Can I Become Emperor by Being This Lazy? - Chapter 39

Chapter 39

The commandant hurried out to deliver the orders. The Prefect waved his hand to dismiss the attendants, and in an instant, the room was empty, leaving him alone. Finally, he could remove his mask and be himself.

The Prefect strode to the desk, his feet practically sparking with urgency. He flipped through the stacks of documents piled on the desk and unerringly pulled out the letter at the very bottom, his fingers trembling slightly.

The common people of Jin Province were unaware, but as the Prefect, he had received countless pleas for help—like falling snowflakes. He understood the current situation all too clearly.

Why were scholars who had studied hard for years jumping around restlessly instead of focusing on their studies and imperial examinations, choosing instead to seek refuge with various influential figures?

Aside from the rampant corruption in the examinations and the lack of advancement opportunities for ordinary people, the key reason was the severe disasters, the suffering of the people, and the unstable times. Life was difficult; ordinary folks had no food to eat, and these scholars, neither highly accomplished nor lowly, would also go hungry without family support.

By becoming advisors or guests, offering strategies and counsel, they could at least be supported and secure a meager living.

Moreover, given the impending storm, anyone with clear eyes could see the darkness of this world. A great chaos was inevitable, and taking a risk could lead to rapid promotion, the fate of being enfeoffed as a marquis or appointed as a chancellor.

Uprisings were breaking out everywhere. Sun Baoan, claiming to be the thirty-eighth generation descendant of Prince Wei Ming, rallied under the banner of restoration, recruiting talents and expanding his forces. His followers numbered over a hundred thousand, and he successively captured Xiangwu, Lancheng, Changdao, and other areas.

Meanwhile, Rong Bing of Changyang declared himself the Heavenly King, a divine son of the Celestial God descended to earth, carrying out the will of heaven to save the people. Taking advantage of the natural disasters, he distributed food for free, gathered followers, and spread rumors of impending chaos, causing widespread panic.

Rong Bing promoted the Celestial God Sect, claiming that devotees would be free from all illnesses, and through devout practice, they could cleanse their sins and live a good life. He amassed two hundred thousand followers, causing trouble and rebellion in the Huaiyang region. The Prefect dispatched troops multiple times to suppress them but failed, urgently seeking aid from other provinces.

In addition, the barbarian tribes in the northwest and the pirates from overseas island nations were watching eagerly. The armies stationed abroad could not be arbitrarily redeployed, and the domestic situation was a mess. Local uprisings were commonplace, yet the capital remained immersed in song and dance.

Last month, the emperor issued an edict to spend a massive fortune building an ice chamber for Consort Feng to store fresh fruits.

With a whisper from the consort, the emperor also pardoned the world under the pretext of celebrating his birthday, releasing the consort’s brother, who had raped and murdered a noblewoman.

The incident that had caused an uproar in the capital was eventually downplayed, trivialized, and left unresolved.

The daughter of a sixth-rank official had been violated and killed, yet the perpetrator roamed free. Not long after, he even received the emperor’s grace and was granted a prominent official position.

The emperor hoped that Feng Lang would engage in proper work and return to the right path, but he showed no concern for how the victim’s daughter had died with grievances unredressed.

Drawing on his experience in exercising imperial power, the emperor comforted the family by promoting her father and brother, ordering the Feng family to marry her posthumously as a noble concubine, allowing her burial in the ancestral tomb, and fostering goodwill between the two families. He promised various benefits and supported the official’s family.

As expected, with the connection to the Feng family and the emperor’s compensation, the official was overwhelmed by the favor and gladly accepted the outcome, happily burying his daughter’s corpse in the Feng family’s ancestral tomb.

All the high-ranking officials in the court were present, yet not one dared to speak out. Instead, the Feng residence was bustling with visitors, and congratulators flocked to their door in an endless stream.

The capital was bustling with activity, where nobles lived in comfort and ease. With wrestling, cuju, chuiwan, pitch-pot, and cockfighting—grand gatherings one after another—who had time to attend to minor troubles outside the capital?

They merely waved a finger, urging local officials to suppress the unrest themselves. If that failed, they would dismiss the official and replace them with someone capable of quelling the rebellion.

