Chapter 45: The Imperial Envoy

Huang Jingchen, after hearing Zhao Cheng's words, broke out in a cold sweat again. He had been so elated that he had forgotten the 'basic national policy' of the Song Dynasty. Although the prince was enfeoffed in Yanzhou, he might never set foot on the soil of Yanzhou, and could only wander around in the 'big prison' of the capital. If he wanted to travel far, he would have to see if the Grand Master of the Imperial Clan was in a good mood. Despite his noble status as a prince, he could not command the imperial guards, let alone the regional troops, and training troops was out of the question. Privately training troops was a grave crime of rebellion.

Throughout Chinese history, many emperors were wise and brave, but to ensure the peaceful succession of the throne and avoid internal strife, they racked their brains. However, things often went against their wishes, and the succession of the imperial throne was often filled with intrigue and bloodshed.

To prevent the repetition of the mistakes of previous dynasties, after the founding of the Song Dynasty, Emperor Taizu Zhao Kuangyin not only took away the military power of the generals but also adopted a policy of civilian governance. He also strictly guarded against the royal family, not following the practices of previous generations by sending the princes to their fiefs. Instead, he kept the royal family members in the capital, giving them high-ranking but powerless positions. This meant that while they enjoyed ministerial-level treatment, they could only make token appearances at meetings, say a few insubstantial words, and raise their hands to show their support. They had no real power, and the doors to political involvement and military command were firmly closed.

This good policy was later changed by Zhu Yuanzhang, leading to the dramatic usurpation by the Prince of Yan, Zhu Di, which resulted in widespread bloodshed. However, this policy was revived by the Qing Dynasty, which followed it religiously and even improved upon it. But let's get back to the topic at hand.

"Your Highness, what should we do? What can we achieve in this small piece of land? We should take this opportunity to return to the capital as soon as possible, perhaps there might still be a chance for a turnaround!" Huang Jingchen suggested after some thought.

"Uncle Huang, we will eventually return to the capital, but not now. Although we only have this ten-mile territory, it is our foundation, and we can still do something. If we return to the capital, we will be under everyone's watchful eyes, making it even harder to accomplish anything. So, we cannot return to the capital for now," Zhao Cheng stood up and said.

"Your Highness makes a good point, but what can we do here?" Huang Jingchen nodded in agreement and asked.

"Money! Everything requires money. Training troops requires money, and so does waging war. The first thing we need to do is earn money, to make this land produce wealth!" Zhao Cheng pounded the table with his small fist and said.

"Yes, Your Highness is right. With money, we can recruit and maintain troops. With money, there's nothing we can't accomplish!" Huang Jingchen, following Zhao Cheng's line of thought, felt that the prince's idea was sound. If the situation described by the prince were to occur, with chaos and war, having money would allow them to recruit soldiers and buy horses, or at the very least, live a comfortable life in the south.

"Your Highness, but how can we earn money? For a major undertaking, that's no small sum. With these few hundred hectares of land, even if we have a bountiful harvest every year, we can only earn a few tens of thousands of strings of cash!" The old man was worried about earning money. In the past, their main sources of income were taking 'tributes' from subordinates and siphoning off money from the emperor, but they had no legitimate means of earning money.

"Uncle Huang, don't worry about the means of earning money. I will find a way. The most important thing now is to prevent certain people from using my enfeoffment as a pretext to persuade the emperor to bring us back. If that happens, we will be like tigers in a cage, at their mercy," Zhao Cheng, not wanting his plans to be thwarted, frowned and said to Huang Jingchen.

"Hehe, Your Highness, don't worry about this. Leave it to this old man. I have no way to earn money, but I have plenty of ways to deal with the people in the palace. I'll make sure they drop this idea," Huang Jingchen said with a smile.

"Uncle Huang, what's your plan?" Zhao Cheng asked eagerly.

"Your Highness, although I am now a 'fallen phoenix,' I once wielded considerable influence in the palace. Some people won't want to see me return. The imperial envoy tomorrow will be one of these two people. We can..." Huang Jingchen whispered in Zhao Cheng's ear. Zhao Cheng was taken aback at first, but then he smiled and nodded repeatedly. This old man, despite his usual stern demeanor, was quite adept at underhanded tactics.

On the official road leading from the capital to Xiangyi County, a group of people braved the cold wind, heading south. In the front were more than a dozen constables from Gongzhou Prefecture, clearing the way with gongs and holding up signs that read "Avoid" and "Imperial Envoy on Tour." Behind them was a squad of imperial guards, dressed in bright armor and red capes, brandishing swords and spears, escorting two red-topped, green-curtained carriages and several cargo wagons. Passersby and vehicles on the road, seeing the scene, quickly moved out of the way.

