Chapter 316: Chapter 306: Main Battle
After October, it was time for winter farming in West Continent. Experienced tenant farmers had already begun their planting, and West Continent gradually gained a dozen or so shops. Fengyu also opened a restaurant in West Continent, hoping to transport the operational model of the Capital City here. Though for now, the restaurant remained deserted with very few patrons, she firmly believed that one day, West Continent would return to its former glory.
Winter farming and iron mining proceeded simultaneously. Commerce was also established in Jinzhou, Yunzhou, West Continent, and Huangzhou. The state mansions of these four regions began road construction to foster trade, and Huangzhou was gradually showing some improvement. After the millet harvest, the first batch had already been sent to Ningzhou. Moving forward, Fengyu’s main focus was on winter farming. With favorable weather and no disasters this year, experienced farmers predicted that the following year would be a bountiful one.
Fengyu fell ill again.
She had always been physically weak and wasn’t suited for overwork. Since arriving at West Continent, she had poured herself tirelessly into every detail. The weather in West Continent turned cold in October, with significant temperature differences between day and night. Fengyu developed a fever and rested in the mansion. Chunlu and Qiuxiang pressed her to stay indoors to recover. As the windy days persisted, Fengyu insisted on going to the mountains to inspect the farming situation. Qiuxiang, fearing she would catch a chill again, forbade her from leaving, even threatening that if Fengyu went out, she would summon the Young Marquis.
Fengyu: "..."
Her maids were becoming increasingly bold!
The Capital City.
Lin Helin entered the court and was appointed to the Inner Cabinet, replacing Elder Lin in governance and reshuffling the cabinet. The previous cabinet, dominated by Elder Lin and Lin Hongyuan, was mostly composed of powerful families. After Lin Helin’s reorganization, the new cabinet included younger officials such as Zhang Boju, Gu Jiaming, and the former top scholar Liu An. Among them were aristocratic offspring like Zhang Boju as well as grassroots scholars like Liu An.
Following the upheaval of early June, this new generation of officials in Yanyang stabilized the situation four months later. Yanyang’s recovery prospered, with favorable weather and no flooding in Jiangnan during its rainy season. The twelve provinces were recuperating, painting a vibrant picture of renewal throughout Yanyang.
Grandmaster Zhang returned to the Capital City defeated following his trip to Ningzhou and fell ill for several days after his failed persuasion. Emperor Yuan Hui was in a foul mood and openly questioned Lin Helin during the morning court assembly.
"The Xie brothers are pointing their swords at the twelve provinces, attempting to usurp the empire. Are you officials just going to watch them consolidate their armed forces in Ningzhou? I intend to raise troops to quell the rebels. Mr. Lin, does the cabinet have a sound strategy?"
The Yanyang court was split into two factions: one advocating for war and a northern expedition, and the other promoting peace. The latter hoped the court would send envoys to sway the Xie brothers, reasoning that as long as they refrained from marching into the twelve provinces or eyeing the Yuwen dynasty’s throne, their stationing in Ningzhou could be tolerated.
In the Jinluan Palace, arguments about whether to take a bellicose or conciliatory stance arose almost daily.
The war faction, led by Lin Cheng, clashed with the peace faction, headed by Marquis An Yuan. Both sides presented compelling arguments. On paper, Yanyang had an army of 1.1 million, including 400,000 Ningzhou Iron Cavalry. This 1.1 million force was distributed among Ningzhou, Zhongzhou, and Jiangnan, along with garrison troops stationed in various cities.
But this number was merely a paper figure.
The truly elite forces consisted only of the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry, the Jiangnan garrisons, the Zhongzhou garrisons, and the southwest border defenses. If Emperor Yuan Hui wanted to defeat the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry, the Jiangnan and Zhongzhou garrisons would have to be fully mobilized.
The ministers in court each held their own views. Yet Emperor Yuan Hui was unable to discern Lin Helin’s true intentions. Lin Helin, who focused more on civilian well-being than military campaigns, remained reticent whenever the topic of deploying troops to Ningzhou arose.
"This year’s autumn harvest was fairly abundant, and the granaries have some reserves. If His Majesty aims to launch a northern expedition with the full mobilization of Jiangnan and Zhongzhou garrisons, the granaries could barely sustain the effort for six months. Whether Ningzhou could be conquered within that time is highly uncertain. Should the campaign last longer than six months, the army would be bogged down in Ningzhou, unable to move. If Jiangnan’s forces are fully withdrawn, how would we respond should Sannan rebel?" Lin Helin questioned. "Would His Majesty truly sacrifice Sannan just to quell the Xie brothers?"
