son-in-law

Chapter 1268 Chapter Since I Saw Peach Blossom (IV)

It had been a while since night fell, and the lights of Fuzhou City were bright. The night life gradually unfolded, and the brothels, wine shops and teahouses were all bustling. People gathered in the discussion forums and talked about many things, including politics.

There was a brief period of martial law on the road from the imperial city to the princess's residence, but it was lifted soon after. It was not surprising that the royal guards went to the princess's residence.

Various meetings had been held in the court for almost the entire day. By now, many arrangements decided by the core of power had gradually leaked and infiltrated the surrounding areas, and thus became the hot topics at many tables in Fuzhou city that evening.

No matter how it is told, the biggest pain point for the imperial court in Fujian today is still money and grain.

"There is no money or food."

In the courtyard with warm yellow lanterns and a huge banyan tree, Jun Wu sighed as he looked at his sister, who was reading a folded paper and gently rubbing her forehead on the recliner opposite him. He sat down on the stone bench, and Zhao Xiaosong brought him some well water from the back of the princess's mansion.

"... I have counted all the grain and silver in the Ministry of Revenue, emptied my private savings, and even put the 'dowry' I received this time into it. It is still difficult to raise enough money for this expedition. Sister, you see, if I marry again, I will lose face."

In a private environment, there was no one else around. The emperor's self-deprecating words were funny, and there was a suspicion of malicious cuteness. Zhou Pei put down the memorial with the expenditure items in her hand, and moved her mouth. Because of the smile, her forehead hurt a little. She turned her eyes to the side.

"The Ministry of War can write out a list at random and cross out some items, but once the troops are dispatched, the situation will not be under our control. The big households in Jiangnan have been swept away by the Fairness Party. If we fight them out, it will take several years just to resettle the refugees and restore people's livelihood. Without a reliable source of money, we cannot support the situation in Jiangnan. Moreover, are we really ready to fight the Fairness Party?"

"Xu Zhaonan, Shi Baofeng, and some other heroes are not difficult to defeat. General Yue and General Han are confident, but He Wen is not so easy to deal with. According to the precedent in the southwest and the rumors from there, if he is allowed to complete the internal reform this time, Jiangnan will be in trouble..." Jun Wu took a sip of water, "So I am actually a little bit caught in a dilemma. Han Shizhong and some children of the Zuo family have given some suggestions in their memorials. If possible, it would be a good thing for us to get rid of He Wen first."

"Don't you still want to recruit him?" Zhou Pei smiled.

"Of course I want to recruit him. He's not a bad guy. He's a real hero. I've also looked into his experiences over the years. Sister, if I had gone through the same things as him, I wouldn't have become a person like him. I'm afraid I'd have finished long ago. After the Jiangning Conference last year, I sent envoys every month to try to impress him, but he was laughing on the surface, but in fact he was unmoved... In the past few years, when I sent people over, he always had a stern face, but he might not have thought of joining forces with me. Now that he's laughing, I know that he has become more determined after the Jiangning Conference. He was influenced by the southwest and really wanted... equality for everyone. He can't be my friend anymore."

"Hmph." Zhou Pei rubbed his forehead and snorted.

Jun Wu sat there, looking exhausted. Zhou Pei had slept intermittently for a while in the past day and night, while he had been gathering his staff, holding meetings with various parties, and discussing countermeasures since last night. After the matter was settled, he brought his people to his sister's side. In terms of the time he had to endure, he had to endure much longer.

It was quiet for a while.

"Southwest... After defeating the Jurchens, the teacher wrote several articles about... grassroots enlightenment and the importance of soldier reform. I have read them many times, so I completely accepted this reform of respecting the king and expelling the barbarians... Soldiers who can form a battle array and obey orders are not powerful. Soldiers who can form a battle array and obey orders when gathered together, and who know why they are fighting after separation, are truly powerful. If you want to have such soldiers, you must give them an explanation. Now, the teacher has done the most thorough reform of this kind, and those who have really understood his ideas include Zou Xu of the Central Plains and the female prime minister of Jin. After a while, I am afraid that He Wen of the Fairness Party will be added. Moreover, He Wen is probably the most thorough... As for us..."

He held the cup of well water and turned it in his hands: "We... said we finally have some, but we are out of food..."

Zhou Pei thought for a moment and said, "Didn't they say before that Zuo Xiuquan went to find Gao Chang?"

"Hmph. They sent another group of people..." Jun Wu also sneered.

This was an action the imperial court had taken before. It estimated that Lin'an City might be captured, and hoped that Gao Chang could enter the city in advance, control the situation, and save face for the imperial court. However, the news that came in showed that the other side did not come out on top.

