The war has been going on for three months, and a letter from home is worth ten thousand pieces of gold. This is true for soldiers on the battlefield, and it is also true for family members staying at the rear, who can receive letters from their relatives in the army.
It had been several months since Yin Zhong went on the expedition, and more than a month since Ji Yuan arrived in Gyeonggi Prefecture. At this time, Yin Mansion finally received Yin Zhong's letter, and also received battle reports from the front line.
In the Sitianjian office, Ji Yuan was reading documents in the huge file room of the Sitianjian.
This volume of the imperial clan is like a huge library, containing astronomical books and astrological classics that were found by officials of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau from all over the world in various ways, as well as various documents with relevant content. Of course, there are also documents written by the successive Taichang envoys and subordinate officials during the hundreds of years of the establishment of the Dazhen Dynasty, and even a considerable number of history books, most of which involve astrological records of the previous dynasty or the dynasty before that.
After Ji Yuan and Yan Chang chatted several times, they came to the Sitianjian to take a look, and suddenly discovered such a treasure trove. They immediately became very interested. From Yan Chang's point of view, there were quite a few capable people among the officials of the Sitianjian throughout the dynasties, and they also had a certain scientific and rigorous spirit in metaphysics.
So Ji Yuan stayed in the Sitianjian and read the documents there every day.
Theoretically, these documents are of course court secrets. Apart from the officials of the Imperial Observatory, let alone Ji Yuan, even officials appointed by the court would have to seek approval from Yan Chang if they wanted to read them, or even the emperor could do so.
But this is only in theory after all. Ji Yuan had to see which of the two people with the highest status in the Imperial Observatory, Taichang Shi Yan Chang and Guoshi Du Changsheng, would stop him. Not only did he not stop him, but he served him wholeheartedly. Of course, Ji Yuan was not a squeamish person, so there was no need to serve him. He just needed tea or wine, some food, and a bed on the floor, and he could live in the file room permanently.
Ji Yuan was here, Yan Chang and Du Changsheng did not dare to tell the new emperor of Dazhen about the situation, but they accompanied Ji Yuan to sleep on the floor in the file room. Yan Chang often discussed the files with Ji Yuan and learned from them, while Du Changsheng just wanted to flatter Ji Yuan at first, but later he also participated in it, so Ji Yuan did not dislike them.
There are many partition walls in the file room. On the outer walls and partition walls, as long as there are no windows, there are huge wooden bookshelves standing next to them. The closer you get to the inside, the more packed the bookshelves are. There are paper books, silk books, and numerous bamboo slips and wood carvings. To get a book, you often need to use several ladders, just like a huge library.
Ji Yuan held a scroll of bamboo slips engraved with words on them in his left hand, and traced the inscriptions on them with his right index finger to read them. This contained a detailed study of the changes in the stars over the years.
"Hey, Mr. Ji, look, it's written here that Zhong Peigong used dreams to observe the stars and determined the changes in disasters. The year recorded is a hundred years earlier than the rumors outside. If that's the case, then the time is right!"
Yan Chang also had a scroll of bamboo slips in his hand. When he saw the contents on it, he shouted in surprise. Ji Yuan and Du Changsheng also came closer to take a look.
"Yes, if that's the case, then Lord Zhong Pei is not the person from the eleventh year of Baohe in the previous dynasty as said, but a hundred years earlier..."
"Well, this is a capable person, what a pity."
When Ji Yuan was sighing, an official from the Imperial Observatory hurried into the file room. After searching for a while, he saw three people leaning against the wall in the distance and quickly approached them to pay their respects.
"Report to the Lord Supervisor, someone has come from the palace, and the Emperor has urgently summoned the Lord Supervisor and the Imperial Preceptor to the palace to discuss important matters."
"Hmm?" "The Emperor summoned us to the palace?"
Yan Chang and Du Changsheng looked at each other in bewilderment. The new emperor had ignored them for a while since he came to power. Why did he suddenly summon them today? Yan Chang stood up and asked the officer.
"Do you know why I and the Imperial Master were summoned?"
The officer raised his head and glanced at Ji Yuan who was still leisurely reading the bamboo slips. He did not dare to ask who this man was, and answered Shangguan honestly based on what he knew.
"My Lord, I heard that several knights with flags on their backs rode into the capital outside the East Gate today. It seems that there is a major battle report coming back from the war in Qizhou in the northeast."
"Isn't it the Imperial Observatory that should announce the battle report?"
Du Changsheng also stood up and said something in surprise. Ji Yuan, who was sitting against the bookshelf, frowned slightly, then smiled and interrupted.
"That may not be the case. You two should go to the palace as soon as possible, lest the emperor gets anxious."
"okay!"
The two men looked at each other, took a step back, and bowed to Ji Yuan.
"Then sir, we will take our leave first!" "Du Changsheng, take your leave!"
Ji Yuan did not look up, but pushed them with his hands behind his back to signal them to leave. The two then turned around, nodded to the messenger, and left quickly together.
…
A quarter of an hour later, Yan Chang and Du Changsheng arrived outside the imperial study together. The eunuch outside hurried into the imperial study to report. Many civil officials and military generals were already standing inside.
The people inside were arguing, and when they saw the eunuch coming in, the emperor immediately raised his hand to signal everyone to shut up, and the eunuch quickly bowed to report.
"Your Majesty, the Astronomical Observatory Master Yan and the Imperial Master have arrived and are waiting outside."
Yang Sheng on the throne said quickly.
