While matters from Jinling requiring notification to Xuzhou faced a long and slow journey, traveling from Xuzhou to Jinling was different. Following Chen River into Yuan River, then via Dongting Lake into the Yangtze River, sailing downstream all the way with great sails billowing in the wind, traveling day and night without rest, at fastest it took only six or seven days.
An Jixiang entered Dongting Lake along Yuan River and bid farewell to Pacification Commissioner Huang Hua. Rushing along urgently, on the last day of the eleventh month, he returned to Jinling.
Jinling had seen heavy snow two days prior. As An Jixiang disembarked at Nanpu Bridge Wharf, it was noon after the snow had cleared and the sky had brightened. Snow particles scattered the sunlight—everything around was a vast expanse of white, quite dazzling.
At this time, over a hundred sword-bearing guards wearing black crow uniforms from the Right Command Office of the Jinyun Bureau had long been waiting before the wharf, having already driven away all idle people.
An Jixiang’s mind was occupied with how to report what he had seen and heard during his Xuzhou trip in an audience with His Majesty that might satisfy the Emperor. He paid no attention to the imposing welcoming display his subordinates had arranged.
He glanced somewhat absentmindedly at the western wall that still showed its savage gaps, then boarded a carriage with his subordinates’ assistance.
Not until the carriage passed through Chongyi Gate into the inner city district did An Jixiang hear the sounds of carriage wheels and horse hooves on both sides trampling through muddy ground reaching his ears from outside. He lifted the curtain and asked Chen Deshun, one of the Eight Commandants of the Right Command Office: “Before I left the capital for Xuzhou this time, wasn’t this street supposed to be repaved with hemp stone? Why is it still so muddy today?”
Chen Deshun had been promoted during the period when Jiang Huo and Yuan Guowei presided over Jinyun Tower, but serving under An Jixiang, he was quite eager to please his direct superior. He said: “It’s said that to launch an attack on the Anning Palace rebel forces withdrawing to defend Chaozhou and Shouzhou, in order to maintain military supply logistics to the northern bank, after you departed for Xuzhou, my lord, the ministers of the Administrative Council memorialized His Majesty to completely halt restoration work in Jinling City.”
Within Jinling City, particularly in the inner city district, quite many streets and alleys had previously been paved with cut stone.
However, after the Jinling Incident, most of the paving stones in the inner city had been dug up and carved into round stone projectiles suitable for catapult launching. Now wanting to repave so many streets and alleys in the inner city with brick and stone could not be accomplished in a year or two.
What turmoil.
An Jixiang inquired and learned that besides the Left Wuwei Army, Left Longque Army, and Left Five Fangs Army, provincial troops from Shu, Huang, Qi, E, Chi and other places had also gathered at Shuzhou. Of the forces garrisoned inside and outside Jinling City, apart from the Imperial Bodyguards who continued defending the palace and inner city and would not be mobilized, other Imperial Guard units had almost all rushed to deploy along the southern Yangtze River bank, prepared to cross the river for reinforcement at any time. It looked like an attack could be launched at any moment.
Such news settled An Jixiang’s thoughts. He thought to himself—since Jinling was already actively preparing to launch an offensive against the Anning Palace rebel forces at any time, then in His Majesty’s heart he must be eagerly hoping the southwest wouldn’t have any disturbances. The Sizhou popular uprising ending in such a manner should satisfy His Majesty and the court ministers.
After returning to the Jinyun Bureau, An Jixiang did not rest. After a quick wash, he changed into clean official robes to enter the palace. But His Majesty was currently discussing matters in the Administrative Council, so he could only wait first in the side hall of Chongwen Hall.
Not until the sky darkened and An Jixiang was famished with rumbling stomach—just as he was thinking of having someone find some food to fill his belly first—did he see His Majesty from afar, surrounded by Zhang Ping, Jiang Huo, Chen Ruyi and others, walking toward Chongwen Hall.
An Jixiang scrambled forward to pay respects: “Jixiang greets Your Majesty.”
