The Child Emperor
Chapter 127: Getting People to Stay

Du Motian did bring Yang Feng’s message. Once he discovered the disappearance of the Weary Marquis, he headed straight to the Northern Army. However, as an unranked instructor of the Marquis’s manor without any official position, it was not easy for him to enter the camp. He waited for a whole day before being allowed in, and then waited even longer to receive instructions from Yang Feng in person.

The next task was to find out the whereabouts of the Weary Marquis.

Du Chuanyun had followed Ma Da, but unfortunately, due to his lack of experience, he lost track of him in the wilderness. Du Motian’s method of searching was relatively simple; he inquired among his pugilist world friends along the way. He traveled all the way to Huailing County in the north of the Capital, almost getting detained. When he finally found the Weary Marquis at the village by the Guaizi Lake, two days had passed.

“It’s really not easy to find you.” The old man finished a big bowl of water in one gulp and looked at the three people in the room.

The body of Chao Yongsi had been removed. Prince Donghai sat on a stool in the corner, his face gloomy and lost in thought. Reckless leaned against the door, idly carving a piece of wood with a short knife, occasionally looking up and gazing into the distance.

“Master Du, this is the hero from the Drunken Immortal Inn, known as Reckless…”

Reckless interrupted coldly, “Stop it. I am a cook, not a hero. I’m not here to make friends with ‘heroes’.”

Du Motian smiled and bowed, saying, “I’ve heard of you,” then turned to the Weary Marquis, suppressing his smile. “Is it convenient to talk here?”

Han Ruzi nodded. The safety of the entire village relied on Prince Donghai, and he would not let his brother out of his sight again.

“Master Yang hopes that you will immediately head to the Northern Army.”

“Hmm.” Han Ruzi trusted Yang Feng, but he also needed to hear the reasons.

Du Motian glanced at Prince Donghai again, lowering his voice slightly. “Master Yang said that many imperial relatives and nobles have petitioned to volunteer to join the army after receiving hints from the imperial court. You should do the same and must not return to the Capital. Master Yang has already paved the way for you in the Northern Army, waiting for your arrival.”

“My wife also suggested that I petition to join the army.” Han Ruzi was both happy and surprised. It turned out that Cui Xiaojun and Yang Feng had come to the same views.

Suddenly, Prince Donghai in the corner jumped to the ground. “Hah, I get it! The person who wrote to you is my cousin! How could the Cui clan produce someone like her…” Prince Donghai suddenly realized that this was not his territory and quickly shut his mouth, sitting back on the stool, pretending to be a statue.

“So the Weary Marquis is already prepared, that’s even better. Let’s set off now. We can’t enter the city, we can only make a detour. If we hurry, we might arrive tonight. Master Yang will send someone to meet us.”

“There are more than seven hundred people in the village, some of them are old. We are without horses, and only have a few mules. I’m afraid we can’t move too fast.” Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ N0vᴇlFirᴇ.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

Du Motian was slightly surprised. “You don’t need to bring everyone. At most five or six people. After leaving the village, I can find horses.”

Han Ruzi remained silent in contemplation.

Prince Donghai couldn’t help but sneer, “He’s showing womanly compassion again. He probably wants to take even the cats and dogs from the village with him.”

Du Motian advised, “The Weary Marquis is kind-hearted, which is a good thing, but it’s really not the time…”

Han Ruzi shook his head. “No, I’m thinking of something. When Master Yang asked Master Du to find me, did he know that I had recruited an army?”

Du Motian was an experienced man of the pugilist world. At this moment, he unconsciously scratched his head. Based on what he saw and heard after entering the village, this could not be considered an army at all.

“What can I do in the Northern Army?”

“Well… Master Yang has his own arrangements, which he did not tell me.” Du Motian couldn’t answer.

Prince Donghai burst into laughter. “Isn’t it obvious? The Empress Dowager has persuaded a group of imperial relatives and nobles to join the army, just to put pressure on my uncle. What can you guys do? Of course, you’ll serve as guards for the Champion Marquis. Each of you will have the title of a general. Go to the border, enjoy the scenery outside the Great Wall, and when the Empress Dowager achieves her goal, you can all go home, with promotions and rewards for everyone.”

Prince Donghai stared at Han Ruzi. “As for you, it’s impossible to get promoted and rewarded. Yang Feng won’t let you come back, but don’t think he will assist you in becoming emperor. Think about it, how did Yang Feng persuade the Champion Marquis to accept you into the Northern Army? Isn’t it the same as the Cui clan, wanting to use your identity? You trust Yang Feng, but he has already changed masters. The future of the Champion Marquis is bright. Can you compare to him?”

Du Motian whispered, “Don’t listen to his nonsense, Lord Yang is not that kind of person.”

“What kind of person is he?” Prince Donghai left his stool and strode over. “How long have you known Yang Feng? He’s a eunuch, willing to get castrated for power. How can such a person be loyal to anyone?”

Du Motian hadn’t known Yang Feng for long and didn’t want to argue with Prince Donghai. He turned his head to look at Reckless beside the door. Reckless ought to be more familiar with Yang Feng, but he was unwilling to defend him.

Prince Donghai seized every opportunity to turn the tables, sincerely saying to Han Ruzi, “My previous proposal still stands. I really don’t understand, why don’t you trust me? My cousin is devoted to you. She is the daughter of the Cui clan and highly regarded by Elder Laojun and my uncle. With my cousin around, are you still afraid that the Cui clan will harm you? Is a family less trustworthy than an outsider? Yang Feng will bring you great trouble.”

Han Ruzi smiled, “Thank you for your reminder.”

Prince Donghai’s eyes lit up. “Have you figured it out?”

