Becoming the Emperor’s Greatest Woe - Chapter 51

Chapter 51

 

In early spring, Zefang County was still a bit cold, and the copper stove on the charcoal basin was bubbling away with steam.

 

Jiang Yuxun carefully held the teacup, looking curiously at the centurion sitting to his right.

 

The military laws of the Great Zhou were strict about rewards and punishments.

 

On one hand, Ying Changchuan treated his soldiers exceptionally well.

 

On the other hand, the military laws of this era were notoriously harsh.

 

As far as Jiang Yuxun knew, offenses such as “delaying action when the enemy is near,” “falsely reporting military achievements,” or even “delaying military actions and material allocation”—which would attract light penalties in other dynasties—were punishable by death in the Great Zhou.

 

In addition, soldiers would face severe penalties for any mistakes.

 

According to the “History of Zhou,” there were hundreds of soldiers documented to have been executed by him.

 

From this perspective, Ying Changchuan could hardly be considered “easy to get along with”!

 

“… We were just ordinary soldiers back then, so we naturally can’t say we had an easy relationship with His Majesty. But the discipline and orders in His Majesty’s army have always been stringent, making him an outstanding general,” one person chimed in.

 

The crowd began to chatter.

 

“Right! The worst thing in marching and fighting is when a leader is biased.”

 

“If military discipline is unclear, no one will know how they died on the battlefield.”

 

Jiang Yuxun nodded slowly, “… I see.”

 

He understood what the soldiers meant: a truly “easy to get along with” leader is one who is fair in rewards and punishments and manages the army rigorously.

 

The soldiers removed the copper stove from the charcoal basin, and the bubbling sound stopped, leaving the tent suddenly quiet.

 

Just as Jiang Yuxun was about to change the subject, someone in the tent suddenly asked, “What does Master Jiang think?”

 

The voice was somewhat muffled, as if it were coming from behind something.

 

Without giving it much thought, Jiang Yuxun smiled and said directly, “At first, I was a bit afraid of him. Later, I realized that while His Majesty looks very serious on the surface, he can be a bit childish at times, always scaring people half to death out of nowhere. But over time, I got used to it… My courage has grown a lot in the past few months, and now I wouldn’t be afraid of anything happening again.”

 

Jiang Yuxun smoothly expressed his thoughts.

 

However, after he spoke, he noticed that everyone around him was looking at him with expressions of confusion and terror, sitting frozen in place.

 

Wait a minute…

 

Did I just say something inappropriate?

 

After his words fell, Jiang Yuxun finally realized that, unlike the soldiers who viewed Ying Changchuan as a general, he seemed to have inadvertently forgotten Ying Changchuan’s identity as “emperor,” and what he said was a bit disrespectful.

 

The tent fell silent.

 

Jiang Yuxun couldn’t help but tighten his grip on the teacup.

 

The thin porcelain wall pressed painfully into the blister on his palm.

 

“Ugh…”

 

The sharp pain in his hand finally made him realize a serious issue—how did I unconsciously say whatever came to my mind?

 

This ominous feeling was all too familiar.

 

Jiang Yuxun’s heart raced.

 

He set down the teacup and slowly raised his head to look outside the tent.

 

Dressed in a brocade robe, Xuan Yin was standing at the edge of the tent, lifting the heavy felt curtain.

 

The familiar figure in dark clothing had appeared outside the tent at some point, looking at him with an ambiguous smile.

 

He was clad in dark attire, wearing silver light armor.

 

Even though it had only been over ten days since they last met, the figure before him suddenly felt somewhat unfamiliar…

 

Jiang Yuxun blinked hard… Am I hallucinating?

 

The east wind blew into the tent, causing the charcoal basin to flicker.

 

Suddenly, Jiang Yuxun heard a buzzing in his ears.

 

Before he could react, everyone else in the tent had already knelt on one knee and said, “We greet Your Majesty!”

 

Jiang Yuxun: ???

 

Oh my God, it really is Ying Changchuan.

 

Wasn’t he in Zhaodu? How could he be here, a thousand miles away in Zefang County?

 

Jiang Yuxun had never questioned his life as much as he did at that moment.

