Chapter 537: Annan Envoys |
The thirty-second year of Jianing, August 15th, the excellent Mid-Autumn festival.
Rooster crow.
Chen Ji from on the bed slowly sat his body up.
He slept a long, long sleep, and also dreamed a long, long dream.
The Ning Dynasty inside the dream had electric lights and air conditioning, had airplanes and high-speed rail. He simply stood on Chang'an Avenue, watching with his own eyes the time and light rapidly flowing past. The flows of humanity on the street shuffling back and forth like weaving shuttles. The sun, moon, and stars in the sky revolving.
Watching the pavilions, terraces, and towers beside Chang'an Street collapse. And there were again myriad-fathom tall buildings pulling up from the earth. Chengtian Gate also became Tiananmen. Winter finally lacked rows upon rows of beggar children, and also lacked people starved to death on street corners.
[Translation note: Skipped website advertisement message]
Chen Ji froze his spirit for a long time. Following which he laughed teasing himself faintly: "Thinking of what—"
He exited the door hoisting up the Carrying Pole, swaying and wobbling exiting Ginkgo Garden.
Hearing the sounds of the door opening, Chen Xu opened both eyes, slightly nodding his head: "Young Master ten thousand peaces."
Chen Ji carrying the Carrying Pole asked bewildered: "Steward is waiting for me?"
Chen Xu smiled faintly saying: "Young Master established a Capital Morning Post. Recently it has stirred up an entire city of wind and rain. The censors and speaking officials have largely offered impeachments. Old Master was worried it would destroy your heart's blood (hard work), so simply pressed it all down. You must know in this Capital City, doing more means more mistakes. Old Master being willing to press down this matter for Young Master, is precisely sharing the risks simultaneously. If the newspaper had an incident occur, Old Master's pure reputation would suffer damage together with it."
Chen Ji thought Chen Xu came to sell human sentiments (collect a favor) on behalf of Elder Chen. Immediately he said sincerely and earnestly: "Many thanks—"
However not waiting for him to speak thanks, Chen Xu actually turned the edge of his words: "However Old Master also didn't think, it was him overthinking it. He originally thought Young Master never studied learning, and in this massive Capital City facing civil officials you would ultimately eat a bit of hidden losses. But Old Master said you are intelligent; after eating a few losses you would simply know how you should intersect and converse with them. Yet Young Master is endowed with extraordinary natural talents. In three sentences you simply pressed down the censors and speaking officials until they couldn't speak words out. Reaching yesterday, there actually wasn't even a single memorial impeaching you left."
Wishing for the poor families of the world, that upon their desks there are books, and before their windows there is light.
Wishing for the commoners of the world, that inside their stoves there is fire, and on the streets there are no frozen bones.
Wishing for the commoners of the world, that inside their bowls there is rice, and inside their cooking pots there is millet.
Chen Xu smilingly said: "From now and heading later, the literati scholars of the world seeing Young Master will first be shorter by a head (feel inferior). Commoners will also have to bear the sentiments of my Chen Family. Young Master has excellent methods."
Chen Ji remained silent for a moment before saying: "Steward, that is not a method."
Chen Xu stared blankly slightly: "Not a method?"
Chen Ji by no means explained.
He published and printed movable type printing and paper-making improvements on the Morning Newspaper. The people of the world universally thought it was his method for the sake of fighting an arena match with Wenyuan Bookstore. He had the Little Monk write those three sentences. The Chen Family thought it was his method used to block the mouths and tongues of the world.
But they entirely weren't.
Of course, it was also fundamentally not important.
Chen Ji smilingly asked: "If Steward lacks matters, I will simply go carry water.
[Translation note: skipped typo/glitch]
Chen Xu evaluated Chen Ji: "Listening to the subordinates speak, Young Master recently universally goes outside the estate to carry water? Is it because the water well within the estate was renovated anew, and does not suit Young Master's heart's intentions?"
Chen Ji didn't wish to explain excessively, only able to prevaricate saying: "It isn't. Many thanks for Steward's good intentions. I merely wished to go to the marketplace to look."
Chen Xu lowered his eyelids: "Young Master, a person cannot always live in the past. Right Prefecture Street's Chen Family is precisely your home."
