Chapter 421: Yun Ze Ambushed
The Eastern Tomb Kingdom's imperial family was extremely chaotic, with severe internal strife.
The Great Jin Kingdom's soldiers took advantage of this to land on Eastern Tomb's territory, capturing three coastal cities in just three days.
Although Eastern Tomb had a small territory, it still possessed over thirty cities. If they were to crush their way through all of them, casualties would inevitably be heavy. Currently, the Valiant General's plan was to force Eastern Tomb to surrender and seize the opportunity to subdue them.
"Proceed according to the Valiant General's strategy," Yun Chu said. "But be sure to ensure all supplies are adequately provided. Avoid a protracted war."
The messenger soldier accepted the order and departed.
Yun Chu thought back to her previous life—she didn't recall hearing about the Eastern Tomb Emperor being assassinated.
But back then, she was merely a woman confined to the inner quarters of the Xie family, unconcerned with court affairs. She wondered if her memory was faulty.
She pushed aside her thoughts and continued listening to the court officials' reports.
Now that spring had arrived, farmers were plowing fields and sowing seeds, creating a favorable situation overall. However, some water conservancy facilities needed construction to prevent summer floods...
Various major livelihood issues were brought up for discussion, with plans formulated and implemented accordingly.
At that moment, a minister stepped forward and reported, "Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, an unidentified plague broke out in Changgan County half a month ago. Initially, it wasn't a major concern, but within just half a month, the plague has spread to six or seven counties. The number of infected is increasing..."
Chu Hongyu frowned. "Where is Changgan County?"
"Changgan County is a county within Cheng Wang's fiefdom," the Minister of Revenue replied. "The plague first appeared in Changgan County but has now spread beyond Cheng Wang's territory and shows signs of continuing to spread."
Yun Chu spoke up, "Since the plague is spreading so rapidly, we must quickly quarantine the infected. Otherwise, the situation will become uncontrollable. Let's entrust this matter to Minister Zhu of Revenue. What do you think?"
Minister Zhu stepped forward. "Yes, Empress Dowager."
Although the treasury was short on funds, the plague had to take priority. If the disease spread widely, the consequences would be severe.
Minister Zhu selected a fourth-rank official from the Ministry of Revenue—someone not from his own faction—and tasked him with bringing ten thousand taels of silver, medicinal supplies, and twenty physicians to rush overnight to Cheng Wang's fiefdom of Ningzhou.
Cheng Wang, formerly the Sixth Prince, had lost an ear due to an assassination attempt and was later punished by the late Emperor and sent to his fiefdom for misconduct.
Ningzhou wasn't too far from the capital, nor was it some remote backwater. This indicated that the late Emperor had been relatively fond of this incompetent son.
Over the past two years, Ningzhou had been reasonably well-governed, which made Yun Chu view Cheng Wang in a somewhat new light.
Unexpectedly, before the next morning's court session, news reached Kunning Palace—
The group that had set out for Ningzhou with medicines and physicians the previous day had been intercepted and captured by bandits along the way.
When this news spread in the court, an uproar ensued.
"How can there be bandits on the official road from the capital to Ningzhou?"
"Didn't Emperor Shizong exterminate all the bandits in Great Jin long ago?"
Emperor Shizong referred to the retired Emperor Chu Yi. After Chu Hongyu ascended the throne, he posthumously honored him with this title.
"Back when Emperor Shizong was at the peak of his power, those bandits were too terrified to show themselves. Now that Emperor Shizong is gone, they've regrouped and made a comeback. These vicious bandits are utterly despicable—those were life-saving medicines and physicians!"
"The number of infected in Ningzhou increases daily. Every day of delay means hundreds more deaths. We cannot afford to delay—we must eliminate these bandits and recover the medicines and physicians!""Is there anyone in the court who can suppress the bandits..."
The ministers discussed animatedly.
Chu Rui stepped forward, cupping his hands and said, "I recommend Lord Yun to lead the suppression. Lord Yun comes from a family of generals, with the blood of the Yun family running through his veins. Naturally, he can make those bandits flee in terror without even fighting. I wonder if Lord Yun is willing to take on this mission?"
Chief Li disagreed, "Lord Yun is a civil official..."
"Although I am a civil official, I possess martial skills," Yun Ze said with a smile. "As the Regent suggested, I will lead the team to suppress the bandits."
His grandfather was a great general, his father was also a great general, and he himself had loved practicing martial arts since childhood. Later, to maintain a low profile, he chose the path of a civil official.
Now, the Yun family no longer needed to keep a low profile, and he no longer had to hide his abilities.
Only after achieving merits could he rightfully be promoted.
Only then would he have the ability to protect Yun Chu and the young emperor.
Therefore, this mission was one he had to undertake.
Chu Rui showed an appreciative expression, "Excellent! Lord Yun truly embodies the spirit of the Yun family!"
Thus, the matter was settled.
The court ordered Yun Ze to lead three hundred capital garrison troops to suppress the bandits. According to intelligence reports, there were only a dozen or so bandits on the mountain, so three hundred troops would be sufficient.
"Elder brother, be careful in all matters," Yun Chu stood at the palace gate to see him off. "Chu Rui proposed that you lead the suppression—he must have ulterior motives. Besides the garrison troops, take some Cloud Family Shadow Guards with you, the more the better."
Yun Ze nodded, "Chu'er, don't worry. I have my plans."
At noon that day, Yun Ze set out with his troops to suppress the bandits.
A team of three hundred was neither large nor small.
They traveled all the way to the most remote section of the official road from the capital to Ningzhou.
"This is the place," the person who had escaped to report earlier pointed at the mountain ahead. "They came down from this small path."
Yun Ze looked up at the mountain and said, "Divide into ten groups and go up the mountain to investigate. Try to locate the bandits' hideout."
Two hundred garrison troops split into ten groups and ascended the mountain, while Yun Ze led the remaining hundred to survey the terrain below.
In less than an hour, the scouts returned and reported, "My lord, there is only this narrow path on the mountain, with no other traces of human presence. There is no bandit hideout on the mountain, not even a single thatched hut."
The informant nearby quickly added, "Impossible! I saw those dozen bandits come down from the mountain with my own eyes. There's no mistake!"
Yun Ze frowned, "I will go up the mountain myself to take a look."
Someone nearby advised, "My lord, it's getting late. Perhaps we should wait until tomorrow morning to investigate."
"There isn't that much time," Yun Ze shook his head. "There are over a thousand patients in Ningzhou waiting for medicine to save their lives. We cannot afford delays."
He strode up the mountain.
By the time he reached the summit, the sun had nearly set.
After walking around the mountain, he found nothing at all.
He curled his lips into a cold smile.
In truth, there were no bandits at all.
He turned and looked deep into the dense forest, "You've been following me for so long. Aren't you tired? Come out."
There was a rustling sound from the trees, and then a figure in black leaped down from a large tree.
The twenty-plus garrison troops following Yun Ze immediately stepped forward to shield him, drawing the swords at their waists.
"Is it just Eunuch Duo Bao alone?" Yun Ze smiled. "Is Chu Rui too confident in your abilities, or does he underestimate me too much?""Lord Yun is the legitimate eldest son of the Yun family, so our prince naturally wouldn't dare underestimate you." The young eunuch Duo Bao, dressed in black, lightly clapped his hands. From the large tree behind him, at least twenty figures in black leaped down simultaneously. He smiled faintly, "With so many people coming to see Lord Yun off on his final journey, I trust you don't find this send-off too shabby."
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