Sui Heng is obviously very interested in this news.
He asked, “How bad is it?”
Chen Qi said, “It was said that after last year’s meeting on the river, Divine Physician Meng Hui was stranded in the Muyun Pass for a year. Meng Hui has always been proud and unpredictable, and he loves to go deep into the mountains to collect various rare herbs. To be able to hold him back for so long, it must have been difficult for Jiang Rongyu to travel with his injuries. Moreover, it is said that the Jiang Empire’s Palace spends a lot of money every month to purchase a rare medicinal herb for treating bone injuries. Jiang Rongyu’s bone injuries may not be fully healed yet.”
Naturally, Sui Heng had expected this, because the arrow he shot that day was not an ordinary feather arrow but a black iron arrow with light bone fractures.
If he used ten percent of his strength, he could shoot off one of his arms.
But that arrow was only meant to teach that hypocrite a lesson, so he didn’t use all his strength.
But it’s enough to make that hypocrite suffer.
Two years of bone-cracking pain, heh, Sui Heng’s heart suddenly became much more comfortable. He asked, “What kind of medicine is purchased by the Jiang Empire’s Palace? Why do they need to buy it every month?”
In the past two years, with the downfall of the Yan family, many scholars from humble backgrounds in the Jiangbei region have been competing to join the Sui Heng. The Crown Prince Mansion now could be described as being filled with talented people and fierce generals.
Among the advisors, besides Chen Qi, there was a pair of brothers surnamed Lu who were also very talented, one named Lu Jishi and the other named Lu Anmin. The two brothers came from the rural areas of Jiangbei, but they were knowledgeable and very strategic.
Upon hearing Sui Heng’s question, Lu Jishi immediately replied, “If what the minister expected was correct, it should be a ‘Zilong Gu’.”
“Zilong Gu?”
Sui Heng heard of this kind of thing for the first time.
Lu Jishi quickly said, “It’s just an alias and a fancy name. It is actually a rare purple ganoderma lucidum, and the Zilong Gu refers to the root of the ganoderma lucidum. It is said that the yield of this ganoderma lucidum is extremely low, very precious, and rare, and it will lose its medicinal properties after leaving the soil for one month. Therefore, if one wants keel to be used as medicine, they must use the newly picked and fresh purple ganoderma within one month. The Jiang Empire’s Palace purchased it every month, maybe due to this reason.”
Given the lesson of the white elk, Sui Heng asked, “Where did the Zilong Gu you mentioned grow?”
Lu Jishi said, “It might be in both the south and north of the Yangtze River, in the deep mountains and forests. The more ancient trees grow, the more likely they are to appear, not limited to a family or a country. However, the ganoderma lucidum prefers cold weather, and from a climatic perspective, there are more in the north of the Yangtze River.”
Lu Jishi was a clever person, he immediately understood Sui Heng’s concerns. He said, “Your Highness, rest assured that this item is very rare and precious. Even the farmers who gather herbs in the mountains all year round may not be able to obtain them easily. Moreover, in the places where purple ganoderma grows, there is usually a highly toxic purple-spotted snake that appears and protects the ganoderma, ordinary people dare not touch it easily.”
Sui Heng’s eyes were cold and sharp, and he quickly made a decision: “Gu wants you all to try to destroy all the Zilong Gu. From today on, all medical centers and pharmacies in Jiangbei are no longer allowed to sell Zilong Gu, once found, they will be killed.”
Lu Jishi answered yes in a loud voice.
The rest of the advisors also agreed with this.
The fight between countries does not require moral principles, as the solemn agreement made during the previous meeting in the river was only a minority. Nowadays, the safety and security of Jiangnan depend entirely on Jiang Rongyu. It would be a good idea if he could hit Jiang Rongyu hard or get rid of him directly without any bloodshed.
Half a month later, Fan Zhou returned to the Jiang capital from Muyun Pass and reported to Jiang Yun about the recent large-scale deployment of troops by the Sui Empire to the north bank of the Yellow River.
