Chapter 44: Change

Wang Dou prepared to head for Shunxiang Fortress. On this trip he brought Zhong Diaoyang and Gao Shiyin, along with a few military household able-bodied men from the fortress, who drove several mule carts to carry back iron materials and the like.

Earlier in the year, Wang Dou had planned to have Han Chao form a new unit specifically to train Night Scouts and other mounted scouts and reconnaissance soldiers. However, with the spring plowing and fortress wall construction that followed, every able-bodied laborer in the fortress was sent down to work, leaving Wang Dou and Han Chao’s plan merely on paper.

Han Chao, Han Zhong, and Yang Tong each led a company of combat soldiers. Indirectly, these soldiers and their families all fell under the jurisdiction of the three men, and this was largely how labor, training, and combat were managed.

At present, the Han brothers, Yang Tong, and Qi Tianliang were all busy supervising the military household able-bodied men in their diligent labor. Zhong Rong was a scholar, so the ones with a bit of free time were Zhong Diaoyang and Gao Shiyin. For this reason, they accompanied Wang Dou to Shunxiang Fortress this time.

Also earlier in the year, Wang Dou had purchased a batch of mules, horses, and carts from Du Gong, spending quite a bit of his silver. This trip to buy iron materials involved heavy loads, so it was just the right time to drive a few carts and horses over.

The group set out early in the morning and entered Shunxiang Fortress. Shunxiang Fortress was as bustling as ever, but the streets were dilapidated and filthy, the soldiers and civilians in tattered clothes with numb expressions, as if nothing had changed for decades.

Wang Dou had the military households first find an inn to settle in, while he took Gao Shiyin and Zhong Diaoyang to find a shop and buy a gift, intending to first visit Garrison Commander Xu Zhongjun at his residence. Xu Zhongjun had shown him the grace of recognition and promotion, and now that he was gravely ill, it was only right and proper that upon arriving at the fortress, he should visit him first.

Wang Dou had inquired and learned that Xu Zhongjun’s Battalion Commander residence was in the western part of the fortress. But when they arrived at Xu Zhongjun’s residence, a household servant informed Wang Dou that Lord Xu was still working in the official hall. Wang Dou had no choice but to take Gao Shiyin and Zhong Diaoyang to the Battalion Commander’s official hall.

Just as they reached the entrance, they saw several people walk out. The one in the lead was a middle-aged man wearing the official uniform of a Vice Battalion Commander, his face full of arrogance, his head held high as he walked, as if he always looked at people from the corner of his eye. It was none other than Du Zhen, the Fort Field Officer of Shunxiang Fortress. Beside him were several other familiar faces.

One man wore the official uniform of a Company Commander, his expression dark and gloomy — it was Xiao Daxin, the Attached Squad Commander from Dongjiazhuang. Another man, short and stout with a pair of sallow, rat-like whiskers, also wore a Company Commander’s uniform — that was Du Gong. There was one more, somewhat younger, tall and thin with a pale, greenish complexion, wearing the official uniform of a Platoon Leader. Wang Dou recognized him — he was the gate guard officer he had encountered the day he first arrived at Shunxiang Fortress.

Behind them followed several sturdy retainers, each with an overbearing and insolent demeanor.

Du Zhen had just emerged from the main gate. Laughing with his head tilted back, he said, “Wu Shan, your younger sister truly is a woman who brings prosperity to her husband. Not long after I took her as a concubine, I gained the favor of Lord Wen from the department city. Now she is already with child. If she can bear me a son or daughter, I will certainly not forget your reward!”

So that junior officer’s name was Wu Shan, and it seemed his younger sister had been taken by Du Zhen as a concubine or something of the sort.

Upon hearing these words, Wu Shan was overjoyed. He hurried forward and said with a fawning smile, “It all depends on the cultivation of the Battalion Commander, my lord. That my humble sister could receive your lordship’s favor is a blessing she earned in her past life!”

Du Zhen burst into loud laughter. “You and your sweet talk. But isn’t it a bit early to call me Battalion Commander?”

