Chapter 751: A Virtuous Youth [Thank You! A Second Bow!]

Gu Tingye finished speaking, and Minglan, sitting at the back, nodded and said, “Yes! It’s freezing cold up north right now.”

The moment Minglan spoke, Qi Heng instinctively turned to look.

Meanwhile, the scholar Zhuang, seated at the head, continued with a smile, “Do you know exactly where in the north the fighting is?”

Qingyun bowed deeply: “Respected scholar, we only heard it was somewhere in the north; the precise location is still unknown. I’ll ask someone at the gate once I return.”

Master Zhuang nodded.

Qi Heng tore his gaze from Minglan and glanced at Gu Tingye before saying, “Second Uncle, why wouldn’t the Northern Liao dare to mobilize troops at this time? Decades ago, when the new Northern Liao emperor ascended the throne, they launched campaigns even in the dead of winter!”

“Wow, Brother Yuanruo, you even know about events from decades ago!” Mo Lan laughed.

Qi Heng smiled faintly: “Fourth sister, I’ve only read about it in books.”

As he spoke, Qi Heng glanced back at Minglan, then turned to the young servant behind him: “Buwei, go with Qingyun and find out more.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

Buwei rose and headed toward the door.

Gu Tingye raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping briefly over the men on his left, but said nothing in rebuttal.

Xu Zaijing, meanwhile, gave a slight nod to Qingyun, who was bowing and preparing to leave the classroom.

At noon,

Qingyun and Buwei returned to the classroom,

and Master Zhuang, who had just stood to leave, sat back down and waited silently for them to speak.

“Did you find out anything?” Qi Heng asked eagerly.

Buwei and Qingyun exchanged glances, then bowed: “Report, Young Lord: it’s confirmed—the fighting is in the east of Fengzhou, in the northwest.”

At these words,

Chang Bai glanced at his brother-in-law Zai Zhang, while Gu Tingye, Qi Heng, and others turned to look at Xu Zaijing.

“Where exactly is the east of Fengzhou in the northwest?” Ru Lan asked, frowning after glancing at Xu Zaijing.

Minglan and Mo Lan, equally confused, looked toward the others.

“Brother Yuanruo, do you know?” Mo Lan asked with a smile.

Qi Heng’s eyes were filled with thought as he replied, “It should be… near the old border between Bai Gao and Northern Liao.”

Unsatisfied with his own answer, he quickly turned to Xu Zaijing.

Seeing Xu Zaijing shake his head with a smile, Qi Heng said, “Jingge, you must know better than I do.”

Xu Zaijing chuckled: “Yuanruo, Chang Bai loves maps—he’s the one you should ask.”

Chang Bai, who had also been watching Xu Zaijing, shook his head with a smile: “Jingge, my study’s maps show Fengzhou as a vast, vague region—how can I give you precise details?”

Zai Zhang nodded: “True. I’ve seen Chang Bai’s maps myself—they’re too broad. Xiao Wu, you’re the only one among us who’s been to the northwest. Why not sketch it for us?”

“Xu San’s right, Jingge, come on!” Gu Tingye laughed.

Master Zhuang, seated at the head, also smiled and gestured for Xu Zaijing to come forward.

With no choice, Xu Zaijing stepped forward, took the brush Master Zhuang handed him, and drew a few lines on a large sheet of white paper.

After showing it to Master Zhuang, Xu Zaijing beckoned to Buwei and gave Qingyun a subtle glance.

Qingyun bowed and exited the classroom; Buwei stepped forward, holding the white paper with both hands, becoming a living display board.

Xu Zaijing pointed to the bottom of the paper: “This is Bianjing, where we are. Here is Jiuyuan City. Eastward lies a vast plain, rich in grass and water, backed by mountains.”

“Before Bai Gao was reclaimed, this was one of our empire’s few horse-breeding grounds.”

“Here—this line—is the decades-long border between our empire and Northern Liao. This is the east of Fengzhou.”

When Xu Zaijing finished, everyone in the classroom looked as if they had just understood.

Chang Bai glanced at Master Zhuang and asked, “Jingge, why would Northern Liao choose this moment to provoke us into war?”

Xu Zaijing’s gaze swept across the faces in the classroom, then he smiled faintly: “Chang Bai, how do you know it was Northern Liao who provoked us?”

