Chapter 133: 131 Idle Pleasures (for the Alliance Leader

Zhao Han swept his eyes around and said, "Tieniu, have the men move the things inside."

Zhang Tieniu was the personal guard squad captain, and Liu Zhu was the vice squad captain; they rotated daily guard duty at the Regional Commander's residence.

"Right away!"

Zhang Tieniu waved and called out, "All of you, come move these things!"

Zhao Han's personal guard had now expanded to 120 men, fully detached from production for training, with their allotted land all rented out to farming households to cultivate.

The personal guard's main source was household slaves, with a small portion coming from guard-station soldiers who had switched sides. That Wu Yong, for instance, was now a personal guard squad leader, and aside from military training all day, he was busy asking people to help find him a wife.

Since they were all household slaves and military slaves, they ended up with a rather chuunibyou name — the Slave Army!

The personal guards cheerfully carried the gifts inside, while the peasants rejoiced with shouts and cheers, and some even cried out, "Long live Mr. Zhao!"

Zhao Han took the paper cone loudspeaker from Fei Chun's hands and said loudly, "Many thanks to all you good folk for your congratulatory gifts. I hadn't planned to make a grand affair of today, and only invited some close friends and family. There isn't enough food, so I can't invite everyone to a running banquet, but please all come and drink a cup of wedding wine!"

In truth, there wasn't enough wine either.

They could only hastily draw well water, pour the wine into it, and barely make do with the gesture.

Several thousand peasants lined up to drink, the scene bustling beyond measure.

Fei Rulan watched the peasants, their faces brimming with joy, and watched the gifts being carried in one by one, and suddenly understood what great undertaking her husband was engaged in, and also understood the Great Unity under Heaven pamphlet she had read the day before.

"This wedding — do you like it?" Zhao Han asked.

Fei Rulan smiled and said, "I'm thoroughly delighted."

Zhao Han took his wife's hand and said, "Don't think it too shabby."

Fei Rulan shook her head and said with earnest gravity, "Even if one married the new Zhuangyuan, one would not have so many people offering sincere congratulations. The gifts may be modest, but the sentiment is weighty. Under heaven, I fear there is no wedding banquet more joyous than this."

Suddenly, another group of people arrived — over twenty women.

"Why have you all come back?" Zhao Han asked.

Xiao Hong and Xiao Cui had both now entered the propaganda corps, and the women's and children's sections in each town had been dissolved accordingly. Under them were all women, assisting the propaganda officers in their work, and they had gradually been accepted by the peasants.

Xiao Hong said, "Sir, we represent the propaganda corps and have made a special trip back to offer you our congratulations. Please rest assured, Sir, the land distribution and propaganda work will not be delayed!"

Xiao Cui led the women in shouting, "Congratulations to Sir and Madam on your joyous wedding!"

"Hear, hear!"

The peasants clapped and cheered; the more lively it was, the more they liked it.

"Many thanks to all you sisters," Zhao Han said, cupping his hands. "You've all been tanned dark by the sun — these days must have been truly grueling."

"Not grueling at all, we're having the time of our lives!" one woman said with a laugh — she was a prostitute who had followed them from the prefectural seat.

Another woman said, "Before, we lived in confusion; now we live with clarity. Whatever we do, we do it gladly."

Zhao Han also smiled and said, "Gladness is good. Sisters, please have some wedding wine."

Fei Rulan had also heard of these people and knew there were women in the propaganda corps. She stepped forward, raised a bowl of wine, and said, "I toast all you sisters!"

"Congratulations, Madam! Joyous blessings, Madam!"

The women offered their respectful congratulations, then began chattering and laughing merrily.

"Madam is truly beautiful — no wonder Mr. Zhao has been waiting all this time."

"Does Madam know how to sing? I'll sing a piece for Madam."

"When Madam bears a little young master, I'll make a pair of baby shoes for him. My needlework is really quite fine."

"..."

Perhaps due to the nature of their work, these women had all become open and lively, clustering around Fei Rulan and talking endlessly.

Only Xiao Cui felt a little disheartened; she had still been thinking of becoming Zhao Han's concubine.

But it was only a slight disappointment. They were all terribly busy now. Since they had work to do, their days were full, and matters of the heart were set aside instead.

Now that their territory had expanded again, the population under Zhao Han's rule had surpassed one hundred thousand.

