to retire now, the Crown Prince is focused on his studies now and cannot do without you."
The ministers pondered in their hearts.
The court struggles never mean that once an Imperial Decree is set in the court, it will definitely be carried out below. The so-called imperial power does not descend to the counties; how much an Imperial Decree is executed outside the Imperial Capital depends on the faces of noble families and landowners, so long as it’s done without faultfinding.
Once they find fault, they can just bring out a few scapegoats to take the blame, that’s it.
But now, the implementation of new policies in Lu State by the Emperor has completely taken a city. If there’s any more superficial compliance with disobedience, with Liao Zhong in the past and Chen Wenren now, I’m afraid they will all be reckoned with.
Just as the ministers were enjoying the Chen family’s misfortunes, Emperor Ning instructed, "Wu Xiu, send a fast horse immediately to deliver the decree to the Jiefan Guard camps in Jinling and Lingnan, to investigate in secret, and see which other exiled criminals are living comfortably, and bring them all to the Imperial Capital."
Wu Xiu said softly, "Yes."
He walked out of Renshou Palace and conveyed the instructions to the Jiefan Guard.
The ministers were startled, a few of them thought of those hidden in Jinling from their own families and immediately wanted to send someone to report, but kneeling now in Renshou Palace, they couldn’t make it in time.
Some glared at Chen Ji secretly, if it wasn’t for this young man causing a ruckus, the Emperor might not have thought of using such a small matter to open a gap.
Before they could think of a countermeasure, they heard Emperor Ning change the topic and ask Wang Daosheng, "Why did General Wang return to the capital early? I heard you rode with twelve attendants and exhausted several horses to return quickly. If something happened to Yuan Cheng, how would you explain it to me?"
Wang Daosheng bowed to the ground, "Your subject knows his guilt."
Emperor Ning saw that he did not explain and chuckled lightly, "Doesn’t General Wang intend to explain? Or does General Wang read the books of the sages and refuses to lie and deceive me?"
Wang Daosheng repeated, "Your subject knows his guilt."
In the end, he did not reveal Chen Ji and Zhang Zhuo.
Chen Ji sighed inwardly.
At this moment, only to hear Wu Yun continue to convey information, "The Commandery Princess is living well in the palace. The beautiful, kind-hearted, dignified, and elegant Empress summons her to Kunning Palace every few days, offering snacks and fruits, makes her a new Daoist robe, and changes her hairpin."
"No one dares to bully the Commandery Princess in Jingyang Palace either, now she is the temple master, with a woman named Xuan Su managing things on her behalf. But I observe that the Commandery Princess seems to be practicing something, though I don’t know what kind."
Chen Ji was slightly surprised, the Commandery Princess is also practicing the Official Gateway?
Wu Yun continued to meow nonchalantly, "Can you find a way to get rid of the woman named Yuan Jin by the Empress’s side? She’s so annoying..."
Wu Yun was speaking, but then Emperor Ning suddenly asked, "Let’s talk about that ruffian Chen Ji, you also say, why did you collide with the Imperial Guard today?"
Chen Ji was still kneeling on the ground, silently listening to Wu Yun complain about life’s trivial matters.
It was only when the official beside him nudged him that he came back to his senses: "What?"
Emperor Ning remarked with interest, "Official, are all the disciples taught by your Chen family this indifferent to their sovereign? Daring to lose focus in my Renshou Palace?"
Chen Ji hurriedly said, "I deserve the most severe punishment."
Emperor Ning looked at Chen Ji with a vague smile, "Could it be that you also want to learn self-disgrace from your teacher? Is it possible that Lord Zhang taught you this?"
Chen Ji’s heart was stirred, realizing that Emperor Ning had long seen through Wang Shengzhi’s early return to the capital as a form of self-disgrace, and recognized it as Zhang Zhuo’s handiwork. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖
Only to hear Zhang Zhuo loudly declare, "Your Majesty, this matter was solely orchestrated by me..."
Emperor Ning interrupted impatiently, "Alright, alright, never do such clever acts again, lest others think I cannot tolerate loyal and wise ministers. You disgrace yourself, putting me in the wrong? You are loyal ministers, so am I a muddleheaded ruler?"
