Upstarts
In the spring, Weizhou finally has some warmth, and even the weeds at the base of the city walls are sprouting new green.
But when the wind blew, it still swirled up dust, mixed with the smell of gunpowder that had not yet dissipated.
Wang Dayong had just come down from the city defense, still wearing his armor, and his face still showed fatigue from the hard work.
He is now General Mingwei of the fifth rank, leading about 3,000 men. He is responsible for the defense of Weizhou City and is also responsible for protecting Ning Lingyao who remains in the city.
The task was heavy, and the nerves in his heart were always tense.
As soon as I stepped into the gate of the temporary accommodation, I saw a middle-aged man in official uniform and with a fair complexion coming towards me with a smile, followed by two followers holding gift boxes.
"General Wang! General Wang, thank you for your hard work!" The official bowed, his attitude warm and almost humble. "I am Zhao Wenqi, the prefectural magistrate. I have long admired your reputation and have come to pay you a visit today!"
Wang Dayong paused and frowned.
He recognized this man. He had met him a few days ago when he was patrolling the city wall, but he was not so attentive then.
Is this because he sees that His Majesty has secured his throne? Is he here to pay his respects?
He clasped his fists and returned the military salute, his voice hoarse: "Master Zhao, you are too polite. This is my duty, so it can't be said to be hard."
Zhao Tongpan's smile widened, and he leaned forward, lowering his voice: "General, you are too modest! General, you are brave and skilled in battle, and have made great contributions in defending Weizhou. You are also a loyal minister of Your Majesty. Your future is limitless!"
He changed the subject, "I have a little daughter, only 28 years old, who is somewhat literate and somewhat pretty. She admires you greatly. If you will not abandon me, I would like to send my daughter to be your servant, to take care of you and relieve you of the fatigue of the campaign. I will also prepare a small gift of ten thousand taels as a token of my appreciation."
Wang Dayong was stunned.
Taking a concubine? Ten thousand taels of silver?
He subconsciously looked down at his rough, calloused hands, then looked up at Zhao Tongpan's smooth silk official robe.
An indescribable sense of estrangement arose spontaneously.
They are not the same kind of people.
"Sir Zhao," Wang Dayong's voice deepened, with the bluntness typical of a soldier, "I am a humble man. I have a wife and children waiting for me at home in Mingzhou. I cannot enjoy this blessing, and I would be sorry for my wife who has endured the hardships of life. Young lady, you should find a good family of equal status and don't delay."
The smile on Zhao Tongpan's face froze, as if he had not expected that he would refuse so bluntly. He tried to persuade him a few more times, but seeing Wang Dayong's firm attitude, he had to leave awkwardly with the gift.
After seeing off Zhao Tongpan, Wang Dayong stood alone in the yard for a long time, his heart feeling like a mess.
He recalled the day he left home, when his wife said with red eyes, "Come back alive."
Back then, he was a refugee who had no food to eat, but now...
He sighed, shook his head, and suppressed these chaotic thoughts.
*
The next morning, Wang Dayong went to the military camp to report for duty.
As soon as he entered the camp, he saw Niu Zhuang, whom he was carrying with one hand, running towards him with a grin on his face, his dark face glowing with excitement.
"Boss! Boss!" Niu Zhuang, now a sixth-rank deputy general, still spoke in a resounding voice. "Great news! Terrible news!"
"What are you making a fuss about? Be calm!" Wang Dayong scolded with a stern face.
Niu Zhuang scratched his head and laughed, "Boss, yesterday there was a grain inspector named Qian, a fifth-rank civil servant, who came to me and said he wanted to marry his daughter to me as my legal wife!"
He was so excited that he was incoherent. "That's a legitimate daughter! She's educated! I'm just a peasant. I used to tremble when I saw the head of the village, but now an official is willing to marry his daughter to me!"
Wang Dayong's heart skipped a beat.
He looked at Niu Zhuang.
The nineteen-year-old sixth-rank deputy general, born in the Mingzhu Guard, the personal army of His Majesty, has made numerous military achievements and is at an age with a promising future.
No wonder those people would target us.
