Tao Jia himself held a lowly official rank, so his residence was naturally far from the imperial palace. Moreover, Jianping strictly forbade galloping through the streets on horseback. By the time Wen Yanran and her party arrived, the sky had already begun to darken.
This was hardly an ideal time for a visit. According to the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty, curfew began every day at Xu hour, around eight in the evening, prohibiting all travel on the streets. Even court officials or those with noble titles were not exempt – though the latter two, if truly compelled to venture out after dark, could often obtain temporary passes…
Tao Jia was merely an unassigned court adviser, so the security at his estate was not particularly strict. Zhong Zhiwei, having visited many times before, stepped forward and presented her name card. The gatekeeper glanced at it briefly, recognized Zhong Zhiwei’s face, and granted immediate entry. As for the others in her company, though the gatekeeper had never seen them before, he surmised they were likely dignitaries from Jianping. Without further ado, he escorted the entire group into the residence.
The gatekeeper gave a slight bow. “Please wait here for a moment, honored guests. I will go and inform my lord.”
Tao Jia, with his position, naturally would not put on airs before visitors. Upon hearing that Zhong Zhiwei was among the guests, he had them ushered into his study.
When guests called upon their host, attendants were typically expected to wait outside. Yet today, the group that arrived, though clearly distinguishing between master and servants, did not resemble ordinary subordinates. The servants of the Tao estate found it awkward to stop them and had no choice but to allow them all to pass through the inner gate together, heading toward the study.
At the center of the group stood a youth dressed in a raven-blue gown, wearing a delicate silk cap on their head. Captain Zhong stood to their right, while a young lady in a scholar’s robe stood to their left, with the others following behind. The youth’s eyes were as clear as cold pools, and in their gaze, there was an unapproachable dignity that made others hesitate to look directly.
On the day of the enthronement ceremony, Tao Jia had indeed gone to pay homage to the Emperor. However, due to the distance, the Emperor’s face was obscured by the dangling beads of the ceremonial crown. Moreover, Tao Jia rarely had opportunities to enter the palace, so he was unfamiliar with the current emperor’s appearance. And if judged solely by outline, Wen Yanran had grown taller since her arrival in this world, and her bearing and figure differed from before. Having long distanced himself from the court and with little interaction with noble families, Tao Jia found it difficult to discern which distinguished family this honored guest might belong to.
Tao Jia first clasped his hands in greeting toward the only familiar face among the visitors. “Captain Zhong.”
Zhong Zhiwei lowered her head and bowed deeply in return. “Elder Tao.”
Here, “elder” was not a title but a term of respect for someone older.
Tao Jia had previously been acquainted with Zhong Zhiwei and usually addressed her familiarly as “Ah-Wei.” However, today he sensed that her visit carried a different weight than before, so he refrained from invoking their past informal ties.
“If you have come with Captain Zhong, you are naturally an honored guest. Please, take the seat of honor.”
Upon hearing this, the youth did not decline but simply took the seat of honor. Those accompanying them also wore expressions that seemed to say it was only natural.
…And indeed, it was only natural. Though young, Wen Yanran had ascended to the throne as emperor and was thus the sovereign of the realm. As an emperor who embraced the role of a “tyrannical ruler,” she had no need to cultivate a reputation for humility and deference to the worthy. In interactions with others, following normal social conventions sufficed.
Seeing this, Tao Jia paused momentarily in surprise. Then, the youth in the raven-blue gown nodded to him and said, “Court Councillor Tao, please be seated as well.”
This was unmistakably Tao Jia’s own residence, yet it felt as though he were in the other’s domain.
Seeing Zhong Zhiwei and the others still standing in attendance, Tao Jia’s heart suddenly stirred. He immediately dismissed the servants of his estate and closed the doors. Then, he approached the youth and bowed respectfully, saying, “Your humble servant, Tao Jia, pays homage to Your Majesty.”
Wen Yanran nodded. “Minister Tao, there is no need for formalities. I have come this time to inquire about the situation in the west.”
Upon hearing the words “the west,” Tao Jia was momentarily stunned, then felt a rush of warmth behind his eyes, his voice trembling slightly. “I am but a defeated general. How could I deserve Your Majesty’s condescension to ask…”
In truth, ever since his devastating defeat in the west years ago, Tao Jia had never given up petitioning the court, hoping to avenge his humiliation. However, all his memorials were shelved because the former emperor, Emperor Li, had no desire to stir up conflict.
In the end, Tao Jia even declared that so long as the court was willing to employ him, he would gladly serve as a mere foot soldier in the army. Better to die beneath the hooves of warhorses, he felt, than to idle away in the capital.
