Ai, did not live long (No main character, main plot)
Taijing Imperial City.
Pale smoke curled up, and curtains hung low.
Even in such a scorching season, only a small window of the outer hall had been opened.
Once one stepped inside, hot air instantly wrapped around oneself, causing sweat to pour down uncontrollably, and with several incense burners emitting hot mist inside the hall, it was simply a small steamer.
Emperor Yongchen had a chronic illness, imperial physicians almost took permanent residence in the sleeping hall, working in shifts day and night.
Even the decoctions were rendered ineffective due to excessive intake, so they switched to smoked medicinal vapors. Although the medicinal effect was limited this way, it was better than vomiting out the medicine, and Emperor Yongchen’s body could no longer endure potent drugs.
When Lu Ni was still the Crown Prince, there were already rumors in the Imperial City that he was terminally ill.
Ever since Lu Ni ascended the throne, almost everyone inside and outside the inner court had been replaced, and the Imperial Medical Office was no exception. The difference was that the imperial physicians now kept their mouths tightly shut. No matter who came to inquire about Emperor Yongchen’s condition, they either remained silent or put forth a heap of medical theory as a pretext, leaving the outer court utterly confused about the Emperor’s illness.
Anyway, Lu Ni had been weak for many years and had hardly ever been healthy.
The Emperor had no sons, and it also seemed unlikely for him to have heirs.
Among his brothers, the second prince disappeared after rebellion, and the third prince and sixth prince were still unmarried, so naturally, the idea of adopting a son for the eldest brother did not come into question.
Court officials secretly chose sides, each supporting one of the two princes, preparing for the next round of political struggle.
Yet, this conflict had not officially surfaced.
On the one hand, both main figures showed little interest and could not even bear hearing others mention “after Emperor Yongchen’s passing.” On the other hand, the court remained in constant turmoil, with the imperial examination fraud case exposed, Prime Minister Zhang’s party punished, and Prime Minister Jiang aging steadily. The obvious broad and open opportunity to enter the cabinet and become Prime Minister lay ahead, and who would be Emperor in the future could be discussed later, while the current issues were more urgent.
No matter how capable Emperor Yongchen was, his poor health prevented a quick reversal of the situation in the court and beyond.
Or it could be said that even if he possessed a robust physique that allowed him to peruse memorials day and night, it would be of no avail. Rectifying officialdom was inherently challenging, not something that would change simply by toppling Prime Minister Zhang’s faction. After all, it was something that had begun to rot.
“Cough, cough.”
Lu Ni had been silently reading the secret reports from the Jinyiwei for a long time without speaking, and suddenly, he coughed. Everyone was startled.
The third prince and sixth prince glared angrily at Gong Jun, and the latter could only lower his head and remain silent.
“Eldest Royal Brother, take care of your health, do not be too grieved……”
The sixth prince, Lu De, tried to offer a few words of comfort, but halfway through, he swallowed them back in frustration. The Ning family had all died in battle. How tragic that was! Whether for the country or personally, this was an earth-shattering disaster, and how could a few comforting words make any difference?
When the sixth prince was younger, he was like a hedgehog, stubborn and prickly, stabbing anyone he encountered.
After Lu Zhang’s death, these few months saw him grow rapidly. He no longer spoke as if he aimed to make enemies with every word, nor did he complain about heaven and earth, bitter and resentful. He even considered others thoughtfully, though this last point applied only in front of Emperor Yongchen.
“Old General Huaiyi spent his life on horseback, repelling barbarians to the north and guarding the frontiers to the west. He always regarded the common folk and soldiers as brothers, never coveting luxury or wealth, a truly remarkable hero. The court should arrange proper funeral rites and posthumously confer a title…… At the same time, send troops to the southwest to quell the Tianshou King.”
Gong Jun forced himself to speak. If possible, he would not have interrupted Emperor Yongchen’s grief, but military matters were urgent, and any delay could lead to greater trouble.
Emperor Yongchen gently pushed away his brothers, who attempted to support him. He had grown even thinner and spoke feebly, “Xuanchuan Pass was fortified by natural terrain. The Tianshou King attacked it several times without success, and the Ning family would never have underestimated the enemy. There must be another reason for this defeat.”
“……According to the news, it seemed to be caused by a Jianghu sect from Yizhou assisting the Tianshou King.” Gong Jun felt a headache just thinking of the Pili Hall.
The sixth prince straightened up instantly, subconsciously wanting to mock Gong Jun. How could a mere ragtag band of Jianghu rebels breach a formidable pass? Unless there was an unrivaled expert like Meng Qi acting as an assassin? Yet he swallowed his words and forced a smile, “What did they do?”
Gong Jun lowered his head and said, “The details remained unknown, but His Majesty should have heard of the name of the ‘Pili Hall’ sect.”
“How could Eldest Royal Brother have heard of a Jianghu sect……”
Halfway through his words, the sixth prince saw Emperor Yongchen lower the hand supporting his forehead, his gaze solemn and thoughtful.
