Qiu Yu was taken aback by Fang Jie's "idiot" remark, then angrily raised his hand to slap the chair. Fang Jie shook his head, saying, "Don't break it. This is public property. What if you add another charge because of your anger, sir? Who will I complain to then?"
Qiu Yu stared blankly at his outstretched hand, remained silent for a moment, and then asked, "Are you just going to accept your fate like this?"
Fang Jie lay down on the stone bed, looking at the ceiling, and said calmly, "Perhaps you don't understand me. I've never been one to accept things passively... But, what else can I do now? Cry? Shout? Curse? Smash things?"
"Heh."
Fang Jie smiled, "Sir, when I first woke up, I was indeed very angry, the same anger I felt on Half-Moon Mountain when I first understood the reason for this. Seeing a man in a flying fish robe sitting in front of me..." "My first instinct was to strangle him. But then I calmed down and gave up the idea."
Qiu Yu asked, "Because you gave up?"
Fang Jie shook his head: "Because I was certain I couldn't beat him. Even though he was a one-armed guy, I was definitely no match for him, and I might even get strangled."
He looked up from the rooftop at Qiu Yu and said, "When I was hiding in a tree on Half-Moon Mountain, watching that young Buddhist monk kill Liu Shuang and the others, guess what I wanted to do most?"
"It was to run away."
Fang Jie didn't wait for Qiu Yu's answer: "At that time, I already guessed seven or eight parts of it. I wanted to run away because I knew I was powerless to resist." "Resist. Before, my enemies were just those who disliked me; they had powerful backgrounds, but I didn't take them seriously. But this time is different. Standing before me isn't just one person, but the entire Sui Dynasty… What can I use to resist? What can I use to vent my resentment?"
"So I thought of running away, but I quickly dismissed the thought. Because I knew I couldn't escape… My friend was still in the Sanjin Marquis's mansion, and it was at that moment that I understood why Marquis Wu Yidao had looked at me, a nobody, with such respect, why he had been so kind as to let my friend stay there. He had known this day would come all along. My friend was staying in the Sanjin Marquis's mansion… it was a prison."
"The most ridiculous thing is, I had to go and beg…" "He..."
Fang Jie smiled and said, "Now I realize how naive I was. I always thought I was a smart person, just like you gentlemen have always said. Lying on this cold, hard stone bed, I've thought for a long time and realized that every day since I entered Chang'an, every step I've taken has been on a path laid out by others, a life arranged by others."
"I foolishly thought everything was developing according to my own wishes and plans. In reality, I was like a puppet on a string. How others tugged the strings, I moved accordingly, and I was even proud of my various brilliant actions, entertaining myself."
Fang Jie remained calm, a calmness that made Qiu Yu's heart ache even more.
"Sir, you just asked me if I've resigned myself to my fate... I've thought about that question the longest, and I've realized that besides obediently waiting for my destiny to arrive, there's nothing I can do. I don't have the high level of cultivation to break through this stone chamber. I can't be in two places at once to save all my friends in Chang'an. You know, there's a woman who's very important to me who works in the Imperial Guard; she's like an exposed organ of mine. She could be pierced at any moment."
"I always thought that Mr. Zhuo's eagerness to get Sister Xiaoyao into the Imperial Guard was genuinely for her own good, that he truly saw her potential. It turns out that from that time on, the court had already been planning how to control me. For such an insignificant person like me, so many important figures have gone to such lengths; it's truly difficult for them."
Fang Jie smiled and said, "Just wait. There's meat for every meal here. If I want some wine, just tell the guards outside, and it won't be long." "They'll send over fine wine brewed by Shenquan Manor. I tried it; this morning I mentioned wanting hot noodle soup and steamed buns from my shop, and they actually ran four blocks to buy them for me… Life is good. Although it's simple and dark here, at least I don't have to worry about anything. I don't have to think about being poisoned while eating, or worry about someone secretly trying to kill me, because now that things have come to this, if they wanted to kill me, they would definitely give me a serious warning: 'You're due to die.'"
"Thank you."
Fang Jie said gently, "Thank you for coming to see me. That's enough. Everything here is good, except that when I want to chat with the guards, they always look at me like I'm an idiot. Maybe they even think I'm stupid, wanting to chat even when I'm about to die."
"But I really want to keep talking. Only talking makes me feel at peace."
Fang Jie said, "I need peace now."
Qiu Yu's nose stung with tears. She turned and left without saying another word. Fang Jie watched her figure disappear behind the iron gate, then turned his gaze back to the rooftop.
The rooftop was dark, devoid of starlight or moonlight.
He didn't close his eyes, staring intently into the darkness. He stared like this for a long time, then suddenly smiled. No one saw that his smile was completely different from the one he had shown Qiu Yu earlier—cold, even cruel.
...
...
Changchun Garden.
The Dome.
Minister of War Mou Liangbi bowed and placed the Ministry of War's battle plan on the table before the Emperor. He then stepped back and bowed his head, saying, "The documents issued by the Ministry of War to each circuit have already been dispatched. The delivery time was calculated according to the distance, ensuring that officials in each circuit receive the documents within two days of each other. The stipulated dates have also been calculated based on the distance, so officials in each circuit have no time to do anything else but immediately begin preparations."
The Emperor seemed in no hurry to look at the battle plan, nodding and saying, "Once I announce this, the opposition in the court will be as turbulent as a great river. I'm already busy dealing with these people; where would I have time to reason with those local folks?" "They've written their memorials and sent them to Chang'an, but I still have to patiently explain things to them. This back-and-forth wastes several months. I've simply given them no time. I only require them to deliver all the provisions and troops to the Northwest by the stipulated date. If they're late, I'll punish them."
