Chapter 106

Chapter 106: The Four Kingdoms’ Skies Are About to Be Thrown into Chaos Just as Ling Jiayue and Mu Yuheng were both making preparations for their journey, a major incident occurred at court. Emperor Mu Yuye was furious and urgently summoned all the civil and military officials into the palace to discuss the matter. Even Ling Jiayue and Mu Yuheng were summoned. This alone showed just how enraged Emperor Mu Yuye was. At the imperial court, Mu Yuye had yet to arrive, but all the civil and military officials had already gathered in the same hall. They discussed among themselves, wondering what could have happened for the emperor to summon them in the middle of the night. The ministers speculated among themselves, but none of them could reach any definite conclusion, and the court was in an uproar. “Prime Minister Ling, do you know why His Majesty summoned us?” one minister asked Ling Taian. “Ah, I do not know. Let us wait for His Majesty. Once he arrives, we will naturally understand.” Ling Taian replied. “His Majesty has arrived!” Eunuch Chen announced in his shrill voice. “May Our Emperor live ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand years!” the princes and ministers saluted Mu Yuye in unison. “Enough. You may dispense with the formalities and rise.” Mu Yuye allowed the ministers to stand. He then sat on the Dragon Throne and surveyed his officials, exuding an imposing authority without needing to show his anger. Mu Yuye still seemed to be furious; he sat there without saying a word. One minister asked cautiously, “May I ask what has caused His Majesty to be so furious? Could there be unrest at the border frontier again?” “General Luo, you explain,” Mu Yuye ordered General Luo. “Yes.” General Luo stepped forward and bowed in acknowledgment. All the ministers looked toward him, quietly waiting for him to explain what had happened. “Fellow colleagues, some time ago, I was ordered by His Majesty to investigate the changes at Mulan Horse Ranch. After these past few days, I have finally determined what happened there.” General Luo paused when he reached this point before continuing. “I discovered that Ye Kingdom’s soldiers had been digging three feet into the ground at Mulan Horse Ranch. I did not know what they were excavating. Later, I sent people to investigate and discovered that there were vast and rich mineral deposits beneath the ground. If we allow Ye Kingdom’s soldiers to continue digging like this, I fear they will excavate all of our nation’s mineral deposits.” As soon as General Luo finished speaking, the ministers became furious and began denouncing Ye Kingdom one after another. “Ye Kingdom’s soldiers have gone too far! They even dare covet our nation’s mineral deposits. Perhaps the Sovereign of Ye Kingdom came to our country to attend the peach-blossom banquet last time precisely because of our mineral deposits.” Seeing the ministers grow more and more impassioned, Mu Yuye could no longer suppress the anger in his heart and shouted, “Enough! What are you all arguing about? I summoned you to court to discuss state affairs, not to have you quarrel!” When the ministers heard Ling Taian lose his temper, they finally fell silent one after another. Seeing that no one was speaking, Ling Taian cautiously said, “Your Majesty, since the Sovereign of Ye Kingdom ordered his soldiers to excavate our nation’s mineral deposits, we must demand an explanation from Ye Kingdom.” “Demand an explanation? I fear this was ordered by the Sovereign of Ye Kingdom himself. It seems the waters of the four kingdoms are growing increasingly muddied. The four-kingdom balance of power likely will not last much longer. Ling Taian, send someone to negotiate with Ye Kingdom and demand that they return the mineral deposits to our nation. If Ye Kingdom refuses, then send troops directly against Ye Kingdom.” When Mu Yuye issued his order, he displayed a rare decisiveness and killing intent, exuding tremendous authority. Even Ling Jiayue could not help admiring him when she saw him like this. He truly was worthy of being the sovereign of a kingdom; his bearing was so imposing. After giving Ling Taian his orders, Mu Yuye turned to General Luo and instructed him, “General Luo, from this day onward, the soldiers in Jiangnan will be placed under your command for training. When I send troops against Ye Kingdom, I will come to you for soldiers. If you cannot produce them by then, do not blame me for showing no mercy.” “This old minister receives Your Majesty’s decree.” General Luo bowed again in acknowledgment. “Enough. All of you may disperse. I am tired, and you should return home and rest early as well.” After giving his orders, Mu Yuye rose and returned to his sleeping palace. “Your humble servants respectfully see Your Majesty off. May His Majesty live ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand years.” The princes and ministers watched Mu Yuye leave. Only then did they file out of the great hall and return home after court was dismissed. Ling Taian walked slowly, with Ling Jiayue following behind him at the same pace. He was deeply worried about the current situation in Dayi. The trouble at the Northwest frontier had yet to be settled, and now Ye Kingdom had appeared, coveting their nation’s mineral deposits. The skies of the four kingdoms truly seemed about to change. At this thought, Ling Taian let out a deep sigh. Ling Jiayue, however, was thinking of something else. She and Mu Yuheng would need soldiers when they went to war in the Northwest. If Mu Yuye intended to point his sword at Ye Kingdom, where would they get the soldiers? No matter how wars were fought, it was always the common people who suffered in the end. Thinking of this, Ling Jiayue also let out a deep sigh. Father and daughter arrived at the Dismounting Stele and climbed into the carriage together. With creaking wheels, they headed home. Inside the carriage, Ling Jiayue voiced the question in her heart. “Father, the Seventh Prince and I have already been given one hundred thousand soldiers to lead to the border frontier and quell the unrest there. How many soldiers are available for deployment in Jiangnan?” Ling Taian patiently explained, “Yue'er, the one hundred thousand soldiers you are leading are normally kept in the military camp. They eat and live there, and they even reclaim wasteland to grow grain, making the camp essentially self-sufficient. The soldiers General Luo is to train in Jiangnan are the troops stationed in Jiangnan.” “Then how many soldiers does our nation have in total?” Ling Jiayue asked. “Our nation has a great many able-bodied men, and there are military camps and soldiers stationed throughout the various regions. Aside from the one hundred thousand soldiers you are taking from the Northwest and the troops in Jiangnan, there is also the ten-thousand-strong Capital Patrol Camp in the capital.” Ling Taian explained everything to Ling Jiayue in detail. Hearing this, Ling Jiayue could not help clicking her tongue. She had never expected Dayi to possess so many soldiers. With so many troops, they had a powerful trump card in this chaotic age. It was no wonder Mu Yuye had dared point his sword at Ye Kingdom in court just now. “Master, Miss, we have returned to the residence,” the coachman called from outside after the carriage stopped. Ling Jiayue and Ling Taian got down from the carriage one after another. As usual, Madam Liu was waiting at the entrance for them to return. Madam Liu ushered Ling Taian and Ling Jiayue inside. Ling Jiayue then returned to her own courtyard, while Madam Liu accompanied Ling Taian back to their courtyard. After entering, Ling Taian let out a deep sigh. Hearing him sigh, Madam Liu asked, “Master, what happened at court today?” Ling Taian sat quietly beside the bed. After a long while, he finally said, “The skies of the four kingdoms are about to descend into chaos.” Madam Liu became deeply anxious upon hearing this. She had already been worried about Ling Jiayue going to war, and now that Ling Taian had said this, she was even more unable to set her mind at ease. She had wanted to persuade Ling Taian not to let Ling Jiayue go, but when she saw the worry on his face and remembered Ling Jiayue’s determination, she swallowed the words that had reached her lips. “Master, rest for now. Whatever happens, we can discuss it tomorrow,” Madam Liu urged. “That will do.” The two of them then retired for the night.