Chapter 252: Thanks for the Gift

Da Wang still hadn't figured out the shipping fees with Wei Shen, but Lord Zhetian had already arrived in the southwest.

It first located the swamp it had encountered during the hunting trip; the swamp's stench and the fat pig-dragon inside left a deep impression on Zhetian. It found the swamp again, then, following its memory, located the Wei residence.

Da Wang stayed there for half a month, and Zhetian's search went fairly smoothly.

This time Wei Shen wasn't around, and even Marquis Wei Ting wasn't home in broad daylight. Zhetian flew around but didn't find the old man, so it returned to the courtyard where Wei Shen had previously lived.

Now there's no master here, only the servant watching the courtyard. This guy is outside flapping its wings—needless to say, the power of its wings is obvious—as it beats the miscellaneous items in the courtyard clatteringly against Wei Shen's window.

Doing that, it soon drew the servant's attention.

Soon the lady of the house got the news; the household servants said, "Lord You's bird is smashing the Second Young Master's room!"

Wei Shen's mother hurried over to check; indeed, it was the one Da Wang always carried on his shoulder.

Zhetian looked extraordinarily magnificent, not easily confused with an ordinary eagle, so she quickly sent someone to the military camp to summon Marquis Wei Ting and Wei Peng.

By the time Marquis Wei Ting returned, Zhetian had already nearly smashed Wei Shen's window.

The Wei family hadn't installed glass windows yet; they had pasted a layer of translucent paper, which it smashed to pieces.

Upon hearing that Zhetian had come, Marquis Wei Ting rushed back posthaste.

On the way, Wei Peng complained, "Those two didn't even give the family a heads‑up before marching north to attack the Eastern Xianbei—now they're sending that Zhetian over with what message?!"

Da Wang and Wei Shen were quietly handling big matters, not notifying the southwest, but there was still a Zhou Huang of the Zhou family in the Secluded Prefecture.

Zhou Huang wrote a detailed letter to his family describing the grand scene of Lord You's northern campaign; he was full of longing. The Zhou family received it and passed it to Marquis Wei Ting. These days the Wei father and son have been anxious about this, keeping it to themselves and not telling anyone else that two underage youths were leading troops north to subdue the Xianbei.

Marquis Wei Ting galloped back to the residence, first dispersing the onlookers, then tried to approach Zhetian. Seeing no reaction, he boldly reached out to untie the message tube on its leg.

Unfortunately, he first opened Wei Shen's.

Marquis Wei Ting glanced at one line, relaxed, and had time to chat; it seemed nothing serious.

After reading three lines, … his teeth ached.

What kind of literary work is this? Using exaggeration in a family letter is barely acceptable!

Marquis Wei Ting handed it directly to his father, saying, "Take a look at this—your second son wrote it."

Wei Peng looked at his father's expression: … he didn't want to look.

Marquis Wei Ting then opened the other letter; this time it was definitely Da Wang's masterpiece.

This time it wasn't so exaggerated, because he had read Zhou Huang's letter and also seen the performance of the Eagle Riders in the camp's martial display; what Da Wang wrote in his letter was true. But… "The Eastern Xianbei capital fell so easily to His Highness?" Isn't that a bit weak?

Or are the ten thousand troops they brought all of the caliber of Da Wang's personal guards?

Wei Peng also shook his head while looking, saying, "No way… impossible!"

Having finished boasting in his letter, Da Wang then brought up old matters, urging Marquis Wei Ting not to involve himself in anything northwestern.

They looked back and forth, delaying picking up the pen to reply, and Zhetian grew impatient.

Why the dawdling! It was even eager to go back and eat something good! It started flapping its wings against the table Marquis Wei Ting was sitting at, and stomping with its claws on the books Wei Shen used for display.

The Wei father and son immediately understood—after all, this wasn't the first time.

Wei Peng couldn't help but say, "Your Highness, has this eagle become a spirit?"

Marquis Wei Ting had no choice but to pick up the pen and pretend to start replying; only then did Zhetian stop beating the table, silently moving to the corner of the desk and standing there to oversee the work.

It stared intently at Marquis Wei Ting as he wrote; if his pen hesitated, it would tap the table to remind him…

Marquis Wei Ting shared the new information he knew and the current situation at Jade Gate Pass with Da Wang, and also urged Da Wang not to casually follow Wei Shen around; now that they had Zhetian as a messenger, they could write more often if anything came up.

In short, don't get mixed up with Wei Shen!

He had no idea; everything was Da Wang's decision. Wei Shen arrived in the Secluded Prefecture dazed and hadn't even caught his breath before blindly following him onto the battlefield.

