Chapter 180: The First Day of the Journey

Thinking about how Princess Changle’s gentle expression would likely shatter when she received the bill, Xingqing couldn’t help but laugh.

But then she thought about how if no one went to marry into Zhao, there might be a war, and it would be the people on the border who would suffer. Xingqing’s smile faded: “Big Sister, if I don’t go and marry into Zhao, will there be a war?”

Xingnong was reading a medical book while nibbling on some dry rations. Hearing this, she nodded: “There will be a war, but it has nothing to do with you not going to marry into Zhao. Chu will not send anyone to marry into Zhao again. There will eventually be a war between Zhao and Chu.”

Songbai, who was outside, overheard and chimed in: “That’s right, this war is unavoidable. ……”

“Zhao has never been peaceful. Every year towards the end of the year, bandits appear to rob the people in the villages on the border of Chu of their grain, property, and women. These bandits are well-trained, appearing and disappearing without a trace.”

“The government occasionally catches one when they send troops, and they find military tokens of Zhao soldiers on them. Then they go to Zhao to reason with them, and Zhao’s response is that they sent troops to suppress the bandits, and some soldiers were killed by the bandits. The bandits picked up the soldiers’ tokens and deliberately pretended to be soldiers to rob and plunder. They will also send troops to suppress the bandits, and the more they suppress, the more bandits there are.”

“Those bandits are actually Zhao soldiers. Their purpose is to deliberately cause trouble and provoke war.”

“After all, the tribute period set before is almost up. In order to continue suppressing Chu, Zhao will definitely send troops within the next two or three years.”

“Actually, the policies Zhao has used against Chu over the years are also visible. First, Zhao colluded with powerful officials in Chu to eliminate Chu’s most powerful army and bravest soldiers, destroying Chu’s strongest ‘city wall’.”

“Then, when Chu sued for peace, although Zhao was unable to occupy Chu’s cities, they proposed a marriage alliance, an annual tribute of one hundred thousand taels of silver, and the ceding of hundreds of thousands of acres of Chu’s forests! That’s a natural treasure trove!

And for ten years, an annual tribute of one hundred thousand taels, all of which is paid by the people’s taxes! What do the people think about this?

Also, the ruler of Zhao proposes a marriage alliance every three years or so, wanting to marry a Chu princess. If there are no princesses, he will settle for a princess consort or even other women.”

“Zhao also suppresses Chu in every way in the grain seed trade, so that the people of Chu can never plant high-yielding grain seeds. The people of the three neighboring countries can have ample food and clothing and live in peace and contentment, while most of the people of Chu live in hunger and cold!

Comparison breeds harm. All of this subtly influences the people’s impression of the Emperor, making them think that the ruler of Chu is weak and incompetent, unable to protect the territory, unable to protect his children, unable to protect the people!

As the saying goes, ‘The one who wins the hearts of the people wins the world.’ Water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it. If things go on like this, the Chu dynasty will be in jeopardy.”

“…Zhao has wolfish ambitions. They are trying to create chaos in Chu initiated by the people. Then they will destroy us!” Songbai said a lot, and then finished: “So, Miss Xingqing, you don’t have to think too much about it.”

After hearing Songbai’s words, Xingqing glanced at the blue sky outside the window. The autumn sky was deep, vast, and cloudless.

The entire sky was as blue as a gemstone.

She couldn’t help but think: A person’s life is like this blue sky. There will be wind and rain, there will be thunder and lightning, but most of the time it will be sunny.

This is true for people, and it is also true for countries. Therefore, we must be prepared for danger in times of peace and plan ahead.

Xingqing looked at the sky for a while, and then stopped disturbing Xingnong’s reading. She also picked up a piece of clothing and started to sew.

Taking advantage of the boredom of the journey, she had bought so many fabrics and cut them all at the Princess’s Residence. She planned to make a few sets of clothes on the road.

The medical book Xingnong was reading was a pharmacopoeia. She wanted to understand the properties of medicinal herbs and see if she could cultivate a new variety of medicinal herbs that could cure the poison in her body.

