Chapter 129: Memorial

"This humble general Xie Kuan pays his respects to His Highness, the Yan Wang!"

Upon entering the front courtyard, Xie Kuan saw Zhao Xu and hurried forward to salute.

He had met Zhao Xu before and remembered his appearance.

"Captain Xie, you may rise," Zhao Xu said.

This Xie Kuan was one of the generals in charge of the Imperial Guard within the palace, with five thousand men under his command.

Whenever Zhao Heng traveled, Xie Kuan was often by his side.

The reason was simple: the current Empress was surnamed Xie, and Xie Kuan was Empress Xie's nephew; even the Crown Prince had to call him cousin.

After saluting Zhao Xu, Xie Kuan turned to Chang Wei, his face full of smiles. "Chang Wei, it has been a long time. Now that you have gained the Yan Wang's appreciation and are in charge of the Prince's Guard, you really ought to thank me."

Xu Lie curled his lip; this Xie Kuan had been extremely overbearing when he was in the Imperial Guard.

Any general who did not know how to flatter him or send him gifts would be met with cold treatment.

They would even be beaten and scolded.

Chang Wei let out a cold laugh. "I should indeed thank you; otherwise, I would never have met His Highness, which would have been the greatest regret of my life."

Although he despised Xie Kuan, it was indeed Xie Kuan who had sent him to Yan Commandery.

By a stroke of luck, he was now actually quite glad to have come here.

Therefore, although he did not care for Xie Kuan, he did not make things difficult for him.

Xie Kuan laughed twice, remembered that time was tight for this trip, and took out the Imperial Edict.

Zhao Xu understood and immediately prepared to receive the edict.

Xie Kuan unfolded the Imperial Edict and read: "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: I have heard that during the Northern Di Autumn Hunt, the siege of Yancheng was defeated by the Yan Wang, and Kutu and Lang Lu were captured. My heart is greatly comforted. However, the ministers in Jingshi all claim this is a rumor. I specially order Imperial Guard Captain Xie Kuan to travel to Yan Commandery to escort Kutu and the other two to Jingshi to prove your innocence, after which you shall be generously rewarded."

"This son receives the edict. Long live, long live, long, long live the Emperor," Zhao Xu chanted, then rose to accept the Imperial Edict.

Xie Kuan then said, "Your Highness, the court is currently in an uproar over this matter. Because the capture of Kutu remains unverified, the Emperor cannot issue a decree to reward Your Highness. Therefore, he specially ordered this humble general to escort Kutu to Jingshi. I hope Your Highness will allow Kutu to accompany me to Jingshi now."

Zhao Xu was silent for a moment.

He had just paid his respects to the fallen soldiers and was planning to choose a day to execute Kutu and the others.

He had not expected an Imperial Edict to arrive now to take the three of them.

Seeing Zhao Xu hesitate, Liu Fu stepped close and whispered, "Your Highness, the Imperial Edict cannot be defied. Currently, the Yuan Family and the Northern Di are eyeing us like tigers; do not offend the Emperor again."

Having spent some time with Zhao Xu, he understood that Zhao Xu could sometimes be impulsive.

He was afraid that Zhao Xu would refuse and immediately go to kill Kutu and the others.

After all, once Kutu reached Jingshi, whether he lived or died would no longer be under the Yan Wang's control.

Seeing that Zhao Xu did not speak, he continued, "Furthermore, as the Emperor said, once Kutu is dead, the ministers in the court will inevitably slander Your Highness for falsely reporting merits and attack you. This Autumn Hunt will not only be without merit but will instead be a fault. This subordinate knows Your Highness feels for the fallen soldiers, but they followed Your Highness in the hope that you would fulfill your promises and bring wealth and prosperity to Yan Commandery. Therefore, Your Highness must consider the long term."

Hearing this, Zhao Xu looked at Chang Wei.

Chang Wei understood Zhao Xu's meaning; his eyes showed some struggle, but in the end, he nodded.

Zhao Xu sighed softly and said, "Then please, Captain Xie, accompany General Chang to the North Camp prison."

"Yes,

Your Highness," Xie Kuan bowed.

Chang Wei did not say a word and led Xie Kuan away.

After the two had left, Liu Fu opened his mouth to say something more, but Zhao Xu immediately said, "Say no more. This Prince understands; if one cannot bear small things, one will spoil great plans."

