gnovel Chapter 39: One After Another, the Emperor and the Crown Prince Engage in Two Battles of Wits!
Chapter 39: One After Another, the Emperor and the Crown Prince Engage in Two Battles of Wits!
The next day, as dawn broke and the first rays of sunlight shone on the Crown Prince's Palace.
On the training ground of Bowangyuan, a figure, as graceful as a dragon playing with a phoenix, continuously wielded a knife, sometimes slashing, sometimes chopping, sometimes parrying, the blade flashing and captivating.
"How long has it been?"
Zhao Anguo, the newly arrived commander of the Crown Prince's Left Guard, hurriedly inquired about the situation from Shi Gao, the commander of the Right Guard.
"Your Highness has been working non-stop since last night at 9 PM."
Shi Gao gave him a deep look and replied.
"hiss!!!"
Zhao Anguo gasped, then looked at Liu Ju with a shocked expression.
For four whole hours, Crown Prince Liu Ju neither ate nor drank, but practiced martial arts here. Is he even human?
"Splash!"
Just as the two were talking, Liu Ju had already sheathed his sword.
The autumn day was cold and the dew was heavy, but he was only wearing a silk undergarment, which was already soaked with sweat and had a faint smell of blood. The viper's precious blood indirectly cleansed his marrow and strengthened him, making his physical body no less than that of a top-notch warrior.
"Your Highness."
Zhao Anguo and Shi Gao stepped forward respectfully, staring at Liu Ju, who was radiating heat, and were shocked.
"How's the recruitment going?"
Liu Ju's eyelids twitched slightly, and he asked a question.
"Your Highness."
Zhao Anguo replied methodically, "The Crown Prince's decree has been issued to all the prefectures and kingdoms in the land. The descendants of marquises and criminals from Guanzhong, Hedong, Luoyang, Nanyang, Longxi and other places have rushed here. Currently, four hundred people have been registered."
"We will be able to recruit all eight hundred guards within the next month."
"There is one matter that Your Highness still needs to decide."
"What is it?"
Liu Ju glanced at him.
"Your Highness."
Shi Gao, who was standing nearby, chimed in, "According to regulations, all the soldiers and armor of the Crown Prince's Guard should be allocated from the Imperial Household Department."
"Since the Imperial Household Department has been slow to send anyone to allocate weapons and armor, we went there ourselves."
"The orders for the Examination of Crafts, the Imperial Workshop, the Left Guard, the Ruolu, the Temple Workshop, and the Inner Palace were all evaded with words."
During the Western Han Dynasty, the manufacture of military armor was divided into central and local levels. Local levels had officials in charge of ironwork and industry. The ironwork officials provided raw materials, while the industry officials were responsible for manufacturing.
The central government was under the unified control of the Imperial Household Department, while the Imperial Workshop was responsible for making weapons such as bows, crossbows, swords, and armor, and supplying them to the Northern Army (Wei Xu) and border troops (such as Shuofang Commandery, Beidi Commandery, and Longxi Commandery). The Imperial Workshop was responsible for making imperial items (such as swords) to equip the Southern Army (the Imperial Guards, such as the Yulin Army and the Qimen Army).
Ruo Lu Ling was in charge of Ruo Lu Ku and Ruo Lu Yu. Ruo Lu Ku stored the weapons and armor produced by the convicts. There was also Ruo Lu Lang Zhong, who was in charge of calibrating and testing the performance of bows and crossbows.
The Left Guard Commander was in charge of bow and crossbow manufacturing, the Temple Workers Commander was in charge of shield manufacturing, and the Inner Officials Commander was in charge of weights and measures. Due to the high precision requirements, they also participated in bow and crossbow manufacturing.
"snort!!!"
Liu Ju snorted coldly and said disdainfully, "There's no need to go to the Imperial Household Department."
"Your Highness."
Zhao Anguo and Shi Gao exchanged a glance, their eyes fixed on Crown Prince Liu Ju.
"The Minister of the Imperial Household is ranked among the Nine Ministers. Without His Majesty's edict, why would he entrust us with weapons and armor?"
"Father is determined to make a fool of me, but I will not do as he wishes."
"Zhao Anguo, go and gather everyone."
"Shi Gao, go and inform the servants to mobilize all the pack animals and carts in the Crown Prince's palace."
Liu Ju gave the order in a cold voice.
"promise."
Zhao Anguo and Shi Gao immediately responded and went to make the arrangements.
Check-in!
Liu Ju began his daily check-in routine.
[Ding! Congratulations, host, for successfully checking in! Reward: One hundred black lacquered wooden-handled white iron swords!]
"not bad!"