 

He hurriedly stood up, about to pay his respects, but before he could speak, Ying Changchuan had already entered the tent and softly said, “No need for formalities.”

 

Hearing that familiar voice, Jiang Yuxun finally confirmed… No wonder I blurted out what was on my mind.

 

That last sentence was indeed his!

 

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

 

Footsteps echoed in the tent, and by the time Jiang Yuxun reacted, everyone had already retreated.

 

Seeing him still with his head lowered, Ying Changchuan couldn’t help but ask, “Aiqing, did you not fear being alone anymore?”

 

Perhaps because Jiang Yuxun was bowing his head in guilt, he felt that Ying Changchuan seemed taller than usual.

 

Jiang Yuxun couldn’t help but bite his lip, “I’m just a bit guilty.”

 

“Why do you feel guilty?”

 

“I was discussing Your Majesty behind your back, and you found out.”

 

“How coincidental?”

 

Jiang Yuxun instinctively wanted to nod, but before he could move, his mouth betrayed his brain and said, “Actually, it’s not really a coincidence; I’ve talked about Your Majesty quite a bit behind your back lately, just this time you caught me.”

 

Damn…

 

Jiang Yuxun couldn’t help but close his eyes, unable to bear looking directly at him.

 

The journey to Zefang County was bumpy on land, and along the way, Jiang Yuxun could only sit in the carriage and chat with other envoys.

 

During this time, they had discussed Ying Changchuan quite a lot…

 

After speaking, he ultimately couldn’t resist the urge to cautiously glance at Ying Changchuan.

 

The charcoal fire reflected in his smoky gray eyes, adding a bit of warmth. Ying Changchuan didn’t seem angry; instead, he asked with interest, “Why speak of me behind my back?”

 

Why?

 

Jiang Yuxun, who had never thought carefully about this question, instinctively replied, “In the past few months, I’ve hardly left your side, Your Majesty. It feels a bit unusual not to see you for a moment.”

 

As soon as he finished speaking, he was taken aback.

 

So that’s how I think…

 

Ying Changchuan was the person Jiang Yuxun was most familiar with since he crossed over.

 

It seemed he had unconsciously developed the habit of saying whatever came to his mind, and… occasionally embarrassing himself.

 

The tent suddenly fell silent.

 

Feeling somewhat uneasy, Jiang Yuxun instinctively clenched his fists: “Ouch…”

 

He finally came back to his senses when he squeezed his blister too hard.

 

Ying Changchuan glanced down at his palm, then moved his gaze away and said, “Go find the military doctor to handle it.”

 

“Yes!” Jiang Yuxun quickly nodded and hurriedly walked out of the tent.

 

It wasn’t until the cold wind hit his face outside the tent that he finally took a deep breath and calmed down.

 

Jiang Yuxun couldn’t help but use the back of his hand to cool his flushed cheeks.

 

“—Huff.”

 

Strange, why am I so nervous?

 

 

—

 

Zefang County was too close to Zherou, and Ying Changchuan’s visit was extremely low-key.

 

He brought only a few hundred personal guards and didn’t disturb anyone along the way.

 

To maintain a low profile, Ying Changchuan’s group briefly rested before heading directly to the North Town Army’s camp stationed in Zefang County.

 

The inspection of the farmland was about to conclude, and in a few days, Jiang Yuxun and the others would be heading to Zherou.

 

Thus, with nothing urgent at the moment, they accompanied the emperor to the camp.

 

In the afternoon, a fierce wind swept through the camp.

 

It felt like sharp blades stabbing into one’s body.

 

Unlike the centurions earlier, the young soldiers in the North Town Army had not seen Ying Changchuan before.

 

They mistook the emperor, clad in silver armor, for some general from Zhaodu, so although there was curiosity in the training grounds, the order remained intact.

 

The training grounds, filled with rough gravel, turned into a yellow dust storm when the spring breeze blew.

 

“Master Jiang, this way—” a soldier accompanying him said while showing him around, “These soldiers grouped together are practicing ‘Jiao Di.’”

