xymnovel Chapter 6 The Affairs of the Su Family Mansion, Map of Youzhou
Chapter 6 The Affairs of the Su Family Mansion, Map of Youzhou
The carriage turned around on the bluestone road, its wheels splashing through the puddles.
Tian Heng gently stroked the sandalwood box on his lap. The secret edict was here, the tiger tally was in his bosom, and three thousand veteran soldiers were waiting for orders. His father had given him everything he could.
But the more this is the case, the clearer the heaviness in my heart becomes.
……
The Su Mansion is located in Chongrenfang in the west of the city. Unlike the elegant Mingjing Mansion, this mansion exudes the solemn and imposing atmosphere unique to military families.
The two stone lions in front of the door have wide-open, angry eyes. The plaque with the character "Su" hanging above the door is quite old, and the dark brown wood color is revealed where the gold paint is mottled, which adds to its sense of vicissitude.
Before Tian Heng's carriage had even come to a complete stop, the gates of the mansion were flung open with a bang.
A middle-aged man dressed in a dark blue outfit and with a sword at his waist strode out to greet them. He was about forty years old, with a resolute face as if carved by a knife and axe, and sword-like eyebrows that slanted upwards into his temples. He was Su Hongzhang, the younger brother of Su Mu, the former governor of Youzhou and the general of the Golden Chariot Cavalry.
"Welcome, Your Highness Prince Qin." Su Hongzhang clasped his hands in a salute, his voice deep and resonant.
Tian Heng quickly got out of the car and reached out to support the other person's arm: "Uncle, there's no need for such formalities. Today, I, Heng, have come to bother you as a junior."
Su Hongzhang straightened up, a complex look flashing across his eyes before turning into a hearty laugh: "Your Highness, please come in. The wine is warmed up; it's the strong liquor sent from Youzhou last year. My brother is waiting for me in the study."
The two walked through the forecourt.
The Su residence was simply laid out, lacking the pavilions and waterside terraces typical of official residences. Instead, the martial arts training ground occupied a small portion of the mansion, with eighteen kinds of weapons gleaming coldly on the weapon racks beside it.
The furnishings in the main hall were even simpler, with a map of the northern frontier hanging in the center. The map was covered with red ink, and the edges were worn white.
After the maid served the wine and dishes, she quietly withdrew, leaving only the two of them sitting opposite each other in the hall.
Su Mu personally poured Tian Heng a full glass of wine; the liquid was clear, and a strong aroma of alcohol wafted through the air.
He raised his glass in a gesture of respect, tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp before speaking:
"I have heard about today's court assembly. Your Highness's appointment of the Prince of Qin to govern Youzhou is a well-considered decision."
Tian Heng took a small sip of the strong liquor, which felt like a knife going down his throat, but he remained unfazed: "Uncle has been in Youzhou for many years. I will need your guidance on my journey."
"I dare not presume to offer guidance." Su Mu put down his wine cup, his expression solemn. "But having guarded the northern frontier for sixteen years, there are some things I must speak frankly with Your Highness today."
He rose and walked towards the map, pointing to the location of Youzhou:
"Youzhou comprises five prefectures and thirty-two counties, with 150,000 registered households and 103,000 registered soldiers. These are the figures from the Ministry of War's records." The finger moved north, landing on a pass marked in red.
"The actual number of soldiers capable of fighting is no more than 50,000. The other 50,000 are scattered in various prefectures, mostly reorganized from the private armies of local aristocratic families."
Tian Heng listened intently.
"Over the years, of the grain and provisions allocated by the imperial court to Youzhou, 30% were embezzled along the way, and 40% were skimmed off by local officials at each level. Less than 30% actually reached the soldiers."
Su Mu turned around, his eyes flashing coldly. "This humble general has submitted eight memorials to the Ministry of War, but they have all vanished without a trace. Last winter, I went to the Ministry of War in person to question them, and Minister Cui only gave me the words, 'The border troops suffer from the cold, and the court also has its difficulties.'"