At this moment, the third prince spoke sulkily, “Sixth Brother, you prided yourself on your cleverness, surpassing me and Second Brother a hundredfold in reading. How come you show no concern for matters you should know?”
“You!”
Seeing the two of them glowering at each other like black-feathered chickens, Emperor Yongchen coughed once, and they suddenly remembered where they were. They quickly looked away, pretending nothing had happened.
Gong Jun’s mouth twitched, thinking that although times changed, personalities did not. After the Crown Prince ascended the throne, these two princes seemed overnight to have become steady and capable, but in reality, they only performed in front of Emperor Yongchen, acting like two childish brats.
If they truly aimed, as the court officials suspected, at competing for the throne, it would be better. The truth was that these two princes were most passionate about slandering the Second Prince Lu Min in front of Emperor Yongchen.
Lu Min had changed his name and followed Jinyiwei’s secret agents to investigate the imperial examination fraud case, his mind seemingly sharper and gradually showing promise. Gong Jun had once muttered privately that Mentor Meng’s guidance was effective, and Emperor Yongchen was also very pleased. Lu Min would not be Emperor in the future, but at least he could become a capable minister. Logically, the third prince and sixth prince should have tried to befriend this second brother, as perhaps Lu Min would control the Jinyiwei in the future. That would be a great help. Yet the two of them were furious instead, like children in a private school upset at a friend who suddenly abandoned idleness, studied diligently, and earned the teacher’s praise. If that was not childish, what was?
Gong Jun suppressed his inward complaints and explained, “The Pili Hall originated from the Imperial Craftsmen’s Workshop of the Chen Dynasty at that time. The craftsman households led by Lei Qun improved the gunpowder formula and created more ingenious firearms, enabling the Chen Dynasty army to sweep across the Mobei region and flatten the Yinshan Mountains, defeating the barbarians. But after the army returned victorious, the Chen Emperor, feeling the peril of firearms, realized they could enable a helpless scholar to easily kill dozens of soldiers. He feared future traitors and rebels might one day blast down the palace walls, and since foreign enemies were no longer a threat, he simply disbanded the firearm troops, burned the related blueprints, and forbade their production. Those generals who argued were dismissed and prosecuted, and those craftsmen households, instead of receiving rewards, faced extermination.”
Such an act of going against reason naturally left hidden dangers.
Border troops were particularly resentful, asking why firearms were not used and forcing them to shed blood and flesh again? Far-sighted civil officials lamented repeatedly, almost to the point of risking their lives to remonstrate.
Under such circumstances, many acted in outward compliance but inward defiance. Some saw pity in the family members of the craftsman households and showed leniency. After all, they were just some women and children, so why exterminate them completely.
Among them was craftsman Lei Qun’s youngest son, Lei Tong, who had just turned ten. He was thin and small, and by altering his age to count him as a child under seven, he was sent to the frontier.
“……No one expected that Lei Tong was a once-in-a-lifetime genius. At such a young age, he could already make various clever devices. At the frontier, he encountered those old soldiers filled with resentment. After listening to their descriptions of the specific appearance of firearms, he spent several years rediscovering the key elements, forcibly recreating the destroyed blueprints and weapons. Lei Tong studied diligently and trained hard, went into battle to kill the enemy, and freed himself from servitude, just waiting for the day when the barbarians attacked again and the emperor who had ordered his family’s execution died, so that he could restore his family’s name……Unfortunately, someone secretly reported him for illegally manufacturing forbidden weapons. The aging emperor flew into a rage and ordered that all involved be punished and their three clans exterminated. The border troops felt indignant and found Lei Tong a chance to escape. He fled with the fierce old soldiers he had befriended over the years, drifting from place to place to avoid the court’s pursuit, hiding his identity until he settled in Yizhou when he grew old. These people were the earliest members of the Pili Hall.”
Gong Jun sighed. In the hall, not only did the Sixth Prince listen attentively, even the Third Prince did as well.
The Third Prince had only known some rough details before. How could he have known such a detailed sequence of events? Moreover, Gong Jun was originally a man of the Jianghu and later entered officialdom. He had deliberately learned about this piece of history. His narrative flowed as if he were a storyteller.
Especially when Gong Jun spoke of these matters, he did not shy away from the imperial authority. If he were a civil official who came through the imperial examinations, even if he talked about a former emperor’s mistakes, he would have to obscure them somewhat. Those who dared speak frankly were very few. For no other reason, emperors liked flattery, Lu Zhang especially.
Emperor Yongchen did not mind this because they had a father whose actions were hard to describe. Several brothers held no great awe for imperial power. So what if one was emperor? Could an emperor not commit great mistakes? If he did, did he not deserve death? And were others not allowed to say so?
Gong Jun had discovered this point early on. He adjusted his strategy of “serving stably in office and retiring peacefully” at the right time, not only gaining Emperor Yongchen’s trust, but even making the Third and Sixth Princes find him more pleasing than others.