"Niu Zhuang," Wang Dayong said, pulling him to a secluded place, his expression becoming serious. "Have you thought about this carefully? The war is only halfway through, and you're living a life of worry and anxiety. What's the point of someone marrying their daughter to you now? What if, I mean what if, you die on the battlefield one day? What will happen to the girl? Will she be a widow forever?"
The excitement on Niu Zhuang's face faded a little, and he blinked: "I haven't thought about this."
"Also," Wang Dayong continued, "what kind of background do we have? We dig for food in the fields. That young lady from an official family has been living a life of luxury since she was a child. She reads poetry and embroiders flowers and birds. Can you and her get along? Will she be willing to serve your parents? Will she go back to our poor and remote hometown with you?"
Niu Zhuang was completely stunned.
He was so busy being happy that he didn't consider these practical issues at all.
His parents were honest farmers, and they hoped that he would return safely, marry a capable wife, and have some big, fat boys.
"Boss, what do you think we should do?" Niu Zhuang was at a loss and looked at Wang Dayong eagerly.
Wang Dayong pondered for a moment, then patted him on the shoulder. "We are His Majesty's men. When in doubt, it's always right to ask His Majesty. Come, I'll take you to see His Majesty."
*
The government office where Ning Lingyi temporarily resides is now the center of Weizhou and even the entire Northern Expedition front.
Wang Dayong and Niu Zhuang passed the message and waited at the gatehouse.
Many people, like them, submitted their invitations and waited for an hour or two.
After a moment, a eunuch came out and respectfully led them inside.
Passing through several courtyards, the further you go in, the more solemn the atmosphere becomes.
Officials waiting to be summoned can be seen everywhere in the corridors and courtyards. They are wearing scarlet robes and purple clothes, and their ranks are not low. Officials of the second and third ranks are common, and officials of the fourth and fifth ranks are everywhere in the courtyard.
Seeing Wang Dayong and Niu Zhuang passing by in military uniforms, these senior officials all looked at them, or nodded and smiled, or talked in a low voice, with a complex meaning in their eyes, including concern, scrutiny, and even subtle compliments.
Others were waiting, but they went straight in. That's the difference.
Niu Zhuang was still a little confused and just felt that these officials were more friendly than before.
Wang Dayong's heart gradually sank.
He looked straight ahead, but his palms were slightly sweaty.
This kind of scene and this kind of gaze made him clearly feel that those of them who had followed His Majesty out from Mingzhou were really different.
When they reached the door of the inner hall, the eunuch went in to report and then gestured for them to go in.
Inside the hall, Ning Lingyi was bending over a large desk, reviewing documents. Her dark uniform made her face look a little thinner, and there was a lingering trace of fatigue between her brows, yet she had an air of majesty.
"I, General Wang Dayong and General Niu Zhuang, pay my respects to Your Majesty!" The two men stepped forward and knelt on one knee to salute.
Ning Lingyi didn't look up. The tip of her pen moved across the paper, making a slight rustling sound. "What's the matter?"
Wang Dayong took a deep breath and told the whole story about someone wanting to marry a soldier from Mingzhu Guard and Niu Zhuang being proposed to.
Finally, he hesitated and said, "I am a general with limited knowledge and do not know how to deal with this matter. I have come to ask for your instructions, Your Majesty."
The hall was silent for a moment.
Ning Lingyi finally stopped writing, raised her eyes, and looked at the two of them, thinking for a while.
Then he looked at Wang Dayong and said, "Wang Dayong, I heard that when you left home for the north, your wife sold all the valuables in the house and exchanged them for dry food for you. Do you still remember this friendship?"
Wang Dayong shuddered, bowed his head to the ground, and choked with sobs, "Your Majesty! I will never forget this! Without the support and help of my wife, I would have starved to death long ago, and would not be here today!"
"Just remember it."
Ning Lingyi nodded slightly and turned her gaze to the nervous Niu Zhuang beside her. "Niu Zhuang, what about you? What kind of wife do you want to marry?"
Niu Zhuang didn't expect Ning Lingyi to ask him directly. His face flushed red. After holding it in for a long time, he finally said with a choked voice, "Your Majesty! My parents said that I want to marry someone who is strong, can work in the fields, is filial to the elderly, and is easy to bear children. I think that's a good idea too!"