The time agreed upon for last year’s meeting on the river has arrived, and it is evident that the Crown Prince of Sui is determined to cross the Yellow River and attack the Jiang Empire. There is another thing that worries Fan Zhou.
“The Qi Kingdom has secretly sent more troops to the southern border recently. Last time, at Emperor Sui’s birthday banquet, the King of Qi specially sent Prime Minister Tian Que to the Sui capital. This subordinate was afraid that the intention was not to drink. This subordinate is worried that the Qi Kingdom will join forces with the Sui Empire and take advantage of the fire.”
The Qi Kingdom is strong and powerful, and if it really joined the battle, then the pressure that the Jiang Empire would face would be unimaginable.
After listening attentively, Jiang Yun’s eyelashes drooped, and there was no special expression on his face. His black pupils remained clear and bright, and he said, “Gu understands. Gu will choose a day to head north and personally supervise the battle at Muyun Pass. Master has worked hard all the way. Let’s go rest first.”
Fan Zhou worried and said, “Your Highness’s body…”
Jiang Yun said he is fine.
What’s coming will always come, there’s no hiding from it.
Fan Zhou sighed.
Over the past year and a half, the Jiang Empire has actually received good recuperation, and all the wasteland in Muyun Pass has been utilized. Grain production has doubled, and a dedicated military granary has been built in Muyun Pass. If there is more time to reinforce and extend the beacon tower outside the pass, the Jiang Empire may not lack the strength to fight against the Sui Empire’s iron cavalry.
Unfortunately, time waits for no one, and the ambitious Crown Prince of Sui will not give the Jiang Empire any space to take more breaths.
On the other hand, Fan Zhou was also really worried about Jiang Yun’s health.
Others may not know, but he witnessed with his own eyes how Jiang Yun fell into a coma for three days and three nights after the meeting in the river, with a persistent high fever, and he barely escaped death.
Thirty bowls of the most intense Snow Mountain Shaodaozi of the northern region, combined with a cold black iron arrow that pierces through the arm’s bones—even a strong and powerful general cannot withstand it, let alone His Highness the Crown Prince, who’s weak.
Even if Divine Physician Meng used anesthesia to pull out the arrow, His Highness still fainted several times due to pain, his teeth were almost gritted, and cold sweat soaked through several layers of bedding.
The conditions at Muyun Pass were harsh. According to His Highness’s physical condition, he should have immediately returned to the Jiang capital to recuperate. However, in order to implement the reclamation order, he built a beacon tower, and there’s Xiao Huangsun tripping over him too. His Highness stayed in the pass for a year due to illness before returning to the Jiang capital.
Now it is not easy for him to be able to recuperate for a period of time, but he has to go north to enter the border again. How can he bear it?
But this war is of great significance. The Crown Prince of Sui came with great force, and His Highness had no choice but to personally go oversee the battle in the pass. Fan Zhou could only respond by bowing and leaving.
Jiang Yun sat alone behind the curtain to handle the accumulated official duties.
The sky gradually darkened, and the palace attendant had already led Xiao Jiang Nuo to sleep. Jiang Yun put down his brush and lightly pressed his right arm.
Although he has been taking care of it for a year and a half, when it rains or gets cold, his right arm will experience a heart-wrenching pain. So after autumn, Jiang Yun no longer writes with his right hand.
But this doesn’t alleviate much hidden pain; at most, it just doesn’t worsen.
Gongsun Yang still brought over the medicine for treating stomach diseases. The dark juice emitted a strong, bitter taste, and Jiang Yun didn’t particularly want to drink it. He opened the nearby porcelain jar and wanted to get a sugar-soaked plum, only to find that the jar was already empty. He didn’t want to labor Gongsun Yang over these small matters, so he picked up a spoon and took a sip of the medicine.
Even when His Highness drinks medicine, he is graceful in a way that ordinary people can’t match.
Gongsun Yang stumbled for a moment and said with some reluctance, “The pharmacy still hasn’t gotten the Zilong Gu. Suddenly, all the pharmacies in the north of the river have banned the sale of Zilong Gu, and the farmers have also been banned from entering the mountains to collect medicine recently.”
