Chapter 174: Congratulations, Your Majesty

“What?”

Xiao Jing had been on night duty and only slept after midnight, catching up on rest, when someone woke him.

In the side hall, he stared intensely at his godson Wang Liu, while holding a memorial urgently delivered by the Eastern Depot.

A sharp look was in Xiao Jing’s eyes as he said, “Is it verified? This is no joking matter. Yang Xiong’s son was usually quite steady, how come after going to Guizhou…”

“It is verified. We wouldn’t dare disturb you, Godfather, without confirmation.”

Hah…

Xiao Jing’s expression relaxed slightly, then he abruptly stood up. So that meant…

He glanced again at the memorial. The contents of this victory report were too shocking.

“Let’s go!” Gritting his teeth, though he found it unbelievable, he decided to trust Yang Xiong and the Eastern Depot.

This was a monumental achievement, an unprecedented great victory since His Majesty the Emperor ascended the throne. Whoever reported to the palace first would also gain considerable merit. “To see the Emperor!”

…

Meridian Gate.

Zhang Mao quickly rode here and hurried into the palace. He had a token allowing palace entry. The Imperial Guards at the gate recognized him and saluted him one after another. “Greetings, Duke of Yingguo.”

Zhang Mao looked grim, merely nodding faintly. In his hand, he also held a victory report.

This was delivered by fast horse on orders from the Guizhou Regional Military Commander.

Zhang Mao was a Commander of the Five Chief Military Commissions. Though this was a nominal post, the Five Chief Military Commissions had long been stripped of real power.

Similarly stripped of power were the various Regional Military Commissions in the provinces, replaced by the Regional Military Commanders in each province.

But this didn’t mean the Five Chief Military Commissions and the local Regional Military Commands were completely useless. Nominally, the Guizhou Regional Military Commander was still the highest-ranking Military Officer in Guizhou province. Therefore, reporting the victory to the Five Chief Military Commissions was also his duty.

After receiving the victory report, Zhang Mao initially just sneered. Claiming false merit… not like this, this was seeking death.

But he soon felt something was wrong. It wasn’t until the Brocade Guard sent someone to the Five Chief Military Commissions to inquire that he suddenly realized a great victory had occurred in Guizhou.

As the Duke of Yingguo, having served several generations of rulers, how could Zhang Mao not know that the Hongzhi Reign desperately needed a great victory to demonstrate military prowess.

So, without hesitation, he immediately set off, entered the palace… to see the Emperor.

At that moment, he heard the Imperial Guard stationed at the Meridian Gate say, “Your Grace, you’ve come quite early. But it’s strange today; Commander Mou had just entered the palace a moment ago…”

The Brocade Guard Regional Military Commander Mou Bin…

Zhang Mao immediately gritted his teeth, didn’t bother with more words, and hurriedly rushed through the gate passage.

A short while later, Ma Wensheng, Minister of War, panting heavily, got down from his sedan chair and rushed quickly towards this place.

…

Meanwhile, in the Warm Pavilion, Emperor Hongzhi was looking over numerous examination papers and was already feeling somewhat weary.

Although it was just verification, these memorials failed to lift his spirits; they remained utterly dull.

He set the papers aside, shook his head, and smiled wryly. “Ah, the scholars focus solely on the Eight-Legged Essay but neglect Policy Essays. Their literary style is elegant, but those who can get to the heart of the matter are as rare as phoenix feathers.”

This lament wasn’t without cause. Previously, Emperor Hongzhi had greatly admired scholars with brilliant literary talent. But after becoming Emperor, year after year, it was either severe drought, or major floods, or border emergencies, or Chieftain rebellions. He then realized how crucially important those who could solve practical problems were.

Seeing His Majesty was in a mood to talk, Liu Jian also set aside his tasks. “Your Majesty exaggerates.”

Emperor Hongzhi smiled noncommittally. “We have reviewed Wang Shouren’s paper repeatedly. If the verification finds no issues, select him as the top scorer. And this Yang Wenshi, his Policy Essay is quite bold and visionary. He ranked thirteenth in the Metropolitan Examination? This time, designate him second…”

He listed over ten names in succession. When he reached the fifteenth, he said calmly, “Ouyang Zhi’s Policy Essay is a bit too rigid and formulaic. Rank him fifteenth…”

Hearing this, Liu Jian sighed inwardly. What a pity for Ouyang Zhi.

However, he wasn’t very satisfied with Ouyang Zhi’s answers either. Indeed, as His Majesty said, they were too rigid. Fang Jifan’s previous suggestion to establish a Mountain Brigade wasn’t without reason. The problem was, compared to other Policy Essays, it seemed somewhat lacking. Besides, hadn’t His Majesty already issued an Imperial Decree to establish the Mountain Brigade? Apart from wasting a lot of money and provisions, there had been no results so far.

Xie Qian and Li Dongyang had no objections either.

After generally stating his thoughts on this Palace Examination, Emperor Hongzhi prepared to lower his head and continue reading the papers.

Just then, hurried footsteps came from outside the Warm Pavilion. Someone outside said in a hoarse voice, “Your Majesty, the Grand Secretariat has submitted a memorial, said to be extremely urgent.”

From the Grand Secretariat?

All the Grand Secretaries of the Grand Secretariat were here now. Presumably, the Hanlin Academicians on duty encountered a troublesome matter and specially came to report.

Emperor Hongzhi frowned, somewhat angry.

Can’t they handle these matters? Don’t they know he is dealing with more important matters with Minister Liu and others?

But faced with the situation, he suppressed his anger. “What memorial? Bring it in.”

Immediately, a eunuch on duty outside hurried in, bowed to Emperor Hongzhi, and then placed a memorial on the Imperial Desk.

