I became the God Brother of the Regent King after Transmigration!-Chapter 347 - 265: The Young Master in White Enters the Capital (Part 3)
"Wei Junzhuo pretended to attack Yinzhou, but secretly dispatched twenty thousand troops to join forces with the Qiangrong people on the snowfield to attack Dingbei Pass. Fortunately, Dingyuan Marquis saw through his scheme and had already sent troops to ambush in front of Dingbei Pass, waiting leisurely for labor, utterly defeating the enemy army and beheading the enemy general before the battle!
This battle, though tens of thousands of miles away from Yinzhou, was executed seamlessly. The Dingyuan Marquis and his son worked together flawlessly, a true blessing for our Dayan. Presented by the loyal Marquis Zhongcheng, Ashina Duoji."
After the memorial was read, the civil and military officials in the grand hall were all elated, except for those in Prime Minister Su’s faction, whose faces were sullen. At such a moment, no one cared about their thoughts anymore.
Xie Yun said with a smile, "Your Majesty, after this battle, Marquis Zhongcheng’s position in the Northern Territory is secure, and the snowfield will be thoroughly stabilized. The Qiangrong people will not have the strength to attack our Dayan’s Northern Territory within the next ten years! With Prince Xiang and Dingyuan Marquis, the border can be safe."
Xie Yun was unsure of the Emperor’s intentions, so he lowered his eyes, deliberately weakening Gu Lan’s presence in his speech. After a great victory, being too conspicuous is not a good thing. Let Rong Heng and Marquis Gu take the lead; he will only protect Lan.
As soon as he finished speaking, a man dressed in Mystic Armor with a cold face suddenly stepped out from the ranks of officials, clasped his fists, and said, "Your Majesty, your humble servant has something to report."
Xie Yun’s eyes darkened; this man was Song Zhi, the commander of the Capital City’s imperial guard, and one of the Emperor’s most trusted men.
The imperial guard and Inner Supervision are the sharpest blades in the Emperor’s hand.
Song Zhi rarely attends court normally and hardly ever speaks; today he stepped forward, leaving civil and military officials in astonishment.
"Speak."
Song Zhi said, "Your Majesty, I’ve received news that after this great victory in the national war, Wei Country’s Bian has already dispatched Second Prince Yuan Ye to our Dayan to negotiate peace. Wei Junzhuo praised, saying that Pingnan General has the talent of Dingyuan Marquis and the demeanor of Pingnan Marquis, which he greatly admires."
Wei Junzhuo saying Gu Lan has the demeanor of Pingnan Marquis? Pingnan Marquis, that was a traitor!
After Song Zhi finished speaking, he quietly stepped aside, his face cold and hard like a stone, without a trace of emotion.
Gu Chengye hurriedly stepped forward, "Your Majesty, this is Wei Junzhuo trying to sow discord between ruler and minister, Your Majesty must not easily believe it."
Rong Jing’s eyes slightly narrowed, pondering, "What do you think, dear ministers, how should I reward Pingnan General?"
Seeing no one speaking, Rong Jing looked to the side at Rong Miaoyan who was dressed in official attire, "Ning An, what do you think?"
Rong Miaoyan immediately stepped forward, knelt down, lips slightly parted:
"I believe that Pingnan General is already the heir of Dingyuan Marquis and should in the future inherit the Marquis title and go to the Northern Territory to defend against enemies. Therefore, Your Majesty need not specially confer her a title; just reward her with some gold, silver, silk, and cloth."
Rong Miaoyan’s idea was the same as Xie Yun’s: Gu Lan has won a great victory and will surely make the Emperor apprehensive. She keeps pondering how to make Gu Lan less conspicuous; anyway, don’t mention promotion.
At this time, Minister of War Fan Hongyan stepped forward:
"Your Majesty, I believe Prince Xiang is the key to this great victory. Prince Xiang is a young lord of talent and has royal bloodline; with him overseeing Yinzhou, the Southern Border remains as stable as Mount Tai. Therefore—Pingnan General should return to the Capital City promptly for debriefing."
"Fan Hongyan, you’re seeing red again? The Southern Border has just stabilized, and you want to strip Lan’er of her military power, aren’t you afraid of discouraging the border soldiers?" Gu Chengye frowned and shouted angrily.