A pity, though, that among over a hundred thousand people, only these twenty-odd women dared to go out in public day after day and follow the propaganda corps in their work.

Still, it was a good start. There would surely be more and more in the future — Zhao Han even wanted to form a battlefield nurse corps.

Bucket after bucket of well water was drawn, jar after jar of fine wine was poured in, and the peasants who had drunk their wedding wine gradually dispersed.

Gu Jianshan also stepped forward and drank a bowl, then silently withdrew to the side.

Zhang Tieniu, holding that two-handed sword, came to Zhao Han's side and said in a low voice, "Commander, someone sent this kind of congratulatory gift."

Zhao Han drew the sword from its scabbard, flicked it with a finger, and could not help praising, "A fine sword!"

Gu Jianshan, seeing this, immediately stepped forward and cupped his hands. "I pay my respects to Mr. Zhao."

"Take it," Zhao Han said, tossing the sword back. "If you have any matter, we'll speak of it tomorrow morning."

"I take my leave."

Gu Jianshan did not waste words either; carrying his sword, he returned to the inn to eat.

Pang Chunlai, Li Banghua, Fei Ruhe, and Xu Ying were all standing behind the door watching at that moment. Xiao Huan, Zuo Xiaoliang, Ouyang Zheng, Huang Yao, Fei Yuanjian, Liu Ziren, and the others were at that moment hard at work in the new territory.

"What do you think?" Pang Chunlai stroked his beard and smiled.

Li Banghua sighed with emotion. "Such a magnificent scene — I have never heard of its like. Only today do I understand what the people's hearts truly are."

In every dynasty through the ages, the people's hearts had always been the hearts of the gentry.

When it was said that the common folk welcomed an army with baskets of food and pots of drink, that too was organized by the gentry stepping forward. What could the black-haired commoners possibly understand?

But now, Li Banghua saw another kind of people's hearts — he saw the hearts of the common people!

Xu Ying remained silent as ever, but the corners of his mouth lifted slightly; in his heart at this moment, he was thoroughly glad.

Fei Ruhe, habitually carefree and unconcerned, now felt an inexplicable sense of responsibility. Below Zhao Han, he was the highest military officer, and he felt he must protect this paradise beyond the world.

In truth, this sense of responsibility had long been there; it simply had never been as strong as it was today.

Every time Fei Ruhe went out, villagers would greet him. When he had been in Yanshan, it had been the same, yet clearly different.

When the villagers around Goose Lake Township greeted him, they had all shown themselves deeply deferential, carrying an unaccountable fawning and flattery, bowing and scraping like dogs wagging their tails by the roadside. But the greetings of the villagers here seemed so natural and sincere — a respect that came from the heart.

Fei Ruhe was no fool — he could feel it, and that was why he liked it here.

That evening, the clamor faded away.

Fei Ruhe lay on a reclining chair, gazing at the crescent moon in the night sky, and sighed: "Two years ago, who would have imagined I'd end up in this place? The twists of a man's life are truly strange."

Xu Ying said, "Two years ago, all I could think about was passing the xiucai exam."

"Any regrets?" Fei Ruhe asked with a grin.

"What good would passing the xiucai exam do?" Xu Ying shook his head. "Without passing the juren, it's all vanity — it just sounds nice when you say it. Anyway, this is farewell for now. I'll be leaving Yongyang Town in a few days."

Fei Ruhe chewed on dried fruit, lying back with his legs crossed: "I know what you're off to do — nothing more than a scout sent out by Brother Han. From now on, you'll probably end up as the Grand Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

"It's just opening a shop," Xu Ying said, his head aching. "Finding a good shopfront isn't easy. Even with silver, it's hard to manage."

"Haha, you just take your time opening that shop. I'll be here training the troops properly," Fei Ruhe laughed.

Suddenly, Fei Ruhe stood up, pointed at Zhao Han's courtyard, and said with a sly grin, "How about we go stir up some trouble?"

Xu Ying said in surprise, "That's your sister in there."

"Who cares about that when it's wedding-chamber teasing? Hurry, hurry!"

Fei Ruhe dragged Xu Ying along and also called over Fei Chun, who was cramming mathematics. These fellows were blocked by the personal guards outside the courtyard, but after a bit of muttering, Zhang Tieniu simply joined them too.

They crept in quietly, gathered beneath the window to eavesdrop, all of them grinning sly, foolish smiles.

