Inside Fengtian Hall, there was complete silence.
After a moment, the eunuch Wu Chang came to report: “Your Majesty, Minister Su from the Ministry of Justice requests an audience.”
As soon as Su Jin entered the hall, she saw the shattered jade paperweight on the floor. Besides the several ministers Zhu Nanxian had summoned this morning, Prince Seventeen was also present. Everyone turned to look at her, their expressions grave.
Seeing Su Jin, much of Zhu Nanxian’s raging anger subsided, though his grief and worry diminished not at all.
“Someone, grant Minister Su a seat.” After a moment, Zhu Nanxian said, then turned to Gong Quan. “Minister Gong, you may also sit.”
Gong Quan was already in his seventies. Though usually vigorous in spirit, after receiving the military report this morning, he had suddenly become aged and dejected. Supporting himself on the chair back as he sat down, he sighed heavily and urged, “Your Majesty, please do not grieve or worry. The urgent matter at hand is how to resolve the pressing crisis in the northwest. Ganzhou City has fallen, but we can reclaim it later. We cannot disregard the lives of the tens of thousands of common people in Yongchang Prefecture.”
Hearing this, Su Jin’s heart turned cold.
Ganzhou City had fallen?
But weren’t Zhu Xun and Mao Zuofeng near Liangzhou Guard?
Not everyone present had read the urgent reports. Zhu Nanxian said, “Liu Yun, Qingyue, you two explain the military situation to Minister Su and the three commanders who arrived later.”
“Yes.” Shen Xi said, “The two military reports this morning came from Beiping Prefecture and the northwest respectively. First, regarding Beiping Prefecture: in the most recent engagement with Northern Liang, in order to achieve a swift victory, the Fourth Prince personally led the vanguard in a surprise attack on the Northern Liang light cavalry formation. He was struck in the abdomen by an arrow and fell from his horse, gravely wounded.”
Zuo Qian said in surprise, “The Fourth Prince commands troops decisively and steadily. Why did he suddenly advance so rashly this time?”
“Because of the military situation in the northwest,” Liu Chaoming said.
Northern Liang and Chili bordered each other—both were nomadic nations with scarce resources, unsuited for prolonged wars of attrition. Now that these two nations were simultaneously invading the Great Sui, if the warfare reached a stalemate, they might join forces. That was why Zhu Yushen wanted to decisively crush the enemy and first defeat Northern Liang.
“Beiping is closer to the Northwest Military Command. The Fourth Prince received the northwest military report one step ahead of us and learned that Ganzhou City had fallen,” Liu Chaoming said. “Fortunately, his strategy of catching them off guard, though it caused his own injury, also dealt Northern Liang a devastating blow. They cannot regroup immediately, which has bought time for the Beiping army and the Fourth Prince to recuperate.”
“What is truly alarming is the military situation in the northwest.” Shen Xi continued from Liu Chaoming’s words. “After Mao Zuofeng and Zhu Xun arrived at Liangzhou Guard, Mao Zuofeng remained to settle the vanguard while Zhu Xun went to Ganzhou and Yongchang to inspect the military provisions, planning to regroup later. But the Chili forces had long been prepared. A month ago—at the beginning of the eighth month—they planted an ambush force near Ganzhou City and launched a surprise attack while Zhu Xun was arranging the military provisions. Zhu Xun—failed to defend the city and fled.”
Fled from the city? Su Jin was stunned. What about the common people in the city? What about the military provisions that were to be stored there?
“Actually, when Mao Zuofeng received the urgent report, he had already led troops toward Ganzhou,” Gong Quan said. “From Liangzhou Guard to Ganzhou Prefecture, traveling quickly takes at most one day’s journey. If Zhu Xun had held out for just one day, he could have waited for reinforcements. But at that time, he refused to defend and only led out of the city with what little provisions remained. General Mao… knowing that the court’s finances were stretched thin and concerned for the safety of the city’s inhabitants, after the Chili surprise attack force occupied the city, he still insisted on fighting. Though he recaptured the provisions and escorted some of the common people to safety, rough estimates put the casualties among soldiers and civilians at over five thousand. Ganzhou fell, and General Mao himself sustained multiple injuries. Those Chili barbarians—severed one of his arms, leaving him hanging between life and death.”
