A Request to Send a Large Force to Suppress the Bandits

Two days later, Xiao Mingyuan and his entourage entered the Capital and went straight back to the Prince's residence.

As soon as he entered the mansion, he took off his cloak and instructed his personal attendants:

"Go to Shuntian Prefecture immediately and convey my message: seize all of Zhou Household family's shops in the Capital, and arrest all members of the Zhou Household. Charge them with colluding with rebels and aiding the enemy in treason. I will send the evidence later. Tell them to act quickly and not let the ringleader escape."

The attendant bowed and replied "Yes," then turned and quickly went out to relay the order. Xiao Mingyuan rubbed his temples and went to rest in the backyard.

The next morning, Xiao Mingyuan changed into his court robes and went to the Ministry of War first.

He sought out a familiar Vice Minister of Ministry of War, embellished the story of the rampant banditry in Azure Cloud Stronghold in Yuxi Prefecture and the repeated failures of the three thousand Government Army to conquer it, and secretly promised many benefits. He then finalized the plan to dispatch elite troops south to suppress the bandits, and was just waiting for the formalities to be completed and the documents to be issued.

After leaving the Ministry of War, he went straight into the palace and headed towards the Empress's Palace of Eternal Spring.

Empress Su Lingwei was leaning against a soft couch, reviewing account books, when she heard her son had returned. She immediately summoned him in. Upon seeing Xiao Mingyuan's haggard appearance and dark circles under his eyes, she frowned.

"You silly child, what happened to you after your trip to Chang'an?"

"Mother, please don't mention it."

Xiao Mingyuan stepped forward, curtsied, and sat down, his face showing a mixture of lingering fear and resentment.

"Your Majesty, I almost didn't make it back to see you this time."

Su Lingwei's heart tightened:

"What exactly happened? The three cultivators I arranged for you to protect you, none of them did?"

"They're all gone."

Xiao Mingyuan lowered his eyes, his voice deep:

"Your subject originally intended to discuss cooperation with merchants in Yuxi Prefecture who made new-style carriages, hoping to bring this carriage manufacturing method under government control, which would also add a source of income for the court."

Who would have thought that the merchant Shen Jingchuan, who appeared polite on the surface, was actually a cultivator with hidden cultivation, and was even colluding with the rebels of Azure Cloud Stronghold.

Not only did he refuse to cooperate as ordered, but he also turned hostile on the spot and attacked me in the street. The three guards who were protecting me from the encirclement were all killed by him.

"Your Majesty, I risked my life to lead the remaining people out of here."

"Such a thing has happened?" Su Lingwei's expression changed drastically, her fingers clenching the handkerchief tightly. "A local merchant dares to lay a hand on a prince? How many heads does he have?!"

"What's even more infuriating is yet to come."

Xiao Mingyuan raised his eyes, his tone becoming somewhat sinister:

"My third sister, Xiao Mingshu, was also in that Shen family's residence. When I was besieged, she just watched from the sidelines without offering any help."

Your son suspects... that she's in cahoots with Shen Jingchuan, deliberately using local power to try and get rid of you."

"That bastard!"

Su Lingwei slammed her hand on the table, the teacup clattering against the tray, her eyes filled with anger.

"A mere illegitimate child, relying on her limited cultivation, dares to act so lawlessly! She even dares to harm her own brother—what is she thinking!"

"Please calm down, Your Majesty."

Xiao Mingyuan offered a perfunctory word of advice, only to add fuel to the fire:

"I don't want to think that way either, but the circumstances at the time left me no choice but to be suspicious."

It's strange that a princess like her, instead of staying in the palace, would run off to Yuxi Prefecture, a thousand miles away, and get involved with local merchants.

Now, your son has requested the deployment of elite Government Army to suppress Azure Cloud Stronghold, but I fear she might interfere again.

"She dares!" Su Lingwei said coldly, "Suppressing bandits is a matter of national importance. How dare she, a mere illegitimate daughter of the royal family, interfere in military affairs? You just go ahead and do it; I'll back you up. As for Xiao Mingshu, I have my own ways of dealing with her."