“Lei Tong suffered countless setbacks throughout his life. It was said that his temperament was indeed eccentric and extreme, yet he truly was a rare talent. He adapted firearms into hidden weapons commonly used by people of the Jianghu, and secretly sold them as a means of livelihood. After his death, his descendants and disciples relied on these old legacies to survive for several generations.”
Although some outstanding members of the Lei family made improvements, they still could not surpass their ancestor.
Otherwise, at the end of the Chen Dynasty, when various warlords vied for the world, Pili Hall would have had a share.
In order to suppress rebellions, the Chen Dynasty resumed manufacturing cannons. The Chu Dynasty knew the benefits of cannons, and the Qi Dynasty that followed continued these practices. The government could produce large quantities of wrought iron to supervise the making of cannons. Pili Hall fell far behind, only able to make some small, delicate items. For so many years, they drifted in the Jianghu with little success, but this in turn preserved them.
“During the Chu Dynasty, there was a general who proposed wiping out Pili Hall, believing it to be a hidden threat. In the end, seeing that Pili Hall did not amount to much—merely a small Jianghu gang—he shelved the plan.”
Had these records not existed, Emperor Yongchen would not have known Pili Hall’s name.
He leaned against a supporting pillow, coughed weakly a few times, and asked with difficulty, “So……they assisted the Tianshou King? Commander Gong might not know……cough, Xuan Chuan Pass not only had Old General Ning’s troops, but also some righteous Jianghu fighters with considerable martial skill. Even if Pili Hall wished to bring gunpowder into Xuan Chuan Pass, it would have been extremely difficult. Xuan Chuan Pass occupied a perilous natural stronghold, with very high terrain. Whether blowing up the surrounding cliffs or diverting a river, they could not breach it.”
As he spoke, he waved his hand, instructing Chief Eunuch Chen to present the terrain map of Xuan Chuan Pass.
“This……”
Gong Jun hesitated, silently examining the map.
This kind of map was a military secret. Before today, Gong Jun had never seen it. Thus, when he heard of Pili Hall, he had a guess, but it turned out not to work.
Gong Jun thought it over repeatedly and decided to ask for the names of those Jianghu fighters at Xuan Chuan Pass. After all, only someone like him, an expert, could truly judge if their martial skill was high. To ordinary people, the Jinyiwei seemed full of experts, but in Gong Jun’s eyes, there were barely a few worth mentioning.
Emperor Yongchen’s gaze dimmed, as if he recalled something.
“Eldest Royal Brother?”
“It’s nothing……just, it was a long story.”
Emperor Yongchen concealed the gloom in his eyes and said softly, “They were the monks of Baoxiang Temple, including Master Yuan Zhi.”
Gong Jun was shocked. Yuan Zhi the monk was unknown in Jianghu. Not many would know him by name, but Gong Jun, as the Jinyiwei Commander, was thoroughly informed and would not miss a Buddhist temple whose monks all possessed notable martial skill.
Baoxiang Temple was unlike a renowned sect of the Jianghu such as Hengchang Temple. It was a true Buddhist temple, rarely involved in Jianghu conflicts, though it did help a group of volunteer troops save the common people at the end of the Chen Dynasty.
Wait, was that volunteer army the very one later led by Old General Ning?
Gong Jun’s mind worked swiftly. He immediately thought of Emperor Yongchen’s younger brother of the same mother, who was said to have been taken to a Buddhist temple by the Ning family’s servants. So—if the entire Ning family perished in battle, did that unknown prince also die?
“This official shall go and gather more information, striving to ascertain what happened at Xuan Chuan Pass that day.”
Gong Jun saluted and then withdrew, not asking how Emperor Yongchen intended to deal with the Tianshou King.
That was the Ministry of War’s affair, something for the ministers of Wen Yuan Pavilion to worry about. He only needed to mention it. The rest was not his concern.
Before stepping out of the stifling sleeping hall, Gong Jun vaguely heard Emperor Yongchen speaking to his two younger brothers, “……Doctor Mo said that day, the nation was like my illness, not only covered in a thousand sores and a hundred holes, but also long since wounded at its root. If it could not be cured, neither could we let it be……The Tianshou King must be quelled, otherwise……if he occupied Jiangnan, the overall situation……”
Gong Jun walked farther and farther away, raising his head to see a setting sun about to sink beneath the horizon.
A great darkness devoured the sky, leaving only the crimson afterglow of the setting sun.
In the past, Lu Zhang had feared the Ning family. The Crown Prince worried that once he died, the Ning family would have no way out and would be forced to rebel. Yet now, the one who had long been expected to die still lived, while those who should not have died were being sent off. How bitterly sad this was.
Gong Jun exhaled a long breath. This lingering sunset glow, how similar it was to Emperor Yongchen Lu Ni?
Even if it shone with boundless brilliance, it would eventually fade.
But just as Lu Ni had said, the Qi Dynasty should not perish yet, because the common people should not die.
Even if the governance was rotten to its core, it still needed treatment. All the more, one could not sit idle and watch the Tianshou King seize Jiangnan.
——Jiangnan was rich and abundant, enough to nourish the Tianshou King, allowing him to raise troops and march north.