He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and picked up the battle plan, flipping through it as he said, "This is just a plan, but how can any war proceed exactly as planned? Once war begins, the situation changes rapidly. If court officials blindly follow the plan and interfere, in the end, it's the Sui soldiers on the front lines who will suffer."
"Your subject understands," Mou Liangbi respectfully replied.
"Once war begins..." "The Ministry of War will never interfere with the battle situation at the front. The generals should fight as they see fit; I will not intervene. Chang'an is thousands of miles from the northwest frontier; by the time news reaches Chang'an, it will be outdated. To command based on such outdated information would certainly not be a good thing."
"You understand, very good."
The Emperor said, "However, I don't intend for you to be idle in Chang'an."
He glanced at Mou Liangbi and said, "Leave the Ministry of War's affairs to Zong Lianghu. You will set off for Shandong in two days. Judging by the time, the troops and provisions I arranged in advance have already arrived in Shandong. Although I have sent Prince Xu, Yang Kai, to oversee things, he is familiar with military affairs but not so good at the logistical details." "Long. Yang Shanchen, the Governor-General of Shandong Circuit, is a capable official, but he's a scholar. When it comes to war… you can't expect a scholar to do anything. Hexi Circuit, which borders Shandong Circuit, is an important rear area. Yuan Chongwu is arrogant; without someone of influence to mediate, he and Yang Shanchen might not get along."
The Emperor finished speaking with a self-deprecating laugh, "If Huai Qiugong heard me say this, he'd probably be furious."
Mou Liangbi replied, "Your Majesty, I will depart in two days."
"Hmm."
The Emperor grunted, "Yesterday… the Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, Pei Yan, suggested that I conscript the local troops from the fiefdoms of various princes. What do you think?"
"Ah?"
Mou Liangbi was stunned, his heart skipped a beat.
He had long heard that this Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, Pei Yan, was ruthless and cunning. However, he had never worked with him and knew nothing about Pei Yan's actions. Upon hearing this suggestion, he immediately formed a general impression of Pei Yan. This man, to have reached the position of Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, certainly possessed considerable ability. This suggestion was far too insidious.
The Emperor was embarking on a western expedition, and with war raging, the country was bound to experience some instability. Currently, the only threats to the court were the princes enfeoffed in various regions. They had their own fiefdoms, and the people's taxes were paid to them, not the court. They commanded their own armies, small in number but well-equipped and well-trained. In case… in case the war turned against the Sui Dynasty, these princes united would be a force to be reckoned with.
At this time, Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat Pei Yan's suggestion to involve the princes' private armies in the war was actually a way to eliminate future threats. Moreover, Mou Liangbi firmly believed that once those local troops went to the battlefield, they would be the first to die, thus depriving the princes of their only remaining force.
"Lord Pei's suggestion is indeed a wise and insightful one, but... I dare not agree."
"Tell me your opinion," the Emperor asked.
"I believe that with a great war imminent, Your Majesty desires stability and unity. If you were to conscript troops from the Prince's Palace before the war even begins... you would be disrupting that stability. I dare to speak frankly and offend Your Majesty... at this time, those Your Majesty trusts should be trusted even more. Those Your Majesty doesn't trust should also be trusted, even if... only to appease them."
Hearing this, the Emperor couldn't help but smile and said, "I have already rejected Pei Yan's proposal."
He looked up at Mou Liangbi earnestly and said, "Now I can confidently entrust the war to you. You are more experienced than Pei Yan, and you understand better when to do what."
"I thank Your Majesty for your trust!"
Mou Liangbi bowed deeply, involuntarily sighing inwardly. Thankfully... thankfully he hadn't followed the Emperor's lead. This supreme ruler's mind was as deep as the sea. ...
Beside the lotus pond in Changchun Garden, the landlady in a blue floral dress stared blankly at the blooming lotuses. After returning from Banyue Mountain, she had found an inn to recuperate, intending not to have any contact with anyone from the court. Her alliance with the Crane Cry Taoist against the old monk was a coincidence. Her deepest hatred was for the bald monks of the Northwest of the Sui Dynasty, regardless of good or evil reasons; it was simply hatred that drove her to hate.
But she also knew that once she entered Chang'an, she couldn't avoid it.
So when the eunuch delivering the imperial decree found her and summoned her to Changchun Garden for an audience with the Emperor, she showed no surprise. She didn't resist, but came readily.
The young eunuch Mu San, standing beside her, leaned slightly forward, seemingly respectful towards this village girl. But he remained silent, not daring to disturb this seemingly beautiful yet rustic woman's deep thoughts. Little did he know, this woman wasn't thinking about anything; she was simply lost in thought.
When Mu San saw Minister of War Mou Liangbi emerge from the yurt, he quickly said to the village girl, "You can go now; His Majesty is waiting for you."
The proprietress hummed in agreement and turned to walk towards the yurt. Mu San led the way, respectfully asking, "I heard you're from Fanggu?"
"Yes."
"Young Master Fang is also from Fanggu, and we have a good relationship."
He said with a smile.
"Hmm."
The proprietress glanced at the young eunuch, paused for a moment, and then said, "What do you want to say?"
"I heard...Young Master Fang hasn't been doing well lately..."
Mu San probed, feigning calmness. But inwardly, he was pounding with anxiety. He knew Fang Jie had suffered, and knew he might never recover. But he was unwilling to accept it, unwilling to see his first close confidant fall like this. So he decided to take a gamble; if he could offer timely help...and if Young Master Fang truly rose to prominence someday, he would rise with him. And if they really can't save him... who would know that someone as insignificant as himself would get involved in such important court affairs?