IRBSC 90

Chapter 90

The Khitan people, intoxicated by their past victories, had their judgment clouded. Over the past twenty years, Da Heng’s concessions had fueled their ambition and audacity. Under their arrogance and complacency, this defeat was a complete disaster.

The feeling of victory that this battle brought to the soldiers was indescribable. They felt like they were living a dream as they returned to the camp, reuniting with General Xue.

General Xue’s face was also filled with joy, and they had reaped a great triumph as well. General Xue had rarely experienced such a satisfying victory. During his first two months in the borderlands, he had only fought defensive battles due to locust plagues and humanitarian crises, never experiencing the exhilaration of a battle like this.

The impact of this victory on the borderlands was readily apparent. Da Heng’s powerful weaponry had left a deep impression on the Khitan people as they fled in disarray.

Morale surged, and the fear and apprehension before the offensive turned into fervent battle spirit. Many soldiers wanted to shout to the heavens, releasing all their previous frustrations and humiliations!

The joy of victory spread like wildfire. It didn’t take long before the local residents learned of the resounding victory of the borderland soldiers.

They stepped out of their homes, setting aside the stones and bricks in their hands, watching the soldiers return to their camp with high spirits, singing all the way.

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*

Matters in the borderlands proceeded as planned, and the army of a hundred thousand ducks also entered the area devastated by locusts.

As soon as they arrived, there was no longer a need for people to provide them with food. Instead, they pecked at the nymph stage locusts that had already appeared. On their way to North Xinjiang, the hundred thousand duck army could deal with two million locusts effortlessly. They feasted heartily, their bellies round and satisfied.

These locusts were devoured by the ducks even before they could lay eggs, saving the trouble of eliminating the eggs.

In the capital city, Gu Yuanbai was also closely monitoring the border affairs.

The weather in the capital had begun to turn cold, with a chilling wind blowing. While others merely added an extra layer of robes, Gu Yuanbai had already donned a thick cloak.

His spirits were high, but his body struggled to keep up. Merely reading reports for an extended period would cause his fingers to stiffen from the cold. Court physicians were always by his side, and Jiang, the female physician, was also placed at his side for treatment.

Although Jiang, the female physician, didn’t know how to treat congenital ailments, she had learned from her grandfather how to care for her younger uncle during the winter. She mimicked these methods and applied them one by one to Gu Yuanbai.

Whether it was acupressure or medicinal baths, Jiang, the female physician’s methods could provide warmth to Gu Yuanbai’s body for a while. However, this warmth dissipated too quickly, and her methods were similar to those of the Imperial Hospital, showing minimal effect.

Even the hand warmers and the palace’s heating stoves only offered fleeting warmth to Gu Yuanbai.

His hands would momentarily warm up upon contact, only to turn cold again when removed. Occasionally, waking up in the middle of the night, tormented by the cold and weakness, Gu Yuanbai thought of the comforting warmth of Xue Yuan.

One evening during bedtime, as the attendants were about to withdraw, the Emperor spoke softly, “Zhang Xu.”

The chief attendant, puzzled, took a step forward and replied, “I’m here.”

“Go to the bed and warm it for Us,” Gu Yuanbai said succinctly.

The chief attendant was taken aback, and his face turned red instantly. He straightened his back, clenched his fists, and silently removed his outer garments and boots before climbing onto the bed.

When Jiang, the female physician, entered with a prepared medicinal bath, she witnessed this scene. Her expression remained unchanged, and she calmly approached the Emperor, saying, “Your Majesty, it’s time for acupressure.”

Gu Yuanbai glanced at her and advised, “Let someone else do it.”

Jiang, the female physician, shook her head. “It’s better for this humble maiden to do it herself.”

The medicinal bath was for soaking feet, and the acupressure points were located on the feet and lower legs. Jiang, the female physician, possessed a unique technique, handed down through her family’s ancestral heritage. It wouldn’t be appropriate to have her teach it to others.

The sound of water trickled as the chief attendant lay stiff as a board on the bed, his face flushed enough to cook an egg. The warmth soon spread throughout the dragon-shaped bed, and under the thick golden blanket, the chief attendant began to sweat profusely.

Once the medicinal bath was over, Gu Yuanbai climbed onto the bed. The chief attendant lay there, still and tense, serving as a human heater. He listened to the conversation between Gu Yuanbai and Tian Fusheng.

The bed was warm, the Emperor’s brow relaxed. After discussing the matter of cotton coats with Tian Fusheng and confirming they could start loading the coats in early November, Gu Yuanbai stopped talking.

“It will only take a few days,” Tian Fusheng said. “We’ve also received news from the border. As per General Xue’s report, there are signs of improvement regarding the locust plague.”

A few days ago, reports from North Xinjiang had been delivered to Gu Yuanbai’s desk. There was only one memorial from General Xue, while the rest were letters sent back by Xue Yuan on the way. Given the current circumstances, Gu Yuanbai had only read the memorial from General Xue once.

The Emperor nodded, and Tian Fusheng left with his attendants. When the inner chamber was empty, Gu Yuanbai lay down, but he began to feel uncomfortable after a while.

The chief attendant didn’t dare to move, lying still by the side. Heat emanated from one side, while the other side felt as cold as ice. There was enough space for another person between them, and the chilly wind seeped through, making it even colder than having an empty bed. This cold was peculiar, creeping through the gaps in the bones. Amidst these temperature fluctuations, it felt worse than having no warmth at all.

