Do You Know?: Rule the World.

Chapter 134 Sending Troops to Western Xia, the Women's Concerns

Upon seeing Minglan, Yanran greeted her with a smile in her eyes.

The two now have different statuses, so Minglan bowed gracefully before sitting down with her.

"It's been a long time since I last saw you. Sister Yanran's demeanor is quite different from before. She even looks much more plump."

Yanran lowered her eyes slightly and said softly, "Life in the Eastern Palace now is not like the days I spent in the Yu family before."

"Your Highness has been kind to me, and I no longer need to live by others' whims."

Minglan held her delicate hands, her voice tinged with emotion, "It's clear that the Grand Tutor's choice back then was correct."

"Yes, thanks to my grandfather."

“A while ago, my third sister came to the palace to see me, hoping that I could persuade my grandfather and father not to divorce Fang.”

"If I had known this today, why bother!"

"Speaking of which, my stepmother and your fourth sister do look somewhat alike."

Before she got married, she relied on her mother's favor to act like a big shot in the Fang family, and she didn't care about her sisters and brothers-in-law at all.

"Now that she's back in the Fang family, she probably won't have a good time." Yanran said calmly, without a trace of pity on her face.

At this moment, Grand Tutor Yu and the old lady are already looking for a new mistress to take over the household.

Regardless of social status, all I ask for is that they be virtuous, gentle, and good at managing the household.

Minglan looked up at Yanran quietly. She was naturally happy for Yanran that the Yu family's inner quarters were peaceful.

But a sense of envy welled up in her heart, and she secretly sighed that if she had a grandfather as dignified and reasonable as Grand Tutor Yu, how could Lin Qinshuang have been so arrogant in the Sheng family for so many years?

Seeing Minglan looking somewhat dazed, Yanran raised her hand and waved it in front of her eyes, asking in a low voice, "Ming'er, has your marriage been settled?"

Minglan came to her senses and gently shook her head, "Not yet. Fifth Sister hasn't even been engaged yet, how can I preempt her?"

"It's alright. Your grandmother loves you the most and will never mistreat you in the future."

"Try these pastries, they're much more refined than what you get outside."

After saying that, Yanran picked up another pastry and stuffed it into Xiaotao's hand.

Xiao Tao squinted her eyes, her eyebrows curving into crescents as she ate the pastry in small bites.

Inside the Cining Hall, Quan Ge'er was taken away by his wet nurse.

Wang Ruofu frowned and looked at Rulan, who was standing to the side in a daze, and sighed softly, "In the past few months, I have found four or five families that are suitable for Rulan, but she doesn't like any of them."

"That silly girl, she's never serious, I think she wants to marry the Jade Emperor!"

When Rulan heard her mother mocking her like that, she snorted and turned her back on her.

Hua Lan smiled brightly and gently advised, "Ru Lan is straightforward by nature and doesn't know how to hide her joys and sorrows."

"When choosing a husband for her, one should not only consider family background."

"The most important thing is a family with a clean and upright character, a kind and generous mother-in-law, simple family affairs, and a good husband."

"If this girl marries into a family that our Sheng family can't control, I'm afraid she'll suffer a lot in the future."

Hai Chaoyun, who was sitting to the side, agreed with this.

Wang Ruofu raised his hand and furrowed his brow.

In Bianjing City, the only one who fully meets Hua Lan's requirements is the second son of the Zheng family, the Marquis of Zhongjing.

She had considered it, but Sheng Hong shook his head repeatedly when he heard about the Zheng family.

The Zheng family had distinguished themselves in the military, and like the Gu family, they had a certificate of merit enshrined in their ancestral hall, not to mention the prestige of the Marquis of Zhongjing in the army.

The eldest son in the family was stationed at Yanmen for many years. Zheng Erlang was very popular in the army and was highly appreciated by the emperor and the crown prince.

Hua Lan's status is already top-tier, and Chang Bai's marriage to a girl from the Hai family, followed by a marriage alliance with the Zheng family, would be far too ostentatious.

A tall tree catches the wind, and once it arouses the suspicion of the officials.

Let alone Changbai entering the cabinet in the future, it will be difficult for him to even find a sinecure in the court and live a peaceful life.

