[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers":3,"chapter-restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-345":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Restoring the Mountains and Rivers",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2364614,4623,"Chapter 345: Going Home","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-345",345,"\u003Cp>During the Qingming season, Guangzhou’s weather was unusually erratic, swinging wildly between spring, summer, autumn, and winter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the morning, the wind bit like ice; by midday, the sun blazed overhead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The capricious weather tormented the officials waiting at the city gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had all come dressed in winter robes, and now each one sweated profusely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how hot, they had to endure it—under the eyes of all, officials must maintain their dignity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Excellency, the triumphant troops won’t arrive for a while longer; why not rest behind for now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ll send someone to notify you as soon as they arrive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the palanquin of Marquis of Wayang lower, Prefect Lü Junyou stepped forward to urge him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today was the day the Two Guang armies returned from the front; to show due reverence, all officials had arrived early at the city gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the highest military and civil authority in Two Guang, Marquis of Wayang would naturally make the final appearance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had changed into summer attire before departure, creating a stark contrast with the officials bundled in cotton robes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The triumphant army is not far; I estimate they’ll arrive within the time of one incense stick.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marquis of Wayang shook his head in refusal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This high-profile welcome ceremony had been entirely his own doing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He staged such a spectacle not only to greet the returning troops but also to pacify public sentiment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The White Lotus rebels had caused too great an upheaval, severely undermining the foundations of Great Yu's rule.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the Two Guang regions had been reclaimed by the court, rebel remnants still lingered among the people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some hid in villages, lying low; others retreated into remote mountains, becoming bandits—all unstable elements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Relying solely on military force to root them out would take far more than a day or two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The best approach was to win their hearts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By demonstrating the strength of the imperial army in action, shatter their unrealistic fantasies, and only then could local stability be achieved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It would also serve to warn the gentry and maritime merchants of the Two Guang regions: the empire belongs to Great Yu, not to them to flaunt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time flew, and after one incense stick had burned, the earth suddenly trembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A fierce army, marching in perfect unison, appeared in the officials’ line of sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Riding a towering steed at the head of the column, Li Mu raised his hand as they reached the city gate and ordered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Halt!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vast procession came to an instant stop, their flawless synchronization leaving the officials awestruck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyone could see at a glance: this was an elite army of the age.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Excellency, I have not disgraced your trust!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After dismounting, Li Mu bowed deeply to Marquis of Wayang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marquis of Hanshui, you shattered the bandits in Huguang and raised the prestige of our Two Guang armies—no need for such formalities.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marquis of Wayang returned the bow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the two fell into nostalgic conversation, ignoring all other officials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This scene left the civil officials deeply uncomfortable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet though they resented it, they had no choice but to swallow their anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As marquises of Great Yu, their status surpassed everyone present.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this rigid feudal hierarchy, their conduct was entirely proper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clever men understood: this was mutual posturing, an attempt to overshadow the rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason was simple: the powers of the Viceroy and local officials overlapped heavily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the Two Guang region stabilized, civil officials had begun to participate in local governance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Provincial Governors, Administration Commissioners, and Surveillance Commissioners had gained considerable power, somewhat eroding the Viceroy’s authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These power grabs occurred within the rules of political games.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The authority of local officials was clearly defined in Great Yu's laws; the Marquis of Wayang could not legally block them from performing their duties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the Viceroy’s status still remained superior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unable to prevent officials from exercising their powers didn’t mean he couldn’t make their lives difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This spectacle was a warning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they exchanged pleasantries while walking into the city, the civil officials’ scalps prickled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They knew the officials wore thick cotton robes, yet insisted on this forced march—clearly hoping to humiliate them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two elders strode ahead; the officials had no choice but to follow, gritting their teeth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Excellency, Minister Duan has fainted.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The news from his personal guard forced Marquis of Wayang to suppress his smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Minister Duan is advanced in years, yet still serves the court diligently—now he has collapsed! This shows my neglect as Viceroy toward my subordinates!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately arrange medical care for Minister Duan; his health must not be harmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From now on, let others in the yamen shoulder more duties; don’t keep troubling Minister Duan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These words sounded caring, yet each cut like a blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Minister Duan, who had fainted, was barely forty—not remotely “advanced in years.