SEHE Chapter 156.3

Palace Coup (3) 

At the same moment the death sentence was handed down, in the sixth month of the first year of Wucheng, another event unfolded in Great Yu.

“Unable to recruit soldiers?”

“Yes.” The Minister of Revenue and the Minister of War stood together inside Ganchen Palace, facing Gu Yisui’s expression of utter bewilderment.

“What is going on?” The young emperor had lately found himself increasingly overwhelmed. The web of relationships behind every single matter was a thousand threads tangled together, and before he had even managed to understand what was happening, he was invariably expected to make a decision on the spot. As emperor, he was required to be a man of his word — and so lately he had been compelled to say very little. Not that anyone was inclined to listen to him speak, either.

“That question is best directed at the Ministry of Revenue,” the Minister of War said with pointed sarcasm.

Great Yu’s military garrison system was built upon the household registry. After Pei Yanci had abolished the rule that only military household descendants could enlist, the Ministry of War had immediately set about recruitment to expand the army’s forces. By all logic, recruitment should have become easier than before — yet it had unexpectedly run into difficulty.

“Were not several hundred thousand men recruited to follow Jiang Yi to the front lines?” Gu Jiuqing said from his seat to one side. “Why, when it comes to recruiting guards for Anjing City, does it suddenly become a matter of hedging and making excuses?”

“The Prince Regent is quite right — that is precisely why I find it so puzzling,” said the Minister of War.

“It would not be surprising if the Ministry of Revenue has been meddling in this matter behind the scenes.”

“The Prince Regent need not be so sharp-tongued. It sounds rather as though you’re looking to pin the blame on someone,” Tangxi Zhui said in an unhurried, composed manner, setting his teacup down. “At least hear out the Ministry of Revenue’s difficulties.”

He had been counting the days on his fingers every single day. Thirty-two days now.

Regrettably, these words did not draw so much as a sideways glance from Pei Yanci.

Liu Yan smiled bitterly and offered an explanation. “This official made inquiries in advance. The enclosure of land by powerful families has always been a serious problem, and since last year it has intensified to the point where countless commoners have lost their land and have been forced to become wandering refugees, taking to the mountains to hide. Many registry entries are nothing but names — the actual people are nowhere to be found. There is truly nothing this official can do about that.”

Gu Jiuqing’s heart gave a jolt. “Since the refugees were willing to enlist last time, the same can be done again.”

“Last time it was likely because the former emperor’s death stirred such profound outrage across the realm that common people were willing to join the army of their own accord,” Pei Yanci drew the discussion back on course, saying, “But on this matter — how did things become so drastically worse since last year in particular?”

The Minister of Revenue said, “Daren has forgotten — it was last year that our new tax policy was implemented.”

“Ah, yes — I had forgotten,” Pei Yanci said, affecting a sudden air of recollection. “That new tax measure — it was the Prince Regent himself who personally drafted and promulgated it. At the time it was hailed as a boon to the nation and the people. And now we cannot even recruit a handful of soldiers because of it. Truly an eye-opening experience.”

Gu Jiuqing’s grip on the armrest of his chair tightened.

Sure enough — this was aimed squarely at him.

He had not yet made his move against Pei Yanci, and yet Pei Yanci had struck first.

He raised his eyes and looked across the room. At that same moment, Pei Yanci happened to look toward him as well.

“Prince Regent — do you have anything to say in your defense?”

“Your Majesty, there is one more matter,” Liu Yan continued. “Based on the current state of recruitment, one can already foresee that this autumn’s grain harvest will fall far below expectations. If taxes are still collected according to the previous standard, a considerable number of people will starve to death over winter.”

“In the first year of Your Majesty’s reign, taxes could be appropriately reduced,” Gu Jiuqing said, trying to recover some ground in the situation. “There is precedent for this.”

“The Prince Regent need not put on such a performance here,” Tangxi Zhui said with a shadowy smile, delivering his barbs in a languid tone. “The tax law laid down by the founding emperor cannot be altered — how many officials warned and remonstrated with you at the time, and you refused to listen to a single one of them. You insisted on tampering with the fundamental national policy. Now Great Yu faces external threats from the outside, and on top of that it has been thrown into turmoil by the very tax policy you devised — creating internal strife out of thin air. If corpses are strewn across the land this winter, the people will certainly rise up in rebellion come spring. What is His Majesty supposed to do?”

These words were directed at Gu Jiuqing, but they frightened Gu Yisui half to death. Uprisings — what a spine-chilling phrase that was.

With the country’s military forces depleted, there would be no way to conscript soldiers to suppress those rebels even if he wanted to.

When all was said and done, the fault lay with Gu Jiuqing — yet in the end it was Gu Yisui who would be pointed at and cursed.

“Prince Regent, you have behaved with great impropriety in this matter,” Gu Yisui said with displeasure.

What right did Gu Jiuqing have to leave him without a shred of voice in court, yet have such disasters pinned squarely on his head?

“This official acknowledges his error,” Gu Jiuqing said smoothly, rising to bow in apology.

“The Prince Regent’s mouth is a precious thing indeed. Can those three words fend off the siege of hundreds of thousands of starving rebels on Anjing City?” Tangxi Zhui asked lightly.

“This official is willing to bear full personal responsibility for this matter,” Gu Jiuqing said through gritted teeth.

“Your Majesty — don’t you have something to say?” Pei Yanci asked.

Gu Yisui felt a flutter of unease in his heart, but when it came to his own life, sacrificing Gu Jiuqing’s was of no great consequence.

“Someone — strip the Prince Regent of all his offices and positions. Take him away for now.”

Gu Jiuqing waved off the imperial guards flanking him, his gaze dark and venomous. “This prince will walk out himself.”

