freenovelworld Chapter 1096 Leaving Shu
Chapter 1096 Leaving Shu
The letter was written by Ma Jing himself, using the most ordinary cotton paper, and sealed with private sealing wax, not the official seal of the military newspaper.
Clearly, this is a private letter from a subject to the emperor, but its contents are anything but ordinary.
The opening is a routine greeting and a briefing on the border situation:
[Your Majesty, I respectfully report that Your Majesty is well... All the passes in the northwest are at peace. Although small groups of Tibetan cavalry have been harassing the autumn harvest this year, they have all been dispersed by our guerrillas and beacon towers, preventing any border conflicts and showing no signs of large-scale gatherings.]
With the soldiers fighting bravely, the defenses are secure; Your Majesty can rest assured.
Upon seeing this, Li Che nodded slightly.
Ma Jing was very strict in managing his troops. He always made sure everyone was safe and sound first, which was the rule and saved him from worrying.
Li Che was quite lenient towards the border troops. The Qing army had strict discipline, but it hardly restrained the border troops.
Firstly, the border troops were exhausted and needed an outlet for their frustrations; secondly, since they weren't plundering their own people, Li Che was happy to turn a blind eye.
As long as the border commander remains loyal and the border remains intact, Li Che can ignore other minor issues.
But what he said next made him frown.
[Your Majesty, I have heard of Your Majesty's inspection tour of Sichuan, and I admire you greatly. Your Majesty is diligent in governing and tirelessly manages countless affairs.]
[Your Majesty, I humbly request permission to leave my post and travel to Shu to pay homage to Your Majesty. This would both satisfy my longing and address some minor border matters that I wish to discuss with Your Majesty. I humbly beseech Your Majesty's consideration.]
"A face-to-face audience?" Li Che's heart skipped a beat, his fingertips pausing. "He wants to come see me?"
In any dynasty, it would be almost taboo for a general who commands a large army and guards the northwest gateway of the empire to request to leave his post and meet the emperor without cause.
If it were a mediocre general who enjoyed flattery, Li Che would have thought this was just a disguised form of sycophancy, an attempt to gain favor with the emperor.
But Ma Jing was definitely not. He was a talented commander entrusted with important responsibilities in the Northwest by the late emperor, and Li Che had met him once before ascending the throne.
In my memory, Ma Jing was a strong and capable man with a face that was honed by the wind and sand of the border region, and his martial arts skills were also genuine.
When they first met, I gave him some weapons, and he was so grateful that he wanted to repay me. He even almost beat Du Fuchen's son to death, mistaking him for a traitor.
He was not the kind of pedantic, inflexible, and pedantic general, nor was he the kind of unruly and untamed figure like Han Xin, but he was even less likely to be someone who would disregard his duties on the frontier for the sake of the glory of meeting the emperor.
Why would he risk such taboos and make such a request?
Li Che suppressed his vigilance and continued reading.
Ma Jing seemed to anticipate that her request might be rejected, and then abruptly changed the subject:
If Your Majesty understands the importance of the border region, and given my duty, I dare not leave lightly.
[Your Majesty, I risk the death to earnestly request that Your Majesty postpone your southern tour and instead take the time to visit the northwestern military camps.]
The 100,000 soldiers in the Northwest have been eagerly awaiting His Majesty's ascension to the throne, day and night, hoping to witness his divine might.
[The camps and drill grounds, with their swords, spears, and arrows, are all Your Majesty's weapons; the soldiers and officers are all Your Majesty's troops.]
If Your Majesty could personally visit and comfort the troops, observe the border situation, and assess the military preparedness, it would surely inspire the army and ensure the lasting security of the border.
This is my personal wish, and also the common aspiration of the soldiers. I am filled with trepidation as I submit this to Your Majesty, and humbly beseech Your Majesty's wise judgment.
Upon seeing this, Li Che's pupils contracted slightly, and he unconsciously sat up straighter.
Asking the emperor to inspect one's own territory is even more taboo than requesting an audience with the emperor!
Throughout history, which emperor would dare to easily step into the territory that a general has cultivated for many years?
Even if one doesn't suspect the other party of having ulterior motives, personal safety is the primary concern.
Of course, Li Che was not afraid. He believed in his own abilities and the loyalty of his soldiers. The world was vast, and there was nowhere he could not escape.
But Ma Jing's two consecutive unreasonable requests revealed something far from ordinary.
The only explanation for why a steady and pragmatic border general like Ma Jing would risk offending his superiors by inviting the emperor to a meeting is that he had something difficult to say.
This hidden reason cannot be stated openly, nor can it be reported through formal official channels at each level, so the only option is to make this private request.
The letter concludes with the customary praise of the saint and apology.
Li Che calmly folded the letter and placed it aside.
To go or not to go?
Currently in Sichuan, which is not far from the Northwest, changing course and heading north would waste a lot of time.
But Ma Jing's unusual behavior was like a thorn in Li Che's heart.
The Northwest Army is an old force left by the late emperor, and it is also the only army that has border conflicts today.
After years of running his business, could it be that something has really happened that even he finds difficult to handle?
“Qiu Bai,” Li Che said.
Qiu Bai, who was standing to the side, stepped forward and said, "Your subordinate is here."
"Bring that messenger here; I want to ask him questions."
"In addition, summon Yueyun, Luo Yueniang, and Mr. Xu Jiezi to wait in the side hall."
"Here."
The messenger was a dark-skinned young captain with bright eyes and a demeanor characteristic of border troops.
Li Che didn't beat around the bush. He first inquired in detail about the organization of the envoy's subordinate units, and then got straight to the point, asking about the recent defenses in the Northwest, the supply of provisions, and the details of the conflict with Tibet.
