Chapter 56 The Tyrant
Reinforcements from Daizhou arrived to support and stabilize morale.
Halfway through the march, the commander-in-chief led his troops to rest and set up camp at the foot of the mountain.
A secret letter was delivered by fast horse and presented to the commander.
During a break, the general opened the letter and found it was a secret message from the royal family.
The secret letter essentially said that He Chen harbored rebellious intentions, and that this support should be given with utmost caution.
In the future, we must never allow He Chen to gain the upper hand in military power.
After quickly reading the secret letter in his hand, the commander put it away, ate his lunch, and went out to give instructions to the soldiers in the camp.
Unexpectedly, halfway through the inspection, a sudden gust of wind arose from all around.
The wind and snow were blowing thickly, obscuring the sky and the sun.
The encampment, battered by the strong winds, creaked and groaned in disarray.
The soldiers stationed nearby rushed forward to stabilize the camp.
Just as everyone was in a flurry of activity, dark figures suddenly emerged from the withered grass covering the mountain peak and swarmed towards the stationed troops!
The attackers were all masked, making it impossible to see who they were.
But having probably been warned in advance, the commander reacted quickly and immediately grabbed a long sword to fight back.
After a while, they were still no match for the surprise attack and were forced to retreat and hide. Taking advantage of a moment to catch their breath, they mounted their horses and fled back.
Seeing their commander flee, some of the troops also abandoned their camp and fled.
Another group was taken prisoner.
The masked soldiers weren't there to wipe them all out; they stormed straight into the main camp and began ransacking the place, searching for the secret letter held by their commander.
Sure enough, they found a secret letter inside, revealing that the royal family feared that Hess had disloyal intentions.
Every word and sentence is filled with suspicion, distrust, and scheming.
The masked soldier sneered and, without saying a word, took the secret letter away.
After several reconnaissance trips, Helun confirmed that there were no unusual movements in the Taixi and Long'an directions, and then led his troops back to settle accounts.
The fleeing general immediately sent news of the attack on the way back to the royal family, confirming Heth's disloyalty.
The Prince of Dai was furious and immediately dispatched troops to annihilate the He family's forces!
The two armies met on the way and fought fiercely, each determined to kill the other.
Almost simultaneously, the Rongsi rebelled in Taixi.
The sudden offensive into Huijiang caught the remaining Huijiang troops off guard.
The soldiers on the city wall saw a large number of troops attacking and shouted for reinforcements.
The Daizhou troops stationed at Huijiang immediately assembled, but without a commanding general, they held out at the city gate for a day before being unable to withstand the overwhelming firepower and suffered repeated defeats.
The soldiers defending the city immediately wrote a battle report and sent it out, shouting, "Go, quickly go and inform the general!"
Before the soldiers could deliver the letter, a long sword swept through the bloody, cold wind and severed the man's neck.
Blood splattered out.
The long sword was swung up and down, revealing the tall and heroic figure of the man behind him.
Rong Si pressed his blade against the corpse of the messenger, saying, "There's no rush to inform your general."
Having said that, he ventured deep into the city.
Huijiang fell quickly, but the news arrived too late.
The next city, apart from the garrison commander, didn't have many troops stationed there.
In order to increase his chances of winning the struggle against the royal family, He Chen did not consider any other aspects of defending the city.
Even though Rong Si's forces were not particularly strong, they still managed to advance unimpeded.
Internal strife always leaves one severely weakened.
By the time news of Huijiang's invasion reached Daizhou, several days had passed, and both He Chen's and Dai Wang's armies had suffered heavy losses.
When He Chen heard the news of Huijiang's fall, he was furious, but by then there was no turning back.
If he declares war on the royal family, he can only fight his way to the royal family; he cannot turn back to fight the Rongsi. This would put him in a pincer movement, leading to his demise.
Go back and eliminate the royal family, and you can also control Daizhou and fight against the Rong tribes.
Even so, this means losing more cities.
He also clearly understood how to maximize his own interests.
The territory that Rong Si's army traversed was mostly Yanzhou, which had already been annexed.
It was already a place in ruins, this land was too ravaged by war to withstand any further damage.
After conquering the first few cities, we gradually heard news from the front lines.
The guards on the city wall saw the imposing flames of war from afar and were about to light the beacon when, halfway there, a dagger slit their throats from behind, opening the city gates wide for Rong Si and his men!
The soldiers from Daizhou in the city and the prisoners and laborers from Yanzhou who were originally stationed there defected and began to fight against the Daizhou garrison!
As Rong Si and his troops advanced, someone at the city gate shouted, "All of you, enter the city and help me kill the Dai traitor! I will then honor all heroes as my lords!"
Rong Si gave a hand signal to the soldiers behind him, instructing them to coordinate with the Yanzhou troops inside the city to storm the besieged city and wipe out the bandits.
After the bloodshed, the soldiers in the city removed their armor and weapons, and amidst the chaos, shouts rang out, "Welcome the new master!"
Yu Wanyin sat in the carriage, listening to the shouts outside, lost in thought for a moment.
They marched all the way through Yanzhou and reached the border gates of Daizhou.
