Chapter 211

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Protagonist:

Shaowei

Liu Qi

Of these two, one bore the surname Zhou, named Shan Gu, a young military officer of unmatched bravery and ferocity.

Having just left his secluded life and followed the army for no more than a hundred days, he performed excellently as a common infantryman in his first battle, charging forward courageously and taking over ten enemy heads.

The other was a staff officer in the Zheng Army, hailing from Chenliu Commandery; his father had once been a county official under Chenliu Commandery. This man had been forcibly captured and employed by the Zhengs, possessing considerable learning and insight, and gradually gained their trust.

This staff officer and that Zhou-surnamed young officer were old acquaintances; they had secretly made contact, with the former volunteering to act as a spy, gathering military intelligence for the Court within the Zheng Army.

This staff officer was none other than Ji Jin.

The military merit report sent back along with the victory dispatch gave only a general account; the more specific details were found only in the letter Shaowei brought early that morning for them to read together—

The matter began when Ji Jin was accidentally swept away by the water while managing flood control.

He knew some swimming; at that time he drifted downstream on floating wood, and because he was injured and feared the cold, to preserve his strength he dared not walk on his own. Fortunately, his uncle by marriage found him in time, but unfortunately they encountered the henchmen of the Zhengs who were forcibly conscripting civilians. Covered in mud, he and his uncle by marriage were like two desperate carp caught in the Zhengs' net.

His uncle by marriage's old leg injury, not yet healed, worsened again, and he was detained in the Zheng Army to do menial work and tend fires.

Ji Jin was like firewood in a stove, burning with anxiety as if consumed by fierce fire, feeling himself scorched black—thinking of how he had once set out with great ambition, carrying the money and the *He Shu* given by Jiang Sister to return home and manage water, yet failing to serve the people and instead becoming a henchman of brutal traitors, and moreover not yet having seen his A Jie and aunt who were hurrying to Chenliu to reunite... day and night he could hardly restrain his anxiety and self-loathing, his body and mind as if about to be burned to ashes.

However, giving up in despair was absolutely unacceptable; otherwise he would truly betray Jiang Sister's help and be unworthy of his aunt's household.

The anxious Ji Jin muddled through his days among the clerks under the Zhengs, secretly helping his uncle by marriage heal, keeping watch on patrols and deployments everywhere, planning that once his uncle by marriage's injury healed, he would find a way to escape this place.

Unexpectedly, one day, as a colleague passed by his side, he hummed with hands behind his back a line of absurd, disjointed words that were neither poem nor song...

Ji Jin heard it in his ears, and his heart trembled greatly.

The embarrassing words he had once heard in the Jiang household courtyard in Taoxi Township, words that made him want to find a crack in the ground to crawl into, he now heard again; it seemed like a great redemption, as if Jiang Sister's astonishingly powerful hand reached down from the heavens and, without explanation, pulled him out of this tormenting sea of bitterness.

He nearly shed tears, forcibly maintaining an air of calm indifference, and caught up with that mysterious colleague who came from the accountant's office, likewise forcibly brought here by the Zhengs to serve, responsible for organizing ordinary documents.

This mysterious colleague was one of Liu Qi's men, and Shaowei had simultaneously sent word to Shan Gu; once Shan Gu arrived with the army at Huai Yang Guo, he soon made contact with Ji Jin through Liu Qi's spies.

Hearing from Shan Gu that Jiang Sister was now a Tai Puzhe in the court, truly a stunning rise, and that she was trying to find the whereabouts of his aunt and A Jie, besides surprise and gratitude, Ji Jin felt as if he had a great support behind him, and another self-motivation arose; he no longer only thought of escape, but wanted to do something concrete, so as not to betray this ordeal of hardship.

He had grown up reading books, and in Taoxi Township had followed Shaowei to broaden his learning through many rare classics; moreover, because his father was an official, he had been influenced since childhood and possessed two parts more political insight than ordinary clerks. Wanting to show his talent, he soon gained the regard of the Zheng Army.

A young hero of clear background is always easier to trust than those older strategists who have served who knows how many masters and harbor who knows how many ulterior motives.

