Chapter 60: Lantern Festival (Part 2)

"But there are some things you said that are correct. When it comes to strategies against the enemy, we civil officials can never be as single-minded as you military men..." Zong Ze continued, supporting Yue Fei's arm as he spoke. "For instance, among the civil and military officials at court, I admire no one except Li Gang. Yet back then, Li Yanxian of Shanzhou impeached Li Gang for not knowing how to use troops, to the point of being put on the wanted list. Now he's almost single-handedly holding back Wanyan Loushi's forces in Shanzhou—doesn't that prove he was right? So Minister Li and I—we simply don't know how to use troops."

"But Pengju, not knowing how to use troops is just that—not knowing. Because of the state's institutions and centuries of tradition, major affairs still cannot do without us ministers! The two of us here can still support you in fighting at the front. But if Li Boji and I were to yield even slightly, those riffraff would seize power, and His Majesty would have no one left to restrain him. Then no matter how brilliantly you performed at the front, how could you avoid another Jingkang Incident?!"

Not only Yue Fei, but also Ma Kuo, Zong Ying, and even Tang Huai, who was standing nearby, all became solemn upon hearing Zong Ze speak so earnestly.

"So Pengju, the reason I stopped you now is to tell you that you are thinking correctly. Don't mind us old fossils—just go ahead and do things your way, with strict military discipline, well-trained troops, and ample supplies! In the future, those who will become pillars holding up the sky must be young men like you who understand military affairs! But by then, we will surely be gone. If you want to succeed, you must learn to protect yourselves and cultivate allies both inside and outside the court..."

Zong Ze grew more serious as he spoke.

"You said your temperament has changed a lot—that's a good thing. But you must change it even more. Don't ever learn from my stubbornness and rigidity. You're a military man—how could you have the same freedom I do? Do you have my seniority? Do you have my jinshi degree? Do you have my age? Do you have my merit in supporting the Emperor's ascension? So you must take care of yourself on this journey! Take care, again!"

Yue Fei opened his mouth to speak but didn't know what to say. He could only open his eyes wide and nod with effort.

"Young Master Ma, my hospitality these past few days has been lacking. I hope you'll forgive me." Seeing this, Zong Ze said no more. He turned his head, still holding his fur robe, and spoke slowly to Ma Kuo.

"Minister Zong is joking!" Ma Kuo snapped back to reality and gave a bitter smile.

"Actually, there's nothing to hide." Zong Ze sighed softly. "First, because of your father's involvement in the Maritime Alliance, the scholars and commoners left in Dongjing all have complaints. I don't agree with them, but I can't easily restrain them either, which is why you've suffered grievances. Second, the matter you came to discuss is not something I can decide. And based on my guess, given His Majesty's nature, once he learns of it, he'll put on a show of filial piety and brotherly righteousness on the surface, but in reality, it may not end well. Yet you're doing such great work at Mount Wuma, and I can't stop you, so I had no choice but to take no action."

"Minister Zong, you need not say more. I understand all this." Ma Kuo's bitter smile deepened. "But now Hebei is in turmoil, and the time to resist the Jin is at hand. All other considerations should be cast aside..."

"That's exactly why I stopped you." Zong Ze stepped forward and grasped the man's arm, speaking earnestly. "As for the edicts His Majesty has issued recently, setting aside other matters, some of the reasoning is still correct... At a time like this, a thousand or ten thousand improprieties—as long as they contribute to resisting the Jin—are proper... I am old. I only ask that young men like you, Pengju, and Li Yanxian serve the country with utmost loyalty and support the overall situation in the future... If that happens, should the day come when we recover Hebei, or even drive straight to the Yellow Dragon, then even if I am beneath the springs, I will feel as if I were alive! Did you think those words just now were meant only for Yue Pengju?"

Ma Kuo had traveled south from Zhending all the way, enduring countless hardships. Looking further back, in recent years he had suffered imprisonment, capture, and countless grievances. Now, receiving a word of recognition and encouragement from Zong Ze, he felt a sting in his nose. Though he didn't cry, he felt that everything had been worth it.

