Xuanqing Guard

The southern front is about to erupt, the situation is urgent, and all places, whether stationed troops or garrisons, have begun to move. The first step is to transfer experienced personnel with mid-to-low ranks to Hai Xia for training—both to familiarize themselves with the environment and to provide rapid practical exercises for soldiers soon to be deployed.

Under such circumstances, saying "the situation is tense" is not an exaggeration in the least.

The impact on the common people is already beginning to show; the prices of basic goods such as firewood, rice, oil, and salt best reflect the problem. Over the past month, prices have risen by nearly ten percent—this is only a "small increase" thanks to the Ministry of Revenue forcibly suppressing prices. Otherwise, if grain merchants across the provinces were allowed to raise prices unchecked, it might be far more than "merely ten percent."

And this is just the beginning. If fighting truly breaks out, not only firewood, rice, oil, and salt will rise; everything will go up—and you may not even be able to buy what you need, because controls could be imposed.

Ultimately, requisitioning is also possible—this is the most direct means of interfering with the people’s daily lives. Normally it isn’t used, but the possibility can’t be ruled out. The scope of requisitioning has almost no lower or upper limit—from a single thread to your very life, everything falls within it.

Therefore, ordinary people do not want war. Yet, if war does break out, most would still support the Dynasty to a large degree, simply because of the three words "Jing Old People"—they trust the Dynasty will not wage reckless wars, believe that every war waged is necessary, and have even greater faith that the Dynasty will bring victory.

This isn’t brainwashing; rather, for hundreds and thousands of years, the Jingjiu Dynasty has always been so assertive and powerful. The common people don’t want war, but they’ve never feared it.

Among the military, all sorts exist. Some are eager for war—good for earning money, merits, and career advancement. Some do not want war—just want to muddle along quietly, collecting their military pay. Others are afraid—because war means death, and the first to die are often these foot soldiers. Regardless, everyone mouths the same words: "Wipe out those barbarian scum!"

Then there’s the civil servant group, mainly concerned with local affairs, and filled with all sorts of opinions. Some support war to showcase national prestige; others oppose it; still others are anxious and worried.

And there’s another bunch, highly excited—not because of the southern military events themselves, but because of the series of effects they bring. These folks don’t care about the war; they only care about the circumstances: once the fighting starts, the status quo will be broken, and chaos will breed situations never seen during times of peace and stability. As the saying goes: chaos. As long as there’s chaos, that’s a chance to fish in troubled waters—opportunities abound.

The Eldest Prince sought out Jiang Cheng, aiming to get Jiang Cheng to transfer a few of his people placed inside the Jingxi Town Governor’s Office to the southern front.

The south is ideal—the situation could erupt at any moment. If real action starts, it will be the most significant event in decades. Naturally, it’s best to have a few people there to share in the accomplishments. If not, then find a way to transfer some over.

Why doesn’t the Eldest Prince go to Zuo Yuliang, the Daoxing Chief of the border army?

Because Zuo Yuliang needs to be willing to give you face. Would the Border Town Commander dare to meet with a prince in private? Are they stuffed full with nothing else to do? Forget seeing you—even acknowledging you would mean they were born a fool.

As for the more local Jingnan Garrison Commander’s Office, why not request them? Simply because he has nobody in that office. Moreover, the Jingxi Town Governor’s Office has become the hottest spot within the Xuanqing Guard lately—big moves, countless major cases handled, and deeply favored by Commander Pang Ban.

Take Xu Hong’s current military case: isn’t it led by the Jingxi Town Governor’s Office? Also, rumor has it that Jingxi Army and Jingxi Garrison are transferring personnel southward too. As long as Jiang Cheng—the Jingxi Town Governor—agrees to help, arranging a few people to go into the Jingxi Army as Inspectors means they can just as easily head south with them.

That’s precisely what the Eldest Prince thinks. As for Jiang Cheng, he’s a hundred times reluctant, repeatedly declined, and in the end, the Eldest Prince’s expression was awfully sour. As he left, he practically glared several times—"You dare not give me face? We’ll see about that!" The meaning couldn’t have been clearer.

Jiang Cheng is frustrated. These princes really can’t sit still—each brazenly courting and drawing in those who hold power on all sides. To Jiang Cheng, this is nothing but "building up strength."

The Jingjiu Dynasty contains only so many sources of power. Seven princes each draw together and strengthen their own circles; once everyone’s finished dividing up the pieces, or when the time comes, then each will wield their accumulated strength and clash head-on.

Is it time for yet another act of the Crown Prince drama?

From Jiang Cheng’s perspective, a struggle for the throne might even be possible. The Eldest Prince, all fragrant and with a taste for such things, makes Jiang Cheng uneasy—he simply cannot accept someone like that inheriting the realm.

In fact, in recent times, princes seeking Jiang Cheng weren’t limited to Prince Jing alone; Second Prince Qian—Yang Ye, Fifth Prince Shou—Yang Lin, all came to see him. Only the Eldest Prince was most direct with his words—the other two merely probed him, not forcing too much.

The Xuanqing Guard, by rights, is the Emperor’s personal guard: they must and can only show loyalty to the reigning emperor, even after the Crown Prince is established—he cannot enjoy the Guard’s loyalty. But people are all different; not everyone can resist temptation, especially those with shifty motives, always secretly hoping to grab some benefits early. Such people do exist within the Xuanqing Guard. According to Jiang Cheng, quite a few Governors of the Four Directions have been "making eyes" at several princes.

Jiang Cheng himself doesn’t have such petty calculations—his thoughts are all on Pang Ban. He does as Pang Ban does. Unless a new emperor ascends, he won’t take any other side.

...

Shen Hao emerged from the Governor’s Office around noon. Originally, he intended to return to Fengri City before finding some place to eat, but as he neared the Teleportation Array, he caught that familiar aroma again.

The fragrance stirred up Shen Hao’s memories. It was the scent of salt and pepper chicken—he’d chased that same aroma through the Imperial City before, and it tasted wonderful.

Forget it—won’t head back to Fengri City, I’ll have chicken today.

He called out to the Guard beside him and, following his recollection, found himself once more standing in front of that small eatery.

This place had a memorable name: No Loss.

The waiter was still that same pudgy fellow, greeting Shen Hao with a smiling face, asking in a friendly manner what he’d like to eat, clearly remembering Shen Hao from before.

"You remember me?"

"Of course! You’re a grandmaster of the Xuanqing Guard—last time you came, you brought some fine aromatic wine! Hehe, how could I forget? Are you having salt and pepper chicken again today?"

Seeing that the waiter did remember him, Shen Hao smiled a little, raised his hand and ordered five chickens. One for himself, four for the Guards, plus some side dishes to go with rice.

The place was small; aside from one empty table, the other two were occupied. Shen Hao wanted the Guards to sit together, but they didn’t dare, saying they’d eat outside by the door. He called three times with no result, so gave up. He knew even his own Guards nowadays were strongly affected by the "Evil Star" reputation over his head—made them nervous around him.

When the salt and pepper chicken arrived, Shen Hao had just torn off a chicken wing and was about to eat when someone called out to him.

"Hey! You’ve finally shown your face again!"