“Uh… could it be that our side started it?” Chang Bai said uncertainly.

Xu Zaijing quickly waved his hand: “Hey! Chang Bai, I never said that!”

At this, everyone in the classroom burst into laughter.

Master Zhuang nodded repeatedly at Xu Zaijing: “Zaijing, I heard from an old colleague in court that our northwest border troops have been issued cotton-padded jackets under their armor?”

“Yes, Scholar! Fengzhou lies far north, colder than other northern regions. The Emperor, mindful of his soldiers, issued an imperial decree before winter to distribute many cotton-padded jackets to the frontier.” Xu Zaijing replied.

In truth, it wasn’t just padded jackets—many officers like Lu Junyi and Zhu Qinghu had received finely made, warm, protective cotton armor.

Gu Tingye, listening to the exchange, paused thoughtfully, then his eyes lit up with realization.

Behind him, Chang Feng leaned forward: “Second Uncle Gu, is the Guangrui Army equipped the same way now?”

Gu Tingye shook his head: “No. Cotton is still expensive—each padded jacket costs a fortune. We can’t issue them to the entire army.”

Xu Zaijing continued: “Soldiers who earned merit in Bai Gao have some savings. Even if they don’t get issued one, they can buy their own.”

Qi Heng nodded repeatedly as he listened, then turned to Gu Tingye: “Second Uncle, I saw the look of understanding in your eyes just now—did something occur to you?”

Gu Tingye smiled and nodded: “Yuanruo, just now I remembered—my maternal family sent many ships of goods, mostly cotton grown and purchased in the south.”

“The soldiers in the northwest have money. So most of that cotton must have been turned into padded jackets and shipped north.”

Chang Feng interjected: “Young Lord, Second Uncle Gu—if that’s true, then our troops will have a huge advantage in the north!”

Gu Tingye laughed: “Chang Feng, that depends on whether Northern Liao is willing to equip their soldiers with warm clothing.”

As they spoke,

“Bang! Bang!”

A sound came from outside.

Muffled by the curtain, it wasn’t loud—but everyone recognized it: someone in Jiyin Alley was setting off firecrackers.

After school in the afternoon,

On the way home,

Xu Zaijing asked casually, “Qingyun, whose house was setting off firecrackers at noon?”

“Report, Young Master: it was a nearby household. They heard the good news from the north and set off firecrackers to celebrate with the empire.”

Xu Zaijing nodded.

Back at the Yongyi Marquis Mansion,

The sky had darkened,

and Xu Zaijing, changed into fresh clothes, went to his mother’s courtyard.

“The Fifth Young Master has arrived,” a maid announced.

As Xu Zaijing passed through the cotton curtain into the room, he saw his brother Zai Zhang placing a letter on the table beside him.

Xu Zaijing bowed to his mother and sister-in-law, then walked to a chair: “Brother, what’s going on?”

Zai Zhang handed him the letter: “Read it yourself, Xiao Wu.”

Xu Zaijing took the letter, scanned it quickly, and his expression grew grave.

He placed the letter on the table and sighed softly.

Whenever war breaks out, people die—whether you win or lose.

Xu Zaiduan, heir to the Yongyi Marquis, had won a battle in the frozen north, but several trusted officers and captains had fallen in the ranks.

“Mother, Brother’s suggestion is that we send someone to Xiangzhou Tangyin to offer condolences?” Xu Zaijing asked.

Sun Shi nodded: “The court will grant honors and compensation, but when will it arrive? It’s already the twelfth month—we should send charcoal, food, silver, and clothes.”

Zai Zhang said: “Mother, I’ll take a few days off and go myself.”

Sun Shi shook her head and glanced at Xu Zaijing.

Xu Zaijing said: “Mother, I’ll go with Brother.”

Sun Shi shook her head again, then looked at Xie Shi: “Da Lang’s wife, I mean for Dai Ge to go with them too.”

“What?” Xie Shi rose in surprise.

Hua Lan froze, glanced at her husband Zai Zhang, then stood: “Mother, Dai Ge is barely six years old—isn’t it inappropriate to take such a young child?”

Xie Shi gave Hua Lan a grateful look—those were exactly her thoughts.

