Chapter Sixty-Six: The Eternal Empress—Wu Zetian
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The appointment as Deputy Administrator of the Military Affairs of the Southern Mountain Circuit left everyone utterly stunned. Sun Hongde sat dazed in the prefectural office all afternoon, his mind fixated on those bold characters: “Deputy Administrator of the Military Affairs of the Southern Mountain Circuit.”
He had never expected that his simple intention—to lightly recommend Wu Changlu—would lead to this. Firstly, it was meant as a response; secondly, it was to introduce Wu Changlu to Wu Sansi, to put his name forward so that Wu Sansi would know of him. That in itself was already a tremendous favor.
But—the Deputy Administrator of the Southern Mountain Circuit!
What madness was this?
Suddenly, Wu Changlu had not only surpassed him entirely, but had soared to heights he could never hope to reach. Sun Hongde thought to himself, “How did I give such a fortune to someone else? I should have kept it for myself!”
...
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From a Captain of the Zhechong Military Prefecture in Fangzhou to Deputy Administrator of the Southern Mountain Circuit, the magnitude of this promotion might be unimaginable to many.
Let me explain: The Tang Dynasty currently employed the Fubing system—a policy that kept soldiers among the populace in peacetime and mobilized them in wartime. There were 634 Zhechong Military Prefectures established throughout the empire, roughly one for each administrative county, each led by a Captain responsible for discipline and military readiness.
This is why the head of a military prefecture was called a “Zhechong Captain.”
So, from an administrative perspective, the Tang had 634 counties, hence 634 Zhechong Prefectures.
But these 634 counties, shaped by the land’s topography, were grouped into ten circuits.
Each county governed according to its terrain, all under the jurisdiction of these ten circuits.
The ten circuits were: Guannei, Henan, Hedong, Hebei, Longyou, Huainan, Jiangnan, Jiannan, Lingnan, and...
Southern Mountain!
Across the vast expanse of the Tang Empire, apart from the frontier protectorates, there were only these ten circuits.
Now do you see? Wu Changlu’s promotion was akin to leaping from a county military commissioner straight to the provincial military command of a super-province.
From the top post of a single Zhechong Prefecture, he rose to the second-in-command of all forty-six Zhechong Prefectures in the Southern Mountain Circuit. That should give some sense of the scale of his advancement.
Of course, there was still a Military Commissioner above him, and Deputy Administrator was only the second-in-command, but even so, it was an extraordinary honor. Because becoming Military Commissioner was impossible—a lifetime would not suffice.
Though the Tang had yet to implement the feudal military governorship system, and the Military Commissioner might not seem as powerful as those of later times, this was a misconception. The current Military Commissioner was the true powerhouse. Those future figures like An Lushan and Shi Siming, no matter how many lifetimes they lived, could never reach the heights of the present Military Commissioner.
Why?
Because a Military Commissioner overseeing a circuit’s military and administration must be of royal blood—a prince. And not just any prince: for the Southern Mountain Circuit, it had to be the Prince of Chu.
...
But there was no Prince of Chu in the Tang!
And Sun Hongde’s bewilderment grew, for not only was there no Prince of Chu, but even Wu Changlu’s appointment as Deputy Administrator was unprecedented.
In the central circuits—Southern Mountain, Guannei, Henan, Hedong, Hebei, Longyou—the Tang had not exercised the office of Military Commissioner for years, let alone Deputy Administrator.
The central government had long bypassed the subordinate military prefectures, taking direct control.
Why, then, was a special Deputy Administrator created for Wu Changlu in the Southern Mountain Circuit?
In modern times, winning the lottery every day might still pale in comparison to the improbability of this occurrence.
As for the true intent behind the imperial edict, Sun Hongde could not fathom it.
Nor could most in Fangzhou—including Li Xian, Wu Sansi, Wu Chengsi, and Princess Taiping—make sense of it; fewer than three people truly understood.
And that mysterious, unseen Wu Old Nine was one of them.
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“It’s not that Fourth Uncle’s military achievements are particularly outstanding, nor that Wu Sansi values him so highly, but rather...”
Wu Ning, Ugly Uncle, and Wu Changlu sat together, pondering the appointment.
Wu Ning frowned, “It’s because Empress Wu happened to need a Deputy Administrator, and this person’s background would be acceptable to everyone.”
Wu Changlu was perplexed, “What do you mean?”
Wu Ning explained, “Look at Fourth Uncle’s background.”
“Pei Xingjian, though not from the Seven Surnames or Ten Great Families, belongs to the ancient and illustrious Pei clan of Hedong.”
“His old subordinates, at least those of noble lineage, would have no objections.”
“And Helan Yueshi, being from Guanzhong, would not be opposed by the aristocrats of Guanlong.”
“And, coincidentally, Fourth Uncle was recommended by Wu Sansi, and...”
Wu Ning paused, laughing at the absurdity, “And Fourth Uncle happens to be from Fangzhou.”
“From Fangzhou!?” Ugly Uncle shook all over.
“What does that mean?”
