Meanwhile,
In the capital, the Grand Secretariat.
Yan Song was still recuperating at home, and even Yan Shifan had been seen less frequently these past two days. Within the Grand Secretariat, only Xu Jie and Li Chunfang, two elder statesmen, were anxiously wringing their hands.
The Wokou, having achieved a swift victory, had launched a surprise attack from their homeland, Kyushu, unexpectedly disrupting the containment strategy that had been painstakingly built for over half a year, almost costing Hu Zongxian his life. Immediately after, Yang Bo's household guards attacked the merchant convoy of the Joseon Dynasty's envoys, incurring the resentment of the vassal state. When the memorial from Joseon arrived at the Grand Secretariat, the two officials could do nothing but sigh and dispatch envoys to Joseon to appease and explain. However, it was foreseeable that this would only buy time.
As for investigating Yang Bo, how could Xu Jie dare to offend such a person? Moreover, both of them were experienced officials; could they not see the underlying machinations? It was simply impossible to investigate! But if they didn't investigate, how would they account for themselves to the vassal state? They wished to seek the Emperor's judgment, but the Lantern Festival had just passed, marking an important period for the Emperor's cultivation of immortality, and who would dare to disturb him? They tried to contact Lü Fang for some information, but even his shadow could not be found.
The two had been discussing for nearly a month, yet they remained at a loss for solutions, and recently they even hesitated to visit the Prince of Yu. Faced with mountains of official documents every day, they had lost the inclination even to drink tea.
During this period, the atmosphere was incredibly strange, marked only by a calm so profound it was almost frightening… Both were deeply familiar with worldly affairs and surmised that the true killing blow from Old Yan Song was likely to be unleashed very soon…
Because,
The four reform proposals initiated by Zhu Mo had already been submitted to the Grand Secretariat. The two felt that Yan Song and Yan Shifan's absence was naturally related to this. Upon careful consideration of these four decrees, their thoughts converged into a single realization –
With these four measures,
If they didn't stir up a great upheaval, then it would truly be a miracle!
In these past few days,
The two occasionally chatted, both feeling that the domestic and foreign situation of the Great Ming had suddenly become so sharp! On one side, there was the desperate obstruction, and on the other, the desperate reform; both were pushing towards ruin, a confrontation like needle point against wheat awn, truly not yielding an inch. If nothing untoward happened, their decades of service in the Grand Secretariat would have been in vain.
At this moment,
Xu Jie, filled with deep concern, thought it necessary to visit the Prince of Yu first to give him a heads-up. Otherwise, if any other crisis arose, he would once again be at a loss for what to do. Thus, he said:
"Brother Shilu, Grand Tutor Zhang Yue also... why has there been no communication? We in the capital have absolutely no idea what is happening in Jiangnan... This Grand Secretariat, hah, does this Grand Secretariat still count as the central hub of the Great Ming? I am truly confused..."
Li Chunfang also offered a wry smile:
"Shaohu, Hu Zongxian, the pillar of the Southeast, narrowly escaped death in the Battle of Taizhou, and Qi Jiguang retreated to Suzhou, with tens of thousands of casualties among the imperial troops. Such a significant event, yet the Emperor has said nothing... What can our Grand Secretariat do? Zhu Mo's four reform measures, if they don't cause a great disturbance this time, I will retire and return home!"
Alas...
The two shook their heads and sighed, feeling that the world had suddenly changed. Their painstaking efforts to mediate and balance had suddenly rendered them outsiders. Whether it was Yan Song or Zhu Mo, or even Zhang Juzheng and Hu Zongxian in the middle, no one had uttered a sound. The Grand Secretariat had truly become a mere ornament.
But at this moment,
They saw a minor official running across the vast stone ground of the Forbidden City, vaguely shouting something. As they approached and listened, they found it quite bizarre.
"Esteemed Elder Xu! Urgent report from the Southwest! Jinteng Land has been breached by Mang Yinglong! Bianluo has also sent a plea for help! They say Mang Yinglong has captured Jingmai!"