Lazy, pleasure-seeking fools! They only panic when the fire is at their heels. Let’s see how long their arrogance lasts! The Prefect cursed the capital officials while holding the letter, then tossed aside the plea for aid and slumped into his chair helplessly.

Compared to the likes of Sun Baoan and Rong Bing, Xu Mao’s minor disturbances were hardly worth noting. Thus, he had never taken this Enchantress seriously. Finally freeing up his hands to suppress the Loyal Army, he never expected things to spiral completely out of his control.

Xu Mao was not as easy to deal with as he had imagined. The Prefect pressed a hand to his chest, feeling somewhat flustered, and hurriedly spread out a blank sheet of paper. Dipping his brush in ink, it was now his turn to write a letter pleading for reinforcements.

The closest aid was from Jiang Province. The Prefect steadied his slightly trembling wrist, maintaining a firm grip on the brush to avoid revealing the fear and timidity in his heart.

With sincere words, the Prefect slowly elaborated: …The leader of the Loyal Army, Xu Mao, is formidable. Though she is a woman, her techniques are seasoned, ruthless, and cunning, achieving victory through surprise. She cannot be regarded as an ordinary person.
I privately fear that the rumors may not be unfounded—that Xu Mao is a millennium-old demon emerged into the world, practicing dark arts, skilled in preserving her youth, and filled with supernatural abilities beyond mortal resistance. The fall of Jin Province may be imminent, and I urgently request Lord Xiao’s aid.
Fearing that the Prefect of Jiang Province might dismiss his concerns, he listed Xu Mao’s actions in Huaining, Yanlin, and other places to bolster credibility. Appealing to reason and emotion, he concluded with a reminder: Once Jin Province falls, Jiang Province will be in peril. If Rong Bing’s Celestial God Sect prophecy of great chaos comes true, how could you, Lord Xiao, remain secure in your seat?
The Prefect set down his brush, carefully picked up the paper, and gently blew on it to dry the ink. He folded it, slipped it into an envelope, sealed it with wax, and summoned a trusted aide to deliver the urgent letter posthaste.

Several days had passed by the time the Prefect of Jiang Province received the letter. With only a few years left before retirement, he intended to play it safe and avoid muddying the waters. However, the Prefect of Jin Province had shrewdly anticipated this, and the concluding remarks of the letter, while ostensibly highlighting their shared peril and urging military support, were in fact a veiled threat.

That cunning old fox, scheming against me now, the Prefect of Jiang Province muttered, setting down the letter and shaking his head involuntarily.

An advisor remarked, Prefect, I believe Prefect Zeng’s words hold merit. I have faintly heard some of Xu Mao’s reputation among the refugees—the common people only praise her, with no hatred to speak of.
Although Xu Mao initially resorted to mysticism when she started her uprising, she unusually made efforts to distance herself from it, never gathering followers through a religious sect. She is not of the same ilk as Rong Bing.
While Rong Bing’s Celestial God Sect expanded rapidly and appeared highly threatening, it relied on doctrine to control people, lacking a mature strategy. In the later stages, when Rong Bing sought to ascend the throne and become emperor, the inherent flaws would surface, leading to his own downfall.

The conflict between religious doctrine and imperial authority would inevitably breed endless strife—its eventual outcome was predictable.

In contrast, Xu Mao initially used miracles to win over the people of Huaining and gain their trust, but she knew when to stop, avoiding the path of developing a religious sect. This single step revealed her foresight and long-term vision, making her a figure worthy of vigilance.

Even amidst the chaos of ten thousand men battling for a single position, the true rivals are often only two or three individuals. Xu Mao possesses the potential to rise among the forefront.

Moreover, the soldiers under Xu Mao’s command conduct their daily movements in an orderly manner, maintaining an imposing presence. They enter and exit cities without the slightest offense to the people, demonstrating strict discipline. To train ordinary civilians into such a state within an extremely short period shows she is no ordinary figure. We must heighten our vigilance.
Prefect Zeng’s words are not without reason. Xu Mao capturing Jin Province may merely be a matter of time. If we fail to suppress her promptly and allow her to develop and strengthen, once Jin Province falls, our Jiang Province will also be in danger. After analyzing the situation, the advisor offered a suggestion: I believe we should fully support Jin Province and join forces with the surrounding prefectures and counties to jointly suppress Xu Mao. We must not take this lightly and allow her to grow unchecked.
Prefect Xiao stroked his beard, lost in thought for a long while.

