Chapter 40: Going to Lingnan to Help
With the new emperor's ill-advised actions, Da Xuan was bound to descend into chaos. The Fifth Prince, Xia Yun, would inevitably be forced to rise in rebellion to save himself. Xu Ning had made a promise to Xia Yun during their journey together, so he was going to assist him.
However, Xu Ning didn't rush off immediately. Instead, he stayed in the capital for another month to observe how the situation developed.
During this month, Da Xuan's envoys went to the border to negotiate a peace treaty with the Cangming Empire.
They offered Princess Xia Li's hand in marriage to the Cangming Emperor and, more shockingly, the cession of the entire Nanling Continent as territorial compensation in exchange for a truce between the two countries.
Meanwhile, due to the sharply increased taxes, the entire Da Xuan region had already begun to show signs of unrest.
The common people simply couldn't afford to pay the new, higher taxes. Many would undoubtedly choose to become bandits or join rebel groups, thus avoiding taxes entirely. It was a vicious cycle.
Other decrees also affected various powerful parties, especially the decree stripping military commanders of their authority and replacing them with the new emperor's loyalists.
Xu Ning shook his head, thinking that the new emperor was truly foolish and short-sighted. He understood the emperor's intentions; he was simply eager to consolidate his own position quickly and eliminate all potential threats.
Increasing taxes was meant to quickly replenish the national treasury's deficit and produce a superficial achievement of a full treasury.
The peace talks with the Cangming Empire were intended to quickly stabilize the external war, giving him time to stabilize internal affairs. Ceding the Nanling Continent would also conveniently force the Fifth Prince, Xia Yun, into a corner, depriving him of his power base.
Other decrees stripping military power were designed to quickly seize direct control of the army and replace experienced generals with loyal but inexperienced men.
However, the new emperor never considered the consequences. Increased taxes would incite massive peasant uprisings. Ceding Lingnan would force the Fifth Prince to rebel to survive. And stripping military power would lead to widespread discontent and mutiny among the generals.
Without further thought, Xu Ning packed his few belongings and quietly left Mingdu City.
Mingdu City had been unsealed a few days prior. After all, the new emperor's reason for the lockdown—to eliminate dissidents within the city—had been largely accomplished.
Upon arriving outside the city walls, Xu Ning used the Thousand Shadows Transformation to change his appearance to that of an ordinary middle-aged traveler. He mounted Tie Dan and rode off in a southerly direction.
That day, the top scholar in the imperial examinations, a lowly Compiler in the Hanlin Academy, suddenly disappeared without a trace.
However, no one paid much attention to the departure of such a low-ranking official. His absence wasn't even noticed for a month.
When it was finally discovered and reported, the new emperor was too busy with the chaos engulfing his reign to take it seriously. The matter was eventually dropped and forgotten.
Normally, officials who left their posts without resigning should be arrested and severely sentenced.
However, the Great Xuan dynasty was now in turmoil. The new emperor was overwhelmed with urgent affairs and had no time to deal with a missing sixth-rank official.
Xu Ning traveled south for over two months and finally returned to Shentong Village.
Since he was going to Lingnan anyway, he naturally wanted to visit his teacher, Qiao Hexuan, one last time.
However, Xu Ning didn't return in his true form, as that would attract too much unwanted attention. Although to the imperial court, a sixth-rank official like him was nothing special, to a small village, a top scholar who had achieved the highest honors in the imperial examinations was a legendary figure. The villagers would swarm him.
His purpose was simply to visit his teacher's grave in peace. Xu Ning didn't want to draw any attention.
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However, what puzzled Xu Ning upon entering Shentong Village was the silence. He didn't hear the familiar sound of students reciting their lessons from the private school. His heart immediately sank with a bad feeling.
He quickly went into the village to inquire and learned the devastating truth. Qiao Hexuan had passed away.
It was said that he was so overcome with excitement upon receiving the news of his student's unprecedented success in the imperial examinations that his heart, weakened by age and disappointment, simply gave out. He couldn't catch his breath.
Hearing this news was like a bolt from the blue for Xu Ning. This was an outcome he had never imagined and found difficult to accept.
Xu Ning then inquired about the location of the grave and went alone to Qiao Hexuan's tomb.
Along the way, Xu Ning heard from the villagers that because Qiao Hexuan had no children or family, several families in the village had contributed to his burial after his death.
These families hadn't contributed out of genuine respect for Qiao Hexuan. Rather, they knew Xu Ning was a famous top scholar. They hoped his return would lead him to generously cover the funeral expenses, allowing them to profit from their small initial contribution.
Xu Ning sat down at the grave, set out wine cups and some simple snacks, and began to drink in silence. Finally, he spoke.