 

“Jiao Di” is quite similar to modern wrestling but lacks some of the spectacle, focusing more on the practicality of close combat.

 

Jiang Yuxun had seen murals depicting Jiao Di, but he hadn’t witnessed a match in person.

 

“Wait a moment, let’s take a look before we go.” He walked at the end of the group, coughing lightly while squinting ahead.

 

“Yes, sir.”

 

Two soldiers in soft armor were grappling in the sand.

 

Beneath their dark uniforms, their strong arms were tightly entwined as they gritted their teeth, their eyes red with determination, constantly waiting for their opponent to show signs of fatigue or weakness.

 

Seeing that the two had reached a decisive moment, Jiang Yuxun couldn’t help but stop and watch closely.

 

As they struggled, the faces of the two soldiers became increasingly flushed.

 

After about ten seconds, one of the soldiers finally let out a roar and kicked at his opponent’s knee.

 

“Ah—”

 

Another gust of yellow sand rose high, and one of them fell heavily to the ground.

 

From the sound, it was clear he had taken a hard hit.

 

However, the soldier who fell immediately spat out the taste of blood from his mouth, wiped the blood from his face, and stood up again, shouting, “Continue!”

 

As soon as he finished speaking, he grappled with his opponent once more.

 

His cheeks flushed, his eyes gleaming with killing intent, showing no signs of being affected by his previous defeat.

 

Seeing this, even Jiang Yuxun, who had been watching from the sidelines, couldn’t help but cheer, “Good!”

 

Noticing his interest in the training, the accompanying soldier immediately introduced, “Besides running exercises, the most common physical training methods in the Great Zhou army are ‘Jiao Di,’ ‘Tossing Stones,’ and ‘Long Jumps.’”

 

“Tossing Stones” is similar to shot put, primarily training the upper body muscle strength of the soldiers, which is beneficial for swordplay and archery, while “Long Jumps” refers to standing long jumps and high jumps.

 

These were the most common training methods in the army.

 

With the yellow sand swirling around the training ground, Jiang Yuxun gradually found it difficult to see clearly.

 

After enjoying a round of Jiao Di, he continued to walk forward with the soldiers accompanying him.

 

Before he knew it, Ying Changchuan’s figure was now within reach.

 

At this time, the General of the North Town had just finished reporting the total number of soldiers to Ying Changchuan.

 

Upon seeing Jiang Yuxun arrive, Ying Changchuan dismissed the General and turned back with a smile, asking, “Do you know the characteristics of the Zherou army, Aiqing?”

 

Characteristics…

 

Being called out, Jiang Yuxun couldn’t help but squint his eyes; he recalled and said, “Unlike our Great Zhou, the Zherou people fight primarily for plunder. Therefore, they usually grab what they can and leave, unwilling to risk their lives and stand firm against us. It wasn’t until they had stirrups that Zherou began to consider a large-scale southward advance to fully occupy this land.”

 

As the son of the General of the Southern Campaign, it was not surprising for Jiang Yuxun to know these things.

 

“Hmm.” Ying Changchuan nodded slowly.

 

In the yellow sand, the emperor’s eyes also narrowed slightly, and he then took a step forward.

 

Jiang Yuxun followed Ying Changchuan onward.

 

The yellow sand obscured the surrounding scenery, and at this moment, the only sound in Jiang Yuxun’s ears was the howling wind, with only the blurry figure of Ying Changchuan before him.

 

When they got closer to the war chariot, the wind and sand finally lessened a bit.

 

As soon as Jiang Yuxun steadied himself, he heard a sharp sound by his ear.

 

—Under the war chariot, a man in a left-handed robe was drawing a bow and shooting forward.

 

Today’s weather could be described as a “sandstorm” in modern terms, making it generally unsuitable for shooting arrows.

 

That man not only released the arrow, but it also landed squarely on the bright red bullseye.

 

What extraordinary archery!

 

Jiang Yuxun couldn’t help but widen his eyes.

 

“The archer is a prisoner of Zherou; nearly every Zherou soldier possesses such archery skills,” Ying Changchuan said.

 

Jiang Yuxun instinctively bit his lip. “Zherou people practice horseback archery from a young age. In this skill alone, our soldiers of Great Zhou truly aren’t their match.”