The Emperor closed his eyes and said, “You can leave Us.”

The chief attendant quietly got up and left. After a while, the door creaked and was closed.

A few days later, the cotton coats were loaded and ready to depart for North Xinjiang.

Before setting off, Gu Yuanbai specially inspected the cotton coats and randomly checked a few of them. They all met the requirements he had in mind.

“Have the people’s wages been settled?” he asked.

Kong Yilin, who was accompanying him, replied, “Yes, Your Majesty, every last coin.”

“Very good,” Gu Yuanbai nodded and smiled. “We will lead by example and wear the cotton coat. Such fine goods are worthy of use by the people throughout the realm.”

Kong Yilin smiled and said, “This year, we have already used up all the white cotton. However, I believe that with Your Majesty setting an example, more people will start planting white cotton next year.”

“The more, the better,” Gu Yuanbai sighed. “It’s a pity that this winter, the people of Da Heng won’t be able to benefit from this fine product.”

The group passed by the carts filled with cotton coats, and on their way back, the Emperor instructed them to stop outside the bustling market and stroll through the streets to observe the livelihood of the people.

At a roadside tavern, Li Angshun, the Prince of Western Xia, listened to reports from his subordinates about Chu Wei while occasionally glancing down. And he caught sight of the Emperor of Da Heng.

Meeting the Emperor of Da Heng wasn’t something one could do at will. Li Angshun had been in Da Heng for a month and a half and had only seen Gu Yuanbai once at the palace banquet on the Longevity Festival. He didn’t expect to encounter him again under such coincidental circumstances.

One of his subordinates continued speaking, “After Lord Chu Wei finished his shift yesterday, he had dinner with a friend at a restaurant. After half an hour, he left the restaurant and returned to the Chu Mansion.”

Li Angshun asked, “His friend, is it a male or female friend?”

His eyes were still fixed on the street below.

The subordinate replied, “Naturally, it’s a man.”

Li Angshun seemed distracted as he picked up a piece of food and put it in his mouth. “What does this friend of Chu Wei look like? Are they close?”

The subordinate sighed, “Seventh Prince, you’ve had us monitor Chu Wei for half a month already. If you like him, he’s just a minor official from Da Heng. Why not approach him directly?”

Li Angshun gave a cold smile. “You fool. Trying to forcefully take a Da Heng official on Da Heng’s turf, have you forgotten the humiliation you endured during those ten-plus days you were detained at Mingsheng Inn?”

The subordinate said, “Do you really like Chu Wei?”

“Like,” Li Angshun replied casually. “Of course, I do.”

“Then who are you looking at right now?”

Li Angshun pointed at Gu Yuanbai. At that moment, Gu Yuanbai had just arrived in front of their tavern, his every move distinct and graceful. His appearance was exquisite, and he exuded an air of nobility that was beyond words. Even his pale lips and face were like a beautifully decorated jade box, making one want to take a second look.

The Emperor of Da Heng possessed a face that could calm any resentment and a presence that deterred anyone from gazing further. In a situation where no one dared to look for too long, Li Angshun stared at him, but it seemed that the Emperor of Da Heng had sensed something. He suddenly raised his head and looked up at their tavern.

Li Angshun’s heart skipped a beat. He stood up gracefully, bowed to Gu Yuanbai, and raised his wine glass.

Kong Yilin followed the Emperor’s gaze, noticed the Seventh Prince of Western Xia, and said, “Your Majesty, this man is known for his extravagance and debauchery. His reputation among the people of Western Xia is quite poor, but the Emperor of Western Xia favors him greatly. I’ve heard that he has been inquiring about Lord Chu Wei’s affairs these past few days, and given his temperament, he may have some inappropriate intentions towards Lord Chu.”

Gu Yuanbai nodded in agreement with Li Angshun’s assessment. He continued to watch Li Angshun with curiosity, his gaze fixed on him like a mother hen watching over her precious eggs. He said, “Chu Qing has indeed been working hard.”

Due to Gu Yuanbai’s peculiar sense of humor, he wanted to see how much the envoy from Western Xia had brought as gifts. Therefore, he had refrained from discussing the border dispute between the two nations. While Western Xia’s envoy busied himself with sending gifts and gathering information, Gu Yuanbai occasionally relaxed and enjoyed the spectacle when he dealt with other government affairs.

The effect was outstanding.

As Gu Yuanbai and Kong Yilin walked along, Gu playfully teased, “Kong Qing, you’re also quite handsome, and your martial prowess is exceptional. Why hasn’t the Seventh Prince of Western Xia taken notice of you?”

Kong Yilin chuckled, “I’m just average in appearance, Your Majesty. Please don’t tease me.”

“Oh?” Gu Yuanbai asked, “Then in your opinion, who is the handsome and distinguished talent who can rival Pan Anwei in appearance?”

“Someone like Lord Chu Wei, the Marquis of Pingchang’s heir, Li Yan,” Kong Yilin recited a list of names at a leisurely pace and concluded, “Mr. Xue Yuan also has a very handsome appearance in my eyes, not inferior to others. Finally, of course, there’s Your Majesty.”

Gu Yuanbai raised an eyebrow and smiled, showing some color returning to his pale face. “We’ll take this flattery seriously.”

Kong Yilin smiled and then lowered his voice, “Your Majesty, recently, your decision to have Lady Jiang accompany you has led to many speculations among those who are unaware of her background. There are various rumors circulating in the court, and one growing theory is that you intend to take her as a consort.”