Chapter 91: March on the Capital

“So, Jiangnan is already in chaos?”

Wei Lan asked.

“Yes.

The court sent over a hundred thousand troops to suppress the rebellion, but the imperial soldiers couldn’t defeat the bandits.

Of those hundred thousand, many were killed or wounded, and it’s said quite a few surrendered outright.”

Wang Mian quickly said.

“Yes, that’s what we heard too.

I serve in the imperial guard.

Lately, the ministers have been frequently summoned to the palace to discuss this matter.

Even the capital is filled with fear and anxiety.”

One of the imperial guards quickly added.

 

Wei Lan nodded and continued asking, “How is the old emperor’s health?”

“His Majesty’s health is deteriorating.

He even collapsed in the hall several times.

There are rumors from the palace that he doesn’t have much time left.

The Crown Prince and the other three princes are at each other’s throats.

I don’t know about the rest.

I was sent to deliver the decree.

Everything I’ve said is the truth.

Marshal, please spare me!”

Wang Mian started crying.

 

Fan Chuan and Wei Lan exchanged a glance.

She said, “Take them away and dispose of them.”

“Fan Chuan, you can’t do this to me!

I am a court official…”

 

Before long, the three men were taken away by the Fan family soldiers and executed.

“It seems the capital is truly in chaos.

The news just hasn’t reached us yet.

Cousin, there’s no time to waste in gathering provisions.”

Wei Lan stood up and said.

 

Fan Chuan nodded along.

“I’ll send out five more teams immediately to buy grain.”

“Good.”

 

The four of them immediately began to work busily.

Shen Lingwei and Lu Zijin were responsible for coordinating accounts and managing the silver.

Wei Lan, meanwhile, helped Fan Chuan handle various military matters.

 

After finishing their work in the afternoon, Wei Lan went to find Lu Zijin.

Lu Zijin and Shen Lingwei had just finished their tasks as well.

“Wife, are you done?”

Wei Lan asked.

“All done.

What’s the matter?”

Lu Zijin’s eyes curved as she asked softly.

“I want Xi Ye to teach us how to ride a horse.

With chaos about to break out, if something unexpected happens, knowing how to ride could save our lives.”

Wei Lan was a modern person; she knew how to drive a car, but she had no idea how to ride a horse.

“That makes sense.”

Lu Zijin nodded.

“Then I’ll go back and change clothes.”

“Mm.

Sister Shen, would you like to join us?”

Wei Lan asked politely.

“Sure.

I’ll change clothes too.”

Shen Lingwei thought for a moment and agreed.

Even if danger didn’t come later, learning to ride a horse had no downsides.

“Alright.

Then we’ll meet in the martial arts ground behind the residence in a bit.

There’s plenty of space there for the horses to run.”

Wei Lan said.

“Mm.”

 

Wei Lan took Lu Zijin’s hand and walked towards their courtyard.

On the way, she couldn’t help but swing Lu Zijin’s hand, acting spoiled.

 

The corners of Lu Zijin’s mouth lifted slightly.

Her little dog was too adorable.

 

Soon, Lu Zijin had changed into light clothes and gone with Wei Lan to the martial arts ground.

 

Shen Lingwei, meanwhile, was just about to leave when Fan Chuan returned.

“Finished with everything?”

Shen Lingwei asked.

“Mm.

The merchant teams have all set out.

Where are you off to?”

Fan Chuan saw she had changed clothes and asked.

“Wei Lan and the others are going to learn to ride horses.

I thought I’d learn too.

If danger arises in the future, knowing how to ride might save my life.”

Shen Lingwei said.

 

Fan Chuan nodded.

“That makes sense.

But I will protect you.

I will never let such a situation happen.”

“Mm.”

Shen Lingwei smiled gently at her.

 

Fan Chuan pulled Shen Lingwei into her arms.

“Let’s go.

I’ll go with you and teach you.”

“Alright.”

Shen Lingwei reached out and pushed Fan Chuan, but couldn’t move her.

She just didn’t understand why Fan Chuan was so strong.

 

It was only when Fan Chuan voluntarily let go that Shen Lingwei stepped back from her embrace.

 

Soon, the two arrived at the martial arts ground.

Wei Lan and Lu Zijin were already there.

“I’ll teach Lingwei.

Xi Ye, you teach Wei Lan and the others well.”

Fan Chuan smiled.

“Yes.”

Xi Ye said, then took the horse’s reins and led Wei Lan and Lu Zijin to one side to teach.

