Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 524: Letters

Under the bright candlelight, Chen Jinyu kept a stern face, silently grinding ink.

Jiang Shaohua picked up the brush, dipped it full of ink, and wrote gracefully like a wandering dragon.

This letter was written to Chief Historian Feng. The tribute of military grain was a matter of tacit understanding between the master and ministers. After calculating this year’s autumn harvest, Chief Historian Feng stated in the previous letter that Nanyang County could mobilize around three hundred thousand bushels of surplus grain. This grain was originally meant for the Commandery Princess to earn fame and establish virtue. Hence, Jiang Shaohua had the confidence to offer two hundred thousand bushels of military grain.

The matter of the grain tribute requires someone for coordination and dispatch. That person could only be Chief Historian Feng.

The second letter was written to Chief Historian Chen.

"...Nanyang County’s abundant grain is enviable, causing jealousy. The Li Family is restless, whispering slander by the Empress Dowager’s ear, encouraging the Emperor to replace vassal territories and bring Nanyang County under control. Fortunately, the clear-minded Emperor was unmoved, rebuking them angrily." 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"In secret, it’s not just the Li Family coveting Nanyang County. I’m afraid Grand Empress Dowager Zheng might also harbor such thoughts in the future..."

Having been silently standing by, Chen Jinyu finally couldn’t resist speaking angrily: "The Commandery Princess wholeheartedly shares the Emperor’s burden, and shows public spirit towards the court and the people. Yet, those in the palace secretly plot against her, trying to seize our Nanyang County. Truly despicable!"

Jiang Shaohua finished writing the letter, placing the brush aside, and looked up at Chen Jinyu: "Human nature is inherently greedy. Both the Li Family and Zheng Family are noble families wielding real power as imperial in-laws. The Li Family, being the Emperor’s maternal family, assumes they can replace the Zheng Family, yet are repeatedly suppressed by the Grand Empress Dowager. Seeing they are no match for the Zheng Family, they set their sights on me, the Commandery Princess."

Chen Jinyu snorted coldly: "Do they think Nanyang County is a soft persimmon ready to be squeezed? Bah!"

Jiang Shaohua’s eyes glinted with coolness: "The Emperor simply ignored it, showing that in his mind, I, as the Princess Jiang, am more deserving of closeness and trust."

Thus, the fact that Nanyang County remains safe is due to Jiang Shaohua’s strong rise in the court. Otherwise, the county would’ve long been eyed as a juicy target.

Chen Jinyu said gloomily: "I still feel quite aggrieved. Every year, the Commandery Princess donates large quantities of grain to the court; when the Emperor fell ill, she rushed to the Capital City to handle state affairs and stabilize the situation. Having done so much, yet there are still others scheming against Nanyang County!"

Jiang Shaohua said indifferently: "The Grand Empress Dowager has already made a move, the Empress Dowager Li has to remain in the palace to heal, Li family’s women cannot enter the palace to pay respects for two months. These two things are enough to humiliate the Li Family. They must be honest for a while."

"If the Li Family still dares to reach for Nanyang County, I, the Commandery Princess, will sever the Li family’s hand!"

Jiang Shaohua uttered these words casually, without deliberately projecting harshness.

Only then did Chen Jinyu feel relieved: "Exactly! Sooner or later, we must teach the Li Family a lesson!"

Jiang Shaohua picked up the brush again to write another letter.

This letter was for her fiancé.

Chen Jinyu took his leave with a smile, not wishing to intrude further.

Jiang Shaohua sat alone at the desk, the pen flowed like a spring, jotting down whatever came to mind. When she finished writing, she realized she had filled five pages.

Though she said nothing aloud, she was actually very angry inside. Once the brush touched the paper, her emotions poured naturally. On reflection, it seemed like the secret chatter of a young girl to her lover.

After hesitating for a while, Jiang Shaohua still sealed the letter in an envelope.

The last letter was written to the Nanyang Army Commander Yu Chong. This letter was much simpler.

The task of transporting two hundred thousand bushels of military grain to the border army was entrusted to the Nanyang Army. Nanyang County has four thousand elite troops, each equipped with horse, armor, and new sharp weapons. Such equipment rivaled the elite troops of the Capital City. With such force escorting the grain, no mishaps are expected.

However, Yu Chong’s mission goes beyond this. Besides escorting the grain, he must demonstrate the newly trained battle formation against the Rouran Cavalry to General Fan. To put it bluntly, it’s to instruct the border army with the battle formation. This could enhance the border army’s combat power against the Rouran Cavalry.

...

That night, these four letters were dispatched from the palace via secret channels directly to Nanyang County.

First by fast horseback, entering Jingzhou territory, then switching to Eagle for delivery. This saved at least two days of time. Back and forth makes it four days.

Timing is crucial in communication.

After receiving the letter, Yu Chong was invigorated, immediately summoning all the military generals and reading the Commandery Princess’s letter aloud. The generals were thrilled upon learning they would escort the grain to the border army.

"Raise troops for a thousand days to use them for an hour; daily idle meals now finally serve a purpose."

"Exactly. From the Commandery Princess’s message, we must not only deliver the grain to the border army but also stay in Si State for a while. Unfortunately, our hard-trained battle formations will just be handed to the border army."

"What nonsense is this!" Yu Chong sternly scolded: "You all, grown men, have hearts as narrow as needles, thinking only of fame and fortune. The Commandery Princess has a grand world view, training troops against the Rouran Cavalry started half a year ago. The effectiveness of the new formation cannot be seen without engaging in a few battles. It’s only in real combat that elite troops can truly be trained."

"Since the Commandery Princess has instructed, we will do as she intended. Anyone harboring thoughts of secretive schemes will not escape my wrath!"

The generals dared not say more, each seriously affirming.

Li Tie could not help but whisper: "Actually, in terms of power, the Personal Guard Camp is much stronger than us. Why doesn’t the Commandery Princess dispatch the Personal Guard Camp?"

Yu Chong glanced at Li Tie and then swept his gaze over the generals: "Most members of the Personal Guard Camp have been dispatched, Tang’s Grain Shop opened dozens of locations, each shop must have house servants to guard. Otherwise, those vagrants, disaster victims, or ruffians would harass daily, making business impossible."

"Moreover, the Commandery Princess secretly expanded the Personal Guard Camp, the court turns a blind eye. It cannot be made public. If suddenly several thousand Personal Guard Camp members were sent to escort the grain, where would the court ministers find peace?"

"We, the Nanyang Army, are a stationed army of the court, escorting the grain and no one can fault it. All must boost their spirits, perform well, and not diminish the prestige of the Nanyang Army, nor disgrace our Commandery Princess!"

The generals were invigorated, raising their arms in a unified shout.

Yu Chong chose two people to remain at the camp, all other generals were to jointly escort the grain. This time, even Li Tie would accompany.

Feeling the stirring within, Li Tie eagerly asked: "General Yu! When do we depart?"

Yu Chong raised his eyebrows and smiled: "No haste, I will first visit the Nanyang Prince Mansion to meet Chief Historian Chen and Chief Historian Feng."

Troops do not move without advanced logistics. Transporting grain with four thousand elite troops will certainly consume considerable provisions!

Li Tie immediately said: "I will accompany the General to the Prince Mansion."

Yu Chong nodded.

The following day, the two led dozens of trusted aides, swiftly riding to the Nanyang Prince Mansion.