Chapter 62 The Wronged Stepfather?
Qingzhou, Qijiang County, Fan Prefecture.
"Clink." Someone pushed open the door and entered, then bowed to the young man who was brewing tea inside.
"Master Di Ting, the miracle has been proven wrong." The man then recounted the whole story of Hu Bao banging drums and gongs in the bustling city.
Di Ting looked surprised and tapped his fingertips on the table a few times: "It's only been four days, yet Marquis Wu'an has acted so quickly."
The reporter continued, "After our failed investigation of the Qin residence the night before, before we could launch a second operation, Marquis Wu'an returned to Guoyun County yesterday morning. He took Lady Dai out of the residence that day to witness the breaking of the miracle. The rumors are true; this woman is indeed as beautiful as a fairy and is greatly favored by Marquis Wu'an. However, yesterday afternoon, she went to the military camp with Marquis Wu'an, and everyone in the Qin residence was evacuated."
Listen closely as his eyebrows twitch slightly.
Madam Dai is currently in the military camp, so it's unlikely we'll be able to make a move in the short term.
Di Ting asked, "Have you completed the task I asked you to do before?"
The man took out two sheets of mulberry paper from his pocket and presented them with both hands, saying, "Please take a look."
Di Ting took it and opened it.
If Nian Xia Bipo were here, she would be horrified, because the two pieces of paper clearly depict their portraits.
The painter was very skilled; the resemblance was almost uncanny.
The man said, "The maid with round eyes is a little shorter, about six feet seven inches tall, with a slender build and yellowish skin; the maid with long eyes is taller, about seven feet tall, with a moderate build and fair skin. The embroiderer has seen both of them."
Di Ting put down the paper and said, "Have the embroiderer personally go to Yin Wan to select people, and then help them adjust their appearance."
The man nodded and accepted the order.
“Everyone in the Qin residence has been evacuated, so he must be…” Di Ting was halfway through his sentence when someone rushed in from outside.
Knowing his manners, the man stopped outside and did not enter. "Master Diting, Master Fan requests your presence."
Di Ting rose from his seat, picked up a silver Buddha-patterned mask from the side to cover his overly youthful face, and said to the person who came to report, "Go and tell the embroiderer that there is no rush. Tell her to work on it meticulously and make sure it is perfect."
This means that the instructions have been given.
The man took his leave.
Di Ting was led by a guard to the study in the Fan residence.
There were already three people in the study: Fan's father and son, and Shi Wuji.
Upon seeing Di Ting, Fan Tianshi, as the host, exchanged pleasantries with him, "Mr. Di Ting, have you settled in well these past two days? If you encounter any shortages of supplies, please feel free to ask the servants."
"Everything is fine," Di Ting said in a gentle, soothing tone.
Fan Tianshi got to the point, "Sir, you previously said you had a way to make Qin Shaozong too busy to take care of himself, but now that method seems to have failed."
The events that occurred in Guoyun County did not escape Fan Tianshi's notice.
This sentence contained a hint of questioning and displeasure, which Di Ting could naturally hear. His tone was calm: "In a game of chess, it's a back-and-forth exchange. What's wrong with giving him a piece?"
"In your opinion, sir, what should be the next move?" Fan Zhongmin asked.
Di Ting said, "Give up another piece and retreat from Qijiang County."
Fan Tianshi turned his gaze to the side and looked at Shi Wuji, who nodded slightly.
*
The outskirts of Qijiang County.
Suddenly a strong wind blew up that day, and the two different military banners fluttered in the wind.
Qin Shaozong wore a golden-patterned Taotie helmet, golden armor, and held a three-meter-long silver Overlord Spear. His red cloak fluttered like fire behind him, making him quite conspicuous among the thousands of soldiers.
Alongside him was Nangong Xiong, also clad in armor. Military generals are generally robust, and he was no exception. At this moment, he held a halberd, exuding a magnificent aura.
Not far away, the gates of Qijiang County were tightly closed, flags fluttered on the city walls, and a line of soldiers stood guard.
Qin Shaozong looked up and gazed at the city walls before saying, "Something's not right."
"What's wrong?" Nangong Xiong didn't think much of it. What kind of trouble could a mere Qijiang County possibly cause?
Qin Shaozong selected his men, "Feng Feng, Bai Jianping, step forward and challenge them."
The two riders broke away from the group and went forward on their own.
Not to be outdone, Nangong Xiong sent his generals to accompany them.
The challenges were never pleasant; they started by calling out names from ancestors and then insulting each family member, beginning with Fan Tianshi, who was at the head of the group.
After a while of cursing, the city gates indeed opened.
