RWNEFE -Chapter 517 A Thousand-Li Dash to Rescue the Envoy Mission

Emperor Renxiao said, “The laws Lanxi implemented were all known to me beforehand and were carried out with my approval. None of you ministers need to argue further!”

The court officials looked as if they had been choked into silence.

“I have seen the changes in the capital with my own eyes. During the period of raising troops, I made several incognito visits among the people. Everywhere I went, the common folk lived and worked in peace, with enough food and warm clothing. I saw it all myself.”

“I also personally inspected the Ministry of Revenue and the imperial granaries. The current reserves in the national treasury exceed the combined totals of the previous three years. I believe that in some places Lanxi may not have done everything perfectly, but the achievements plainly before us cannot be denied by any of you.”

The officials were again left speechless.

“Yesterday at dinner, I ate golden corn sent from the northwest. A single ear of corn, transported all the way to the capital from such a distant place, was still remarkably fresh,” the Emperor said, clearly pleased, a faint smile softening his expression.

“I have ordered some of this golden corn to be placed outside the hall. After court is dismissed, each of you may take four ears home to cook. One ear is enough to fill a child’s stomach; two ears can satisfy a grown man. Such excellent grain grows in any soil, in both north and south, without being picky about the land.”

“There are also golden beans and sweet potatoes. I have tasted them as well. Made into daily meals, they are not only delicious but very filling. More importantly, their yield is astonishing—thousands of jin per mu. They are like divine gifts from heaven, worthy of being placed on an altar and offered to the heavens, worthy even of my kneeling in gratitude!”

The Emperor spoke with stirring emotion.

“What more could you possibly be dissatisfied with?”

Once again, the officials were at a loss for words.

“Is there anyone in your households who cannot get enough to eat?”

“In your hometowns, are there people starving to death in the streets?”

“Are your native places still plagued by poverty, with the people suffering unbearably?”

“Faced with such serious problems, you show no concern. Yet you go mad, targeting Shen Lanxi alone?”

“You studied diligently for years to enter officialdom. Are the strategies of governance you learned in books meant only to gang up and attack a single woman?”

The officials were no longer merely silent; they were frightened.

“We were narrow-minded!” one official knelt.

“I was stubborn and old-fashioned!”

“I am ashamed…”

Emperor Renxiao sighed deeply. “I know what you are thinking. But now that Shen Lanxi has already gone to the southwest, what difference is this from replacing a general on the eve of battle?”

Many officials lowered their heads in shame.

“Enough. I will treat today’s events as if they never happened. Let us instead discuss who should be sent to govern Shu and Qianzhou.”

The atmosphere in court remained tense. The officials spoke cautiously, afraid that a single wrong word might bring disaster. In the end, no decision was reached about Shu and Qianzhou before court was dismissed.

Vice Minister of War Chen Qing walked out of the palace gates in a daze, as if in a dream.

What has happened to His Majesty? He was never like this before…

Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Wu Yanzhi and immediately hurried after him.

Meanwhile, Shen Lanxi pressed forward at full speed. At noon she ate only some flatbread and drank a little water, resting briefly before continuing on.

The situation in the southwest was not fabricated—something had truly happened.

The envoy mission had originally been sent out under her authority. Since she had begun the matter, she had to see it through and bring them back.

Zhou Ruyuan had cultivated influence in the southwest for many years, with numerous former subordinates. Stirring up trouble there would be easy for him.

This time, Shen Lanxi planned to bypass Zhou Ruyuan and first investigate the territories of the southwestern tribes.

That evening, during a rest stop, she gathered the secret guards and explained the plan while they ate.

Those following her included veterans from the northwest, Imperial Guards, secret guards, and the guards given to her by her mother.

By now, these different groups had been integrated under Shen Lanxi’s command, and she began assigning tasks.

“Once we enter the southwest, we must break into smaller groups, entering in batches and from different directions.”

“Team One—you will disguise yourselves as merchants.”

“Team Two—you will pose as refugees fleeing famine.”

“Team Three—you will disguise yourselves as local tribespeople.”

“Team Four…”

…

“Your objective is to obtain a local map after entering the southwest.”

“Then determine whether the Prince of Zhen’nan has truly rebelled, where he is located, and how many troops he commands.”

“Find out whether the Great Zhou envoys made contact with the tribes after arriving, and whether they are safe.”

“Investigate the movements of the tribes: who their leaders are, their intentions—war or peace—whether internal conflicts have occurred, and how their forces are distributed.”

“Remember—do not attract attention.”

“The southwest must already know the court has sent me. So from now on, we must race against time and all enter before they can react. Understood?”

“Yes!” everyone answered in unison.

After resting one night, they set out again.

This time, their march had a clear purpose. Everyone had been assigned tasks; the confusion in their eyes was gone, replaced by determination to accomplish their missions.

They traveled day and night for ten days. When the horses could no longer endure, they changed mounts, repeating the process again and again.

Horses could be changed—but people could not.

Even strong, well-trained men began to struggle under such a relentless thousand-li dash. Yet Shen Lanxi remained like a spear, always running firmly at the very front.

One day, two days, three days… As the men gritted their teeth and forced themselves onward, Shen Lanxi still rode steadily ahead.

The soldiers and guards, who at first had looked down on her or doubted her, gradually shifted to admiration, then deep respect—until not a trace of contempt remained.

She truly was worthy of being Regent of Great Zhou, worthy of being the Grand Marshal of all armies, worthy of the one who had conquered Dongchuan and the northwest.

Her reputation was fully deserved.

Those who belittled women behind their backs should have seen this—how valiant Shen Lanxi truly was.

Five more days passed, and they approached the southwestern border.

Shen Lanxi decided it was time to carry out the plan.

“In your current state,” she joked, “you don’t even need disguises—you already look like refugees.”

Many lowered their heads awkwardly, though their expressions were relaxed.

“From now on, we split up!”

“By order of the Regent!”

More than a dozen groups quickly scattered, leaving only Shen Lanxi and ten secret guards behind her.

“Let’s move as well.”

They acted swiftly. The southwest likely had not expected them to arrive so quickly, so they entered without difficulty.

The southwest was home to many tribes, and they were extremely hostile to outsiders. Whenever strangers entered, warnings were raised immediately.

Following instructions from a secret letter, Shen Lanxi led her people into the mountains near the Wolf Tribe.

According to the letter, after the envoy mission entered Wolf Tribe territory, all contact was lost. When Great Zhou attempted negotiations, the Wolf Tribe denied that any envoys had entered their lands.

More than forty envoys could not simply vanish into thin air. Shen Lanxi was inclined to believe that those forty people had indeed entered the Wolf Tribe.