Chapter 484
Chapter 484
Although the news of Zhang Chong's return to the capital didn't cause much of a stir among the common people, it sent massive waves through the world of officialdom. Unlike Shen Lang's previous return, which had been devoid of any fanfare, Zhang Chong was welcomed with the highest honor. The Crown Prince himself came out to greet him beyond Vermilion Bird Avenue. Due to his humble status, Zhang Chong had only a few dozen attendants. Crown Prince Ning Yi personally poured a cup of wine and offered it to him.
"This cup is to welcome you, Lord Zhang."
Zhang Chong knelt to receive the cup. Another person might have theatrically poured the wine on the ground, weeping and declaring it was for their fallen brothers in arms, but Zhang Chong dispensed with such dramatics. He simply accepted it and drank it in one go.
The Crown Prince said to him.
"Lord Zhang, you have worked hard."
"It was nothing."
The Crown Prince lightly patted Zhang Chong's shoulder and said.
"Lord Zhang, enter the capital with me at once. His Majesty awaits you."
The Crown Prince then led the way, and Zhang Chong followed him through the Vermilion Bird Gate. After walking a considerable distance down Vermilion Bird Avenue, the Crown Prince suggested he ride in his carriage, but Zhang Chong, not daring to overstep his bounds, returned to his own shabby carriage. He followed the Crown Prince's carriage into the royal palace. This was the first time Zhang Chong had ever traveled down the central path of Vermilion Bird Avenue. Unlike Shen Lang, who ignored existing rules and acted as he pleased, Zhang Chong would never do such a thing. The central path of Vermilion Bird Avenue was originally reserved for nobility of the rank of count or higher. Of course, as a prefect, it wouldn't have been an issue for him to use it, but Zhang Chong was an exceptionally cautious man and had never walked that path in his life. This time, he was using the central path of Vermilion Bird Avenue only because the King had issued a royal decree.
After entering the palace, Zhang Chong was first guided by a eunuch to bathe and change into new clothes. He then went to the King's study, where he knelt and waited. About two hours later, the King arrived. The sovereign entered the study in a furious mood, sat down, took a sip of tea, and then slammed his forehead hard against the table.
The King was not, of course, angry with Zhang Chong. The Special Examination was to be held tomorrow, and today, the censors had once again frantically impeached Shen Lang, even going so far as to subtly mock the King. They claimed that such an absurd event had not occurred in a hundred years, the hidden meaning being that Ning Yuanxian was a foolish ruler the likes of which appeared only once a century. Furthermore, they said that everyone was shocked by the news of beggars participating in the Special Examination. They argued it was an insult to the sages and a desecration of the sanctity of the examination. Therefore, the eleven beggars under Shen Lang should be stripped of their eligibility and thrown into the dungeons of the Court of Judicial Review.
Previously, they had only demanded that Shen Lang kneel before the Sage's Temple and atone. This time, they insisted that Shen Lang himself be thrown into the Court of Judicial Review alongside the beggars to be punished. These were clearly people who bullied the weak, feared the strong, and, not knowing when to stop, constantly pushed their luck. In the past, these censors had been somewhat cautious in their impeachments, but when Ning Yuanxian showed no anger and feigned ignorance, their audacity grew. Not only did they demand Shen Lang's punishment, but they also called for the King to publicly admit his mistake.
Ning Yuanxian wanted nothing more than to execute those censors on the spot, but with the Special Examination imminent, he could not afford any unexpected problems. Most importantly, Ning Yuanxian himself knew that allowing beggars to take the examination was highly improper, and his conscience was pricked. Moreover, the negotiations with the State of Chu had stalled, becoming increasingly mired in a stalemate, leaving Ning Yuanxian with no outlet for his pent-up fury.
"Zhang Chong, you've arrived? You've endured much hardship."
Zhang Chong kowtowed with perfect etiquette, not a hint of negligence in his movements.
"It was nothing."