"What is your take on this, Mr. Lin?" Emperor Yuan Hui asked deliberately, his tone unhurried.
Lin Helin responded, "In my humble opinion, the priority should be on winter farming. Yanyang has endured years of hardship, and the people need stability and prosperity. War is ill-advised at this juncture."
Mr. Wu sneered, "If war is inadvisable, should we simply stand by as the Xie brothers establish their own dominion in Ningzhou, pointing their swords at the twelve provinces? When the day comes that they occupy the twelve provinces, will we also just watch idly? If they take over the twelve provinces, won’t they then breach the Zhongzhou defenses and march directly on the Capital City?"
Marquis An Yuan retorted coldly, "Zhongzhou has Fang Chuning stationed there. How could Xie Xun breach the defenses so easily? Mr. Wu, your fears are baseless. The Xie brothers haven’t even raised an army. How do you know they intend to take over the twelve provinces?"
Deputy Minister Zhang of the Imperial Sacrificial Worship Temple remarked, "That’s a question better posed to Vice Minister Feng’s capable niece, Fengyu. Suppressing bandits in West Continent and establishing commerce—she has truly been a worthy helpmate to Xie Xun, already aiding him in consolidating the hearts of the twelve provinces. The new policies and laws of Ningzhou have already been adopted in West Continent, Huangzhou, and Yunzhou. The Xie brothers’ ambition for the twelve provinces is as plain as day."
Feng Changlin, now Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, trembled as he replied cautiously, "The Feng Family knows nothing of Fengyu’s actions in the twelve provinces. Your Majesty, please forgive us."
Marquis An Yuan, lowering his gaze, calmly remarked, "A young girl, barely of marriageable age, revitalized commerce in West Continent, established trade among the four provinces, and brought a near-abandoned city back to life. She hasn’t done anything egregiously wrong. From what I see, Mr. Zhang, your achievements in office over the years seem to pale in comparison to hers."
"You..." Mr. Zhang retorted angrily, "She’s merely using the Xie brothers’ name to win the hearts of people in the twelve provinces. Your Majesty, this girl harbors ulterior motives, and the Feng Family cannot escape blame. They should all be imprisoned as a warning to others."
Feng Changlin’s sweat soaked through his official robes. Fengyu’s actions in the twelve provinces had long been the talk of Yanyang, and Feng Changlin had always dreaded the day disaster would strike.
He hadn’t expected to avoid it after all.
A growing number of officials pointed their criticism at Fengyu and the Feng Family, urging Emperor Yuan Hui to punish them severely.
Lin Cheng, one of the most radical members of the war faction, wisely remained silent on this matter. He knew that Emperor Yuan Hui, though eager to act, wouldn’t dare take drastic measures against the Feng Family due to the broader implications.
Lin Helin, maintaining his usual composure, also kept quiet.
"Enough!" Emperor Yuan Hui thundered. "Fengyu is merely borrowing the Xie brothers’ name to carry out tasks in West Continent. At the root, the issue lies in Ningzhou. As long as Ningzhou is subdued, everything else will fall into place. Grandmaster Zhang has already returned from Ningzhou after failing to arrange their surrender. The Xie brothers openly intend treason. I cannot allow them to consolidate their forces in Ningzhou unchecked, only to march on the Capital City one day. Mr. Lin, I will launch a northern expedition and expect the Inner Cabinet to draft a plan as soon as possible. Dismissed!"
As they exited the Jinluan Palace, Lin Helin walked alongside Zhang Boju. Zhang sighed in frustration, "The situation has just stabilized, and now His Majesty is stirring up trouble again. Where on earth are we supposed to find the resources for a northern expedition at this critical moment?"
Lin Helin replied, "Ignore him. The priority right now is winter farming and ensuring the people’s livelihoods."
"He’s the emperor. One cannot simply ignore him," Zhang countered. "My grandfather returned from Ningzhou empty-handed, bedridden for days. Xie Jue and Xie Xun stated outright that they..."
Zhang Boju pointed skyward. "They want his life. But we can’t truly sacrifice this life to appease the wrath of those brothers. That leaves us with only one option—war."