“I’ll first explain a few points of caution for riding a horse…”

Xi Ye began to explain step by step, including how to mount, how to hold and pull the reins, and what sitting posture on horseback was most efficient.

 

Wei Lan and Lu Zijin listened very attentively.

Then, they each mounted a horse and tried it out.

By the time the sky was almost dark, Wei Lan and Lu Zijin could already control the horses to walk slowly in the garden.

However, they couldn’t make them run yet.

 

On Fan Chuan’s side, it was the same, though Shen Lingwei’s stamina wasn’t as good as Lu Zijin’s.

She practiced mounting and dismounting many times, but in the end, she also learned to control the horse to walk in the garden.

 

Over the next few days, Wei Lan and the others generally handled matters in the morning and practiced horseback riding in the afternoon.

If it weren’t for the fact that learning martial arts required starting from childhood, Wei Lan would have wanted to learn some self-defense skills.

 

***

 

Finally, the steward and Qing Zhi arrived at the Marshal’s residence five days later.

 

Lu Zijin had someone arrange accommodations for them.

Qing Zhi and the steward then reported together to Lu Zijin about the situation in Panyang City.

“Young lady, apart from the ancestral home, all other properties have been sold.

This is over eight hundred thousand taels in silver notes.

Please look them over.”

Qing Zhi quickly handed the notes to Lu Zijin.

 

Lu Zijin glanced through them and nodded at the two.

“You’ve worked hard.

Did you run into any trouble?”

“It went fairly smoothly.

It’s just that Chen Zhou later bought two more cloth shops.”

Huang Min said.

“That’s fine.

The buyer doesn’t matter, as long as they don’t owe us silver.

You two go rest now.”

“Yes, young lady.”

The steward and Qing Zhi went down to rest.

 

Lu Zijin kept a few ten thousand taels in silver notes for emergencies.

The remaining eight hundred thousand taels, she planned to give all to Fan Chuan.

If fighting really broke out later, the silver would burn like fire.

 

***

 

Back in the capital, the palace had been sealed off.

The old emperor had lost consciousness several times and was now at death’s door.

Crown Prince Zhou Xiao had taken control of the emperor’s sleeping quarters and assumed the position of acting regent.

Of course, his three brothers refused to accept this and had already begun mobilizing their forces to converge on the capital.

 

That day was no different.

The Second Prince Zhou Ji, the Fifth Prince Zhou Xun, and the Ninth Prince Zhou Yang, along with the officials who supported them, blocked the palace gates completely.

“Go announce us!

Zhou Xiao, that traitor, has imprisoned our father!

We demand to see His Majesty!”

Zhou Ji shouted loudly.

“Yes, we want to see His Majesty!

We want to see His Majesty!”

The surrounding ministers shouted along.

 

Soon, the imperial guards reported the situation to Zhou Xiao.

Zhou Xiao’s face was covered in cold sweat, but he still gritted his teeth and said, “Have the imperial guards hold them off.

No one is to be allowed into the palace.

My uncle will arrive in the capital soon.

When he does, I will have all these traitors killed.”

 

Zhou Xiao went to the old emperor’s quarters.

He had already had someone draft the will.

He was just waiting to find the imperial jade seal to stamp it, and he would be the next emperor.

Of course, the old emperor had left a backup plan, hiding the seal early on.

That way, at least his sons wouldn’t dare kill him.

 

Zhou Xiao led his men into Zhou Nanfeng’s sleeping quarters.

The old emperor had finally regained a bit of energy that day, only to find that all his eunuchs and maidservants had been replaced.

The room was full of strangers.

He couldn’t even get a drink of water.

 

Seeing Zhou Xiao arrive, Zhou Nanfeng opened his dry, cracked lips.

“Xiao’er, quickly get me some water!

Fetch me water!

Where have you taken my attendants?”

 

Zhou Xiao waved his hand, and one of his men poured a cup of water.

Zhou Xiao held the porcelain cup in his hand, playing with it.

He smiled as he looked at Zhou Nanfeng.

“Father, your health is failing.

I asked the Imperial Physician; your body is severely depleted.

You have at most three more months.

But the realm cannot be without a ruler, so I have reluctantly assumed the role of acting regent.”

“You… you unfilial son!

Are you planning to commit treason?”

Zhou Nanfeng coughed heavily several times.

 

Zhou Xiao, however, laughed loudly.

“Treason?

Father, my three brothers are currently mobilizing their troops.

What do you think they’re doing?

Hahaha!

