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To Be This Lacking in Virtue, What Difference From a Muddled Ruler (4)
T/N: Translated by Jen on Broken Jinsei! Please do not repost my translations! All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
“Who knows? Besides, even if there isn’t a war, it is still entirely possible to create one. There are plenty of ways. No matter how capable I am, my people still can’t cover the entirety of Qi Yuan. However, we can pass on a message to Fu Yun Ting, letting him pay attention a little. After all, the possibility of going to the northwest is still the greatest. Just, for the time being, there probably won’t be any news. To want to climb the ranks, one will undoubtedly have to appear before the main commander. Without a bit of military achievements, and without showing off sufficient capabilities, how is it possible to stand before the main commander?”
“Suppose that one doesn’t pay attention to Su Ming Zhang’s whereabouts, is it possible that they will just succeed?” Jing Wan felt that some people sure enough can’t be underestimated.
“Perhaps. Having yet to reach the last step, no one knows whether or not there will be mishaps. Moreover, not every person that has abandoned the brush to enlist in the army is able to establish themselves. Even if having someone assisting, if the brain is no good, then even if forcibly getting supported up, there will still be times where they will expose themselves, and sooner or later, fall apart.”
“Did Ah Yuan ever think of directly having the person killed en route to the place of exile, so as to put an end to future troubles?”
Li Hong Yuan somewhat surprisingly glanced at Jing Wan, “Looks like Wan Wan reading that many case files during this period of time is already very much showing results.”
“What does this have to do with the case files? Completely two different matters. I just feel that doing this further matches your style.”
“Wan Wan, people related to Su-shi, I most likely all won’t directly kill. Otherwise, the problems regarding Su Ming Zhang, when dealing with, it wouldn’t have been that complicated. She had raised me after all, so when doing things, I ultimately need to leave a bit of leeway, can’t let others say that I don’t care of sentiments in the slightest, no?”
Jing Wan just gave him two words: Heh heh. Was the living Enma someone that wanted a reputation, wanted face, and cared about sentiments?
Li Hong Yuan sighed, rubbing Jing Wan’s head, “Giving a bit of hope, then shattering, then giving hope again, then shattering, little by little letting the person sink into madness and despair, wouldn’t that be more interesting? Moreover, I also want to see, exactly how tenacious Su-shi is, how many times she can crawl up again.”
To torment a person as such, exactly how great of a grudge, how much hatred? Seemingly, before, a certain someone’s attitude towards Noble Consort Su still haven’t reached this step. When did it start to change?
Jing Wan’s gaze flashed, “In that case, can’t wait to see.”
Li Hong Yuan kissed Jing Wan, “Some things are still just guesses. I still need evidence. After investigating clearly, I’ll tell you, alright?”
“Even the deepest secret has already been said, would I still care about this?”
Li Hong Yuan, during a certain period of time, had some matters from his past life properly comb through. Because the time was a bit long, he even spent quite a bit of time, little by little like spinning silk from cocoons. Afterwards, he really did discover some things that once got overlooked by him, some things that can be said to be very important.
And these things can probably be verified very soon.
Half a month later, the northwest once again came through with a report of victory. The main commander Fu Yun Ting used a schemed to drive a wedge between West Xiongnu and North Xiongnu, causing the Xiongnu alliance to fall into disharmony, letting mistakes appear in their battle plan. North Xiongnu didn’t act according to the plan, and Xiongnu’s main commander met with Fu Yun Ting’s attack from all sides, sustaining injuries and fleeing in defeat. In this one battle, tens of thousands of Xiongnu troops were extinguished, taking back the prefecture.
The imperial court was truly happy for once, singing praises towards Le Cheng Emperor and towards Qi Yuan.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
How Le Cheng Emperor felt inside, can disregard for the time being, at least on the surface, his face carried a stiff smile, making one feel uncomfortable.
Ruan Rui Zhong and Luo Pei Shan lowered their heads and restrained their eyes. The two of them both expressed, having grown old, their old eyes have blurred. In addition to the hot weather, even the sweat beads can all blur the eyes. That’s why, they didn’t see anything.
The others, however, continued celebrating, continuing on to their heart’s content, continuing to suffocate the emperor.
This kind of joy didn’t last very long. The matter of a portion of the grains having problems suddenly got exposed. The grains that were originally assembled to be transported, what was stored inside the sacks weren’t grains, but rather sandstones. The army rations for the northwest will soon be lacking.
