Chapter 1421 - 1330: Cotton

The emperor is pregnant, and the entire nation celebrates. The news reaches Xiliang, and Zhang Gui, who was critically ill and half-conscious, seems rejuvenated and miraculously recovers, taking another breath of life.

He asked his second son, Zhang Mao, "Is there any news from your brother?"

Zhang Mao shook his head, comforting him, "Father, don’t worry. I have sent someone else to look for him. We will definitely bring back my brother. The envoy has not returned yet; Your Majesty has also dispatched two teams westward. He will surely be found."

Neither the envoy sent by the court nor the trading caravan sent by Zhao Hu and others in the private sector returned to Luoyang last August.

The time has already exceeded the deadline set by the emperor, and since there has been no news from them, either official or private, it is likely that they have met with disaster.

Zhang Gui was already mentally prepared and had considered all sorts of bad outcomes during this period, so he remained unperturbed, "How is the newly planted cotton doing?"

The cotton seeds obtained by Xiliang were split in half; one half was offered to the emperor as a gift for her ascension, while the other half was kept, and no one knew how many seeds they had on hand.

The emperor reciprocated the gift by sending back instructions on cotton cultivation. Once the temperatures started to rise last year, they secretly planted cotton following the emperor’s method.

In August of that year, they harvested the cotton the emperor had spoken of, extracted the seeds according to her instructions, removed impurities, washed and dried them, thus obtaining soft and warm cotton.

They initially didn’t know how to use it until they learned that the emperor had made two quilts for the Empress Dowager using cotton, so they immediately stuffed the dried cotton into quilt covers.

Although the result was lumpy and somewhat ugly, it was truly warm. Applied to clothing, cotton replaced scraps and cattail fluff as padding, which was just as warm.

It was then that Zhang Gui understood why Zhao Hanzhang valued this cotton so highly.

If cotton could be planted on a large scale, there would be no winter cold in this world. So he ordered the harvested seeds to be carefully preserved for continued planting this year.

He also called his second son and trusted aides, urging them to remain loyal to the court, guard the northern border, and send gifts to the court for every festival and the emperor’s birthday without negligence.

Just half a month ago, sensing his health was rapidly declining, Zhang Gui had instructed his second son, "After I’m gone, you’ll temporarily manage Xiliang’s affairs, waiting for your elder brother to return."

And at this time, upon hearing that the emperor was pregnant, Zhang Gui revived with a start. After a moment of silence, he asked, "How is this year’s cotton growing?"

Zhang Mao replied, "Very well."

Zhang Gui nodded, "Very well. Send people to carefully guard it. For the emperor to announce this now indicates she is over three months pregnant. The news reaching here... means in at most five months, the crown prince or the imperial princess will be born. By that time, we will have harvested the cotton, and I want to use the newly harvested cotton seeds as a congratulatory gift."

Zhang Mao asked, "Won’t the gift be too modest?"

Zhang Gui shook his head, "There’s no news of cotton from the private sector this year. Evidently, the cotton seeds given to Her Majesty are still in development and not enough to benefit the public."

This time, leaving only his second son and trusted generals, he said, "I want to write to the court to establish you as the princely heir."

Zhang Mao’s eyes widened, and before the generals could speak, he immediately refused, "No, father, my elder brother is the legitimate eldest son, the position of princely heir should be his."

Zhang Gui replied, "Your brother’s fate is unknown, and I cannot wait for him any longer."

Zhang Mao said, "I am willing to safeguard Xiliang for my brother until he returns."

Zhang Gui said, "It would have been possible before, but now it’s not. I’ve already made up my mind on this matter. Wang Rong, help me draft the document. I want to personally request Your Majesty to confer the title of princely heir."

Chief historian Wang Rong agreed, went to get paper and ink, while General Meng Chang moved a small low table to the bed and helped Zhang Gui sit up.

Zhang Mao’s eyes widened, and he knelt down with a thud, banging his head on the ground, tears streaming down his face, "Father, this will make me unfilial and unrighteous. How can I face my brother in the future?"

Zhang Gui said, "I will write a letter to your brother explaining everything. He will surely understand me and also understand you. Cheng Xun, do you only care about your brother and not about your father?"

Cheng Xun was Zhang Mao’s courtesy name, while Zhang Shi’s courtesy name was An Xun. This showed Zhang Gui’s expectations for them and for this world.

Zhang Gui’s breathing became rapid. After a pause he caught his breath and spoke weakly, "I have spent half my life as a soldier, all in Xiliang. The people of Xiliang are my subjects, my family. The soldiers and officials of Xiliang are my brothers, your uncles. Can you bear to see them plunged into chaos and war again?"

Zhang Mao cried, "Didn’t you say that Her Majesty is benevolent and wouldn’t easily speak of war?"

"That’s right, but what if Xiliang faces internal chaos and starts the war first?" Zhang Gui said, "Have you forgotten the disaster of Zhang Zhen and Jia Kan, the calamity of Zhang Yue, and the treachery of Qu Chao and Qu Ru? How many people in Xiliang still harbor such sinister intentions?"

After catching his breath again, Zhang Gui continued, "I’ve long hesitated whether to establish An Xun as the princely heir. He reveres Buddhist law and acts recklessly. This time, he went to the Western Regions, and I repeatedly advised him not to go, but he didn’t listen."

Buddhism entered China at the end of the Western Han and the beginning of the Eastern Han. At this time, it was not popular in the Central Plains but was most active among the northern minority regions.

At this time, Buddhism primarily focused on Theravada teachings, emphasizing self-cultivation and self-benefit, and Zhang Shi was greatly influenced by Theravada Buddhism.

Buddhism at this time did not have as many rules as in later generations. Zhang Shi felt a vague sense of something being off with the current Buddhist teachings, at least not addressing the doubts in his heart and unsuitable for promoting in China.

So he was eager to learn more truths to resolve the doubts in his heart.

Zhang Gui respected his son’s pursuit, but he did not agree. In his view, Buddhism was too niche, neither benefitting others nor oneself, far inferior to Daoism and Confucianism.

Therefore, he had long wanted to change the successor, but he was deeply influenced by Daoist and Confucian thought. Although he knew the eldest son was not particularly suited, he still instinctively chose him and relied on him.

If he did not firmly choose the legitimate eldest son, the chaos caused by fraternal strife would be devastating.

Xiliang was never completely stable.

In recent years, the Central Plains have been constantly at war, and Xiliang hasn’t been much more stable. The disaster of Zhang Zhen and Jia Kan shouldn’t be mentioned, and Zhang Yue was not even a court official, just a minor gentry, not even considered nobility.

Because he had heard rumors, claiming himself as the son of destiny, he rebelled. But when he raised his arm, quite a few people indeed followed.

And Qu Chao was Zhang Gui’s deputy in Liang Province; they had fought in battles together, drank together, even shared a bed. Such a good relationship, yet because Zhang Gui had a stroke, he immediately thought he could replace him and thus rebelled.

Xiliang is so vast, how many people like them harbor treacherous intentions?

Zhang Gui hardly dared to think about it.