Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 599 Holy Feast Messenger

"Didn't you just say he was your good son?" Madam Tan squatted down, raised the greaves, and started to put them on Tong Qiaonian. "How come he's my silly son now!"

"Hmph!" Tong Qiaonian rolled his eyes at the sky. "If he passes the imperial examination, he's my good son; if he doesn't, he's your stupid son."

"Oh dear!" Madam Tan retorted sarcastically, "You talk as if you could pass the imperial examination."

"I just didn't have a good father. If my ancestors had been as successful as me, and could have afforded to send me to school, I'd be here now," Tong Qiaonian suddenly started daydreaming, boldly putting himself in Yuan Keli's shoes. "I'd be the benefactor of the benefactor! Hehe!"

"Alright. You old lecher, you said it, and I've remembered it." Madam Tan tugged at the rope again, making sure the greaves were securely fastened before going to the rack to get the apron and wrap it around Tong Qiaonian. "I'll spread this around later. Let's see if General Mao will whip you like a top when he hears this!"

"You dare!" As Madam Tan fastened Tong Qiaonian's belt, Tong Qiaonian herself pulled the helmet with its red tassel top over her head. "If you dare to go out and spread rumors, I'll definitely whip you like a top first!"

"Tch. Is that all you've got?" Of course, Madam Tan wouldn't spout nonsense. Although she came from a farming family, she still had a sense of propriety. "Get away!" Madam Tan slapped away Tong Qiaonian's clumsy fingers and stood on tiptoe to tie his helmet strap. "What kind of job is this? Why are you wearing armor so early in the morning?"

"Didn't I tell you yesterday? The Korean envoy is arriving this morning, and Enjiang, Yuan, and Gao are going to greet him. Loosen your grip!" Tong Qiaonian shouted. "You vicious woman, are you trying to strangle me?!"

"When did you ever tell me that? You must be dreaming!" Madam Tan shouted, but still loosened the rope as instructed. "And what is this 'Holy Festival Envoy'?"

"Damn it, I told you you're ignorant. The Imperial Envoy is going to the capital to celebrate the Emperor's birthday!" Tong Qiaonian raised his hands and clasped them together haphazardly, not caring whether it was in the direction of the capital or not. "And you're supposed to be from Korea, huh?"

“I’m not,” Tan said, raising her fist and pounding Tong Qiaonian’s chest through gritted teeth. “My ancestors were!” In truth, she didn’t even know which generation of her ancestors had been Korean.

"Ha. What a shrew." Tong Qiaonian felt no shock at all, only rolled her eyes before turning and leaving.

"You fool!" Mrs. Tan chased after him to the door. "Aren't you going to eat?"

"Let's eat at the camp! Save some rice." Tong Qiaonian didn't even turn his head.

"You've disturbed my peaceful sleep." Madam Tan closed the door, bolted it, and lay down on the bed to continue sleeping.

--------

At the post station outside Zhenjiang City, Yuan Keli, who was about to take up his post as the guardian of Korea, Gao Bangzuo, who was about to be officially transferred to the position of military advisor of Zhenjiang, and Lu Wenzhao, the current commander of the Imperial Guard, were eating breakfast around the same table. Around them were other Imperial Guards who had already finished their breakfast. These Imperial Guards served as protectors, a shield, and also as servants who served tea and water in place of the post station workers.

"Why do you two think that Korea sent an envoy for the Emperor's birthday at this time?" Gao Bangzuo was not used to being served by the Embroidered Uniform Guard. He looked very uneasy, but his appetite was still good.

"Don't envoys always arrive ahead of time?" Yuan Keli was the opposite of Gao Bangzuo; he had a poor appetite, but his expression remained normal.

“But not this early. I checked the customs records yesterday. According to past practice, North Korea usually declares its border crossing two months before the Emperor’s Birthday. It used to be June, and it should be June now. But it’s not even May yet, and they’ve already come.” Gao Bangzuo lowered his voice slightly. “Moreover, the last group of envoys who crossed the border for the New Year haven’t returned yet. There must be something fishy going on. Could it be that word has leaked out?”

“Commander Lu should know something, right?” Yuan Keli looked up at Lu Wenzhao.

Lu Wenzhao first shook his head in response, and only spoke after swallowing all the food in his mouth: "I don't know anything. No one from above has specifically been sent to inform me of the movements of the Koreans in Beijing. So I think they're probably not after us." Lu Wenzhao wasn't sure if word had leaked out, but he trusted the capabilities of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Yuan Keli nodded.

“But you two have only been in Zhenjiang for a few days, and now an imperial envoy is about to pass through the area for the Holy Festival. And it will be May in a few days. Isn’t that too much of a coincidence?” Gao Bangzuo still looked suspicious.