Emperor Hongzhi looked down and was stunned.

It was an urgent dispatch from Guizhou!

Thinking back to the words “extremely urgent,” it seemed the military situation in Guizhou must have changed dramatically. Emperor Hongzhi didn’t hesitate, immediately took the memorial, opened it, and upon reading it, he was completely dumbfounded.

“Your servant Wang Shi kowtows in respectful greeting. In Guizhou, following His Majesty’s Imperial Decree, the Mountain Brigade was established. Recently, the Mountain Brigade went into battle and encountered the main Rebel Army force. Three thousand of our troops fiercely battled the rebels. Although the rebels are adept at mountain warfare, our Mountain Brigade was even more valiant. In mountain combat, they moved as if on level ground, tremendously brave and unstoppable. The Rebel Army collapsed in defeat. The Mountain Brigade took advantage of the situation to pursue and attack. The Rebel Army fled to Gold Mountain stronghold. That very day, the Mountain Brigade captured it, giving chase in full flush of victory, breaking through effortlessly…

Currently, 5,371 rebel heads have been taken, twenty-three strongholds captured. Furthermore, one stronghold, before the Mountain Brigade even attacked, the rebels, terrified and like desperate, broken-backed dogs, set it ablaze themselves. Upon hearing this victory report, your servant was overjoyed. Now specially sending this urgent victory report…”

Emperor Hongzhi’s face instantly turned ashen.

The next moment, he slammed the memorial hard onto the desk. “Wang Shi, such audacity! He dares to claim false merit! This is Deceiving the Sovereign! A crime punishable by death ten thousand times over!”

Emperor Hongzhi was one who rarely lost his temper, at least in front of his ministers. Of course, dealing with the Crown Prince was another matter, after all, few had the courage or wit to act as recklessly as the Crown Prince.

Liu Jian was startled and quickly said, “Your Majesty… this is…”

Xie Qian and Li Dongyang also exchanged glances, equally horrified.

“Ministers, look, see how vile this Wang Shi has become.”

The eunuch was terrified, not daring to breathe heavily. He hurriedly took the Victory Report and first delivered it to Liu Jian. Liu Jian only scanned it briefly, his face immediately turned pale, and then he heaved a deep sigh.

After Li Dongyang and Xie Qian passed it around and read it, their expressions also became grave.

Emperor Hongzhi stood up, hands behind his back. “You tell me, why would Wang Shi claim false merit?”

“Perhaps…” What kind of person was Liu Jian? The Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat, having served through several reigns, what scene had he not witnessed? He shook his head and said, “During the previous Emperor’s time, if a rebellion occurred and the official army’s suppression efforts were unsuccessful, to prevent the imperial court from holding them accountable, they would submit reports claiming victory, fabricating a success out of nothing. Not only that, they would use this to seek rewards, while also bribing the alchemists trusted by the previous Emperor, or going to great lengths to curry favor with the Imperial Concubine, causing the previous Emperor to mistakenly believe…”

“Correct.” Emperor Hongzhi snorted coldly. “How terrifying. We placed such great trust in Wang Shi. Never could we have imagined that, facing unsuccessful suppression, he would produce such a ridiculous victory report to fool us. Does he take us for a fool? Does he regard us as the previous Emperor?”

Emperor Hongzhi was so angry that veins bulged on his forehead. “Three thousand men beheaded five thousand? Then, how many rebel troops were they facing? Dozens of strongholds captured? Is that possible? If the Rebel Army were that easy to deal with, why did tens of thousands of troops repeatedly suffer setbacks before? If three thousand men could solve it, what use are the hundred thousand troops deployed in Yunnan-Guizhou?”

Each of these questions actually stemmed from normal thinking and logic, after all, Emperor Hongzhi wasn’t stupid.

Liu Jian also sighed inwardly, but tried to console him. “Your Majesty, please calm your anger. This matter… might not be as Your Majesty thinks.”

“If it’s not as We think, then what is it? Does We not know how to count? Are We truly so incompetent that We cannot even discern the truth of a victory report?”

Just as he was speaking, someone outside said, “Your Majesty, Your Servant requests an audience.”

It was Xiao Jing’s voice.

Emperor Hongzhi remembered Xiao Jing was on night duty yesterday and didn’t expect him to still be awake at this hour.

Originally, Emperor Hongzhi was already furious. Hearing this now, his expression turned even colder. “Enter.”

Xiao Jing entered the pavilion trembling slightly. Seeing His Majesty’s rage, he understood everything. Yet, he smiled slightly, knelt down, and said, “Old slave congratulates Your Majesty, offers felicitations to Your Majesty.”

“…” Emperor Hongzhi frowned, staring fixedly at Xiao Jing, wanting to erupt.

Xiao Jing then produced the memorial without delay and said, “Reporting to Your Majesty, the Eunuch Official Yang Xiong from Guizhou sends a Victory Report. Great victory in Guizhou. Your Majesty’s immense good fortune, eternal prosperity for the Great Ming!”

Another memorial?

From Eunuch Official Yang Xiong?

Emperor Hongzhi was stunned. Yang Xiong was from the palace; had he also colluded with Wang Shi to fabricate this?

That seemed off. If Wang Shi fabricated, it could be understood as claiming false merit. But Yang Xiong was a eunuch, a palace insider. Why would he risk joining Wang Shi in such an audacious act against The World?

A doubt immediately arose in Emperor Hongzhi’s heart. Perhaps… he was bribed by Wang Shi?

Emperor Hongzhi stepped forward, took the Victory Report, glanced down at it. The contents were almost identical to Wang Shi’s memorial.

His face still dark, he suddenly quieted down.

What… was really going on?

He could distrust Wang Shi, he could distrust Yang Xiong. But if both of them were together, could neither be trusted?