Chapter 157: Volume Three: Defender of Shunxiang Fort — Chapter 152: Escort

Volume Three: Defender of Shunxiang Fort — Chapter 152: Escort

Coming out of the Garrison Commander's residence, Gao Xun headed all the way home, his face full of smiles. As soon as he entered the house, he called out loudly, "Wife, wife."

His wife, Lady Tian, came out to greet him and said with a smile, "My husband has returned?"

She carefully brushed the snowflakes from Gao Xun's body and straightened his clothes for him. Seeing Gao Xun's face brimming with joy, she said softly, "What happy event has befallen my husband? Tell your servant and let me hear it."

Gao Xun grasped her rough hands. His emotions surging, his voice trembled slightly: "Wife, let me tell you — today the Garrison Commander received me."

Lady Tian was both startled and overjoyed. She said, "Truly? This... this is truly wonderful."

After listening to Gao Xun's account, she could not help but choke up: "My husband, your many years of heartfelt desire have finally been fulfilled."

Gao Xun also sighed with satisfaction. He looked around his simple, shabby little courtyard and said, "Wife, I have wronged you all these years. When we have money and provisions in the future, I will buy you a large mansion."

Lady Tian said in a low voice, "As long as I am with you, I am willing even if it is more bitter still."

In truth, Lady Tian, like Xie Yike, had also been a child bride. She had grown up together with Gao Xun since childhood, and when they came of age, the two consummated their marriage. Although Lady Tian's appearance was ordinary, and she usually wore thornwood hairpins and coarse cloth skirts, utterly inconspicuous, she managed the household with virtue and kindness, and the husband and wife's affection was very deep.

Gao Xun was handsome and dashing in bearing. Within the department city, many women admired him, and many daughters of wealthy families were even willing to bring rich dowries and throw themselves at him, yet Gao Xun refused them all. He had been married to Lady Tian for several years. Although he was only twenty-one this year, they already had one son and two daughters. Though their days were hard, they were harmonious and sweet.

The husband and wife stood quietly together, both longing for a beautiful future life. Lady Tian suddenly said, "Today is a day of great joy for my husband. Let your servant go buy some wine and meat to celebrate for you."

Gao Xun laughed and said, "Indeed, I must have a good drink."

He suddenly remembered something: "Oh, wife, when you go to the street, buy a few books for me from the bookshop."

Lady Tian was somewhat puzzled. Her husband usually loved most to brandish blades and play with swords, and simply disliked reading books. She did not know why he suddenly wanted her to buy books. Books were very expensive at this time; after buying them, this twelfth month would require even more frugality in food and clothing. She said nothing, only picked up her vegetable basket and went out.

In Gao Xun's mind surfaced the scene of the Garrison Commander receiving him today. The old gentleman's expression had been gentle and kind; he had asked him many things, and finally he had asked one question: "Gao Xun, have you ever studied books?"

At the time, he had awkwardly answered no, and the Garrison Commander's face had shown an expression of regret. Although Gao Xun did not understand why the Garrison Commander asked him this question — in his impression, as long as a military man's martial skill was superb and he could brandish blades and play with swords, wasn't that enough?

But since the Garrison Commander asked this, there must be a reason for it. From today onward, he would study books diligently.

On the tenth day of the twelfth month of the ninth year of Chongzhen, seeing that there was not much time left before the New Year, Wang Dou planned to go to the route city to see if he could request some plow oxen and other items from the Huailai Military Defense Circuit Intendant, Lord Ji Shiwei. Two days earlier, he had gone to the guard city and obtained over a hundred plow oxen from the Garrison Commander, Lord Li Yi'an. The guard city's support for Wang Dou could only go so far; for any more supplies, they had the will but lacked the strength.

However, Acting Garrison Commander Xu Zucheng agreed to personally accompany Wang Dou on a trip to the route city — on one hand to help Wang Dou, and on the other, under the pretext of discussing official business, to pay an early New Year's visit to Circuit Intendant Ji, deliver a generous gift, and build connections.

Just before departure, Department Magistrate Li Zhen suddenly sent someone to find Wang Dou, saying that since Wang Dou was going to the route city, the young lady Ji staying at his residence happened to be returning to the route city, and Wang Dou could escort her back along the way.

Department city affairs were managed by Zhang Gui, Tian Changguo, and others, and with Han Chao, Han Zhong, Wen Fangliang, Feng Dachang, and a group of trusted confidants in the city, Wang Dou's absence for a few days was no great matter. But for requesting plow oxen and other supplies, without Wang Dou personally taking action, Wang Dou worried they would not be able to manage.