Inside the imperial study, the bright yellow candlelight burned quietly. Emperor Xiao Chengyu of the Great Qian Dynasty sat upright behind his desk, clutching a memorial from the Ministry of War of War requesting troops, his brows slightly furrowed. He put down his vermilion brush, looked up at the eunuchs standing outside the hall, and said in a calm voice:

"The Vice Minister of Ministry of War Han Wenyuan summoned for an audience."

Half an hour later, Han Wenyuan strode into the hall, knelt on one knee, and bowed. "Your subject Han Wenyuan pays respects to Your Majesty."

Get up.

Xiao Chengyu tapped the memorial with his fingertip, his tone calm yet imposing:

"Did you submit this memorial requesting troop deployment? It's just the clearing out of a mountain stronghold, yet you're calling for 8,000 Black Armor Guards and another 10,000 troops drawn from the northern border army. I'd like to ask, since when has a bandit's den become worth such a large-scale operation? Isn't this making a mountain out of a molehill?"

Han Wenyuan stood up with his hands at his sides and replied respectfully:

"Your Majesty, I dare not conceal the truth. The bandits of Azure Cloud Stronghold number in the tens of thousands and hold a strategic position. Previously, Chang'an sent three thousand Government Army to besiege them, but not only did they fail to capture the village, they also suffered heavy losses."

It just so happens that His Highness the Third Prince is passing through Yuxi Prefecture, and he specifically mentioned to me that this band of bandits is far more powerful than ordinary mountain bandits. If they are not wiped out as soon as possible, they may become a dangerous threat.

He paused, then added:

"As Your Majesty is also aware, the northern regions are suffering from a severe drought this year, with areas north of Chang'an being disaster zones, and Yuxi Prefecture being the hardest hit."

With refugees rising up everywhere and people's hearts in turmoil, if this band of bandits is allowed to grow stronger, it is inevitable that disaster victims will go to seek refuge there. At that time, if we want to quell the rebellion, the price we have to pay will only be greater.

Your Majesty also intended to mobilize a large force for a swift victory, lest delays lead to unforeseen complications and destabilize the region.

Xiao Chengyu tapped his fingertips lightly twice on the edge of the table. Upon hearing the words "Third Prince," his eyes flickered slightly. He hesitated for a moment, then waved his hand.

"I understand. You may return now; the approval will be sent to the Ministry of War later."

"Your subject obeys the decree." Han Wenyuan bowed and withdrew.

The hall fell silent again, and Xiao Chengyu looked at the eunuch beside him:

"Summon the Third Prince to the palace."

About half an hour later, Xiao Mingyuan hurriedly arrived at the Imperial Study and bowed respectfully upon entering:

"Father, I pay my respects to you."

"Get up." Xiao Chengyu looked up at him and pushed the memorial to the side of the table. "You knew about this memorial about mobilizing troops to suppress bandits beforehand?"

Xiao Mingyuan was already prepared, but he put on a solemn expression and stepped forward, saying:

"Your Majesty, I know. I happened to pass through Yuxi Prefecture a few days ago and saw the situation of Azure Cloud Stronghold with my own eyes."

This band of bandits was no ordinary mountain bandits who robbed and plundered. Their stronghold was built entirely of huge stones, and the terrain was extremely treacherous, making it impossible for ordinary Government Army to attack.

More importantly, their weapons and equipment were exceptionally superior, far surpassing those of the local garrison soldiers.

He stepped forward, his tone becoming even more somber:

"Father, the north is currently suffering from a severe drought, and refugees are everywhere. This is a time of great unrest. This group has occupied the mountain stronghold and stockpiled grain and fodder, which will sooner or later attract a large number of disaster victims. If we do not eliminate them today, they will surely become a major threat in the future. I believe that the safest approach is to mobilize a large army to wipe them out in one fell swoop."