Chapter 502: No One Loses in This Deal

Winters in the northern regions are already bitterly cold, and the training ground on the outskirts of Xuanfu City had no shelter at all. Winds from all directions seemed to converge here, their howling so intense that it drowned out the soldiers’ shouts during drills. Strong winds carried sand and dust into people’s necks and sleeves, adding to the torment beyond the cold. Yet, the tens of thousands of soldiers on the training ground dared not slack off in the slightest and exerted all their strength to practice military formations. The civil and military officials on the high platform also stood, leaving the grand master’s chair in the center and the nanmu wood chairs on either side empty.

This was because Marquis Wu’an Zheng Heng had no intention of sitting down, and Lu Feng, who had come specifically to observe, also stayed standing. Even Zhang Yue, who was said to be ill, stood motionless. As a result, not only did the officers have to stand with them, but even the eunuch in charge, Wang Guan, couldn’t sit comfortably by himself and had to stand outside in the wind as well.

He had been in Xuanfu for several years, and aside from the major drills held every three years, there were many smaller drills as well. Usually, there were seats available, but today, they had to stand shivering in the cold wind. Even though he wrapped himself tightly in his robe, he still felt extremely cold and trembled. He glared resentfully at Lu Feng, thinking that if it weren’t for Lu Feng’s insistence that standing would boost morale, why would he have to suffer like the other officers? As for Zhang Yue, he hoped that person wouldn’t come forward to complain!

Zhang Yue didn’t have the energy to pay attention to others’ gazes. It was his first time seeing Xuanfu’s training ground, and he even forgot for a moment that he was still recovering from an illness. He had heard of the so-called “four wonders of the outer regions” before, but hadn’t taken it seriously. However, upon learning that the training ground was forty li wide and ten li long, he had to admit that its reputation as the best in the world was well-deserved. Still, even though his eyesight wasn’t the best, he could see that aside from the front rows of formations, the rest of the troops were far from orderly.

“Compared to the last two northern expeditions, Xuanfu’s troops are getting worse and worse!”

Zheng Heng frowned slightly but did not compare them to the time he was stationed in Xuanfu. Watching the flag officers on the tall tower change the flags and the troops begin another round of drills, he said to the commanders beside him, “Next year during the northern expedition, the emperor will surely hold a major drill. If he sees that these so-called mighty troops of Xuanfu are in such a state, who knows how angry he’ll get! As the saying goes, train in the scorching heat of summer and the bitter cold of winter—in short, this is absolutely unacceptable! Starting tomorrow, the troops from each garrison will take turns for drills to ensure they at least look like a formidable force!”

With the commander speaking in such a manner, although several senior officers inwardly complained, none dared to defy him and all quickly agreed. At that moment, Zheng Heng turned to talk with Zhang Yue, discussing matters such as the rules for inspecting military drills. The two of them spent nearly half an hour discussing these issues. A group of bodyguards stood in a semicircle like pillars, blocking most of the cold wind, but others were not so lucky. Even Lu Feng, who was dressed warmly, felt his feet stiffen and his body freeze. However, when he saw Wang Guan needing the support of two eunuchs, he raised his eyebrows and snapped at him irritably.

“The soldiers below are training hard, and everyone else here is standing firmly. Even Lord Zhang, who is sick, seems more energetic than you. As a high-ranking official, you still need help standing—what’s the meaning of this?”

Over the years in Xuanfu, Wang Guan had acted with impunity; who had ever been so rude to him? Seeing the officers around looking over, he shook off the two holding him and was about to glare back when he suddenly remembered what Hai Shou had said to him before setting off from Xuanfu for Xinghe. He forced down his anger and said with a forced smile, “Eunuch Lu, please don’t take it personally. These two kids are just used to it and forgot where they are. I’ve been in Xuanfu for many years; of course I can still stand!”

It was just a matter of standing endurance. He wanted to see how long Lu Feng, a pampered eunuch in the Forbidden City, could hold out!

The group of officers were shrewd enough to realize that the two eunuchs seemed to be at odds, and none wanted to get involved in their conflict, so they naturally moved closer to Zheng Heng. By then, Zheng Heng and Zhang Yue’s conversation had ended, and it seemed neither of them noticed what was happening over there; their attention remained fixed on those below. It wasn’t until the midday inspection was over that Zheng Heng glanced over briefly and found that Lu Feng and Wang Guan were so frozen that their expressions had become stiff.

Although it was said to be an entire day of inspections, if one really had to stay in such a freezing place all day, not only would the soldiers suffer, but even the officers couldn’t endure it. After all, as the saying goes, fighting is easy, but training is hard. The practice of training in the coldest months had long become a mere formality in Xuanfu, and it couldn’t be rushed. So, Zheng Heng quickly ordered the troops from various garrisons to return and rest. After the troops went back to their camps one after another, the dignitaries on the platform also mounted their horses and left.

Thinking of the hardship of riding back to the city, many people secretly cursed Lord Wu’an Zheng Heng for ordering that no one should use carriages or palanquins. Wang Guan, almost frozen solid, was barely able to get on horseback with the help of two eunuchs. Seeing that Lu Feng’s mounting skills were not much better than his own, he grudgingly gave an order.