They just want the throne.

No one cares whether you live or die.

If you’re smart, you’ll hand over the imperial jade seal.

I’ll naturally let you be the Emperor Emeritus, and you can live comfortably for three more months.

Otherwise… well, you know.”

“Xiao’er, don’t frighten your father.

You are the Crown Prince.

The realm will be yours sooner or later.

If you treat me well, I will naturally pass the throne to you.”

Zhou Nanfeng pleaded.

He hadn’t eaten in a whole day, nor had a single drop of water.

 

Zhou Xiao sneered.

“Stop pretending to be a loving father.

Father, there is no one more ruthless in this world than you.

If you truly cared about me as the Crown Prince, why would you have supported my younger brothers?

In the end, we were all just tools for you to balance power.

You were afraid we would be useless, yet afraid we would do too well.

But you don’t need to be afraid anymore.

If you don’t hand over the seal, you don’t need to live.”

“Xiao’er, Xiao’er, no…”

 

But Zhou Xiao had lost patience.

“Don’t give this old man a single drop of water or a single grain of rice.

Let’s see how long he can stay stubborn.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

 

The next day, the old emperor, weak from hunger, fainted several times before finally handing over the seal.

 

He held a bowl of congee, eating it with trembling hands, while Zhou Xiao examined the seal by his sickbed.

 

His gaze turned cold as he looked at Zhou Nanfeng.

“Father, how is the last meal?”

 

Zhou Nanfeng was stunned for a moment, then tears welled up in his aged eyes as he looked at Zhou Xiao.

“Xiao’er, I’ve already given you the seal.

What more do you want?

I only want to live.

Please let me go, let me go!”

“Haha, Father, rest in peace.”

Zhou Xiao toyed with the seal in his hand.

Soon, blood spurted from Zhou Nanfeng’s mouth, and he convulsed and fell on the dragon bed.

 

Zhou Xiao, holding the seal, stood up and announced, “His Majesty has passed away.”

 

The news of Zhou Nanfeng’s death was kept tightly under wraps.

Only when Zhou Xiao’s uncle sent troops to reinforce him was the news of Zhou Nanfeng’s death and the Crown Prince’s ascension made public.

 

The Second Prince, Fifth Prince, and Ninth Prince all raised their armies, declaring they would kill Zhou Xiao, the parricide who had stolen the throne.

Suddenly, the area around the capital was in utter chaos.

Coupled with the constant rebellions across Jiangnan, the Great Zhou was engulfed in war.

Rebel armies sprang up everywhere.

 

When Fan Chuan received the news, a month had already passed.

She had left many spies in the capital, and upon learning this, they had rushed back to the northern border without stopping.

 

Fan Chuan handed the secret letter to Wei Lan, who read it immediately.

“His Majesty has died of illness.

The other three princes are leading armies to attack the capital.

The capital is in chaos.

Cousin, it’s time for us to raise our army.”

 

Fan Chuan looked at the others and nodded.

“But we must leave troops to guard Zhuozhou.

Otherwise, the barbarians will surely send people to plunder the people.”

 

Wei Lan nodded along.

Zhuozhou was their base.

Even if they raised their army, Zhuozhou could not fall into chaos.

Otherwise, they would have no retreat.

“I will leave the twenty thousand soldiers guarding the border behind.

Ten thousand will be stationed within Zhuozhou, and the remaining ten thousand at the checkpoint.”

Fan Chuan said after thinking for a moment.

“Cousin, we must act immediately.

We can only raise the banner of ‘clearing the court of evil’ to enter the capital while there is chaos.

If we delay any longer, once one side controls the capital, the situation will turn dire.”

Wei Lan reminded her.

“Alright.

I’ll arrange it immediately.

We’ll set out first thing tomorrow morning.”

Fan Chuan said, then quickly walked out.

 

Wei Lan looked at Lu Zijin and Shen Lingwei, a bit worried they wouldn’t be able to handle it, but there was no choice.

At this point, there was no place in the Great Zhou that was completely safe.

Wherever Fan Chuan’s army was, that was the safer place.

 

Soon, the news spread that the Fan family army was about to march on the capital.

Fan Chuan not only needed to arrange the order of march for the various generals for the next day, but also had to instruct the commanders responsible for escorting supplies behind the lines.

They needed to bring the silver with them on this departure, so they could purchase supplies at any time.

 

In the evening, Wei Lan hugged Lu Zijin, unable to sleep.

She hadn’t expected to leave the northern border so soon after arriving.

