[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-stealing-ming":3,"chapter-stealing-ming-stealing-ming-chapter-89":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Stealing Ming",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1220706,1614,"Chapter 89: Section 17","stealing-ming-chapter-89",89,"\u003Cp>\"Well killed!\" A loud shout from the guide cut off Huang Shi's prayers. It turned out He Baodao was recounting how he had slain rebels at Guangning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the fervor in these Ming soldiers' eyes, a sudden sense of helplessness rose in Huang Shi's heart — those who forget war will surely face danger, and those who delight in war will surely perish. During the Han and Tang, Huaxia possessed a broad-minded spirit, embracing and absorbing foreign cultures: \"I am but an ordinary man with only a few decades of life. Even if I could achieve success in the Central Plains, could I truly reopen Huaxia's broad-mindedness? Could I reverse the influence of the Han and Tang military men who brought chaos to the realm?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he was sinking into despondency, a figure suddenly flashed before Huang Shi's eyes — it was the \"Later Jin spy\" he had seen in the dungeon when he became Sun Degong's personal guard. Even on the verge of death, that man's eyes still radiated a startling, fanatical faith, and the impact on Huang Shi had never diminished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since he believed in his own ideals, then he must strive to realize them!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Shi, jolted awake, coughed once: \"Let's go to Yipianshi and have a look.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yipianshi, there's nothing much worth seeing there.\" The guide summarily described the general situation at Yipianshi; indeed, there was nothing particularly noteworthy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Shi had been to Yipianshi before. In his original history, that place was well worth a commemorative visit, but the Ming people of the present would not yet regard it as significant. That being the case, Huang Shi did not insist. He felt that in this time and space, the great battle of Yipianshi might never occur, so it was fine to skip it: \"Where is Yang Zhiyuan?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Yang, ah, um, he's feeling a bit unwell.\" He Baodao suddenly became evasive and hesitant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh?\" Huang Shi himself was bored to distraction and wandered about all day long. Yet Yang Zhiyuan could quietly stay indoors without stepping out, which struck Huang Shi as somewhat odd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Life at Shanhai Pass was very dull. Ever since Huang Shi had made his stance clear, the Liaoxi military families had kept him at a respectful distance. Huang Shi had exchanged a letter with Zhao Manxiong and knew that everything on the island was normal; over the past ten-odd days, all tasks had been proceeding in an orderly fashion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first words Yang Zhiyuan spoke upon seeing Huang Shi were again about those damned sesame seeds — he had been constantly fretting over whether the island had started planting sesame to choke out the weeds. After they talked for a while, Huang Shi sensed that Yang Zhiyuan was indeed somewhat melancholy and dejected, so he pulled the authority of a superior officer and ordered him to confess honestly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My lord, a friend has asked this subordinate to go drink matchmaker-thanking wine tomorrow.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Shi sighed inwardly. Another foolish emotional problem. That friend of Yang Zhiyuan's was doing reasonably well in Liaozhen; relying on the medal Huang Shi had left behind, he had become a Squad Commander and even built a house. A few days ago, he had run into Yang Zhiyuan and insistently dragged him off for a meal, inviting him to come again for drinks in a few days — that is, tomorrow. During that visit, the dear little wife had even come out to serve tea; she was now with child.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After forcing a cheerful smile and returning to his lonely little room, Yang Zhiyuan could not suppress a wave of grief and sorrow. He even thought, not without jealousy, that if he had not gone to Liaoxi, this happy life should have been his. This thought made Yang Zhiyuan feel he had wronged his friend and Huang Shi, yet he could not drive it away no matter what. Over the following days, tormenting himself, Yang Zhiyuan felt that life was worse than death, and he could not endure a single day more at Shanhai Pass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tomorrow I will accompany you,\" Huang Shi knew that matters of the heart could not be managed, nor could they be explained with reason. \"That friend of yours is also my former subordinate; it is entirely reasonable for me to go see him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The last one hundred taels of silver had already been left at Old Zhang's house. For the entire journey to Lüshun, including the copper coins they had seized, Huang Shi had only a little over ten taels of silver and a dozen strings of copper cash, and he had also spent some on gate fees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Shi told Zhang Zaidi to take out the last five taels of silver, which had originally been intended as a gift for Fang Zhenru. The pouch now held only some standard cash and a few slivers of broken silver. For a moment, Huang Shi felt somewhat reluctant to part with it: \"Bring this along tomorrow.