Zhang Yue, however, was left behind by Zheng Heng and later followed the Lord Wu’an to a camp three li away from the training ground. Compared to the bitterly cold training ground, this place was sheltered from the wind and much warmer. There were many built barracks around, but few soldiers. Upon entering one of the barracks, he asked in confusion, “The Three Guards of Xuanfu are stationed inside Xuanfu City. This barracks is only about ten li away from Xuanfu City, yet it’s so large—what’s it for?”

Zheng Heng didn’t answer right away. Soon, a personal attendant brought ginger soup. He took a bowl and drank it himself. Noticing Zhang Yue was still in a daze, he smiled and said, “Don’t be in a daze. At my age, it’s fine to tire them out a bit. If I get sick from overexertion, the emperor won’t say I’m strict with myself—he’ll just say I’m causing trouble for no reason. Even ordinary soldiers participating in the inspection get a bowl of hot soup each; otherwise, they can’t survive in such cold weather. Drink quickly. I know your illness isn’t fully cured yet. After you finish, we can talk!”

Zhang Yue then drank the bowl of hot ginger soup in one gulp, set the bowl aside, and stared at Zheng Heng intently. Zheng Heng pondered for a while with his bowl in hand before saying straightforwardly, “This barracks is reserved for the emperor’s army on its northern campaign. Out of these over a hundred thousand people in Xuanfu, those who accompany the emperor make up less than a tenth. Most are soldiers transferred from various garrisons. Most of them will be taken to the capital the next day to set off together, but those from Henan, Shaanxi, Gansu, and other places will gather directly in Xuanfu. Here, barracks can still be built, but once they reach beyond the Great Wall, the extreme cold… many die from freezing or starvation, not at the hands of the Tartars.”

At this point, Zheng Heng paused briefly before forcing a wry smile. “Some things are simply beyond your understanding even if I explain them. But since you’ve been to battle now, I have to say them. Just remember what I warned you about that day—what matters most now is the current situation. The emperor has assigned you to oversee military affairs in Xuanfu, so you must put things in order there. Previously, you submitted a petition to reform the salt laws; now that you’re here, that’s your top priority. In the past, you could turn a blind eye to certain flaws, but this batch of grain allocated for the army must not be corrupted by unscrupulous elements!”
Zhang Yue’s expression turned serious as he stood up immediately. “Rest assured, Marquis of Wu’an, I will handle this matter with care.”
“That’s good!” Zheng Heng counted on his fingers before raising his head again. “The date for the army’s departure hasn’t been set yet, but based on the previous two times, it’s likely to be in February. So from this year’s twelfth lunar month to next February, there should be plenty of salt merchants coming to Xuanfu to deliver grain and exchange it for currency. In previous years, these merchants would usually prepare 20% to 30% more grain as bribes, but this time we must put an end to that practice. Hmm, Lord Lu has a good relationship with you—why not consult him on this?”
Who says military officials are less cunning than civil officials? He’s nothing short of a sly old fox!
Though he inwardly resented this, Zhang Yue knew it was the only option. Although Marquis Zheng Heng had once guarded Xuanfu, that was seven years ago. The complex web of interests here was likely too delicate to disturb. As a mere fifth-rank official, even though he was appointed to oversee affairs, he couldn’t act recklessly. However, since Lu Feng intended to target the crown prince and use this as a warning to strike at several others, things would be much smoother. No wonder Zheng Heng was ruthless—having extra grain on hand was not only beneficial for the overall situation but also for the soldiers.
The first time, he had warned about the connections behind the crown prince; this time, he left instructions regarding the military grain allocation. After delaying for half an hour, Zheng Heng finally said with a smile that carriages were already prepared and ordered his guards to escort Zhang Yue back. Only after they left did he get up, lift the curtain, and enter the back room, saying to the person inside, “If I’m not mistaken, among all those eunuchs in the palace, they chose Lu Feng, the supervisor of the Eastern Depot. That must be the Duke of Ying’s clever plan, right?”

“The marquis is joking. My duke knows nothing at all.” Peng Shisan hadn’t come to the training ground with Zhang Yue today; instead, after finishing the tasks assigned to him by Zhang Yue, he rushed here. Now, he chuckled and said, “My duke says that Young Master Yue’s father-in-law taught him the proper ways, but other methods must be understood on his own, for fear that he might act impulsively and make mistakes. Xuanfu is a crucial military area, very different from Qingzhou and the Jiangnan region back then. That’s why we need an experienced general like you to guide him—it’s a fortune for Young Master Yue as well.”
“Of all the generals under the Duke of Ying, you’re the best at talking. No wonder he sent you with Zhang Yue!”
Zheng Heng grunted irritably before casually saying, “Guiding him is one thing, but I won’t do anything that harms myself. One action can affect the whole situation, especially since the roots here are probably completely rotten. I can’t expose them, nor can I act on my own. I can only rely on others. With the emperor’s northern campaign secured, the court losing a few major pests, Zhang Yue and I free from constraints, and the soldiers having enough food, Lu Feng can gain a significant portion of the crown’s wealth. Everyone wins in this deal!”