Although his status still could not compare to true Zheng confidants, beneath his youthful appearance he was steady, patient, and good at observation, and with the assistance and coordination of Liu Qi's spies, he gradually came to touch the edges of some military secrets.

With Liu Qi's men as cover, the wanderers sent by Shaowei served as carrier pigeons between Ji Jin and Shan Gu, thus beginning their inside-outside coordination in this war.

The Court's Suppression Army victory naturally could not be credited to just Ji Jin and Shan Gu; their later coordination also united other spies of the Court within the Zheng Army, and on Shan Gu's side there were truly experienced strategists offering plans and giving Ji Jin much guidance.

But Ji Jin was only eighteen this year, and Shan Gu was two years younger than him; for young people swept up by a chaotic world and first encountering war and strategy, such performance was truly not bad.

In the final battle, Ji Jin took advantage of the chaos to lead men in burning the Zheng Army's grain and forage, further cutting off the Zhengs' retreat and throwing their army into confusion. Shan Gu, charging alongside the main general, assisted the main general in pursuing and encircling the defeated soldiers, and took the head of the Head of Household of the Zhengs.

Shan Gu's main general was surnamed Lu and named Ding, formerly a subordinate of the Marquis of Lu; originally the Marquis of Lu had specifically entrusted Shan Gu to this man, taking him to Huai Yang Guo to receive the most direct and effective tempering.

Lu Ding had a bad temper, spoke very little, treated Shan Gu very strictly, and never had a smiling face.

But Shan Gu knew gratitude and understood kindness, so in the final battle he fought desperately to help Lu Ding slay the Zheng chief—military merit titles are divided into twenty levels; taking the head of an enemy leader can promote one level, and if fighting foreign tribes, promotion by three levels is also possible; along with rich rewards, one can also establish prestige.

After this matter, looking at that brave child like a gratitude-repaying wolf cub, the taciturn Lu Ding, if he did not speak, was fine, but once he spoke he asked Shan Gu whether he was willing to recognize him as adoptive father.

Shan Gu was greatly startled; though grateful, he still politely declined.

First, his life had been repeatedly saved by A Jie and no longer belonged to himself; he absolutely could not, without A Jie's knowledge, arbitrarily recognize an adoptive father.

Second, and also the sincere explanation he gave when declining Lu Ding: he already had an adoptive father and adoptive mother; if he recognized another, adding obligation upon obligation, he would become an adoptive son of two surnames, which would be too profit-seeking and greedy, truly improper.

Hearing this explanation, the rejected Lu Ding not only did not get angry, but instead showed a rare smile, praising him as a good boy with loyalty and his own views, and that in the future he would be regarded as a great talent.

Although not recognized as an adoptive son, when Lu Ding celebrated military merit in the army, he publicly praised and commended Shan Gu, saying his foundation, courage, and spirit were all present, and he possessed the talent of a general star.

The Court Army intended to deter the surroundings, and young general stars often bore mysterious heavenly mandate colors, and could better frighten the hearts of those causing chaos; therefore the Court did not spare in promoting the saying of a general star's birth. This saying indeed had exaggeration, but was certainly not groundless.

And Ji Jin, while lurking in the enemy camp, also achieved great merit; flood control was not accomplished, but instead he unexpectedly tempered himself midway into a strategist of a chaotic world.

At this moment, in the Imperial Court, because of the joy brought by this victory dispatch, there was a brief period of upliftment and harmony, because Lu Ding's merit report stated that Shan Gu was recommended by the Marquis of Lu; at this time someone bowed to the Marquis of Lu and sighed in admiration: "Such a young hero... the Marquis of Lu truly had the discerning eye to recognize a gem back then!"

The Marquis of Lu, who had rarely appeared before people in recent years, had been frequently coming and going in the Imperial Court lately, full of spirit, as if brimming with strength he had nowhere to use; others also secretly guessed that this old man who doted on his child was probably intentionally guarding against anyone speaking ill of his granddaughter or bullying this young junior in his household, and thus came specially to the court to stand guard and deter.