Sun Shi smiled, gestured for both daughters-in-law to sit, then said: “This time, your brothers will take fine silks and silver from the capital, and we’ll draw food supplies directly from Zhu Family Fortress.”

“That way, with light horses and fast travel, they’ll return before the New Year.”

“Dai Ge is the eldest legitimate grandson—he will inherit the title. When soldiers under the Marquis fall, we must see what we can do to help.”

“His father is still on the battlefield and cannot take him. Let him go with his uncles—it’s good training.”

Hua Lan glanced at Xie Shi with concern.

Xie Shi thought for a moment, then stood: “I leave it entirely to Mother’s judgment.”

The next morning,

Jiyin Alley,

Sheng Household,

Minglan arrived at the classroom with her maid, seeing Qingcao seated on the wooden platform behind, and Xu Zaijing’s empty seat with unlit candles: “Qingcao, where’s Cousin Jing?”

Qingcao rose and bowed: “Report, Sixth Miss: the Young Master has business today.”

“Oh!” Minglan nodded.

Qingcao turned, knelt, and pulled a bundle of silk thread from a basket beside her: “Sixth Miss, this silk was bought by Yunxi when she went shopping. The Young Master asked me to give it to you.”

“Oh oh!” Minglan smiled and took it eagerly.

When Ru Lan arrived, Qingcao gave her a delicate jade cricket cage.

When Ruolan arrived, Qingcao gave her an exquisitely carved jade cricket cage.

Ruolan looked at the delicate cricket cage and said with some dismay, “Jing’s cousin keeps sending me gifts—I’ve got nothing decent to give in return.”

Qingcao bowed and smiled, “Miss Wu, the Young Master said no return gift is needed.”

“That’s a relief!”

Moelan received a fine inkstick.

The sky brightened fully,

a northwesterly wind blew,

along the northern bank of the Yellow River,

on the road to Xiangzhou,

“Boom boom.”

A clatter of hooves came from the south.

Many travelers who had just crossed the river and were heading north turned to look.

Dust kicked up by the hooves rose into the air, whipped by the north wind, making it look at first glance like a large cavalry unit.

As the hooves drew nearer, the travelers saw clearly—there were only eight or nine riders.

But each of these eight or nine men rode two horses, galloping swiftly along the road, creating considerable noise.

As they passed, the travelers noticed fine leather saddlebags hanging from both sides of several horses’ saddles.

Soon after,

the riders vanished from sight,

leaving only distant yellow dust drifting faintly to mark their path.

Amid the thunder of hooves,

Zai Zhang, riding beside Xu Zaijing, pointed with his gloved finger at Xu Zaijing’s bulging chest beneath his cloak.

Xu Zaijing glanced down at his cloak and shouted, “He’s asleep!”

Zai Zhang nodded.

That day, heading to Xiangzhou, Xu Xingdai had sat in front of Xu Zaijing, wrapped tightly in a thick cloak.

When leaving the city and crossing the river, Xu Xingdai had been full of excitement and curiosity.

But once the group began galloping, seated steadily on the small mare, tucked safely in his uncle’s warm embrace, Xu Xingdai soon yawned and fell asleep.

When Xu Xingdai woke, feeling the jolting motion beneath him, he knew the horses were still running.

Leaning against his uncle’s torso, Xu Xingdai quietly pried open a slit in the front of his cloak.

The moment he opened it, a biting cold wind rushed in, making him shiver.

“Awake?”

A muffled voice came from above.

“Uncle, where are we?” Xu Xingdai pressed his mouth to the slit, shouting against the wind.

“We’re almost at Yanjin. If you want to sleep, keep sleeping,” Xu Zaijing said.

“I’m done sleeping!” Xu Xingdai shouted.

Saying this, he tried to push his head out of the cloak.

But halfway out, Xu Zaijing pushed him back with his hand: “Get used to the cold wind first. Put on your face mask before you stick your head out.”

“Oh.”

After a long while, Xu Xingdai, wearing a cotton cap and face mask, with a headband tied beneath the cap, finally poked his head out.

The cold northwesterly wind blew against them as they rode into it.

Xu Xingdai, facing the wind, squinted his eyes.

Xu Xingdai, who had never left Jingcheng since childhood, was gradually drawn in by the scenery along the road, his eyes darting endlessly.