“Rise.” Yang Yuanpu glanced at An Jixiang listlessly, spoke once, then walked directly into the great hall.
An Jixiang was slightly startled. On second thought, he realized that Hunan Pacification Commissioner Huang Hua’s memorial had also been delivered to Jinling with the ship. Although according to protocol Huang Hua’s memorial should first be sent to the Administrative Council and Bureau of Military Affairs, His Majesty had been discussing matters at the Administrative Council in the afternoon and should have already seen Huang Hua’s memorial.
But His Majesty’s expression made An Jixiang’s mood grow anxious again. Could it be that Huang Hua’s memorial and the current situation in the southwest did not satisfy His Majesty?
An Jixiang followed everyone into Chongwen Hall, unclear whether he should proactively step forward to report what he had seen and heard during this Xuzhou trip, and unclear whether his wording needed some adjustment…
“Speak. What impressions do you have from this Xuzhou trip?” After Yang Yuanpu sat behind the imperial desk, without offering seats to Zhang Ping and others, he had An Jixiang stand before the imperial desk to report on the Xuzhou situation.
Although An Jixiang was not qualified to see the original of Huang Hua’s memorial, he could guess at its contents. Truthfully, these were all matters he had planned to report for His Majesty’s knowledge.
Looking at things now, some wording seemed to need slight adjustment.
“What’s wrong? Did you encounter something at Xuzhou that makes it difficult for you to speak? Or should you first go back and think carefully, then come report to me after you’ve thought it through?” Yang Yuanpu asked, his expression somewhat gloomy.
“…” An Jixiang was startled and hastily said, “This humble minister went to Xuzhou but encountered nothing particularly special. I merely saw Your Majesty’s expression seemed somewhat melancholy and just now couldn’t help but wonder if Your Majesty had some troubling matter requiring this humble minister to share the burden—and during these days not attending Your Majesty, my heart has constantly been concerned about this.”
“At least your mouth knows how to speak.” Yang Yuanpu’s expression eased slightly as he gestured for An Jixiang to continue.
Seeing His Majesty had not asked Zhang Ping, Jiang Huo, Chen Ruyi and others to withdraw, An Jixiang dared not risk simultaneously offending both the Marquis of Qianyang Han Qian and Hunan Pacification Commissioner Huang Hua by speaking carelessly. He steeled himself and poured out the speech he had planned like spilling beans.
“But it’s no different from Administrator Huang’s memorial.” Chen Ruyi interjected at this moment.
An Jixiang couldn’t quite fathom the meaning of Chen Ruyi’s words, but seeing His Majesty’s expression grow increasingly gloomy, he somewhat anxiously looked toward Zhang Ping and Jiang Huo, hoping they could give him some hints.
But Zhang Ping and Jiang Huo observed their noses with their eyes, their hearts with their noses, not looking at An Jixiang at all. This made the hair on An Jixiang’s back stand up. Standing before the imperial desk felt like countless wheat awns piercing his skin—his entire body felt an indescribable discomfort.
“Some say that the Shu army’s timely occupation of Wuchuan was the Marquis of Qianyang colluding with the Shu Kingdom. What do you think the likelihood is?” Yang Yuanpu stared at An Jixiang and asked.
An Jixiang felt as if Mount Tai was pressing down on him. He thought that Huang Hua probably wouldn’t have raised this matter as a complication in his memorial. Either His Majesty had another source of information, or His Majesty had analyzed this possibility from existing intelligence. But this question—he truly didn’t know how to answer.
The warming braziers in the great hall hadn’t fully heated the space yet. At night there was still some chilly air drilling into his robes, but An Jixiang felt his forehead was about to break out in sweat.
