Chapter 596: Fengde Commandery

Jingzhou·Jing Wang Fu

If Da Wang saw Bai Li Hu now, that slight sense of superiority from his weight loss would vanish completely before the four fat men. Bai Li Hu had already grown much taller, becoming a tall, thin bamboo stalk.

This bamboo stalk swept past the Qian Chao like a gust of wind, heading to his mother's residence behind.

"The people of Liang Tang simply lack the strength to go north, nor do they have the ability to cause any trouble for Chang'an. Now they are all blocked outside Fengde City. Mother, do you truly agree with your uncle's stance? Let them fend for themselves?!"

"Hu'er, your uncle made this decision after deep consideration; he naturally has his reasons..."

Bai Li Hu threw down his horse whip, "Uncle uncle uncle! All day uncle uncle says! Uncle says this won't do, uncle says that isn't allowed! Since we first took Liang Tang, Liang Tang belongs to this king! Since we took Liang Tang's grain, we cannot now ignore Liang Tang's people! Your uncle's actions—how will the world view this king? Even if dragging Bai Li Jing down makes this king look glorious?! In the future, this king will only fall further behind him!... No one pays attention to what this king says... Mother, does Jingzhou belong to the Bai Li, or to the Cui?!" These words were not light.

"Hu'er!" The former empress, now Jing Wang Taihou Cui Shi rose to grab Bai Li Hu, but he shook her off.

Since Cui Shi silently disappeared from Chang'an Palace, Bai Li Jin claimed she participated in rebellion, ascended the throne, and simply stripped her of her empress title, not even leaving her a place in the imperial mausoleum.

"Your uncle is also doing this for your own good; we are now barely managing ourselves..."

"If it were for this king's good, one should listen to this king's opinion! When we rashly sent troops to Youzhou, this king opposed it—what was the result? Did we gain any advantage? No. The entire army was annihilated! Your uncle just wants to avenge the Chang'an Cui clan, thinks it's shameful, and focuses everything on opposing Bai Li Jing, while putting this king's interests and face where?!

If we had marched directly on Chang'an back then, this king would have looked even higher!"

Cui Taihou's eyes flashed with panic—her son had already grown distant from the Cui clan!

"Hu'er, you are still young; many matters below won't bother you. Sit down, Mother will slowly explain to you—your uncle issued the order because our grain supplies are tight..."

"Enough! Bai Li Jing is how many years older than this king? He handles Youzhou affairs, but Jingzhou affairs are decided by the Cui clan!" He shouted and strode out directly; Cui Shi immediately ordered people to summon her elder brother.

"Investigate where Hu'er came from and whom he has met—quickly!"

The Jing Wang Fu was in chaos, said to be because Jing Wang had previously left the city, and Fengde's news came via couriers.

"They say, they say Liang Tang had too many deaths; now the living are all blocked outside Fengde City. With the heat, those disaster victims truly have epidemics, and the city gates have been closed for many days..."

Cui Taihou listened and grew more panicked, fearing the plague would spread to Jingzhou. Waiting for her elder brother to arrive, she hurriedly told him of Jing Wang's anger—who knew Cui Zheng's face would look even worse, "Bai Li Jing will ascend the throne next month, summoning the princes back to Chang'an, including Jing Wang. It seems he has already stabilized Chang'an." For them, this was news that could not be worse.

"...... How could it be that at this very moment, Hu'er is in a rage, his temper flaring—who knows if he might truly cause a scene and go?"

"That would truly be a one-way trip; assign more people to watch him."

Cui Zheng only thought of giving Da Wang a trip, still hadn't come up with a good idea when events suddenly took a turn for the worse—Wei Peng and Chang Li fought their way to the outskirts of Fengde City.

Originally, the plan was only to first take Pei Shui and Fu Du, then meet the Liang Tang disaster victims and offer them some help; those willing to go north could be escorted to Beijiang before winter arrived.

But now the disaster victims' situation is not good—aside from the clever ones who fled to avoid the plague, the rest in a mass have become entangled with Fengde. They heard the Beijiang Wang had marched south, occupying Chang'an step by step; the northern regions, just having experienced war, likely lack the strength to aid them, so the disaster victims are even more inclined to stay in the richer south.

Wei Peng and Chang Li arrived dusty and weary, seeing nothing less than a hell on earth.

Fengde City gates tightly shut; outside lay a mass of disaster victims, sprawled haphazardly. Fortunately, most were starving, not all ill.

Chang Li ordered all soldiers to wear masks, with metal face coverings over the masks.

Fengde City soon noticed the anomaly outside—troops had come to attack!

"...... Can you tell which army this is?"

"Reporting to the adult, there are 【Wei】 banners, also 【Xue】 banners, and even 【Jin】 banners. At a glance, all are cavalry, arriving in an instant, extremely fast...... Should be the Beijiang Wang's people."

Beijiang Wang knows warfare; he has been heard of in Fengde, Fengde Junwei fang cun da luan, "How many cavalry?"

