20demayo Chapter 1058 Arrival in Jingzhou
Chapter 1058 Arrival in Jingzhou
You want more treasure?
I have spared your lives and even preserved some of your land and houses so that you can maintain a decent life. This is already an act of divine grace. How dare you still be concerned about money?!
Li Che sat in the imperial carriage, listening to Qiu Bai report the final financial tally of Chuzhou, and was in a very good mood.
Before setting off, he estimated that the search and seizure of hidden assets by aristocratic families along the way should offset the huge expenses of this southern tour, and even leave a slight surplus.
Unexpectedly, the harvest in Chuzhou alone has far exceeded expectations.
This is not just profitable, it's incredibly lucrative.
These enormous fortunes were dead money in the hands of aristocratic families, but in Li Che's hands, they could be reinvested in the market for road construction, flood control, and education, thus becoming 'living money'.
Only when wealth flows from the upper class to the lower class can the gap between the rich and the poor be reduced, and wealth truly be stored among the people.
Thinking of this, Li Che felt even better and couldn't help but cough lightly: "Ahem."
Qiu Bai's voice came from outside: "Your Majesty?"
"Summon the Imperial Concubine. All others, step back a hundred paces from the imperial carriage!"
. . . . . .
A month or so passed in the blink of an eye.
On this day, the outline of the Jingzhou city wall finally appeared on the horizon ahead of the column.
As a strategic location fought over by military strategists throughout history and an important town in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, Jingzhou boasts a long and imposing city wall.
At this moment, outside the city gate, the streets had already been sprinkled with clean water and the road was paved with yellow earth, and a large crowd of people stood solemnly waiting.
Officials of all ranks in Jingzhou Prefecture, local gentry and elders, and even military commanders lined up in their rank and attire to respectfully welcome the emperor.
Inside the imperial carriage, Li Che gazed calmly at the distant city tower through the gauze curtain.
He put down the memorial in his hand and turned his gaze to the side of the car window.
Qiu Bai followed closely on horseback, his posture upright like a pine tree, just as he had in other cities.
But Li Che had such keen eyesight that he could see that Qiu Bai was gripping the reins with extreme force, and even the veins on the back of his hand were faintly visible.
The closer one gets to home, the more apprehensive one feels, especially returning in this kind of capacity.
This place buries his unbearable past and is stained with the blood of his loved ones.
Li Che remained silent for a moment, then suddenly bent down, groped in a hidden compartment under the throne, and took out an object wrapped in soft cloth.
He lifted the curtain of the car window and stretched out his arm.
"Qiu Bai."
Upon hearing the voice, Qiu Bai immediately turned and bowed his head: "Your Majesty?"
"Here you go." Li Che handed over the item in his hand.
Qiu Bai was puzzled, but accepted it with both hands.
The tentacles were cold and heavy. When the soft cloth was opened, a finely crafted iron mask was revealed inside.
The mask had a simple design, only revealing the eyes and mouth, and its edges were polished smooth, making it look very exquisite.
Qiu Bai was taken aback, looked up at the emperor, his eyes full of confusion.
Li Che sighed, "I remember when General Yang first took command of the army, she often wore an iron mask to prevent others from looking down on her because of her appearance."
"Now that you have returned to your homeland, your thoughts must be complicated. Perhaps this item will be of use to you."
Qiu Bai instantly understood the emperor's meaning. His Majesty was showing consideration for his emotions and giving him a shield to temporarily conceal his face.
But he immediately realized that the mask belonged to Yang Xuan, and hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, this item belongs to General Yang. How dare this humble general presume to overstep his bounds..."
Everyone among the former subordinates of Fengguo knew about the special relationship between His Majesty and Yang Xuan.
Yang Xuan was destined to enter the palace, and this iron mask almost became a symbol of her identity.
Li Che smiled slightly and said in a relaxed tone, "It's alright. I have already properly stored General Yang's pair. This pair was specially made by the Ministry of Works before I left the capital, in imitation of its design. Why don't you try it on?"
Upon hearing that it was a newly created object, Qiu Bai's concerns vanished instantly.
He stopped refusing, picked up the cold mask, and put it on his face.
The cool metal against the skin instantly creates a barrier against the outside world.
Through the pupils of the eyes, the world seems to change somewhat.
"Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty." Qiu Bai's voice came through the mask, sounding slightly low.
Li Che nodded: "I entrust you with the entire responsibility for handling the Qiu family's affairs."
Qiu Bai was slightly taken aback, then nodded silently: "Your subordinate understands."
Thus, a military general with a face covered in cold iron appeared beside the emperor's carriage.
Among the welcoming party outside Jingzhou City, countless eyes swept over the iron-faced general, but no one could connect him with that rebellious son of the Qiu family.
Behind the welcoming party stood a middle-aged man dressed in a scholar's robe, none other than Qiu Hong, the current head of the Qiu family.
Ever since he learned that the emperor would be making his southern tour and passing through Jingzhou, he was determined to seize this opportunity no matter what.
The Qiu family today is no longer as prosperous as it once was.
The new policies of the imperial court were like chains, tightening layer by layer. Family businesses shrank, the path to officialdom narrowed, and the officials who had once been attached to the government were either transferred or fell from power.
The most fatal thing is that the Qiu family not only has influence in Jingzhou, but also has enemies.
Previously, the Qiu family was powerful, and they couldn't do anything about it. But now, the Qiu family is becoming increasingly desolate, and there are more and more eyes watching them with predatory intent.
The Qiu family lost more than just money; they also lost influence and a sense of security.