The two, being advanced in years, exchanged glances and felt they had misheard. As the official drew closer and they held the report in their hands, they were somewhat surprised—
How could such an event occur on the southwestern frontier? How could Mang Yinglong of Burma be so arrogant? To attack two places simultaneously?
It must be known that,
Jinteng Land was a territory of the Great Ming, not subject to any local chieftain. Mang Yinglong's blatant invasion was something that must be severely punished! Bianluo, on the other hand, was the most loyal vassal state of the Great Ming. Now that a prefecture had been lost, it naturally had to seek help from its suzerain. Even if the Great Ming chose not to help any other country, it could not refuse Bianluo's plea for aid.
The two sighed simultaneously—
At this juncture, such an event had to occur!
Where did the Great Ming have the strength to launch a distant expedition to Burma?
Li Chunfang sighed, "When it rains, it pours..."
Xu Jie, ever adept at seizing opportunities, suddenly thought of something—
Using this incident as a pretext to visit the Prince of Yu, letting him probe the Emperor's sentiments? With the territory attacked, the Emperor could not remain silent any longer, could he?
"Brother Shilu, let's go! We must go to the Prince of Yu's residence now. It's been at least twenty days since we last went, hasn't it?"
Before Xu Jie finished speaking, Li Chunfang had already reacted and chuckled, "Shaohu, the Grand Secretariat of the Great Ming truly cannot do without you, haha..."
The two then set off in their palanquins. But just as they reached the entrance, the servants were announcing their arrival, and a minor official from the Directorate of Transmission hurried over from a distance, shouting,
"Esteemed Elder Xu, Esteemed Elder Li! Something has happened! The Mo Dynasty of Annan has sent a plea for help!"
The two were greatly startled, and even Xu Jie trembled slightly. He quickly took the report and upon looking at it, let out a sigh, "What must come will come..."
Li Chunfang, upon seeing it, suddenly slapped his forehead and exclaimed anxiously,
"This is bad! They've all come at once!"
The two had no choice but to brace themselves and enter the Prince's mansion, handing the two memorials to the Prince of Yu.
The Prince of Yu immediately let out long sighs and paced anxiously, muttering, "Alas, what to do? What to do? What is happening? Why has it all erupted overnight?"
Xu Jie and Li Chunfang exchanged glances. While they were quite surprised by the turn of events, upon further reflection, they realized it was not entirely unreasonable.
It must be known that,
Annan had long been divided into the Northern and Southern Dynasties. The powerful minister Zheng Jian of the Southern Dynasty was extremely overbearing, repeatedly invading the Mo Dynasty in the north. The Mo Dynasty, having usurped the throne to establish its rule, had always been secretly supported by the Great Ming, never openly acknowledged. This time, the Mo Dynasty, disregarding all caution, had publicly requested aid, indicating that they were at their wit's end.
If they did not intervene and allowed Zheng Jian to destroy the kingdom, Annan would inevitably become powerful once more. Then, the gains from Emperor Yongle's southern expedition would be lost in an instant.
The Prince of Yu was now greatly alarmed and repeatedly asked, "My esteemed teachers, this... this, does the Emperor know?"
Xu Jie shook his head, "We have come precisely to ask Your Highness to personally inform the Emperor."
The Prince of Yu had long suspected that this old fox, Xu Jie, would think this way. While it would be fine under normal circumstances, these were dire tidings. The Emperor's temper was such that losing territory was a matter of life and death. To go to the palace at this time would surely invite a severe scolding!
However, if he did not report it, as the Crown Prince, how could he justify it?
He lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then asked, "Esteemed Elder Xu, why... why have these small states erupted overnight? It's as if they've coordinated. If the Emperor asks, I must also provide an answer!"
Xu Jie and Li Chunfang fell silent.
After a long while, Xu Jie finally said again:
"Your Highness, this matter indeed seems peculiar... but it cannot be revealed. In short, it is a consequence of the defeat at Taizhou... As the saying goes, misfortunes never come singly; a broken drum is beaten by many. The Great Ming has suffered such a defeat, unseen for decades. Naturally, those who wish to stir up trouble will emerge. It is not entirely surprising. As for the reasons, this old man believes it is impossible to articulate clearly... If the Emperor asks, simply state the facts as they are..."