Three hundred thousand soldiers’ food consumption rate absolutely can’t be underestimated, all an enormous amount every day. Moreover, it’s not even unrestrainedly eating. Once the food supply is severed, then the aftermath will be too horrible to imagine. While starving, no one is able to fight a victorious battle.
For such a matter to appear at this time, it was practically like getting splashed with ice water in the middle of winter, the chilliness penetrating the heart.
Only Ruan Rui Zhong and Luo Pei Shan shared a glance. His Majesty sure enough made a move.
The matter of the rations although was the Ministry of Revenue and Ministry of War’s joint responsibility, the former in charge of gathering and purchasing, the latter in charge of transporting, but the others weren’t completely ignorant of this either. Reasonably speaking, during a special period, where manpower is scarce, other people and other matters all need to make way. However, since the start of the war, the only ones that were truly busy were also just the people of these two ministries. According to Le Cheng Emperor’s explanation, that was just each managing their own duties. One can’t, because of the war, just have Qi Yuan’s other matters all placed aside.
From the sound of it, it seemed very reasonable. Moreover, towards the war in the northwest, they seemingly were also very confident. But, carefully contemplating, even with the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War being this busy, they were still able to have the matter of the army rations taken care of, then even if transferring some manpower from other places, would those places be even busier than the Ministry of Revenue and Ministry of War?
Others didn’t know, but Ruan Rui Zhong as well as Luo Pei Shan had received news from Li Hong Yuan. The matter of a portion of the granaries being empty actually had long shown signs, just the matter got concealed. And this matter, in the beginning, had actually reached the imperial court through the Black Clad Guards, but Le Cheng Emperor concealed the matter and didn’t inform. They even held hope that his Majesty was just considering for the general situation. Having the matter brought out at this time will only be more harm than good. But now, they were thoroughly disappointed.
The whereabouts of the missing grains need to be thoroughly investigated, and the shortage of supply certainly need to think of ways to fill from other areas. The later batch can be assembled from the south, but what about the near future? They certainly won’t make it in time, and inevitably will need to purchase from the people. The grain merchants came first, then those wealthy and large households. If truly not enough, then even need to collect from the commoners. These things all need someone to go do, and even need to be quick. But, Le Cheng Emperor absolutely doesn’t want the matter to be handled as soon as possible.
The people of the Ministry of Revenue absolutely weren’t enough, then who to send to assist?
And in reality, this matter, everyone all knew wasn’t a relaxing job, and moreover, even easy to offend people. After all, for the commoners, their food supply was practically just their lifeblood.
Le Cheng Emperor, on the surface, was angry at the court officials for not taking action during this crucial time, but on the inside, this wasn’t the case. However, it was that many soldiers after all, so he was still conflicted inside.
Rui Qinwang once again got summoned by his own mother, the two of them similarly discussing in whispers. And not long after, Rui Qinwang just informed Le Cheng Emperor that he was willing to share the burdens for imperial father.
Rui Qinwang, because of his younger sister Princess Min Xiang’s matter, all the way until now, all didn’t have a proper job.
Le Cheng Emperor stared at Rui Qinwang for a moment with narrowed eyes, “Granted. Old three, this matter is of great concern, but the people are also the foundation of this country. You must do your best, but mustn’t act rashly.”
“Yes, imperial father, this son understands.”
Those that didn’t know would just think that Le Cheng Emperor was considering thoroughly. But for those that were in the know, listening to these words, it was practically just blatantly telling Rui Qinwang to take it slowly, no need to hurry, making people feel bitterly disappointed inside. Originally, in their eyes, although Le Cheng Emperor didn’t have too great of a contribution, he still considered for the country and considered for the people, and can be considered having done his utmost. He wasn’t that outstanding, but was still qualifying. Yet, they never thought that for the sake of an unknown reason, he would disregard that many soldiers that were defending his mountains and rivers. This kind of virtue lacking emperor, what’s the difference from a muddled ruler.
If one truly wants to extinguish the Fu family, at worst just throw out that bit of reputation and just directly execute them. But for generations, the emperors of Qi Yuan were all the same, obsessed with having a good reputation. For the sake of their reputation and face, they can do many many things and can disregard many human lives.
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Just when I thought he wouldn’t do something so heinous… he entered the pit headfirst. Smh