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In officialdom, such a remark meant the end of his career.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The phrase “don’t trouble Minister Duan” was a direct seizure of his authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For officials, it was not the weight of duty they feared, but having nothing to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marquis of Wayang’s words left no doubt: he was telling this “Minister Duan” to resign and retire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the first victim fallen, officials who had considered faking fainting to escape the march instantly abandoned the idea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Marquis of Wayang’s skillful display of intimidation, Li Mu realized his old superior was no longer the lazy commander of the Five City Garrison he once was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, officialdom forged men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Viceroy’s Mansion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Excellency, it seems while I was away, some have grown restless?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu sipped his tea and asked with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Events in Two Guang naturally did not escape his notice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the same words carried different meanings depending on who spoke them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve noticed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Correct. Those civil officials think the war is over and that I, the Viceroy, am redundant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’ve been secretly colluding, plotting to drive me out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marquis of Wayang sneered without restraint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Power struggles were always brutal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With me as Viceroy overseeing them, every official felt constrained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The notion that civil officials were superior and military men inferior had seeped into many bones over the past century.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the noble military clans returning to power, many felt uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The civil officials’ attempt to unite and oust Marquis of Wayang was merely standard political maneuvering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since they’re so active, give them more difficult administrative tasks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially in newly reclaimed regions—where officials are scarce—send them there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu offered a ruthless suggestion without blinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marquis of Wayang, holding both the Two Guang and Jiangnan Viceroyalties, had authority to reassign officials under his command under the guise of temporary transfer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind the lines, political rules applied; on the front, only the strong survived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rebel remnants didn’t care how noble an official’s title was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they had a chance to strike a high-ranking official, they’d be even more eager.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few unlucky deaths would teach everyone to behave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The conditions aren’t ripe.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Holding both Viceroy positions already makes me a glaring target in court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Censors constantly accuse me of monopolizing power and acting arrogantly; if officials under my command start dying mysteriously, I’ll have no defense left!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, I won’t hold this Viceroy post much longer—let them fumble around as they please.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the way, why did you return from the front so quickly? Aren’t you planning to advance south from Huguang?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Li Mu instantly understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder the civil officials dared stir up trouble—it was intentional.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This discord between superior and subordinate was precisely what the Emperor and court officials most desired.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Marquis of Wayang wielding such immense power, if he and his subordinates were united, no one would sleep soundly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Excellency, if you’re avoiding suspicion, I must follow suit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the Wei rebels were crushed, the court holds absolute advantage; Fu’s rebellion stands alone and will fall soon enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My uncle wrote to you: our Li family will claim no further war merits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the Annamese are restless, I might as well return to Two Guang to hold the line.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu answered calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the founding era, a family with two marquises was nothing unusual; during the conquest of the realm, the emperor never hesitated to bestow rewards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as time passed, most of those illustrious founding dukes and marquises had declined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today’s most prominent families, the Jing and Li, couldn’t even make the top three in the early founding years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past century, newly created marquises have been few and far between.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, a family with two marquises is the most conspicuous presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You’re still young; stepping back now brings only benefits and no harm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But campaigning against Annan still requires careful deliberation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In recent days, I’ve gathered intelligence on the enemy: the Hu family of Annan has ruled for generations and is deeply entrenched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few years ago, they carried out a bloody purge, eliminating lingering threats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their national strength is at its peak, with hundreds of thousands of troops—very hard to confront.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To risk an expedition for land long lost is not worth it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marquis Wuyang advised tactfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more information he gathered, the more he felt the southern campaign would be difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without support from the court, relying solely on their own resources to push the southern campaign would yield returns disproportionate to the risks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s no choice: once the great war ends, we’ll be recalled to the capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Court politics are more dangerous than the battlefield; against those old foxes among the civil officials, I’m no match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One slip, and I’ll fall into the enemy’s trap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The best option is to stay on the frontier, slowly build seniority, and gradually fade from influence.