Just as panic struck, he suddenly recalled the scene of Han Qian reprimanding Yang Hu. He steeled himself and said: “When news of the Shu army occupying Wuchuan arrived, this humble minister happened to be together with the Marquis of Qianyang. I also considered this possibility. However, first, the Marquis of Qianyang did not sit back and watch Sizhou’s situation completely deteriorate before seizing it. Second, this humble minister also thought that Shu Sovereign Wang Jian is also a generation’s hero and would not easily let the Marquis of Qianyang lead him by the nose, so I didn’t think deeply in that direction. Naturally, the Marquis of Qianyang’s intelligence and schemes exceed mine, and this humble minister is dull-witted—perhaps the Marquis of Qianyang pulled wool over my eyes. However, the Hunan Pacification Commissioner has organized the rebel bandits into one command of troops. Next, observing whether they truly fight fiercely with the Shu army may verify one or two things…”
“Perhaps we still need to wait some time before deciding whether to attack Chaozhou?” Yang Yuanpu’s expression brightened slightly at this point as he looked at Zhang Ping and asked.
Seeing that this answer passed muster, An Jixiang secretly wiped away imaginary sweat. Only now did he truly clearly recognize how deeply His Majesty’s suspicion of the Marquis of Qianyang Han Qian ran. He hadn’t expected that even with events that had already occurred, it still wasn’t enough to dispel His Majesty’s doubts. His Majesty was even willing to continue delaying the offensive against Chaozhou to first confirm whether the Marquis of Qianyang Han Qian had colluded with the Shu Kingdom.
An Jixiang recalled Zhou Qinian’s words and couldn’t help thinking—was His Majesty truly being like this?
If listening to words and observing actions still wasn’t enough, must one’s heart truly be cut open to suffice? But whose thoughts in the world were completely pure?
An Jixiang glanced at Chen Ruyi, seeing his expression plain asç´ , as if completely undisturbed by His Majesty’s suspicious and distrustful thoughts. He thought to himself that going forward, he absolutely could not easily leave the capital. If he couldn’t fathom His Majesty’s thoughts and failed to gain His Majesty’s trust, sooner or later Chen Ruyi would kick him out of the Jinyun Bureau.
Naturally, though An Jixiang thought this in his heart, his expression showed no trace of abnormality. He had to see how Zhang Ping would answer His Majesty’s question.
“Military and state affairs are decided by Your Majesty and the ministers in council. Zhang Ping dares not speak presumptuously.” Zhang Ping answered with a completely calm expression.
Zhang Ping’s answer clearly could not satisfy His Majesty. Seeing His Majesty wave his hand, indicating they should all withdraw, An Jixiang bowed in salute and left Chongwen Hall with Zhang Ping and Chen Ruyi. Jiang Huo, however, had to remain in Chongwen Hall on night duty.
—
Zhang Ping lived in the Class Court west of Chongwen Hall, while An Jixiang and Chen Ruyi lived within the Imperial City outside the palace.
An Jixiang and Chen Ruyi walked side by side out the palace gate, passing through the narrow passage.
Their subordinates who had been waiting outside the palace gate now came forward, but followed far behind without approaching to disturb them.
“Does Senior Brother An truly believe the Marquis of Qianyang hasn’t colluded with the Shu army?” Chen Ruyi asked.
An Jixiang looked at Chen Ruyi with confusion, not expecting he would also be tangled up in this question.
An Jixiang knew that the brotherhood between him and Chen Ruyi should have been completely abandoned after they were separately appointed Left and Right Commanders of the Jinyun Bureau. He asked: “Senior brother is perhaps truly dull-witted. I wonder if Junior Brother Chen has obtained some additional information in Jinling?”
“I was merely asking.” Chen Ruyi laughed evasively.
Seeing Chen Ruyi’s evasive words, An Jixiang didn’t want to get entangled with him on this topic. He changed the subject and asked: “That mistress in Changxin Palace—she should have given birth last month?”
“Yes, she bore His Majesty a prince. But given the current situation, there’s no way to send anyone to the Shu Kingdom to announce the happy news,” Chen Ruyi said.
“Indeed. For the Shu Kingdom to suddenly tear up the treaty and dispatch troops to occupy the Wuchuan River valley—this was truly beyond many people’s expectations,” An Jixiang said with emotion.