At this point, Gong Quan’s words became choked with emotion. His eyes reddened as he said through gritted teeth, “In truth, if only Zhu Xun had remained a bit longer, had resisted the surprise attack force a bit longer, our Great Sui would not have lost this last capable general who could lead troops in battle!”
“Moreover, the letter states that the reason General Mao survived was because three years ago, when Your Majesty left the northwest, you gave General Mao your extremely precious heart-protecting armor,” Shen Xi said. “It was precisely this armor that blocked several arrows aimed at vital points. Otherwise, given the circumstances at that time, he would surely have faced near-certain death.”
Hearing this, Su Jin couldn’t help but look toward Zhu Nanxian.
He had told her that during his five years commanding troops in the northwest, this general he privately called “Mao Zi” had always been his deputy. They had shared life and death, faced hardships together. Though they were sovereign and subject, they were even more brothers and old friends. It was precisely because of this that when he drew a turtle in his letter to the northwest, Mao Zuofeng personally led thirty thousand northwestern troops south to help him hold Fengyang Army and help him seize the throne.
In Zhu Nanxian’s eyes was deep sorrow.
But matters had reached this point—grief and worry were the least important things.
Zhu Xun had fled from battle. Perhaps it wasn’t due to cowardice. Perhaps he simply didn’t want to lose the greater for the lesser, thought that with insufficient troops and generals, battle was difficult, and so intended to preserve the remaining military provisions. But the whys and wherefores no longer mattered—his life could not be spared.
Failing to protect the city’s inhabitants was an unforgivable crime, let alone sacrificing a Mao Zuofeng as well.
Shen Xi said, “Though General Mao escorted some of the common people to safety, due to his severe injuries, he can no longer lead troops in battle. The northwest army is seething with resentment. The military report was a blood letter handwritten by two commanders.”
“The only good news,” Liu Chaoming said, “is that after the Chili surprise attack force occupied Ganzhou and attempted to pursue their victory, they were stubbornly resisted by a Commander Xiao under General Mao, who consolidated the remaining soldiers and held Liangzhou Guard. However, what pursued was only the Chili surprise attack force. The main army led by the Third Prince of Chili, Damuer, has not yet arrived. Though our main force will reach Liangzhou Guard in mid-ninth month, with Mao Zuofeng gravely wounded and Zhu Xun to be executed, the army has no commander. Therefore, the most pressing problem now is—who should be sent to lead the campaign next?”
Damuer’s army was known as the “Iron Eagle Division,” infamous in the northwest, with few who could stand against them.
After Liu Chaoming posed this question, the great hall fell silent once more.
“Your Majesty—” After a moment, Gong Quan cried out in grief. He fell to both knees and kowtowed, choking with emotion. “This subject is guilty. I beg Your Majesty to severely punish me!”
Zhu Nanxian said, “Minister Gong, please rise quickly. You have labored heart and soul—what guilt do you bear?”
“Your Majesty, at the beginning of the year when the borders were in turmoil and the Seventh Prince wanted to send General Luo to Lingnan, only Liu Yun strongly opposed it. Though this old subject initially supported Liu Yun’s decision, later, with the campaign imminent, I relented at the critical moment. Thinking back now, if this old subject had persisted together with Liu Yun in having the Twelfth Prince lead the campaign, the one who went to Lingnan might not have been Luo Jianyou.
“The Twelfth Prince guarded Lingnan for several years and would certainly have returned victorious. If General Luo hadn’t gone to Lingnan, he wouldn’t have died in battle so early. If either General Luo or the Twelfth Prince were still here, this old subject would never have suggested Your Majesty send Zhu Xun to the northwest. That the northwest has fallen to this state, that Ganzhou was lost, that thousands of common people and soldiers were killed—all are this subject’s failures.”
At this point, Gong Quan’s shoulders actually trembled, his voice both indignant and desolate.
“Your Majesty says you will execute Zhu Xun. This old subject also wants him executed. If it could restore General Mao’s arm, if it could wake him, even if this old subject were executed alongside him, even if my body were torn to pieces, I would have absolutely no objection.”
Seeing Gong Quan in this state, Su Jin couldn’t bear it. She stepped forward to help him up, saying, “Why must Lord Gong take all the blame upon yourself? Northern Liang’s mobilization, the Japanese pirates harassing the Eastern Sea borders, the Lingnan warfare, the Chili surprise attack—none of these were within our expectations. Today’s predicament was not caused by a single decision to have General Luo campaign in Lingnan. We’ve overcome each previous crisis, and today we certainly won’t be blocked here.”