"Looks like...... nearly ten thousand."

"Quickly send people to Lingyang and Jingzhou for help! Jingzhou may be far, but Jing Wang has troops stationed in Lingyang.

The southwest army arriving are also elite—Da Wang's sponsored Xuan Ren Ren Jia black horses, black and white cavalry surrounding Fengde City, demanding the Junwei open the gates to aid disaster victims and overcome hardship together. The guards on the city walls, seeing the snow cavalry's appearance, already imagined their manner of death.

The army's physician said, symptomatic and asymptomatic must be isolated; otherwise mixing together will infect all. Chang Li said those with symptoms should be isolated on the spot; healthy people mostly cannot be settled outside the city, so first move them inside, observe, then release them to avoid infecting the city's residents.

The idea is good, but Fengde disagrees!

No need to say—you won't listen when we discuss it, so smash the door. Now we don't even need to think of a reason to take Fengde; it's delivered right to our door.

The disaster victims huddled outside came back to life—what a twist! Someone actually cares for them!?

Doing good deeds anonymously is not Da Wang's style; after so long, Chang Li also understood him—he flew the 【Jin】 banner outside, still not forgetting to promote Da Wang's grace, writing large and bold. Just one principle: spend one wen to create a commotion worth a thousand taels.

First erect sheds and boil porridge, then build temporary medical tents to house the sick, then begin communicating with the city. The request is very humble—only ask the Junwei to provide a place to isolate and observe asymptomatic disaster victims. All are Jin Dynasty subjects; Your Highness cherishes every life!

No matter how well they speak, the Junwei dares not open this gate.

Oh, not opening is also fine. I've already done the bulk—this small request you won't fulfill? Then you're truly excessive; we can take the moral high ground and point fingers.

The desperate disaster victims were moved to tears, faces turned northward, kneeling in distant worship of Da Wang.

"Your Highness~! Truly it is the Court Affairs!"

"We are saved! Your Highness is benevolent~!"

"Your Highness Chang Le Wu Ji~"

Many felt their blood rise, crying and shouting to charge forward as assault troops for the siege. Da Wang's uncle stared, dumbfounded; Chang Li, feeling embarrassed under the gaze, said: "Your Highness... usually prefers to clarify before acting."

Wei Peng suddenly understood—originally... Da Wang likes this style.

Da Wang: "...... Ah choo~"

After sneezing, the nearly-dead Da Wang suddenly revived, "Zhao Bao, this king caught a chill—how about..."

Zhao Bao coldly and mercilessly: "Your Highness promised Lord Xie to study here for two shichen; only a quarter has passed."

Da Wang:...

Surely the timing tool is too backward, not accurate!

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【Baobao men xin nian kuai le!!!

2026 shun shun shun!!!

Stupid author went on holiday back to Northeast, forgot to bring glasses, new year new atmosphere, this month daily updates, the missing ones will be made up soon.

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Da Wang summoned the feudal princes to the capital without neglecting the surrounding neighboring countries, especially the grasslands and deserts he had dealt with. Youzhou was responsible for notifying the various Xianbei tribes and the Xiongnu, while Shanyang Pass was responsible for informing the various countries of the Western Regions.

The Xiongnu, such a powerful state, need not be mentioned; the small countries of the Western Regions were simply devastated.

When Da Wang was merely the Northern Border King, he could rely on his strong troops and sturdy horses to widely levy tribute; now you say he has obtained the Central Plains and is about to ascend the throne of the Central Plains Emperor?!

They themselves were powerless to shake things, forced to hope every day for a powerful enemy to deal with the Northern Border King, yet the opposite side kept getting better and even advanced further? This life is truly getting worse and worse, unbearable.

The garrison at Shanyang Pass, on the other hand, was delighted, as joyful as ever during the New Year, vying to rush out to inform the various countries of this 'bad news', even the Wusun deep in the desert did not mind the long distance.

The old Wusun king, on the other hand, is long-lived and still doing well, merely the tides of fortune have turned; it is no longer the time when he threatened Ning De Emperor with his tone to marry off his daughter.

Upon receiving the news, the entire royal tent was filled with a gloomy atmosphere.

"This... going to attend the enthronement ceremony, the congratulatory gift absolutely cannot be lacking."

"This year's tribute was barely gathered, next year's is still unknown where it will come from, and now another enthronement ceremony has been added—when will there be an end?!"

"Sending us is just to give the congratulatory gift; this Northern Border King and his generous father are different. If we don't give him something, he would truly be unwilling to lose face and have the cavalry come to demand it—just think of last year..."

"He actually ascended the throne... when will there ever be an end from now on?! He is still young; in the future, marriage, having children—will we have to be summoned for all of that?!"

"Back when we sought to marry the Jin Dynasty princess, we offended him, which was even worse than offending Qiuci..."

"Why not... we send the princess back?"

