Chapter 246: Chapter 246: Inspector
Governor Xue’s letter has finally arrived.
Jiang Shaohua tugged vaguely at the corners of her lips: "Present the letter."
Chen Jinyu acknowledged and presented the letter. Jiang Shaohua took the letter, quickly opened it, and read it through.
Governor Xue is a Standard Second Rank high official of the court and the highest-ranked civil servant within Jingzhou. When Prince Nanyang was alive, Governor Xue often sent letters of regards, and their correspondence was quite frequent. After Prince Nanyang’s death, they naturally drifted apart.
In the officialdom, it is common for relations to cool once a person is gone. Jiang Shaohua, the Nanyang County Princess, was merely an underage young girl. Governor Xue maintained superficial respect, feeling it sufficient, without needing to curry favor.
Over the past two years, Jiang Shaohua has been secretly recruiting troops and amassing power, while also reforming official administration, yet outwardly maintaining a low profile. The most talked-about aspect is the monthly letters and lavish gifts sent to Jingyang Palace. In Governor Xue’s view, this clearly appeared as Jiang Shaohua trying to cling to Empress Dowager Zheng for shelter and protection.
Thus, Governor Xue did not regard the Nanyang County Princess highly.
Unexpectedly, when the Princess took action, it shook the earth.
A few days ago, Governor Xue received a letter from the Princess, and after reading it, he was astonished and speechless for a long time. Thereafter, he picked up his pen to write this reply letter.
In the letter, Governor Xue expressed his heartfelt gratitude and respect for the Princess’s firm action in suppressing the rebels, and on behalf of all the civilians and officials in Jingzhou, extended deep gratitude. Finally, he also mentioned his intention to provide silver to reward the soldiers of the Nanyang Army.
"Governor Xue is very perceptive." Jiang Shaohua laughed joyfully upon reading this, casually handing the letter to Chief Historian Feng: "Chief Historian Feng, there’s no need to worry about military funds anymore."
Chief Historian Feng skimmed through the letter hurriedly, and his furrowed brows also relaxed, saying happily: "Indeed, this is good news. In the future, if the court questions us, Governor Xue will have our back."
Jiang Shaohua gave an affirmative hum.
Chen Jinyu, now with broadened horizons and considerable insight, remarked with a low chuckle upon hearing this: "In my opinion, Governor Xue is indeed exceptionally shrewd. With just one command from the Princess, the Nanyang Army was swiftly dispatched. How could Governor Xue not be shocked, hence his generous contribution of military funds?"
Jiang Shaohua smiled faintly: "It’s best that he is sensible."
What followed was, if he were not, then I, the County Princess, would teach him sense.
The Princess speaks and acts with increasing boldness.
Chen Jinyu looked over with eyes filled with admiration. Jiang Shaohua was amused: "Alright, stop fooling around. Go prepare pen and ink, I need to write a reply to Governor Xue."
...
Five days later, at the Inspector Mansion.
"My Lord," a middle-aged man of ordinary stature entered the study with a letter in hand: "The Princess’s handwritten reply has arrived, please have a look."
Governor Xue, recently troubled, sleepless and anxious, with red-rimmed eyes, immediately put down the document in his hand, took the letter, and read it carefully.
The Nanyang County Princess, Jiang Shaohua, wrote in a delicate regular script reminiscent of an ordinary noblewoman. Yet, the contents of the letter made one’s heart race.
"... The Nanyang Army is the stationed army in Jingzhou, and protecting peace within Jingzhou is an undeniable duty. This deployment aims to eradicate the rebels completely. If manpower is insufficient, there are elite soldiers in the Nanyang Guard Camp, ready at any time. Please rest assured, Governor Xue, and await good news."
How could he rest assured?
These words were like a massive stone pressing on the heart, heavy and suffocating.
The aide noticed the Governor’s unsightly expression and asked in a low voice: "My Lord, why do you look unwell? Is there something inappropriate in the Princess’s letter?"
This aide, surnamed Zhang, came from a scholarly background, but repeatedly failed the Advanced Scholar exams. Back then, Governor Xue was only a regular Sixth Rank official and recruited him as an aide. Later, Governor Xue’s career went smoothly, eventually rising to the position of Jingzhou Governor. Aide Zhang has always followed him closely.
Currently, the Inspector Mansion has five aides, and Aide Zhang is the most senior and trusted by Governor Xue.
Governor Xue sighed and handed the letter to Aide Zhang. After reading it, Aide Zhang’s expression also grew serious, and he lowered his voice: "My Lord, this Princess is truly extraordinary."
Isn’t she?
Silently controlling the Nanyang Army, with an invincible elite Personal Guard under her command. With such formidable military power, she could dominate Jingzhou.
Governor Xue steadied himself and said: "No matter what, it’s a good thing the Princess is willing to send troops to quell the bandits. Otherwise, with such bandits near the Jingzhou roads, merchants wouldn’t dare to travel, and the people would be in fear for their lives, unsettled."
"Go to the Household Department immediately, and have them disburse fifty thousand taels of silver to be sent to the Nanyang Prince Mansion. Since the Princess is deploying troops, it is only right that the Inspector Mansion bears the military expenses."
Aide Zhang thought for a moment and suggested in a low voice: "Why not send the military funds directly to the Nanyang Army Camp? If we’re giving it anyway, it should at least earn the soldiers’ favor for the Lord Governor."
Governor Xue frowned: "Inappropriate! The Nanyang Army is the Princess’s domain. Doing so would mean bypassing the Princess to win over the troops’ hearts."
"Never mind whether fifty thousand taels could earn their loyalty. Even if it did help a little, it would still anger the Princess, ultimately doing more harm than good."
Admittedly, being a Governor of a state requires some extraordinary qualities. Once Governor Xue realized the Princess’s formidable strength, he immediately adjusted to a respectful stance, conducting himself with extra caution.
Aide Zhang gave a sheepish smile: "The Lord is thorough in his thoughts, while I was too rash and imprudent."
Governor Xue said indifferently: "Please go to the Household Department and handle this task properly. Also, continuously monitor any developments from the court, and report immediately if there’s any news."
Aide Zhang acknowledged and withdrew.
A few days later, the silver was delivered to the Nanyang Prince Mansion.
Jiang Shaohua did not stand on ceremony, instructing Chief Historian Feng to store the silver and use it as military funds.
During this time, Yu Chong’s Nanyang Army had already located the rebels’ trace and engaged them. On one side were the rebels lacking weapons, horses, and armor; on the other side were well-fed, well-trained elite soldiers—one clash revealed the disparity.
The rebels were decisively defeated and fled in disarray.
Yu Chong divided his forces into three, pursuing relentlessly. They killed several hundred rebels and captured over three hundred prisoners.
The battle was fought neatly and beautifully. Upon receiving the battle report, the court lavishly praised the Nanyang Army, and they received significant attention.
In the Personal Guard Camp, Qin Zhan and Meng Dashan felt somewhat regretful and dissatisfied.
"The Princess ordered the Nanyang Army to take action, putting them in the spotlight. If it were our Personal Guard Camp, we would have won more decisively."
"Indeed? Why bother with prisoners, just cut them all down!"
Liu Hengchang remained unmoved, speaking softly: "If the Personal Guard Camp were deployed, it would attract too much attention. The Princess ordering the Nanyang Army to act both quells the rebels and avoids the court’s suspicion."
Qin Zhan and Meng Dashan exchanged a glance and fell silent.
Others may be unaware, but they clearly understood the true strength of the Personal Guard Camp. In any case, it was far beyond what a Vassal King or Commandery Princess should have, so it was indeed necessary to keep a low profile.