This old marquis, who could not go three sentences without mentioning his granddaughter, upon hearing this praise, stood with arms crossed and stroked his beard, saying: "This is the work of the Tianji Star's creation, not my ability."

Those who heard looked over; someone asked: "... Oh? Could it be that the Marquis of Ling Shu actually knows this young general talent?"

The Marquis of Lu said emotionally to his colleagues on either side: "You gentlemen may not know; my daughter back then was precisely helped and protected by this heavenly close relative, this young child, before she could return home alive. My wife and I have only this one daughter; losing and regaining her is no different from regaining a soul and continuing life... If not for this, I ask, where would this marquis have the life, the energy, and the vision to pay attention to discovering usable materials?"

Listening to this circuitous argument that seemed intent on piling all the world's merits at his granddaughter's feet, some officials were speechless for a moment, some officials smiled and echoed that it was indeed fate and fortune.

Others sighed, shook their heads and whispered, in a tone as if lamenting the decline of social mores: "How can there be such far-fetched connections in the world..."

When the Marquis of Lu had finished speaking, his face remained calm, but both ears were closely patrolling; at this moment he said: "This marquis has been coming and going in the palace recently; I observe that the number of wild cats in the palace is far from as pleasing as before. Over time, it is inevitable that rats will gnaw things and disturb people's peace."

The merits and fame piled upon him by others were his own things; naturally he could distribute them however he liked—where was it the outsiders' turn to pick and choose?

Bickering in court was truly common; compared with the previous atmosphere where people would casually take off their boots to smash each other and exchange punches, the present seemed overly courteous and orderly. No one cared about the Marquis of Lu's polite but sarcastic remarks; they laughed it off and continued discussing affairs.

When the morning court session ended, the officials left Weiyang Palace one after another, in groups of two or three, talking.

"The Zheng rebellion was caused by the chief evil mining merchant, also a great evil; suppressing it in time can also deter the surroundings..."

"Indeed so; this great victory in the war is truly a good omen."

"The Crown Prince has just begun to supervise the state; originally worried that the people's hearts were unstable everywhere, but today such a victory report has entered the capital, which is also great luck for the state..."

The final words needed to be made lightly and stopped; the speaker also realized he had misspoken; several people laughed and smoothed things over before leaving.

Behind them, the Marquis of Lu patted a Advice Daifu on the shoulder: "The victory report was already on the way before the Crown Prince supervised the state; they are the ones making far-fetched connections—Shaoyan, why don't you dare speak?"

During the reign of the Former Emperor and Consort Qu, the position of Advice Daifu was established; the number was not fixed, mostly maintained at around ten or so.

This man surnamed Shao named Yan was not the most stubborn among the Advice Daifu, but was the most grating; he would report one matter over and over again. Although he did not like to utter vulgarities and make a scene by throwing himself against pillars, being relatively easy to deal with, he won by being extremely enduring; these years he had outlasted several colleagues with fiery temperaments but fated to be like flowing water, while he alone remained as immovable as iron.

The official who went to Jianzhang Palace yesterday to petition again regarding the flood disaster was precisely this person.

At this moment, mocked as a child by a Lu Marquis barely ten years his senior, Shaoyan flushed with anger, yet dared not clash with this hot-tempered ruffian, so he could only endure, sigh, and leave with a flick of his sleeve.

Thinking back to yesterday at Jianzhang Palace, where a true child had snatched his memorial to read, confirmed a sentence about the flood-stricken areas, then tossed it back to him before departing for an audience—it was truly inexplicable and arrogant—

Shaoyan could only let out a helpless "alas" in his heart: what sort of people are these!

But the Lu Marquis did have merits to his name, which he acknowledged, and since the other man was frank and loyal, having mocked him to his face, he would not stoop to targeting him behind his back, so he did not worry about being tripped up.

As for his earlier "why dare not speak," it was because he did not wish to pursue that unsuitable topic, and also because he had other troubles weighing on his mind.

