Top Scholar

Chapter 601 The Ming Dynasty Will Not Perish

That evening, Su Youcai had his elder brother and nephews called back, and instructed the kitchen to prepare a sumptuous feast. He also opened the last jar of Zhuangyuanlang wine.

"Oh dear, in a year of great disaster, such extravagance is going too far." Su Youjin's political stance has become increasingly elevated, and he frowned immediately as he looked at the table full of chicken, duck, fish, and meat.

“Brother, don’t blame them. I specially asked the kitchen to prepare this. I’m going back to Sichuan. Consider this meal as a farewell gift for me,” Su Youcai said.

Upon hearing this, the uncle and his wife's expressions immediately changed, and they said in unison, "What? You're going back to Sichuan? With war and chaos going on, what would you do back there?"

"What else can we do? Of course, we'll go back and quell the rebellion," Su Youcai said.

Su Youjin immediately shook his head: "You? Suppress the rebellion? Suppress my ass!"

"Husband, say less!" Auntie quickly tugged at her husband's arm, her face beaming with a smile.

"You're so talented! Is it because your sister-in-law nags you too much and annoys you? If so, your sister-in-law will never push you to be ambitious again. Don't think too much about it. You're just a pedantic scholar who can't even kill a chicken. Suppressing a rebellion is not something you should be doing!"

"Brother and sister-in-law, you don't need to persuade me anymore. Our parents are still in our hometown, I have to go back!" Su Youcai said, his mind made up.

“My father-in-law was going to quell the rebellion, so I thought I'd go back with him to do my part and fulfill my filial duty to everyone.”

Su Youjin was taken aback and asked, "Isn't your father-in-law always in Erlangtan?"

He stayed in the palace for many days without returning home, missing out on so much...

Su Youcai then explained somewhat awkwardly, "Brother, I was referring to Ningning's father. He is now the governor of Sichuan."

"Oh, I see." Upon hearing this, Su Youjin's brows gradually relaxed, and he stopped trying to stop him. "That's alright then, there shouldn't be any danger following the governor."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Su Tai, who hadn't been home in even longer, chimed in: "I'm going back too, to keep Dad company!"

Su Youcai immediately shook his head firmly and said seriously, "Don't do anything reckless. The Emperor has high hopes for you and is counting on you to reorganize the three major camps. How can you just leave like that?"

Su Tai scratched his head, looking bewildered. "Dad, what did you say? I'm just a junior officer participating in the selection process. How could I be that important?"

"That won't do!" Su Youcai declared with the authority of a father, brooking no argument: "Whether you're leading or participating, you have to do a good job! How can you just shirk your responsibilities? You'd better serve your country properly in the capital!"

“Oh, Father…” Su Tai lowered his head dejectedly.

Su Youjin said, "How about I go back with you?"

"If Big Brother goes back, what will the panda do when it looks for its mother?" Su Youcai joked, then said seriously, "Besides, what official are you now? Vice Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard! If you were sent back to the provincial capital, you would at least be given a commander position. Can you handle that? In your life, how many people have you managed? Don't go back and not only cause trouble but also be of no help."

"..." Su Youjin was speechless.

Su Lu then spoke up, "Uncle, don't worry. I have already written a letter and asked Father to take it back to ask our teacher to come out of seclusion and lend them a hand."

"That's good..." Su Youjin finally breathed a sigh of relief.

At this moment, Zhu Yin's eyes lit up, and she whispered to Su Lu, "Has the Emperor pardoned Mr. Yangming?"

Su Lu shook his head and explained to his sister-in-law, "Not yet. But the teacher is only a post station official now, so he doesn't need to go through the imperial court. We just need to have Sichuan send a document to Guizhou to borrow him. I think Liu Jin will pretend he didn't see it."

He paused, then added, "If we were to issue a formal decree of pardon, the implications would be too strong. Even if Liu Jin is currently reluctant to provoke me, he certainly won't sit idly by. Therefore, it's safest to proceed in this low-key manner for now."

Zhu Yin sighed softly, "So, my Ninth Uncle will have to stay in Qiongzhou and keep baring his teeth at the monkeys?"

Su Lu then comforted her, saying, "Don't worry, sister-in-law. When the time is right, I will naturally arrange for the headmaster to do the same. The world is in chaos right now, and it is precisely the time when people are in need. Why worry about him not having the opportunity to come out of seclusion?"

~~
The next morning, Su Youcai, accompanied by several clansmen, set off with Wang Qiong's group.

He was easily moved to tears and didn't want anyone to see him cry, so he specifically instructed his family not to see him off.

But Su Lu and Su Tai still quietly followed him out, watching his figure gradually disappear on the horizon before the two brothers reluctantly turned away.

That's their own father, how could they not be worried about him?
Seeing this, Qian Ning quickly assured him, "Don't worry, Godfather. Our factory is under orders to protect your whole family, and we will certainly protect Grandpa!"

"Mm." Su Lu nodded. "Thank you for your trouble." After seeing their father off, the two brothers parted ways. Su Lu went back to the Leopard House to continue his work, while Su Tai also rushed back to the military camp... The grand review was in a few days, and his brothers were training like crazy in order to be selected for the three major battalions. As a commander of a thousand men, he really couldn't leave at this time.

~~
On the first day of the twelfth lunar month, the cold sun shone brightly. Banners fluttered in the wind at the drill ground in the western suburbs.

The Zhengde Emperor wore an eight-petaled helmet adorned with red gold tassels and a crimson armor embroidered with gold unicorns. He had an imperial sword hanging at his waist and wore cowhide boots with dragon motifs on his feet. He rode a tall, warhorse that was pure white and saddled in magnificent saddle.

