Chapter 72: Chuzhou
Gao Yunqu actually didn't know much about Chuzhou. She only knew that it was surrounded by mountains and that its people were fierce. Even after doing her due diligence before setting out, her knowledge was barely better than nothing. But no matter what, all land under heaven belonged to the king. She was an imperial envoy of the court; she had nothing to fear. In the third month, they left the Capital City quietly in plain clothes and light packs. They traveled swiftly, only raising their official banners once they were within Chuzhou's borders, catching everyone in the prefecture completely off guard.
Dou Qi, the Prefect of Chuzhou, had been in his post for just over a year. He was originally the Prefect of Fengzhou and came from a powerful clan there. In the evaluation of the fifteenth year of Yongxing, he had only received a mediocre-low rating, but as he had committed no major errors, he was dispatched to Chuzhou. Although the place was rather remote, he was still considered a third-rank high-ranking provincial official. This was far better than those who had been demoted or dismissed from office. He was quite content, hiding away obediently in Chuzhou, thinking he could live out his days in peace. He never expected a thunderbolt from a clear sky: the first strike of the New Policies had fallen on Chuzhou. He was suffering in silence.
Dou Qi hurried as fast as he could and finally managed to intercept Gao Yunqu's convoy on the official road into Chuzhou. Gao Yunqu did not make things difficult for him, alighting from her carriage to exchange greetings.
"Dou Qi, Prefect of Chuzhou, pays his respects to the Lord Imperial Envoy!" Although Dou Qi was the same third-rank as her, capital officials were inherently a cut above the rest. Coupled with the fact that she was on an imperial mission, he certainly did not dare to have Gao Yunqu salute him first.
"Lord Dou is too kind. There is no need for such ceremony." Gao Yunqu's reply was warm, and she did not appear particularly sharp, but Dou Qi still did not dare to let his guard down. He quickly welcomed her into the city.
"Lord Gao, please! The local worthies have already prepared a banquet, awaiting only your presence."
"After you, Lord Dou!"
As Gao Yunqu was new to Chuzhou and unfamiliar with the people and the place, she did not dare to be arrogant. She went along with all the arrangements made by the prefectural office and met, one by one, with the officials and powerful families of Chuzhou.
There were not many powerful families in Chuzhou; the three main ones were the Qi, the Wu, and the Suo. The Qi Family were descendants of the high-ranking provincial official who had built Chuzhou City in ancient times, while the Wu and Suo families were formerly leaders of the mountain peoples. The three families were deeply rooted in Chuzhou, no less formidable than the powerful families of Qinzhou. At an evening banquet, Gao Yunqu met the heads of the three families. The head of the Qi Family appeared gentle and refined, but he was not to be underestimated; the other two families clearly deferred to him as their leader. The heads of the Wu and Suo families had more of a warrior's temperament—straightforward and hearty, they did not seem to be deep schemers. Gao Yunqu kept a close eye on Qi Chengming, having a persistent bad feeling about him.
The officials were a simpler lot. Most were officials transferred in the fifteenth year of Yongxing, who had mediocre performance records in their various posts or lacked connections, and were thus sent to a remote place like Chuzhou. Gao Yunqu did, however, see a familiar face among them—the fifth-rank Assistant Prefect of Chuzhou, Zhou Hui. Before the twelfth year of Yongxing, she had served in the Censorate when Gao Yunqu was the Vice Censor-in-Chief. Although Gao Yunqu had already seen the roster of Chuzhou officials, she was still delighted to see an old acquaintance in person.
"Shengyan, you've become much more composed." Gao Yunqu had once had high hopes for Zhou Hui, and seeing her again now filled her with emotion.
"My lord's grace is the same as ever." Zhou Hui was also overjoyed and quickly paid her respects to Gao Yunqu.