He emerged from the Garrison Commander's residence, with a group of guards all riding alongside him. These guards were led by Xie Yike, who also commanded two squads of Night Scouts brought from Shunxiang Fort. When the party reached the street, the commoners on the street all bowed to Wang Dou. If before, when Wang Dou had exterminated the rebel troops, the soldiers and civilians of the department city had only feared him, now that Wang Dou had distributed land and fields, their gazes already carried much reverence.

They arrived before the Baoan Department administration office. In front of the main gate was parked a graceful carriage, one Wang Dou had seen before. There were also some mules and horses, and some servants and maids with large and small bundles, hurriedly moving things. The sound of voices rose from within the department administration, and they saw Department Magistrate Li Zhen personally escorting the young lady Ji out, with the department magistrate's young mistress also following behind him.

Wang Dou looked over and saw that the young lady Ji was dressed in a pure white, sumptuous sable fur coat, which set off her beauty and charm even more. She walked to the main gate and performed a curtsey to the department magistrate: "My lord, please go no further. I have lingered at your residence for many days and am truly grateful for your generous hospitality."

Li Zhen chuckled and said, "May the young lady have a smooth journey. Convey my regards to the Circuit Intendant on my behalf."

The young mistress also stepped forward and said to the young lady Ji, "May my sister have a smooth journey and peace on the road."

The young lady Ji laughed and said, "Sister Wanyun, I will come again next year. You are the only one I can talk to now."

She saw Wang Dou and laughed, "Wang Dou, so it is you personally escorting me. This humble maiden is unworthy of such an honor."

Her clear, crisp laughter rang out continuously. She turned her head and said to the young mistress with a smile, "With our Lord Wang escorting us, the journey will surely be safe and peaceful, and strangers will keep their distance. Elder sister need not worry at all."

The department magistrate saw Wang Dou and came over to exchange pleasantries, saying some words entrusting matters to Wang Dou. The young mistress, with her calm gaze, quietly watched Wang Dou.

After a few idle words, the young lady Ji boarded the carriage. Two maids hurried forward, opened the carriage curtain, and let the young lady Ji enter. Then several more personal maids followed the young lady Ji into the carriage. Hoofbeats sounded, and the procession of carriages and horses slowly headed out of the city.

Coming out from the department city, they passed the Yang River, passed the Qingshui River, and traveled another twenty li northeast before reaching the Baoan Guard City. There, Wang Dou was to pick up Acting Garrison Commander Xu Zucheng and proceed together to the route city of Huailai.

All along the way, ignoring the dissuasion of the maids beside her, the young lady Ji opened the carriage window curtain and kept looking at the scenery outside. When she was not speaking, her eyes were clear like deep pools. In the cold wind, her cheeks were creamy white flushed with red, as if a layer of rouge had been applied. Many of the guards beside Wang Dou were awed by her beauty and stole glances at her from time to time; Xie Yike also stared at her blankly now and then.

Wang Dou glanced at the young lady Ji and saw her resting her chin on her hand, quietly lost in thought about who knew what. After a long while, she suddenly said to Wang Dou, "Lord Wang, can you compose poetry and songs?"

Wang Dou said, "No."

The young lady Ji asked again, "Can you play the flute or the zither?"

Wang Dou said, "No."

The young lady Ji was silent, then muttered, "What a pity."

Her eyes scrutinized Wang Dou, making him quite uncomfortable. He thought to himself that this woman was ill.

Suddenly the young lady Ji spoke again: "Wang Dou, there is a question I wish to ask you, only I do not know if I should."

Wang Dou said indifferently, "If the young lady has something to say, just ask."

The young lady Ji said, "Recently in the department city, I have heard others' comments about you. Some say you are cruel and fond of killing. What do you think?"

At these words, Xie Yike and the others' faces immediately changed color, and their gazes toward the young lady Ji were no longer friendly.

Wang Dou said coldly, "Why should I, Wang, care what others think of my actions?"

The young lady Ji said earnestly, "In truth, in this humble maiden's opinion, I also think that executing a few of the leading rebels and properly instructing the rest would suffice. Lord Wang, you are too fond of killing."

Wang Dou snorted. "Without employing thunderbolt methods, how can one manifest a bodhisattva's heart? In chaotic times, apply harsh laws. Had this official not done so, how could the rebel troops have been swiftly pacified? Hmph, a woman's words are most laughable."