Wu Shan smiled obsequiously. “Not early, not early. In my humble heart, Lord Du has long been the Battalion Commander!”

Du Zhen laughed heartily again, his expression one of smug satisfaction. Beside him, Xiao Daxin, Du Gong, and the others laughed along with him.

Just then, Du Zhen and the others spotted Wang Dou and his two companions in front of the main gate. Du Zhen was taken aback. He said, “Wang Dou? What brings you to the fortress?”

Xiao Daxin, Du Gong, and Wu Shan all turned to look at Wang Dou as well. Except for Du Gong, whose face still wore a beaming smile, both Xiao Daxin and Wu Shan had very dark expressions. Wu Shan, in particular, glared at Wang Dou with vicious hatred in his eyes.

Wang Dou stepped forward to salute and pay his respects to Du Zhen, then nodded with a smile toward Du Gong and the others. Cupping his fists, he said in a clear voice, “Lord Du, this humble officer has come to Shunxiang Fortress to request that your lordship allocate some iron materials. If the fortress’s stock is low, this humble officer can pay silver to purchase them.”

Du Zhen studied Wang Dou for a moment, his gaze unreadable. After a long pause, he said flatly, “Requesting iron materials again? Platoon Leader Wang, you certainly ask for a lot. What does a mere fortified village like yours need so much iron for?”

His tone was indifferent, but the implication in his words was startling. A look of gloating immediately appeared in Wu Shan’s eyes. Du Gong, who had been smiling at Wang Dou, was inwardly alarmed when he heard Du Zhen’s words and promptly wiped the smile from his face. Only Xiao Daxin remained as dark and unchanging as ever.

Behind Wang Dou, both Gao Shiyin and Zhong Diaoyang were shocked, not understanding why Du Zhen was giving Wang Dou such a hostile look. Both of them turned their eyes toward Wang Dou.

Wang Dou’s mind raced, calculating the reason for Du Zhen’s change in attitude today. But his expression remained calm. He simply cupped his fists and said, “Lord Du, the fortress needs a considerable number of iron farming tools. Moreover, with bandits running rampant now, this humble officer, for the sake of the fortified village, also wishes to forge some weapons for defense.”

Seeing Wang Dou’s calm expression, the look in Du Zhen’s eyes grew even more hostile. He gave a cold snort and said, “Platoon Leader Wang can go and beg the Garrison Commander for them.”

With that, he led his entourage away in a swaggering manner.

As Wu Shan passed by Wang Dou, he deliberately sneered several times.

…

Watching the retreating figures of Du Zhen and his group, Wang Dou sank into deep thought.

In front of others, Zhong Diaoyang never presumed upon being Wang Dou’s cousin, but cautiously addressed him as “my lord.”

Now he walked up to Wang Dou’s side and said in a low voice, “My lord, the change in Vice Battalion Commander Du and the others today — the reasons behind it are thought-provoking. We must not fail to guard against it.”

Gao Shiyin clenched his fists, the fierce flesh on his face twitching from time to time. He said in a low, angry voice, “Could it be that when the Garrison Commander came down to inspect earlier this year, Du Zhen felt he lost face? Back then, Du Zhen indeed only allocated four plow oxen and a few sets of plowshares — not even matching what the Squad Commander of Dongjiazhuang received. What face did he have to lose?”

Wang Dou said, “That may be one of the reasons, but the matter is unlikely to be so simple. When he came out just now, he mentioned gaining the favor of some important figure in the department city. Perhaps seeing that Lord Xu is gravely ill, and with someone promoting him, he has set his sights on the position of Garrison Commander.”

He added, “And perhaps, seeing that Lord Xu values me, he decided to use me to make a show of his authority.”

He sneered, then said calmly, “Let us first go see the Garrison Commander, then we’ll talk.”

…

When Wang Dou saw Xu Zhongjun, he could not help but be shocked. The steady, refined, and scholarly Xu Zhongjun of the past was gone. Before him now, Xu Zhongjun’s cheeks were gaunt, his body emaciated to skin and bones, as if a gust of wind could blow him over. He was wracked by violent coughing fits from time to time, even as he forced himself to stay upright and read the documents in his hand. Beside him, a sturdy man in a Company Commander’s uniform looked at him with an expression of deep worry.

