manynovel Chapter 851: Going to the Border, Secret Mission
Chapter 851: Going to the Border, Secret Mission
Chapter 851: Going to the Border, Secret Mission
"That's right! After General Dingyuan disappeared, Yuan Ming wrote a memorial to the capital, but it was half a month later." The emperor frowned. The disappearance of the tiger talisman was no trivial matter.
Although he still had half of the tiger talisman in his hand, he could command thousands of troops. But if the other half of the tiger talisman fell into the hands of someone else, who would also have the power to mobilize the army, this would be a disaster.
"Your Majesty, the memorial did not mention why General Dingyuan suddenly disappeared. Was there no sign of this before?"
The emperor shook his head. "It happened suddenly. A living person just disappeared. Yuming Pass is thousands of miles away from the capital. The border environment is complicated. It is difficult for the capital to know the movements on the border. But General Dingyuan and the tiger talisman are missing. Naturally, I have to send an imperial envoy to the border to investigate."
The emperor sighed and said, "But I am worried about letting other people go. Therefore, I will give this important task to you."
Me again? Jiang Youzhen was a little speechless. Didn't she have a good New Year every year? This year it was even earlier. I'm afraid she couldn't even spend the first day of the New Year at home.
Before Jiang Youzhen could reply, the emperor said, "I know you're working hard, but those who are capable should do more work. There are not many people in the court that I can trust. And you have experience in investigating cases, so I have no choice but to trouble you."
Zhou Zhong, who was standing by, was very surprised that an emperor would speak to his subjects in such a humble manner. When had the emperor ever asked a subject so kindly? He was the supreme ruler and always acted according to orders.
"It is my duty to help His Majesty relieve his worries and troubles."
Since the emperor has said so, Jiang Youzhen can no longer refuse. After all, there is a difference between the emperor and his subjects. While the emperor is still in a good mood, she can still make some requests.
When the emperor heard that Jiang Youzhen had agreed, his frown relaxed a little.
"You can ask for anything you want. I will agree to whatever you want to bring with you this time."
Jiang Youzhen thought that the memorial was written by Prince Yuanming, and sometimes there are many people who cry thief. Although it may not be the work of Prince Yuanming, he is indeed a major suspect.
If he had the intention of treason, then it would be very dangerous for her to go to the border. After all, Prince Yuanming had tens of thousands of elite soldiers. No matter how powerful she was, could she defeat thousands of troops alone?
Prince Yuanming is the eldest princess's son, so he must have a hostage. Whether in the capital or at the border, at least one hostage is needed.
"Your Majesty, outside Yuming Pass is the Western Regions, where the terrain and culture are quite complex. I heard that Lord Du Junguang, the deputy commander of the Beijing Guard Command, has lived in the inner pass for several years since he was a child. He is very familiar with the local customs and practices there, so I would like to invite Lord Du Junguang to go with me."
Upon hearing this, the emperor glanced at Jiang Youzhen. As they were both smart men, he immediately understood what Jiang Youzhen meant.
"But! Who else do you want?"
"I had a good cooperation with the Right Minister of the Dali Temple before. Sir Qin is the right person for the job."
Qin Yandong did not get promoted when he went to Jiangnan before, not because he had not made great contributions, but because he was already a fifth-rank official.
There is an unwritten rule for officials in the capital during the reign of Emperor Dai: it is a hurdle for officials of the fifth rank or above to be promoted to the fourth rank or higher.
Therefore, the last time rewards were given out based on merit, Qin Yandong only received many rewards but did not receive any promotion.
He is now accumulating experience. If he can make merit again when he goes to the border this time, he should be able to be promoted. Perhaps it is even possible to be promoted two levels and become the Right Shaoqing of the Dali Temple.
But you have to wait for a vacancy to become available, otherwise you will either be transferred to other government offices or wait for a vacancy.
Jiang Youzhen officially gave him a chance this time, which could be considered a favor! Because their cooperation last time was pretty good, at least he didn't have to worry about him stabbing him in the back.
"That's fine!" The emperor now agreed to whatever Jiang Youzhen said.
"In fact, the troops are similar to the last time they went to Jiangnan, and there is also a captain from the Beijing Guard Command, Fang Zhongyi!"
Fang Zhongyi has been promoted from a centurion to a thousand households, and this time Jiang Youzhen plans to give him more credit.
After all, he had already hinted that he wanted to marry Liu Ya. Based on her observations over the past two years, she felt that Fang Zhongyi had a steady character and that she could completely entrust Liu Ya to him.
Moreover, in the book, Fang Zhongyi's martial arts were displayed at the border. Perhaps after arriving at the border, Fang Zhongyi's martial arts found a place to be used.
As for Tao Chendong, the former prefect of Tongzhou Prefecture, he only has to wait until the end of next year for his performance evaluation before he can be transferred to the capital for promotion.
Officials above the fourth rank need to be directly appointed by the emperor. Because Tao Chendong also made contributions during the trip to Jiangnan, when his three-year term is up at the end of next year, he will be promoted to the capital, and he may be a local official, but promotion should be a sure thing.
Jiang Youzhen naturally had to find a way to bring Tao Chendong to Beijing. After all, the system's task was not yet completed.
“These are the people!”
Too many people are not helpful, Jiang Youzhen only needs to take those who are needed.
Suddenly, he remembered that he had not returned the gold medal last time, and this time he was going to the border as an imperial envoy. It seemed that the emperor had calculated that he still had a place to use his talents, so he did not even take back the gold medal.
"Okay! You can leave immediately! I will send someone to summon those people to accompany you."
Jiang Youzhen: …They even won’t let me celebrate New Year’s Eve.
"Then I will go back and pack my bags and prepare to leave."
Jiang Youzhen sighed as he left the imperial study. He didn't know whether his rank would be upgraded after returning from the border this time.
This time the emperor was very anxious and did not make any promises. And she was stuck at the fifth rank. If she wanted to move up, the officials above her would have to vacate their positions. I'm afraid she would have to wait.
Jiang Youzhen hurried back to the mansion and ordered Qinglang and the others to start packing.
When they heard that Jiang Youzhen had started packing again, Shen and the others became very worried.
"Is this another urgent errand? Why are you so anxious? You won't even let me celebrate New Year's Eve."
"It's a secret mission, so I can't tell you. I have to leave tonight, so I can't announce it to the public. When someone comes to visit me, you can tell them that I have dizziness and need to rest for a while."
How serious is it that the tiger talisman is lost? Of course, it cannot be made public, and it must be found secretly as soon as possible.
"This?" Shen didn't expect it to be so serious.
"When will you come back?" She watched Jiang Youzhen ordering people to take out the simple luggage, but she felt very reluctant.
She couldn't help but feel a little resentful. Was there no one else in the court? Why did Xiao Lang have to do everything?
"It's hard to say, maybe two months at the fastest, or three to five months at the slowest."
It takes 10 days to half a month to ride a horse from the capital to the border. Unless you travel day and night, it will take at least ten days to get there.
The round trip would take more than twenty days or even a month, and the case would have to be investigated in the middle, so it would take at least two months.
"It takes so long?" Shen was very sad.
"Okay, Xiaolang is going to do his job, don't distract her."
Jiang Fugui was actually reluctant to leave, but as they were about to part, she tried not to show any sadness in order not to make Jiang Youzhen worry.