Chapter 180: Leisurely Sending Off the Sun and Moon (Continued)

In times of war, the pace of change often outstrips all expectations.

Moqi Xie and his party had merely made a trip to the west, a round trip of thirty or forty days, yet by the time they returned, the scenery along the way had already transformed dramatically... For instance, Luoyang, which had been deathly still when they passed through before, now showed clear signs of minor repairs at the old city site. Though still desolate, it had at least gained a faint spark of life.

Not only that, but it was said the ancestral hall at the imperial mausoleum had also received some restoration, and Zhao Shi, the Grand Master of the Imperial Clan who had come from Yangzhou, was at that very moment conducting sacrificial rites and weeping at the tombs.

By the time they reached Zhengzhou, this phenomenon became even more pronounced, for the number and density of cooking smoke could not be faked.

Moqi Xie understood perfectly well: this was inevitably due to the suppression of the rebellion in the southeastern armies, allowing the financial and material resources from the southeast, previously blocked, to finally reach Dongjing via the canal... In the year before the Jingkang Incident, the total annual revenue from the Two Zhe Circuits plus the Fujian Circuit had been over twenty million strings of cash. Even accounting for the turmoil since Jingkang and the recent suppression of the military rebellion, which had consumed much, the annual minimum should still be ten million strings, on par with Bashu... And this shipment of money, grain, fodder, and goods, delayed by over half a year, was estimated to be worth at least six million strings.

With money, cloth, and grain, anything became possible.

However, beyond these tangible conditions, Moqi Yuanzhong, with his intelligence and current standing, could vaguely discern from this phenomenon another layer—something he could not quite articulate, yet which undeniably existed.

And this something was constantly influencing the current situation.

One must understand that back in Nanyang, Moqi Xie, as a party involved, had already seen it... At that time, the situation was dire, yet once the newly ascended Emperor had designated the auxiliary capital, Nanyang was immediately flooded with a large number of displaced officials, scholars, and merchants. Moreover, the situations in Jingxiang, Bashu, and the southeast were instantly affected by Nanyang, gradually stabilizing.

The various rebellions in the southeast were pacified, Zhong Xiang of Dongting Lake fell silent, and Fan Qiong, despite his immense power, could only submit to arrest and was buried alive in a coffin as a warning to others.

The same was true now.

Although the Great Song faced the loss of northern Shaanxi, the emergence of the puppet Qi, internal rebellions, and an unquestionably inferior military strength, coupled with Dongjing's awkward position—all of which led to immense future uncertainty—after Zhao Jiu had sat securely in the old capital for several months, the overall situation was still rapidly moving in a stable direction.

It rather had the flavor of "the people's hearts yearning for stability."

However, Moqi Yuanzhong, now a trusted figure before the throne, did not find this cause for joy. He always felt that this so-called yearning for stability might not be a good thing, for it could easily degenerate into a desire for mere comfort and ease... And the Emperor sitting in Dongjing at this moment would absolutely never accept such complacency.

Of course, these were just idle thoughts Moqi Xie had along the way, mere musings without any substance. Besides, past events had already proven that with the Jin Jun ahead, stability was not something one could simply choose.

Returning to the present, on the last day of mid-May, Moqi Xie, who had been rushing along the road with his party, finally managed to return to Dongjing. And as if to mirror his thoughts, an incredible thing happened: he got stuck in a traffic jam in Dongjing.

It was a real traffic jam. When Moqi Xie and his men entered the outer city through the Xinzheng Gate in the west, things were fine. But once inside the inner city, at the intersection of West Avenue and Chongming Gate, they encountered a long procession of carriages and were blocked on the spot.

To be fair, such a thing would have been utterly ordinary six or seven years ago. Back then, Dongjing was packed with over a million permanent residents, nobles and high officials were as numerous as ox hairs, and their carriages and ceremonial processions filled every street and alley. Moreover, the number of cargo vehicles needed to sustain a million people was also staggering.

But now, it was extraordinary.

"Whose procession is this?"

Moqi Xie, leading his horse, casually summoned a young servant who had come out of a roadside shop to watch the commotion.

"Sir, have you just arrived in Dongjing?" The servant, recognizing at a glance that Moqi Xie and his party were legitimate officials coming to the capital, spoke freely. "Then naturally you wouldn't know the reason. This is after Grand Commandant Yue suppressed the southeastern army rebellion. Several wealthy families in Yangzhou, hearing that the Emperor had returned to Dongjing, were moved by thoughts of returning to their hometowns. They banded together and followed the army here... The leaders include the family of the Grand Master of the Imperial Clan, Prince Xun of Xiaokang; the family of Pan Xianfei, Lady Pan; the Mei family of Xiangzhou; and the family of the late Empress Xing... The ones blocking the road here are Lady Pan's family and the Mei family of Xiangzhou. Their old residences are close, so the Mei family went first. Lady Pan's family couldn't wait and just followed right behind, making their procession seem rather grand. They didn't expect so many people coming from West Avenue today, and no one dared to stop either family's advance, so they got clogged up at this intersection."