Since he began his studies at the age of four, Changbai has worked diligently day and night, regardless of the cold or heat, and he would not rest for even a day when he was sick.

All for the sake of one day realizing his ambition of entering the cabinet and becoming prime minister.

To ruin Changbai's future for Rulan's marriage is truly a losing proposition.

Having understood the implications, Wang Ruofu consciously kept her distance from the Zheng family.

"Forget it, let's take our time looking. The more we rush things, the more likely things will go wrong."

"If she were half as steady as Sixth Sister, I wouldn't be so worried."

Hua Lan raised an eyebrow and joked, "It's because Mother couldn't bear to send her to be raised by Grandmother."

"Don't bring that up again. I was just thinking that the old lady was too strict."

"I don't know how many scoldings and grievances Ru'er will suffer after she goes there."

Hai Chaoyun smiled gently, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke in a low voice: "Mother, a few days ago, Mo Lan took the opportunity of visiting Quan Ge'er to ask me to speak to Grandmother on her behalf and introduce her to Old Madam He."

Upon hearing the name Mo Lan, Ru Lan's eyes lit up.

She immediately turned around and said indignantly, "Her? She still wants to see Old Madam He, and she has to come to our family for help."

"Father said that our family will pretend we don't have a daughter from now on."

Wang Ruofu glanced at her sideways, "No wonder Mo Lan deliberately sent you away from me that day, it was all because of this."

"Does your mother know anything about this?"

Hai Chaoyun gently shook her head, "I haven't informed my grandmother yet."

Wang Ruofu snorted coldly, "It's better not to let Mother know about such troublesome matters."

"My daughter-in-law understands."

Since Old Madam He settled in the capital, many women from the inner quarters of the household have asked her to take their pulse under various pretexts, such as having tea or paying respects.

For the sake of her grandson He Hongwen's future, Old Madam He welcomed all the wives and daughters of officials who came to her.

Mo Lan has been unable to conceive since her miscarriage.

Seeing Chun Ke holding the child and swaying in front of him all day long, he couldn't help but feel a little anxious.

However, she and Old Madam He had never interacted before, and it was not appropriate to make a big fuss about this, let alone let the Liang family know.

Only by asking Old Madam Sheng to introduce me can I ensure that I won't be the subject of gossip.

Hai Chaoyun knew that the old lady did not want to see Mo Lan again, and even if she told her about this, it would only cause her more trouble.

But Wang Ruofu still needs to know, so that if Mo Lan ever comes to Sheng Hong for help, he'll have something to say.

-

In early June, thanks to the efforts of officials from the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War, the food and supplies for the Northwest Army were fully prepared.

Since the establishment of the Shenji Battalion, the artisans of the Firearms Bureau have been working day and night without a moment's rest.

Yu Sixian vigorously promoted the military-agricultural system in the Northwest, recruiting soldiers and Tibetan people who had submitted to the Great Zhou to reclaim wasteland and plant grain. At the same time, he levied grain taxes on the people of various ethnic groups in the Northwest.

Today, inside the Mingde Hall of the Eastern Palace.

Gu Tingye, Zheng Xiao, Pei Hu, and several other military officers promoted by Zhao Han were all present, reporting on the progress of the army over the past few days.

“The Western Xia territory is currently in dire need of food and supplies. In the past, they would have already sent troops to invade the border and demand food and supplies by this time.”

“This time there’s been no movement, which shows they’re scared.” Pei Hu straightened his back and said with a smile.

Nearly half of the Hehuang region was in the hands of the Great Zhou.

Yu Sixian deliberately supported Mu Zheng, the eldest son of Xia Zhan, to be an enemy of Dong Zhan, while Xia Sa, the son of Mo Zhanjiao, was also busy.

Tibet is now fragmented, and even if Western Xia wanted to form an alliance, it has nowhere to start.

Dressed in a smart outfit, Zheng Xiao, with a handsome appearance, turned to look at him.

"Lord Pei, do not underestimate the enemy. If Western Xia were to resist with the full force of the nation, it could gather at least 300,000 troops."

"If my estimate is correct, the elite can make up 30%."

In the Western Xia Dynasty, the entire population was conscripted into the army. All men who reached the age of adulthood were required to enlist and train, learning skills such as horseback riding, archery, and troop deployment.

