Chapter 90
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The Khitans, intoxicated by their past victories, had their ambition and boldness inflated by Great Heng’s twenty years of concessions. Their arrogance led to a disastrous defeat.
This victory brought an indescribable sense of elation to the soldiers. It felt like a dream as they returned to the camp, reuniting with General Xue.
General Xue’s face beamed with joy. They had also secured a great victory. It had been a long time since General Xue had fought such a satisfying battle. In the past two months at the frontier, he had been dealing with locust plagues and disaster relief, only fighting defensive battles. This was a refreshing change.
This victory brought significant changes to the frontier. The powerful weapons of Great Heng left a lasting impression on those who witnessed the Khitans fleeing in defeat.
Morale surged. The fear and anxiety before the battle transformed into high spirits. Many soldiers felt an urge to shout to the heavens, releasing their pent-up frustration and humiliation in a triumphant roar!
The joy of victory spread like wildfire. It wasn’t long before the citizens learned of the soldiers’ great victory.
They came out of their houses, set down their stones and bricks, and watched as the jubilant soldiers sang their way back to camp.
The citizens of the northern frontier rarely saw the soldiers in such high spirits.
In the frontier, the relationship between the civilians and the soldiers was strained. The people feared and resented the stationed troops, blaming them for their inaction and failure to protect them. They secretly cursed the soldiers as cowards, traitors colluding with the nomads.
The tension was so high that civilians would raise weapons against soldiers. But now, they were beginning to see that Great Heng’s soldiers were not cowards.
They could fight the enemy and win.
In the face of locust plagues and nomadic invasions, only the imperial army could deliver a decisive blow.
The court was no longer weak. Their army could strike back, and once they did, they could easily achieve victory and scatter the nomads.
Suddenly, the people of the northern frontier felt that the soldiers stationed there were different.
***
The frontier matters proceeded methodically. Meanwhile, the army of 100,000 ducks entered the locust-infested areas.
Once they arrived here, they no longer needed humans to provide feed. Instead, they pecked at the locusts that had entered the nymph stage, eating them one by one. On the way to the northern frontier, an army of 100,000 ducks could consume 2 million locusts a day, each eating heartily and growing plump and round.
These locusts hadn’t even had a chance to lay their eggs before being eaten by the ducks, conveniently saving the trouble of dealing with the eggs.
In the capital, Gu Yuanbai was constantly monitoring the situation at the border.
The weather in the capital was also starting to turn cold, with bleak, chilling winds. While others had merely added an extra robe, Gu Yuanbai was already wrapped in a thick cloak.
Though his spirits were high, his body couldn’t keep up. If he read the memorials for too long, his fingers would grow stiff from the cold. The imperial physician was always by his side, and Doctor Jiang was also stationed nearby to tend to him.
Although Doctor Jiang didn’t know how to treat congenital deficiencies, she was aware of how her family took care of her uncle during the winter. She applied the same methods to Gu Yuanbai.
Whether it was acupressure or medicinal baths, Doctor Jiang’s techniques could warm Gu Yuanbai’s body for a while. However, this warmth faded quickly, much like the methods used by the imperial physicians, showing minimal effect.
The hand warmers and heaters in the palace only provided a fleeting warmth.
The moment his hand touched them, it would be warm, but as soon as he moved away, it would turn cold again. Sometimes, waking up in the middle of the night, tortured by cold and frailty, Gu Yuanbai thought of the warmth that Xue Yuan brought.
He would lie in bed with cold blankets, reminiscing about the comforting warmth from Xue Yuan’s body.
The next evening, as the guards were about to leave, the emperor spoke hoarsely, “Zhang Xu.”
The Chief Guard, puzzled, stepped forward, “I am here, Your Majesty.”
“Go to the bed and warm it up for me,” Gu Yuanbai said succinctly.
The Chief Guard was stunned, his face instantly reddening. His back straightened, and he silently removed his outer clothes and boots, then climbed onto the bed.
When Doctor Jiang entered with the prepared medicinal bath, she saw this scene. Her expression remained unchanged as she walked steadily to the emperor and said softly, “Your Majesty, it is time for acupressure.”
Gu Yuanbai glanced at her and advised, “Let someone else do it.”
Doctor Jiang shook her head, “It is best if I do it myself.”
The medicinal bath was for soaking the feet, and the acupressure points were on the feet and lower legs. Doctor Jiang had a unique technique passed down in her family, not easily taught to others.
As the water splashed, the Chief Guard laid stiffly in bed, his face so red it could cook an egg. The heat quickly warmed the entire bed, and the thick yellow quilt made the Chief Guard sweat profusely.
After the medicinal bath, Gu Yuanbai got into bed. The Chief Guard laid rigidly beside him, acting as a human heater, listening to the emperor’s conversation with Tian Fusheng.
The bed was warm, and the emperor’s brows relaxed. After discussing the cotton clothing arrangements, confirming they would be loaded onto carts and dispatched by early November, Gu Yuanbai stopped talking.
“It’s just a matter of days,” Tian Fusheng said, “We received word from the border. According to General Xue, the locust plague is showing signs of improvement.”
The letter from the northern border had arrived on Gu Yuanbai’s desk two days ago. There was only one memorial from General Xue, but numerous letters from Xue Yuan sent along the way. Gu Yuanbai had only read General Xue’s letter.
After the emperor nodded, Tian Fusheng led his men out. Alone in the inner hall, Gu Yuanbai laid down but soon felt uncomfortable again.