The Second Young Master Gu was full of resentment with no place to vent for having the Emperor send his son thousands of miles to the Southern Border to announce the decree. Fortunately, Gu Lan won the victory, reluctantly making him somewhat happy. Now his son follows his nephew, then his nephew is his son. The Second Young Master Gu is very protective.
Any clear-sighted person can see that as long as Gu Lan returns to the Capital City, she must surrender her military power.
In the minds of the court officials, Rong Heng bears the family name Rong, Prince Rui is dead, Rong Yunhao is still young, letting the Rong Family temporarily manage the Southern Border is fine, but the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion must not get involved.
Fan Hongyan countered, "Since Young Master Gu can win battles, she should follow Marquis Gu in the Dingyuan Army for training. This is also preparation for her future inheritance of the marquisate; staying in the Southern Border constantly goes against Dayan’s rules and etiquette."
"I believe Pingnan General should remain in Yinzhou for a while, until the Southern Border’s situation stabilizes, before returning to the Capital City." Xie Yun couldn’t help but advise.
Right now, making Gu Lan return to the Capital City would not only bother her but also hand over military power in the Southern Border to Rong Heng.
Xie Yun always believed that there was no good to be expected from members of the Imperial Family, even though he drank with Rong Heng many times, he wouldn’t change his mind.
Now that Rong Heng has become Prince Xiang, who knows if he will change his mind; he has to plan for Lan.
At this time, the Crown Prince, who had been silent, stood up and spoke eloquently:
"Father, this Gu Lan left the Capital City on her own and meddled in Southern Border military affairs, which was not in accordance with protocol. Now she’s won a great victory, and all the ministers believe she is promising, but don’t forget, she’s been rebellious since childhood, despising etiquette. If she does not return to the Capital City, should we let her hold military power independently in the Southern Border?
As for Prince Xiang, originally Prince Rui held the military and political power in the Southern Border, and after Prince Rui’s passing, it should be inherited by the Princely Heir. Although the Princely Heir is young, the County Princess Changle is still present, and it’s said she also has military merits from the battle in Yinzhou. Since the County Princess decided to join the army, and Father has shown her enormous favor, a portion of the Southern Border military power should then be given to her."
Rong Miaoyan frowned slightly, her gaze colder, staring ominously at the Crown Prince dressed in golden python robe.
This Crown Prince brother has been quite excessively active recently.
Is he thinking that the Su Family is doomed, and wants to drag a few down with him before dying?
The Crown Prince’s words sought to stir discord among Gu Lan, Rong Heng, and Rong Baoyi, but this situation is what the Emperor hopes to see.
If he wants to protect Gu Lan’s safety, he can only let the three maintain a "hostile" subtle relationship.
While the court was at an impasse, a notification came from outside the hall that the envoy sent by Gu Lan to return to the Capital City requested an audience.
"Let him in!"
The envoy entered the hall, knelt, and said: "Your Majesty, Gu Lan personally said she is willing to hand over the Southern Border military power to Prince Xiang, observe her duties, and return to the Capital City."
The Taihe Palace was silent for a moment, Rong Jing’s peach blossom eyes widened a bit, and he asked in a low voice, "What else did she say?"
"Gu Lan also said, she said—" The reporting envoy looked troubled, his words stammering.
"Speak!"
"She also said that staying in Yinzhou is not as good as being in the Capital City, being a general is not as good as being a Princely Heir, and her only request is that after returning to the Capital City, she can avoid going to the Imperial Family School."
"..."
In the early summer of Dayan Jian De’s first year, Pingnan General Gu Lan requested to return to the Capital City.
Because being the top profligate of the Capital City is more comfortable!
The Emperor granted permission, ordering Prince Xiang Rong Heng to replace the deceased Prince Rui, leading the Southern Border’s political power and stationed in Yinzhou;
At the same time, the Emperor, remembering Prince Rui’s heir was young, specially allowed him to stay in the Capital City to be nurtured, and when the Princely Heir turns fourteen years old, he would then succeed the title and take over the Southern Border’s military and political authority.
Also, because Prince Rui’s eldest daughter Rong Baoyi had merits in vanquishing the Wei Army, she was named Commandery Princess Changle.
On June first, Children’s Day of this year, Prince Xiang stationed in the Southern Border, Young Master in white entered the Capital City.