You are right. For Xu Mao, a woman, to establish a foothold in Huaining is already remarkable. It is better to err on the side of execution than to let her go. Quickly fetch me brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. I will personally write letters to persuade the officials of other prefectures and counties.
To ensure stability, Prefect Xiao agreed to dispatch troops in support of Jin Province. He did not wish to encounter unexpected complications or tarnish his reputation in the final stages of his career.

With Prefect Xiao of Jiang Province taking the lead, officials from other regions were willing to oblige him. Except for a few prefectures and counties too preoccupied with their own troubles, those surrounding Jiang Province expressed their willingness to dispatch troops for reinforcement, forming a united front for the suppression.

At this time, Xu Mao remained unaware of the government’s actions. She was leading her Loyal Army in pursuit of the unit that had fled the battlefield.

Since they were scattered in disarray, fleeing in all directions, Xu Mao had no choice but to divide her forces into four routes. She personally led two or three squads eastward along the main road—a direction prone to encounters with imperial troops, which was precisely why she chose it. The remaining forces were assigned to pursue in other directions.

Tang Zhegui, the squad leader of the mess unit, was responsible for logistics. After discussing with the others which unit to follow, she was tasked with delivering food and water to Xu Mao.

Xu Mao’s journey proceeded smoothly without any attacks. Along the way, she casually lingered in a location ideal for ambushes, waiting for the Prefect of Jin Province to launch a surprise assault.

Meanwhile, the Prefect of Jin Province, having received full support from Prefect Xiao and agreements from others to join the suppression, initially had good news. However, his joy was short-lived as internal issues arose.

With more people came conflicts and complications. Agreeing to unite was one thing; determining the specifics of the suppression was another. Questions such as who would take command, lead the entire army, decide on strategies, and how to carry out the suppression of Xu Mao all became points of contention.

By seniority, the Prefect of Jin Province lacked the qualifications for overall command. The others had agreed to dispatch troops largely out of respect for Prefect Xiao of Jiang Province.

Yet, the main theater was in Jin Province, with other regions merely providing support. It would take several days for messages to travel, and by the time frontline reports reached Jiang Province, the opportunity would have long passed.

Prefect Xiao expressed willingness to follow the Prefect of Jin Province’s command, but other officials were not as accommodating. Some, full of self-importance, made sarcastic remarks about the Prefect of Jin Province.

If the suppression failed, who would bear the responsibility?

Their words carried undertones of distrust. Most officials, especially those of the same rank or older than him, were unwilling to submit to his authority.

Over this issue, the various parties argued incessantly, dragging on for two or three days without reaching a resolution.

Amidst the back-and-forth turmoil, the Prefect of Jin Province was overwhelmed with busywork, yet the situation remained deadlocked at this critical juncture.

If we fail, who will bear the responsibility? The Prefect of Jin Province snorted coldly, his voice sharp and unpleasant. If we fail, none of us will survive. Xu Mao would never spare us—how could he even be here debating responsibility?
The more he thought about it, the more stifled he felt. He put down the letter and flew into a rage, slamming the table as he roared, Can’t they see the situation we’re in? Xu Mao is about to storm our Jin Province government office, and they’re still nitpicking over trivial matters. It’s clear to me—this is nothing but an excuse to avoid sending troops!
Prefect, do not fret. How about this: we invite Prefect Xiao to come to Jin Province and take command? That way, they’ll have no more excuses, the Chief Secretary suggested, stepping forward to soothe the agitated official and offer advice.

The Prefect of Jin Province knew that the urgent task at hand was to devise a strategy to steady morale, coordinate arrangements, and eliminate the threat of Xu Mao as soon as possible.

Suppressing his fury, he rubbed his temples and shook his head in distress. Prefect Xiao agreed to support us only because he wants this matter resolved quickly, lest Xu Mao set his sights on Jiang Province and drag him into this mess. If he were to come to Jin Province and take charge, one misstep could bring the fire to his own doorstep—why would he ever agree?