A rider galloped out from within. The newcomer had thick eyebrows, a prominent nose, and dark skin. His appearance bore a striking resemblance to Zang Yinghao, who had been beheaded by Qin Shaozong during the previous three-way meeting.
Zang Yingjie stepped forward alone and shouted sternly, "Where is Marquis Wu'an?!"
Feng Feng sneered, "You think you're qualified to seek out our Lord? You brat, you'll have to get past me first!"
Shi Wei, under Nangong Xiong's command, couldn't wait any longer. Not wanting to waste any more words, he spurred his horse and charged forward with his sword.
Feng Feng and Bai Jianping knew that the other party wanted to steal the credit, but since Shi Wei had already gone, they had no choice but to give up.
"This Qingzhou guy is dishonest; he went up there without even giving a heads-up."
“This guy from Yanzhou looks pretty good. Let’s wait and see.”
While the two were talking, the two in front of them had already started fighting.
Shi Wei used a knife, while Zang Yingjie wielded a horse lance. As the saying goes, "an inch longer, an inch stronger," and in mounted combat, the horse lance was incredibly powerful. Shi Wei fought his opponent for over a dozen rounds without gaining the upper hand.
"Qingzhou, you get down, let me take your place," Feng Feng shouted.
Whether it was his shout that distracted Shi Wei from his fierce battle, or Shi Wei who was already exhausted, his opponent managed to knock the knife out of his hand.
The long sword spun in the air and then "whooshed" into the ground.
Shi Wei quickly turned his horse around and spurred it away before the spear came thrusting at him. Zang Yingjie laughed heartily at the sight, his morale soaring.
"You brat, don't be so arrogant!" Feng Feng spurred his horse forward. He was using a halberd, also a long weapon. With length against length, the weapon advantage was neutralized; it all came down to individual skill.
Not far away on the front lines, Qin Shaozong was still looking at the city walls when he suddenly blurted out, "This is an abandoned city."
"What?" Nangong Xiong interjected, "You mean that scoundrel Fan Tianshi retreated without a fight? But wouldn't abandoning the city and fleeing damage morale?"
“Look, the number of soldiers on the city wall is excessively small. If you were Fan Tianshi, knowing that the two allied forces were attacking you, would you still deploy so few men? Sometimes avoiding direct confrontation is a strategy,” Qin Shaozong said.
Nangong Xiong gazed out over the city walls.
I didn't realize it before, but now that I look closely, it really is true.
He suddenly shuddered and hurriedly said, "Then we must attack the city quickly, otherwise they will escape."
"We ran away long ago. Did you think we'd wait until you came to our doorstep before we ran away?" Qin Shaozong looked at Zang Yingjie, who was locked in combat with Feng Feng.
The distance wasn't too far, and he could clearly see the appearance of the Yanzhou general. Since the man had come out to find him as soon as he appeared, he figured that this person was probably related to the Yanzhou general he had killed a few days ago.
Driven by revenge, this man willingly became a pawn.
Not far away, the battle had already been decided. Zang Yingjie's lance was knocked away, and Feng Feng's halberd pierced into his opponent's shoulder blade first.
Nangong Xiong suddenly heard a soft chuckle from the person beside him. He was about to get annoyed, thinking that this guy was definitely going to make fun of him, but unexpectedly he heard him say in a low voice, "She really did say the right thing, and you've won a great victory."
"Qin Changgeng, what are you muttering about?" Nangong Xiong asked.
Qin Shaozong simply said, "Let's attack the city. If nothing unexpected happens, we can take it in half an hour at most."
The siege towers and battering rams were deployed, and the soldiers surged forth like a tide. Three quarters of an hour later, the gates of Qijiang County were wide open.
Each of the two armies dispatched a small team to clean up inside.
Those who needed to issue proclamations to reassure the people did so, and those who needed to eliminate enemy troops did so. Before sunset, the Qijiang County was fully restored.
The place where Fan Tianshi once stayed is now deserted, and it's perfect for Qin Shaozong and Nangong Xiong to move in.
...
Inside the study.
A huge sheepskin map was laid out, clearly showing the counties and prefectures at the border of Qing and Yan provinces.
To the west of Qijiang County lies a strategic pass. Behind this pass lies Bai Ri City, hence the pass is also known as Bai Ri Pass.
This pass is bordered by the Jin River to the north and a majestic peak to the south, essentially sandwiched between the river and the mountain. The official road in the middle is extremely narrow, allowing only small groups of people to pass, making it unsuitable for large armies to travel.
"One man can hold the pass against ten thousand! Qin Changgeng, this Bai Ri Pass is not easy to conquer." Nangong Xiong's expression was solemn.