"We will have to find out the reason later... But at this point, he is a warlord. Either he really doesn't have enough power, or... he is just pretending to obey but not working hard... In the final analysis, although Zuo Gong barely persuaded him last year, our power is really not enough. It is only natural for others to look down on us..."

"You can't help us with all your strength at this time?"

"How can he see how terrifying He Wen is!" Jun Wu lowered his eyes, "What's more, he is a member of the Fair Party. If he really can't win, he can still turn to He Wen... But He Wen won't want him, a soldier ruffian."

"Didn't a group of people submit a petition to kill some more powerful families who were plotting evil?"

"We can't kill them anymore. If we kill more, they will all go into the mountains." Jun Wu said, "Fujian is such a complicated place. When we came here three years ago, everyone was in harmony and received a year's worth of taxes. Then they started killing people. It seems that the control over some places has been strengthened, but you know best, sister, the taxes collected have not increased but decreased... In the final analysis, if we want to collect taxes from eight mountains, one river, and one piece of land, we have to rely on their cooperation... If we really force everyone into the mountains, our own officials will not be enough. It's not easy for Han Shizhong to barely control two roads now."

Zhou Pei raised her eyes calmly: "If we really can't renew the contract, we'll just force it. We have to hold on through this year, even if it means drinking poison to quench thirst. Maybe by autumn, the fleet will be back."

Jun Wu opened his mouth and said, "...When the time comes, I'll tell the people who have entered the mountains to come out and make a fortune together?"

"There will always be people who come out. As for the rest, we can slowly eliminate them. As long as we have the money, we can eliminate them all in ten years."

Zhou Pei's voice slowly echoed in the yard. She looked away at an empty space, as if she was pondering over her determination to perish together with her loved ones. She was silent for a moment before speaking again.

"Junwu, this is the path you have chosen. We have roots there, the royal roots, the Wu Dynasty roots, which are your deepest and most reliable roots. In Fujian, if we follow the old rules, even if we don't have enough money and food, we will always have powerful Jiangnan clans and even warlords to surrender, and people's hearts will quickly gather. With the cooperation of these people, even if you don't have money and food for disaster relief, you can quickly conquer Jiangnan and return to Lin'an. But you don't want this path anymore, so we have no choice but to go this way."

"Sister, you don't believe...you don't believe what the teacher said?"

"I..." Zhou Pei lay there, her eyes moving in the darkness. After a moment, the corners of her eyes twitched slightly. She clenched her teeth and threw a cup beside her hand away. For some reason, tears flowed from the corners of her eyes.

"sister……"

"I believe it! Why shouldn't I believe it!" Zhou Pei said suddenly, "He is our teacher. I have told you many times not to call him a teacher, but you still say... He is our teacher, so powerful! He fought in Xiaocang River for three years, and the blood flowed like a river. The Jurchens were afraid of him. Only after the battle did you know how powerful he is! He actually defeated Wanyan Zonghan directly in the southwest, and he killed someone's son in front of Wanyan Zonghan! People outside call him a demon! He is so powerful, but he is our enemy now - you are so stupid to believe everything, aren't you afraid? Ah? If there is something in those statements he sent over... something... I am afraid that you will die just like that, and lose the Wu Dynasty just like that -"

Amidst the sudden tears, Zhou Pei's words became fierce, her expression was complicated, with sadness, pain, excitement, and fragility... Jun Wu put down the cup, walked over, and gently massaged her forehead behind the recliner. Zhou Pei closed her eyes tightly, and after a long while, she raised her hand to stroke the back of her brother's hand.

"Actually, I think the teacher may not have those bad intentions..." Jun Wu said softly.

There was another silence with eyes closed. Zhou Pei's words were hoarse.

"I want to believe it too... but over the years... we have seen so many things... so many people... we... haven't seen him for many years... Jun Wu..."

"But he defeated the Jurchens." Jun Wu said, "If he was not a peerless hero who was different from others, how could he have defeated the Jurchens... He who can do extraordinary things must be an extraordinary person. Look at General Yue, his strict military discipline shows how upright he is... You see, I have been the emperor for so many years, and I have some experience in judging people."

"What about Han Shizhong..." Zhou Pei smiled.

"Han Shuai... a man of integrity, even if he is a bit of a scoundrel, he still seems to be very different, isn't he... So this is my opinion, teacher, he is different from others..."

"You are worthy of being an emperor..." Zhou Pei smiled, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "... you look like one."

"Sister, if you don't worry about the teacher, your headache will be 70% better."

Jun Wu let her go, walked to the side and sat down, and the two siblings put their hands together.

After calming down, Zhou Peicai said, "I don't support the so-called constitutional monarchy that is a gamble of all things. No one has ever done this before. Confucianism teaches the people, but in the final analysis, many people cannot be taught well... When the teacher gave us those things, he also said very clearly that this was an experiment and an adventure, but you did it wholeheartedly..."