Before the emperor's arrival, the Imperial Guards led the way, with a grand procession and gleaming armor; after the emperor's arrival, civil and military officials, dressed in cloaks, lined up in long rows, following in a magnificent procession...

It was Su Lu's suggestion to have all the officials attend the ceremony. Given Emperor Zhengde's temperament, he would never have included these demoralized officials. But Su Lu argued that it was necessary to use this opportunity to boost morale, enhance imperial prestige, and stabilize public sentiment. This was especially crucial in the current turbulent and war-torn climate.

This journey is far from friendly to you gentlemen, even though the western suburban military camp is only ten miles from the capital. Apart from the Duke of England and a few Grand Secretaries who can travel by carriage, everyone else must walk.

In this freezing weather, everyone's faces were red from the cold, and their noses were running... The officials couldn't help but complain that the Emperor was really being ridiculous. What was the point of holding a grand parade in the dead of winter? It was just an excuse to ride around and have fun, and he had to drag us into it.

However, when the imperial carriage entered the camp gate and the grand drill ground suddenly opened up, all the whispers were abruptly silenced by the magnificent sight before them—

Fifty thousand soldiers, arranged in fifty square formations, were already standing at attention, awaiting orders!
After a winter of rigorous training, this once-weak and ridiculed army has now been transformed! The soldiers are all clad in bright armor, with spears and halberds forming a forest and firearms arrayed in rows, resembling a shimmering ocean under the sun.

What was even more shocking was that the 50,000 Imperial Guards were completely silent; the only sound in the entire training ground was the snorting of warhorses, as quiet as if no one was there.

"The Emperor has arrived!" The master of ceremonies' announcement echoed throughout the drill ground.

Emperor Zhengde, full of vigor, rode his horse to the front of the battle. The tassels on his golden helmet swayed lightly with the horse's hooves, and his bright red armor stood out among the silver helmets and blue armor of the entire field!

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

The roar of the mountains and the roar of the sea were like a sudden thunderclap, instantly sweeping across the entire training ground! Fifty thousand soldiers shouted together, their voices shaking the surrounding fields, suppressing the howling north wind to no trace, and even the frozen ground beneath their feet seemed to tremble slightly in the sound waves.

As the imperial procession passed by, the soldiers stood at attention, spears in hand, their eyes fixed on the emperor on his horse. Their gazes were no longer the numbness and emptiness of the past, but rather brimming with the vitality nurtured by ample provisions and pay, the chilling discipline honed through rigorous training, the fervor thoroughly ignited by their passion, and the unwavering loyalty born from all of this!
Those who excel in today's grand review will be selected for the three major battalions and allocated fifty acres of permanent farmland!
Looking at the magnificent sight of the soldiers and their surging morale, Emperor Zhengde was so excited that he could hardly contain himself. He had to try his best to keep a straight face and keep recalling the unpleasantness at his mother's birthday banquet the day before, so that he wouldn't get carried away and wriggle on horseback like a bean worm.

He certainly had reason to be proud, recalling the desolate scene he saw when he first visited the regimental camp in the first half of the year... The soldiers were all emaciated and pale, and were mostly old, weak, sick, and disabled. Even so, they couldn't gather 20,000 men... The able-bodied men had either deserted or been taken by officers to work on their own farms.

It's truly remarkable that we have such a strong and well-equipped force now!
All of this is thanks to his good brother! Without Su Lu helping him secure funds and supplies, establish imperial estates and military farms, and formulate plans for autumn training and winter exercises, the Imperial Guards could never have recovered to this extent in such a short time...

Unfortunately, Su Lu refused to follow him and instead remained hidden among the civil officials.

Thinking of this, he turned around, his gaze sweeping over the accompanying civil and military officials, but he couldn't see Su Lu anywhere. Instead, he saw that those ministers who usually appeared respectful but were actually quite arrogant were all now filled with shock.

The previous disdain, mockery, and sarcasm were utterly shattered at this moment! They realized with astonishment that His Majesty had not merely indulged in frivolous activities within the Leopard Chamber over the past year. These 50,000 disciplined troops were the best proof of that!

While they began to feel awe for the Emperor, a sense of security also arose spontaneously. It was wonderful that the Imperial Guards could regain their fighting strength at this time; at least they no longer had to worry about the safety of the capital.

Even the most pessimistic people secretly breathed a sigh of relief; the Ming Dynasty probably wouldn't perish...

~~
Su Lu walked at the end of the civil official's group, looking at everything before him. He felt quite proud, thinking that he had finally done something for the Ming Dynasty.

Walking beside him was Kang Hai, the top scholar of the imperial examination. He had no interest in military matters and asked Su Lu in a low voice, "Brother Su, why have I never seen you come to the Hanlin Academy?"

"I've been there before, but I didn't run into you, senior. What a pity," Su Lu said with a smile.

"Yes, I've long admired your name and would like to get to know you better. When will you be back at the Hanlin Academy next time?" Kang Hai asked softly.

“I asked for leave from the Headmaster last time I went back,” Su Lu replied softly. The Headmaster of the Hanlin Academy was none other than his other mentor, Liang Chu, so asking for leave was naturally very convenient. “The Ministry of Personnel is very busy, and I really can’t be in two places at once.”

"What do you people in the Imperial Household Department do all day?" Kang Hai asked curiously.

"What can a bunch of newly appointed scholars like us do?" Su Lu smiled and said, "Just organize the Emperor's books and do some copying and writing."

"Thank you for your hard work," Kang Hai said. "I'll treat you to drinks during the New Year."

"I'd rather obey than be overly respectful," Su Lu said with a smile and a nod.

(End of this chapter)