The Chief Guard didn’t dare move, feeling the heat on one side and the cold on the other. The gap between them could fit another person, and the draft made it colder than having no one to warm the bed. The alternating cold and warmth made it even more uncomfortable.
The emperor closed his eyes, “You may leave.”
The Chief Guard quietly got up and left. Moments later, the door creaked open and then closed again.
***
A few days later, the cotton clothing was loaded onto carts and set off for the northern border.
Before departure, Gu Yuanbai inspected the cotton clothes and randomly checked a few pieces, confirming they met his requirements.
“Have the workers been paid?” he asked.
Kong Yilin, who was accompanying him, replied, “Yes, Your Majesty, every penny has been paid.”
“Very good,” Gu Yuanbai nodded and smiled, “I will lead by example and wear these cotton clothes. This good item should be available to all the people.”
Kong Yilin smiled, “We have used up this year’s white cotton, but I believe with Your Majesty setting an example, more people will plant white cotton next year.”
“The more, the better,” Gu Yuanbai sighed, “But it’s a pity that this winter, the people of Great Heng won’t be able to benefit from this good thing.”
As they walked past the carts filled with cotton clothes, the emperor stopped outside the bustling market and took a stroll with Kong Yilin to observe the livelihood of the people.
In a roadside tavern, Li Angshun, a prince of Xixia, was listening to his subordinate’s report on Chu Wei. Glancing down, he noticed the emperor of Great Heng.
The emperor wore a long black robe and a dark cloak. His face was pale from the cold, and his thick clothing in this season seemed peculiar yet distinguished.
Li Angshun paused, following the emperor’s figure with his eyes.
The emperor of Great Heng was not someone one could see easily. Li Angshun had only seen him once at the palace banquet during the Longevity Festival in his month and a half in Great Heng. Unexpectedly, fate had brought them together again.
His subordinate continued, “After leaving work yesterday, Chu Wei dined with a friend at a restaurant. Half an hour later, he left and returned to the Chu residence.”
Li Angshun asked, “This friend, was it a man or a woman?”
His eyes still followed the emperor.
“…” The subordinate hesitated, “It was a man.”
Clearly distracted, Li Angshun took a bite of his food, “What does Chu Wei’s friend look like? Are they close?”
The subordinate sighed, “Your Highness, we’ve been monitoring Chu Wei for half a month. If you like him, he’s just a minor official in Great Heng. Why not simply take him?”
Li Angshun sneered coldly, “Fool. Forcing yourself upon an official of Great Heng in their own territory—have you forgotten the humiliation of being detained at Mingsheng Relay Station for those ten days?”
The subordinate asked, “Do you really like Chu Wei?”
“Of course I like him,” Li Angshun replied nonchalantly.
“Then who are you looking at now?”
Li Angshun pointed to Gu Yuanbai. At that moment, Gu Yuanbai had just walked in front of their tavern, every move visible. His appearance was exceptionally good, exuding an indescribable noble aura. Even his pale lips and face seemed like the ornamentation of a beautiful jade box, making people want to look twice.
The emperor of Great Heng had a face that evoked no resentment and an imposing presence that discouraged further gazes. After a while, sensing someone staring at him, Gu Yuanbai suddenly looked up towards the upper floor.
Li Angshun’s heart skipped a beat. He stood up, smiled calmly, and bowed, raising his alcohol cup in a salute to Gu Yuanbai.
Following the emperor’s gaze, Kong Yilin saw the seventh prince of Xixia and said, “Your Majesty, this man is known for his extravagant and licentious behavior and has a poor reputation among the people of Xixia. However, the emperor of Xixia dotes on him greatly. I’ve heard that recently, he has been inquiring about Lord Chu Wei, likely with some improper intentions given his character.”
Gu Yuanbai nodded politely to Li Angshun, though his gaze was as if looking at a hen that lays golden eggs. He said, “It’s tough on Minister Chu.”
Due to Gu Yuanbai’s mischievous tendencies, he was curious about the gifts the Xixia envoys brought and delayed discussing the trade matters between the two countries. Watching the Xixia envoys busily gifting and gathering information was a way for him to relax when state affairs became overwhelming.
The effect was perfect.
The more time Kong Yilin spent with the emperor, the more he felt a mix of amusement and helplessness. At this moment, he nodded and agreed, “Indeed, it’s hard on Minister Chu.”
As they continued to walk forward slowly, Gu Yuanbai joked, “Minister Kong is also handsome and imposing. Why hasn’t this seventh prince of Xixia taken a fancy to you?”
Kong Yilin smiled wryly, “I have ordinary looks, Your Majesty, please don’t tease me.”
“Oh?” Gu Yuanbai asked, “Then, in Minister Kong’s opinion, who among the handsome talents can match the elegance of Pan An and Wei Jie?”
“Such as Lord Chu Wei, the shizi of Marquis Pingchang, Li Yan,” Kong Yilin listed a few names unhurriedly, concluding, “And Lord Xue Yuan is no less handsome in my eyes. Finally, of course, there’s Your Majesty.”
Gu Yuanbai raised an eyebrow, smiling with pleasure, and his face, pale with illness, showed a hint of color. “I’ll take your flattery to heart.”
Kong Yilin chuckled and then said in a low voice, “Your Majesty, there have been many speculations recently about you keeping Doctor Jiang by your side. In the court, there’s a growing rumor that you intend to take a concubine into the palace.”
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