Jin Feng was eating when he heard this. His hand trembled slightly, but he quickly regained composure and asked indifferently, “What happened?”
As he spoke, he pulled his favourite dish closer to himself.
“Someone has rebelled!”
As soon as Qing Muluan finished speaking, there was a chorus of coughing at the table.
Except for little E who did not yet understand and Jin Feng who had already guessed, everyone else choked.
“Where?”
Jin Feng secretly rejoiced in his foresight. He used his sleeve to shield the plate, otherwise the meal would have been ruined.
“Jin Province!”
Qing Muluan quickly recounted the information she had received.
In the past, when the court increased taxes, the people would protest, but usually it would die down after a while. The emperor and court ministers were used to it.
They thought this time would be the same and pass quickly, but they were wrong. Reports from various regions all indicated that the people’s resistance was extremely intense.
Memorials from provincial governors and prefects stated that locals were constantly fleeing to become refugees. The number and spread were unprecedented since the founding of Da Kang, and the trend was continuing to grow.
A few days later, Emperor Chen Ji received the first memorial about rebellion since his ascension. In Jin Province, when government troops surrounded fleeing refugees for suppression, they raised flags in revolt and gained widespread support from the people.
In just a few days, the rebels expanded several times over, successively capturing two county seats and even besieging the prefectural city.
The provincial governor was frightened by the rebels’ scale and momentum. He immediately dispatched a red-feathered urgent courier to Bianjing for help.
“And then?” Jin Feng asked. “What does the court plan to do?”
“What else can they do? Send troops to suppress it.”
Qing Muluan said, “And I received news that someone in the court proposed sending Brother Qing Huai’s Iron Forest Army to suppress it.”
“What?!”
This time Jin Feng almost choked. “Transfer the Iron Forest Army to suppress the rebellion and let a dandy leader like Zhang Qiwei guard Qingshui Valley?”
What kind of places were Qingshui Valley and Weizhou City?
They were the northern gate of Da Kang!
He had long known that court infighting in Da Kang was severe, but he had not expected it to reach this extent!
These court ministers were actually ignoring the gate because of their struggles?
“Sir, you are right. The proposal came from the Zhang family.”
Qing Muluan smiled bitterly. “Perhaps they think with trebuchets and heavy crossbows, they can easily block Qingshui Valley just like you did.”
“If it were that simple, the Ansu Army and Yongan Army would not have been beaten so badly back then!”
Jin Feng’s face changed with anger. “Is the Zhang family retaliating because Marquis Qing broke Zhang Qiwei’s leg?”
After all, he had fought in Qingshui Valley, so he had feelings for Qingshui Valley and Weizhou City.
Not everyone who obtained advanced weapons could win battles. What ultimately decided victory was not the weapons, but the people using them.
Previously, when the Iron Forest Army was surrounded, General Fan of the Western Pacification Army sent the Ansu and Yongan Armies to rescue them. Both armies had learned the Macedonian phalanx and had more men than the Dangxiang, but what use was that?
They were routed halfway by Dangxiang cavalry, suffering heavy casualties and fleeing in disarray!
“Sir, do not be angry. It is only a proposal from the Zhang faction right now. His Majesty is still considering and has not agreed.”
Qing Muluan said.
“My heavens, does this even need consideration?”
Jin Feng clutched his cheek, feeling a toothache. “Is he not afraid that Qingshui Valley will be taken by the Dangxiang?”
He had almost blurted out “fatuous ruler” just now.
“Perhaps His Majesty and the lords think Qingshui Valley has been occupied by Dangxiang many times before, so one more time makes no difference.”
Qing Muluan said helplessly. “Brother Qing Huai achieved great merit at the border. This time Uncle also used Zhou Wenyuan to gain many benefits from the Zhou family in court. So now the court is full of talk that our Qing family has too much ambition and wants to control both court and military.
His Majesty originally favours the art of balance. Hearing such rumours often, he naturally wants to curb our Qing family a bit.”
“Can now be the same as before?”
Jin Feng slapped the table. “In the past, Dangxiang could break through Qingshui Valley at any time, so they did not care and were too lazy to spend military rations to garrison it.
But last time Dangxiang suffered a huge loss at Qingshui Valley. I dare say this: if Dangxiang seizes Qingshui Valley again this time, they absolutely will not give it up. They will definitely station heavy troops there. Then it will be difficult for the Iron Forest Army to block Dangxiang again!
Moreover, if Dangxiang breaks in, they will absolutely not just plunder some wealth and Han slaves before withdrawing. They are very likely to march straight into the Central Plains!
By the way, what is your uncle’s attitude?”
Since ancient times, most emperors played the game of balance. If any minister showed signs of dominating, they would weaken him and find an opponent to prevent one-family dominance.
In peacetime, this was indeed necessary, as history had many generals who rebelled with military power.
But now with national crisis at hand, the emperor still wanted to play balance. Jin Feng was speechless and could only pin hopes on Duke Qing.
With Duke Qing’s influence, if he strongly opposed, there was still a big chance for turnaround.
“Uncle has not stated his position.”
Qing Muluan answered somewhat guiltily.
Hearing this, Jin Feng disappointedly covered his forehead and did not want to speak.
Duke Qing not stating a position actually already showed his attitude.
“Sir, the people’s call for the Iron Forest Army is really too high right now. Uncle is also worried that His Majesty will suspect Brother Qing Huai, so he does not oppose letting him go suppress the rebellion to reduce the Iron Forest Army’s fame a bit.”
Qing Muluan explained.
“Do not say more. I understand.”
Jin Feng waved his hand weakly.
He was not stupid and naturally knew Duke Qing’s intentions.
From the perspective of a father and subject, Duke Qing was not wrong. History was full of generals killed by emperors for overshadowing the ruler with merit.
Jin Feng also did not want Qing Huai to become one of them.
But he even less wanted foreign hooves to trample the Central Plains and slaughter compatriots.
“Is Da Kang truly beyond saving?”
Jin Feng sighed in his heart.
The emperor was incompetent, ministers each harboured their own thoughts, all calculating their little plans.
This gave Jin Feng a deep sense of powerlessness.
The thought of rebellion even flashed in his mind.
But it was quickly suppressed.
Because he knew he was fine tinkering with machinery but was not material for governing.
Even the current affairs of West River Bay gave him a headache. He wished to throw it all to the village head, let alone manage a country.
Among those he trusted, there was no such talent either.
The consequence of rebellion was likely to plunge the realm into chaos without resolution.
Rather than that, it was better to be a spectator in this small mountain village, living the simple life he dreamed of in his previous life.
Jin Feng had clearly indicated he did not want to talk. Normally, Qing Muluan would never persist.
But this time, Qing Muluan did not leave and continued, “Sir, there is something I want to discuss with you.”
“What is it?”
Jin Feng looked up and asked.
“I want to ask sir to help my brother…”