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu feigned grievance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the birds are gone, the bow is put away; when the rabbits are dead, the hunting dogs are cooked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These historical lessons hang like sharp blades over every military general’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Marquis Wuyang himself feared that his achievements might overshadow the emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The resurgence of the meritocratic nobility has encroached on the civil officials’ interests; their falling out is merely a matter of time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In terms of actual power, the meritocratic nobility is not weak, but to suppress the civil officials, they must gain the emperor’s support.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The problem is Emperor Yongning is easily swayed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In political tactics, the meritocratic nobility as a whole still falls far short.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the start, the major leaders never imagined they could dominate the court and suppress the civil officials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At best, they could use their great victory to preserve the spoils they seized from the civil officials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To achieve their goal, they must strengthen control over military power and retain the ability to overturn the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since you've made your choice, I won't try to dissuade you anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To those old lords in the capital, the Two Guangs are still the old Lingnan; staying here is a decent choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But securing the position of Viceroy of the Two Guangs is nearly impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you can conquer Annan and become Viceroy of Jiaozhi, that would be feasible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Doing so is extremely difficult—and once you take that step, turning back becomes even harder!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marquis Wuyang said slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Competition exists between the meritocratic nobility and the civil officials, and within the nobility itself, there are also competing interests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Li Mu returns to the court, he becomes the natural next-generation leader of the meritocratic nobility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He doesn’t even need to campaign; the noble youths who fought alongside him will push him forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next generation of other top nobles, even if they grow up later, can only trail behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What’s acceptable now doesn’t mean it will be acceptable in the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether it’s Duke of Cheng, Marquis Wuyang, or Marquis Zhenyuan, all have sons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Top-tier power resources are limited; if someone takes more, others get less.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Li Mu doesn’t enter the central government, everyone can take a larger share of the cake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether they can hold onto it is another matter entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No matter how great the risk, it’s better than being trapped in the capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I rose through battlefield merit, earned my current status—but battlefield merit is also my greatest weakness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given the civil officials’ nature, they’ll eventually coax the emperor into sending me to lead the Liaodong campaign.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liaodong has effectively become a semi-independent fiefdom; no matter who they send, they can’t command the troops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rather than be forced into the pit, I’d rather jump out first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if Annan’s conditions are terrible, at least I can live comfortably there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu’s explanation left Marquis Wuyang drenched in cold sweat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the civil officials could send Li Mu to fill the pit, they wouldn’t spare him either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As one of the only two military merit marquises in decades, he too was plastered with the label of a famed general.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If his nephew lost his head and believed the civil officials’ lies, he’d be doomed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more troubling point is that Li Mu can retreat—he’s young, and while he’s earned great merit, others still shield him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He, this illustrious Viceroy of Four Provinces, has always stood at the very front.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Looks like after the war, I’ll have to fall ill too!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marquis Wuyang grumbled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your situation is different; just maintain your existing image.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While holding power, take several concubines, frequent brothels and entertainment quarters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When idle, visit the Empress Dowager often, reminisce, and enjoy life fully.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu said with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The greatest advantage of imperial in-laws is that the emperor sees them as “family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emperor Yongning is a filial son; as long as the Empress Dowager lives, no one will be foolish enough to strike at Marquis Wuyang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether Marquis Wuyang can outlive the Empress Dowager, even while indulging in wine, women, and song, remains uncertain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After attending the victory banquet and returning home, Li Mu was filled with deep emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wealth and honor of military men are truly hard-won.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Years spent campaigning far from home make returning feel alien.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My Lord, you’re back!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at his wife before him, Li Mu’s many words dissolved into three:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m back!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, this is a feudal society; in his past life, such a long absence would have left him clueless about what had happened in the inner quarters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Li Mu was not drunk, the alert maids swiftly removed the sobering soup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The servants have prepared hot water; you should bathe first!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she spoke, Jing Yaqing pushed away Li Mu’s hand resting on her waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a traditional lady of a great family, deeply influenced by Confucian culture, she couldn’t bear such intimate gestures in front of others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2442,"2026-06-21T08:09:04.021Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","8b96280e8a54a15b5d7a719a383dbd00f116b51a77d3446f1e9df640f260d680","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-346","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-344",391,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Frestoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-cover.jpg"]