Qin Shaozong's gaze darted back and forth between the Jin River and the Chijiao Mountains. "Tomorrow, you will come with me on a trip."
Nangong Xiong pressed further, "Where to?"
Qin Shaozong looked out the window. Dusk was coming to an end, and only a faint light remained on the sky. Anyone could see that night was about to fall.
When traveling at night, it is inevitable to carry a torch. However, carrying a torch is too conspicuous and will easily attract attention.
"You'll know tomorrow," Qin Shaozong simply said.
Nangong Xiong said with dissatisfaction, "You're being so mysterious."
The moon rose and set, and a night passed in the blink of an eye. Nangong Xiong was a military general who got up early to practice his morning exercises, around the same time as Qin Shaozong, and the two bumped into each other.
After morning exercise, it's time for breakfast.
Looking at the large bowl of steamed buns that were served, Nangong Xiong asked in surprise, "What is this?"
Unlike a pancake, which is not so puffy.
"These steamed buns were made by my family. They taste really good. Try some," Qin Shaozong said with a smile.
Nangong Xiong was half-believing and half-doubting.
It tastes very good?
As the governor of Qingzhou, what delicacies haven't he tasted?
The first bite nearly made Nangong Xiong swallow his tongue. He immediately stopped talking and hurriedly stuffed the bun inside.
After the meal, Qin Shaozong summoned Hu Bao and said, "Hu Bao, go to the camp outside the city and relay my order to have Qiao Wangfei escort the lady into the city."
Just as Hu Bao was about to accept the order, he heard his superior change his mind and say, "Forget it, Qijiang County is newly acquired, let's discuss this matter in a few days."
"Qin Changgeng, is the lady you mentioned Dai Shi?" Nangong Xiong had heard that name before. Looking at the empty porcelain dish on the table, he suddenly guessed, "When you mentioned someone in your family earlier, could it also be her?"
Qin Shaozong agreed and got up to go to the stable.
Nangong Xiong followed him to the stable, saying as they walked, "I remember you've been widowed for over ten years. Are you planning to remarry? The surname Dai isn't a common one, and I've never heard of any prominent families coming from that surname. You're from a humble background! Sigh, just accept this as a wife and that's it, don't make a fuss."
Qin Shaozong's temples twitched.
Nangong Xiong continued, "Your late wife's maternal family, the Wei family, are not to be trifled with. Moreover, as far as I remember, the Wei family had an agreement with you back then, and they were quite proud of it for a long time..."
"I don't think we need to go to such lengths for the next battle. Let's just send you to the front lines and flood Bai Ri City with your spittle." Qin Shaozong led the red dragon out of the stable.
"It was just a casual reminiscing about the past, why are you getting so angry?" Nangong Xiong also went to get the horse: "By the way, I forgot to ask you earlier, is Quan Jie really one of your people?"
Qin Shaozong: "He is not my inside man."
"Heh, since that's the case, I must settle accounts with that brat. He dared to touch my Qingzhou tribute, I'll skin him alive and tear him apart, making him regret ever being born!" Nangong Xiong said viciously, and together they rode out of the mansion.
Qin Shaozong: "You can find him?"
“Didn’t Fan Tianshi issue an arrest warrant? The drawing on it looks pretty convincing. We should be able to find him by following the instructions,” Nangong Xiong said.
Qin Shaozong said calmly, "Don't bother looking anymore. I'll compensate you three times what you lost in Qingzhou."
This sentence startled Nangong Xiong. He subconsciously reined in his horse, but saw Qin Shaozong continue forward. He quickly spurred his horse to catch up, "You want to make up for me? Why is that? That kid is not related to you. Why are you doing this? Qin Changgeng, were you lying to me just now? Quan Jie is clearly your inside man."
"It is or it isn't, what's there to lie about?" Qin Shaozong stared straight ahead.
Nangong Xiong rephrased it: "He's not your mole, but at least he has some connection to you now, that's not wrong, is it?"
Qin Shaozong remained silent.
Nangong Xiong coldly replied, "If you don't want to tell me, that's fine. I can find out myself, it just will take more time."
“That kid does have some connection with me; he’s a member of the Qin family.” Qin Shaozong didn’t mention that he was Dai Li’s son.
Nangong Xiong asked in confusion, "Is Quan Jie a son of the Qin family? How do you know about this? Didn't he go to the Fan family when he was eleven or twelve years old?"
"That day he came to assassinate me, and I captured him alive. After I pulled off his mask, I saw that his face looked very familiar, and I couldn't help but think of an old friend. Later, after asking him carefully, I learned that he had been kidnapped when he was a child and was later adopted by Fan Tianshi." Qin Shaozong blurred the details.