Wen Yanran had happened upon this memorial while sorting through the accumulated documents from previous reigns and felt a twinge of relief that the former emperor had already grown indifferent to governance by then. Otherwise, with words like Tao Jia’s, he could easily have earned himself a sentence of exile or banishment.
Wen Yanran raised a hand slightly, signaling Tao Jia to pause. She cut straight to the point. “First, Minister Tao, tell me about the customs in the west.”
Tao Jia’s throat tightened. He steadied his emotions before beginning his explanation. “The tribes of the Western Yi are fierce and fearless in battle, unafraid of death. Moreover, the terrain there – especially in the Tai Province region – is mountainous and forested, which makes it difficult for our imperial cavalry to operate effectively. For the local inhabitants, if they suffer a setback, they can scatter into the mountains, making it hard for external forces to pursue them.”
Wen Yanran remarked, “I have heard, however, that there are also many cavalry forces in the west.”
Tao Jia replied, “The local horses in the west are smaller than those of the Central Plains, making them better suited to mountainous paths.”
Wen Yanran considered this for a moment and roughly understood. The Western Tribes relied mainly on light cavalry and, leveraging their terrain advantage, held a natural edge.
Furthermore, because trade between the Western Tribes and the Central Plains was relatively limited, and the horses were suited only to specific conditions, they had never been bred in large numbers by outsiders.
In a past life, Wen Yanran had come across a comment summarizing it as “the united and harmonious Western Yi.” When it came to the three key factors in warfare – timing, terrain, and popular support – the Western Tribes had effectively secured two of them. They were indeed not easy to deal with.
Naturally, the servants of the Tao estate served tea to the guests. Wen Yanran did not drink it but merely cradled the teacup in her hand, gently rubbing the rim with her fingertips.
For a moment, the study fell into a silent hush. With the emperor lost in contemplation and saying nothing, no one else dared to utter a word either.
Wen Yanran snapped out of her thoughts and smiled at the man before her. “Minister Tao, are you acquainted with Inspector Wang You?”
Tao Jia was naturally familiar with Wang You – in fact, he had even faced her on the battlefield.
“General Wang…” Tao Jia paused, correcting his reference to the other. “Inspector Wang commands with composure and excels at dispersing and containing enemy forces, using such tactics to wear them down. Though she is now elderly, she should not be underestimated.” He added, “Ten years earlier, Wang You likely had no rivals in Tai Province.”
Wen Yanran rested her chin on one hand and smiled. “If that’s the case, then why did you repeatedly recommend yourself, Minister Tao, to serve as a general in the west?”
According to the Great Zhou system, the title of general was strictly tied to military authority. In the absence of warfare, appointments to such a position were generally not made. In the past, Xiao Xichi had been able to retain her military title because she still commanded troops in the Qingyi territory.
Tao Jia felt his throat go dry. The new emperor was not as tyrannical as the previous one, but there was something else about her words and actions that inspired fear.
While previous court officials had died at the hands of the former emperor, the world knew they were loyal subjects. Even if their families declined, their fundamental reputation remained intact. But if one made a misstep and died under the current emperor, they would likely be reviled as a traitor to the state.
Tao Jia kneeling below remained silent for a moment. Wen Yanran did not press him, setting down the teacup in her hand and patiently watching him instead.
Tao Jia bowed once more and finally spoke the words weighing on his mind. “I have repeatedly requested to take up arms because the Western Tribes will inevitably revolt!”
Wen Yanran’s hand, resting near the teacup, paused briefly. A faint smile seemed to flicker across her face as she said slowly, “The Western Tribes are indeed bound to revolt.”
The Emperor’s tone gave no hint of joy or anger, but somehow, Tao Jia felt that she differed from the former emperor.
The former emperor had also believed the Western Tribes would inevitably revolt, but only because he considered them barbaric, beyond the reach of civilization, and inherently at odds with the Central Plains. In contrast, the current emperor seemed to grasp the gravity of the Western Tribes’ rebellion.
Whether court officials or powerful local clans, most took pride in their Central Plains identity, looking down deeply on the border tribes and folks. Yet they did not truly believe these “barbarians” could pose a significant threat.
Tao Jia, however, thought differently. The court had, in fact, already lost control over many western regions. With their warm, humid climate allowing multiple harvests a year, the greatest issue for the local populace was actually harsh treatment by the authorities. Moreover, since the great upheaval years ago, control over the Western Tribes had fallen into the hands of Wang You and other powerful local clans. Now, although places like Tai Province still nominally belonged to the Great Zhou, they no longer obeyed the central court’s commands.