And on the Jiangnan side, Zilong Gu was already extremely rare.
Zilong Gu is a miraculous medicine for treating bone injuries, with anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. When His Highness was in the pass last year, he relied solely on the Zilong Gu to protect his right arm. Although his arrow injury on his arm has improved significantly, in cold weather, he still needs the Zilong Gu to relieve pain. Without Zilong Gu, it means that His Highness will suffer from bone-cracking pain every day.
Jiang Yun nodded.
“It’s fine, it’s just a little old injury, applying hot compress is the same.”
Gongsun Yang is a martial arts practitioner and naturally knows that His Highness is just comforting him. How can he suppress the pain of a bone injury by just applying a hot compress?
Jiang Yun finished drinking the decoction as usual and instructed Gongsun Yang to do two things.
The first thing is to write a letter to Divine Physician Meng Hui, hoping that Meng Hui can go to Muyun Pass again.
Although it is just a little old injury, and it doesn’t hurt much. However, due to the cold weather in the north, Jiang Yun doesn’t want to delay the war because of his health. With Meng Hui around, he could spare himself many worries.
The second thing is to prepare for a carriage. He is going to Ziwei Palace to meet Emperor Jiang.
The first thing was great, but the second thing surprised Gongsun Yang.
Then he frowned and said, “This subordinate heard that King Chu ran to His Majesty’s palace two days ago and cried, saying that Your Highness deliberately targeted and bullied him in the court without showing any regard to him as an elder brother. If Your Highness goes to see His Majesty now, will His Majesty favor King Chu again?”
It’s not that Gongsun Yang is worrying about nothing, but according to what he has heard and seen over the years, His Majesty’s teaching of His Highness is too harsh and severe, and he often favors King Chu.
King Chu was wrong and could still go to cry in front of His Majesty, while Consort Shen favored and protected him. And his Highness, who has been wronged, who can he talk to? Although His Highness now has absolute say in the court, Gongsun Yang is still worried that Emperor Jiang will be biased towards King Chu’s words. After all, Emperor Jiang is not an ordinary monarch. He is very powerful and has a strong desire for control. The courtiers in the court are all afraid of Emperor Jiang’s authority. In recent years, if it weren’t for Emperor Jiang’s intention to delegate power, His Highness would not have been able to quickly cultivate his own power in the court.
So, Gongsun Yang sometimes doesn’t understand Emperor Jiang’s attitude towards His Highness.
Jiang Yun said lightly that it didn’t matter.
At this moment, Emperor Jiang was having dinner.
Jiang Yun arrived at the entrance of the Ziwei Palace and saw King Chu’s carriage.
According to national law, King Chu was not qualified to ride or drive in the palace, but Emperor Jiang granted the right to the eldest son.
Upon hearing the Crown Prince’s arrival, Liu Gong personally welcomed him and said with a friendly smile, “His Majesty is having dinner with King Chu and Consort Shen. Your Highness has come just in time, this old servant will have someone add another set of utensils.”
Jiang Yun smiled and said there was no need to bother.
“Gu has already eaten, Gu will just wait in the side hall.”
Half an hour later, the palace attendants began to withdraw their meals. Emperor Jiang, dressed in a snow-white robe, sat behind the table with cold and stern eyes. Although he was nearly forty years old, he still had a graceful and handsome appearance.
When Jiang Yun entered the palace, he asked, “Since you’re here, why don’t you let Liu Gong report?”
Jiang Yun said, “Emperor Father is having meals, Erchen dare not disturb.”
Such polite words between father and son.
Emperor Jiang didn’t show any emotions and only said, “Sit down.”
Jiang Yun took his seat below.
Consort Shen and King Chu stood up to salute.
Jiang Yun asked them to sit down without making any eye contact with them. He only raised his eyes and looked at Emperor Jiang, saying, “Erchen came here today to ask Emperor Father for a favor.”
“What’s it?”
“Erchen would like to invite King Brother Lang to go north with Erchen to supervise the battle at Muyun Pass.”