Chen Ji turned his body walking toward the outside of the Chen Estate: "Steward, there is nothing that cannot be done. What I care about most has all been left in the past."
Chen Xu seeing him unwilling to chat much, immediately said loudly behind his body: "Young Master. Today is the excellent Mid-Autumn festival. The Qi Family is hosting a night banquet for guests and friends within their estate. You and Third Miss Qi fought for this long, and now have won. You should also ease the relationship mutually as well. After all moving forward you still must live passing the days together. Old Master today having me seek you, is also hoping you could follow Old Master to attend the banquet together... The Chen and Qi families after all still must handle matters together within the royal court."
Chen Ji's footsteps paused for a second, continuing to walk outside the estate: "Alright."
He gradually grew accustomed to walking very distant roads to go carry water. By himself passing through the crowd of people. Lacking people he was not too familiar with displaying false pleasantries. And also lacking the need with people to explain why he would do which matters.
Chen Ji passed through Chang'an Avenue heading east. Having just arrived outside Chengtian Gate, he heard the sounds of horse hooves transmitting over.
He looked toward the south. Imposingly seeing the Feather Forest Army their bodies draped in silver armor, heads wearing white feathers, draped in white capes, hands holding sun, moon, and star banners. Currently using two columns to guard a line of people and horses heading north passing through Zhengyang Gate.
It was the Annan Envoy.
Back then before the Fragrant Hills Spring Hunt Capital City had a victorious report come. Chen Ji thought it was Mister Wang winning a great victory in Goryeo. As a result it actually was Jiaozhi's Provincial Administration Commissioner Yang Xun borrowing eight thousand elites of the Kingdom of Annam to capture the King of Siam alive in a great victory.
At that moment it was still early March, now it was already August.
At this time, the Officials of the Six Ministries yamen in succession stopped the matters in their hands, standing before the yamen curiously evaluating the envoy ranks. The relatives and dependents of the inner city's officials and nobles also came out in succession, standing along the streets fully packed.
Someone pushed and shoved Chen Ji squeezing forward. Pushing until the wooden buckets carried on his shoulders swayed and wobbled.
The person pushing and shoving him not only did not apologize, but instead cast a sidelong glance at him for a look: "A water-carrier coming to gather whatever liveliness. Go to the side."
Chen Ji paid them no heed. Only stopping his footsteps fixing his eyes to evaluate the honor guard.
Within the ranks being guarded, the leading single person's body wore red clothing Official Robes. Before his chest embroidered with the official square of a golden pheasant. Definitely it was Jiaozhi's Provincial Administration Commissioner Yang Xun, a legitimate rank-two grand official.
Behind his body was a blackly swarthy complexioned old man. Also together wearing Ning-system red clothing Official Robes, merely lacking the official squares. Thinking on it it must be the Annan envoy.
This person had an appearance of around fifty years of age, his hair already turning white and grey. From Annan coming to Capital City taking several thousands of miles of boats and carriages laboring and exhausting. The tired state upon his face showed entirely.
And further behind, were over ten prisoner carts. Inside having old having young, having males having females. Thinking on it the great victory merely mentioned capturing the King alive, but in reality took Siam's royal family bringing them entirely back. The King of Siam had disheveled hair and a dirty face, his complexion numb. It seemed going north this entire road, he early on had already been displayed by the Ning Dynasty countless times.
Succeeding as King defeated as bandit, it was merely like this.
When the Feather Forest Army arrived to the nearby front, Chen Ji carried the Carrying Pole yielding to the side. Quietly watching the honor guard pass by.
Li Xuan saw him inside the crowd of people. Immediately nodding to signal his intentions. Following this every single Feather Forest Army holding him, actually universally gave a soundless greeting.
The Officials and commoners surrounding and watching along the road perceived the bizarreness. Following the Feather Forest Army's gazes looking over, discovering the person the Feather Forest Army gave greetings to was merely a youth rolling his sleeves, carrying a Carrying Pole.
Someone said in a low voice: "It's that one."