He suddenly sneered: "Li Yan, the eldest son of Minister Li, purchased 3,000 hectares of land in Youzhou two years ago. All of it was registered under the name of 'wasteland,' but in reality, it was fertile land that was forcibly seized by the farmers."
This matter was known throughout Youzhou, yet no one dared to speak of it. The Li family's disciples were scattered throughout the prefectures and counties; from governors to county magistrates, half of them had some connection to the Li family.
Tian Heng's fingers tightened slightly around the cup: "So, all these years, my uncle..."
"Therefore, this humble general can only turn a blind eye." Su Mu sat down again, his voice lowering.
"I can still control the military affairs of Youzhou, but civil administration, taxation, criminal law... are all in the hands of local aristocratic families. They are bound by clan ties, intermarry with each other, and form an impenetrable wall. If Your Highness goes there and tries to touch them, you will be making an enemy of half of the officialdom of Youzhou."
The candlelight flickered in the hall, casting dim shadows on Su Mu's face.
Tian Heng remained silent for a moment, then slowly said, "If we don't take action against them, Youzhou will never have peace. The people are suffering, the soldiers are hungry and cold, and if the Northern Barbarians invade from the south, how will we defend ourselves?"
"Your Highness sees things clearly." Su Mu's eyes flashed with approval. "Therefore, I say that His Majesty's plan is far-sighted. Your Highness is a prince, a prince of the blood, with a fiefdom and the right to establish your own residence. This is a noble title that those aristocratic families do not have. But titles are one thing, but when it comes to taking action, one needs both swift and decisive measures and unwavering patience."
He poured wine again, his tone turning serious: "The 50,000 soldiers of Youzhou are all veterans who have followed me for many years, and I can entrust them with my life. But the other 50,000 troops of Youzhou are in the hands of three different people."
Su Mu dipped his finger in wine and drew three symbols on the table: "The first is General Fenwu Lu Lin, a collateral branch of the Lu family, who is in charge of the defense of Youzhou. This man is greedy and lustful, mediocre in ability, but extremely slippery. He will sway whichever way the wind blows."
"Secondly, there is Colonel Zheng Hun, a distant relative of the Zheng family, who is stationed at Beique Pass, the front line of Youzhou. He is a fierce general with strict discipline in his army. He has never been defeated in seventeen battles, large and small, against the Northern Di. However, he is arrogant and has always looked down on the manners of the aristocratic families in the capital. He is at odds with Lu Chen."
"Thirdly..." Su Mu paused, "General Li Chong, a direct descendant of the Li family, is in charge of military affairs in Youzhou. This man is the most troublesome; he appears respectful on the surface, but is actually very cunning."
Last year, he secretly corresponded with the capital; the contents of which remain unknown. However, since then, the court has increased the reduction of grain and provisions for Youzhou by another 50%.
Tian Heng memorized these three names: "Does my uncle mean that these three people need to be dealt with separately?"
"Exactly." Su Mu nodded. "Lu Chen can be won over with money, Zheng Hun needs to be treated with sincerity, as for Li Chong..."
A cold glint flashed in his eyes. "This man is absolutely untrustworthy. Once Your Highness takes office, we must find a pretext as soon as possible, either to promote him in name only or to transfer him away from a key position. In short, we cannot allow him to command troops."
At this point, Su Mu suddenly stood up and took out an iron box from the inner room. The box was mottled and the lock was rusted, clearly indicating that it was quite old.
He opened the iron box, took out a roll of yellowed sheepskin, and slowly unrolled it on the table.
It is a detailed map of the mountains and rivers of Youzhou, ten times more detailed than the one hanging in the hall.
The mountain ranges, river depths, passes, and even which sections of the road are prone to landslides during the rainy season and which valleys are suitable for ambushes are all clearly marked.
"This is a drawing I personally completed over the past sixteen years." Su Mu traced the drawing with his finger, stopping at a certain valley.
