flstandardbreds Chapter 1176 Chang'an in April
Chapter 1176 Chang'an in April
April in Chang'an.
The spring breeze, carrying the moisture from the Wei River and the smells of cooking fires from the city, passed through the open windows of the government office.
Inside the government office, the sounds of abacuses, rustling documents, and officials' hushed conversations mingled together.
Two officials dressed in dark blue robes sat in the two seats by the window.
Both men were heavily pregnant, their doughy faces glowing red, clearly the result of years of pampered living.
One of them put down a grain ration book in his hand and glanced around furtively.
Seeing that no one was paying attention to them, he stepped closer to the person next to him and lowered his voice to say, "Brother Wei, Brother Wei!"
The official whom he addressed as "Brother Wei" was named Wei Li.
Without even raising his head, he simply snorted out a single word through his nose: "Hmm?"
The man rubbed his thick palms together, his voice low and urgent: "Brother Wei, it's already April..."
Wei Li then lifted his eyelids and glanced at him indifferently: "Hmm."
Seeing that he didn't respond, the man became even more anxious and leaned closer: "Our business stops in winter, but now that the river has thawed and the swallows have returned, it's the perfect time, don't you think..."
Wei Li's brows furrowed suddenly as he glared at the man.
The latter immediately gave a fawning smile, but still looked at Wei Li, as if he needed an answer.
Wei Li's voice, though authoritative, carried a sharp edge: "Nonsense! Didn't I tell you the other day not to bring this up again? Are you deaf?"
The man, somewhat embarrassed by the reprimand, said sheepishly, "The household expenses are really high; everyone is waiting for rice to cook..."
Wei Li cursed without any politeness: "Don't think I don't know that you just brought your sixth concubine into the house a few days ago, with red silk hanging from the east street to the west street, and now you're complaining to me about being poor?"
The man wasn't angry when he was exposed; instead, he put on a fawning smile and said, "Brother Wei, you are wise, you are wise... It's just that I'm a little short on money."
Wei Li coldly withdrew his gaze and looked back at the document in front of him, saying in an unquestionable tone, "The Northwest has just finished fighting. Although our Emperor is young, he is not blind."
"Did you just ignore my previous warnings about reorganizing military supplies? At this critical juncture, you still want to extend your reach into the Northwest? Quit now!"
"Hasn't His Majesty already moved south?" the man persisted. "These mountains are high and the emperor is far away; as long as the connections are right..."
"Far away my foot!" Wei Li scoffed. "His Majesty may have left, but the people responsible for reorganizing the military affairs in the Northwest have stayed behind!"
"That old bastard Ma Jing is in charge of Liangzhou, and the net is wide open! At this time, you're thinking of taking military funds. Do you think the thing around your neck is too secure and want to try the taste of the guillotine?"
The man opened his mouth, but ultimately he was somewhat afraid.
But greed quickly overcame his fear, and he couldn't help but sigh, muttering, "Even His Majesty can't let people go without food..."
"Besides, I think His Majesty's warnings are all bark and no bite. He gave us a warning, but he didn't really do anything to us, did he? Maybe..."
"Maybe what?!" Wei Li wanted to scold this reckless fool again.
These officials had not witnessed the day the Fengtian Army massacred Chang'an, and thus lacked a sense of awe for the emperor.
It may be true that the current emperor is young, but his determination to reform the officialdom is not small. This emperor, who fought his way out of a bloodbath, is he kidding you?
Before he could finish speaking, a series of rapid hoofbeats suddenly came from outside the government office gate.
Da da da—
The sound of horseshoes striking the bluestone pavement was crisp and dense, clearly not the sound of ordinary carriages and horses passing by.
The sound didn't stop at all, heading straight for the main gate of the government office.
The government office fell silent instantly.
All the sounds of abacuses, turning pages, and whispers abruptly ceased.
Officials of all ranks looked up, their gazes filled with surprise and uncertainty as they looked toward the gate.
The separation of military and political power in local areas is a national policy of Daqing.
The Qin provincial government and the garrison system were not subordinate to each other and usually kept to themselves.
The army would never barge into a provincial government office without cause, let alone a cavalry force of this size!
Wei Li's face turned pale instantly, and his fingers unconsciously clenched his sleeves.
His colleague next to him turned ashen-faced, and his calves began to cramp.
"boom--"
The gate of the government office was pushed open from the outside, slamming against the wall with a loud bang.
Sunlight streamed in, illuminating the swirling dust in the air and reflecting the distinct silhouettes of the armored figures at the entrance.
With a resounding thud, more than ten armored soldiers, fully clad in helmets and armor, filed in.
They stood on either side, their hands on the hilts of their swords, their cold eyes scanning the hall.
The intense aura of military discipline instantly dispelled the bureaucratic atmosphere of the government office.
The officials in the hall were all silent, trembling with fear; no one dared to move, much less speak.
At this moment, the curtain of the back hall was lifted, and Li Yu, the governor of Qin Province and the Prince of Huai'an, walked out slowly.
Li Yu's gaze slowly swept over the many anxious-looking officials below the hall before he spoke:
"Everyone, straighten your clothes and follow me to greet the emperor."
Welcome?
Whom should we welcome?
An almost impossible guess instantly surfaced in everyone's minds, like ice water poured over their heads, chilling many people to the bone.
Wei Li's head jolted, as if he remembered something, and he subconsciously turned his head to look at the side door of the government office leading to the back office.
Before anyone knew it, seven or eight men had silently appeared there.
They were all dressed in brown leather armor, with short knives at their waists, and their sharp eyes had already blocked their way.