Wei Peng thought similarly; all he could say was that the Wei family's filter toward Da Wang… is huge.

After Da Wang finished his letter, going to court was out of the question—everyone was on holiday, so there was no reason for him to go to work.

Da Wang and Wei Shen went to participate in the livestock market of war spoils at the ranch gate!

As a result, they arrived late and couldn't squeeze in at all.

Da Wang grew anxious, tiptoeing and straining to look inside, "How can there be so many people? Is it free now? Let me take a look!" Nobody paid him any mind, and the crowds kept pouring in.

Wei Shen heckled from behind, "Hey, someone's height—hahaha—our adults' advantage is right here!"

Da Wang turned around and accidentally stepped on his cousin's foot, then shoved his big‑sized cousin forward as a vanguard to push through, shouting loudly, "Make way, make way! If my older brother can't buy a horse today, my grandfather will beat him to death! Give us a chance!"

Wei Shen: …

Marquis Wei Ting: Ah‑choo!

The people ahead turned back: "Anyone who can't grab something and go home will get beaten—your brother's no exception!"

Wei Shen: …

The auntie nearby chimed in: "Exactly! We thought we ordinary folks couldn't afford big livestock, but who knew our Da Wang was such a great person—one ox for a tael, that's practically a gift for our plowing!"

"With an ox we'll be able to plow ten more mu next year~"

"Our Da Wang is so young, how can he be so sensible!"

Da Wang's little face began to flush…

"Hey, speaking of which, my great‑grandson is about the same age as Da Wang; this morning he got beaten by his father for smashing his rice bowl while eating dishonestly—the gap isn't even close."

"Old lady, you're dreaming—comparing your troublesome child to Da Wang? Da Wang led the army to crush the Xianbei, and everyone in the city now says he's a war god reborn."

Da Wang: …

Just ask, it's awkward.

Why did he push his way in? Now wanting to get out, more people keep pushing from behind. Word has spread that the livestock here is cheap, and the crowds are shoving in heedless of danger.

Wei Shen stifled a laugh beside him and whispered, "If you break your bowl while eating, will your dad hit you?"

Da Wang gave a haughty cold smile: "He'd first beat to death the little eunuch who laughed out loud beside him."

Wei Shen: …

This guy's mouth is really vicious.

This market was handed over to Zhu Ti to sell, almost a giveaway; when the news spread, order became a bit chaotic. Once Zhu Ti noticed, he immediately sent the soldiers stationed at the pasture out to maintain order, and the Great King, squeezed in the crowd, was finally rescued and regained freedom.

They brought Ling Yin and squeezed into the pasture, watching the battle from the railing that wasn't crowded.

Seeing the smiles on the faces of the commoners who had bought cattle and sheep cheaply, the Great King also unconsciously showed a smile.

The people of Youzhou supported his northern campaign; these spoils of war were practically giveaways, also a way to repay those who supported him.

The result was good; everyone was delighted.

On the market, grassland cattle sold for one tael each, sheep for just one hundred wen, though limited to one per person. This price was affordable for any household conscripted for labor by the Great King.

The Great King looked pleased; at that moment the people's faces no longer bore their previous sorrow and numbness, each smiling face made the Great King happy as well.

"How wonderful! Look how happy they are! Thanks to nature's bounty!"

Wei Shen: ……

Lingyin: ……

These are all the people raised by Wanniuyu's subjects; you should thank them.

Your Majesty stroked his chin: "Indeed, I haven't yet visited him in the big prison. It's time to invite him for a long heart‑to‑heart talk..."

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Wanniuyu and the Eastern Xianbei nobles were all imprisoned in Youzhou's crude big prison; Your Majesty felt he had been generous enough, not sending them to the mine to quarry stone, and even letting them lie flat—already decent treatment.

That could be considered decent treatment of prisoners.

This big prison in Youzhou is also Your Majesty's first visit.

Having just entered the dim, cold corridor with a slight breeze, Your Majesty began to search his conscience.

"What's going on? Outside there's a gale, inside a breeze—won't those Xianbei nobles freeze to death at night?"

Weishen didn't come, so the only straight man left was the taciturn Lingyin. He earnestly advised Your Majesty: "The prison can't be too comfortable; otherwise, according to Youzhou's housing standards, a slight renovation would exceed civilian housing, making it impossible to effectively curb crime." What can we do if they don't freeze to death and still commit crimes?

Your Majesty pondered the meaning of those words, then said, "…Lingyin, just stop after the first sentence. Isn't that stabbing my little heart?"

Lingyin readily agreed: "All right, my lord."

Your Majesty: ……

I should have known not to drive Weishen away.

