Chapter 489

At the north gate of Jizhou City.

Qi Jianhui of the Xiangyang Marquis's manor, surrounded by a few people, climbed onto the gate tower, gazed out at the city gate and walls below, a hint of contempt flickering beneath his thick brows, then turned to Chen Ruiwen of the Qi Duke's manor beside him and laughed, saying:

"Your Lordship is really too cautious! Since arriving at Jizhou City, other matters are secondary; instead, you have people reinforce the city gates and walls three times a day, causing the whole city's populace to think the False Qing's great army is coming again!"

Chen Ruiwen had his hands behind his back, looking at the civilian laborers just driven down to haul stone, his face solemn, he shook his head and said:

"It's not all his fault. Don't you remember? Last year, before Jia Jing was ennobled, he was right here beneath Jizhou City's gate, with just one hammer, he actually blasted the city gate open."

"That gate tower was shaken and half collapsed; this time, Your Lordship plans to rise in revolt to purge the court, taking Jizhou as our base—this concerns the lives and property of us all, so we must be extra cautious, extra cautious!"

He pointed his hand down at the city below and said:

"Look, these days Your Lordship has had people pile bricks and stones outside the east, south, and north three city gates; a zhang away in front of each gate they've erected anti-cavalry barriers; inside each gate they've laid over forty iron bolts, and behind the gates they've piled countless sandbags."

"This north gate is even more wrapped in three layers of iron plating inside and out, a new stone foundation has been laid at the wall's base, and the top has been reinforced with an additional five chi of rammed earth."

"Your Lordship also ordered that the several main streets leading straight to the gates inside the city be dug into pits, with sharpened wooden stakes planted at the bottom."

"Such preparations are specifically meant to deal with that young rascal Jia Jing; I say, Your Lordship truly lives up to being an old-school commander, considering defeat before victory, thinking everything through!"

Qi Jianhui heard this, curled his lip, unconvinced, and said:

"I know what you said as well. But do you believe those rumors? 'One hammer smashes the gate,' 'one man charges and slays a hundred-thousand-strong army'—spread as if miraculous, but merely fabrications of storytellers to fool the ignorant masses."

"Only in places like the northwest and Liaodong, where people have seen little of the world, could such bragging be allowed."

"At the end of the day, no matter how formidable Jia Jing is, he's just two arms and a head, a strong brute—we've seen his like before; we're not really going to treat him as a god, are we?"

"If he could really blast open a gate several chi thick with a single hammer blow, then we wouldn't need to rise in revolt to purge the court; we'd simply bind our own hands, kneel, and beg for mercy!"

"Anyway, since I haven't seen it with my own eyes, Qi Jianhui refuses to believe such an outrageous tale!"

Chen Ruiwen shook his head, chuckled, and said:

"Some things are better believed to be true. Even if it's false, Jia Jing's martial prowess must certainly be extraordinary; Your Lordship's concern is not without reason."

"But what you say is also true; with the gates fortified like this, they're as solid as gold and bronze—let alone one Jia Jing, even ten of them, we wouldn't fear!"

"Moreover, Your Lordship has already sent people to contact officers with connections at Xuanfu Prefecture and Shanhai Pass, and to win over more wavering Guard Post military officers."

"He also had people go to Preserving Stability and Heavenly Ford to unite the local gentry there; the gentry of those two places are the most fiercely opposed to the military reforms, and if we could make use of them, they would also be a considerable force."

"Then, once the time comes, we will issue a proclamation, emulating the Chengzu Emperor's Heavenly Mandated Pacification of Turmoil, to purge the court!"

"The Prince of Nan'an and the other founding lineage are not all fools; although they fled Shenjing and took a perilous path, they staked their entire families' lives, so naturally they are not without strategy and action."

"In the span of about ten days, they carried out various deployments, launching simultaneous offensives on political, military, and economic fronts."

"First, politically, they widely sent people to contact allies, recounting their helplessness: 'Repeatedly coerced, with nowhere to retreat,' 'Seeing comrades fall one after another,' 'To preserve the ancestral foundation and redress the world's grievances, they had no choice but to prepare to raise troops.'"