"Ah! Sir, you were persistent your whole life, chasing a single dream. And in the end, what did you truly gain?"
"If you had followed a different path, if you had married and had children, perhaps your son would be a high-ranking scholar by now. You could have been surrounded by grandchildren, living a happy and harmonious life in your old age. Why did you have to end up alone like this?"
Xu Ning kept muttering to himself, finally releasing all the words and thoughts he had held back for years. He mourned his teacher in his own way.
He sat at the grave all through the night, drinking and talking to the silence, before finally leaving at dawn.
As for Qiao Hexuan's funeral expenses, Xu Ning didn't pay the villagers anything. After all, Qiao Hexuan had still owned some land and fields. That property was more than enough to cover those people's funeral costs. How they divided it amongst themselves was not Xu Ning's concern.
However, Qiao Hexuan's death did help Xu Ning resolve a lingering knot in his heart.
He had already done everything he could for the other party. He believed that Qiao Hexuan hadn't died in despair. At least the things he had always longed for, the validation he had sought his entire life, had been fulfilled through Xu Ning.
Continuing south, a month later, Xu Ning rode Tie Dan into the territory of Lingnan.
Along the way, Xu Ning saw nothing but endless streams of refugees fleeing north.
News of Lingnan's cession to the Cangming Empire had already spread widely. Many people, not wanting to be ruled and exploited by the foreign empire in the future, decided to leave their homes and flee while they still could.
As for where they would ultimately escape to, they had no clear destination. They simply fled.
Xu Ning, who kept traveling in the opposite direction against the tide of refugees, drew many strange and pitying glances.
Soon, Xu Ning arrived at the Lingnan Royal Palace, the seat of the Fifth Prince's power.
At this time, the Lingnan Royal Palace was heavily guarded and surrounded by a large, nervous army. Tensions were high.
Xu Ning approached the gate and calmly explained his purpose to the soldiers on duty. "Please inform the King of Lingnan that Xu Ning has come specifically to seek refuge and offer my services."
The soldiers were surprised upon hearing this. They looked at Xu Ning with strange, curious eyes for a few moments.
After all, the entire Lingnan was in turmoil, and the King of Lingnan was caught in an impossible dilemma. Seeking refuge with him at this time was practically tantamount to courting death. Anyone with sense was fleeing, not arriving.
Despite their misunderstanding, the soldiers didn't delay. They quickly turned and went into the palace to report.
Soon, Xia Yun himself, along with Princess Xia Li, arrived at the palace gate to personally greet him.
"Mr. Xu Ning, you've finally arrived! I haven't been able to sleep these past few nights, waiting for this moment!" Upon seeing Xu Ning, Xia Yun's anxious face immediately showed a long-lost sense of relief and hope.
Princess Xia Li also quickly said, her eyes bright, "Mr. Xu Ning, it's been a long time. We are so glad you came."
Xu Ning quickly bowed formally. "Greetings, Fifth Prince, Princess."
Xia Yun quickly came over and personally helped Xu Ning up. "Mr. Xu Ning, from now on, there's no need for such formalities between us. You are my honored guest."
Xu Ning quickly shook his head, maintaining proper decorum. "A ruler is a ruler, a subject is a subject. A country has its laws, a family has its rules. Proper etiquette cannot be disregarded, Your Highness."
Xia Yun shook his head and smiled wryly. "I can't win an argument with you. Come, let's go inside and have a long talk. There is much to discuss."
Xu Ning didn't refuse, and the three of them went into the palace and sat down in a private chamber.
"Mr. Xu Ning, you've had a long and difficult journey. Would you like to rest first before we talk about urgent matters?" Xia Yun asked quickly after they were seated, trying to be courteous.
Surprisingly, Xu Ning nodded directly. "Alright, I am tired from the road. Rest would be welcome."
This answer caught Xia Yun and Xia Li completely off guard. They exchanged bewildered glances.
However, since Xu Ning had already spoken, they couldn't object. They personally escorted him to a comfortable guest room to rest.
On the way back to the main hall, Xia Li couldn't help but voice her confusion. "Brother, why do I feel like he's not in any hurry at all? The situation is already so urgent, and he doesn't seem to realize it. Shouldn't we be planning?"
Xia Yun considered this, then smiled knowingly. "Xia Li, this just proves that Mr. Xu is confident. Since he chose to come and help me at this dangerous time, he must already know my current situation perfectly well. He's not worried because he has a plan."
Xia Yun was currently facing an impossible choice. The new emperor was furiously urging him to return to the capital city immediately and complete the handover of Lingnan to the Cangming Empire as soon as possible.
This demand had put Xia Yun in a terrible dilemma.