Junwu just smiled.

Zhou Pei held his hand and said, "In the final analysis, Junwu, you are the emperor and the lord. You have made your own firm decision. As your sister, I can only help you find out the gaps and do some patching work. Since you have already wanted to do things to this extent, your sister can only help you do it thoroughly... If there is really no other way to send troops, then let's drain the pond to catch fish. As for the big families to be cleaned up, I will take the lead, I will make the list, and I will clean them up."

"..."

Feeling the power coming from his elder sister's hand, Jun Wu was silent for a while, then he looked up: "It hasn't come to that yet. Regarding sending troops, there is already a draft plan. The court, from top to bottom, has begun to tighten its belt. The expenditure of the palace has been reduced to 30% of the previous amount..."

"Thirty percent?"

Jun Wu nodded. "The court should mobilize everyone to share the hardship and reduce all expenses to 70% as much as possible. The salaries of officials should be cut in half. Mr. Li will help mobilize public opinion. Students of the Military Academy who have completed more than half a year of study should go to the front line and cooperate with the Beiwei Army soldiers to properly resettle the refugees heading south. These students should eat and live together with the soldiers and refugees. Then, tell everyone that our army reports to the emperor and saves the people... Saving the people is the core of respecting the emperor and expelling the barbarians."

Zhou Pei opened her mouth: "Is this... the Zuo family's idea? Can it be done?"

"It's not easy to do, but Zuo Wenxuan said that this is what they did during the most difficult times in the southwest. The teachers... ate the same food as the soldiers, only one meal a day... Next, I will do the same."

"..." Zhou Pei thought for a while, "If we really cut the salaries of officials, they will get the money from other places..."

"The killing will be led by Mr. Cheng, with the Zuo family and the backbone of the Military Academy as the law enforcement team. They will investigate and kill people every day, and spread the word..."

Zhou Pei narrowed her eyes when she heard this: "Who suggested these things to you?"

"I understand what you mean." Jun Wu smiled. "Zuo Wenxuan made the initial suggestion, but didn't dare to say the latter part. I thought of it myself."

Zhou Pei finally relaxed: "In other words, you choose not to kill the big families first, but to break with the officials in the court? Jun Wu, these are all your subordinates..."

"If there is no strict law and order in the rear, the soldiers will be in the front and the officials will be in the back, and the whole thing will not be done well..."

"This matter is difficult in itself. You want the officials in the court to be honest, but you have to break with some people and alienate them... Although I have made preparations long ago, you have to think about the order..."

"...Yeah." Jun Wu nodded, "In fact, Mr. Cheng also mentioned this point, and I am also considering it."

"But that's fine." Zhou Pei sighed, "This way, there are at least two solutions..."

Because the courtyard was built in a particular location, it was a little cool at night. The brother and sister talked about something intense, and finally sat quietly. They chatted about some gossip, and Jun Wu talked about what he saw in a corner of the imperial city last night, and what exactly happened when an assassin broke into the Taoist Princess's mansion.

Zhou Pei just shook her head. It must be a trap set by Cheng Zhouhai and Zuo Wenxuan. Those two people were very busy outside today. After she woke up, she was also busy collecting money and grain for a while, and she has not been in the mood to take care of it yet.

"Do you want to ask Zhao Xiaosong to come over and ask?" Zhou Pei said.

"Goodbye." Jun Wu shook his head. "Let's stay together as siblings. If an assassin comes, I will protect you."

Zhou Pei smiled: "Your martial arts..."

"Don't underestimate me. I've been on the battlefield... And sister, don't you think about whose disciples we are? Many people in the martial arts world say that the teacher is a martial arts master and the best in the world... Alas, it's a pity that the teacher didn't really teach me his Fantian Seal back then. He only said a few words about physical training..."

"That's fake."

"The teacher hid it really well back then..." Jun Wu didn't listen, and after a moment, "Sister, you get angry whenever you mention the teacher these years, but when I talk about the teacher with others, I always feel happy... What do you think of him? Why are you angry?"

"..."

"I've become an emperor, and I've experienced a lot, met a lot of people, and gained some experience." Jun Wu held her hand and spread her palm open, "Sister, when you think of the teacher, do you feel wronged?"

The hand moved slightly, but finally stopped. Zhou Pei looked at Jun Wu, and Jun Wu looked at her gently. He was imagining the story between his sister and the teacher on the way to Beijing, while her eyes were somewhat blank. In the distance of the memory, there was the girl's longing for perfection, and the gentle, farewell etiquette of the ladies...

Just as they were looking at each other, someone shouted from the courtyard not far away.

A commotion suddenly broke out.