 

The Emperor smiled and turned, looking out over the vast yellow sands in the direction of Zherou. “One cannot conquer the enemy by relying on one’s own weaknesses.”

 

Following the prisoner’s example, several disbelieving Great Zhou soldiers also raised their bows amid the sandstorm.

 

But, without exception, their arrows were blown off course by the wind, either missing the target or falling halfway.

 

Their faces immediately darkened, and they stubbornly drew their bows to shoot again.

 

As a professional in the field of cultural heritage, Jiang Yuxun was very knowledgeable about various artifacts and objects.

 

But when it came to the domain of warfare, he actually became “cautious with his words and actions.”

 

After listening to Ying Changchuan, Jiang Yuxun instinctively asked, “Then, what should we do?”

 

Under the yellow sands, he couldn’t help but raise his voice.

 

“Although the Zherou have developed stirrups, the mentality they’ve formed over years of plundering remains unchanged.”

 

Hearing this, Jiang Yuxun couldn’t help but nod lightly.

 

Ying Changchuan continued, “Zherou soldiers are unwilling to lose their lives to war. They neither dare to engage our Great Zhou soldiers in close combat, nor are they skilled at it.”

 

Another gust of wind blew by, and just as Jiang Yuxun was preparing to close his eyes, Ying Changchuan shifted slightly to block the gust of sand for him.

 

Instinctively, he cast a grateful look at the person beside him and murmured, “The Zherou incorporate warfare into herding. Unlike Great Zhou, they don’t train soldiers but go straight to battle with skills honed from archery and herding.”

 

They dared to draw their bows at wolves, yet wouldn’t engage in hand-to-hand combat with them.

 

However, close-combat techniques were precisely the Great Zhou soldiers’ strongest offensive method.

 

“In the past, cavalry mostly focused on raiding, flanking, or chasing down remnants,” Ying Changchuan said as he recalled, summarizing the experience of his predecessors, “but in the coming years, Great Zhou’s cavalry will shift from an auxiliary role to directly engaging the enemy’s main forces.”

 

This was one of the reasons Ying Changchuan personally came to the north.

 

He was not only the Emperor but also Great Zhou’s highest military commander.

 

Such a large-scale and thorough military reform had to be personally undertaken by Ying Changchuan.

 

His tone remained as calm as ever, but in that moment, a killing intent erupted in his smoky-gray eyes that Jiang Yuxun had never seen before.

 

The composed figure before him, coupled with the surrounding yellow sands, constantly reminded Jiang Yuxun that Ying Changchuan’s empire had been carved out with blood.

 

When he finished speaking, the Emperor suddenly lowered his gaze and looked at Jiang Yuxun.

 

Yellow sand spread behind him, and in his ears was the howling wind and the clashing of weapons.

 

Jiang Yuxun’s heart suddenly skipped two heavy beats.

 

As the sand blew past, he averted his gaze and coughed again, “Ahem… Though the northern land is not as bitterly cold as Your Majesty says, the soldiers stationed here still have a hard time. When the war ends, we must plant more trees here.”

 

Hearing this, Ying Changchuan slightly lifted the corners of his mouth. “Let’s go back to camp.”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Jiang Yuxun finally let out a sigh of relief.

 

 

The drill grounds were vast and boundless, the perfect place for windswept yellow sands.

 

After only a few steps, Jiang Yuxun’s throat began to itch.

 

He coughed twice and couldn’t help but ask the person beside him, “Your Majesty, aren’t you bothered by this yellow sand?”

 

Both were human, yet while he was already coughing like this, Ying Changchuan remained calm and composed.

 

His constitution was simply too extraordinary…

 

Ying Changchuan replied casually, “When the previous dynasty stationed troops in Zefang County, I had already adapted to the climate here.”

 

A few years ago, shortly after he conquered the Kingdom of Shulin, the previous emperor sent him to guard Zefang County, which bordered Zherou.

 

The previous dynasty’s military system was chaotic, and the soldiers stationed at Zefang County were often underfed and underdressed, each day counting the days until they could return home after their service ended.