"Counselor Gao, are there any records of North Koreans crossing the border into Zhenjiang recently?" Lu Wenzhao asked Gao Bangzuo.

“Yes!” Gao Bangzuo nodded immediately. “About half a month ago, if I remember correctly, it should have been April 14th. The customs declaration record says that a caravan of about two hundred people left the country that day, saying they were going to Liaoyang to sell Korean ginseng and otter pelts.”

“That was just a coincidence. We only arrived in Yizhou on the second day of the fourth month,” Lu Wenzhao paused, then looked up at Yuan Keli. “When we reached Liaoyang, the first ten days of the month weren’t even over yet, were they?” He had a deep impression of the second day of the fourth month because that was the first time he had sent a letter to the capital since arriving in Liaodong. His memories of the days that followed were less vivid; at least he couldn’t recall the dates without thinking.

“Yes.” Yuan Keli thought for a moment. “If I remember correctly, it should be the eighth day.”

“It matches perfectly!” Gao Bangzuo speculated: “The two of you arrived in Liaoyang on the eighth day of the month, which was overheard by merchants who were stranded there. They immediately organized a group of people to return. After crossing the border, the Koreans traveled day and night and delivered the news to the capital in just two or three days. When the king learned of the news, he immediately sent an envoy under the guise of congratulating the emperor on his birthday.”

“That makes sense, but the timing is a bit too rushed,” Yuan Keli chuckled. “Even if this caravan really did deliver the message, the king shouldn’t be able to react that quickly, right? Besides, my public identity is the Military Advisor of Zhenjiang, so why would the king go to such lengths to argue with me?”

“This is different.” Gao Bangzuo lowered his voice further. “Zhenjiang is right next to Korea. For them, it is an extremely important place. Moreover, if it is true that the king is colluding with the enemy, then they must have something to hide and be extremely sensitive.”

“Counselor Gao’s words make sense.” Yuan Keli had finished eating, but seeing that Gao Bangzuo and Lu Wenzhao didn’t seem to be putting down their chopsticks, he changed to chewing slowly and waiting silently. “But I think that if there is any ulterior motive behind this, it should be aimed at you.”

"Attack me?" Gao Bangzuo was stunned, and the chopsticks he had just stretched out stopped in mid-air.

"Yes," Yuan Keli nodded. "When did you come to Zhenjiang?"

“Back when the slaves withdrew their troops last month.” Gao Bangzuo’s chopsticks landed on the bowl of mutton offal soup in the middle.

"How many North Korean merchants crossed the border during this period?" Yuan Keli asked again.

“Quite a few.” Gao Bangzuo thought for a moment. “There are at least three or four.” “That settles it then,” Yuan Keli laughed. “On the surface, you and I are not fundamentally different. We are both stationed in Zhenjiang, and Councilor Gao has been here for quite some time. It is obviously more reasonable in terms of timing.”

“In my humble opinion, even on the surface, you and I are fundamentally different,” Gao Bangzuo said after a moment of thought. “Zhenjiang is an inherent part of Liaoyang Circuit. Before you took office, I was merely on a temporary visit here, without even an official office. On the contrary, even your apparent identity is that of a specially appointed military advisor stationed in Zhenjiang. More importantly, you were recommended by Grand Minister Xu. They sent a special ‘defense mission’ targeting Grand Minister Xu last year, so they should be very sensitive to this.”

"Hmm," Yuan Keli savored the food he had been chewing for a long time. "We'll deal with whatever comes our way. Why they're here isn't really that important, is it?" Yuan Keli's only worry was that the Koreans might learn of the court's military strategy and become prepared. But based on the information he had, that possibility was very low.

“Guardian Yuan is right,” Lu Wenzhao nodded slightly and continued the conversation. “Actually, we can also probe them from the other side. If these ‘holy festival envoys’ are really up to no good and have other plans, we will save ourselves the trouble of looking for evidence of the king’s crimes.”

Gao Bangzuo's eyelids twitched, but he didn't respond.

"Speaking of which," Yuan Keli picked up a bean from his meal, abruptly changing the subject, "Where does Councilor Gao plan to establish his office and yamen?"

Gao Bangzuo was taken aback. "Establish a government office and a military headquarters?"

“That’s right,” Yuan Keli laughed. “We can’t stay at the post station forever, can we?”

Gao Bangzuo then laughed and said, "This humble official really hadn't thought about this matter."

Except for a few provinces that share an office with the Provincial Administration Commission, all circuit intendants have their own offices, and Gao Bangzuo is no exception. His office, which is responsible for the Liaohai Dongning Circuit, is located inside Liaoyang City, near the western section of the city wall.

