Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 724: Rebels

One hour later.

Senior officials gathered at Zhaohai Palace and after passing around the latest news from Yu State, each looked grim.

"That Zheng Chen, he’s long harbored rebellious intentions." The Ministry of War’s Vice Minister Ding spoke first: "The main general of the Yu State Army, General Lu, was personally promoted by Minister Zheng during his tenure. Every year, the Yu State Army’s funding was prioritized and never short-changed."

"The Yu State Army’s strength is among the top of the forty stationed troops, far surpassing the former Pingzhou Army."

Back then, the chaos and mutiny by the Pingzhou garrison led to their occupation of Pingzhou. The court was reluctant to expend financial and material resources, so Nanyang County supplied food, manpower, and efforts to reclaim Pingzhou.

When Zheng Chen escaped from the Capital City, he didn’t seek out General Fan at the border army but went directly to Yu State. Quietly, he killed the imperial envoy sent by the court, then slaughtered all the Yu State officials. Clearly, it wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision but an outcome of long-standing secret collusion with General Lu. It was also Zheng Chen’s prepared "way out."

The Yu State Army’s forces are more than double the Pingzhou Army’s, and they are continually recruiting new soldiers and building city walls, clearly aiming to separate part of the nation and establish their own reign.

Vice Minister Wang spoke with a heavy tone: "The Left General excels in leading troops in battle, but after all, the Heroic Guard Camp is an expeditionary force. Currently, they are still on the march and on the way. Upon reaching outside Yu State, they’ll have to construct military camps and reorganize the soldiers. It will take at least two months before truly dispatching troops to quell the rebellion."

"In these two months, the Yu State Army, aided by civilians, could cause many disturbances."

Da Liang consists of forty states, Yu State is vast, administering the counties of Runan, Yingchuan, Ruyang, Yiyang, Xincai, Chu’an, and Xiang City, totaling nine counties.

The Yu State Army is stationed in Xiang City, which was the first to be occupied. In the days when the court received the news and dispatched troops to Yu State, the Yu State Army had successively occupied Chu’an County and Xincai County.

In another two months, fear looms that the entire Yu State will fall into the Yu State Army’s hands. Such a large territory and four to five hundred thousand civilians, with Zheng Chen’s methods, can indeed stir quite a commotion.

Jiang Shaohua’s gaze was cold and quietly said: "Both ministers have valid concerns. The court must eliminate the Yu State Army as quickly as possible. The soldiers’ roster of the Heroic Guard Camp lists fifty thousand, but the actual force is forty-one thousand. The court needs to send more troops to Yu State. The surrounding garrisons of Yu State must also be mobilized, ready to obey the Left General’s command at any time."

Vice Minister Ding immediately bowed in acceptance: "I will return to the government office and draft the documents to mobilize the troops."

Jiang Shaohua looked towards Vice Minister Wang: "At such a time, Vice Minister Wang must wholeheartedly assist Minister Ding and not let personal interests delay military affairs."

Vice Minister Ding formally became Minister Ding.

Vice Minister Wang suppressed his inner envy and bowed in reply: "Your Majesty, rest assured, I understand the weight of the matter and will faithfully carry out my duties."

Before the Emperor could call out names, Minister Ji stepped forward willingly: "I will return to the Ministry of Revenue and continue to gather provisions and military funding." 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Jiang Shaohua nodded slightly: "First prepare provisions and military funding for a hundred thousand troops for a year. If the Ministry of Revenue’s Silver Coin is insufficient, just inform me and I’ll find a way."

The last few words were spoken casually, but upon reflection, they made the court officials break out in cold sweat.

The National Treasury indeed is not short of Silver now, but this Silver came from confiscated properties! Including voluntary "donations" from the Huaiyang Prince Mansion, Wu’an County Prince Mansion, and the Zheng Family.

The most exhausting aspect of warfare is the consumption of Silver Coin and provisions. If the National Treasury becomes insufficient, what measures will the Emperor take? Is there any quicker way to get Silver than to execute traitorous officials and confiscate properties?

