The capital city is chaos incarnate, soldiers, guards, and constables galloping through the streets.
The Jinyiwei also dashed in squads to all directions.
Seeing this scene, the populace's faces changed color.
Although military matters are kept confidential, what truly can be kept secret in the capital, the situation of the northern lands is even clearer to the people of the capital than to the feudal authority.
"What's happening? Could it be that the Jurchen people have attacked the capital again?"
"Didn't they just reach Kaide Prefecture?"
"Who can be sure."
"Quick, pack your things and run."
With everyone in a state of panic, the news spread like wildfire, and the entire capital was in turmoil. Everyone rushed towards the outside of the city, startling the feudal authority.
"It's not the Jurchen people attacking, it's the horses from the Horse Factory that have run off."
The people from Wucheng Military Department had to go around explaining and pacifying the situation.
Are runaway horses worth such a fuss? Don't treat us like fools; the people wouldn't believe it, leading to several incidents of storming the city gates.
For a time, the capital both inside and outside was in disarray, looking no different than if the Jurchen people had actually attacked.
"Still not chaotic enough! You still find it not chaotic enough, is that it?"
The emperor, furious, overturned a few tables, pointing at the room full of officials.
"You are all useless, all useless."
The roomful of officials knelt and together declared their guilt.
"Your Majesty, the people have been pacified and things have been explained," one official stepped forward and said, "Those causing trouble amidst the chaos have been arrested, and those injured in the stampede have been settled."
The emperor, however, was not much pleased with this and his brows twitched.
"What explanation did you give?" he asked, not waiting for that official to reply, continuing, "The horses from the Horse Factory did run off, but what we are chasing is not the horses, it's Duke of Chengguo's heir."
The situation was indeed so, and once it was explained this way, upon hearing that it was Duke of Chengguo's heir who had run off, the people actually all believed it and calmed down immediately.
"So it's Duke of Chengguo's heir."
"I knew it. When Duke of Chengguo's heir causes trouble, he shakes the entire city."
People inquired with laughter and chatting, and the news spread rapidly without them needing to explain, thus the public mood was quickly pacified.
An unbelievable situation, the officials hesitantly acknowledged yes.
The emperor's expression was grim.
"Seeing Duke of Chengguo's heir escape like that, the people must be really pleased, right?" he said.
These words didn't sound quite right... The official could not help but lift his sleeve to wipe away sweat, struggling to think of what to say when the emperor had already picked up a memorial from the ground and hurled it.
"Useless! You bunch of useless!" he angrily exclaimed, "A prisoner under surveillance just like that runs off, right under my watch, causing chaos as if the Jurchen people had broken in, is this showing the entire capital that I am useless?"
The officials again knelt and together cried out.
"May Your Majesty calm your anger, we are at fault."
The emperor vented his anger and breathlessly sat back on the throne.
"What exactly happened? So many people watching Zhu Zan and you let him escape? Are these people all dead?" he shouted fiercely.
A few officials exchanged glances, bracing themselves to stand out.
"It's not about the people, it's that he made those horses suddenly all run off; people simply couldn't stop them," an official said.
The emperor's brow twitched again.
"You mean to say, the animals listen to him but not the people?" he said.
The statement seemed odd; the officials looked at each other, but it seemed to be the case.
.............
"He said he was chasing down the horses, but he was whistling all along, and so many horses followed him."
"These hundreds of horses scattered in all directions; in the end, no one knew where he ran off to."
Jiang, the Hundred-man commander, said to Lu Yunqi, his face full of frustration.
Everything was accounted for, except that this lad would use the chaos to escape with the animals.
The scene of hundreds of horses galloping on the main road was indeed frightening.
These animals aren't human, they don't understand the threat of swords, spears, bows, and arrows, coming like a rolling river, sweeping away all in their path.
Zhu Zan being among them was simply unstoppable.
Lu Yunqi's expression was wooden.
"This is my fault," he said, as he rode his horse around, "I truly didn't expect that he could get these animals to behave like this."
"Sir, it's not that you didn't expect, no one could have," Jiang, the Hundred-man commander, said with a wry smile.
How did he manage that? How does this person know how to do everything? And he's so formidable as well.
Admitting the other party's prowess is not a disgrace; many people who are considered formidable end up just the same in prison.
"Surviving isn't that impressive, it's staying alive that's impressive," Lu Yunqi said lightly.
Jiang, the Hundred-man commander, understood his meaning.
"Then let's take action," he requested.
"Issue orders everywhere, Duke of Chengguo's heir is a fugitive due to his crimes, if seen, no matter the circumstance, to be executed on the spot," Lu Yunqi said, raising his hand, "A fugitive, with turmoil in the northern lands, one or two deaths are too common."
Jiang, the Hundred-man commander, acknowledged this.