Before the imperial court established a special military post in Zhenjiang, he, as mentioned earlier, would only stay temporarily in Zhenjiang during his inspection tours. During the day, Gao Bangzuo would either inspect various places or work in the Guerrilla General's Mansion with Mao Wenlong. At night, Gao Bangzuo would return to the post station to rest, showing no intention of building another branch office.

Upon learning that the court had designated Zhenjiang and its surrounding areas as separate jurisdictions and specifically appointed Yuan Keli to manage them, Gao Bangzuo was even less inclined to consider such a possibility. At that time, he perceived the court as sending a special envoy to take over his duties. He only needed to complete the handover process before returning to Liaoyang.

“You have to think about it. Temporary measures can’t last long,” Yuan Keli said. “The Zhenjiang military commissioner won’t be withdrawn anytime soon.”

Gao Bangzuo pondered for a moment. "Then let's set it up in Zhenjiang City, right next to the Guerrilla General's Mansion."

“I’m afraid that won’t work.” Yuan Keli pondered for a moment. “Zhenjiang City is only about half a mile square. It can’t even fit a county government office, let alone your military headquarters. We’ll have to find another place.”

The administrative level of the military commissioner was between that of the provincial three offices and the prefecture, state, county and guard offices. The size of his office was often larger than that of the prefecture, state, county and guard offices, but smaller than that of the three offices. Zhenjiang City was essentially a fort with a city wall circumference of less than two miles, and it could not possibly accommodate such a large office.

“Then let’s designate a piece of land outside the gate.” This time, Gao Bangzuo considered it seriously.

"If we build an office outside the city, what will happen to the defense?" Lu Wenzhao's ears twitched, as if he had heard something strange.

“This post station is also outside the city, and there are two encirclements around it, so there’s nothing to worry about,” Gao Bangzuo said.

“Why not just renovate Xujiabao?” Yuan Keli suggested. “Xujiabao is about a mile and a half in circumference. We can demolish all the buildings inside, leaving only the outer perimeter covered with bricks. Then we can rebuild it according to regulations. That way, size and defense will no longer be a problem.”

Xujiabao is not only a fort, but also nestled in a U-shaped mountain range, with small forts serving as outposts along the surrounding mountain paths. The only gap faces the Ai River, and the reinforced Zhenjiang Fort is positioned to block this opening, making it extremely secure.

“That’s a nice place,” Gao Bangzu nodded, then shook his head. “But isn’t it too remote, too far from the front lines?”

“It’s not that remote. Xujiabao and Zhenjiangbao are only four or five miles apart. Moreover, the military affairs office is responsible not only for border defense but also for military farms and horse administration. It should be located in the center of the jurisdiction.” At this point, Yuan Keli suddenly had another idea. “No, Xujiabao is not too far from the front line, but too close. It should be further south.”

"Further south?" Gao Bangzuo also heard the increasingly clear strange sound, but he didn't care. "Where south?"

"I haven't really thought it through yet, but I feel that the area around Zhenjiang Fort isn't good enough." Yuan Keli's face showed a thoughtful expression. "The jurisdiction of Zhenjiang Circuit extends west to the east bank of the Dayang River, east to the four prefectures of Korea, and north to Fenghuang in Tangshan. After the liberation of Kuandian, it will also include the six forts of Kuandian. Let's put Kuandian aside for now and just consider Korea, Fenghuang, and the Dayang River. It would be best to set up the administrative center in a place that can connect with Korea without neglecting the eastern plains of the Dayang River. As for Jiuliancheng, it would be fine to have a guerrilla general stationed there."

"After the recapture of Kuandian, shouldn't the supervision of the four Korean prefectures have ended?" Gao Bangzuo's thinking was quite unconventional.

Yuan Keli paused for a moment, then laughed and said, "It won't be that fast. As long as the slaves are not appeased, the surveillance will continue. There are two hundred li between Hetu Ala and Kuandian."

What was said in jest was taken seriously by the listener. Several Imperial Guards nearby glanced sideways at Yuan Keli.

Lu Wenzhao raised his head, but he was looking at the closed door.

Tuk-tuk-tuk!
After the knocking stopped, Lu Jianxing's voice came from behind the door: "Counselor Yuan, Councilor Gao. Guerrilla Mao is here and waiting outside the post station. Shall we invite him in?" Because there were still post station staff delivering meals outside, Lu Jianxing did not greet Lu Wenzhao.

"Have you two finished eating?" Yuan Keli asked, still holding his chopsticks.

"What did Councilor Gao say?" Lu Wenzhao picked up the two chopsticks together.

"Just eat this much." Gao Bangzuo stuffed the meat he had just picked up into his mouth.

"There's no need for Guerrilla Mao to come in; we'll go out now." Yuan Keli placed the chopsticks on the chopstick rest, and immediately a member of the Imperial Guard came over with a basin of water.

(End of this chapter)