Hearing Wang Dou speak this way, several of the young lady Ji's household servants beside her carriage immediately shouted in rebuke, "Insolence! How dare you be so disrespectful to the young lady?"

Seeing them act this way, the guards beside Wang Dou were not willing to show weakness either and shouted back one after another, with Xie Yike's curses being the loudest.

The young lady Ji, having been spoken of thus by Wang Dou, was both ashamed and annoyed. Her cheeks flushed crimson, and she shot Wang Dou a glare: "Aiya, the Garrison Commander's tiger might is so great. This humble maiden is so frightened."

She snorted, and with a loud bang, shut the window curtain.

Wang Dou breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that at last there was peace. He also faintly guessed at the young lady Ji's identity and thought that daughters of official families all had such willful tempers.

After crossing Zhenhai Bridge, they soon reached the west gate of Baoan Guard City. Beneath the west gate, Acting Garrison Commander Xu Zucheng was already waiting with some of his retainers. He did not have Wang Dou's sturdy constitution; in the freezing weather, he was merely huddled tightly inside his warm carriage. However, upon seeing the young lady Ji's graceful carriage, he first stared blankly, then hurriedly got down to pay his respects to the young lady Ji.

The young lady Ji opened the carriage curtain and exchanged a few words with Xu Zucheng from within the carriage. She wore a smile on her face, and her bearing and demeanor were so excellent that one could hardly tell she was the same young woman who had just lost her temper at Wang Dou. Wang Dou also met with Xu Zucheng, and the two exchanged a few pleasantries before continuing on toward Huailai City.

From Baoan Guard City going east, eight li away was the Hong-zi Warm Station, twenty li east was the Zhuan-zi Warm Station, and another thirty li east was the Qi-zi Warm Station. Because the postal relay stations had been abolished during the Chongzhen years, these once bustling warm stations and postal relays had all declined. Coupled with the cold weather, each postal relay station was desolate and quiet, with hardly any sign of people.

When they passed the Hong-zi Warm Station, the party did not stop but simply pressed onward. All along the way, Xu Zucheng sought opportunities to exchange a few words with the young lady Ji and build some rapport, but he never got the chance, which disappointed him greatly.

In the afternoon, the party reached the Zhuan-zi Warm Station. Here they rested briefly and drank some hot water. Xu Zucheng attentively entertained the young lady Ji's party, while Wang Dou dismounted with his guards to get some fresh air and walk around the postal relay station.

Gazing at the dilapidated post station before him, Wang Dou sank into thought, while Xie Yike stood nearby laughing and joking with several guards, toying with a firelock in his hands. Just then Wang Dou heard Miss Ji’s voice: “Wang Dou, what are you looking at?”

Miss Ji stepped forward. She seemed to have forgotten her earlier displeasure, walking right up to Wang Dou. Without waiting for his answer, her eyes fell upon the firelock in the hands of the guard beside Wang Dou. Curiosity gleaming in her eyes, she said, “I hear that in your great victory over the slave bandits, you relied on the advantage of firelocks. Might I have a look? What’s so special about them?”

This time her words were addressed to a tall guard of Wang Dou’s standing before her. Seeing a beautiful woman making a soft-voiced plea, the guard was already moved, but military discipline in Wang Dou’s army was strict — how could a vital army weapon be casually shown to an outsider to play with? His gaze turned to Wang Dou. Wang Dou gave a slight nod, and the guard presented the firelock with both hands to Miss Ji.

Miss Ji took it and cried out in her delicate voice, “Aiya, it’s so heavy.”

She began playing with it with great interest. Watching the firelock in Miss Ji’s hands, Xu Zu sighed. He had once obtained a fine firelock from Wang Dou and brought it back to the guard city, intending to have the army craftsmen copy its design. Regrettably, the ingrained practice of skimping on materials in the guard battalion remained unchanged, and the quality of the firelocks they produced was far inferior to those used by Wang Dou’s troops.

After playing with it for a while, Miss Ji said to Wang Dou in a coquettish tone, “Wang Dou, how do you fire this? Won’t you teach me?”

Everyone was startled. Xu Zu looked thoughtful, his gaze shifting between Wang Dou and Miss Ji. The family servants and maids around Miss Ji, however, turned pale, staring in disbelief at their own young mistress, who stood before Wang Dou all smiles and charm.