"Let's go! There's work to do tomorrow!"

Zong Ze was a man of straightforward temperament. Having said his piece, he didn't linger. He turned directly and, dragging his motley fur robe, strode into the mansion.

Ma Kuo and Yue Fei watched until he had entered the mansion, then silently turned and mounted their horses to return.

Leaving aside how Ma Kuo prepared upon returning, Yue Fei, back at his lodgings in the city, sent Tang Huai and his other attendants out of the city that very night to the military camp to deliver orders and prepare for the next day's military operations. Yet he had no trace of sleepiness. Instead, he sighed at the moon, his emotions unsettled for a long time.

As the third watch approached, Yue Fei grew increasingly restless. He felt he had to do something to calm his mind. After thinking it over, he summoned an attendant and sent him to the city's garrison camp to find someone. When the man heard that Yue Pengju, Minister Zong's foremost favorite, was summoning him, he dared not delay. He quickly brought his full set of tools and hurried back with the attendant.

"Are you the best craftsman in the city's garrison camp?" Yue Fei saw the man and got straight to the point without wasting words. "I'm going on campaign tomorrow. Can you finish it in one night?"

"Rest assured, Grand Commandant!" The man raised his hand to the sky, making repeated guarantees. He turned out to be a soldier skilled in tattooing. "From Wuwei Army to Dongjing City, who doesn't know the skill of One-Handed Solitary Dragon Bei Yan? No matter the pattern or the location, I guarantee it'll be done in one night!"

"Good, then."

Yue Pengju was equally decisive. He stripped off his clothes right there in the empty room, revealing a set of clean, muscular flesh... Actually, thinking about it, although tattooing was a combination of physical labor and technical skill, requiring enough endurance and ability to do well, since tattooing was so prevalent in the Song army, the best tattoo masters naturally came from the military. What reason did Yue Fei have to distrust this man?

"Grand Commandant Yue has never been tattooed before?" This One-Handed Whatever Dragon looked him up and down, also somewhat surprised.

"My body, hair, and skin are gifts from my parents. My mother was strict with me from childhood and forbade tattoos. Back then, just to avoid getting tattooed, I joined the army through the daredevil route. How could I have old tattoos?" Yue Fei continued undressing, unconcerned.

"If so, why do you want one today? Aren't you afraid the old lady will find out and punish you?" The man pulled out needles, knives, and other tools while continuing to ask curiously.

"What I'm going to have tattooed today—even if my mother knew, she wouldn't blame me. She might even praise me!"

"Is that so... Then may I ask where Grand Commandant Yue wants it tattooed?"

"Carve four characters deep into my back..."

"No matter how many patterns you tattoo there, no one will see them. Wouldn't that be a waste?"

"It's not for others to see. It's for me to remember!"

"Yes..." This Whatever Hand Solitary Dragon's heart stirred, and he quickly became solemn. "If that's the case, then so be it. But I must inform the Grand Commandant that first-time tattoo recipients often fear the pain..."

"You talk too much!"

"Yes, yes, yes! One last question." This Single Whatever Solitary Dragon took out strong liquor, then fetched a candle flame before speaking again. "What pattern does the Grand Commandant want?"

Yue Fei had already turned over and sat upright, tightening his belt, revealing a stretch of firm spine. But upon hearing this, he still couldn't help pausing briefly before answering slowly:

"Four characters: 'Serve the Country with Utmost Loyalty'!"

This One-Handed Solitary Whatever, who had intended to stop wasting words, was momentarily stunned but couldn't help adding half a sentence: "Bei Yan of Wuwei Army is willing to serve the Grand Commandant!"

With that, Bei Yan took a mouthful of strong liquor, sprayed it onto Yue Fei's back, and then directly applied the heated needle-knife to it.

Under the full moon in the dead of night, during the Lantern Festival, blood dripped onto the mat, and only then did Yue Fei's heart grow calm.

PS: Continuing to recommend the Song Dynasty reader group, , welcome to come chat.