"Those sisters today were truly spirited, every one of them like a woman general. They remind me of Princess Pingyang's Ladies' Army."

"There weren't many women in the Ladies' Army."

"There were no women in the Ladies' Army?"

"Definitely not many women. It was only called the Ladies' Army because the one leading the troops was a princess. The Great Ming has a woman general too."

"Who?"

"General Qin Liangyu, the tusi of Sichuan. She's killed Tartars, and she's killed roving bandits too."

"..."

The rascals outside the window were growing impatient — listening and listening, there wasn't a single bit of juicy content.

"On their wedding night, this is what they talk about?" Zhang Tieniu said, baffled.

Fei Ruhe winked and nudged him, egging him on: "How about you go in and get them to talk about something else?"

Zhang Tieniu shook his head repeatedly: "I wouldn't dare. Don't you go setting me up for trouble."

That fellow Xu Ying, not so honest himself, got up and leaned against the outside of the window, trying to peer through the cracks to see what was happening inside.

After another while, things inside the room finally turned intimate.

"My lady, you look truly beautiful today."

"Not at all — you're just trying to make me happy."

"Lit by these red candles, my lady looks as if she were made of rouge."

"If you like it, I'll put on a little more rouge."

"..."

Rustling sounds came from inside the room — they seemed to be undressing.

Fei Ruhe whispered, "Don't make a sound. Wait till they've finished taking off their clothes... heh heh, then we all shout at once, and the moment we shout, we bolt — scare them half to death."

"What are you shouting about?"

At some point, Zhao Han was already standing under the eaves, a long spear in his hand.

"Shouting..." Fei Ruhe turned his head to look and let out a startled cry, "Run for it — the wind's up, pull out!"

Everyone scattered and fled.

Xu Ying, panicked and flustered, crashed straight into the water vat in the courtyard, his entire upper body plunging in. Dazed, he swallowed several mouthfuls.

Fei Chun scrambled away on all fours and ducked behind a large tree to hide. Seeing that Zhao Han was busy chasing and beating Fei Ruhe, he finally relaxed and quietly climbed up the tree.

Zhang Tieniu vaulted straight over the wall and slipped away. Once outside, he came back in leading the personal guards, putting on a show: "Commander, could there be assassins?"

Fei Ruhe was pinned under Zhao Han's foot and had already been given a sound beating. Zhao Han said, "The assassin is right here. Strip him and drag him out for public display!"

"At your command!"

Zhang Tieniu rubbed his hands eagerly, a cheap grin on his face too.

The moment he stepped forward, Zhao Han kicked out, sending this fellow sprawling to the ground, then raised his fists and started swinging.

"Aiyo, brother, stop! Tieniu won't dare do it again," Zhang Tieniu wailed.

Fei Ruhe gloated over his misfortune: "Haha, beat him to death — this fellow's been derelict in his duty... ah, that hurts! Sis, why are you hitting me?"

Fei Rulan had picked up the pole used to prop open the window and was swinging it in a furious flurry: "That's for eavesdropping! That's for eavesdropping!"

Fei Ruhe didn't dare fight back; he just covered his head and dodged, which made Fei Chun up in the tree chuckle with glee.

Xu Ying, his upper body soaked through, was still trying to slip away when Zhao Han suddenly barked, "Xu Ying, go drag that bastard down from the tree!"

Xu Ying had no choice but to turn back. He stood beneath the tree and shouted, "Come down."

Fei Chun kept climbing higher: "Come up here, if you've got the guts."

"Come down — I don't know how to climb trees," Xu Ying yelled.

"Come up here!" Fei Chun laughed heartily.

Zhao Han directed, "Climb up and grab him!"

Xu Ying asked, "Can I poke him down with a bamboo pole?"

"You can," Zhao Han nodded.

Xu Ying immediately ran out and came back hugging a bamboo pole used for drying laundry. He jabbed it at Fei Chun in a wild flurry, poking him until Fei Chun yelped and hollered.

A perfectly fine wedding night, turned into a farce by these fellows.

Zhao Han was actually especially happy — he hadn't played around like this in a long time, and such scenes would be even rarer from now on.

(Thanks to Han Qiuzi and Ban Jin Ba Liang for their Alliance Master tips, and thanks to all readers for your tips and subscriptions. Also, the usual request for monthly tickets.)

(End of chapter)