“Hmm.” Han Ruzi turned to Du Motian. “Could I trouble Master Du to go see Lord Yang and tell him that I have organized a militia of three thousand people at the Riverside Village. Ask him to try to get an official banner for the militia. I’ll wait here.”

Both Du Motian and Prince Donghai showed surprise. One said, “Isn’t the Weary Marquis going to see Lord Yang with me?” The other said, “Where did you get three thousand people from? There are only a few hundred ignorant commoners here.”

Han Ruzi said, “If Lord Yang understands the situation here, he will agree with my approach. I can’t just join the Northern Army alone; that’s just changing one prison for another.”

Prince Donghai felt incredulous. “Your appetite is getting bigger and bigger. You’re asking my uncle for food, troops, and armor, asking the Empress Dowager to turn a blind eye, and asking the Champion Marquis for a banner. If you keep this up, are you going to borrow troops from the Xiongnu? Do you know how difficult it is to establish a banner? It requires approval from the Ministry of War, consent from the Emperor, and authorization from the Grand Commandant’s Office… The Champion Marquis simply doesn’t have that authority.”

Han Ruzi nodded. “Master Du, please repeat what Prince Donghai said to Lord Yang.”

“What?” Du Motian and Prince Donghai were surprised again at the same time.

“That’s right. I’m setting conditions to the Empress Dowager, Grand Tutor Cui, and the Champion Marquis. If possible, I want everyone to know.”

Prince Donghai looked astonished, then stomped his foot and snorted, returning to the corner and sitting back on the stool, refusing to look at Han Ruzi again.

Du Motian still didn’t quite understand Han Ruzi’s intentions but didn’t ask further. “Well, since you have made a decision, I’ll go find Lord Yang. I’ll be back before sunset tomorrow. Please take care, Lord Marquis.”

Han Ruzi accompanied him to the door, watching Du Motian ride away. He glanced back at the camp, where groups of militia were discussing something in small clusters.

Reckless had been leaning against the door all along. Now he said, “Everyone wants to get rich quick, but you insist on making long-term plans. Well, that’s interesting.”

Han Ruzi smiled and returned to the room.

Most of the militia had been deceived by false promises, hoping that by starting a rebellion, they could place the deposed Emperor back on the throne within a few days. Then they would issue an edict, eliminate corrupt officials, and save the people from misery and suffering. But now the deposed Emperor wanted to take them to the distant north to fight the Xiongnu.

“They only rebelled because they refused to contribute food and troops to the government. Why would they follow me to fight the Xiongnu?” Han Ruzi raised a question.

Reckless remained indifferent, while Prince Donghai made a disdainful snort.

“Trouble is coming. Don’t go too far away from me.” Reckless put away his knife and wood, walked to the corner, and stood beside Prince Donghai.

Prince Donghai stared at him angrily. Receiving no response, he lowered his head.

The door was opened, and a group of people stood outside. Led by Chao Hua, they bowed respectfully to the “Emperor”.

“Please come in,” Han Ruzi said, standing in the middle of the room, about seven or eight steps away from Reckless.

Only five people came in, while the others remained outside the door, but they could still see and hear what was happening inside.

“What’s the matter?” Han Ruzi asked.

The five lowered their heads and exchanged courteous remarks for a while. Finally, Chao Hua raised his head and said, “I want to avenge my father. Your Majesty, please allow me to lead a group of people out of the camp.”

“Have you found the whereabouts of the enemy?”

“Not yet, but since we know they’re from the Chai manor, they should be easy to find.”

Han Ruzi’s gaze swept over the five, asking, “Do you all plan to come back?”

Not only these five, but even those outside blushed and lowered their heads further. Chao Hua was their leader, so it fell to him to speak. “We came to seek refuge under Your Majesty, not to be soldiers or fight wars. Since Your Majesty is going to the northern border to fight the Xiongnu, we can’t help. Please let us go.”

Prince Donghai whispered to Reckless in the corner, “I bet he’s going to be ‘alone’ again”

Reckless didn’t even move his eyes. He just stood there as if he had no interest in anything.

Prince Donghai glanced at the two short blades behind Reckless and fell silent.

“You have come here voluntarily, why speak of whether I would ‘let you go’?” Han Ruzi showed no sign of anger, clasping his hands. “If you wish to leave, you can leave at any time. I have only one request.”

“Please, Your Majesty,” Chao Hua immediately said. Being allowed to leave so easily made him breathe a sigh of relief. He was willing to agree to any condition.

“I hope to offer you some compensation.”

Prince Donghai made a disgusted expression, barely suppressing a sneer. The faces of Chao Hua and the others turned even redder, and someone outside the door shouted, “Your Majesty has already been very kind to us. We haven’t done anything for Your Majesty; we don’t deserve any compensation.”

Han Ruzi said seriously, “Your presence at the Riverside Camp is the greatest help to me. A little compensation is just my token of appreciation. Please accept it, no matter what. In three days, at most three days, the compensation will arrive. I hope you can wait a little longer.”

The five people in the room looked at each other, then turned to look at the people outside for a while. Chao Hua turned back to Han Ruzi. “We don’t deserve any compensation, but we’re willing to stay for three more days for Your Majesty.”

Han Ruzi thanked them and escorted everyone out of the room, closing the door halfway.

Prince Donghai sneered disdainfully, “You’re really hypocritical. As long as you ask, these people will stay for three more days. Why pretend to offer compensation?”

Han Ruzi hadn’t spoken yet, but Reckless spoke up, “For the sake of face, they will agree verbally to stay. But for the sake of compensation, they will stay for real. The Weary Marquis did nothing wrong. But if I were to guess, you’re not waiting for compensation, you’re waiting for a crisis.”

“I’m waiting for both,” Han Ruzi said.

The Riverside Camp was no longer a hidden place. The crisis would come sooner than the compensation.

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