"This place is called Flying Eagle Valley, a vital passage from Youzhou to the Eastern Yi. The cliffs on both sides of the valley are steep, with a narrow passage in the middle, where only three horses can pass side by side at the narrowest point. If an ambush is set up here, five thousand soldiers can hold off an army of fifty thousand."
He then pointed to another spot:
"Here, on the banks of the Blackwater River, there's an open-pit coal mine with excellent quality, but unfortunately, it's always been controlled by the Li family, who forbid outsiders from mining it. And here..."
Pointing southeast, he said, "There is a hot spring that doesn't freeze in winter, and the surrounding land is fertile, but it has been abandoned for a long time due to inconvenient transportation."
Tian Heng became increasingly alarmed as he looked at it.
If this map were to circulate, it would be enough to shake the court and the public. It is not just a map, but a complete strategy for managing Youzhou.
Where can we settle down to cultivate land? Where can we build a city? Where are there mineral deposits? Where is it suitable to station troops? ... All the key information is contained within this document.
"My uncle gave me this diagram, so I'm not afraid..." Tian Heng didn't finish his sentence.
Su Mu waved his hand to interrupt: "In this life, I am loyal only to His Majesty and to the Great Xia. Your Highness is the gatekeeper chosen by His Majesty, and I will do my utmost to fulfill my duty."
He gave Tian Heng a deep look. "Moreover... my mother, Your Highness's maternal grandmother, held my hand before she passed away and said: 'The Su family may not produce generals or ministers, but it must never produce traitors.' Moreover, His Majesty has been incredibly kind to my Su family. This matter is naturally His Majesty's will."
The candle flame crackled and burst open, creating a tiny flower.
Tian Heng stood up and bowed solemnly to Su Mu: "Heng, thank you for your kindness, Uncle. This plan is of greater importance than a thousand troops."
Su Mu accepted the greeting calmly, and only after Tian Heng straightened up did he say in a deep voice, "There is one more thing. Your Highness must be extra careful before and after leaving the capital. Those people in the capital will not sit idly by and watch Your Highness gain a foothold in Youzhou. There are powerful clans in every prefecture and county along the way. You must be extremely careful with your food, lodging and accommodation."
.........
When they left the Su residence, it was already 11:45 PM.
The night was deep, and most of the lights in the streets had been extinguished, leaving only the lanterns of the night patrolling marshals flickering at the end of the long street. Tian Heng boarded the carriage, the rolled-up sheepskin map already carefully stored away, placed together with the secret edict and the tiger tally.
The wheels rolled over the empty street, the sound particularly clear in the quiet night.
Tian Heng lifted the carriage curtain and looked out the window.
The majestic palace was reduced to a dark outline in the night, like a lurking beast.
He knew that at this moment, countless eyes within the palace were fixed on the Qin Prince's residence, watching his every move.
Half a month later, he will leave the summer capital where he has lived for fifteen years and head to that unfamiliar and dangerous land.
There were powerful clans eyeing the land with predatory intent, complex military affairs, impoverished and harsh living conditions, and iron cavalry from the northern grasslands that could march south at any moment.
But for some reason, thinking about these things brought a strange sense of peace to Tian Heng's heart.
Perhaps it was because he had a trump card up his sleeve, or perhaps it was because he had someone he could entrust with his life, or perhaps... simply because he no longer had to be the cautious and timid third prince in this magnificent cage.
"Your Highness, we have arrived at the Prince's residence," a guard outside the carriage announced in a low voice.
Tian Heng pulled himself out of his thoughts, straightened his robes, and steadily got out of the carriage.
The lanterns in front of the Qin Prince's mansion swayed in the night breeze, casting his long shadow on the vermilion gate, giving him an imposing and majestic appearance.
He looked up and saw the plaque of the Prince's Mansion gleaming golden in the lamplight.
From this day forward, he is the King of Qin, the Lord of Youzhou, and the guardian of the northern frontier of the Great Xia.