Chapter 558
Chapter 558
Shen Lang privately thought that there was truly no one in the Jin Clan with the makings of a king. Of course, he didn't see such qualities in himself either. He only wanted to enjoy power, not fulfill its duties. He was only interested in wealth and glory, not in diligently managing state affairs or caring for the people. If Shen Lang saw someone he found disagreeable, he had to eliminate them without a day's delay; magnanimity was a trait he sorely lacked. Ning Yuanxian could tolerate those who displeased him, and as for Ning Zheng, his tolerance was beyond question. But Shen Lang's magnanimity? It was likely narrower than the drainage ditch dug next to a house.
“Besides, Your Majesty, you are, for all intents and purposes, my father-in-law, are you not?”
The King was left speechless.
‘In your heart, am I, who has allied with you, worth less than Jin Zhuo? You brat, you shouldn't favor one side so much and neglect the other. Ning Yan preserved her purity until she went to you, and without any official title, she will bear and raise your child, will she not? You scoundrel, you must treat both sides fairly!’
“Shen Lang, how long will it take for the second Nirvana Army to be ready?”
“At least half a year.”
Ning Yuanxian nodded and said no more. He knew in his heart that the Prince of Qi would not give him half a year. In a few months at most, a monumental war that would decide the fate of the nation would erupt.
Shen Lang suddenly posed a question to him.
“I heard that Your Majesty rejected the Hidden Yuan Society’s offer to lend you money because of me.”
Ning Yuanxian replied nonchalantly.
“Mm.”
“How much money are you short, Your Majesty?”
“Three to four million taels.”
Hearing that astronomical sum, Shen Lang was not the least bit surprised. In fact, he knew that even that much money would not be enough. The coming war would be a nation-breaking conflict involving hundreds of thousands of troops. During the Battle of Jinchuan, Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty mobilized over two hundred thousand soldiers and spent seventy million taels of silver on military expenses.
This time, the State of Yue had to face two powerful enemies simultaneously: the Prince of Qi and the State of Chu. The scale of the war would be even larger than the Qing's Battle of Jinchuan, so three or four million gold taels would certainly not suffice. But the King did not tell Shen Lang this. He knew that any organization or individual had its limits.
For example, the Sky-Sea Pavilion had already lent an astronomical sum to Shen Lang and the Jin Clan. Training the second Nirvana Army would also require a large amount of gold, which Shen Lang would still have to borrow from the Sky-Sea Pavilion. Therefore, it was best not to mention the millions of gold taels needed for the upcoming war to them. If he asked and the Sky-Sea Pavilion couldn't provide the funds, it would create a rift in their relationship. Even if they could lend the money, they might not be able to produce such a large sum at once. And doing so could interfere with the Sky-Sea Pavilion's own strategic plans.
Moreover, the most important thing was how much benefit one could bring them by borrowing their money. If the request exceeded the potential gains, the strategic alliance between the two parties would crumble. Unlike the Hidden Yuan Society, the Sky-Sea Pavilion had only been recovering its strength for a little over a year and was now in a period of frantic expansion, so they truly might not have much gold to spare.
Shen Lang said jokingly.
“Your Majesty, what if I were to earn three million gold taels for you in half a month?”
“Shen Lang, one should not ask others to bear burdens beyond their limits. It would be extremely difficult for the Sky-Sea Pavilion to produce that much money. Besides, that is only the first round of funding needed for the war.”
“Didn't I say I would earn it? I won't ask the Sky-Sea Pavilion, nor will I ask the Hidden Yuan Society. Within fifteen days, I will earn a net three million gold taels for you. If I succeed, will Your Majesty enfeoff His Highness Ning Zheng as a duke?”
‘Earn three million gold taels in half a month? Not by borrowing from the Hidden Yuan Society or the Sky-Sea Pavilion? How is that possible?’
Aside from these two organizations, no one in the world could produce so much money in such a short time. No matter what business one engaged in, earning three million gold taels in half a month was impossible. It was truly a task more difficult than ascending to the heavens. King Ning Yuanxian, hearing Shen Lang's joking tone, didn't take his words seriously. He would probably think of a way to raise the military funds himself. Forcing Shen Lang to handle everything would not only look bad but also be detrimental to their relationship.
* * *
Hundreds of miles before the King returned to the capital, news of the battle at the border had already spread throughout the world. Soon, the people of the world were utterly dumbfounded. Everyone in the capital, in particular, was so shocked they were left speechless. At first, neither the officials nor the common folk would believe the news.
‘How is that possible? Shen Lang's two thousand new troops are completely useless. They’ve only trained for a few months, and only in a single move. How could such a new army defeat five thousand elite soldiers from Chu?’
Later, as the news of Yue's victory was confirmed, everyone began to think along these lines.
‘What trick did Shen Lang pull? Or did the King of Chu intentionally throw the fight? Otherwise, even if rivers flowed backward and the sun rose in the west, there’s no way they could have won, right?’