Seeing Wang Dou, Xu Zhongjun was very pleased.

Wang Dou stepped forward to salute and pay his respects. In a trembling voice, he said, “My lord, you must take care of your health.”

Xu Zhongjun smiled faintly. “Rest assured, I am not dying yet.”

When he saw Zhong Diaoyang behind Wang Dou presenting a generous gift, he nodded and sighed, “It is enough that you are thoughtful. Why go to the trouble of buying these gifts?”

He asked Wang Dou the purpose of his visit, and Wang Dou told him.

Xu Zhongjun said, “Rest assured, I support you.”

He turned to the sturdy man in the Company Commander’s uniform beside him and said, “Xu Lu, go at once to the storehouse and withdraw four hundred catties of good iron for Platoon Leader Wang.”

Xu Lu hesitated slightly and said, “My lord, what about Vice Battalion Commander Du?”

Xu Zhongjun gave a cold snort and said proudly, “I am not dead yet. Does he dare defy me?”

Xu Lu left. Wang Dou instructed Zhong Diaoyang to call the military households from Jingbian Fortress to follow him and collect the iron. Zhong Diaoyang was steady and reliable; Wang Dou was always very assured when this cousin of his handled matters.

Xu Zhongjun spoke again. “Wang Dou, before you entered the official hall, did you encounter Du Zhen and his lot?”

Wang Dou said, “I did.”

He recounted the situation of his encounter with Du Zhen and the others just now.

Xu Zhongjun sneered. “I am not yet dead, and already some people cannot wait to jump out. Come to think of it, I was the one who promoted Du Zhen. I had even thought of raising him further in the future. I never imagined that as soon as I fell gravely ill, he would change so completely. Hmph, a shortsighted fool. He thinks that just because he has latched onto Wen Shiyan, he can forget himself? He fails to realize that I am still the Garrison Commander of Shunxiang Fortress, and within the department city, I also have the support of Supervisor Xu. Hmph, he feigns compliance while opposing me, singing a different tune. This officer will see how he dies in the future!”

A sharp gleam shot from his eyes. Only then did Wang Dou realize that his gaze was still keen, and the awe-inspiring, commanding presence about him had not diminished in the slightest. Anyone who underestimated him would pay a terrible price.

…

Wang Dou, Gao Shiyin, Zhong Diaoyang, and the others left the fortress. On this trip, they had obtained four hundred catties of iron materials without spending a single coin — all of it good iron that could immediately be forged into iron armor and weapons. With things going so smoothly, everyone was inwardly delighted.

The group escorted the iron materials, driving the mule carts along the road. As they neared Dongfang River, a hillock came into view ahead. Once they crossed Dongfang River, Jingbian Fortress would not be far.

Suddenly, Wang Dou and the others heard what seemed to be the repeated cries of an infant coming from beyond the hillock.

Wang Dou reined in his horse and said, “Did you hear that?”

Zhong Diaoyang also listened carefully for a long moment and said, “It sounds like an infant crying!”

Wang Dou said, “Could it be an abandoned baby? Let’s go take a look.”

The three men spurred their horses over. Before they had even rounded the hillock, the infant’s cries grew more urgent. Then a woman’s mournful voice faintly drifted over: “Child, do not blame your mother…”

Then they heard the infant's crying suddenly stop, and Wang Dou and the others saw a woman place an infant's corpse into a pit and cover it with the surrounding earth.

"Xu Yue'e…"

Wang Dou was greatly startled, but he saw Xu Yue'e only slowly cover the pit with earth, gradually piling it into a small grave.

Then Xu Yue'e stood up and slowly walked toward Wang Dou and the others. But her gaze remained fixed straight ahead; she seemed to see Wang Dou and the others, yet also seemed not to see them, simply passing by their side and slowly walking into the distance.

Watching her figure, Wang Dou and the others were all too shocked to speak.

Gao Shiyin also drew a cold breath: "This woman is ruthless!"