 

Not long after Ying Changchuan arrived, Zherou launched a southern campaign.

 

Logically, this battle should have been a certain defeat.

 

Yet not only did he not retreat or fear the enemy, he even led this ragtag group on a nighttime counterattack, wiping out an entire Zherou tribe in one fell swoop.

 

“I see…”

 

Jiang Yuxun nodded while thinking, wondering how Ying Changchuan had dared to act as he did back then.

 

“What is it?” Sensing his curiosity, Ying Changchuan paused.

 

Many historians later speculated about Ying Changchuan’s thoughts at that time.

 

Some said he was like a young bull unafraid of tigers; others suggested he simply wanted mutual destruction with Zherou.

 

Jiang Yuxun had also been curious about this question for a long time.

 

Now that the man himself was standing before him, how could he not ask?

 

He couldn’t help but stop. “Your Majesty, what were you thinking back then?”

 

They had just walked under a large siege ram.

 

The wind and sand were all blocked behind it, and without the yellow mist obscuring his view, Jiang Yuxun’s eyes shone brightly.

 

Seeing through his thoughts, Ying Changchuan smiled slightly and raised an eyebrow, saying, “Zherou people and our Great Zhou soldiers are both made of flesh and blood, not steel or stone. Since they dare to plunder, why shouldn’t we strike back?”

 

The wild yellow sands reflected in Ying Changchuan’s eyes.

 

Through those eyes, Jiang Yuxun seemed to glimpse the arrogance and fierceness of his youth.

 

“I see…”

Jiang Yuxun understood.

 

The speculations of later generations were all wrong; Ying Changchuan was neither reckless nor seeking mutual destruction.

 

He was different from any general of his time.

 

—Ying Changchuan had never feared the Zherou people.

 

The Zherou’s undefeated record may have cast a shadow over the previous dynasty, but it had never been one for Ying Changchuan.

 

Suddenly, the wind and sand came to a halt.

 

The scene and roars on the distant drill grounds became sharply clear in an instant.

 

Ying Changchuan took a step forward.

 

Amid the neighing of warhorses on the drill grounds, he said casually, “Constant retreat cannot bring an end to war. Stopping war with war, killing to end killing, is the only feasible way in chaotic times.”

 

Jiang Yuxun unconsciously clenched his palms.

 

After a moment’s pause, he finally nodded deeply.

 

…Warfare might not be a choice, but rather the only test history had given this era.

 

 

The previous topic had been somewhat heavy.

 

After leaving the drill grounds, Jiang Yuxun began discussing tree planting with the Emperor.

 

“Although the northern land has large areas of desert unsuitable for farming, it can’t just be left unattended. If the winds are too strong, crops won’t grow well.”

 

“In the future, more grass and trees must be planted here… cough, cough…”

 

Though the yellow sand had cleared, Jiang Yuxun couldn’t help but cough a few times as he spoke.

 

Ying Changchuan suddenly paused in his steps. “Are you feeling unwell, my dear subject?”

 

“Hm?” Jiang Yuxun instinctively shook his head. “In reply to Your Majesty, I just accidentally inhaled some sand earlier. While treating my blisters today, the military doctor took my pulse and said I am very healthy.”

 

Since his transmigration, Jiang Yuxun’s health had been fairly good.

 

But knowing the condition of the body’s original owner, Jiang Yuxun, who had no desire to leave just yet, paid extra attention to his health.

 

“That’s good,” Ying Changchuan nodded lightly.

 

…

 

The Northern Guard Army’s camp was set up on the Gobi Desert.

 

As they walked, their footsteps made rustling sounds on the sand.

 

With no sand blocking the view, Ying Changchuan’s figure and voice became particularly clear.

 

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Jiang Yuxun suddenly had a strange feeling.

 

Something wasn’t right; the earlier conversation was a bit odd.

 

The principle of “distinction between ruler and subject” could not have been clearer.

 

Why would Ying Changchuan, as the Emperor, casually chat with a subject?

 

I may be his secretary, but I know nothing of military affairs.

 

Why didn’t he go to discuss training troops with the Northern General but instead spoke at length with me?