Zhang Zhuo dared not speak further.
Emperor Ning casually remarked, "Draft the decree, that Wang Daosheng’s great victory brings glory to the Ning Dynasty, promoting him to Minister of War, bestowing upon him twelve honorary arches of loyalty..."
Wang Daosheng hesitated for a long time, then solemnly kowtowed again, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for the imperial favor."
This series of grants was unexpected.
Everyone had thought Emperor Ning would seize this opportunity to diminish Wang Daosheng’s achievements, yet unexpectedly he directly awarded Wang Daosheng the position of Minister of War.
Though not yet part of the cabinet, it was just one step away.
Zhang Zhuo sighed inwardly: The emperor truly has skillful means; this time he plans to use him to win hearts.
If it weren’t for him staging this act causing Wang Daosheng to defy orders and self-disgrace, all the honorary gifts would have been deserved, all rightfully Wang Daosheng’s.
But now, it all became the emperor’s benevolence.
At this moment, without waiting for everyone to ponder, Emperor Ning turned his head to look at Chen Ji: "As long as you are in the Imperial Capital, it will never be peaceful. Don’t obstruct my view in the Imperial Capital, go to outside Chongli Pass and become a Night Patrol; do not return without my decree."
Night Patrol?
Chen Ji knew that the so-called ’able to move fast like a Night Patrol’ was the nickname for Ning Dynasty border town scouts, different from ordinary scouts. Night Patrols directly under the Border Town General were all filled by executive officers.
Gathering enemy intelligence, infiltration, lurking, and map drawing were all Night Patrol duties.
In the 29th year of Jianing, there were two Night Patrols who roamed the wasteland outside Chongli Pass for thirty-seven days, killing forty-six Jing Dynasty scouts, leading forty-six warhorses back to Chongli Pass.
But it was also a thankless task with no fame... akin to exile in Lingnan.
Emperor Ning saw Chen Ji silent, "What, unwilling to go?"
Chen Ji hurriedly said, "I obey the decree, when would Your Majesty have me depart?"
"Leave by mañana, the sooner, the clearer my sight," Emperor Ning waved his robe sleeve: "All be dismissed, the Qionglin Banquet will soon commence, you may go ahead."
Just as the ministers were leaving Renshou Palace, Emperor Ning suddenly said: "Zhang Zhuo, stay behind."
Zhang Zhuo’s body froze: "Yes."
Chen Ji silently followed the ministers out, led out of the Forbidden City by the little eunuch carrying the palace lantern.
Passing under the arch with drooping flowers outside of Renshou Palace, he saw Bai Long standing at the entrance, watching the official and ministry depart.
Chen Ji’s heart tightened; Bai Long had returned.
He carefully observed Bai Long, his robe, belt, boots, hairpin, even his waist Jade Pendant was the same as when first seen, spotless.
Thinking it was the power of that mask.
Chen Ji didn’t speak to Bai Long, and as he passed with lowered head, Bai Long slipped a thin bamboo tube into his hand.
He inconspicuously tucked it into his sleeve until he exited the Imperial Palace Gate, waiting for the ministers to all turn towards the Imperial Academy, then sought a quiet place to open and inspect.
Secret Decree!
This seemingly a secret decree handwritten by Emperor Ning, without the stance of official documentation, rather like Emperor Ning standing ahead giving orders: "I appoint you as Inspector General of the Imperial Camp, commanding the Yulin Army. First investigate military strategy as Night Patrol, then the Yulin Army will proceed to Chongli Pass to provide assistance when the Jing Dynasty Envoy arrives. Escort them to the Imperial Capital at once with the Yulin Army, cannot allow any mishaps."
Chen Ji suddenly raised his head.
Earlier when Wu Yun mentioned this, he hadn’t paid it much mind, but now this thankless task has fallen upon him!
Inspector General of the Imperial Camp, what kind of position is this? With no rank, yet able to command the Imperial Guard’s Yulin Army.
If it weren’t for him just receiving the Marquis of Wuxiang’s title, he wouldn’t be able to take on this heavy responsibility.
