Chapter 99: Northwest Unrest

Jing Sheng Di's expression changed, and he cast a gentle gaze toward Jia Jing, speaking in a deep voice:

"I trust you! If you can, within a few months, without shirking labor, never leaving the camp day or night, train a ten‑thousand‑strong elite force for me at Ba Shang, it will show your loyalty to the state and your virtue and talent! You are the loyal minister and fine general bestowed upon me by Heaven!"

After a few finished their conversation, they proceeded to inspect the armory and barracks of Bashang Daying.

Only by noon did they roughly finish surveying the entire Bashang Daying.

Jia Jing had originally suggested that Jing Sheng Di address the troops inside the camp, letting the soldiers glimpse the emperor's presence.

But Jing Sheng Di politely declined, saying he would wait until the Ba Shang soldiers achieved merit and returned in triumph, at which point he would personally celebrate and reward them.

Jing Sheng Di, busy with court affairs, did not stay long; before departing, Jia Jing escorted him to outside the camp gate.

The two slipped past the crowd and walked together along the desolate road back toward the city.

Heading south for only a few hundred meters led to a wasteland, with hardly any signs of people.

The path was no longer a road, but deep and shallow scar‑like tracks of wheels and hooves pressed into the frozen ground.

The fields, which should have been covered with winter wheat, now lay as a dead, salt‑alkali‑tinged yellow earth.

At the edge of the vast fields, Jia Jing led his horse while Jing Sheng Di, hands clasped behind his back, gazed into the distance and walked slowly forward.

"Within the palace one cannot see such desolate countryside; today I deliberately did not ride, precisely to see firsthand the condition of the common folk around Shenjing—truly shocking!"

"As I have traveled, I have already seen several impoverished people frozen to death by hunger along the roadside."

"At first I thought they were discarded broken bundles, until I saw bluish‑purple feet and hair like withered grass protruding from a torn straw mat, and realized they were corpses."

"If Shenjing is like this, imagine the rest of the Da Han Empire!"

Jing Sheng Di's expression grew solemn, a trace of sorrow on his face, his voice low as he sighed.

At that moment a cold wind swept the wasteland, sounding like a wailing whimper!

"Your Majesty's worries are known to me!"

"When I first came to Bashang Daying, I saw the people subsisting on mud and meltwater; it pained me as well."

"But governance is not a one‑day task; it must be built step by step."

"Once the troops of Bashang Daying and Jingying are trained, we can implement New Policies across the realm, allowing all the people to bask in Your Majesty's benevolence."

"Even if officials and gentry conspire in secret to obstruct, we can wield thunderous might to sweep away all corrupt officials and restore the people's livelihood!"

Jia Jing said in a deep voice.

Jing Sheng Di twitched his mouth slightly, his expression briefly hushed.

He stopped beneath a tree, feeling the stripped, dead trunk, his gaze steady, and spoke slowly:

"State affairs are only arduous! Time waits for no one! I have already identified several capable ministers for implementing New Policies."

"One is Henan Governor Tian Wenjing, another is Zhejiang Administrator Li Wei, and the Guangxi Governor Li Fu is also decent."

"And Lin Ru Hai, the Jiangnan Salt‑tax Inspector, who is also your Jia Family's uncle, has considerable insight and methods for salt‑policy reform."

"However, a few days ago the Imperial City Office reported that he has been repeatedly targeted for assassination and poisoning, nearly losing his life."

"These Jiangnan salt merchants are truly audacious! Unrestrained! I will sooner or later cut down this band of treacherous traitors!"

"Fortunately your training has succeeded! Seeing the mighty force of Bashang Daying today, my heart is largely eased!"

Jia Jing, listening to the list of names Jing Sheng Di recited, felt a sense of temporal disarray within.

He did not expect that these capable ministers from the Kang‑Yong era would also shine in the Da Han Empire.

Indeed, gold shines wherever it is.

He already understood that this world's backdrop is a blend of Dream of the Red Chamber and early Qing, with figures like Zhang Tingyu, Li Guangdi, Nian Gengyao appearing.

There may be minor deviations, but many people and events align broadly.

History has its corrective force; perhaps the dynasty changes, yet many characters' trajectories remain largely the same.

Those who should have been Han officials after the Manchu entered the passes are now truly Han officials, since the Manchu have not yet entered.

However, these political matters are not his concern for now; what he must do is be a worthy martial hero, train the army, command military power, pacify internal bandits, and expel external barbarians!

But Lin Ru Hai's poisoning and assassination weighed on his mind—could the death of Lin Ru Hai in the original work be that simple?

Jia Jing kept this in mind and said to Jing Sheng Di:

"Those who earn Your Majesty's favor must be capable ministers and officials!"

"As for Lord Lin, he is indeed my uncle; his only daughter is now being raised at Rong Guo Mansion. Father and daughter have not seen each other for years; I suppose Uncle Lin, thinking of loyalty to the court, fears endangering his family…"

Jing Sheng Di, seeing a hint of worry in Jia Jing's expression, reassured him:

"Lord Lin has, over these years, painstakingly reformed salt policy in Jiangnan, delivering a million taels of salt tax to the court each year; I have noted his toil in my heart."

"I have already ordered the Imperial City Office to assign guards for his safety, rest assured! I will not let anyone harm him!"

Hearing the emperor's assurance, Jia Jing relaxed outwardly, yet remained pessimistic inside.

After all, Lin Ru Hai indeed died shortly after in his post in the original, suggesting the Imperial City Office is not that reliable.

He still needs to make arrangements; Lin Ru Hai is not only sister Lin's father but also a capable minister, so he must ensure his protection.

Jing Sheng Di glanced at Jia Jing again and said gravely:

"The Imperial City Office recently reported that the north‑west borders of Yulin and Ningxia are unsettled; False Qing envoys are frequently contacting the Northern Yuan royal court and the Hun Xie Khanate."

"They appear to have reached a cooperative intent; the Mongols eye a southern invasion, and even the Western Kara Khanate in the Western Regions seems restless, seeking to bite into the Da Han Empire."

"It was because I read these reports that my heart flared with anxiety, causing me to fall ill."

"This year the Manchu suffered a great defeat, losing troops and generals, but not yet to the point of crippling injury; now these Mongols want to intervene, truly a troublesome season!"

"When you return to the capital, I will set with you a ten‑year strategic plan to pacify Liaoning and defeat False Qing, intending to reorganize the army, implement New Policies, strengthen national power, and then confront False Qing."

"But now it seems False Qing will never grant us time for peaceful development or to address internal troubles."

Jing Sheng Di's words made Jia Jing pause slightly; no wonder the emperor seemed noticeably impatient today—it was the unrest at the frontier that troubled him.

As Jia Jing's rank rose, his understanding of the Da Han Empire's situation deepened.

During his time back in the capital, besides training troops and honing martial skills, his main tasks were studying history, practicing combat, and gathering intelligence on the Da Han Empire's external enemies.

The Da Han Empire's border mainly faces two great foes: one is the Liaodong False Qing, the other is Northwest Mongolia; as for the southwest, although minor unrest is constant, it still does not amount to a serious, close threat.