The matter of the New Policies in Chuzhou went smoothly at first. Whatever the powerful families thought in their hearts, they were at least extremely cooperative on the surface. Upon entering Chuzhou, Gao Yunqu had noticed the bumpy and dilapidated state of the official roads, so she started with road repairs. She explained the pros and cons, and although the powerful families had their reservations, they were still reasonably cooperative.
Night fell at the main residence of the Qi Family.
Qi Chengming held only an honorary title and had no official post, but as the head of a great local clan, his family was naturally wealthy. Their food, clothing, and lodging were all of the utmost luxury. He had four sons and five daughters. Except for those serving in office elsewhere or already betrothed, all were required to come and pay their respects to their parents in the evening and morning, filling the entire room.
As was his custom, Qi Chengming offered a few words of encouragement to the younger ones before keeping his second son, fourth daughter, and sixth daughter behind in the study for a private talk. These were the children he valued most. His second son, Qi Daochong, was a warrior who managed the family's household troops. His fourth daughter, Qi Daolin, and sixth daughter, Qi Daoning, remained by his side, helping him manage the family's general affairs.
"You're all here. Let's talk," Qi Chengming said to his children as he and his wife, Wu Hongyan, sat down on a small couch.
Qi Daochong spoke bluntly, "Does Father think that Lord Gao will discover our affairs?"
"Listen to you, Second Brother," Qi Daoning interjected. "How could Chuzhou possibly withstand an investigation? The population, the land deeds, the tax revenues—is any of it seamless? It all depends on whether Lord Gao decides to investigate. Most of the officials who came to Chuzhou before were resentful and had no future prospects. A little effort and a little silver were enough to make them shut their mouths. But this Lord Gao is different. In the capital, she is said to be deep in the Emperor's confidence. Her future is limitless. She's counting on earning some political achievements here in Chuzhou to trade her scarlet robe for a purple one."
She spoke with a mocking tone, not at all like she was speaking to her brother. Qi Daochong was irritated by her taunt and snapped, "Then what do you suggest? We just sit and wait for death?"
"Ahem." Wu Hongyan coughed lightly, interrupting the siblings' squabble. "It's no longer a matter of whether she will investigate. That incorruptible Assistant Prefect Zhou seems to have already found something."
"What?" The three siblings were all greatly alarmed.
Wu Hongyan continued, "Our spy in the prefectural office reports that Zhou Hui has been checking the accounts in the archives these past few days. The documents she's requesting are growing in number and going further back in time."
"Father, Mother, do you think she can uncover the truth from the ledgers?" Qi Daolin, who had been silent until now, finally spoke with a frown.
"I'm afraid she already has. My sources say her expression has been grim for several days, and she's practically been living in the archives…" Qi Chengming rubbed his temples.
"How about…" Qi Daochong made a slicing motion across his neck with his hand, a cold glint in his eyes.
"That Assistant Prefect Zhou is an old subordinate of Gao Yunqu's. If something were to happen to her right under her nose, how could she not investigate? Second Brother, your thinking is still too simple." Qi Daoning's words always carried a subtext that easily angered Qi Daochong, and the two were on the verge of clashing again.
"A'ning," Qi Daolin called out to Qi Daoning in a warning tone. Qi Daoning obediently fell silent.
"This is truly a dilemma," Qi Chengming sighed.
The three siblings also fell silent. Just then, Qi Chengming's advisor knocked and entered, handing him a note. Qi Chengming unfolded it and read it with his wife. Their expressions changed drastically.
He passed the note to his children. "News just came from the capital. Take a look."
Qi Daochong took the note, and as he and his sisters read it, his tone changed in alarm. "Lu Songnian has been dismissed from office and has left the capital?!"
"Is Her Majesty trying to exterminate all the powerful families? To show no mercy at all…" Qi Daolin digested the news and let out a heavy sigh.
Qi Daoning, however, gloated. "That old fox is finally getting what he deserves… haha."