The captain answered fluently, and what he said was exactly the same as what Ma Jing had reported in his letter.
The border is calm, with minor skirmishes occurring intermittently but remaining under control. Morale among the troops is generally stable, and no unusual troop movements have been observed.
The more this was the case, the deeper the doubts became in Li Che's mind.
If everything is normal, why is Ma Jing acting this way?
After about fifteen minutes of questioning, Li Che waved for the captain to leave and ordered Qiu Bai to be properly settled.
. . . . . .
Three people hurriedly entered the side hall.
He had not yet removed his armor when he returned from patrolling the city.
Luo Yueniang was dressed in a neat and smart outfit, clearly having just returned from the military camp.
Xu Jiezi sat calmly at the lower end, holding a cup of hot tea in his hand.
Li Che passed Ma Jing's letter around among the three of them, then picked up his teacup and slowly sipped his tea.
Yue Yun was the quickest to read this. He frowned and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, General Ma's request is against etiquette. A border general cannot leave his post without an imperial edict, let alone invite you into a dangerous place."
“However…” He changed the subject, his gaze sharp, “Ma Jing is neither a fool nor a sycophant. Since he dared to reach the Emperor's ears in this way, he must have had no other choice.”
"If Your Majesty is determined to travel west, I will lead my elite cavalry to accompany you and ensure your safety!"
After carefully examining the documents, Luo Yueniang spoke in a clear voice: "If Your Majesty travels west, I can select over a thousand young men from Sichuan who are familiar with the mountain paths to serve as your vanguard and guides, protecting one wing of Your Majesty."
Both of their statements were expected; as military generals, they certainly couldn't back down.
Moreover, both of them were extremely capable military generals, and they certainly had the ability to do so.
Li Che looked at Xu Jiezi.
After reading the last few lines, Xu Jiezi pondered for a moment and then neatly put the letter back.
He then stroked his long, snow-white beard and said slowly, "Your Majesty, General Ma does not use military reports or postal services, nor does he go through the cabinet. Instead, he sends a trusted confidant with a private letter directly to the Emperor."
"This shows that he did not want others in the court to know about this matter, or at least did not want it to cause a great uproar before the situation became clear."
He raised his eyes, his heterochromatic pupils looking at Li Che: "The letter is vague, but the invitation is urgent. I dare to speculate that what happened in the Northwest Army is not an external threat, but an internal problem."
"This concern is so great that Commander Ma feels that the slow exchange of official documents is not timely enough, or that it might alert the enemy, or that it might involve the interests of others."
Therefore, he could only turn to His Majesty's eyes and ears to see and hear for himself.
Li Che nodded slowly; Xu Jiezi's analysis roughly matched what he had in mind.
The Northwest Army is facing internal troubles, and these troubles could have far-reaching consequences.
“What Mr. Xu said resonates deeply with me.” Li Che put down his teacup. “Ma Jing is a great general left to me by my father, and he is also a pillar for stabilizing the Northwest.”
“If I ignore his warning in this way and sternly reject it, I fear I will discourage the border generals and may even allow the hidden dangers to grow.”
He glanced at the three men and made a decision: "Issue my decree that the southern tour group should temporarily change its itinerary and head north to the northwest first. I want to personally go to Ma Jing's military camp to take a look."
"Yueyun immediately dispatched scouts as the vanguard to inspect the terrain along the way."
"The general will obey the order!"
A fighting spirit flickered in Yue Yun's eyes, Luo Yueniang's expression was solemn, and Xu Jiezi lowered his eyes thoughtfully.
Li Che got up, walked to the window, and looked at the faint outline of the mountains to the north.
Ma Jing, what kind of difficult problem have you prepared for me?
. . . . . .
Outside Chengdu, along the ten-mile-long pavilion, the autumn wind already carries the damp chill unique to Sichuan.
Banners fluttered in the wind, and the ceremonial guard stood solemnly.
The imperial carriage stopped at the city gate, and Li Che, dressed in a black casual robe, stood in front of the pavilion to receive the farewells of the civil and military officials of Shu.
The scene was conducted in strict accordance with etiquette, but the atmosphere was quite subtle.
Amidst the dense mass of kneeling officials, mournful sobs echoed continuously.
Li Che remained calm, his gaze slowly sweeping over the crowd, his mind clear as a mirror.
Those who weep uncontrollably can generally be divided into three categories:
I sincerely admire the military generals and lower-level officials who pacified the Shu region and brought order to it.
Many more were officials from aristocratic families who were adept at putting on an act; they probably longed for this oppressive figure to leave so they could return to their familiar past.
The tears shed at this moment are merely props for the emperor's benefit.
of course there are exceptions.
Wei Xiang, standing at the front of the civil officials, had red eyes and tightly pursed his lips. He quickly wiped the corner of his eyes with the corner of his sleeve while looking down.
The young official, who had been promoted by Li Che without regard to precedent, seemed genuinely reluctant to part with the position.
On the other side, the obese Yang Tong almost collapsed to the ground, wailing and pounding his chest in despair.
"Your Majesty! With your departure, the countless people of Shu are as if they have lost their parents! Your subject... Your subject wishes he could stay by your side and listen to your holy teachings every day!"
Overwhelmed with emotion, she nearly fainted and had to be supported by her colleagues.
Li Che's lips twitched slightly, a sense of helplessness washing over him.
This fat man Yang has gone too far. I was just on a northern tour, not a royal guest.
Even so, Li Che didn't feel any aversion to his actions; in fact, he even found them somewhat pleasing.
There are advantages to being a sycophant; at least they provide a lot of emotional value.
Of course, he couldn't go up and interact with Yang Tong, after all, he also needed to maintain his reputation.
Let him perform a one-man show instead...