Speaking of accusations, the court’s high officials, who hasn’t something to hide? Which household doesn’t have greedy and shameless relatives?

Even Minister Ji, upon hearing these words, could not help but sweat with fear, cautiously responding with a "Yes."

In front of the officials, Jiang Shaohua instructed: "Chen Sheren, go to Jingyang Palace and report the latest news of the Yu State Army to the Grand Empress Dowager. Also, send someone to the Zheng household to inform the Family Head of this matter."

Chen Sheren responded respectfully.

The officials felt a chill.

The Emperor intended to take advantage of the Yu State rebel army’s incident to thoroughly suppress the arrogant Grand Empress Dowager and enact a warning upon the Zheng Family.

Yet, it’s only the Zheng Family, despite Zheng Chen being a rebel, that remains unscathed. If it were another family, they’d have been long executed and their lineage exterminated.

...

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng fell ill again upon hearing the news.

This time it wasn’t feigned, but a genuine illness.

Empress Dowager Li personally visited to see the patient, observing the sickly, clouded gaze of Grand Empress Dowager Zheng; in her heart, Empress Dowager Li laughed coldly.

Old Devout Woman Zheng, you’re reaping what you’ve sown!

"Leave!" Grand Empress Dowager Zheng weakly glared at Empress Dowager Li, who came to ridicule her: "Seeing you makes me angry."

Empress Dowager Li played the role of the dutiful daughter-in-law, convincingly: "Now that mother-in-law is ill, the daughter-in-law should naturally come to take care of her. The daughter-in-law also wants to offer some advice to mother-in-law."

"The Zheng Family produced someone like Zheng Chen, an outlaw, it’s beyond remedy. Mother-in-law should stop worrying about preserving the Zheng Family, and just stay peaceably and steadfastly in the palace."

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng’s face turned red with anger, and she cursed: "Are you trying to drive me to death!"

"Get out! Never come back again!"

Empress Dowager Li curled her lips, slowly retreated to leave.

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng was furious but had no way to deal with Empress Dowager Li.

Previously, a single command from her would have confined Empress Dowager Li to Ning An Palace for convalescence, but now, Empress Dowager Li maintains harmonious relations with Jiang Shaohua, and Jiang Shaohua constantly backs Empress Dowager Li. The prestige and authority of the Grand Empress Dowager in the palace have drastically declined.

Moreover, Zheng Chen’s uproar in Yu State has made her, Grand Empress Dowager Zheng, feel as if her strength has been sapped, unable to stand tall any longer.

"Eunuch Lin," Grand Empress Dowager Zheng gasped for breath, barely pulling herself together to ask: "How’s the Duke Mansion doing?"

Eunuch Lin, having planted spies in Duke An’s Mansion, was well-informed about the Zheng Family’s current situation, and he replied softly: "To report to the Grand Empress Dowager, Duchess An has remained bedridden, causing some disorder in the inner residence. Despite this, Duke An is barely managing to hold on."

"The Emperor sent someone to deliver a message, prompting Duke An to draft a letter of apology, which was submitted to the palace."

First a farewell letter, then a letter of apology.

The Zheng Family has long lost face, completely trampled into the dust.

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng felt a stabbing pain in her heart, as tears blurred her vision.

Mr. Zhao cautiously stepped forward, wiping the tears for the Grand Empress Dowager while softly soothing her: "Though the Zheng Family has lost its dignity now, at least the family members are all alive and well. This is due to the Grand Empress Dowager’s mighty protection."

"The Grand Empress Dowager mustn’t fall, she needs to persevere. Otherwise, who else can protect the Zheng Family."

What he said sounded nice, but inwardly, he coldly laughed.

Deserved!

The Zheng Family deserved to be reduced to this state. Grand Empress Dowager Zheng deserved to be implicated by the Zheng Family!