Qi Daochong ignored her and looked at his father. "Father, I'm afraid our only option is a fight to the death…"
Qi Chengming looked at Qi Daochong and asked, "A'chong, how is the training of the household troops?"
"Rest assured, Father. There are already ten thousand men, all scattered throughout the great mountains. They can be assembled into an army at a moment's notice upon your command!"
Qi Chengming then turned to Wu Hongyan. "My lady?"
Wu Hongyan nodded as well. "The Wu and Suo families' forces are also ready. Their men are strong, their horses are sturdy, and their blades are sharp."
"Are you all mad?! You want to use these ten thousand household troops to fight the entire imperial court?" Qi Daolin was in disbelief. It wasn't that she didn't know her family was engaged in business that could get them all beheaded, but she had never imagined that her parents would one day truly want to raise the banner of rebellion.
"A'lin, you don't understand military matters, so I won't hold it against you. In truth, it's not as perilous as you think. We don't have to march on the capital. We just need to rely on the natural defenses of the mountains. Holding Chuzhou will be easy. At that time, we can make the current emperor cede Chuzhou to us, and our Qi Family can be enfeoffed as kings with our own territory. Wouldn't that be wonderful, haha!" When it came to military campaigns, Qi Daochong became much more cheerful. This was what he excelled at. As he spoke, it was as if he could already see himself being made a king of a different surname, and he laughed with immense pride.
"You're truly mad!" Qi Daolin looked at her father and saw that he, too, was somewhat tempted. She was so shocked that she took a step back. Qi Daoning, standing behind her, stopped her from retreating further.
Behind Qi Daolin, Qi Daoning's lips curled into a smirk. Her face was hidden from view. With a faint smile on her lips, but a voice devoid of it, she said, "Father, Mother, Second Brother, those are matters for later. The urgent priority now is how to deal with Assistant Prefect Zhou and Vice Minister Gao. If word gets out, I'm afraid we'll only be able to have these sweet dreams in the underworld."
Qi Daochong agreed upon hearing this. He was nearly consumed by his blazing ambition. He said to Qi Chengming, "Father, we are hesitant to move against Zhou Hui because of Gao Yunqu. In that case… why don't we move against Gao Yunqu?"
"Second Brother!" Qi Daolin broke out in a sweat. "She is Her Majesty's confidante! If you touch her and enrage Her Majesty, the court will immediately send an army to crush Chuzhou!"
"A'lin is right," Qi Chengming nodded. Qi Daolin couldn't help but hope her father was coming to his senses, but his next words cast her into the lowest circle of hell. "A'chong, send a message to the Wazhai Stronghold. Have them pose as bandits outside the city… We will feign ignorance… We'll report to the capital that she's gone missing… and see how the capital reacts… Your men should guard the mountain passes well. If anything goes wrong, raise the banner of rebellion immediately…"
Qi Daolin saw stars. She didn't hear anything else they discussed. It wasn't until late at night, when the others dispersed, that she retreated like a walking corpse.
Qi Chengming observed his three children: his second son, hot-headed and incomparably excited; his fourth daughter, utterly pessimistic; his sixth daughter, seemingly nonchalant, yet every occasional comment she made was venomous and aimed at a vital point. Truly, a dragon has nine sons, and each is different. He watched the three of them take their leave and walk away, then said to Wu Hongyan beside him, "A'yan, we have many children, but only these three are accomplished. Our second son is brave, but he lacks strategy. Our fourth daughter is intelligent and steady, but her heart is too soft. As for our sixth daughter… her methods are a bit too vicious. Sometimes I don't know what she's thinking. I'm afraid using her will come at a great cost to ourselves… sigh…"
Wu Hongyan had been his childhood sweetheart, and after marrying him, they had been of one heart and mind. She naturally knew what he was thinking and consoled him, "My lord, you worry too much. For other families, having even one outstanding child is a blessing. You already have three good children, what more could you ask for? All three of them are still young. My lord can simply guide them slowly."
"You are right, my lady…"
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