Ning Lingyi's lips seemed to curl slightly when she heard this, but she quickly regained her composure: "Yeah, not bad."
"You're away at war, and a daughter-in-law like this would be the only one who could support your family and take care of your parents. That grain inspector's daughter has been learning to read and write since she was young, but she can't lift anything and needs someone to serve her. How much is your monthly salary? Is it enough for her to pay for her makeup, fine clothes, and delicious food? What will you do if your parents don't get along with her in the future?"
As Niu Zhuang listened, the excitement on his face faded little by little, turning into confusion and frustration.
He counted on his fingers and said hesitantly, "My monthly salary plus bonuses have only been saved for almost a year, and it's only a little over a hundred taels. I was thinking of buying a few acres of land and building a tiled house when the war is over. If I marry a wife like this, I'm afraid, I'm afraid I can't afford to support her..."
"That's it."
Ning Lingyi continued, "Marriage is a matter of life and death. Family background and appearance are certainly important, but even more important is a compatible character and the ability to share your joys and sorrows. Marry a woman you know well and your parents are happy with. Isn't it better to have a harmonious family than to live in superficial glory and internal suffering?"
Niu Zhuang suddenly understood and kowtowed repeatedly: "Your Majesty is wise! I understand! I don't want that official lady anymore! I will listen to my parents and go back to my hometown to find someone who can work!"
Ning Lingyi's eyes flashed with relief. She took a piece of paper, picked up her pen, dipped it in ink, and wrote as she spoke, "Since that's the case, I'll write a letter to your parents today, asking the Mingzhou government to take note and find you a reliable and secure marriage. When you return home in triumph, I'll give you a gift to help you start a family and build a career. Is that okay?"
Niu Zhuang was overjoyed and so excited that he could hardly speak clearly: "Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace! Long live your Majesty! Long live your Majesty! Long, long live your Majesty!"
Wang Dayong also kowtowed deeply, with mixed feelings in his heart.
After the two of them left the hall, Niu Zhuang held the light yet heavy letter in his hands, turning it over and over, grinning foolishly, "Boss! His Majesty is matchmaking for me! He's also sending me a gift!"
Wang Dayong looked at his excited expression, completely unaware of the changes in the world, then looked back at the solemn palace and the dignitaries who were still waiting in the distance, and sighed deeply in his heart.
He patted Niu Zhuang's shoulder and said in a low voice: "This is the grace given to you by His Majesty, and also a talisman for you. After the war, go back and live a good life."
Niu Zhuang nodded as if he understood, still immersed in joy.
Wang Dayong said no more and led him out.
The setting sun stretched the shadows of the two people very long, casting them on the bluestone slabs. One of them had already seen the turbulent undercurrent behind the dramatic change in his identity, while the other was still immersed in the simple joy of the emperor's great grace.
*
Inside the hall, Ning Lingyi finished processing the last military report at hand and rubbed her swollen temples.
The ministers had also left, and she was the only one left in the hall.
She stood up and walked to the window, looking at the darkening dusk outside. Thinking of the appearance of Wang Dayong and Niu Zhuang just now, she sighed in her heart.
The Northern Expedition swept along the fate of countless people.
The merits of following the dragon and fighting on the battlefield are rapidly forging a group of new powerful people.
Young generals like Niu Zhuang, who were promoted for their military achievements, are like unpolished jade, and will naturally become the target of various forces vying to win over.
Marriage has been the most convenient bond of alliance since ancient times.
She can protect a strong man like Niu today, but what about tomorrow?
How many other strong men would face such temptation? Can these soldiers under her command, who rose from humble beginnings, maintain their integrity amidst the sudden wealth and power?
She shook her head and suppressed these thoughts for the moment.
The most important thing at the moment is still the overall situation of the Northern Expedition.
She returned to the desk, spread out a piece of letter paper, pondered for a moment, picked up the pen and wrote a reply to Tuoba Hong.
Now that the threat from Beishuo has been temporarily alleviated, it is time to focus on dealing with Xiqiang. In this chess game of the world, every step needs to be cautious, but there is no room for too much hesitation.
She thought to herself.
Tuoba Hong, do you dare to fight me this time?
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