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When that former subordinate saw his old commander arrive, he was overwhelmed by the unexpected honor and hastily seated him in the place of highest precedence. Little Zhang handed him the wrapped silver, and after the subordinate expressed profuse thanks, he quickly took it to the back room and put it safely away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Shi and Zhang Zaidi were not like Yang Zhiyuan; they could not claim such close family friendship with that former subordinate that womenfolk need not be secluded. So it was entirely understandable that the dear little wife did not come out to meet the guests. Huang Shi felt this was just as well, sparing Yang Zhiyuan from further torment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the table, Huang Shi boasted on Yang Zhiyuan's behalf, even saying that following him meant a future of boundless promise. That former subordinate nodded repeatedly and offered repeated congratulations. Huang Shi felt that this, at least, helped Yang Zhiyuan save face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, there was a knock at the door, and a sweet female voice came from outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My lord, forgive me.\" The former subordinate apologized, then called for his dear little wife to go open the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A friend of this subordinate's wife. I beg my lord's pardon.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's nothing.\" As the dear little wife went out to open the door, Huang Shi struggled to suppress the urge to steal a glance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although he did not look, that did not stop him from indulging in a brief fantasy: \"...I wonder what that little lass looks like now that she's become a wife? Is she more round and full-figured?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the guest passed through the outer room, Huang Shi, whose mind had wandered all the way to Java, either out of habit, or because his legs were uncomfortable, or by some arrangement of fate — in any case, as if moved by unseen forces, he rose to his feet. Startled, the other three at the table also scrambled to stand bolt upright, and this sudden commotion gave the newcomer a fright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Shi silently cursed himself for a lunatic and prepared to say a few polite words to dispel the awkwardness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"General Huang.\" The female voice was filled with delighted surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That would be me, unworthy as I am.\" Huang Shi quickly swept his gaze over the newcomer — a girl of about seventeen or eighteen, her hair still in the style of an unmarried maiden. \"How may I address this young lady?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"General Huang, ten thousand blessings. This humble one's surname is Zhao.\" Miss Zhao drew herself together and curtsied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Shi returned the courtesy and withdrew his gaze. She was a very delicately featured girl, with very fair skin, and her bearing was poised and graceful. Hearing the sound of the two women moving toward the inner room, he could not resist turning his head again to admire the young woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Miss Zhao was walking forward, she too was stealing a glance back. Their eyes met for an instant, and the girl, overcome with shyness, fled into the inner room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Shi warily swept his eyes over the others nearby. The former subordinate seemed to be chatting happily with Yang Zhiyuan, and neither had focused their attention on him as they had a moment ago. After a while, the former subordinate gave a brief introduction: this Miss Zhao was the dear little wife's close confidante, also a refugee from Guangning. He also told Huang Shi with considerable pride that Miss Zhao's father was a private tutor, and her brother had gone to take the Licentiate examination — word was his chances were very good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The former subordinate lowered his voice and said: \"She also has a younger sister, who seems to look down on us military households. She came twice and then stopped visiting. The elder sister is very kind-hearted and often comes to keep my wife company and chat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was evident that the former subordinate was very proud to be acquainted with a scholarly family and was very careful to maintain this rare connection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A family of scholars,\" Huang Shi listened, and a cloud of suspicion gathered. \"How would a girl from a scholarly family come to befriend your wife?\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1530,"2026-06-04T07:54:30.907Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","e5c39b72d456cd9e2dfc5835781d3a11c146ec8264a6d69bdb513abe0e2bab5f","stealing-ming-chapter-90","stealing-ming-chapter-88",323,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstealing-ming-cover.jpg"]