~

Capital City, Prime Minister Liang’s Residence

Chu Tianyu, Prime Minister Liang, Yao Zhengxian, and Xie Zhen gathered together.

Prime Minister Liang had just sent off the Zhao envoy delegation with Wen Ruiqing and returned to his residence.

Chu Tianyu looked at Yao Zhengxian and said: “Princess Funing returned to Futai County this morning under the escort of the Wu’an Security Bureau, but that male favorite at Star Garden didn’t leave the house today.”

Prime Minister Liang: “Not leaving the house doesn’t mean he hasn’t left.”

Yao Zhengxian immediately said: “Don’t worry, Second Prince, don’t worry, Minister Liang. I have already given orders to inform all major checkpoints to keep an eye out for that Master Shen’s whereabouts.”

The Yao family manages the grain transport. Previously, they only managed half of Chu’s grain transport, but since the late Emperor’s reign, when the Empress Dowager controlled the government, the Yao family took less than two years to control the entire grain transport of Chu. And on land, most of the soldiers guarding the cities in Chu are from their Yao family!

If Master Shen left with Princess Funing and her group, his people would definitely be able to find out.

Prime Minister Liang suspected that Master Shen and the Crown Prince’s male favorite were the same person, and it was most likely that Shen Xingnong. This matter could be revealed once they reached Futai County. After all, whether Shen Xingnong had left Futai County or not, they could send someone to ask the villagers.

✿✿✿

If they couldn’t find out anything from the villagers, Zheng Yong had already taken Zhou Yingying as a noble concubine. They could ask the Zhou family to go to the Shen family to check.

But if they were sure on the road, they could take the opportunity to get rid of them!

Thinking of Liang Liyuan, who was still unconscious, Prime Minister Liang’s eyes flashed with malice: “When will Divine Doctor Zhao from Zhao arrive?”

Yao Zhengxian: “It will take at least twenty days.”

Hearing this, Prime Minister Liang felt a little irritated. Twenty days, that long?

Now, seeing Liyuan lying motionless on the bed, he felt like every day was a year.

Prime Minister Liang looked at Xie Zhen again: “How is the Eldest Prince doing in the army?”

Xie Zhen was tall and mighty, in his thirties, with a dark beard that obscured his features.

His most prominent feature was his hair: thick, black, bushy, and long!

Hearing Prime Minister Liang’s words, he said: “Just some petty tricks. That yellow-haired kid thinks he can use those petty tricks to undermine the prestige I have built up in the army over the years, hehe…Let him do it! Let’s see what kind of trouble he can cause in just one month!”

Prime Minister Liang frowned: “Chu Tiankuo is a cunning person. I have fallen for his schemes several times. Be careful not to capsize in the gutter. Listen to the military advisor’s advice if you have any problems.”

Xie Zhen was skilled in martial arts, a rare military talent, but he had one flaw: he was a bit arrogant, just like his father! He thought he was amazing!

This was a fatal flaw on the battlefield!

That’s why Xie Qiguang was so far behind Marquis Changping before.

Fortunately, he had assigned a military advisor to be by their side. It was because Xie Qiguang listened to the military advisor that they were able to uproot the Changping Army!

Hmph, Chu Tiankuo had caused his son to be unconscious in bed until now.

In a month or two, he would make him die on the battlefield!

Yao Zhengxian thought of something and asked: “Should we arrange for the Song family to start firing some porcelain to sell to Zhao?”

There was only about a month left, and it was about time to arrange it.

After all, this required a complete and flawless arrangement to ensure a safe retreat.

Prime Minister Liang nodded: “I’ve already thought about it. Let the Song family fire a batch of oil-saving lamps and transport them over.”

Hearing this, everyone’s eyes lit up.

Chu Tianyu said with a smile: “Grandfather is brilliant! This oil-saving lamp is a good thing. Sending it to Zhao might even make a profit!”

Everyone present nodded in agreement.

Then, they discussed the next steps before leaving separately.