"The princess is not his biological sister—can it be done? Then should we send the third brother?"

The Wusun prince who had once fought Da Wang nearly jumped up, "Let me go?! On what grounds?! If you send the princess back like this, he won't get angry? In Jin Dynasty, this is tantamount to abandonment!" He still remembered the pain of Da Wang's small fists pounding on his body; now grown up, he estimates it would hurt even more—he would not go.

However, the opposition was ineffective; the numerous descendants of the Wusun king unanimously agreed to let the 'experienced' third prince undertake another mission to Jin Dynasty, a case of practice making perfect.

As for not going, they unanimously overlooked it.

Undertaking the mission to Jin Dynasty during the Ning De Emperor's era was a fat post—just wait for rewards with good food and drink; but now Chang'an has fallen into Da Wang's hands, and the Wusun prince wants to cry but has no tears.

Changchun Princess, upon hearing this news, clung to her sole surviving maid of honor and wept with joy—being able to return to Chang'an in her lifetime is something she never dared dream of.

Time is pressing; the very next day she was stuffed into the entourage heading to Chang'an, along with some camels and furs, beginning the journey eastward.

Along the way, several small states joined their entourage; indeed, the states that received the news did not dare to ignore it.

This journey, day and night without rest, was extremely arduous; fortunately, after passing Shanyang Pass, Liangzhou, so desolate a place, had actually built a speedway—something she had never seen when she came. Upon entering Jade Gate Pass, Chang'an was not far away.

When the entourage had crossed the Wei River, Chang'an came into view, and Changchun Princess finally burst into tears. In just a few short years, things are no longer what they were, people are no longer who they were.

Da Wang soon also heard that the Wusun had sent the princess back; he could not help but, in front of Xie Yuan and Lu Tong, curse the old Wusun king soundly, earning himself double the homework.

Da Wang's face showed displeasure, but once Xie Yuan left, he immediately put it away; Wei Shen, having seen it many times, kept clicking his tongue in amazement. "Are you truly worried? With so much homework?"

Da Wang calmly said: "Tsk—anyway, I don't write it. Xie Tu doesn't worry, what do I have to worry about?"

Xie Tu: ……

Da Wang had already flung the book aside, "Come on—let's go to the liveliest place in Chang'an for a stroll~"

Wei Shen followed, eager and excited, rising to his feet, "To Chang'an's main street? Or to the Floating Tower?"

"The Honglu Pavilion."

Upon hearing this, Wei Shen immediately sat down, "Not going." This was clearly going to cause trouble; his elder brother was still in Chang'an, so it's better to stay honest.

Xie Tu also wanted to speak up to ask for leave, but Da Wang, looking dejected, sighed: "The Fourth Princess being able to return is a good thing, but once she returns, she must face the tragic death of her younger brother, even her birth mother follows him to death. Originally, her marriage to the Western Regions was for the Fifth Prince's future; now she has sacrificed herself in vain, yet gained nothing. Putting myself in the Fifth Princess's place, I just want to chop the Wusun people into pieces~"

Xie Tu: ……"Your Highness's enthronement is imminent; at this time..."

"It's inappropriate to cause trouble, right? Rest assured—I understand priorities well."

Xie Tu and Wei Shen exchanged a glance, doubtful. But this fellow has already been cooped up in the Chengming Hall for several days, and he feels that staying longer might lead to even bigger trouble...

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With the enthronement imminent, Xie Yuan's defensive measures against Da Wang were extremely thorough, evidently having already anticipated Da Wang's character. Now Chang'an City is a mix of dragons and snakes, various forces have come in large numbers, so he cannot but pay attention to Da Wang's safety.

Da Wang, eager and excited, went out to cause trouble but had not yet succeeded in leaving the palace gates; Xie Yuan had already sent two trembling, tottering old men to block the door.

Before Da Wang even got close, the two old men began earnestly begging him not to leave the palace, to return honestly and prepare for the enthronement ceremony.

Upon seeing the two old men's appearance, Da Wang remarked, "This is learning my essence, huh? At such an old age, blocking here—are they trying to extort money?!" These two are surely the oldest officials in Chang'an City; shouldn't they... also retire?

Wei Shen watched with folded arms, "Maybe when you get close, they'll just collapse, and then Xie Yuan will still have to have Your Highness personally go to comfort them, to show respect for the elderly, and still have to give them something."

Upon hearing this, Da Wang immediately made a strategic retreat. "Tricks, all tricks! I won't fall for them!"

Xie Tu, seeing the opportunity, hurriedly urged Da Wang again: "... When you were a feudal prince, personally beating up the Wusun prince was a small matter; you lowered your noble status to personally teach him a lesson—that was his blessing. Now you are about to ascend the throne, and if you personally strike again, this... is giving the Wusun too much face." He tried to speak circuitously, but in fact Da Wang also understands.

His current status is inappropriate.

Xie Yuan also does not feel at ease letting him leave the palace now.