Chapter 55: Deploying the Troops

Chapter 55: Deploying the Troops

These words that Mei Changsu had spoken so casually caused Meng Zhi to sit in stunned silence for a long while, and the more he thought about it, the more he felt how heart-chilling these partisan politics really were, and when he looked at Lin Shu, sitting there with his pale forehead slightly lowered, he couldnt help the complex feelings rising up in his heart.

Could the rare and prodigious talents of the shining Chiyan Young Marshal of those days now only be spent on things like this?

Meng dage, you do not need to worry about me. Mei Changsu gently raised his head, as if looking through the roof into the dark void beyond. They are all watching me from above, I must continue down this path.

I understand. Meng Zhi nodded heavily. But you must remember, in all things, you must place your safety first, and if there is anything I can help with, you must tell me.

Mei Changsu couldnt help smiling. When have I ever been polite with you?

Thats difficult to say, your thoughts are so serious now, no one knows what youre really thinking. Meng Zhi looked at him, unconvinced. Last time when you went to the imperial Jing residence, why didnt you take me with you?

Did you want to hold me upright and teach that bunch of hotheads a lesson for me? Mei Changsu laughed out loud. Youre right, they are all hardened soldiers who only respect heroes and warriors, if even Commander Meng seemed to admire me, none of them would dare look down on me again.

Thats what I mean! But you went alone without a word, and made yourself some enemies. The imperial Jing residence is where you will be settling down to do your work in the future, how could you offend them on your first visit?

Dont worry, the more intelligent among them will only thank me, and will not hold a grudge. The ones who are feeling insulted have brawn but no brains, and I dont want to care about people like that for now, one day they will be in my hands, and I will mold them then. You forget, managing rough, wild generals like these is my specialty.

Meng Zhi thought for a moment and couldnt help smiling. You do have a point.

Thats right, Ive been meaning to ask you, in the imperial Mu residence, aside from the little Lord Mu leaving teeth marks all over the place, how did the others react?

Of course they were all furious. His Majesty only sent an internal messenger to pass on a verbal message, telling the Princess not to be oversensitive, and seemed to mean that if she harboured any dissatisfaction over the edict, she would be doubting her lord in her role as his subject. Meng Zhi looked uneasy. Whose slander has His Majesty been listening to, that hes treating such a loyal, outstanding minister so haughtily?

How was the Princess?

The Princess was actually very calm, and didnt betray any sign of anger at all.

Mei Changsu sighed lightly. Nihuang has been commander for so many years, I think she has seen through the situation. For those who hold military power, if they do not accomplish anything, they are scolded for being useless, but once they achieve great deeds, they are feared for their power and influence. No matter what a military general does, he cannot avoid the endless checks and balances his lord will impose upon him. Now that the Southern border is relatively quiet, if the Emperor doesnt remind her of his imperial power and control now, when would he have the chance?

But the little Lord Mu cannot seem to control himself, and is talking about requesting for permission to return to Yunnan.

The Emperor would not give it. Mei Changsu shook his head. Besides, the new year is near, if they leave in a hurry now, it will appear as if they are angry at the Emperor, and it will only raise suspicion and rumor. Go and convince Mu Qing, even if he wants to leave, he must at least wait until after Qingming, and offer the ceremonial sacrifices in the capital before going.

When has that boy ever been wiling to listen to me? Besides, if anyone is to be convinced, shouldnt it be Princess Nihuang?

Mei Changsus gaze stilled, the expression in his eyes fathomless as he nodded slowly, and answered in a low voice, Youre right. Then I will write a letter, and will trouble you to bring it to Nihuang. She is wise and astute, and will understand immediately.

As he spoke, he turned and patted Fei Liu on the shoulder. Su gege needs to write, Fei Liu can grind the ink, alright?

Yes! Fei Liu jumped up and bounded over to the desk, grabbed the stick of ink, put it up to his mouth and breathed on it, and then began grinding furiously. He was putting all his strength into the task, and his grinding motions were fast, and soon, the whole table was covered in ink flakes.

Thats enough, thats enough, Mei Changsu turned a warm smile on him. When Su gege finishes writing, you can paint, alright?

Yes!

Advice?

Thats right, Prince Yu is fuming over Consort Yues restored position and wants to retaliate, but doesnt know how. It would be good for me to point out Chen Yuanchens weakness to him, so he can vent out some of his anger. A hint of coldness flitted across Mei Changsus bland expression, and as he spoke, his hand kept writing. The Empress has no trueborn son, and so has fallen out of favour, while Noble Consort Yue has always been highly honoured, and the two are almost always held at an equal position in many matters of the Inner Palace, and so it seems that everyone has forgotten the difference between imperial wife and concubine. Besides, the regulations of the sacrificial rites are complicated, it is difficult to even know how the Empress and Prince Yus relationship should be interpreted, and there have never been any references to consult. So, Prince Yu can invite several learned scholars and authorities into the palace for a court debate, and as their words have weight, once they have clearly determined the precedence of the imperial wife over the concubine in the sacrificial rites, the serious mistake committed by the Ministry of Rites these past few years will be revealed, and Chen Yuancheng will have no choice but to resign. With all this, Xie Yu will lose another one of his helpers, Noble Consort Yues restored power will be greatly limited, the Empress position will be even more respected, and the Crown Princes recently restored arrogance can be suppressed a little.