If things continue like this, the Qiu family will not only fail to thrive, but their very survival in Jingzhou will be in question.
The emperor traveled south, and although he was tough on the powerful families, he did not indiscriminately kill them.
In places like Chuzhou, as long as one is not from a notorious family with a history of heinous crimes, handing over most of their wealth is often enough to get away with it.
This shows that His Majesty does not intend to cut off the livelihood of all aristocratic families.
In Qiu Hong's view, this might be an opportunity.
If one can take this opportunity to show sufficient subservience and demonstrate some value, perhaps one can gain the emperor's favor.
Of course, Qiu Hong, as the head of the family, was still self-aware.
What are the Qiu family anyway?
There is one in Jingzhou, but if we place them among the most prestigious families in the country, they would only be ranked in the lower middle class.
Unless the Qiu family had followers when the emperor was still a hidden dragon, how could they have been treated differently by the emperor?
It's a pity the Qiu family lacked both foresight and good fortune.
If you can't curry favor with the emperor, then curry favor with the people around him.
Even if it's just to have a close advisor to the emperor remember the 'Qiu family of Jingzhou' and leave behind some connection, it would be of great benefit to the future.
His gaze swept over the imperial carriage, trying to identify the identities of the mounted generals beside it.
The leading general was said to be named Yue Yun, a favorite of the emperor, and probably not easy to approach.
The rest were either cabinet ministers or personal guard generals, none of whom could be easily won over.
But the general with the iron mask covering his face, who was closely following the emperor, stirred something within him.
Who is this general? Why is he wearing a mask? He seems quite trusted...
Before he could think further, the emperor's procession had already slowly approached.
The next moment, drums and music resounded, and the official in charge of ceremonies announced the greeting.
Qiu Hong quickly composed himself and led the Qiu family and local officials and gentry to straighten their clothes and bow deeply to the dragon carriage that represented the supreme imperial power.
"Your Majesty, we respectfully welcome your presence! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
Amidst the cheers, Qiu Bai's gaze, hidden behind his iron mask, calmly swept across the dark mass of people below through his eye sockets.
He paused slightly at one of the familiar figures.
Long time no see, Uncle.
. . . . . .
The imperial carriage came to a stop, and the curtains were lifted.
Li Che, dressed in a black casual robe, stepped down from the vermilion-lacquered wooden stool that had been prepared by the eunuchs.
The sunlight was just right, casting a faint golden hue around him.
Although he was not wearing a dragon robe, the emperor's majesty, imbued with the sharpness of the battlefield, still made all those kneeling to greet him hold their breath and lower their heads, not daring to look him in the eye.
Du Qingcheng, the prefect of Jingzhou, knelt at the very front.
Upon seeing the imperial carriage land, he quickly stood up, but dared not straighten his back completely, bowing slightly as he strode forward: "Your subject, Du Qingcheng, Prefect of Jingzhou, along with all the officials and gentry of the city, respectfully welcome Your Majesty's imperial carriage!"
"Your Majesty must be tired from your journey. We are sorry for our lateness in welcoming you. We beg Your Majesty's forgiveness!"
Li Che's gaze fell on him. This Prefect Du was about forty years old, with a dignified face and the scholarly air unique to scions of noble families.
The Du family was one of the earliest aristocratic families to support Li Che's bid for the throne. Although not a top-tier wealthy family, they still made a contribution to the new dynasty.
Therefore, when powerful and influential families were suppressed, the Du family was relatively less affected, and many of its members still held important positions in the imperial court and in local areas.
Du Qingcheng's ability to assume the important position of Prefect of Jingzhou was undoubtedly related to his family background.
"Rise, Minister Du." Li Che raised his hand slightly, a faint smile on his face. "I did not inform the various regions beforehand about this trip. What crime have you committed?"
Du Qingcheng felt somewhat relieved and repeatedly said he dared not, his attitude becoming even more respectful.
"Your Majesty's compassion is deeply appreciated by us."
"It is the duty of a subject to welcome His Majesty. There is no need to complain about the hardship. Please come into the city to rest. The temporary palace is ready."
Li Che did not move immediately, but instead looked past Du Qingcheng and swept his gaze toward the group of local officials and gentry behind him.
“Minister Du,” Li Che suddenly spoke, “Jingzhou has been a place of great talent and culture since ancient times. Now that I am here, I would like to meet the local talents.”
"These people behind you must be the key figures in Jingzhou today? Why don't you introduce them to me?"
Upon hearing this, Du Qingcheng felt a slight chill run down his spine.
His Majesty immediately requested to see the talented individuals of Jingzhou. In the current context, the term "talented individuals" almost explicitly refers to aristocratic families.
This doesn't make sense... Doesn't His Majesty usually hate aristocratic families the most?
He thought quickly, not daring to hesitate for a moment: "Your Majesty's inquiry is my duty." Jing
He turned to the side and announced loudly to the crowd behind him, "Gentlemen, by His Majesty's grace, he wishes to meet the heroes of Jingzhou."
"Those whose names are called shall come forward for an audience and must answer truthfully."
After saying this, Du Qingcheng weighed the power and prestige of each family in Jingzhou and introduced them one by one.
Those whose names were called were mostly heads of various families. They hurriedly straightened their clothes, addressed themselves as commoners, and said a few polite words of gratitude and wishing the emperor peace.
Li Che mostly just nodded slightly, occasionally asking a few trivial questions, his expression revealing neither joy nor anger.
Those being questioned answered with trepidation, carefully choosing their words, afraid of uttering a single wrong word.
Qiu Hong was among them.