Nangong Xiong was amazed by the twists and turns of the story, then laughed, "I used to say that this Quan Jie was going to defy fate and might as well just reincarnate, but I never expected that man proposes, God disposes, and he ran into you cleaning up his mess. In addition to triple compensation, I also want ten carts of salt, a thousand shi of grain and three hundred fine horses."
Qin Shaozong glanced at him. "After this is settled, we'll wipe the slate clean?"
Nangong Xiong: "Of course."
Qin Shaozong: "Alright, it's a deal."
Seeing that he agreed readily, Nangong Xiong thought to himself that the price was too low. In this world, horses are precious, especially fine breeds. Three hundred horses are enough to form a small cavalry unit, while one thousand shi of grain is enough to feed these three hundred people for seven and a half months.
Thinking of this, Nangong Xiong felt a tickle in his heart: "Who is the son of your old friend, Quan Jie, that you would be so willing to part with him?"
As they spoke, the two passed through the west gate, leaving the clamor behind.
Nangong Xiong received no response, so he asked again.
There was still no response.
"What's wrong with saying this? Could it be that your old friend is a woman, and perhaps even your lover?" Nangong Xiong deliberately provoked him.
Qin Shaozong: "We've arrived. Dismount."
Nangong Xiong clicked his tongue lightly, didn't press further, and nimbly dismounted.
After exiting the west gate, they headed southwest and have now reached the foot of Chifeng Mountain. After entrusting the horses to his guards, Qin Shaozong led his men to begin climbing the mountain.
They were all military officers, accustomed to such rugged roads, so they only spent a little over an hour climbing most of Chijiao Peak, but that was only the main peak of Chijiao.
If you find a prominent cliff and look ahead, you can see a continuous mountain range. This majestic mountain range stretches all the way to the city, which is hundreds of miles away.
"Qin Changgeng, this road is impassable!" Nangong Xiong frowned as he saw the endless expanse of land.
This area is completely untouched mountain, with no roads, making it inaccessible to horses. Without horses, provisions became a major problem.
Nangong Xiong: "If we can't take the mountain road, why don't we go up the Jin River? My scouts have reported that there is a relatively flat entrance about thirty miles upstream on the Jin River. We can build a boat to cross the river and land there, thus avoiding that narrow, impassable path."
Qin Shaozong looked ahead for a while, then looked away and said, "Let's go and take a look upstream on the Jin River."
The group returned to their starting point after descending the mountain, rode horses to the Jin River, and without stopping for a moment found a boat to travel upstream.
The boat traveled about thirty li upstream each day. After spending a day on the boat, Qin Shaozong saw the relatively flat entrance that Nangong Xiong had mentioned.
Nangong Xiong was right; compared to other steep cliffs, this place was indeed gentler.
But there were only a few.
This "gentle" bank is no more than ten meters wide, barely wide enough for two medium to small boats to dock side by side. Above the bank is a steep slope several tens of meters long, and further in, one can see the flags planted by the Yanzhou army.
It was obvious that the other side also knew this was a vulnerable spot, and had people guarding it day and night.
Their boat had only been in the river near the shore for a short while when a sharp whistle sounded from there.
The banners fluttered, and soldiers came this way.
"The security is quite tight. It seems there are many troops stationed here. Let's head back first." Nangong Xiong urged the soldiers to sail away.
Returning to Qijiang County from Jinshui, Nangong Xiong was frowning, even the steamed buns he ate tasted bland. As he ate, Nangong Xiong belatedly noticed that Qin Shaozong had also been silent for a long time.
Having someone to share his worries, Nangong Xiong tried to find humor in his predicament. "You fought brilliantly in that battle in the Northern Kingdom, and the world calls you the God of War. God of War, what are your thoughts now?"
Nangong Xiong thought Qin Shaozong would shake his head or retort, since this guy's words could be really harsh at times. But to his surprise, the other party said, "Nangong, I have an idea. If it succeeds, we will definitely be able to take Bai Ri Guan."
Nangong Xiong's body trembled. "Really?"
After finishing the last bite of his steamed bun, Qin Shaozong picked up the teacup next to him and drank it all in one gulp. "Come to the study after you've finished your meal."
After speaking, he was the first to leave his seat.
Nangong Xiong couldn't stand it any longer, so he immediately grabbed some steamed buns and went with him.
Author's Note: I'll finish writing the story of overcoming the challenges tomorrow, then I'll switch to melodramatic mode [poor face].
I need nutrient solution.
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