Chapter 4: Urgent Frontier Report

The next morning, Li Mu sent someone to deliver a visiting card.

In recent days, he had thoroughly studied many etiquette rules.

According to the customs of the Great Yu bureaucracy, a guest must first send a messenger to schedule a visit, to avoid arriving only to find the host absent.

If the host declines politely with an excuse and does not propose another time, it proves the relationship is insufficient—there is no need to visit.

Those who show up with a visiting card and wait in line for an audience are inferiors seeking an audience with superiors.

Li Mu was there to renew ties; he naturally could not make such a mistake.

Instead of waiting for a reply at the Hou Fu, after breakfast he left with several retainers and one servant from the Hou Fu.

Since it was his first time in the capital, he certainly wanted to explore.

The bustling crowds and constant flow of carriages and horses spoke plainly of the city’s prosperity.

“Eight-hundred-li express! Clear the way!”

“Eight-hundred-li express! Clear the way!”

……

As if rehearsed, upon hearing the cry, whether high officials or common folk, all swiftly moved aside.

A road wide enough for four horses to ride side by side appeared before Li Mu in an instant.

After the courier passed, the street resumed its bustle, now enriched with new gossip.

In the capital, political sensitivity was simply different.

Even commoners had the habit of caring about matters of state, speculating wildly about what had happened.

“Fu Bao, such a scene isn’t common even in the capital, is it?”

Li Mu asked.

The eight-hundred-li express was the highest-grade communication method in Great Yu; it could only be activated for earth-shattering events.

Back in Hanzhong, he had only ever seen three-hundred-li express.

“Young Master Li, you’re joking.

I’d only ever heard of eight-hundred-li express in operas—this is my first time seeing it in person.

If you’re curious about its contents, sit at a teahouse on the city wall; all sorts of rumors gather there.

But most are hearsay; no matter how well-informed, no rumor can outpace an eight-hundred-li express.

Wait until Lord Hou returns tonight, then ask him directly—you might get the answer.”

Hearing Fu Bao’s reply, Li Mu smiled faintly.

“Lead the way—I’d like to see what a capital teahouse is like.”

When the sky falls, the tall ones take the first hit.

Since I’m not in that position, I needn’t meddle in its affairs—better to use this free time to learn about the capital first.

The Five City Military Command nominally an army, but in practice it handles duties akin to a paramilitary police force, public security, and urban management enforcement.

Its main responsibilities include patrolling for bandits, clearing streets and drains, managing prisoners, and fire prevention.

At the dynasty’s founding, five Military Command posts were established: Central, East, West, South, and North. Later, as duties multiplied, personnel expanded.

In later years, to strengthen control, five battalion commands were added.

To establish oneself in the Five City Military Command, one must not only untangle all relationships but also understand the capital thoroughly.

“Got it!”

……

“Your Majesty, eight-hundred-li urgent report from the frontier!”

Upon hearing this, the court officials, who had been arguing moments before, fell utterly silent.

“Bring it here!”

Emperor Tianyuan ordered coldly.

Though he tried to maintain composure, a flicker of worry in his brow betrayed his inner turmoil.

Since its inception, the eight-hundred-li express has meant disaster.

Every activation brings only bad news—never good.

“Worthless!”

“All of you are worthless!”

In his rage, Emperor Tianyuan slammed his fist on the dragon throne; the sharp pain brought him back to reason.

“Bad news from the frontier.

Five days ago, the Divine Engine Camp and the Three Thousand Camp, alongside the Liaodong frontier troops, attacked the Northern Barbarians’ ancestral stronghold—but were met with continuous heavy rain.

The rain soaked the gunpowder; all firearms in the army went dead, leaving them vulnerable.

In this battle, the Divine Engine Camp and the Three Thousand Camp were nearly annihilated; the allied frontier troops lost over half their numbers and lost over a hundred cannons.

Director of Liaodong Duan Wenhong died in battle; Commander of the Divine Engine Camp Shu Chisong died in battle; Commander of the Three Thousand Camp Wu Yichu died in battle; Regional Commander of Liaodong Cao Quanlong died in battle…”

My one hundred fifty thousand troops are gone!

Discuss—how do we salvage the collapsing Liaodong situation?”

The disaster struck too suddenly; all key personnel had perished.

By Great Yu custom, the dead bear no responsibility.

With no one to blame, such a massive scapegoat was heavy even for the emperor to carry.

Theoretically, Great Yu commanded a million troops; losing one hundred fifty thousand could be swiftly replaced.

But the gap between armies is greater than that between man and dog.

The troops lost in Liaodong were Great Yu's elite—nothing like the peasant soldiers of the garrison system.

With this main force gone, Great Yu will remain at a disadvantage in Liaodong for a long time.

Given the Northern Barbarians’ nature, they will not let this once-in-a-millennium opportunity slip away.

“Your Majesty, the immediate priority is to stabilize Liaodong’s morale, abandon less critical passes, and concentrate forces to defend key strongholds.

Simultaneously, draw elite troops and capable officers from across the realm to reinforce Liaodong as swiftly as possible!”

Duke Jingguo Jing Guoliang was the first to propose a plan.

Perhaps the shocking news had stunned them, or perhaps none wished to take responsibility—despite their usual infighting, the ministers remained unusually silent.

“Since no one has other suggestions, we proceed as Duke Jingguo proposes.

The Grand Secretariat must dispatch envoys immediately to soothe troop morale; the Ministry of War must draft orders at once to summon elite troops from all regions.

The Ministry of Revenue must provide two million taels of silver; the Imperial Treasury must contribute one million taels as compensation for fallen officers.

Additionally, the Ministry of Revenue must raise three million taels in military pay and fifty thousand shi of grain as reserves.

From now on, restoring Liaodong’s situation is paramount.

Anyone who undermines this effort will be executed without mercy!”

At this critical moment, Emperor Tianyuan revealed his decisive, ruthless side.

“Your Majesty, the Ministry of Revenue has no money!”

Minister of Revenue Wan He Nian braved it to refuse.

The court has countless financial demands; since a century ago, Great Yu's finances have been troubled.

Reforms were attempted repeatedly, but all proved temporary.

Great Yu's system is like a colossal dragon beast—no amount of money can fill it.

This situation persisted until Emperor Tianyuan ascended, when the court finally regained fiscal balance—and even posted a twenty-tael surplus last year.

But since completing military reforms and launching campaigns in Liaodong, the imperial treasury has plunged back into deficit.

Suddenly demanding such a vast sum is a crushing burden on the Ministry of Revenue.

“I do not wish to hear excuses!

No matter how dire your situation, this money must be found.

If you lack funds, find a way to raise them.

If you cannot solve problems for the court, what good are you?”

Facing Emperor Tianyuan’s sharp rebuke, Wan He Nian could only inwardly curse.

The emperor had said all there was to say—there was no room for further refusal.

……

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(End of Chapter)