Shen Xi said, “Indeed. Minister Gong has devoted all his energy to state affairs and military matters—why reproach yourself? As Liu Yun said, the northwest soldiers no longer trust Zhu Xun. The urgent matter is to quickly dispatch a general who can stabilize the northwest military morale.”
Liu Chaoming said, “This subject has already thought carefully. The best candidate should be the Fourth Prince. But the Fourth Prince is already injured. Though Northern Liang has been defeated, we cannot guarantee they won’t regroup after recuperating. Therefore, the Fourth Prince cannot go to the northwest. Next would be Qi Wujiu, but the Eastern Sea turmoil has not yet subsided, and changing commanders on the battlefield is a great military taboo.”
At this moment, Zuo Qian stepped forward from the group and knelt on one knee. “Your Majesty, this subject wishes to volunteer to go to the northwest. When Your Majesty commanded troops in the northwest, this subject followed by Your Majesty’s side for two years. I have understanding of the climate there, the terrain, and Chili’s combat habits. This subject is willing to swear on his life to Your Majesty that I will never abandon the city, never abandon the people, and never abandon a single inch of our Great Sui’s territory.”
Shi Fei also knelt. “Your Majesty, this subject also commanded troops in Lingnan for three years. I am willing to serve as General Zuo’s deputy and together with General Zuo and all the soldiers, defend the northwest borders.”
Zhu Nanxian looked at them. After a moment, he turned, hands clasped behind his back, and slowly sat down on the dragon throne. Supporting his elbows on his knees, he leaned forward and covered his forehead with his palm. “Let me think.”
The persimmon-calyx pattern laid in gold bricks at the center of Fengtian Hall reflected images like a mirror. Sunlight struck it, illuminating the dragons riding clouds that soared across the carved beams above.
Zhu Nanxian couldn’t help but recall the previous day, standing atop the Zhengyang Gate tower, watching the countless common people worshipping him as if worshipping gods and buddhas.
So this is what it means to be an emperor? Zhu Nanxian thought. Like these flying dragons trapped in the gold bricks.
Actually, what was there to deliberate?
With Damuer’s Iron Eagle Division of Chili attacking and Zhu Xun no longer usable, only a convincing general could pacify the northwest military morale, which was filled with fear and resentment.
In all the vast Great Sui, there remained only one such general.
Actually, he had long had the answer in his heart.
Actually, every single person standing here already had the answer in their hearts.
It was just that this answer could only be spoken by him.
Before Zhu Nanxian opened his mouth, he inexplicably recalled early in the third month, before fleeing the Eastern Palace, when he went to Minghua Palace to retrieve the secret edict and knelt at his father’s bedside, saying those words—
“This son actually doesn’t want to be this emperor either. Today, my willingness to compete for the throne ultimately arose from selfish motives—fear that I could no longer protect the person I wish to protect in my heart.
“But Father Emperor, rest assured. If one day this son inherits the throne, I will do everything in my power to defend every inch of Great Sui’s territory. I will shoulder upon myself the common people, the realm, and the state. I will do right by Father Emperor, do right by the people, do right by all under heaven, and do right by my own heart.”
He truly had never thought about wanting this throne.
Even today, he felt that ascending to the throne was something forced upon him by circumstances.
But people are truly strange. When not in that position, you feel it’s very distant, shrouded in mist, separated by mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas. But once you reach that position, you instinctively understand its true nature and understand your own responsibility.
“I…” Zhu Nanxian finally spoke. “I have made a decision.”
He raised his eyes and looked toward the pillar ministers standing in the hall. His gaze passed over them one by one and finally stopped on Su Jin.
He thought of how he had said he would marry her during the Little Spring of October.
How much he wanted to marry her.
He even dared to risk universal condemnation, not establish an empress, not take consorts, letting the entire harem remain empty.
But he could not disregard his subjects and common people.
Zhu Nanxian’s gaze only lingered on Su Jin for a moment before moving away.
The moment the answer appeared, he had already made his decision.
“I have decided,” he stood up, hands clasped behind his back, gazing straight ahead. “The Imperial chariot will personally lead the campaign.”