As the king of the Eastern Xianbei, Wanniuyu had a single cell deep in the big prison.

Your Majesty, empty‑handed, strolled over to visit.

He tossed his bodyguards outside and brought only Lingyin inside.

Hearing the commotion, Wanniuyu lifted his head from the straw heap and let out a cold laugh: "You brat, you dare bring someone in? Aren't you afraid I'll rise up and take your life?"

He shook his arms and legs, indicating he was now free.

Your Majesty chuckled: "Old sir, you're overthinking it. Don't be so confident! The truth may be unpleasant, but I'll say it anyway. Whether it's you or the Eastern Xianbei, up to now you can't harm me. Wanniuyu, there's a saying that fortune turns like a wheel—have you heard of it? As long as I'm here, the Xianbei won't have a chance to move south for nearly a century."

"'Hahaha, who said that? Our Xianbei allied force of 200,000 is indeed marching south!'"

Your Majesty nodded: "200,000… you and the Western Xianbei each 100,000, and the Tufa Xianbei another 100,000? When did you ally and plan this southern invasion? How will you split the benefits? Have you settled it?"

Wanniuyu stopped laughing: "Ignorant child, trying to pump me for information is useless; the Xianbei iron hooves marching south is already a settled matter. When the time comes…"

Your Majesty cut him off: "Even then it won't affect me. You entered through the north gate—didn't you see my city walls along the way? Could your steppe leather‑armored cavalry really breach them? You're not young; stop indulging in unrealistic dreams. Let me tell you, Youzhou differs from other cities: our walls enclose a large tract of land where we can be self‑sufficient. Even if a force of 500,000 or 1,000,000 besieges us for three to five years, I have nothing to fear."

Wanniuyu began to fall silent.

Your Majesty continued: "Under heaven, none know my strength better than you Eastern Xianbei. What do you think of my black‑armored cavalry? Its armor, forged of bronze and iron, cannot be cut by conventional weapons—I'm sure you've noticed. What troops could withstand the charge of Youzhou's black‑armored cavalry? Hence I fear nothing. But you, reduced to this state, aren't you thinking of your own interests?"

Wanniuyu sat up, fell silent for a moment, then burst into loud laughter: "Everyone says the Ningde Emperor of the Great Jin is muddle‑headed and only knows pleasure, yet he actually fathered a fine son! Is the Great Jin truly destined to perish? I don't believe it! I refuse to accept it!"

Your Majesty, acting like a dog, stepped back two paces: "Stay calm! Let's talk. You don't fear death, that's fine. But this prison still holds all your family except the new Eastern Xianbei king—don't you care about their lives? I hear there are also several very young sons."

Wanniuyu stopped his ranting: "If you let me return north, I can promise to lead our people northward and surrender all the land south of the royal city to you."

"'Do you think I lack land? I ask, you answer—let's get along peacefully so you and your kin suffer less. I can make the wind in this prison blow gentler. I ask: was the Tufa Xianbei's sudden seizure of Duyeh the first step you plotted together? If you contribute 50,000 cavalry, what do they promise you in return?'"

Wanniuyu: '…We didn't plot anything. Life on the snowy steppe is harsh; I heard the Murong side opened a gap, and we merely wanted to go to the prosperous Great Jin to get a share.'

Your Majesty sighed: "You're not being honest! You proposed forming an allied force… well, let me ask: who is taking the lead this time—the Tufa Xianbei or the Xiongnu?"

Wanniuyu: "Since you're carefree and fear nothing, why ask all this? We're far away and know nothing."

Your Majesty wore a worried look: "I fear nothing, but if you don't tell me, maybe my father is already dead—how could I not be afraid? Did you set an ambush at Duyeh?"

Wanniuyu sneered: "I wouldn't have guessed, but you're quite filial."

Your Majesty nodded without blushing: "That's for sure! I'm certainly stronger than Buheng; your second son might already be celebrating with a little drink in your royal city. Still, consider the little sons you have locked up next door—if you behave well, I can give the children a way to live."

"'Release the clueless children, heal my leg, and I'll speak.'"

Your Majesty spread his hands: "Even releasing a few kids wouldn't let them survive; I can only promise not to take their lives for no reason. Also, realize you hardly have the standing to negotiate with me—while I'm curious, hurry up and speak. Word from the northwest will arrive soon, and you… will be worth nothing."

After a long silence, Wanniuyu finally said: "We're just going to hold the line and get a bit of sweetener… it was… the Right Worthy King of the Xiongnu who invited me to send troops."

Your Majesty's heart sank.

"'Is there an ambush at Duyeh? How many people are in your allied force? Does it include the Western Regions?'"