Liang Shicheng, wrapped in a black sable coat and holding a hand warmer, was dozing in his carriage, seemingly oblivious to the commotion outside. Liang Shicheng had been in the palace for many years, initially working in the Calligraphy and Painting Bureau, dealing with ancient books and paintings, and remaining unknown. The current emperor, who loved calligraphy and painting, visited the bureau more often. When Liang Shicheng's master passed away, he sensed an opportunity. Relying on his seemingly loyal face and the literary and artistic skills he had learned over the years, he managed to catch the emperor's attention and eventually secured a position as the head of the Writings Bureau of the Ruisi Hall, which involved traveling to deliver imperial edicts.

Liang Shicheng suddenly sighed in the carriage. Comparing himself to others was truly frustrating. Yang Jian, with his silver tongue and ability to read the emperor's mind, had become the chief eunuch of the Inner Service. Tong Guan, who had spent a few years in the northwest with Li Xian, had become famous by procuring items of interest to the emperor and had since been appointed to supervise the military in the northwest, recovering the Hexi and Huangzhong regions, and rising to the rank of Jingfu Hall Envoy and Xiangzhou Military Governor. He was a dominant figure in the northwest. Liang Shicheng, despite being a rising star, still had many people above him. When would it be his turn to shine?

Suddenly, a woman's scream came from the carriage behind him. Liang Shicheng frowned, his face creased like a curtain. This young man, who had become the emperor's favorite through his father's position as prime minister and his skillful flattery, was a problem. "No, I must find a way!" Liang Shicheng touched the wrinkles on his face and looked at the yellow silk box beside him, then smiled. This was his advantage.

"Hehe, little lady, let me feel what treasures you have!" In the carriage behind, Cai You, one hand around the waist of a beautiful woman, the other exploring her body.

"Cai Xueshi, no, there are people outside!" She tried to protest, but her mouth was quickly covered by another. The carriage was filled with soft moans, and the guards outside gestured for everyone to keep their distance. The people on both sides smiled and moved away from the carriage.

It was said that Cai Jing had 'poisonous eyes' that could stare at the midday sun for half a day without blinking and could see through a person's thoughts. Cai You, while not inheriting his father's 'talent,' had inherited his father's eyes.

During the Yuanfu period of Emperor Zhezong, the current emperor was still the Prince of Duan, and Cai You was just a supervisor in the Imperial Tailoring Bureau, around twenty-two or twenty-three years old. Each time he went to the bureau, he would time his arrival to coincide with the end of the court session, so he could meet the Prince of Duan. The prince would often see a slightly older, handsome young man dismounting and bowing respectfully, a sight that was both humble and charming. This showed that Cai You had good eyesight!

When Emperor Zhezong passed away and the Prince of Duan ascended the throne, he did not forget his 'eye contact' friend. Cai You rose rapidly to become a close confidant of the emperor. In the third year of the Chongning era, he was granted the status of a successful imperial examination candidate and appointed as a secretary, a member of the Secretariat, and a compiler of the "National Annals." Within two years, he was promoted to a member of the Privy Council. After Cai Jing became prime minister, Cai You was further elevated to the position of Longtu Pavilion Scholar and imperial reader, responsible for compiling the "Great City Gazetteer" and the "Great Canon," and serving as the director of the Shangqing Treasure Record Office, the Secretariat, and the Ritual System Bureau.

This mission was not originally Cai You's responsibility. The old man had heard that Chen Tang had offended the second prince and sent Cai You to investigate and mend the relationship. Cai You, upon arriving in Gongzhou, first berated Chen Tang and then extorted some travel expenses. Chen Tang, being 'honest,' reported his actions and expressed deep regret for troubling the prime minister. He also gave Cai You a stack of 'banknotes' and 'lent' him his new concubine.

After receiving the bribe, Cai You's mood improved. He consoled Chen Tang, promising to explain the situation to the emperor at the right time and place to clear up any misunderstandings. Chen Tang had hoped that the gift of ten thousand strings of cash would lead to more, but there was no 'more.'

The convoy moved along the road, turning a corner and descending onto a snow-covered path. The frozen road, though solid, made the journey bumpy, reflecting their moods. "Halt! This road is mine, this tree is mine. If you want to pass, leave your money!" As the convoy entered the village, just as they were about to reach the prince's residence, a group of 'bandits' suddenly emerged from the bushes, blocking the road.

Liang Shicheng felt the carriage jolt to a stop. He lifted the curtain and looked out, seeing a large tree branch blocking the road and a dozen or so 'bandits' standing in the middle of the road, brandishing various 'weapons' and looking fierce. However, upon closer inspection, Liang Shicheng was almost enraged. These 'bandits' were just children, eight, nine, or ten years old.