Consort Shen’s flowery face changed dramatically, and King Chu, Jiang Lang, was even more sullen, he directly slapped the table and stood up.
“Jiang Rongyu, don’t go too far!”
Jiang Yun said calmly, “Gu is the Crown Prince, and according to the rules, King Brother should address Gu ‘Your Highness’. Otherwise, it will be considered a violation of etiquette. According to the rules, the punishment is thirty strokes of cane.”
Jiang Lang became angry and urgently looked at Emperor Jiang.
Last year, Jiang Yun openly rebelled against the king’s orders and seized his military supervision. He was placed under house arrest in the pass for a whole year, causing him to suffer a lot. After returning, he immediately complained to his Emperor Father. Not only did his Emperor Father not help him, but he also punished him to think in seclusion in the mansion for three months as well. Now that Jiang Yun has repeated his old tricks, how can Jiang Lang not be angry?
Jiang Lang sometimes really doesn’t understand what his Emperor Father was thinking.
He clearly detests this son that was born from the demon empress, but he still has to take him around from a young age and personally teach him too. But if he says he likes it, he can be overly harsh. He completed the same homework, and his Emperor Father will not hesitate to praise him. If Jiang Yun does it, his Emperor Father will be particularly strict, and he will be punished severely if he makes any mistakes.
Jiang Lang used to take pleasure in this and felt that his father was displeased with Jiang Yun, so he deliberately placed him by his side to spar. However, four years ago, his father began to turn a blind eye and let Jiang Yun develop his power in court. Jiang Lang suddenly began to feel anxious and uneasy, feeling that his previous understanding was wrong.
The last time incident at Muyun Pass further exacerbated Jiang Lang’s panic.
Consort Shen got her son to sit down and then looked at Emperor Jiang politely, “Your Majesty…”
However, Emperor Jiang’s cold and frosty face scared Consort Shen into silence.
The last time Consort Shen saw this expression on Emperor Jiang’s face was after the Crown Prince was abducted by the assassins. She took advantage of the opportunity to serve in bed and requested that Emperor Jiang appoint her Lang Er as the Crown Prince.
Emperor Jiang sized up Jiang Yun, whom he personally taught and raised, who he loved and hated, and always reminded him of many unpleasant pasts.
“Reason.”
He coldly uttered two words.
Jiang Yun said, “To make Emperor Father rest assured, and also to make Erchen rest assured.”
Liu Gong’s expression changed.
With a loud bang, Emperor Jiang directly threw the wine cup on the table.
Liu Gong was so frightened that he knelt down, and Consort Shen and Jiang Lang trembled fiercely.
The atmosphere in the hall was solemn, the sound of needles falling could be heard for the moment, making it suffocating.
“Permission granted.”
In the deathly silence, Emperor Jiang spoke again.
Gongsun Yang was anxiously waiting outside, and when he saw Jiang Yun coming out of the hall intact and Liu Gong personally leading the way, he immediately greeted him with great joy.
“Your Highness!”
Jiang Yun politely bid farewell to Liu Gong, then looked at the dark sky and the sweeping autumn wind. With a smile on his lips, he said to Gongsun Yang, “Go back to the palace.”
“Prepare to pack and depart north in three days.”
Emperor Jiang, dressed in white, stood in the corridor with his sleeves down, his gaze fixed on the golden chariot slowly disappearing outside of the Ziwei Palace’s gate. He instructed Liu Jiu, “In Zhen’s name, write a letter to Meng Hui, urging him to arrive at Muyun Pass and protect the Crown Prince’s safety.”
After Liu Jiu froze, he answered yes.
The Yellow River freezes over in December, and the Sui Empire’s 300,000 iron cavalry drove straight down, approaching the Muyun Pass. This war, which has been delayed for a year and a half, has finally arrived.
Before Sui Heng set out on the expedition, he sat at the Linglong Pagoda overnight. In the early morning, he returned to the private courtyard, and his gaze fell on the withered plum blossom by his pillow. He reached out and took the plum blossom into his bosom, then grabbed his sword and strode away from the private courtyard.
