[{"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-79":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},2364348,4623,"Chapter 79: The Cannon Fodder Marches Out","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-79",79,"\u003Cp>Words unaligned, not a single sentence more; their meeting ended in less than fifteen minutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving the yamen with a belly full of doubts, he was assigned to reside in a lavish salt merchant’s mansion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon seeing the interior decor, Xu Wenyue was so enraged he wanted to curse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The violations of protocol were far too numerous—even he, a cabinet minister, dared not be so brazen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he was about to sit down and calm himself, he spotted the golden dragon carving on the chair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had he not examined closely and noticed the dragon was missing one claw, he would have thought someone was secretly crafting an imperial throne.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, Xu Wenyue dared not sit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, he understood why Emperor Tianyuan was determined to destroy these salt merchants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were truly too arrogant, utterly ignorant of heaven’s height and earth’s depth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An awkward scene soon emerged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He dared not sit on the chair left by the owner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He dared not sleep in the bedroom left by the owner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He dared not use the bedding left by the owner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only things he could use were the servants’ belongings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The main reason this estate had been left vacant was that its protocol violations were too numerous—no one dared live here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the most audacious prodigal sons dared not touch it; Xu Wenyue was even less likely to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For ordinary people to violate protocol could be excused as ignorance; the emperor usually didn’t care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for a sitting cabinet minister to violate protocol was a serious political matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need to waste time tidying up—move directly to the servants’ quarters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s only a few days anyway; once Marquis Wuyang departs, we’ll move to the yamen!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Wenyue said through clenched teeth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had barely entered Yangzhou and already been lured into a deep pit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, he had been cautious enough—if he’d been careless and moved in without scrutiny, disaster would have followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Excellency, why don’t we stay at an inn instead?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This mansion has too many protocol violations; if a censor impeaches us, it’ll be hard to explain later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hou Huaichang stepped forward to advise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One who becomes a cabinet minister’s private secretary is no ordinary man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His unseemly display at the city gate earlier was due to experiential bias—not proof of incompetence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the Censorate appears to be controlled by pure stream officials, it is not Xu Wenyue’s personal fiefdom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His rivals in officialdom come not only from the eunuch faction but also from challengers within the pure stream itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When interests are involved, one’s own people often strike harder than outsiders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, then find an inn.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Something ordinary will do—remember, no luxury.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Also, send someone to investigate what Marquis Wuyang has been up to lately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And the Yangzhou gentry’s stance is highly suspicious—must be clarified!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Wenyue gave careful instructions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once bitten by a snake, one fears a well for ten years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With someone watching, he dared not be as ostentatious as he had been on the road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too many unclear points—he couldn’t sleep until he understood the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, local gentry should be close to him, a civil minister of the cabinet, not entangle themselves with imperial relatives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Establishing ties with him would mean great significance for their sons serving in the court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marquis Wuyang, merely an imperial relative, could bring them no tangible benefit even if their relationship were strongest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, rest assured—I’ll arrange for someone to handle it immediately!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had Hou’s secretary finished speaking than the household steward approached with a formal invitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, Commander Shi has sent an invitation for you to attend tonight’s banquet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Xu Wenyue was stunned for a long moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What Commander Shi? He’d never heard of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Great Yu had countless commanders; over three hundred were merely guard commanders alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some random commander to send him an invitation—how presumptuous, how little regard for his status as a cabinet minister.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, formal banquets required invitations sent three days in advance, with time and place agreed upon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last-minute invitations were reserved for elders to juniors, superiors to subordinates, or those with exceptional familiarity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If no such familiarity existed, it meant you were merely a filler guest, not the honored one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A lowly commander dared such disrespect—Xu Wenyue wondered if his usual kindness had made everyone forget his power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, this Commander Shi is from the family of Imperial Consort Rong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the steward’s reminder, Xu Wenyue’s anger instantly dissipated—he couldn’t quarrel with fools.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one with half a brain would let an imperial relative court a cabinet minister.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially the Rong family, a favorite concubine’s kin, easily linked to palace intrigues influencing court affairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A whisper of such ties could be fatal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marquis Wuyang’s initial hostility toward him stemmed not only from power struggles but also from their respective statuses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tell the messenger that I am unwell and cannot attend the banquet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No—just say I have no time for him!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment’s hesitation, Xu Wenyue chose to speak bluntly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this fool misunderstood and came bearing gifts to visit him, it would be another headache.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marquis Wuyang had mentioned Commander Shi once before, but Xu Wenyue hadn’t taken it seriously—there were many Rong commanders in Great Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now it was different: Yangzhou had no other army; it was almost certain the vanguard officer Marquis Wuyang referred to was this Commander Shi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Assigning this fool as vanguard—suddenly, Xu Wenyue felt his brain wasn’t large enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had read the victory reports; the noble scions of the Five City Garrison generally performed at the average level of Great Yu's military officers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pick any subordinate battalion or company commander—they’d be ten times more reliable than this fellow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was about to speak, to warn someone, but swallowed the words mid-sentence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An imperial relative’s internal problem—what did it have to do with him, a civil official?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without proper standing, offering unsolicited advice would only make them think he was blocking their path to glory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day, dawn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marquis Wuyang arrived early with his men to see off the army about to march.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though not invited, as imperial commissioner, Xu Wenyue also arrived early at the parade ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The well-wishers had come—but the main figure was nowhere to be seen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marquis, truly excellent discipline!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Wenyue said with a sardonic smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With such foolish kin in his ranks, one could imagine how hard it was to command the troops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worse still, the Five City Garrison had not one such kin, but many.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Minister Xu—I’ve always led my troops with leniency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as we win battles, I overlook minor lapses!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though his words were light, deep inside, Marquis Wuyang seethed with rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reputation he’d painstakingly built during the Yangzhou defense had been ruined by these fools.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had he not needed them to lure the enemy, he’d have sent them straight to military execution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only when the sun was high did Commander Shi arrive, late, along with his cronies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough talk—get over and report in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re their commander now—fulfill your duty!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Commander Shi was surprised he wasn’t punished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marquis Wuyang was no easygoing man—even his own kin who crossed him rarely escaped a beating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your servant obeys!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1211,"2026-06-21T08:09:02.410Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","1cd15f4a1cd1b7a44104fa3a8cd68fd42908c09b4b226f97c9ef5798ee5fec85","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-80","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-78",391,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Frestoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-cover.jpg"]