Watching his nephew’s expression, Zai Zhang, masked, smiled with his eyes.

“Uncle, if we ride along this road, will we reach Father and Grandfather’s camp?” Xu Xingdai mumbled through his mask.

“You’ll have to turn countless times before you get there.”

“Oh.”

“Soon, warm up a bit, then ride for a while.”

“Yes, Uncle!”

At noon,

the group ate at a roadside inn, while their mounts were fed fine grain by Qingyun and Alan.

Xu Zaijing sat at the table, holding a letter from Zai Duan, and said hesitantly, “Brother, this fallen Commander Yue—we might have met him once before.”

“Huh? Met him once? When you or Father returned to Jingcheng?” Zai Zhang asked, puzzled.

Xu Zaijing shook his head: “Judging by his record, he was probably one of those tough soldiers we met outside the Daoist temple the year Zong’s boy was injured.”

At that time, the Marquis of Yongyi had just begun commanding independently; his army was newly formed and had not yet fought Bai Gao, making him more senior than later figures like Wu Song and Wang Yan.

After recalling, Zai Zhang frowned and nodded: “Xiao Wu, now that you mention it, I remember. No wonder Brother wanted us to go in person.”

As dusk fell,

the dusty travelers entered Tangyin County.

The next day,

Xu Zaijing and the others did not go to Zhujia Fortress north of Xiangzhou, as Sun Shi had suggested, to fetch grain. Instead, they found the County Magistrate in town, hired a mounted clerk to guide them, bought supplies, and then hired a cart to leave the city.

Throughout the journey, Xu Xingdai kept frowning.

Not for any other reason—he had never ridden so long or so far before; his inner thighs were sore.

Along the way,

the thunder of hooves and rising dust drew villagers from nearby hamlets to come out and watch.

Many of these villagers held bows and long spears, clearly thinking something was amiss.

As they neared their destination,

riders armed with bows and spears began appearing, one or two at a time, near Xu Zaijing’s group.

Soon, there were over a dozen, forming a loose group circling around them.

Their horsemanship was expert—no one could master it after just a day or two.

Xu Zaijing had sharp eyesight and could see the men’s expressions were wary, nothing more.

“Young Master, shall I ride over and speak to them? They look like local lads from nearby villages,” said the mounted county clerk.

“Wait till we arrive,” Xu Zaijing said.

“Yes.”

After riding further,

“Whoa!”

A chorus of reins pulling halted them on the threshing ground at the village entrance.

“Woof! Woof! Woof!”

The barking of village dogs grew clearer.

The white steam from the horses’ breath quickly vanished into the air.

The riders who had been circling now rode up.

Qingyun turned his horse and rode forward.

After exchanging a few words with them, a clamor broke out: “Is this truly the Yongyi Marquis’s household? Then we’re relatives!”

“Has Xu Wu arrived? My family is related to the Marquis of Lian!”

“My brother and I are distant kin of the Duke of Ying, the Zhang family.”

“May we speak to Wu Lang?”

Qingyun stared, dumbfounded—first at what they said, second at how famous his Young Master was even here.

Hearing this, Xu Zaijing understood why these men rode so well.

In Zhujia Fortress north of Xiangzhou, and in the Xu family’s ancestral village in Dai Prefecture, young boys began training in horsemanship early, just like these.

Soon after,

the riders who had followed dismounted and approached Xu Zaijing and Zai Zhang, speaking together.

When they learned Xu Zaijing was going to the Yue household, they spoke again.

In short—they were related to the Yue family.

The noise at the gate

drew out a young man wearing a white headband and mourning robes.

He was followed by a woman.

Seeing this, the crowd fell silent.

Zai Zhang, with Xu Xingdai, walked toward the courtyard with Xu Zaijing behind them.

Qingyun and the others unloaded the fine horses and cart goods.

While the elders spoke and paid respects,

Xu Xingdai stood aside and looked earnestly at the young man, several years older than him: “I’m Xu Xingdai. The Yongyi Marquis is my grandfather. I haven’t seen Father in a long time too.”

Grief had stripped the mourning youth of his youthfulness; his eyes held little innocence. Seeing Xu Xingdai’s sincere gaze, the boy sniffled.

Whether from cold or tears, his voice was nasal: “I’m Yue Fei.”

(End of Chapter)