Chapter 1437 - 346: The So-Called Grand Situation Is Bullshit (Part 3)

Chapter 1437: Chapter 346: The So-Called Grand Situation Is Bullshit (Part 3)

But the biggest problem is that once the war begins, it severely impacts trade activities. Over in the three borders of the Qian State, it’s even hard to conduct smuggling business now. Although the Qian people don’t seem to be launching a northern expedition, they are nonetheless very tense.

A clever housewife can’t cook without rice; Ji Chengjue can only barely maintain the current situation. Everything depends on the specific progress of the war.

Originally, the court’s view of the campaign against Chu was similar to the initial campaign against Jin. Perhaps because of Prince Jingnan’s previous brilliant battlefield achievements, everyone in Yan misunderstood the nature of this war.

But when it came time to actually gather the troops and rely on the civilians to support the front lines as they slowly grind away, that painful sensation of a slow blade cutting through flesh truly hit home.

The logistical costs of the campaign against Chu are indeed too great. Transporting a cart of rice from the city of Yanjing means that half of it will be consumed by civilian workers along the way. And if weather or other factors impact the transport, it really becomes just a drop in the ocean.

And right there, the Chu people’s Town South Pass is a barrier. The eastern Jin area, due to the past turmoil with the wild people and the Chu people’s advance, has long been devastated and completely barren, leaving the military with no supplies available on site. The hundreds of thousands of troops and citizens campaigning against Chu are akin to hundreds of thousands of mouths to feed, all reliant on reluctant support from behind.

It’s hard,

hard,

hard!

"Zheng Fan, oh Zheng Fan, please finish this war early, because I’m really about to collapse."

A new batch of military provisions and arms has already been arranged for transport, and next, preparations for the subsequent batch must begin.

As for the river works issue, Ji Chengjue had already noticed it long ago, but regarding this extremely unreasonable choice, he neither voiced an opinion nor expressed objection.

Though he doesn’t know what exactly it is for, he trusted that Prince Jingnan wouldn’t create trouble for no reason.

Exiting the Ministry of Revenue, he happened to catch sight of the crown prince’s carriage leaving the palace.

Where is it going?

Of course, to the garden behind.

Ji Chengjue smiled slightly, as the Yan Emperor was taken care of in retirement in the rear garden, and all the duties managed by the Ministry of Rites were transferred from Wei Zhonghe to Li Yinglian.

But this Second Prince doesn’t dare to truly "regent."

Even if father insists that there’s no need,

No one dares to take it seriously.

Therefore, he must take all the memorandums daily to the garden for the awaited instructions.

Though father refuses to read the memos, the crown prince still formally requests father’s opinions on governance strategies.

After the prince’s carriage vanished into the distance, Ji Chengjue left the palace and boarded his carriage.

The driver was young Eunuch Zhang.

Inside the carriage, Master Zhang handed an ice-cold towel to Ji Chengjue, remarking,

"The Fourth Prince has been reassigned to the outer capital as a general."

Originally, the capital’s imperial guards consisted of twelve battalions; eight outside and four inside the city, known collectively as the Twelve Capital Imperial Guards of Yan.

However, after years of battles, the guards were first dispatched to the east and then a significant portion redeployed to Beifeng Prefecture. During the eastward expedition, the Eldest Prince also took a detachment to Wang River.

After these maneuvers,

Finally,

The security of the capital relied on that single command of Li Liangshen.

The former twelve battalions of the capital, barring the two that guarded the Imperial City and the Imperial Palace, had mostly become mere showpieces.

"Hmm, if he’s smart, then after a few days, the crown prince will probably send an edict to the Ministry of War, which will then pass it on to my Ministry of Revenue, requesting the allocation of military provisions."

If a prince leads the army, he shouldn’t lose prestige.

In the past, if the Deng Family was still around, his Fourth Brother could lead a battalion and everything from the various ranks of officers, troops, and other aspects would be arranged perfectly.

But now, his Fourth Brother lacks that capability, having to rely on their familial connections to scavenge some support.

Even though the court currently struggles,

Truthfully, no matter how dire things are, they don’t lack mouthfuls for that one battalion.

"Master, are you planning to help Fourth Prince?"