Then isnt all thisgoing to benefit Prince Yu? Are you really putting all this effort into helping him?

Mei Changsu gave a cold laugh. Are there any trades in this world with only gains and no losses? Prince Yus losses are in a place that is not easily seen or understood.

Meng Zhi tried to think about this, but gave up after awhile. What place is this?

The heart of His Majesty, the Emperor.

Huh?

The one who began this practice of raising an imperial concubine to a rank equal to the imperial wife is His Majesty. It is because he favoured Consort Yue so heavily and did not give the Empress enough respect in the Inner Palace that everyone has the mistaken impression that, because Consort Yue has the Crown Prince for a son, she is as honoured as the Empress. When Prince Yu brings up this issue, he will not only be revealing the Ministry of Rites error, he will also uncover His Majestys fault, but his position will be well-grounded and so His Majesty will not say anything against him, and may even bestow a few words of praise. But deep in his heart, His Majesty will not be happy, and may even behave even more coldly towards the Empress for this defiance. I will not mention this loss for now, and see if Prince Yu notices it himself.

Meng Xhi said thoughtfully, There are many talented people by Prince Yus side, perhaps one of them will see it.

Even if they see it, it doesnt matter, Prince Yu will still do this.

Why?

Because the gains greatly outweigh the losses. Mei Changsu had finished the letter, and was blowing on it lightly. He will only lose His Majestys favour, which can be slowly regained. But if he wins the debate, he will greatly increase the Empress honour and lower Consort Yues, and more importantly, Prince Yu can use this opportunity to emphasize something the court has forgotten: the Crown Prince, too, was born of a concubine, and in this respect, he is no different from Prince Yu. The position and honour he holds now is because he has received the title of the Eastern Palace, and not because of his birth. If His Majesty the Emperor were to take this title away in the future and give it to another, there is no need to raise a fuss, because the Crown Prince is not the trueborn son of the imperial wife, and so there is nothing untouchable about him.

But then, it is still Prince Yu who reaps the benefit.

Is it only Prince Yu? Mei Changsu turned his head, his eyes bright. Is Prince Jing not the same? Since they are all sons of concubines, no one can accuse anyone else of low birth. The Crown Prince, Prince Yu, Prince Jing, and the other princes are all more or less equal in birth ranking, and even if there is some small difference, it is not at all the same kind of distance found between the sons of imperial wives and concubines, and so isnt even worth mentioning.

Thats right! Meng Zhi clapped his hands. How did I not realize, when Prince Yu pulls the Crown Prince down to his level, he is at the same time pulling Prince Jing up, because he wants to emphasize that, while birthright may be an unbreachable gap between the sons of imperial wives and those of concubines, between the sons of concubines themselves, it is no longer the most important consideration, and though this reminder benefits himself, it applies just as well to Prince Jing!

Im glad you understand. Mei Changsu smiled, and this time, firmly sealed the envelope. Fei Liu, go out with Uncle Li and deliver this letter, alright?

Meng Zhi glanced at Fei Liu. Youre letting them deliver it?

Li Gang is a gifted speaker, and there is Fei Liu for security, going out to deliver a letter like this is a waste of their talents. Mei Changsu nonchalantly placed the letter in Fei Lius hand, his gaze passing over him leisurely. The rest is up to Prince Yu.

remember the idiom we talked about last chapter? similar language.

the Chinese holiday for remembering / paying respects to the dead and ones ancestors; takes place somewhere in the 4th-6th month of the Chinese lunar calendar

in case you are unfamiliar with brush-and-ink writing, you have to rub or grind a stick of ink against an ink stone and mix it with water to make ink

Also, the title is an idiom that literally translates to deploying soldiers but also figuratively means sending a team out to perform a task. In case youre wondering what troops lol.

Chapter 55 Translators Notes:

I know weve seen the depths of MCSs strategic genius, but what blows me away here is his understanding of people, especially the Emperor. Its kind of heartbreaking, because you wonder if these are insights he picked up from his childhood in the palace, or whether they were understood and analyzed in retrospect after the Emperor finally showed his true colours. MCS understands the Emperor possibly better than anyone except Gao Zhan. And it kind of slowly creeps up on you that the true enemy, the true villain of this story, is not the Crown Prince, or Prince Yu, or Xie Yu, or even Xia Jiang, but the ruler of Da Liang himself. And its the characters who see that MCS, Yan Que who are, in my opinion, truly extraordinarily wise.