Wen Yanran thought to herself, To have reduced the empire to such a state, the former emperor truly had a unique talent for incompetence…
“I believe that a conflict with the Western Tribes does not necessarily have to end in victory, but it must not result in a devastating defeat.”
Tao Jia had originally been a man of great ambition. Coming from a military family, he understood warfare but lacked political insight. Yet after his crushing defeat in Tai Province, his thoughts became consumed with redeeming that disgrace. Over the years, he carefully studied the local customs and political landscape, gradually developing a perspective that extended beyond the battlefield itself.
Wen Yanran understood Tao Jia’s meaning.
Given the current circumstances in the Western Tribes, the court’s chances of achieving a clear victory were exceedingly slim. Instead, it would be wiser to lower their goals and focus on demonstrating strength. As long as they avoided a major defeat, the Western Tribes would come to realize that the court still possessed some military capability. Meanwhile, the central authority could take advantage of the situation to reclaim a measure of control over the region. From there, they could gradually win over the populace through means other than warfare.
The Emperor offered no response. Tao Jia felt the fervor in his chest begin to cool, while a chill crept up his spine. Though he no longer served at court, he was aware that the Emperor was a ruler of bold ambition. She had come today, inquiring about the western situation – her intentions were clear. Yet he had bluntly stated that the Western Tribes would be difficult to defeat. It was entirely possible he had angered her and would forever lose the chance to be reinstated.
But he could not have remained silent.
Though idle years were painful, they had granted Tao Jia a new realization: compared to the fate of the Great Zhou, his personal reputation was utterly insignificant.
“Minister Tao, rise.”
After what felt like an eternity, a voice finally came from above. The young lady in scholarly attire, who had been standing silently at the side, stepped forward and personally assisted Tao Jia to a nearby chair.
Due to his limited salary and lack of other sources of income, Tao Jia’s estate had few lamps and candles. Though the doors and windows of the study were closed, drafts still seeped through the cracks. The flickering light cast shifting shadows on the face of the youth in the raven-blue gown, lending it an inscrutable aura.
“If I were to personally go to Changxing Pass, would you, Minister Tao, be willing to serve as a general in the vanguard?”
Upon hearing these words, Tao Jia felt as if thunder had exploded beside his ears. Understanding the Emperor’s meaning, he did not rejoice but instead was filled with dread. He knelt once more, kowtowing to the ground, his voice trembling as though with blood and tears. “Your Majesty is a priceless treasure, the very heart of the realm. You must never venture lightly into such peril!”
Wen Yanran replied calmly and unhurriedly, “I am aware that the Western Tribes is a perilous place. That is precisely why I must go there myself.”
Her personal information interface refreshed once every ten days. The last time she checked, a new line of data had appeared below “Prestige (Central)” and “Prestige (Southern)” –
[Prestige (Western): 0(-30) (Profession Bonus)]
Considering that authority data was directly tied to her control over a region, Wen Yanran had a rough idea of just how despised she was in the western territories…
“Since that is the case, I cannot obey!”
After a long pause, Tao Jia finally gritted his teeth and uttered these words.
Since ascending the throne, the emperor had acted with resolute swiftness. Yet whether she intended to imprison, exile, or behead him, Tao Jia no longer cared. He had once believed his defeat by the Western Tribes was the greatest disgrace of his life, but this conversation with the Emperor had effectively lessened the shadow of that past – the new emperor, after all, had never studied warfare, yet dared to personally lead a campaign! Future historians, when mentioning him, would likely not record him as a defeated general but rather as a treacherous minister who, to avenge his disgrace, incited the Emperor to take to the front lines – a villain who brought ruin upon the state!
Wen Yanran was quite accommodating and showed no intention of making things difficult for him. “In that case, you may stay behind and wait to retrieve my corpse.”
“…”
For a moment, Tao Jia felt his spirit shatter and his insides burn – the Emperor truly had a unique talent for persuasion. Compared to retrieving the Emperor’s corpse, he would indeed prefer to die a loyal death at the front…
At this thought, Tao Jia couldn’t help but glare angrily at Zhong Zhiwei. As a close official of the Emperor, how could she not try to dissuade her?
In truth, before today, Zhong Zhiwei had also been unaware of the Emperor’s plan to go to Changxing Pass. Though her own temperament was quite steady, after several interactions, Zhong Zhiwei had come to realize that her own military capabilities fell far short of the Emperor’s. Thus, she attributed her lack of understanding to “not having grasped the full picture yet.”
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