Chapter 166 Battlefield

Ji Shu lowered her eyelids and picked up a pastry from the table to eat.

Madam Pei smiled and said, "I don't know how happy he is. Your father has said to me more than once that he hopes your mother can have children for the Pei family."

Pei Xingjian glanced indifferently at her lower abdomen, which was hidden by the table, and a hint of sarcasm flashed across his lips: "Now Father has gotten what he wanted."

That was the bloodline he longed for day and night, but for him, it was impossible to be with her again.

Wei Heng glanced at Pei Xingjian, twisting the handkerchief in her hand tightly.

Ji Shu left the Pei residence on the second day of the Lunar New Year, after New Year's Eve.

First, he went to Fushou Garden to say goodbye to Madam Pei, and then left by carriage with Chunzhi.

Looking at the heavy snow outside the window, this was her first New Year in Yanzhou. The long streets were deserted, with hardly anyone around.

Seeing the soldiers on duty on both sides of the street, Ji Shu instructed Chunzhi, "Go and give them some reward money. They are working hard to be on duty at this time of year."

Chunzhi instructed the coachman to stop, then jogged over and handed him a bag of silver from her sleeve. She then pointed in the direction of the carriage.

The guards hurriedly knelt down on one knee and said something from a distance. Ji Shu simply lifted the curtain and nodded slightly.

After Chunzhi boarded the carriage, the group entered Yongning Lane.

...

Just when Ding Wei's army thought that the Yanzhou army would not be able to withstand the cold winter, they swiftly captured the two cities of Jiaozhou and Xinzhou.

The land of Hanzhong was on the verge of collapse.

After the spring, in mid-April, Pei Yanzhi personally led an army of 100,000 to Kangzhou, which was also the last barrier of Hanzhong.

At this time, Bingzhou, Chizhou, Jiaozhou, Xinzhou, and Youzhou were all under Pei Yanzhi's control.

Just as Pei Yanzhi was marching south and capturing five cities in succession.

Not only did Ding Wei imprison Empress Dowager Song, but a secret report also brought horrifying news: he had actually used Ru Mu to poison the crown prince, who was only a few months old.

His ambition was so blatant that it was intolerable to Heaven and Earth. Empress Dowager Song probably never imagined that the one she personally brought to Hanzhong was a man-eating wolf.

Now, Ding Wei's cronies have been planted throughout the government and the country. If anyone dares to disobey, he will carry out a bloody purge.

Night was about to fall, and Pei Yanzhi's army was stationed in the wilderness. He stood on the hillside and looked down.

Looking at the lights of thousands of homes in the distance, a sense of longing rises in my heart: I wonder if she is doing well now?

The thought of her carrying my child filled me with warmth, but I didn't know if I could get back before the baby was born.

At this moment, however, the scene in the Hanzhong palace was quite different.

Ding Wei drank fine wine, his arms around the concubines from Xie Tianzi's reign, and the hall was filled with decadent music.

Where is the former grandeur and magnificence?

From the day he stormed in, the concubines in the palace were either abused or, if they were of high rank, taken by villains like Ding Wei or given as rewards to the generals.

Who would have thought that just a year ago, he was just a lowly subordinate general hiding in Langya Mountain, and it was only by gaining the trust of the prefect that he gradually rose to where he is today.

"Report—" came the urgent voice of a close attendant from outside, breaking the decadent atmosphere.

Ding Wei pushed the beauty away from his arms. "What is it?"

The general rushed inside, seemingly oblivious to the chaos within, and said urgently, "General, Pei Yanzhi is leading 100,000 cavalry southwards, attacking five cities along the way. If we cannot stop him, he will reach Hanzhong in less than half a month."

Ding Wei suddenly stood up and kicked over the table, startling the woman who had just been in his arms into trembling. Even the dancers in the hall hurriedly knelt down.

"How could it be so fast?" he roared. "Where is the Prefect of Dan County? Didn't he say he was determined to pledge allegiance to me? Where is he?"

Why not resist?

General Jiang Song knelt on one knee and said, "Reporting to the general, the prefect of Dan County was so frightened by the fact that Pei Yanzhi was personally leading the troops that he abandoned the city and fled. It was no trouble at all that he took Dan County."

"You bastard!" Ding Wei drew his long sword, his eyes bloodshot from drinking. "If I capture you, you will be torn apart by chariots!"

Ding Wei sat back in his chair, his face ashen. He was not surprised at all that Pei Yanzhi had led the troops, but he issued a proclamation to the whole country, denouncing him for murdering the emperor and imprisoning the empress.

He has already been made the target of public criticism, and it is impossible for him to turn back now. He has never thought of turning back. This battle will either see Ding Wei become emperor or Pei Yanzhi seize the throne.

Jiang Song stepped forward and said, "General, the only way now is to stop Pei Yanzhi in Kangzhou and kill him on the spot. We must not let him set foot in Hanzhong."

Ding Wei gripped the sword in his hand and scoffed, "Do you really need to tell me that? The question is, who can lead the troops?"

Jiang Song couldn't think of a suitable candidate for the time being, since the court and the public were already opposed to Ding Wei's claim to the throne.

Even if they were willing to send someone to attack Pei Yanzhi, what if they turned against him at the last minute?

Ding Wei laughed angrily, "Fine... so you really can't even find a suitable candidate now?"

"What use do I have for you?"

As he was about to draw his knife, one of the dancers kneeling on the ground, trembling, fainted. Just then...

"Your son is willing to lead the troops, and I hope Father will grant his request!" A still somewhat immature but resolute male voice rang out.

Jiang Song's face relaxed, and he said with joy, "Is it my husband?"

The person who came was Ding Wei's son. Ding Zhaoye pushed open the door and walked straight in, kneeling directly in the hall.

Ding Wei narrowed his eyes slightly, sizing up his son kneeling on the ground, and said in a deep voice, "Do you know who you are facing? He is the lord of the Twelve Iron Cavalry of Yanzhou."

Aren't you afraid?

Although he had three sons, only this son was already of legal age; the other sons were only five years old, and three-year-olds were no longer of any use.

Upon hearing this, Ding Zhaoye raised his head, his eyes revealing a maturity and ruthlessness beyond his years.

"I've heard that Pei Yanzhi led troops to fight the Xiongnu when he was only thirteen or fourteen years old. If he could do it, why can't I?"

"Moreover, as the eldest son of his father, only I can lead the troops and boost morale. If we can kill that traitor Pei with a single stroke, who can stop my father from ascending to the throne?"

Jiang Song quickly chimed in, "General, your son truly is like father, like son!"

Upon hearing this, Ding Wei burst into laughter, "Hahaha, great! I never expected that I, Ding Wei, would have such an ambitious son!"

“In the past, your father never valued you.”

He stepped forward and patted Ding Zhaoye's shoulder heavily: "If you can really kill the traitor Pei in Kangzhou, the day I become emperor will be the day you are appointed crown prince."

"Don't let your father down!"