Moqi Yuanzhong stroked his beard and smiled.

"When a nation declines, monsters are sure to appear!"

But before Moqi Yuanzhong could fully smile, a red-faced, brocade-clad man who had remained on his horse all along shouted angrily in the street, his voice so loud it drew the eyes of everyone on the street. "From what I've seen along the way, even the imperial mausoleum in the Western Capital cannot be protected, yet you go to all this trouble to fetch a consort from Yangzhou? If she must come, she should travel lightly and simply, to demonstrate the virtue of the inner palace. Instead, she bullies people by borrowing the tiger's might, blocking the road, and making a high minister of state and a frontline general wait here idly? Where is the justice in this world?!"

Upon hearing this, the young servant immediately slipped back into his shop, while everyone on the street stared dumbfounded at the red-faced man.

But moments later, unexpectedly, the procession, which had been moving continuously, split in two. Those already at the intersection hurried across, while those not yet there obediently pulled over to the roadside... Not only that, but shortly after, a young scion and an elderly steward-like figure personally came out, announced their names, and expressed their shame and apologies.

The red-faced man, none other than Qu Duan—who had come to the capital to "assume his post" and had only been untied when he reached the Western Capital—naturally snorted coldly and ignored them. Moqi Xie, beside him, merely gave his name casually and then smiled wryly, saying nothing.

Let it be said, Moqi Yuanzhong saw through it all clearly. This was not because these noble and imperial-relative families had suddenly changed their ways upon witnessing the nation's hardship, but because the times compelled them.

One must remember that during the Jingkang Incident, when the two emperors were taken north, Empress Xing was also captured. Lady Pan, however, was one of the few legitimate women remaining by the Emperor's side and was also pregnant with imperial offspring. Thus, there was talk that she could be directly made Empress. But since Empress Xing's fate was unknown, the ministers at the time dissuaded the Emperor, and it did not come to pass.

Now, Empress Xing had been confirmed dead, and it was said her coffin would be returned soon. Although Lady Pan had lost one imperial child—which was all too common in those days—she had instead gained the Emperor's affection because of it. Thus, she had been specially permitted to return and attend him... As a result, the matter became very delicate, for Lady Pan's rank was far above everyone else in the inner palace!

In other words, as the Emperor repeatedly dismissed palace women and declined female companions, the only women in the palace with any formal status were a Lady Wu and Lady Pan. Lady Wu was young and low-ranking, clearly no match for Lady Pan. So, once the question of the empress was raised, it was almost certainly Lady Pan's for the taking.

As for why it was "almost" rather than "certain," it was because, aside from the Emperor's own will and the seemingly unthreatening Lady Wu, Lady Pan first had to face a truly powerful old enemy—the very man who, back in Nanjing, had strongly advised the newly ascended Emperor not to make Lady Pan his empress was none other than the most securely seated Chief Minister of the Secretariat, Lu Haowen, Lord Lu.

In other words, Lady Pan, knowing the timing was sensitive, was putting on a show. And Moqi Xie also knew that Lady Pan would never dare to offend any minister at this juncture, so he felt emboldened.

As for Qu Duan... to be honest, General Qu had thought it through during the journey. He figured he would likely keep his life and his official post by coming here. But to return to the front lines and command a region was a pipe dream. He would probably be kept in idle retirement, as a way to placate his old subordinates in the west... So, General Qu was acting on his true nature and out of a "what the hell" attitude!

Whether it was the Empress's family or the most famous clan in the world, what the hell did he care?!

Enough of this digression. Back to the present. Moqi Yuanzhong, aside from some private thoughts, was most importantly confident because his western mission had clearly been a success. And General Qu was determined to show no respect to anyone. So, the two of them, acting tough, didn't even care about Lady Pan's family. When Lady Pan's son and steward personally came to apologize, only Moqi Xie gave a slight bow in acknowledgment. Then the two of them led their subordinates and attendants, proudly cutting through Lady Pan's procession and heading towards the old Secretariat and the Imperial City.

After they left, Lady Pan's family, who had been stewing with anger, saw that no one else dared to cross their procession. They continued to block West Avenue without stopping. Meanwhile, countless idlers on the roadside watched the retreating figures of Moqi Xie and Qu Duan, silently marveling... Dongjing had only been lively for a few days, and already such formidable characters had emerged.