Liu Ju expressed satisfaction with the reward for today's check-in.
The standard-issue black-lacquered wooden-handled, white-iron-armored horizontal sword of the Twelve Guards of the Tang Dynasty is a powerful weapon for conquering the world. It is most suitable to use it to reward the best members of the Crown Prince's Guard, and it can also further establish the promotion mechanism of the Crown Prince's Guard. Why not?
............
At 1:15 AM, it was already bright outside.
In front of the main hall of the Crown Prince's Palace, a row of tall and straight figures stood on the square paved with white jade.
The four hundred newly recruited guards, along with Zhao Anguo, Shi Gao, Wei Kang, Wei Buyi, and others, were all waiting.
"Tap tap!"
Crown Prince Liu Ju walked out of the main hall, wearing a crimson (deep red) gauze robe with black cloud patterns on the edges, a leather belt around his waist, and black shoes. His black hair was tied up with a gilded crown, and he wore a gold and silver dragon and phoenix ringed sword at his waist.
"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince."
In an instant, everyone present bowed in respect.
"No need for formalities!"
Liu Ju's figure appeared exceptionally tall in the sunlight.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Everyone's attention was once again drawn to it.
"Your Highness."
"We are now..."
Zhao Anguo stepped forward and asked.
"Take your men and head to the capital's armory."
"What?"
Zhao Anguo was a little taken aback.
"Since the Imperial Household Department won't provide weapons and armor, then I will go to the armory to get them."
"Send someone to inform the lieutenant."
Liu Ju said indifferently.
The weapons and armor produced by the Imperial Household Department had to be transferred to the Commandant and stored in the Imperial Armory in the capital, which contained the finest weapons and armor of the Han Empire.
The Lieutenant-at-Large, along with the Palace Attendant and the Commandant of the Guards, were all central military officers of the Nine Ministers rank. The former commanded the Northern Army, responsible for protecting the capital and the palace, as well as overseeing the emperor's processions and security. The Palace Attendant was in charge of palace guards. The Commandant of the Guards commanded the Southern Army, responsible for guarding the palace gates, patrolling day and night, and inspecting the gate registers.
"promise."
Zhao Anguo was greatly encouraged and immediately arranged for someone to notify the lieutenant.
The prince's guards were incredibly excited when they heard that the prince was going to take them to the armory to collect weapons and armor.
"Your Highness."
Zhang He, the Crown Prince's steward, quietly appeared beside Liu Ju.
"Um."
Liu Ju nodded and strode towards the exit of the Crown Prince's palace, with his entourage following closely behind.
...............
Chang'an, the Lieutenant's Office.
"Shangguan."
"Oh no, disaster has struck!"
Lieutenant Zuo Cheng rushed into the main hall in a hurry.
"What's the matter that you're so panicked?"
Lieutenant Yin Qi sternly rebuked him.
He was originally a clerk in Chiping County, Dongjun Commandery. He rose through the ranks to become an imperial censor. Because of his integrity and decisiveness, he was recommended by the Grand Censor Zhang Tang to be in charge of apprehending thieves. He enforced the law without fear of powerful figures and was rewarded for his meritorious service in catching thieves. He was then promoted to Commandant of the Passes. His strict supervision brought a certain restraint to corrupt officials and powerful local bullies. Emperor Wu of Han promoted him to Commandant of the Central Army.
The officials in the lieutenant's office had always been afraid of him, and they acted in a very disciplined manner, daring not to overstep any boundaries.
Today, the way Lieutenant Zuo Cheng was behaving truly displeased him.
"Shangguan."
"His Highness the Crown Prince has gone to the armory."
The Left Chancellor, disregarding everything else, hurriedly reported the news.
"What is Your Highness doing at the armory?"
Yin Qi frowned, somewhat puzzled.
"Shangguan."
The Left Chancellor added, "His Majesty has approved the Crown Prince to establish Left and Right Guards, totaling eight hundred, but no official edict has been issued in writing."
"The Imperial Household Department has not allocated any weapons or armor, presumably because they have offended His Highness the Crown Prince."
"Now that His Highness has sent someone to inform you, it would be best if you went there in person."
"You bastard!"
Upon hearing this, Yin Qi couldn't help but curse angrily.
He had no intention of getting involved in the matter between His Majesty and the Crown Prince, but now he was implicated.
He couldn't afford to offend either of these two powerful figures.
"Someone, prepare the horses."
"I wish to enter the palace for an audience."
Yin Qi quickly made a decision. The crux of the matter still lay with Emperor Wu of Han, and he had to go to Weiyang Palace first.
"promise."
The junior officer in the lieutenant's office immediately went to prepare the horses.