bayedsolid Chapter 140 The Fake Male Concubines in Yingxian Palace
Chapter 140 The Fake Male Concubines in Yingxian Palace
In the first month of 705 AD, the Empress's condition worsened, and worrying news kept coming from Yingxian Palace.
Xiao Si murmured to herself, "This time, I hope I can still be assigned the title of princess. I don't want to become an empress again, toiling away with no praise. I don't want to hear those nonsense stories after I die, so I erected a tombstone without words, just like the absence of praise. Those who can speak out are all babbling idiots. They just want to confuse the public and gain benefits from the mob."
Xiao Si said to Zi An:
"There are too many historical records or rumors that the Zhang brothers still serve the Empress at this time, saying that I seem to be increasingly dependent on these two male favorites, as if no one but the two Zhangs can put my mind at ease."
Some say that the Empress entrusted all state affairs to the two Zhangs and distanced herself from other ministers, believing that this would ensure the stability of her empire.
However, in reality, my male favorites are merely pawns on my chessboard. My aim is to preserve the empire, and neither the Wu family nor the Li family can be abandoned. Therefore, I deliberately created a third party unrelated to my interests, who becomes the common enemy of both the Li and Wu families.
Even more malicious rumors claimed that a coup plot was brewing outside Yingxian Palace, mastermind being none other than Prime Minister Zhang Jianzhi. However, this was merely another meticulously orchestrated drama; outsiders, unaware of the truth, made wild guesses. Indeed, the truth about the royal family should not be known to those who are not involved.
The art of rulership—I, Little Si, have passed this test with ease.
Brother Zi'an, now I can travel through time with peace of mind.
(One winter day, Zi'an, as Mei Xiaosi's male concubine, was huddled in the hall warming himself by the fire, engrossed in reading a book, when Xiaosi came in unsteadily from the doorway, shaking off the snow and waving a piece of dried goods in his hand—a fresh memorial from Shu Prefecture.)
Xiao Si: Hey, Brother Zi An, today was really interesting! Did you hear? Zhang Jianzhi submitted another memorial to the Emperor, saying that Yaozhou is a useless place and should be abandoned! I laughed as soon as I heard that. This guy is really bold. He is indeed the tool I chose.
Zi'an (putting down her book and smiling): Hmm? It's Zhang Jianzhi again? That old bastard hasn't given up yet? It's common knowledge that Yaozhou is a bit desolate, but whether he's truly for the country or just trying to make a name for himself is hard to say.
Xiao Si (slams the memorial on the table and leans closer): This time he's even more direct, actually suggesting that Yaozhou be ceded to Jingzhou, and saying that when those mountain barbarians come to pay homage, they should be treated as foreign envoys offering tribute. Tell me, isn't that a veiled way of looking down on them?
Zi'an (laughs out loud): Heh heh, that sounds nice, but isn't it just a way to appease poor relatives? If we really did what he said, would the garrison in Yaozhou have any chance of survival? And you know, Shu is the southwestern shield of the country. If Yaozhou is withdrawn, won't the other barbarian tribes take the opportunity to cause chaos? Zhang Jianzhi, he's got a pretty good plan. Do you think you can buy into it?
Xiao Si (winks): I certainly didn't buy it, but my young master, Lord Di Renjie, has a newfound respect for Zhang Jianzhi. Brother Zi'an, don't you think Lord Di Renjie has a sharp eye for identifying those who are merely tools?
Zi'an (taking a sip of tea, speaking slowly and with a hint of sourness): Di Renjie? Oh, he's always been fond of discovering these kinds of "old horses still eager to gallop a thousand miles" talents. Look at Zhang Jianzhi, although he's not young, his insight is indeed remarkable, and his thinking is quite unique; Di Renjie saw that in him. But, well…
Little Si (leaning closer): But what? Tell me quickly!
Zi An (suddenly revealing a mischievous smile, his tone becoming ambiguous): However, whether Zhang Jianzhi can enter our circle depends on whether he has the looks and courage of us. If he's as "outstanding" as me, why would he be afraid of not having a presence? He wouldn't even be able to hide from me.
Xiao Si (amused and laughing, slapping the table): Brother Zi An, your "good looks comment" is back again. Hey, don't even mention it, back in the Xu Prince's mansion, your job as a military advisor was something even Zhang Jianzhi envied! I heard that Uncle Zhang used to steal glances at you and say you looked... well, like a fairy who stepped out of a painting.
Zi'an (coughs lightly): Look at what you're saying. Back then, he was just a nobody. Seeing me being favored by Prince Xu, how could he not be envious? However, although Zhang Jianzhi doesn't say it, he still has some designs on Prince Xu. Prince Xu is exceptionally talented and cherishes talent. Zhang Jianzhi has probably been looking for an opportunity to prove himself all these years.