Finally someone remembered the story of Chen Ji and the Feather Forest Army, and also the rumors of the Feather Forest Army looking only to the head of his horse (following his lead entirely): "It's the Baron of Wuxiang County."
Chen Ji seeing someone guess out his own identity, unwilling to have his appearance remembered by too many people. Immediately prepared to lower his head and leave.
However he had just turned his body, and Qi Zhenzhuo within the honor guard willfully left the ranks. Leaning his body down by the roadside he said to Chen Ji: "Master!"
The pedestrians originally surrounding and watching Siam's royal family, in succession cast gazes toward Chen Ji. It seemed he was even more eye-catching and sigh-attracting than the King of Siam.
Chen Ji carrying the Carrying Pole retreated backward a step, standing beneath the Eaves frowning: "The honor guard is precisely the national majesty. Willfully leaving the honor guard be careful of censors impeaching you, taking your Commander Official Position and plucking it off."
"Also not lacking this one time. Here isn't a place for speaking words. Let's go to the Feathered Forest Army Commander's Mansion," Qi Zhenzhuo whipped his horse walking several dozen steps and simply turned into the commander's mansion's outer gates. Continuing until entering the door, only then did he speak with a complex complexion: "Master. The Annan Envoy behind Yang Xun is the King Annan Li Shouze. We and our peers today proceeded to Fengtai Post Station to welcome him back. On the road I heard—"
Chen Ji was bewildered: "Heard what?"
Qi Zhenzhuo hesitated for a moment: "Heard that his entering the capital this time wasn't merely to present the King of Siam to receive rewards... he also wishes to form a peace marriage with our Ning Dynasty, asking His Majesty to bestow a marriage."
Chen Ji's heart sank a bit.
Vassal states begging for a marriage wasn't for the sake of a woman. But instead hoping the Heavenly Dynasty Upper Nation would dispatch envoy missions, craftsmen, and physicians. Taking Han land's agricultural farming techniques, medical skills, and textile weaving weaving bringing it over. Enabling the development of their native kingdom.
This originally was precisely a kind of reward towards vassal states.
But Emperor Ning lacks daughters. Originally he still had two Commandery Princesses. Now he also only has one remaining, Zhu Baili.
Chen Ji raised his head looking toward Qi Zhenzhuo. The other party's expression was complex. He asked in a low voice: "Guessed it?"
Qi Zhenzhuo earnestly said: "Master, the story of you and the Commandery Princess was early on already transmitted throughout Capital City via the 'Four Dreams of Bianliang'. Although you have never once mentioned it. Although you only say the story is fabricated. Yet on the day of offering sacrifices at the First Silkworm Altar you intentionally walked shoulder-to-shoulder with Commandery Princess Baili, and also outside Zhongcui Palace stared blankly at Jingyang Palace... we also aren't fools."
Chen Ji was silent and unspeaking.
Qi Zhenzhuo sighed: "Zhaoning is my younger sister. According to speech I shouldn't insert many mouths on this matter. I should watch the Commandery Princess marry distantly to the King Annan instead for it to be correct... sooner or later you will naturally have a day where you forget the Commandery Princess. But recalling you walking here this entire road from Guyuan in a Narrow Escape from nine deaths and one life... I also lack the means to endure my stance to not tell you."
Chen Ji turned his head looking at King Annan's aged and hunched back figure. He stood by the roadside. One by one the Feather Forest Army hoisted banners and whipped horses passing by his side. The shadows cast down by the sunlight upon his face wavered dark and light.
He couldn't wait until next year's April anymore.
At the end of the honor guard someone whipped their horse forward. A Court of State Ceremonial temple deputy urged Qi Zhenzhuo: "Commander Qi, do not delay time at this place. The ranks in front have already arrived below Meridian Gate!"
Qi Zhenzhuo hummed an acknowledgement. When again turning his head back wanting to bid farewell to Chen Ji, yet he only saw the Carrying Pole and water buckets tossed onto the ground.
He raised his head seeking them out. Precisely seeing Chen Ji's figure turning the street corner disappearing un-seen.
Qi Zhenzhuo opened his mouth slightly, reminding in a small voice: "Tonight my family's Mid-Autumn night banquet, don't forget to go ah—"
(End of this chapter)