Zhao Han remained calm and said, "Although the Western Xia is already in our grasp this time, an arrogant army is bound to be defeated, as the ancient proverb says."

"Your Highness is right," Pei Hu replied, bowing respectfully.

"How's it going with the Grand Canal gang?" Zhao Han turned to look at Shi Tou.

Shi Tou had always followed behind Gu Tingye, and with his efficient work and exceptional martial arts skills, he had already secured a place in the Shenji Camp. He bowed and said, "Your Highness, rest assured!"

"My elder brother Shi Keng and sister-in-law Che San Niang have already made arrangements and will surely ensure the smooth flow of grain transport."

Gu Tingye followed behind, smiling as he said, "This time, Chief Shi personally escorted the grain. Not to mention the waterways of Jiangnan, even if we changed to the land route, the bandits and thieves along the way wouldn't dare to disrespect him."

The Grand Canal Gang was powerful and had a large number of members, who were a mixed bag, including people from all walks of life.

Over the years, the canal gangs not only controlled the order of the canal wharves, but also influenced local affairs.

In order to successfully complete the canal transport tasks, many officials sometimes had no choice but to cooperate with them, and they had long since reached an unspoken understanding with each other.

"That's good. I will reward you handsomely once it's done." Zhao Han narrowed his eyes slightly.

Although Shi Keng came from humble beginnings, he was not only good at fighting and killing; on the contrary, he was steady and knew how to assess situations.

Che San Niang was the same; over the years, she had managed the internal affairs of the canal gang in an orderly manner.

If the canal gangs can be used effectively, they will surely become a powerful tool for supervising officials and rectifying the officialdom in Jiangnan.

After everyone bowed and left, Gu Tingye remained in the hall with a sly smile on his face.

"Your Highness."

"My fourth and fifth uncles somehow managed to get Gu Tingbing and Gu Tingyang into the western expeditionary force."

"Is that so?" Zhao Han looked at him quietly.

If these two men use the pretense of being the Marquis of Ningyuan and offer him more money, many officials will indeed give them face.

"They are all insignificant minor officials who do menial tasks in the back, and I have already sent people to keep an eye on them."

“Once they make a mistake, when they return in triumph, it will be the fourth and fifth wives’ turn to cry for their parents.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Han immediately understood his plan. "Remember to be careful and don't let anyone see through it."

Gu Tingye nodded vigorously, "Your Highness, rest assured!"

He originally planned to find a pretext to expel Gu Tingbing and Gu Tingyang, those two good-for-nothings, from the army right now.

But after thinking about it carefully these past few days, I realized that if I were to simply drive them out of the Gu family after I inherit the title...

The officials in the Censorate might impeach him for neglecting his family and relatives.

Besides, few outsiders know about the grievances I suffered in the Gu family in the past, and the people from the fourth and fifth wives are also hypocritical on the surface.

The sordid affairs of the inner quarters are no longer suitable to be revealed.

Only by truly grasping their mistakes can we legitimately rectify the Gu family situation.

He knew Gu Tingbing and Gu Tingyang's personalities well; they were inherently muddle-headed and stupid, pampered at home, and greedy and lustful.

They are easily provoked and, with a little trickery, can be made to reveal their true colors and commit wrongdoings step by step.

At that time, I might even earn a reputation for upholding justice and sacrificing my own family!
Simply kill two birds with one stone!
As night falls, the bright moon hangs high in the sky, and the stars twinkle.

Inside a bedroom on the west side, Yanran nestled in Zhao Han's arms.

At this moment, she was only wearing a thin gauze dress, her beautiful figure was faintly visible, and her face was without makeup, as beautiful and charming as a lotus emerging from the water.

A moment later, as if suddenly remembering something, she got up and fetched a package.

"Your Highness's journey to the Northwest, Her Highness has made all necessary preparations."

“But I also wanted to do something for Your Highness. These two garments are made of silk.”

"I also added some cashmere and silk floss as lining to protect against the severe cold of the Northwest."

Zhao Han took a look and saw that the stitches were fine and even, and the fit was excellent, which showed that she must have put a lot of effort into it.

"No wonder so many people in the city used to praise the eldest daughter of the Yu family for her superb embroidery skills. She truly lives up to her reputation!"