Leaving this minor incident aside, Moqi Xie and Qu Duan arrived at the southern turn of the Imperial Street and entered the old Secretariat grounds, now shared by the Secretariat and the Bureau of Military Affairs. They did not see Vice Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs Wang Boyan or the two Chief Ministers. Only Liu Ziyu, the Director of the Bureau of Military Affairs, was there handling military affairs... Since the Heyin incident, the two sides had grown increasingly distant, only exchanging polite formalities... However, this matter was of great importance. Although the central government had already received a fast-horse dispatch from Yuwen Xuzhong in Guanzhong, the principals had to report to the Emperor in person. Liu Ziyu did not dare to delay and immediately sent word into the palace.

Soon, an oral decree came from the Xuande Gate, stating that several lords and grand commandants were just then discussing affairs before the throne. Moqi Xie, as a staff officer, and Qu Duan, as a commander-in-chief, were to enter the inner palace directly and also participate in the discussion of military matters.

No one had any objections. Only Qu Duan was truly bold. Although it was his first time in the palace and his first audience with the Emperor, he walked from before the Xuande Tower to behind it with his head held high and a stern demeanor... It seemed he might well continue to make a scene even when facing the Emperor and the assembled lords and grand commandants.

One could only say, this was the man who had once publicly composed poems to mock the entire Nanyang court and then bullied the entire western region.

Entering the inner palace, they turned west from the Great Qing Hall into a large courtyard. Inside, a bell tower and a drum tower guarded the Wende Hall, which was the daily venue for court sessions and official business. It was also among the first places to be cleaned up. Upon entering the Wende Hall precinct, only the two of them could go inside, and they had to be searched, with weapons and armor removed.

After the search, Moqi Xie was summoned to enter first, while Qu Duan waited at the foot of the drum tower steps.

Qu Duan had long been mentally prepared for this. With all that had happened in the west, he knew he could never be considered one of the central government's own again... At this moment of reflection, Qu Duan felt a rare pang of regret, but he showed nothing on his face. Instead, he felt that now that he was here, about to face the Emperor, he should be even more unyielding and display his true mettle. Otherwise, wouldn't he become a laughingstock?

But just as Qu Duan was lost in thought amidst the summer cicada chirping, a sudden clatter of armor broke the sound, interrupting his reverie before the Wende Hall.

Could they really be planning to kill him?

Qu Duan's heart was on alert, followed by a silent lament... Death was death; he had lived on the edge of a blade for twenty years—was he really afraid of dying? It was just a pity that the Iron Elephant horse hadn't been sent off in the west and had followed him all the way here. He wondered if that Moqi Yuanzhong would end up coveting it.

"Qu Da!"

Several dozen armored soldiers poured out from the hall and lined up on the steps before Qu Duan. The man at their head had a very large frame, wore a brocade robe and a jade belt, and called out Qu Duan's nickname from a distance. "Do you still recognize me?"

Qu Duan stared for a long time... At first, seeing the jade belt, his first reaction was that the Emperor himself had come out to see him. But when the man spoke, hearing that familiar accent, Qu Duan suddenly realized this must be an old acquaintance from the Western Army, Po Han Wu—the foremost military man of the day, the Junior Guardian and Military Governor of two circuits, Grand Commandant Han Shizhong.

But this didn't sound like he was here to kill him, did it?

"Grand Commandant Han." Faced with such a figure, Qu Duan hesitated for a moment, then rarely offered a proper bow with cupped hands.

"So you still know to bow to me, Po Han Wu?" Han Shizhong stood on the steps, sneering. "I hear that of the hundreds of thousands of men in our Western Army, dead, gone, fled, or vanished, you ended up as the top general in the west. Isn't that a joke? How did the Emperor put it? 'When the tiger is away from the mountain, the wildcat proclaims itself king'?"

Yang Yizhong, standing nearby, was tempted to correct him but couldn't be bothered to say more. Qu Duan, at the foot of the steps, opened his mouth to retort, but faced with this man, he truly didn't know where to begin.

"I won't talk about the dead Liu Guangshi today, nor Old Grand Commandant Yang, who's retired in Yangzhou. I won't even mention that petty Zhang Jun, who's inside flattering the Emperor." Han Shizhong continued sneering. "These guards who came out with me today are all veterans selected from the Western Army. In front of everyone, I ask you: just between you, Qu Da, and me, Han Shizhong... who is one year older?"

Qu Duan pressed his lips together and said nothing.

"I'm asking you a question!" Han Shizhong, hands on his belt, sneered. "Have you forgotten who's older and who's younger?"

"It is you, Grand Commandant." Under the glare of several dozen men on the steps, Qu Duan finally cupped his hands in resignation. "You are one year older than me."

"Who joined the army earlier?"

"He's a Grand Commandant."

"Who has more seniority?"

"..." Qu Duan finally fell silent.

"Who has greater merit?" Han Shizhong, no longer arguing, pressed on relentlessly.

"..."

"Am I not a legitimate product of the Western Army? Or are you saying your Jingyuan Circuit is the Western Army, but our Yanfu Circuit isn't?"

"..."