"Help my ass, he’s not Zheng Fan."

Upon hearing this, Master Zhang chuckled.

Then,

Master Zhang continued,

"But Lord Zheng is currently at war, and even once the campaign against Chu ends, distant water won’t quench present thirst."

"Master Zhang."

"Here I am."

"Things aren’t that simple."

"Master, as you say."

"But things are not that convoluted either. The tumult of the century-old noble families in Yan, how did father solve it?

Ha, directly deployed thousands of Southern and Northern Army cavalry into the palace."

Simple, isn’t it,

Efficient, isn’t it?"

Ji Chengjue rubbed his temple with his hand and continued,

"Master Zhang, this time, somehow, I don’t want to play those conspiratorial games. Though we’ve made many preparations and laid groundwork even we’re unsure of, I still feel that using that method, even if one ascends to power, the seat beneath would feel prickly.

Alas, I’ve become sentimental, way too sentimental;

I actually wish to fight fairly for this position. I really have been led astray by that Zheng fellow.

If Zheng were here, he’d definitely say: This is how seizing the throne should be, authentically beautiful.

Moreover, now is not the time; before the battle against Chu ends, I won’t face any issues, nor does anyone dare create any for me, and if the campaign against Chu loses, well, the table overturns, and I’ll face no issues then.

Hell,

If the campaign against Chu wins, as Fourth Brother mentioned the other day, we don’t need to destroy Chu State; merely subduing Chu State, capturing the Town South Pass and Shanggu County counts as victory."

"Master implies that if the campaign against Chu is victorious, we become vulnerable?"

Ji Chengjue nodded, then shook his head.

"Servant knows not."

"Once the battle is over, Zheng Fan will also be free over there."

Master Zhang’s facial expression twitched a bit.

"Ha ha ha, do you want to say again that distant water won’t quench present thirst?"

"Master, wise indeed."

"Victory in the campaign against Chu won’t signify an end, but a true commencement of the big drama. The attitudes of those tens of thousands of triumphant troops symbolize Prince Jingnan’s stance, which is crucial, even father cannot ignore their attitude."

"But I feel that Prince Jingnan has no stance."

If Prince Jingnan had any stance, the crown prince wouldn’t have suffered so much recently, and those within his faction have all felt hopeless.

And if Prince Jingnan doesn’t support his direct nephew, why support you?

"But Zheng Fan has a stance." Ji Chengjue lifted his hand, smirked and said: "Remember last time, when he paraded the princess into the capital, creating ruckus all the way up, who did he use as a banner?"

With an order from Prince Jingnan, he marched into Ying Capital City;

His guards donned mourning clothes to enter Li Tian City for memorial rites;

Practically any discerning individual could see, he was ’falsely delivering orders,’ even those well-versed with current affairs nearly confirmed Prince Jingnan wouldn’t act this way!

Yet,

After Lord Pingye returned,

He wasn’t punished, and continued being promoted, which implied that even if he ’falsified orders,’ it was as if he acted under orders genuinely!

Tian Wujing,

Resembled a mountain,

Standing there.

Below the mountain, a Mountain Temple stood.

The mountain remained silent, without action,

But the temple priest within the Mountain Temple could proclaim to the surrounding mountain villagers the will of the mountain god.

And Lord Pingye is akin to that temple priest.

Master Zhang expressed concern:

"But if His Majesty truly insists on elevating the Crown Prince, Lord Pingye might, to protect the overall situation and for the sake of Yan’s hard-won current stability, not..."

Rallying tens of thousands of troops against Chu in opposition to the central hubawangmingwu or expressing any such intent is akin to pushing Yan into a near collapse!

Ji Chengjue glanced with doubt at Master Zhang,

Seeing this, Master Zhang returned the look with even more confusion towards his master.

After a long while,

Ji Chengjue wittily laughed and said:

"A long time ago, I learned one thing."

"Master, what thing?"

"That is..."

Ji Chengjue stretched lazily,

Continuing,

"The grand scheme, in Zheng Fan’s eyes, is worth nothing."

——————

Thanks to Haha Dalalala classmate for becoming the 140th alliance leader of "Devil Comes."

Let’s watch the next Chapter tomorrow, don’t stay up late.

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