Chapter 243: Chapter 243: Prologue (Part 3)
Chen Zhuo nodded with a smile, took the memorial, and looked through it carefully, praising, "The Commandery Princess has written it very well, no need to revise it. Let’s send it to the Capital City!"
"Wait a moment," Jiang Shaohua quickly said, "I need to write a letter to the Empress Dowager."
For the past two years, Jiang Shaohua has been writing monthly letters to Empress Dowager Zheng, and sending valuable gifts on her birthday each year, maintaining a good relationship with her.
Offering corn and sweet potatoes is a significant matter, and presenting them to the court is the proper course. However, a message should be sent to Empress Dowager Zheng first. Then, using a time difference, let Empress Dowager Zheng mention it first before Emperor Taikang and the Crown Prince, gaining some spotlight, and simultaneously increasing weight on the court.
Jiang Shaohua is quite adept and familiar with these tasks.
Chen Zhuo was watching and felt quite gratified.
The Commandery Princess is gradually growing up, and her control over Nanyang County improves day by day. Nowadays, she has more and more young people to employ under her command.
He, as the Prince Mansion Chief Historian, remains the top individual below the Commandery Princess, busy with official duties daily. However, he is no longer the only and necessary person. Chen Jinyu and Ma Yaosong have been trained for two years, and they handle tasks efficiently. Lu Cong has even surpassed expectations, promoting the new grain carefully and steadily.
This is a good thing; in the future, when he retires, the Commandery Princess won’t worry about having nobody to use.
Yet, in his heart, there is inevitably a bit of loss.
Jiang Shaohua looked up and saw Chen Zhuo gazing at her with complicated emotions. Her mind turned slightly, guessing what might be. She held back a smile, appeasing him, "I am only twelve; there are over two years left before my coming-of-age ceremony. The Prince Mansion cannot do without the Chief Historian Chen, and neither can I."
Chief Historian Chen was indeed amused: "Commandery Princess, this old minister is aged, but not yet confused. I can still serve and work for another ten years or eight years."
Jiang Shaohua smiled and said, "Then that’s good. We, as master and minister, support each other and write a beautiful tale for Nanyang."
Chen Zhuo laughed helplessly: "Chen Sheren wrote a little note for County Magistrate Cai last year and a little note for County Magistrate Ma at the beginning of this year. It seems the next one will be for Chief Historian Chen."
Jiang Shaohua smiled brightly: "Chen Sheren has excellent writing skills, and the character notes are excitingly written. In a couple of years, I’ll have her write a little note for the Commandery Princess, and by then, Nanyang paper will be precious, and people will eagerly read it, which will be quite a fun thing."
While they were joking, Chen Jinyu came in with furrowed brows: "Commandery Princess, news from the Capital City has arrived."
Chen Jinyu, after two years in service, is now fifteen and has become much more stable. Chief Historian Chen gradually entrusted her with the open exchange of news with the Capital City.
As for secret communications, Chen Jinyu is not yet qualified.
Seeing Chen Jinyu’s serious expression, Jiang Shaohua felt a jolt in her heart: "Hand it over."
Chen Jinyu obliged and presented a letter.
Jiang Shaohua quickly glanced through it, her face suddenly darkening.
Chen Zhuo’s heart also skipped a beat. Anything that could cause such a change in the Commandery Princess’s expression was certainly not a trivial matter: "Commandery Princess, what happened?"
Jiang Shaohua exhaled deeply: "The Emperor Taikang has had a stroke."
What?!
Chen Zhuo’s face changed sharply; he forgot the distinctions between master and minister, reaching out and taking the letter.
...
A few days ago, Emperor Taikang fainted on the Dragon Throne and did not wake up.
The Imperial Hospital’s physicians utilized all their skills to retrieve the Emperor’s life from King Yanluo’s hands. Emperor Taikang was unconscious for four days before waking, too weak to leave bed or exert himself, requiring rest and recuperation. He had to entrust matters of state to the young Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince took up the emergency responsibility, showing considerable capability; he attended court daily, handling affairs, and served as caregiver beside Emperor Taikang after court sessions.