 

Ying Changchuan didn’t seem to be the kind of Emperor who would act easy-going either…

 

As they approached the Northern Guard’s main camp, Jiang Yuxun’s eyes filled with increasing puzzlement.

 

Lost in thought, he accidentally kicked a stone.

 

“Hiss…” Jiang Yuxun staggered slightly before steadying himself.

 

The disturbance caught Ying Changchuan’s attention, and he turned, puzzled. “What happened, dear subject?”

 

Jiang Yuxun stood upright, a bit embarrassed, and finally said frankly, “I was wondering… why did Your Majesty speak so much with me today?”

 

A hint of amusement appeared in the smoky-gray eyes.

 

Ying Changchuan didn’t directly answer the question but lowered his voice slightly and asked back, “Why do you think I spoke so much?”

 

Jiang Yuxun began to think carefully.

 

His mind worked quickly, and he immediately ruled out the idea that Ying Changchuan simply wanted someone to talk to.

 

Ridiculous—he was the Emperor.

 

Unable to resist, Jiang Yuxun pressed a hand to his chin, then cautiously looked up and asked, “Did Your Majesty seek me out at this time… because of some secret mission?”

 

A secret mission?

 

Ying Changchuan couldn’t help but frown slightly, “What mission?”

 

Jiang Yuxun racked his brain, “For example, stealing secrets or intelligence about Zherou… otherwise, why would Your Majesty discuss Zherou with me?”

 

As he said it, he found it a bit absurd himself.

 

The more he spoke, the less confident he felt, and his voice gradually weakened.

 

Sure enough, Ying Changchuan raised an eyebrow and asked, “Can you steal Zherou’s secrets?”

 

“To answer Your Majesty, I cannot.”

 

Jiang Yuxun couldn’t help but grit his teeth.

 

I may not have the skills, but did you have to say it so bluntly…

 

Seeing that Ying Changchuan still wouldn’t directly state his purpose, Jiang Yuxun finally gave up, “Forgive me for being dull-witted, but I truly cannot figure it out.”

 

Jiang Yuxun had never hated being slow-witted as much as he did now.

 

If someone like Zhuang Yue, who was proficient in the ways of officials, were here, he would have analyzed the Emperor’s intentions thoroughly.

 

Why was he left guessing?

 

Unable to understand Ying Changchuan’s true purpose, he muttered, almost to himself, “The Emperor couldn’t really have come just to chat with me, could he?”

 

Ying Changchuan: “…”

 

Seeing that the Emperor didn’t refute him, Jiang Yuxun’s eyes widened in surprise.

 

No way…

 

Was Ying Changchuan really here to chat with me?

 

As expected of the Emperor, Ying Changchuan remained righteous and composed, “Why not?”

 

“Well, it’s not impossible,” Jiang Yuxun responded instinctively without overthinking, “It’s just that I’ve never encountered anyone discussing national affairs as casual chat.”

 

If Ying Changchuan had talked about something trivial, he wouldn’t have mistakenly assumed he was being recruited as a spy!

 

…Could he be joking with me again?

 

The Emperor didn’t seem angry; instead, he asked Jiang Yuxun for advice, “Then how should we chat?”

 

Chatting is simple enough, right?

 

Not long ago, the scene in the military tent, along with the rumors he’d heard, resurfaced in Jiang Yuxun’s mind.

 

He answered almost unconsciously, “For instance, Your Majesty could talk about how you lived and ate when stationed in Zefang County, if you encountered sandstorms or dangers, or if you ever saw wolves?”

 

Upon saying this, even Jiang Yuxun himself felt these topics didn’t suit the Emperor’s demeanor.

 

Yet, to his surprise, Ying Changchuan lowered his eyes and, as he walked, replied in a low voice, “Back then, I lived alone in a tent, eating with the soldiers every day. As for the sandstorms… they were always as strong as today’s.”

 

His pace was slow, as if he were carefully recalling these trivial matters.

 

Seriously?

 

Jiang Yuxun looked at Ying Changchuan in disbelief.

 

He actually wasn’t joking with me…

 

Where was the boundary between ruler and subject?