"Let them in!"
"yes!"
Not long after the eunuch left, Yan Chang and Du Changsheng entered the imperial study together. When they got there, they found Yin Zhaoxian, Yin Qing, several important civil officials, and several military officials were there.
"I, your humble servant, greet your majesty!"
Yan Chang's etiquette was still in place, but because of Du Changsheng's status and achievements as the imperial teacher, he only needed to simply call him "Your Majesty".
Yang Sheng signaled to Yin Qing with his eyes, and the latter nodded and spoke directly on his behalf.
"Lord Yan, and State Master Du, we received an urgent military report from Qizhou this morning. Not only is Zuyue Kingdom constantly increasing its troops, but we have also discovered that there are many great celestial masters and great priests appointed by Zuyue Kingdom in their army. When the two armies are fighting, there are many sorcerers and strange magic attacks, and many soldiers in the army are terrified. Fortunately, there are also strange people and heroes in our army who help us, and with the bravery of the soldiers, we are now evenly matched."
"Hmm? Magic and strange arts?"
Du Changsheng was the most sensitive to this matter. He immediately exclaimed in surprise and bowed to Yang Sheng.
"Your Majesty, may I have a look at the original military report?"
The emperor nodded and looked at the middle-aged eunuch on the side. The latter quickly took the military report on the table and handed it to Du Changsheng. The latter grabbed the military report and read it briefly. Then a drop of blood seeped out from the tip of his index finger and spread out. He used the military report to tell fortunes and predict the future.
"National Master, what is the result?"
Hearing the emperor's question, Du Changsheng looked at the civil and military officials around him. Some of the ministers who usually looked down on him also looked at him expectantly, which made him feel very useful. Finally, he turned to the emperor and spoke.
"Your Majesty, there really are cultivators involved, and they seem to be closely entangled with Zuyue State. They have truly accepted the title of Zuyue State and are considered Zuyue State's courtiers. Their confrontation with our Dazhen is also part of the human dispute. It's strange, really strange. According to reason, Zuyue State should be in a state of chaos with evil spirits and demons, and evil spirits are threatening the country. Why would they all jump out to help Zuyue State march into Dazhen? Aren't they tied to this broken ship of Zuyue? Do they think they can win?"
Du Changsheng found it ridiculous. Such a thing as truly being loyal to the Zuyue Kingdom and intervening in the humanitarian order of one's own country was rare even in Dazhen, let alone in Zuyue.
Yin Qing glanced at Yan Chang, then looked at Du Changsheng, and asked after thinking for a while.
"The State Master is a person of the immortal way, I wonder if he has any good advice?"
"A good strategy? As a cultivator, I can only go to the frontline to help our army. A good strategy still needs the help of Lord Yin, Lord Yin, and many other lords and generals."
Yang Sheng stood up from his seat.
"Okay! With the words of the Imperial Master, I feel relieved!"
Yang Sheng had personally experienced the great formation connecting the stars when rescuing Yin Zhaoxian, so even though Du Changsheng repeatedly emphasized that he was borrowing magic, he still had great trust in Du Changsheng's ability. In fact, when he came to summon Du Changsheng today, in addition to listening to his opinions, he also wanted him to make such a statement. Unexpectedly, Du Changsheng said it himself before he even hinted at him. How could Yang Sheng be unhappy
Yan Chang also spoke at this moment.
"Your Majesty, I have recently observed the signs of the stars and know that our dynasty has reached a critical moment. At this moment, we cannot worry about whether it will cost us money and manpower. We must fully guarantee the war on the front line."
"Soldiers, armor, weapons, carriages, food and grass will be deployed by Yin and his colleagues. The army is also constantly recruiting and deploying. Moreover, our Dazhen has accumulated strength for many years and it will not be destroyed overnight. Lord Yan, please rest assured."
Yin Qing said this with absolute confidence, and the people present were also very convinced. Yin Zhaoxian was the only person who had a seat like the emperor at this moment. He sat beside the imperial desk, just stroking his beard and not saying a word. He was very happy to see the civil and military officials in the court working together, and he was even happier to see the people and the court united as one.
Du Changsheng glanced at Yin Zhaoxian and suddenly spoke something.
"actually… "
But he stopped talking here.
"Master, you can say whatever you want to say."
"Well, Du wanted His Majesty to post a notice so that more capable people in my court could come to help, but when I think of the many righteous people who have already gone there..."
"What the Imperial Master said is absolutely right. Lord Li will oversee this matter!"
"yes!"
When the emperor gave the order, a middle-aged minister on the side immediately bowed and accepted the order. By the time of Emperor Yang Sheng, most of the old ministers from the three dynasties of Emperor Yuande's era had retired or passed away.
Du Changsheng's suggestion was equivalent to nothing. Yang Sheng had thought of it a long time ago, but he deliberately said it to give Du Changsheng face. But what Yang Sheng didn't know was that Du Changsheng originally wanted to say that as long as Yin Zhaoxian went to the battlefield in person, it would be better than half an army.
…
Inside the archive room of the Imperial Observatory, Ji Yuan sat on the ground, holding a bamboo slip in one hand and a white jade pot in the other, pouring wine slowly into his mouth.
“Gu~Gu~Gu~Gu~~”
Ji Yuan's eyes were out of focus and everything in front of him was blurry, but in his mind he seemed to be traveling through thousands of mountains and rivers.
"Someone anticipated my move, Ji Yuan, and went against it?"