“You mean—!”
Clearly, Ugly Uncle had guessed something and was suddenly enlightened.
...
Wu Ning spread his hands, “Just look at the imperial edict!”
He took the edict from Wu Changlu’s hands and unfurled it.
Pointing to it, he said, “Everyone’s attention is fixed on the Deputy Administrator of the Southern Mountain Circuit, but that’s not the main point.”
“Not the main point?” Wu Changlu’s eyes widened, “An imperial edict, and that’s not the main point? Then what is?”
Wu Ning smiled, shook his head, and pointed lower, “The focus isn’t on Fourth Uncle’s Deputy Administrator post, but on this phrase—”
‘To remain in Fangzhou for later use!’
“......”
“......”
Wu Ning’s calm voice echoed in the room.
“If there’s a Deputy Administrator, there must be a Military Commissioner...”
“A Prince of Chu!”
He grinned, “The Deputy Administrator stays in Fangzhou, but he must follow the Military Commissioner. Don’t you see, Fourth Uncle? The Prince of Luling will be re-designated as the Prince of Chu!”
“How could it be!?” Wu Changlu was incredulous, “An emperor dispossessed and punished, to be restored as the Prince of Chu?”
It was too bizarre to believe.
What could be impossible?
Wu Ning thought, Empress Wu is about to ascend the throne, and unlike in history, Li Xian is still alive, which has changed her attitude toward Li Xian completely.
This time, the old lady sent two nephews and a daughter to congratulate Li Xian, but ignored his brother Li Xian. The meaning was clear.
She needs to pave the way for her accession, to placate the imperial clan of the Li family, but cannot allow her sons to be too united, lest factions form.
The principle is: the young are favored over the old; succession passes to the young, not the elder. Li Xian, proud by nature, would never submit.
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Indeed, his resistance was precisely what Empress Wu wanted. Their discord assured her peace of mind as she claimed power.
Five years ago, Ugly Uncle had Meng Cangsheng save Li Xian and scare off Qiu Shenji.
But at that time, Qiu Shenji escaped, and had not yet, as in history, gone to Bazhou to personally strangle Li Xian. Thus, Ugly Uncle inadvertently saved Li Xian in Bazhou.
Yet it was this very Li Xian who caused Empress Wu’s methods toward the Li clan to shift entirely—from violent suppression to strategic division and balance.
Not only must Li Xian, Li Xian, and Li Dan, the three brothers, remain thoroughly estranged, but even Li Shangjin and Li Sujie, whom she had originally intended to eliminate, were alive and well.
Now, in the imperial court, the Guanlong aristocrats and the noble families are at odds, the Wu clan is at odds with both, and the reign of severe officials keeps the ministers in check.
Within the royal family, Li Dan sits on the throne, Li Xian is poised to be made Prince of Chu, while the most capable brother, Li Xian, is deliberately neglected in distant Bazhou.
The powers are intertwined and balanced; none can move against the others, nor dare any stir unrest. This is the perfect moment for her to ascend the throne.
Wu Ning could not help but admire: with her skill, both literary and martial, flawless in every detail—if she does not become emperor, who else could?
...
“You mean...” Ugly Uncle gazed at Wu Ning, “She will promote Li Xian to Prince of Chu before her ascension, making it appear as if he is to be Crown Prince?”
“That should be the case,” Wu Ning replied, glancing at Wu Changlu.
“Fourth Uncle, this time you truly...”
He was so fortunate that even Wu Ning felt a twinge of envy.
Yet Wu Changlu was still in a daze, staring at Wu Ning.
“All of this, just because you asked Sun Hongde for a favor?”
He was astonished—this youth was truly remarkable!
Little did he know that whether it was Sun Hongde or Wang Hongyi, these self-styled geniuses were all being effortlessly manipulated by a fifteen-year-old boy.
Especially Wang Hongyi—he still did not know who Wu Ning was, had never met him, yet was thoroughly outmaneuvered.
Wu Changlu could barely imagine: in a few years, when this boy matured, who could stand against him?
Ugly Uncle, meanwhile, was no longer stunned by Wu Ning’s meticulous mind.
He wanted to laugh—could barely contain a roar of laughter!
He thought: Aunt, Aunt! You could never have imagined that the one who understands you best in the world would be a fifteen-year-old child.
One day, when you meet this boy, who knows what you will think?
One day, when all grievances between you are revealed, who knows...
What expression you will wear!
...
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“All will be well!” Wu Ning reassured Wu Changlu’s worries with sweeping confidence. “Wang Hongyi doesn’t know about me, and even if he did, he would thank me! At least the phrase ‘to remain in Fangzhou for later use’ will make countless people envy him for guarding the prime territory alongside Li Xian!”
Yet, as he gazed at the edict with its bold ‘Deputy Administrator of the Southern Mountain Circuit,’ Wu Ning was struck silent.
Damn it, a distant Wu Changlu had managed to turn this into a masterpiece, conveying so much information.
But Empress Wu’s game was the real masterstroke.
...