They were not government officials or servants, but the private soldiers of the Prince of Huai'an!
They were well-prepared; even the Prince of Huai'an used his own private troops to keep the news under wraps. No wonder I hadn't heard a word about it before.
This is like catching a turtle in a jar!
Wei Li's face turned from white to green, then from green to gray, and cold sweat instantly soaked through his inner clothes.
His colleague, who had just been clinging to hope, was now trembling like a leaf, a faint odor emanating from his crotch.
In the hall, Li Yu had already taken the lead and walked towards the gate.
The officials looked at each other, some trembling, some with shifty eyes, and some with gloating expressions.
As if pushed by an invisible hand, the crowd followed Li Yu toward the door in a panicked and chaotic manner.
As they crossed the high threshold, the dazzling spring sun made many people squint.
Upon seeing the scene outside the door, a collective gasp filled the air.
The street in front of the government office had been cleared, and a dark mass of Qing soldiers stood silently along the street, their spears like a forest.
At the very front of the procession, atop an exceptionally fine black horse, sat a young man clad in black armor.
His dark cloak fluttered slightly in the spring breeze, revealing a handsome face beneath his helmet. His gaze, sharp as a cold star, swept over the group of officials who had hurriedly come out to greet him.
It was none other than Emperor Li Che of the Great Qing Dynasty!
Many officials, upon seeing the emperor, felt their legs go weak and immediately knelt down.
Many others were frozen in place, forgetting even to kneel, staring blankly at the killing god on horseback.
The memory of how, several years ago, the emperor personally led a large army to conquer Chang'an and settle scores with the powerful families of Qin was now vividly resurfacing in his mind.
Prince Li Yu of Huai'an rode up to the front of his horse, straightened his robes, and bowed respectfully with utmost care.
"Your subject, Li Yu, pays his respects to Your Majesty."
Li Che sat upright on his horse, his gaze sweeping over the respectful posture of his uncle, but he did not ask him to get up immediately.
He remained silent, his gaze slowly sweeping over the group of Qin Province officials behind Li Yu, who looked utterly disoriented.
A spring breeze swept across the street, swirling up a few fallen leaves, creating an eerily stagnant atmosphere.
After a long silence, Li Che finally spoke: "Uncle Wang."
"Your subject is here," Li Yu replied hastily.
Li Che stared at Li Yu's lowered head, each word falling like an ice bead:
"I have not come here today to reminisce with you."
He paused, then got straight to the point:
"They represent the Northwest Frontier Army... to settle accounts with your Qin region."
Li Che's gaze fell on Li Yu, who was kneeling on the ground, but he did not immediately lash out.
He truly valued this Uncle Wang.
Back then, he rose against the tide, with two emperors standing in opposition in the north and south, and most of the imperial family members lying low in the shadows.
Only Li Yu, the Prince of Huai'an, had placed his bet early on and helped stabilize the situation in Chang'an at a crucial moment.
After ascending the throne, he handed over Qin Province, the gateway to the northwest, to him as a reward for his contributions.
The Prince of Huai'an became the most powerful member of the imperial clan in Daqing, second only to the Prince of Yan.
But not today.
The army was the foundation of Li Che's life.
For twenty years, the Northwest Army guarded the border, but they used dilapidated equipment left by their fathers or even the previous dynasty, with rusted swords and spears and incomplete armor.
The soldiers risked their lives fighting the Tibetans in the cold winds of the plateau, yet they often couldn't even get a full meal.
He had seen the account books of the border town's military granary, and they were truly shocking.
They ate old rice mixed with sand and moldy millet, and their pay was embezzled at every level. If they received 30 or 40 percent of their salary, it was considered a sign of the superior's benevolence!
Where did all that withheld money and grain go?!
Li Che's gaze swept over the group of fat, big-eared officials in front of him.
They've fattened up these parasites!
They were all bloated and fat, dressed in brocade robes and jade belts, with mansions stretching to the clouds and concubines in large numbers!
They drank the blood of soldiers, sucked their marrow and crushed their bones, making a fortune!
This score must be settled today!
Looking at the emperor's cold eyes on horseback, Li Yu's last shred of hope vanished.
He silently raised his hand, took off the crown from his head, and placed it neatly on the ground beside him.
He then knelt on the ground and touched the earth with his head:
"Your subject...accepts punishment."
Li Che silently watched his bowed back and slowly said, "Whether it's a crime or not, Uncle, I don't want to hear your opinion first."
"You should know that I have come here in person, not to listen to your wrangling and shirking of responsibility."
"Those involved in embezzling military funds have already been filed up by the Embroidered Uniform Guard."
No sooner had he finished speaking than a few thuds were heard, and seven or eight officials immediately collapsed to their knees, kowtowing repeatedly, tears streaming down their faces.
"Your Majesty, spare my life!"
"I am guilty! I confess my guilt! I beg Your Majesty for mercy!!!"
"I am willing to hand over the embezzled funds, I only beg to be spared my life!"
Among them was the one who had a private conversation with Wei Li in the public room just now.
Li Che glanced at it briefly, then coldly uttered two words:
"not enough!"
Several others with weaker mental defenses buckled and knelt down as well.
Li Che sneered, his gaze sweeping across the remaining faces that were trying to remain calm, like an ice blade.
"You won't shed a tear until you see the coffin, right?"
He suddenly raised his voice, his sharp shout echoing through the long street:
"The Embroidered Uniform Guard!"
"exist--"
The murderous roars came from all directions.
A sudden commotion broke out among the crowd of onlookers.