Yanran pursed her lips, a hint of joy hidden in her eyes, "Your Highness is too kind, this little skill is nothing at all."

"I've heard that the ladies of Guangyuntai and Yiyunlou often host banquets to seek your advice?"

Yanran nodded and said, "Yes, they are all pitiful people."

"If it weren't for the pressure of life, who would willingly degenerate and make a living by selling their looks in the world of prostitution?"

“Teach them some embroidery skills, so that they might have a way out in the future.”

Hearing these words, Zhao Han reached out and put his arm around her slender waist, feeling somewhat moved.

-

It's already mid-June.

Emperor Zhao Zhen prepared three sacrificial animals—ox, sheep, and pig—with the highest honors and personally offered sacrifices to Heaven and Earth, praying for the army's triumphant return.

The following day, not only the people of the city but also the officials of the court came to see off the royal army as it headed to the northwest.

Zhao Zhen stood atop the city wall, looking solemnly at Zhao Han and the assembled soldiers.

If this battle can reclaim Western Xia, it will not only quell the troubles on the northwestern border, but also spare the people of Bianjing from the suffering of war.

It can also help the Great Zhou expand its territory.

In the future, I will be able to leave a significant mark on history.

"Cough cough cough—" Zhao Zhen coughed lightly twice, subconsciously pressing his chest, his face looking rather pale.

Seeing this, Zhang Maoze was about to hand over the handkerchief when he noticed Zhao Zhen's eyelids slightly lowered, and he subtly waved his hand at him.

After suppressing his discomfort, he continued to straighten his back, his expression solemn and dignified.

At such critical junctures, nothing that could shake the morale of the troops must be allowed to happen.

"Father, you must take good care of yourself. Fen'er and Mother are waiting for you to come back at home."

On one side, Zhang Guifen frowned slightly, looking at Zhang Fu with reluctance in her eyes. Then, she turned her gaze to Zhang Yang.

"Fourth brother, you must protect father, or I will never forgive you when we get back!"

For this expedition, Zhang Fu specifically took Zhang Yang with him to the Northwest for training.

I don't expect him to achieve any military merits; it would be enough if he could broaden his horizons and experience the hardships of ordinary people.

"I know, Fifth Sister, aren't you going to say hello to His Highness the Crown Prince?" Zhang Yang stared at Zhang Guifen with a sly smile.

Zhang Guifen blushed, "What are you saying!"

"With so many people here, who knows what kind of gossip will start if we're seen."

Zhang Yang shrugged.

"If you don't want to go, then fine. But this trip to the Northwest will take at least a year and a half to return. Don't blame your brother for not reminding you."

Zhang Fu looked at the brother and sister and couldn't help but shake his head and smile. In his opinion, it wouldn't hurt to say goodbye now.

In short, this marriage was personally arranged by the Emperor, and his word is law and will never be changed.

Zhang Guifen hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward to Zhao Han, bowed gracefully, and said, "Your Highness, I wish you a successful campaign and a swift return."

On horseback, Zhao Han smiled and replied gently, "Thank you, Miss Zhang, take care."

"Yes!" Zhang Guifen nodded and smiled brightly.

Sheng Hong and his son Sheng Changbai stood in the line of officials.

During this period, Sheng Hong was extremely busy, not daring to slack off for a moment, and the dark circles under his eyes were clearly visible.

As the auspicious hour approached, a heavy horn sounded.

Zhao Han looked up at the top of the city gate, gave a solemn salute, and then the army set off in the northwest.

In the backyard of the Sheng family, inside a side room.

Minglan stood by the window, staring blankly in the direction of the city gate, a feeling she couldn't quite describe welling up inside her.

"Girl, why haven't you touched the cherry pancakes that the old lady sent?" Xiao Tao asked innocently, puzzled.

Danju's eyes flickered slightly. It had been almost seven years since the old lady sent her to serve Minglan.

Therefore, she could already guess about 60-70% of Minglan's thoughts.

"Judging by the time, the army has already set off. Miss, you should rest for a while."

Minglan turned to look at her, her fair and lustrous earlobes slightly flushed.

Not knowing how to hide it, he could only eat cherry pancakes with Xiaotao in a dull manner.

(End of this chapter)