 

Lu Zijin felt Wei Lan shifting restlessly.

She hooked Wei Lan’s neck and kissed her.

After a long moment, she pulled back slightly and affectionately rubbed her nose against Wei Lan’s.

“What’s wrong?

Can’t sleep?”

“A little.

I wonder when the chaos will be brought under control.

And I really liked our residence in Panyang City.

If the Great Zhou falls into chaos, will our residence be destroyed?”

Wei Lan hugged Lu Zijin and murmured.

“I hope not.

But the Great Zhou’s soldiers are all showy.

I imagine my cousin’s Fan family army will sweep through them.”

Lu Zijin was also a bit worried about the ancestral home.

Fortunately, she had already moved the ancestral graves to a secret location.

Otherwise, the consequences would be unthinkable.

“Mm.”

Wei Lan acknowledged, hoping their journey would go smoothly.

 

So, early the next morning, Wei Lan and the others set out.

They traveled in two carriages.

As for the maidservants and servant boys attending them, everything was simplified.

They only brought thirty people in total.

The eighty thousand troops marched towards the capital in a mighty procession.

Adding the civilian laborers transporting supplies, there were over a hundred thousand people in total.

 

They marched for five or six days within Zhuozhou.

The local officials naturally let them pass; they were all Fan Chuan’s people.

When they reached other provinces, some officials, because troops were marching through their territories, sent people to inquire.

 

Fan Chuan simply had her generals say they were going to the capital to ‘clear the court of evil’.

The officials didn’t dare ask further.

At this time of crisis, they just wanted to save their own skins.

 

Moreover, in some places Fan Chuan passed through, chaos had already broken out.

There were rampant bandits, and some rebels had used the opportunity to rise up.

In short, many places were already out of control.

 

Reporting these local matters to the capital was completely useless.

The three princes had surrounded the capital with their armies.

Their only thought was to seize the throne first, then deal with the rebellions elsewhere.

 

***

 

The weather gradually turned cold.

Wei Lan held Lu Zijin in her arms inside the carriage, holding a hand warmer.

“Wife, are you cold?”

“I’m fine.

Are you cold?”

Lu Zijin pulled on Wei Lan’s ‘little dog’ plaque and asked softly.

 

Wei Lan hugged Lu Zijin tighter.

“Not cold.

We’re getting closer to the capital now.

I just heard Xi Ye say we’ll be there in ten more days.”

 

They said they were going to the capital, but Wei Lan and the others couldn’t be happy.

Along the way, they had seen too many refugees displaced by the war.

In some places, because the court had withheld their pay, the soldiers had simply risen up and become bandits, plundering the people.

The people were suffering.

 

Fan Chuan naturally saw this too.

But to reach the capital as quickly as possible and stabilize the situation, she had no time to attend to these matters.

Once the capital was stabilized, the rest would be easier to handle.

 

Shen Lingwei had been calculating the supplies consumed by their army along the way.

She had sent people to purchase supplies several times, so the Fan family army’s provisions were still quite ample, enough for at least two more months.

 

***

 

Another ten days passed quickly.

Fan Chuan’s army also camped on the outskirts of the capital.

With such a large force arriving, every faction in the capital was waiting for an opportunity to move.

The three princes, upon learning that the Fan family army had arrived, each tried to win Fan Chuan over.

 

They knew very well that the only army in the Great Zhou that was both capable and willing to fight was Fan Chuan’s Fan family army.

So, who ultimately sat on the throne depended entirely on whom Fan Chuan supported.

 

***

 

On the outskirts, in the commander’s tent, personal guards came to request an audience one after another.

“Marshal, the Second Prince has sent someone.

He wants you to send troops to reinforce him.

He also sent a letter.”

“Let him in.”

Fan Chuan sat in the commander’s seat, with Wei Lan seated to her left.

 

Soon, that official entered the tent.

He bowed to Fan Chuan and quickly said, “Marshal, the Crown Prince has assassinated the emperor and usurped the throne.

The Second Prince has gathered troops from everywhere to eliminate him.

Please, Marshal, lend your strength to the Second Prince.

If the Second Prince ascends the throne smoothly, he will definitely grant you the title of prince.”

 

Fan Chuan smiled and shook her head.

“Was it the Crown Prince who killed His Majesty, or the Second Prince trying to rebel?

These are all one-sided stories.

Go back and tell the Second Prince that I need to consider this matter.”

“Marshal, the military situation is urgent!

Our army is about to run out of provisions!

