Chapter 27: The Great Grain Robbery of the Eastern Seas Garrison

Great Liang, Imperial Capital.

The twenty-fifth year of Taihe, May 11.

Under the mottled sunlight, the majestic imperial palace sprawled across the heartland like a sleeping dragon—solemn and grand.

In the Hall of Heavenly Purity, Nangong Yingyue sat quietly behind a partition, listening to the voices from outside. Through the bead curtain woven of white jade pearls and fine golden silkworm thread, she watched the emperor, seated with his back to her upon the Dragon Throne, as he listened to the ministers below.

The emperor was the late sovereign’s second son by his empress. His elder brother had died young, leaving him the chance to become crown prince. Yet, the crown prince’s health had always been frail; later, he grew obese and was often bedridden.

Whether out of deep affection for the late empress or for other reasons, the former emperor, despite frequent recommendations from his ministers to replace the heir, never wavered in his choice. Although age crept upon him, the old emperor was just over fifty and still considered robust. No one expected his sudden demise, plunging the court into confusion.

The new emperor, now in his middle years, was already ailing. Overwhelmed by grief, his old illness returned. Since ascending the throne, he spent two out of every three days in convalescence. Today was a rare moment of clarity.

The young stepmother, separated from the emperor by the bead curtain, gazed at this man eight years her senior, lost in thought, her heart heavy with helplessness and sorrow.

Not yet twenty, she had been sent into the palace as empress by her family, living ever-cautiously within these walls—how could she have ever been fit to act as regent empress dowager?

Suddenly thrust into this role, she was left no choice but to exhaust herself daily, hoping for the emperor’s recovery. Yet, not only did his health not improve, it declined further.

Must the fate of Great Liang truly rest in the hands of a woman like her? More absurd still, they demanded she act as regent, yet in truth, nothing was within her power. For every word she uttered, there were dozens in rebuttal. In the end, she was always at fault.

Nangong Yingyue felt lost about her situation. The emperor, a man in his forties; she, the dowager empress, not yet thirty. Setting aside their awkward relationship, was she to spend the rest of her life confined and lonely within these palace walls?

Yet, outside the palace, where in this vast realm of Great Liang could she find sanctuary? Would her family tolerate losing their hard-won power and wealth for her sake?

She set aside her tangled thoughts and looked past the emperor to see the Grand Secretary, Xiao Yi, arguing with a man in his fifties at the foot of the steps.

She recognized him: Yu Wen Yongjia, Minister of Revenue. The Yu Wen family, though not the most illustrious in Great Liang, was nonetheless prominent. Behind him, Nangong Yingyue spotted her own uncle, Nangong Zheng.

“Your Majesty, the Xirong have gathered troops at Dingbei Pass, and the Bairong at Jing’an Pass. The situation is dire. I implore Your Majesty to swiftly command the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue to deliver provisions to both passes. If the supplies run out, Great Liang will be gravely imperiled!” Xiao Yi intoned solemnly, bowing to the emperor.

“The Bairong and Xirong have been quiet for years—why do they threaten now?” the emperor asked weakly.

“With the late emperor departed and Your Majesty newly enthroned, these barbarians see an opportunity and come with arms. I beg Your Majesty to decide quickly,” Xiao Yi implored once more.

“Then why has the Ministry of Revenue not dispatched the provisions?” Tang Yu asked Yu Wen Yongjia.

“Your Majesty, it is not for want of trying. Only days ago, the ministry mustered two hundred thousand bushels of grain from Jiangnan, only for the shipment to be hijacked along the Haidong route. Now, the north has only just begun planting, and the south has no surplus to spare…” Yu Wen Yongjia answered gravely.

“What?” Tang Yu was stunned—how could such a vast quantity of grain be stolen in peacetime? “Who would dare such audacity to rob the court’s provisions?”

“Your Majesty, I submitted a memorial on this matter to the Empress Dowager days ago. The court has already ordered the Governor of Haidong to investigate thoroughly. News should arrive soon,” Xiao Yi replied.

“Absurd! The grain was stolen in Haidong—what can he uncover himself?” Though frail, the emperor was no fool.

Below, Xiao Yi could only feel helpless—these days, the emperor was too often ill to govern, and the empress dowager lacked the authority to command the ministers. Though he was Grand Secretary, he could not act alone. The court had debated endlessly about sending another official south to investigate, but to no conclusion; for the time being, self-investigation in Haidong had to suffice.

“I order the removal of Governor Liang Ming for dereliction of duty, allowing banditry to flourish and provisions to be stolen. The Ministry of Personnel and the Court of Justice are to investigate thoroughly. Any collusion with bandits, or gross negligence, shall be punished without mercy,” Tang Yu declared, his voice strained but resolute. The relevant officials hurried forth to receive the decree.

“With the governorship of Haidong now vacant, are there recommendations?”

“Your Majesty, I nominate Vice Minister Nangong Zheng…” Yu Wen Yongjia proposed.

Seated behind the curtain, Nangong Yingyue, who had expected only to watch the proceedings, was caught off guard to hear her own family involved. Glancing at her uncle, she saw his face aglow with anticipation, and felt a twinge of helplessness.

Other ministers proposed several more candidates, but support for Nangong Zheng was clearly strongest. Whether she herself played a part in this, she could not say, but in her heart, she hoped her family would not be sent to Haidong. Such a serious matter would be difficult to manage, and failure would bring blame from all sides.

“Nangong, since several ministers recommend you, and I hold you in esteem, you shall go south and see this task done. As a royal kinsman, do not disappoint the empress dowager and me…” With the matter settled, the emperor made his decision.

Nangong Zheng stepped forth, elated, to accept the appointment. Behind the curtain, Nangong Yingyue lowered her head in silence, lost in thought.

Though the investigation into the stolen grain was thus arranged, the matter of border provisions remained unresolved. The emperor, having exerted himself, now felt exhausted, barely able to remain upright. Only now did he realize how taxing it was to be emperor; no wonder his father had grown weary of governance in his later years.

“Great Liang has enjoyed peace for years—how are we unable to assemble a mere few hundred thousand bushels of grain? What of the grain stored in the regional warehouses?” Tang Yu could scarcely believe that such a vast nation could not muster enough supplies. Had not the land prospered under his father?

“Your Majesty, since the tenth year of Taihe, disasters large and small have plagued every province. By now, the granaries are long depleted,” Xiao Yi replied.

“If there is no grain, how are the border troops and local garrisons supplied?” the emperor asked.

“Your Majesty, the border troops are usually supplied by their respective regions, with regular transfers from Jiangnan and the southwest. For now, the situation is barely sustainable. But with the Bairong massed at our gates, consumption is enormous, and should war break out, the supply lines could be severed at any moment, hence the urgent need for additional allocations,” Xiao Yi explained.

Tang Yu sighed, leaning back in his chair, feeling utterly weary. So, his father had left him a mess.

Thus, the court session dragged on, bogged down in the endless bickering of ministers, while the emperor on his throne grew ever more wan and dispirited.