Empress Dowager Zheng and Prime Minister Wang temporarily ceased their actions, bringing a fragile stability to the court.
However, everyone knows this stability is temporary. Party strife has reached this point; no one is willing to retreat, none willing to stop.
"Party strife is harming the country!" Chief Historian Chen said, heartbroken after reading: "The Empress Dowager keeps intervening in court affairs, and Prime Minister Wang won’t allow power to be lost, continuously fighting without rest. Previously, it was just disputes in the court. Now, with successive droughts in the North, refugees are everywhere, and chaos ensues. Yet, they persist in fighting!"
"Indeed," Jiang Shaohua sighed deeply: "Vice Minister Qian, who is part of the Empress Dowager Faction, went to Two Lakes to procure grain. Under Prime Minister Wang’s instruction, the Two Lakes officials interfered. Vice Minister Qian was then found guilty. When Tan Langzhong went, everything went smoothly because Tan Langzhong belongs to Prime Minister Wang’s faction."
"The court is busy with party strife, completely ignoring the pitiable citizens waiting for relief from the North. If the grain is delayed by a month, countless people might starve."
"The rebels who snatched the grain, whether they were simply bandits or instructed by someone else, we cannot trace."
"Vice Minister Qian died, delivering a heavy blow to the Empress Dowager Faction. Prime Minister Wang’s faction flourishes, reclaiming power in the court. Ultimately, the toll is paid by innocent citizens."
Chen Jinyu listened indignantly: "At this point, they continue to fight and struggle! All driven by selfish motives! In my view, neither the Empress Dowager Faction nor Prime Minister Wang’s faction is any good."
Chen Zhuo glanced at his granddaughter, incensed with righteous anger: "Such is the political arena, not merely black or white. To achieve something, one must first gain power. Only at a high rank will one’s words be heard."
The Commandery Princess understands this principle well.
In the past two years, the Commandery Princess has actually only focused on one thing: that is, rectifying the officialdom in Nanyang County, controlling all subordinates.
So in Nanyang County, when the Commandery Princess speaks, it counts. An official document goes out, and the Fourteen Counties follow it without deviation. Initiated by County Magistrate Cai, a culture of internal competition has emerged. County magistrates are even competing against each other, each one motivated.
The court’s biggest problem is actually Emperor Taikang. As the Emperor, he cannot control his ministers, nor can he restrain his own mother. The result is that powerful ministers want to govern, the Empress Dowager wants to wield power as well, striving against each other, harming the country and the people.
However, no matter how mediocre and incompetent the Emperor may be, as long as he sits securely on the Dragon Throne, the court is stable. Now that Emperor Taikang has had a stroke, the young Crown Prince has been brought forward; whether he can stabilize the situation is truly uncertain.
Jiang Shaohua was silent for a moment before saying: "We are too far from the court, cannot care, nor can we afford to. Right now, what we can do is ensure that the people of Nanyang County have their meals and live in peace."
"Chief Historian Chen, please write an official document for all the counties. Let all the people exchange the corn and sweet potatoes harvested this year at the county government for grain."
Chen Zhuo reacted swiftly: "The Commandery Princess intends to use this year’s corn and sweet potatoes as grain seeds, promoting them to all states and counties in the North?"
Jiang Shaohua nodded: "Yes, as long as the court is willing to fully promote the new grain, we will offer this year’s corn and sweet potatoes as grain seeds to the court. Fortunately, over the past two years, each county has accumulated enough grain for the populace to eat well. Next year, by planting another crop of corn and sweet potatoes, we will be able to weather the disaster."
"The Commandery Princess is envisioning the best-case scenario." Chen Jinyu couldn’t help but mutter her opposition: "What if refugees come to Nanyang County, how will the Commandery Princess manage? Also, what if more rebels arrive?"