Please, help our prince!”

 

Fan Chuan waved her hand and said coldly, “Get out.”

 

That official sent by the Second Prince was immediately driven out by Fan Chuan’s personal guards.

 

Fan Chuan looked at Wei Lan and said, “It seems the situation is even worse than we imagined.

The capital is likely already in complete chaos.”

 

Wei Lan nodded.

She thought for a moment and said, “Cousin, you can agree to both sides’ requests, but on the condition that they send their troops to attack the capital tomorrow morning.

We’ll say we’ll send a large army to reinforce them.

As for when we send reinforcements, naturally, it will be after they’ve exhausted themselves fighting, and then we’ll wait for the right moment to act.”

 

Fan Chuan thought for a moment and nodded.

Although the Fan family army was powerful, it was still good to let the princes’ forces wear each other down.

“Alright.

I’ll arrange for it immediately.”

 

Soon, the Fifth Prince’s and Ninth Prince’s people also arrived.

Fan Chuan met with each of them and relayed the same message Wei Lan had just given to the two messengers.

 

Because Fan Chuan had always been a loyal minister, and her family was full of loyal martyrs, Zhou Ji, Zhou Xun, and Zhou Yang were at the end of their ropes.

So, the three sides actually believed Fan Chuan’s words.

 

***

 

Early the next morning, the three armies began to gather their forces at various city gates and launch their attacks.

Soon, the sounds of battle shook the heavens.

 

Fan Chuan had already ambushed ten thousand men outside each of the capital’s four gates.

She only gave the order to move when the fighting had worn them down considerably.

 

The battle lasted until the afternoon.

All three city gates had been breached.

In the middle of it, people kept coming to ask for reinforcements.

Fan Chuan naturally held her forces steady.

Only when she saw that the three sides’ forces were almost exhausted did she send in her troops.

 

Her military order was to leave no survivors.

Only by stabilizing the situation as quickly as possible could she prevent further casualties.

 

When the soldiers of the three princes saw the Fan family army’s banners, they thought their reinforcements had arrived.

What they got instead was even fiercer fighting.

The Fan family army was nothing like these weaklings.

Against these soft-footed soldiers, one Fan family soldier could take on three.

Soon, the gates around the capital were seized by the Fan family army.

 

Generals led the troops to clear the Great Zhou soldiers off the city walls.

The Fan family army had completely taken control of the capital’s gates.

 

As for the Fan family soldiers who entered the capital, they did not kill the common people, only the soldiers.

By sunset, the palace gates had already been breached.

 

Everyone in the capital was terrified.

None of the wealthy, powerful households dared to open their doors.

 

At that moment, at the Prime Minister’s residence, Shen Fangzhou had all the servant boys take up weapons and protect a small courtyard.

He had gathered his entire family in this courtyard.

“My lord, what’s happening out there?

Has the Second Prince won, or the Crown Prince?”

Zhang Qingwen was almost crying with fear.

 

Shen Fangzhou frowned.

“I don’t know.

The commotion outside is this loud.

The city gates must have been breached.”

 

Soon, a servant boy climbed down from the courtyard wall and hurried over to report.

“My lord, it’s… it’s the Fan family army!

I saw the banners outside flying the Fan family army’s flag.”

“The Fan family army is here?

Wonderful, absolutely wonderful!”

In Shen Fangzhou’s view, the Fan family was full of loyal martyrs, so the Fan family army would surely support the legitimate Crown Prince’s succession.

That way, the chaos in the capital would be contained, and he might continue to serve as prime minister.

 

Hearing Shen Fangzhou say this, Zhang Qingwen also breathed a small sigh of relief.

“Wonderful.

Fan Chuan and Lingwei are married.

No matter whom the Fan family army supports, they will definitely protect our Shen family.”

“Yes.

Eldest sister wouldn’t ignore us.”

“Great!

We’re saved!

We don’t need to be afraid anymore!”

 

Those younger siblings who had once resented and envied Shen Lingwei were now, one by one, remembering that they were related to her.

 

At the same time, Fan Chuan, leading ten thousand troops, rode directly to the palace gates.

“Marshal, all the city gates are under our control.

The remaining Great Zhou soldiers on the capital’s streets are still being cleared.

The palace gates are now in our hands.”

A general reported to Fan Chuan.

 

Fan Chuan nodded and said, “Good.

Charge in with me and take down the traitors who murdered His Majesty!”

“Yes!”

The soldiers’ battle cries shook the heavens.

 

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