Liu Fu nodded and reminded him, "Your Highness, write a Memorial to send to Jingshi now. Since Kutu has been handed over, Your Highness should naturally seek some rewards; after all, Your Highness has achieved a great merit. Also, this is the right time to take the opportunity to impeach the Yuan Family."

"You draft the Memorial," Zhao Xu said.

The duties of a Prince's Tutor originally included drafting Memorials.

Liu Fu was a scholar of this era and was better at word games than he was.

They arrived at the study.

Liu Fu picked up a brush and began to write on the Memorial: "Your son, Yan Wang Xu, reports: In mid-September, the Northern Di Nine Kings Kutu led an army of thirty thousand across Yanshan to raid Yanzhou. His troops split into three at Wuan County, and Kutu led twenty thousand men straight down to Yancheng, besieging the city for several days.

Your son, governing Yan Commandery, mindful of the Emperor's teachings, has been diligent in administration and loving to the people, training troops, taking the defense of the Imperial Clan as his own duty, and guarding the Imperial soil as his fundamental responsibility. Leading his own troops, he fought a bloody battle, suffering countless losses, and finally defeated Kutu under the city walls and captured Kutu at Wuan, achieving a great victory.

However, the fires of war were lit in Yan Commandery, and the enemy raided in all directions. Although the enemy was defeated, my fief has become scorched earth, and the people are in distress.

Furthermore, the great local Zhang Family's Zhang Kang colluded with the Northern Di externally and the Yuan Family internally, wishing to put your son to death. Had it not been for your son's vigilance in uncovering their plot, your son would be dead.

Now, your son has submitted Zhang Kang's confession along with this Memorial to the Emperor, hoping the Emperor will investigate clearly.

Your son shall wait in Yan Commandery for the Emperor's grace to manifest the majesty of our Imperial Clan."

Liu Fu finished writing and presented it to Zhao Xu.

Zhao Xu picked up the Memorial, scanned it, and nodded slightly.

Everything that needed to be said was in this Memorial.

One part highlighted his merits, and the other was a plea of poverty, stating that he had suffered heavy losses.

Additionally, there were the sordid affairs of Zhang Kang and the Yuan Family, as well as the request for rewards from Zhao Heng.

That final sentence was a reminder to Zhao Heng not to be too stingy, lest it damage the majesty of the Imperial Clan.

"Not bad, but add one more line: say that this Prince misses the Emperor and Mother very much."

Liu Fu nodded, polished Zhao Xu's words, and added them in.

"Have someone send it to Jingshi," Zhao Xu said.

Although Xie Kuan was leaving immediately, he did not trust him. After all, in ancient times, due to conflicts of interest, there were many cases of Memorials being altered or simply suppressed and not delivered.

Therefore, it was safer to send his own messenger.

Not long after the Memorial was finished, Chang Wei and Xie Kuan arrived.

They brought three Prison Carts with them; Xie Kuan would escort them to Jingshi.

"Your Highness, one cannot be too careful in escorting Kutu. This humble general has had Chen Hu bring one thousand Cavalry to go to Jingshi with Captain Xie. I wonder what Your Highness thinks of this?" Chang Wei said.

Xie Kuan was somewhat dissatisfied, "Chang Wei, are our Imperial Guards from the palace not even as good as these miscellaneous soldiers of yours? What is there for you to be uneasy about?"

Chang Wei sneered, "The miscellaneous soldiers you speak of have defeated the Northern Di, can you?"

"You..." Xie Kuan's face turned purple with anger.

He could no longer control Chang Wei now; if it were in the past, he would certainly have made Chang Wei pay.

Zhao Xu said at this moment: "Yanzhou is in chaos, and there are Northern Di spies mixed within; to be safe, it is better to let this Prince's troops provide the escort." Zhao Xu settled the matter with a single sentence.

Upon hearing there were Northern Di spies, Xie Kuan suddenly felt a sense of trepidation in his heart.

He said: "Since Your Highness has spoken, this subordinate will comply. When we came, the Emperor ordered us to take the people and return immediately; Your Highness, we shall not linger here any longer."

"Very well, if there is an opportunity next time, this Prince shall treat the Commandant to a meal of Wine," Zhao Xu said.

Just like Xie Kuan, they were merely being politely insincere.

Cupping his hands, Xie Kuan exited the Prince's manor, gave an order, and the troop moved slowly; Chen Hu led the Cavalry behind them, heading south.

Ten days later, the troop crossed the river and arrived at the foot of Jinling City.