"How is White Night Prefecture now?"
"Very good."
King Ning Yuanxian was taken aback by his response. For a man as exceedingly cautious as Zhang Chong to use the words "very good" meant the situation in White Night Prefecture was truly excellent. And indeed, it was. Shen Lang had played the villain while Zhang Chong played the saint. Together, they had suppressed the smallpox epidemic in White Night Prefecture, minimizing the death rate. They had also thoroughly contained the disease within the prefecture, preventing its spread to other regions. Zhang Chong was now regarded as a living Buddha by everyone in White Night Prefecture, and having forged a bond with all its people, they were now filled with a sense of belonging to the State of Yue, unlike before.
Furthermore, after several major battles, the bandit hordes of Three-Eyed Ya had been annihilated, and other bandit groups had all fallen into Shen Lang's traps and perished. The wandering warriors from the Western Regions had also been completely wiped out by Shen Lang, not to mention the corrupt officials loyal to the Su Clan, who were all killed by him. White Night Prefecture was now in what could be called its cleanest period in history. The people of the prefecture could even sleep peacefully at night without locking their doors, and no one would pick up valuables dropped on the street.
"Young Master Shen deserves the greatest credit for this. Without him, White Night Prefecture would not be so clean."
The King spoke of Shen Lang with a hint of sarcasm.
"That scoundrel swung his butcher's knife wildly, killing all the filth. How could it not be clean?"
The King picked up his teacup again and continued.
"The negotiations with the State of Chu have become a real headache. Far more than anticipated. They are now reneging on previous agreements. The King of Chu refuses to admit fault or offer compensation and will not return the forts he has already occupied."
"That is related to Prince Gong of the State of Nanguo."
"Is the situation in the south not very good?"
"Prince Gong's ambitions are not small. Your Majesty must prepare in advance."
"Speak plainly, do not hide anything."
"This subject believes we must reinforce our troops on the Nanguo front."
The King frowned. 'There are already forty to fifty thousand troops gathered on the Nanguo front, and he wants to send more?'
The states of Wu and Yue had already formed an alliance. Even if the pact was a sham, the King of Wu was preoccupied with reorganizing his country and had no time to look elsewhere, so he would not start another war for the time being. Therefore, they could withdraw twenty thousand troops from the northern defensive line bordering Wu and send them to the State of Nanguo.
"How many reinforcements do you think are necessary?"
Zhang Chong thought for a moment before answering.
"At least one hundred and fifty thousand!"
Upon hearing this, the King nearly jumped out of his skin.
'Has Zhang Chong gone mad? One hundred and fifty thousand? In the past, during the nation-shaking war between Wu and Yue, the total number of mobilized troops was less than two hundred thousand. And now he wants to mobilize one hundred and fifty thousand soldiers to deal with a small state like Nanguo?'
Zhang Chong said.
"The enemy we face in the south is not just Prince Gong's rebel army, but the entire Four Barbarian Tribes. We must exert our full strength to eliminate them. Even one hundred and fifty thousand may not be enough."
The King frowned and said nothing. Only he knew the state of his own house. Ning Yuanxian truly had no money and could not afford a major war. How much did the State of Yue's treasury owe the Hidden Yuan Society? The exact amount was unknown, but it was certainly an astronomical sum. For that reason, the King had deliberately feigned ignorance even when he knew the Hidden Yuan Society was colluding with the State of Wu in a scheme to seize the Leizhou Archipelago. To resolve the last fatal crisis that had befallen the State of Yue, the King had borrowed another two million gold coins from the Hidden Yuan Society. Although not all of that money had been spent, if he were to increase the troops on the Nanguo front to one hundred and fifty thousand as Zhang Chong suggested, how much more money would that cost? Only the heavens knew.
The King instantly brushed that topic aside and changed the subject.