“Grand Preceptor, are you satisfied with how this has been handled?” Gu Yisui asked carefully.

“It is not this official’s satisfaction that matters — the people of this realm must also be satisfied. We owe the common people an accounting,” Pei Yanci said.

Gu Yisui laughed sheepishly. “Yes, yes, indeed.”

Two quarters of an hour later, Li Ren’an came in from outside. “Your Majesty, the evening meal has been prepared.”

Gu Yisui’s heart lurched. “So early?”

“Yes.”

“That… several honored officials — the hour is not too late. Please stay and dine with Zhen.”

“Your Majesty, the Elu Bureau has a great many pressing matters…” Tangxi Zhui was the first to decline.

“This official is grateful for His Majesty’s invitation.” Pei Yanci cupped his hands in a bow.

“If even Chancellor Pei, who has far more matters to attend to, is staying — what grounds do I have to refuse?” Tangxi Zhui immediately reversed his position. He glanced toward Pei Yanci and saw him with an expression of perfect ease and composure; when Pei Yanci caught his gaze, he offered a warm, distant smile.

The same as before — and yet somehow different.

The one consolation was that he no longer had to steal glances and drop hints to keep tabs on Pei Yanci’s relationships. Now he could do so openly and unabashedly.

Both having accepted the emperor’s dinner invitation, the two ministers of revenue and war naturally found it difficult to refuse as well, and agreed with resigned expressions.

The imperial meal was quickly served. The five took their seats, and after eating a little with no great appetite, each set down their chopsticks.

Gu Yisui did not have much appetite either, and only managed a few bites.

“His Majesty seems to have something weighing on his mind this evening?” Pei Yanci said with a puzzled look.

“Not at all,” Gu Yisui said, forcing a laugh, then immediately corrected himself. “Well — somewhat. It’s just that everything at the Ministry of Revenue is in shambles. Grand Preceptor, I must trouble you to put it all in order.”

“Being able to ease His Majesty’s burdens is this official’s honor.” Pei Yanci inclined his head with a smile.

He had made preparations for what lay ahead long before he instructed the Ministry of Revenue to surface this matter.

“Then Zhen can set his mind at ease.” Gu Yisui smiled, though his heart did not relax at all.

“The hour grows late. Your Majesty should rest early — it would be inappropriate for us to linger and disturb Your Majesty any further.”

“There’s no need to rush off just yet,” Gu Yisui said, moving to stop them. “The palace gates have not yet been locked.”

Not only Pei Yanci — everyone present began to feel suspicious.

Gu Yisui grew so nervous he began to stammer. “Wushu — yes, Wushu is still in the palace.”

“At this hour, why has she not gone home? What is she still doing lingering in the palace?”

“It seems she ate something bad this afternoon. Zhen had her go and rest in the inner palace. Since you’re here, you may as well take her back with you.”

Pei Yanci was half-convinced, half-doubtful. “Then this official will go look in on her.”

“Li Ren’an, escort Pei Daren over.”

“Pei Daren, right this way.” Li Ren’an bowed obsequiously.

“Is His Majesty not coming along?”

Gu Yisui laughed awkwardly. “Must you have Zhen come? Well then… all right.”

After a few paces, Tangxi Zhui fell in alongside them.

“The mess at the Ministry of Revenue — I’ve already thought through a strategy. Present it tomorrow,” Pei Yanci said quietly. “The sooner it is implemented, the better. It concerns the lives and livelihoods of the common people.”

Tangxi Zhui’s ear registered the warmth of the breath against it, and his heart gave a fleeting flutter. Before he could even open his mouth to reply, he heard Pei Yanci say, “There seems to be a sound.”

And with that, Pei Yanci quickened his pace and left him behind.

There and gone in an instant — Tangxi Zhui reached to grab hold of him but found nothing to catch.

A flash of madness crossed his eyes, then his lips curved into a doting smile.

The cage at the Chief Overseer’s Mansion — it was nearly finished.

His Xiao Pei’er need only have eyes for him.

As for the world, the realm, the lives and livelihoods of the common people — none of that need ever trouble him.

They had barely passed out of the palace gate when they heard the grating scrape of armor plates, followed by the sound of footsteps, unified and advancing — converging on them from every direction, drawing closer and closer until the sound had ringed them entirely on all sides.

Pei Yanci’s heart seized, and he instinctively looked toward Tangxi Zhui. The latter was equally startled, equally confused by what was happening.

Gu Yisui had already let out a shrill cry. “The traitor is here!”

And with that, he bolted off to the side.

Tangxi Zhui sent him crashing to the ground with a single kick.

A palace coup.

A premeditated palace coup — aimed squarely at Pei Yanci.

Tangxi Zhui seized Pei Yanci by the arm. “Run!”

The entire palace had become an impregnable cage.

Gu Jiuqing — who should have been under arrest — strode forward at the head of the column, sword in hand.

Not far off, several members of the Cui family’s generals who remained in Anjing City led their own contingent of soldiers, surging forward with tremendous force from the right-side corridor.

“Kill Pei Yanci — reclaim the Gu dynasty!”

Pei Yanci yanked Tangxi Zhui back and retreated into the palace hall, pulling the door bolt shut.

Li Ren’an moved to pull the door open again. A sharp pain hit his neck — and in the next instant, his head hung at a grotesquely unnatural angle, his entire body slumping lifelessly against the doorway. His breath had left him.

Tangxi Zhui withdrew his hand. He and Pei Yanci moved in from the left and right, closing in on Gu Yisui, who lay crumpled on the floor.

“Don’t — don’t come near me…” The young emperor, terrified out of his wits, scrambled backward on the ground.

A smile curved Pei Yanci’s lips. “There is a traitor at Your Majesty’s side — and this official knew nothing of it?”