Chapter 0056: The Xiongnu King Who Fancies Men, The Second Prince Can Be Used for Marriage Alliance
Xie Chengze was highly satisfied with the content of this letter.
He turned to Xie Zimiao beside him and said, “Zimiao, write another letter to Father Emperor on my behalf.”
Xie Zimiao responded with an “Oh,” smoothing the letter paper on the desk with a paperweight while puzzled, “But Second Brother, why do you always like having me write letters for you?”
Although every letter was written in Second Brother’s name, why was he always the one holding the brush?
“Hmm?” Xie Chengze was busy rolling up his sleeves and grinding the ink stick in the inkstone, casually replying, “Of course it’s because I think your handwriting is beautiful, Little Miao~”
Xie Zimiao couldn’t help but blush slightly.
Second Brother had been like this recently – always praising him, making him feel somewhat embarrassed.
But he remembered that Second Brother’s handwriting was clearly better? Although Second Brother’s handwriting had been terrible when he was young, even teased by Consort Hua and Father Emperor about it, he had later practiced calligraphy day and night until his writing became elegant and neat, even more beautiful than Crown Prince’s handwriting.
But since Second Brother didn’t want to write the letters, he would write them on his behalf!
Xie Zimiao diligently picked up the brush and began writing on the letter paper.
The content to be written was roughly about informing Father Emperor how to use gunpowder, requesting special permission to establish a gunpowder factory in Yi Province, implementing division of labor in gunpowder production to prevent formula leakage, and stating that he had already taken initiative to gather tight-lipped craftsmen to begin work. If Father Emperor didn’t agree, he would stop the operation – though it would be best if Father Emperor agreed, otherwise he wouldn’t let him see his handsome and excellent son for seven years, and so on.
After attaching the gunpowder formula, Xie Zimiao refused to continue writing halfway through and handed the brush to Xie Chengze.
“Second Brother, you write the rest.” Although Xie Zimiao was simple-minded, he wasn’t foolish. He knew such things shouldn’t be casually known – sometimes the more one knew, the more dangerous it became.
Xie Chengze didn’t make things difficult for him either, taking the brush to complete the remaining content.
After a final check confirming everything was in order, he satisfactorily stuffed the thick stack of letter paper into an envelope, placed it together with the gunpowder in a moisture-proof wooden box, and had Wuji secretly deliver everything back to Jingcheng.
This matter was of great importance – he didn’t trust the couriers from the postal stations, so he could only send Wuji personally, solemnly instructing: “No rush, make sure to deliver it back slowly!”
…
When Emperor Jian received these two letters, two months had already passed.
Because Xie Chengze wasn’t in the capital and multiple regions were suffering from famine, the disinterested Emperor Jian had even canceled that year’s autumn hunt. Every day during court sessions, he wore a foul expression, accusing anyone he disliked of wronging the Second Prince who was suffering outside, deducting half a year’s salary from officials to use as disaster relief funds, causing great distress among the court officials.
On this particular day, Emperor Jian received urgent reports from the border – the Xiongnu tribe, taking advantage of the northern army’s grain shortage, had repeatedly invaded Jian’an border counties, burning, killing, and plundering among the city residents. Moreover, their equipment and weapons seemed to have been improved, causing our army to retreat repeatedly, nearly losing the city gates. Urgent reinforcements of military funds and provisions were desperately needed.
The court officials chattered noisily but couldn’t come up with any solution, infuriating Emperor Jian so much that he overturned the dragon table in rage, thundering: “A bunch of useless fools! What use are you to me? My sons are suffering outside one after another, while you lot can’t even come up with a solution here!”
“Your Majesty, the national treasury is truly depleted!” The Minister of Revenue began lamenting his difficulties. “Famine strikes various regions, and disaster relief funds and grains have been sent repeatedly. We simply lack the capacity to do more!”
“Your Majesty, increasing reinforcements is not a sustainable solution,” the Minister of War stepped forward, his expression grave. “The Xiongnu are naturally tall and strong, skilled in guerrilla warfare. Now with their improved weapons, almost no one survives once struck. If we confront them directly, our army stands no chance and would only be sending men to their deaths! The most crucial task now is to first negotiate peace with the Xiongnu…”
“Negotiate peace?” Emperor Jian immediately sneered. “How do you propose we negotiate peace? The Xiongnu tribe has long coveted the Central Plains. Their tactic of sustaining war through war has depleted countless of my troops! If we had incorporated the Xiongnu tribe into our territory earlier, my Chengze wouldn’t have to travel to Yi Province without military escort!”
The Minister of War: …
The Minister of War had grown accustomed to Emperor Jian using the Second Prince as an excuse for his outbursts. He replied calmly, “Your Majesty, throughout history, there have been successful examples of negotiating peace with the Xiongnu. The Western Han dynasty once secured border peace through marriage alliances. If we simultaneously offer the Xiongnu some benefits, and then adopt their weapon improvement methods for ourselves, when our military strength flourishes, we can directly turn against them and wipe them out completely!”
“Impossible!” Emperor Jian slammed the dragon table in rage, roaring furiously. “Are you suggesting I send my daughter to marry those fierce Xiongnu? How is that different from sending her to her death?”
“Your Majesty! The common people at the border are equally innocent! The princess enjoys all the luxuries in the palace, so she has the responsibility to protect the people of Jian’an, to share Your Majesty’s and the court’s burdens!” Another official stepped forward, filled with righteous indignation.
“Indeed, Your Majesty! With the nation’s strength unstable, we should prioritize stability when dealing with Xiongnu invasions. It’s not advisable to start a war!”
One after another, officials stepped forward to persuade him, making Emperor Jian’s head spin with anger. He slapped the table and laughed loudly, “Good! Very good! Instead of properly considering how to counterattack the Xiongnu, the entire court is forcing a woman to sacrifice herself—and my daughter at that! You all are truly remarkable!”
“Your Majesty, if you’re unwilling to sacrifice the princess, I’ve heard that the Xiongnu King Chanyu Lie also has quite a fondness for male beauty…” An official seized the opportunity to interject, only to have his official hat struck by a memorial thrown by Emperor Jian the next second.
Emperor Jian’s powerful, rage-filled curses thundered throughout the Golden Luan Hall, “How dare you! You even think of sacrificing my Chengze???”
The other officials cast respectful glances at their colleague: Comrade, although our dynasty values free speech, you really dare to say anything?!
That official: Wait? I didn’t specify the Second Prince?!
Emperor Jian rose in fury, intending to go down and beat the official, but Eunuch Zhao desperately wrapped his arms around the emperor’s waist, pleading, “Your Majesty! Your Majesty, calm down! The historian is still recording nearby—”
Emperor Jian did calm down briefly, but only briefly. Then he picked up several memorials, circled around the dragon table, and headed toward the official—
The entire court full of officials stepped back in unison, afraid of being caught in the crossfire.
Eunuch Zhao cried “Aiyo!” and told others to stop him, but no one dared to move. His anxious heart sank completely, hoping only that someone or something could restrain the enraged Emperor Jian.
At that moment, a sharp, drawn-out “Report—” echoed through the grand hall. The little eunuch delivering the message scurried in with small, quick steps, dropped to his knees in one fluid motion, and raised the weighty letter in his hand. “Your Majesty, a letter from the Second Prince!” he announced.
Emperor Jian, who had been on the verge of striking someone, paused mid-motion and looked up with delight. “A letter from Chengze?”
Eunuch Zhao breathed an immediate sigh of relief and urged, “Quickly, present the Second Prince’s letter!”