"They offered substantial benefits to win over Guard Post officers, capital-region gentry, frontier garrison commanders, Shenjing civil and military officials, Jiangnan official gentry, and southeastern former troops who bore grudges against the court or Jia Jing, or had personal ties to them."

"Next, economically, they engaged in looting and forcible requisition of treasuries and granaries across the capital region, transferring all money and grain to the Jizhou base; only with money and grain could they sustain troops long-term."

"Finally, militarily, on one hand they implemented a policy of strong points and cleared fields, stockpiling supplies, turning Jizhou into a sturdy fortress with thick walls and deep moats to serve as the base."

"On the other hand, they gathered the elite household troops of over a hundred Guard Posts in the capital region, fifty thousand strong, forming them into the 'Elite Corps' under unified command of Jizhou City."

"Most importantly, they devised a strategy, preparing to learn from the Chengzu Emperor's Jingnan campaign experience, gathering elite troops, employing rapid strikes and internal cooperation, to march straight on Shenjing City, encircle the imperial palace with the speed of a thunderbolt before one can cover one's ears, and achieve their political objectives."

"As for what their political demands are,"

"Naturally, it is to abolish the Ministry of War's General Directorate and restore the old system of the Five Military Governor's Office;"

"with the Prince of Nan'an appointed as Grand Commander of All the Armed Forces or Regent of the Court, thereby becoming in fact a recipient of the Nine Bestowals and regent of all under heaven;"

"purging all of Jia Jing's faction and replacing them with members of the Nan'an Prince's founding lineage;"

"halting all military reforms, colonial settlements, capital inspections, and so on."

"In short, it's to eliminate Jia Jing, sideline Emperor Jing Sheng, restore the old order, and redistribute power."

"\"Shenjing City's walls are strong and thick, with a large garrison stationed there; if we cannot take it quickly, we'll become an isolated force and surely lose—this plan has always seemed risky to me. \""

"\"We have resources, popular support, troops and grain, and the southeast as a retreat; why not rely on Jizhou City and turn this battle into a protracted war of attrition that cannot be quickly decided? \""

"\"After all, time is on our side; the longer we drag it out, the more chaotic the court's rear will become, and the greater the pressure on the emperor and young Jia Jing. \""

"\"If Shenjing's interior shows a rift, or if any side among the border troops, civil officials, or imperial clan defects to us, or if unrest erupts in Jiangnan or Chuan Shan, we could win without fighting—wouldn't that be more secure? \""

"A look of contemplation appeared on Qi Jianhui's face as he pondered, then he said:"

"Chen Ruiwen laughed and said:"

"\"But even if we won that way, at most the court would merely refrain from blaming us and cease military reforms, yet we would gain nothing more. \""

"\"What Your Lordship needs is a resounding victory to boost morale, unite the people, gather all acclaim under heaven, and reach the pinnacle—not a rebellion that ends in amnesty! \""

"\"Otherwise, what are we risking such great danger for, following Your Lordship? \""

"Since we've undertaken the act of rising in revolt to purge the court, we naturally have no choice but to see it through to the end."

"The demands of the Prince of Nan'an and his followers are no longer merely to halt military reforms; they now seek to advance further in the realm of power and seize control of all under heaven!"

"Qi Jianhui heard this and said:"

"\"If we can win, that would be even better! I just fear that a prolonged battle might not end…\""

"Chen Ruiwen gave an inscrutable, profound smile and said:"

"\"Don't worry! Shenjing City has our people; you forgot, Cao Guogong is a familial friend of Your Lordship, and he has already agreed to act as an inside agent, opening the city gates for us…\""

"\"When the time comes, with our troops at the imperial city's gates, even overturning heaven and changing the sun would not be impossible! Speaking of which, the Da Han Empire, established over a hundred years ago, indeed already bears the aspect of an end-times era. \""

Even if we cannot speak, we can still fulfill Heaven's mandate and follow the people's hearts, accomplishing a feat surpassing our ancestors; by then being ennobled as a king or duke, reaching the highest rank among ministers, will not be out of the question!

Qi Jianhui exclaimed in surprise:

"It's actually the Cao State Duke again..."

Last time, when the Chengzu Emperor quelled the rebellion, it was the Cao State Duke's ancestors who opened the door; now it's their family again—how can they still be addicted to this kind of work?