But then, more detailed and accurate information arrived. Not only had Shen Lang's two thousand new troops won, but they had nearly annihilated the two thousand elite soldiers and three thousand heavy cavalry of the State of Chu. At this point, the people of the capital began to question everything they knew about life.
‘Is Shen Lang a god? First, he created a miracle in the civil and martial silver examinations, and now he’s created an even greater miracle in the battle at the border? How on earth did he do it? This is driving me mad. The crucial thing is, everyone thought the King proposed this border battle to deliberately cut his losses with the King of Chu, and that Shen Lang and Ning Zheng were just sacrificial lambs. No one imagined Yue would win. This is simply inhuman. From now on, if someone tells me Shen Lang can give birth, I think I’ll believe it!’
The most direct reaction after the news spread was that the factional strife between the Crown Prince and the Third Prince, Ning Qi, came to an instantaneous halt. The so-called cases of reselling military rations and embezzling military funds were completely dropped. The two immediately put on a show of brotherly affection in the royal court.
* * *
A few days later, King Ning Yuanxian returned to the capital in triumph. The grand army of Yue, entering the capital in splendor through the Vermilion Bird Gate, displayed their might for all to see. This was only because Ning Yuanxian had issued a decree forbidding anyone from coming out to greet him. Otherwise, the Crown Prince and the court officials would have been waiting five hundred miles away. Just as the King's carriage arrived at the Vermilion Bird Gate, the Crown Prince led all the civil and military officials to kneel in an orderly fashion.
“We are here to welcome Your Majesty’s return to the capital!”
Everyone pressed their foreheads to the ground, shouting in unison until their voices grew hoarse. All the officials were prostrated low, wishing they had eyes on the tops of their heads so they could see what the King looked like at that moment.
‘Is he frail? Or is he as vigorous as the rumors say?’
The carriage door opened, and the King slowly walked out. Hah! The gray-white hair he had previously dyed was now dyed black again. During the dozen or so days of rushing back to the capital, he had eaten well again and regained his robust appearance. He looked even more imposing than before, seeming several years younger than when he was at the border. He was exactly as he had been before his illness. Dressed in a new royal robe and wearing a golden crown, he looked not even forty years old, exuding extreme vigor and majesty.
“All of you, raise your heads and look upon me!”
Ning Yuanxian spoke in a low voice, but he infused it with his inner energy, so his words struck everyone's ears, and the hundreds of officials present could hear him clearly.
“Raise your heads.”
All the officials cautiously lifted their heads, and a young, strong monarch came into view.
‘Damn it! Who said His Majesty had a stroke? He was clearly faking it! That man had a stroke? Don't be ridiculous! His Majesty and Shen Lang worked together to set another trap. They originally intended to trap the King of Chu, but in the end, all of us civil and military officials were deceived as well. Who was the first to spread that rumor?!’
Seeing Ning Yuanxian, everyone felt a renewed sense of awe. It was an awe so profound it made their bodies tremble. In the eyes of the officials now, King Ning Yuanxian appeared mysterious and unfathomable.
‘So formidable. So ruthless. To feign illness so realistically just to trap the King of Chu. And he didn't show a single flaw? Even the Crown Prince and the Third Prince couldn't see through it. His Majesty’s kingly schemes are truly terrifying.’
Ning Yuanxian felt a surge of satisfaction once more. Everyone was kneeling before him again, trembling. The dark shadow that had loomed over the State of Yue due to his illness was now completely dispelled. His reputation had once again reached its true zenith.
“When I fell ill, many of you grew lax in your duties. Before, I was too ill to deal with you, but now that my health has improved slightly, I can no longer ignore it.”
The King's voice was cold and sarcastic, and the officials trembled.
‘Your Majesty, please stop pretending to be sick. You were never sick in the first place; you were just acting!’
At the King's gesture, hundreds of imperial guards rushed forward and began arresting officials according to a list. Fifteen from the Crown Prince's faction, fifteen from the Third Prince's faction—a full thirty officials were arrested. Those arrested were the ones who had been most boisterous during the recent factional strife, with ranks ranging from Senior Third Rank to Sixth Rank. Then, the Grand Eunuch Lü Zhun read out the decrees one by one. According to the contents, all thirty had committed heinous crimes and deserved to have their sentences confirmed and be executed on the spot.
“Behead them! Behead them! Confiscate their assets!”
Swish, swish, swish!
Hands were raised, and soon, blades fell, and the heads of these thirty officials were severed. The stench of blood pierced the sky, and their deaths sent all the officials present into a state of panic, their bodies trembling uncontrollably. Ning Yuanxian did not scold them further, merely staring at his officials with a cold gaze. Though there was no sound, it was as if someone's silent scream could be heard. When Ning Yuanxian's gaze lingered on one official for a moment too long, the man fainted on the spot. He had lost consciousness from sheer terror.