"Lord Zhang, you did an excellent job in Tianxi Province. As the Prefect of White Night, you also managed the duties of the provincial admiral. After Yang Yongnian's death, you were, in effect, the acting Governor-General of Tianxi Province for two months, were you not? The Crown Prince has recommended you for the position of Governor-General of Tianxi Province. What are your thoughts?"
Zhang Chong's appointment as the Governor-General of Tianxi Province was all but confirmed. His reputation in Tianxi Province had soared, and there was no one in the world more suitable for the position. That was why, when Zhang Chong entered the capital, there was little stir among the common folk, but a shocking wave swept through the official circles. A new political heavyweight had risen. He was no longer a rising star in the political arena.
No one could now stop Zhang Chong's ascent. Of course, the credit for annihilating Su Nan's rebel army belonged to Shen Lang, but that human scoundrel treated the achievement like a worn-out shoe, paying it no mind. Besides, everyone realized that while this despicable fellow was good at harming people, he was not adept at handling civil administration. It wasn't that he lacked the talent, but rather the patience. Thus, the credit for crushing Su Nan's rebellion naturally fell first and foremost to Zhang Chong.
The Crown Prince and the Zhu Clan now considered Zhang Chong the foremost member of their faction, making him a banner figure for the Crown Prince's party. The position of Governor-General of Tianxi Province was inferior to that of the Grand Protectors of Tianbei or Tiannan Provinces, but it was still one of the four regional chief executives of the State of Yue. If Zhang Chong took that post, it was a foregone conclusion that he would return to the capital in a few years to become a Chancellor in the Grand Secretariat. Many even whispered that it was clear as day that among the future Chancellors of the Grand Secretariat, Zhu Rong would be first, and Zhang Chong would be at least third in rank. In any case, Zhang Chong was now a giant in the political world of the State of Yue.
Fate was truly unpredictable. A few months ago, Zhang Chong had been imprisoned in the dungeons of the Court of Judicial Review, merely awaiting death, and had even contracted a carbuncle, a certain death sentence. Yet now, not only had he survived, but he had also seized such great fortune. How could one not marvel at his story? Zhang Chong had not even returned home yet, but a hundred officials, bearing lavish gifts, had already formed a bustling crowd at his doorstep.
After hearing the King's words, Zhang Chong immediately bowed and said.
"The position of Governor-General of Tianxi Province is a vital one. This subject fears he is not capable of shouldering such a responsibility."
"Zhang Chong, are you going to exchange pleasantries with me as well?"
Zhang Chong spoke bluntly.
"If Your Majesty commands me to go, this subject will naturally obey. However, if Your Majesty does not have an absolute will to appoint me to that position, then this subject does not wish to assume the post of Governor-General of Tianxi Province."
The King was astonished. He knew Zhang Chong desired advancement. The Governor-General of Tianxi Province was one of the four major regions of Yue. The governorship of the capital, Tianyue City, was held by Prince Ning Qi, so that was out of the question. Therefore, for Zhang Chong to take this office would be to become the chief executive of one of the three major regions of Yue. And he was refusing it?
The King frowned and asked.
"Why?"
"This subject does not wish to become an enemy of Young Master Shen."
The King was stunned. It was truly unexpected that Zhang Chong would refuse the position for such a reason. Since the Crown Prince had recommended him, it was only natural for Zhang Chong to accept the appointment as Governor-General of Tianxi Province. He was, after all, a pillar of the Crown Prince's faction. Moreover, the position of Governor-General of Tianxi Province could only be held by someone from the Crown Prince's faction. To the north of Tianxi Province was the Grand Protector Zhong Yao, a direct subordinate of the Third Prince, so to maintain balance, the Governor-General of Tianxi Province had to be a member of the Crown Prince's party. The King sneered.
"Shen Lang is just making a fuss over nothing. Whether he will help Ning Zheng contend for the throne is uncertain. You may not even have the chance to become his enemy."
Zhang Chong pressed his forehead to the floor, prostrating himself, and said nothing more.