"Then I'm a Grand Commandant now, and you're not. What right do you have to be defiant?"

"It's not that I'm defying the Grand Commandant..." Qu Duan felt a strange dejection... Firing off a broadside from afar was one thing, but facing this head-on was another. From a soldier's perspective, he truly couldn't find a single aspect where Han Shizhong was inferior to him.

"That's good." Han Shizhong suddenly pursed his lips. "Little Yang... This is Yang Yizhong, the grandson of your old superior, Chief Superintendent Yang... Little Yang, go down and strip off his brocade robe!"

Yang Yizhong had been listening all this time, waiting for this very order. He charged forward with several Palace Guards, pinned Qu Duan down beneath the drum tower in front of the Wende Hall, and tore off his clothes, revealing a pale back covered in muscles and scars.

At that moment, another person presented a horsewhip to Han Shizhong with both hands.

"I defy... I am a general of the court; a scholar may be killed but not humiliated!" Seeing this, Qu Duan understood perfectly that Han Shizhong was about to give him a whipping to break his spirit, and he struggled even more fiercely. "You reckless Han Wu, even if you surpass me in everything, you cannot humiliate me like this without cause!"

"I am acting on the official's orders, specifically to give you these twenty lashes to break your spirit!" Han Shizhong said unhurriedly, one hand on his belt, the other holding the whip as he circled behind Qu Duan, then announced loudly. "The official told me to tell you: the Censor-in-Chief is a great minister of state. Hu Mingzhong, as his envoy, was whipped in your defense zone. Whether you knew about it or not, whether you participated or not, today you must personally repay that debt! Because among all the Grand Commandants in the hall, only I, Han Wu, have the seniority and merit to cover you completely, so the official gave me this face-glorifying opportunity!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Han Shizhong flicked his wrist and struck Qu Duan's back.

The whip bit into his flesh, the pain piercing to the bone. Qu Duan gritted his teeth and swallowed his words... It was clear that reckless Han Wu was an expert in this; one could only say he was a true heir to the Western Army.

And that wasn't all. As he whipped him, Han Shizhong continued to curse:

"I just don't get it. What do you have to be so proud of? What do you have to be so arrogant about? Even I, Han Wu, am not arrogant. Try being arrogant in front of me again!

"A mere Commander, and you dare to annex your colleagues wantonly?

"A Prefect of Yan'an, and you dare to kill the Grand Coordinator above you?

"A newly appointed Commander-in-Chief of less than three months, and you dare to disregard the Censor-in-Chief?

"Censor-in-Chief Hu says you have no rebellious intent, but in my opinion, even without rebellious intent, you deserve to die! Right?

"Only you have it hard in Guanxi? Everyone else is living it up? The official, on the Huai River, wouldn't even light a single candle, living in the palace and shooting rabbits for food every day!

"I, old Han, have only just started learning to read, and you're writing poetry? And you write poems mocking the official and all the lords and ministers?

"The official and ministers you mocked—how did they drive away the Jin Army?

"Do you know that the scars on your back aren't even a tenth of mine, Han Wu's?

"And Censor-in-Chief Hu—what a good man—how did he get beaten in your defense zone? He was an imperial envoy!

Han Shizhong cursed and whipped without stopping, while Qu Duan clenched his teeth and remained silent throughout, just like Hu Yin had on that day.

When the whipping was done, Han Shizhong put away the whip, walked around to face him, neither out of breath nor hurried, and said coldly: "Well? Any words? Let me tell you in advance: if you dare to harbor any resentment towards the official, I, Han Wu, will risk my two Military Governor titles today and kill you with my own hands right here in front of the Wende Hall!"

"Yes!"

Qu Duan's teeth chattered slightly, his back covered in bloodstains, but he struggled to reply from the ground. "The official's decree was to give me twenty lashes to break my spirit... But you, Han Wu, abused your authority and gave me twenty-one!"

"It was twenty-two. Those last two were my personal addition, because Censor-in-Chief Hu is a sworn brother of mine, and I wanted to use public office to settle a private grudge..." As he said this, Han Shizhong lashed him across the face with another whip before continuing with a grim smile. "Or is it that you, Qu Da, only learned today that I'm called reckless Han Wu? If you defy, we'll have plenty of dealings in the future. Come find me anytime, and I'll be waiting for you!"

A bloody welt appeared on Qu Duan's face, but he finally gritted his teeth and said nothing.

"Give him his clothes and bring him inside." Han Shizhong paid him no further heed, dropped the horsewhip, and, holding his belt, returned to the hall. "The official is discussing military affairs. By regulation, he, as Vice Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Camp, should be present to listen and advise!"

Qu Duan was slightly stunned, still gritting his teeth in silence, but a single tear suddenly fell, which he quickly wiped away.

PS: My cold has gotten worse... I feel like someone needs to whip me twenty times to recover.