Chapter 572: Plans

Chapter 572: Chapter 572: Plans

Pang Ban followed the eunuch, walking swiftly through the palace gate. He recognized that the guide ahead was the Emperor’s personal eunuch, so he asked, "Eunuch, do you know what this is about?" The eunuch dared not refuse Pang Ban’s question, but also dared not divulge matters close to the Emperor, so he could only reply, "A matter of utmost urgency."

Utmost urgency?

Pang Ban turned the thought in his mind and roughly understood. Nowadays, within and outside the Dynasty, what’s considered of ’utmost urgency’ must be from the south.

That matter had already reached Pang Ban this morning—an urgent report sent from the south, by the newly appointed Southern Border Army’s Inspector, Shen Hao, stating that a major change was likely imminent outside the border, listing several signs. Now, it seemed that report had, unfortunately, come true.

When Pang Ban met the Emperor, the Emperor waved his hand to halt his formal greetings and tossed over a Copper Rod.

"Look at it first."

Pang Ban unrolled the Copper Rod and quickly finished reading it, secretly thinking, "Just as expected."

But today was already the sixteenth of August, while the battle report was dated the tenth—six days apart—this response was truly too slow. He couldn’t help but think of Shen Hao, who had just been transferred south; that youngster truly had foresight, intelligence paths were fast, or else wouldn’t his delays be as bad as the rest of the Military?

"Zuo Yuliang has requested orders. According to regulations, his family must be carefully watched. This matter will be handled by your Xuanqing Guard. I require that not a single direct member of the Zuo Family leaves your surveillance, yet you must not let them obviously notice you. Understand?" The Emperor’s tone was harsh.

"Your servant understands."

"Additionally, the families of all Four-sided Army Governors must also be closely watched. Any signs of unusual movement, report immediately."

"Your servant obeys."

After a long silence, the Emperor said nothing; Pang Ban knelt on the floor, not daring to rise, the room filled with quiet.

After a while, the Emperor spoke again: "Once the southern armies reach us, the Imperial City will inevitably change as well. You... keep your men in control, don’t meddle with affairs that aren’t yours. Keep to your duties."

"Your servant will remember."

The Emperor stared at Pang Ban, prostrate before him, for a few breaths before sighing and letting him stand, waving his hand, "You may go."

Pang Ban bowed and withdrew, his hurried steps betraying the urgency in his heart. News from the Ministry of War was notably delayed, which greatly impacted the actions of the Xuanqing Guard. He could only seize time, hoping that Zuo Yuliang and the Four-direction Army Governors wouldn’t cause trouble for him at this critical moment.

As soon as Pang Ban left, a eunuch brought in a bowl of medicinal soup and presented it to the Emperor. Yang Xiusheng followed the eunuch inside, casting several helpless glances at the bowl of medicine.

"Why has your dosage increased again lately?" Yang Xiusheng held back for days, but finally couldn’t help asking.

"No choice—if I don’t, the effect can’t be sustained. And you must already know about that urgent report just now, right? The situation is about to turn chaotic; I have to stay alert and fulfill my duty as Emperor in these final days, or I’d be ashamed before my ancestors."

Compared to Yang Xiusheng’s gloom, the Emperor acted rather nonchalant. He had suffered decades trapped by this ill fate, never a day of ease, enduring torment like daily torture; while death might be ’the great terror’ for others, to the Emperor, it was nothing less than a true liberation.

But before that liberation, the Emperor must fulfill his last duty, or else the mighty Empire would be left with a seed of disaster.

With Yang Xiusheng’s Cultivation, even if he had not been in the room earlier, his Perception would have caught all that was said; and having once been absorbed in these power struggles, he naturally understood what had happened. He nodded and said, "What do you plan to do? Settle the internal first? Or drive away the external?"

"Heh, why bother with order? The Barbarian Race, even with support these years from people like Yang Yansi, forty years of raiding wasn’t for nothing. Now their plot is exposed, they’re forced to rise early—how prepared could they really be?

By comparison, though the Southern Border Army has gradually decayed these years, their commanders are still men fit for battle, and basic fighting strength can be guaranteed. As long as Zuo Yuliang doesn’t rush ahead but uses the atmosphere of war to slowly train the rear soldiers, pressing south bit by bit, if it takes more time, victory will still belong to the Dynasty. This, I have no doubts."

The Emperor’s gaze flashed with confidence; after decades stewarding this vast Empire, how could he not know its true strength? Forty years of peace had built a deep foundation. Look at even the most ordinary common folk, who can eat fatty meat every few days—so many people, with livestock raised on grain.

When grain is plentiful enough to feed livestock, you can tell just how wealthy the Jingjiu Dynasty has grown in official affairs.

For the first time, the Emperor spoke of these matters. And Yang Xiusheng too, for the first time, understood the Emperor’s true thoughts on the Southern Barbarians. He asked, puzzled, "So, does that mean Zuo Yuliang is someone you placed in the Border Army as Daoxing Chief?"

"Of course. Zuo Yuliang has been my hidden man since early days, though few know it. He has Ability and loyalty; he’s always calculated the Barbarian Race situation and is now the Dynasty’s top choice for leading the campaign against the Southern Barbarians. I’m quite at ease with him."

"Then how will you handle internal affairs? Once the southern armies arrive, plenty in the Dynasty will seize the moment to surface. What’s your plan?"

The Emperor chuckled, his eyes shining brighter, seeming not like a dying man but one renewed with vigor. Yang Xiusheng thought of a phrase: ’death’s final brilliance.’ His heart grew heavy.

"Uncle, you lived through my father ascending the throne; that process recurs in Dynasty history, seemingly bloody and shadowed, but reality shows it’s the most effective and direct way to choose a worthy ruler. The Dynasty has endured precisely through these repeated baptisms of blood.

So, regardless of whether the Imperial City faces east wind or west wind, I watch from the center. Whoever reaches me depends on their own ability. If they can’t handle even these minor storms, they’re unfit to inherit the throne. It’s just a pity that in this generation there isn’t a Cultivation prodigy like you, Uncle; otherwise my life would have been truly without regret."

"You told Pang Ban not to make trouble. But what if someone acts recklessly?"

"Uncle worries they might storm the Imperial Palace? Heh, they lack both the courage and the means. If Pang Ban stays put, the Four-sided Army won’t dare move. If Fenghong Manor stays put, then the surrounding Sects won’t dare stir. As long as these people hold back, the rest can play as they like. The arena is drawn by me."

Yang Xiusheng shook his head, remained silent for a long time, then said, "You and your father are truly alike. You see through everything, always calculating every angle before acting. Pity..."

The Emperor drained the bowl of medicinal soup in one gulp and smiled: "All my calculations, and the true mistake was choosing to take the throne in the first place."