This declaration was not just for the Great Zhou officials, but also for the Jurchen invaders in the northern lands. Capturing or killing Duke of Chengguo's only son was much more significant for the Jurchen people than capturing a few cities; they would even be willing to trade a few cities for him.
By then, it might be too late for them to make a move.
If they don't enjoy the good days, then they might as well be dead.
Lu Yunqi urged his horse to gallop towards the Imperial City.
Inside the Imperial City, after a bout of cursing, the emperor started to gasp and weep again.
"Truly, with internal strife and external threats, is Heaven punishing me?" he said.
Once more, all the court officials bowed in shared sorrow.
"Your Majesty, this matter must be immediately reported to the Duke of Chengguo," Huang Cheng suddenly said quietly.
"Of course, I must inform him," the emperor said with annoyance, "to see what an excellent son he has raised."
Huang Cheng bowed in respect.
"Your Majesty, please issue another order for the Duke of Chengguo to deploy troops back to defend Kaifeng Prefecture," he said.
"Did I not just issue a decree? He hasn't gone far yet," the emperor replied irritably.
"Given the critical situation, issuing multiple decrees can also show Your Majesty's reliance on the Duke of Chengguo," Huang Cheng said, his expression pleading and pitiful.
Seeing him like this, the emperor also felt pitiful.
What reliance, it is a plea, he is pleading with the Duke of Chengguo to bring troops and save him quickly.
The emperor's body shook slightly, he took a few deep breaths.
"How could just one more be enough," he said in a moderated voice, "issue two more, no, three, no, ten."
......….
"Your Majesty, this is definitely not the time to order the Duke of Chengguo back to Kaifeng Prefecture."
The voice of Ning Yan resonated loud and firm in the grand hall.
He had been saying this for days now.
Yet the decrees were still issued as per the emperor's instructions, dispatched to the northern lands every other day, and today marks the tenth decree awaiting action.
The emperor had become numb issuing them, and numb hearing them.
"Should we just watch as Kaide Prefecture suffers?" he said.
"Your Majesty, reinforcements from other regions are arriving soon. There is no need for the Duke of Chengguo to travel such a distance; with his critical status and the tense military situation in the northern lands, if he moves, it will cause disruptions there. Those invading Kaide are but a few, but if the northern lands fall, then tens of thousands from the Jurchen people will surge in..." Ning Yan spoke urgently.
The emperor cut him off promptly.
"I trust the Duke of Chengguo," he said, "I believe he can handle this."
I believe in his loyalty and respect.
The emperor gripped the armrest tightly.
Ning Yan wanted to say more, but urgent news came from outside the door.
"Your Majesty, the Duke of Chengguo requests not to return to defense."
The emperor's eyes sharpened.
No, return to defense.
The grand hall fell suddenly silent.
But before the sound of the urgent report finished, a eunuch raced from outside holding up another urgent report.
"Your Majesty, the Duke of Chengguo requests not to return to defense."
One after another, the Duke of Chengguo's requests rushed into the hall, responding to one issued decree after another.
Nine decrees issued, nine refusals.
The emperor sitting on the dragon throne had a livid expression.
"Your Majesty, I request that the Duke of Chengguo Zhu Shan be punished for his immense treachery," said Huang Cheng, standing up, no longer tremulous, speaking loudly.
More court officials also stood up.
"Your Majesty, I request that the Duke of Chengguo Zhu Shan be punished for his excessive greed for merits."
"Your Majesty, the Duke of Chengguo is arrogant."
"Your Majesty, the Duke of Chengguo is presumptuous and insolent."
One accusation after another echoed throughout the grand hall.
The voice of Ning Yan, originally set to rebut, was drowned out.
Presumptuous? Is this reminding the emperor that the Duke of Chengguo's heir has already left the capital, no longer held as a guarantee, perhaps?
Truly, the same issue is seen differently by different people; Ning Yunzhao looked up at the ministers pounding their chests and stamping their feet indignantly.
The Duke of Chengguo's heir had escaped, and they saw the Duke as fearless; why couldn't they see that the Duke's heir had fled north, with criminal orders circulating everywhere, how perilous his situation was.
Actually, at this moment, as a father, the most appropriate thing for the Duke of Chengguo would be to lead troops back in defense.
Even if not for the common people, not for the state, but for his own son, it was the simplest and most appropriate thing to do.
Returning to defense not only followed the emperor's orders but could also rescue his son in peril, a wise and beneficial action.
But he did not; he did not see his son in a dangerous situation; he only saw that his return to defense would provoke chaos in the northern lands, harm the common people there, and ruin the state.
The Duke of Chengguo, with each refusal to respond to the decrees, seemed to defy divine command and resist authority, yet truly he was refusing what a father should do.
"Being a hero is not easy," Ning Yunzhao murmured.
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Thank you, have a happy weekend, and best wishes to all teachers for a joyful holiday.