Although the rebellion in Huaiyang Guo had been pacified, the Suppression Army could not yet return to court... Huaiyang Guo borders Liang Guo, and the Liang Prince met defeat and death in the Capital; this rebel heart had long been premeditated, and the Liang Prince's sons would surely not wait for death, for now secret reports have reached the Capital that Liang Guo is already making moves.

One wave had just been pacified when another rose; at first, Ling Ke had pacified the ambitious Vassal Kings of different surnames, thinking it would usher in a true era of unification and peace under heaven...

But after the deaths of the Ling siblings and Ling Taizi, disasters arose one after another, hearts were unsettled, and worse, the Emperor persisted obstinately in campaigning against the Xiongnu, ultimately ending in years of draining warfare, military defeat, and an emptied treasury.

Liang Guo is wealthy, its people strong and its horses sturdy, serving as a kind of banner among the Vassal Kings... it is in no way comparable to local rebel traitors of different surnames like the Huaiyang Zheng Clan who rose merely through iron smelting.

Earlier at Morning Court, the Lu Marquis went so far as to declare outright that the Court Troops alone, sufficient only to pacify the Zheng Rebellion, were absolutely not enough to contend with Liang Guo, reminding the Court and the Heir Apparent not to be careless in dealing with them.

Qing Wu had similar worries.

She did not understand politics or troop matters, only recognizing one thing: the Liang Prince truly had money.

"... Liang Guo is so overwhelmingly strong; can Yan Family Brother and Shan Gu truly cope and resist?"

After finishing her shift today, Shaowei brought Qing Wu back to Jiang Zhai, hiding her in a courtyard no outsider treads, continuing the topic of Ji Jin's letter that she had not had time to finish discussing during the day because Shaowei was busy with official duties.

As the topic went on, it triggered Qing Wu's worries.

"A Jie, don't worry; this afternoon I already inquired, and the Court will surely send more troops."

Shaowei answered calmly, though she was not entirely free of worry in her heart.

But beyond worry, she could sense from between the lines of Ji Jin's letter that Ji Jin and Shan Gu were now at a time of displaying ambition and high spirits.

Ji Jin even said that a person of little influence has little strength; in the past he could carry at most twenty baskets of silt a day, shouting until his throat was hoarse yet unable to move the servants above and below, but now he dares to dredge the silt of all under heaven, hoping to accumulate fame and strength before continuing the water control work.

Shan Gu needs no further words; before setting off for Huaiyang Guo, he had already thought clearly about what he wanted to do.

Shaowei herself was a person who pursued "acting willingly and to her heart's content," so naturally she had no reason to stop her friend's choice of ambition; though they were willing to listen to her, they were not under her control, and she could not, just because of a little worry, seize people and lock them in a nest far from wind and rain.

The mutual high spirits in Shaowei's heart far outweighed her worries, and since Qing Wu trusted Shaowei, seeing Shaowei appear calm, she felt much more reassured.

Besides, Qing Wu now had something to look forward to: she would soon see Father; Yan Family Brother wrote in his letter that he had already handed Father over to Shaowei Sister's subordinate knight-errant, and Father, who had wandered in distress and fright, was now being transported to the Capital by the knight-errant.

Now she only awaited definite news from Mother's side.

There were many things to look forward to; Yan Family Brother and Shan Gu's Front Path was stimulating and unpredictable yet inspired hope and imagination, and Qing Wu was both anxious and expectant, for a moment her whole blood ran hot.

Carrying this unfamiliar feeling of hot-bloodedness, Qing Wu also inexplicably thought that although Yan Family Brother's side had respectable results, her side and Jiang Sister's side were even more astonishing.

Like some sort of race where everyone keeps getting better, but more like an eager sharing of greater pride and surprises they wished to bring each other.

Thus Qing Wu asked Shaowei if she had finished writing the reply letter, and after receiving an affirmative answer, she eagerly asked further: "... Yan Family Brother and the others should not yet have heard news of Sister being granted a marquisate; did Sister mention it in the letter? If Yan Family Brother knows, he will surely be shocked enough to lie awake all night!"

?? 4200 words, Good Night Everyone~~