Xiao Si (smiling): Oh dear, so you're actually the number one "male favorite" of Prince Xu's mansion! No wonder Zhang Jianzhi keeps bringing up his affairs at Prince Xu's mansion; he probably wants to bask in your glory!
Zi'an (feigning anger): You old hag, if you keep talking nonsense, believe me or not...
Xiao Si (laughing): Oh, don't be angry! Who told you to be so good-looking and have such a cool vibe!
(Laughter filled the hall, the charcoal fire crackled, Zi'an leaned lazily against the back of his chair, hugging a hand warmer, while Xiao Si sat at a low table, eating a pastry and talking.)
Xiao Si (flicking the crumbs off his hands):
When Zhuge Liang conquered the Nanzhong region, he let the local leaders govern it, without sending Han Chinese officials or leaving any soldiers to garrison it.
He felt that sending officials and leaving soldiers would cause three problems:
Sending officials and having Han Chinese and local ethnic groups live together could easily lead to distrust and resentment.
Leaving soldiers behind would only create more and more troublesome issues, such as transporting food.
If they suddenly rebel in the future, how much manpower and resources will it take?
So he simply set some rules, and as a result, things stabilized for a long time.
I think Zhuge Liang's method really won over those ethnic minorities.
Zi'an (lazily shaking the dust off the tablecloth):
The officials in Yaozhou today neither know how to strengthen border defenses to guard against foreign enemies, nor do they have the ability of Zhuge Liang to both arrest and release people.
These people just plunder everywhere, stealing things and harming people indiscriminately;
They also incited the leaders to form cliques;
Or they would grovel and fawn over foreigners, bowing and scraping to curry favor, without feeling ashamed at all;
Or they might gather a group of ruthless and ignorant guys with their students and underlings, gambling all day long, sometimes losing large sums of money.
In total, the villains who fled to Yaozhou numbered over two thousand households, and they specialized in robbery.
Little Si (waving his hand to indicate not to rush, with a hint of smugness in his eyes):
In fact, Yaozhou was originally established at the suggestion of Shi Ziren, the chief clerk of the Prince of Wuling during the Longshuo era. Later, the chief clerks Li Xiaorang and Xin Wenxie both died at the hands of the local natives.
The emperor sent General Zhao Wugui to attack, but not a single soldier returned.
General Li Yihao was sent to suppress the rebellion, but General Liu Huiji was also killed in battle, and the prefecture was eventually abolished.
Personally, I think that all three difficulties mentioned by Zhuge Liang have come true.
Zi'an (feeling a bit of admiration, hugged the heater even tighter):
Yes, during the reign of Emperor Chuigong, a local ethnic general named Wang Shanbao and the governor of Kunzhou, Cuan Qianfu, suggested to the court that a prefecture be established here, saying that they could handle the taxation themselves and would no longer need to take money from Shu Prefecture.
The state was established, but one of its officials, Li Zi, was killed by the local barbarians.
During the Yanzai era, Sima Chengchen established the Seven Garrisons of Lunan and sent soldiers from Shu Commandery to garrison them, which caused chaos in Shu Commandery.
Xiao Si (taking a bite of the cookie specially made by her male concubine, mumbling as she spoke):
Meanwhile, the fifty-seven prefectures under the jurisdiction of the Yaozhou Governor's Office were all inhabited by particularly cunning refugees.
The government sent officials there to correct their behavior and prevent them from causing trouble, but those officials were incredibly corrupt.
The troubles are far from over, and they'll probably only get worse in the future.
Zhang Jianzhi felt that Yaozhou should be abolished and Ailao should be placed under the jurisdiction of Xizhou Governor's Office. Their leaders and envoys should go to see the emperor every year, just like in foreign countries.
Abolish all the towns in southern Luzhou, set up a checkpoint in northern Luzhou, and prohibit anyone not sent by the imperial court from dealing with them; send more troops to Xizhou and select some upright and good officials to manage it.
Yes, we all think that doing this might be beneficial to the country.
Zi'an (reaching out to scoop up a roasted sweet potato from beside the charcoal fire, peeling it as he speaks):
Unfortunately, the historical record here is quite abrupt, stating directly that the Empress did not heed Zhang Jianzhi's advice, and not long after, he was transferred to serve as the Chief Secretary of the Jingzhou Grand General's Office. This is naturally illogical.
In reality, it was the Empress and Di Renjie's faction who used him as a tool.
Xiao Si (leaning back in his chair, a knowing look on his face):
clever!