Chai Feng recruited refugees and new soldiers along the way, and his original army of several thousand rapidly expanded. An inconspicuous corner of Jiangling on the map of the world began to expand infinitely, from Long'an Taixi to the entire Yanzhou.
Meanwhile, Yanzhou in the north began to expand, spreading across the northern part of the map.
The territory invaded by the Northern Chi tribe in the central region gradually expanded, and they began to encroach on the north and south sides respectively.
Rong Si was stationed outside the border of Daizhou, and he could see a fluttering "Dai" character on the city wall in the distance.
He casually planted the "Long" banner of Long'an on the city wall, and Zong Cheng went up to the city wall to report, "It's already set up."
Rong Si grunted in agreement, then descended the city wall, rode back, and brought the news of the victory to Yu Wanyin.
This has been their consistent practice since the beginning of their military campaigns.
After winning, he went back and brought the people from the previous city to this one.
Rong Si rushed back to the previous city. The garrison at the city gate saw him and immediately opened the gate, standing on both sides with their heads bowed.
The words "My Lord" could be heard respectfully uttered from time to time along the way. The army finally stopped at a small courtyard.
He strode into the courtyard.
The guards outside the courtyard cleared a path for Rong Si, who then entered the courtyard.
He saw several small snow lions on the windowsill in the courtyard from afar, and guessed that she must have made them when she was waiting here and had nothing else to do.
Rong Si walked towards the bedroom.
Pushing open the door, the room was empty.
There was absolutely no trace of anyone there.
He paused for a moment, then went into the inner room. The bedding had already been put away, and the dressing case on the table was nowhere to be found.
It was completely empty.
Rong Si had a bad feeling. He strode out the door and called the person in.
Hearing the noise, the soldiers on guard outside the courtyard rushed in, "My lord!"
"Where is the Queen?"
The soldiers were stunned. "The Queen..."
Before he could finish speaking, Rong Si pushed him aside and walked out.
After walking a few steps, I heard familiar voices.
Rong Si paused slightly, walked around the corner, and was surprised to see Yu Wanyin sitting on the swing in the courtyard.
The soldiers hurried to catch up with Rong Si, saying, "The Queen is in the courtyard, look!"
Rong Si felt a sense of relief for some reason.
When Yu Wanyin saw him return, she stood up and said, "You're back."
Their return signifies a triumphant victory.
She got up a little too quickly, her steps were unsteady, and she sank into the snow.
Rong Si quickly stepped forward and helped her steady herself. "Are you hurt?"
"No."
Yu Wanyin held out her hand to him, "It's here..."
"What's wrong?" Rong Si was about to take a closer look when Yu Wanyin suddenly stuffed her icy hands into the fur collar of his cloak and pressed them against his neck.
"It's cool here."
Rong Si felt a chill, and his agitated emotions eased after a brief moment of coolness.
He laughed instead, grabbed her hand and held it in his palm, "Then you should stay outside."
"I can't sit still indoors." In this cold and snowy weather, his palms were warm and hot, much better than a hand warmer.
"Where did everything go?" Rong Si pulled her outside. "I thought you'd been kidnapped."
Yu Wanyin paused slightly, "I just tidied up since I had nothing else to do while waiting for you to come back."
"We'll have to leave eventually."
Rong Si didn't understand her implied meaning and led her to the next city.
The city is still being tidied up and the mess is being cleaned up.
The city gates opened wide, and the people inside seemed to know who had returned, respectfully welcoming them, "Welcome, my lord and lady, into the city."
The sound echoed.
Their new place to stay was a newly renovated house.
As usual, Rong Si would tidy up the house for her as soon as he arrived, and then go out to run errands and buy things.
This new town is located in a remote area, and the town is somewhat lonely and magnificent.
After a period of calm in the city, everything became orderly.
Long queues formed beside the makeshift grain and straw sheds along the streets.
They were all wartime civilians who came to collect food.
Ah Zheng called out, "Those who have finished receiving their cards, come over here to register."
When Rong Si returned from his patrol of the city, he heard A Zheng calling out and casually asked Zong Cheng, "What are you registering?"
“Oh, registering names and home addresses is like filing a dossier; we need to keep that in mind,” Zong Cheng explained. “The Queen said it’s not just about registering and receiving food; she’ll have to choose a job for us.”
"The job isn't anything strenuous; it's just the farming and house-building work we did before, which is what's needed for rebuilding the city."
After all, it's easy to conquer a city but difficult to defend it.
After capturing the city, ensuring the basic needs of its inhabitants and their future development will be a much more troublesome matter than simply conquering it.
He Zhiqi, the prefect of Long'an, was taking notes with pen and ink, assigning suitable tasks to each person.
We will not make things difficult for the elderly and children who are truly unable to work.
Rong Si looked at him, "Was this an idea from the Queen?"
“Yes.” Zong Cheng said, walking away to attend to other things.
Rong Si saw Yu Wanyin helping up a fallen child not far away, squatting down in front of him, and asking where his family was.
Soon a couple arrived, thanked her, and took the child home.
Rong Si stepped forward and helped her distribute the grain.
An elderly person came over wearing handcuffs and shackles to receive it.
Qingsong, who was standing nearby, saw this and quickly went to untie it. He then learned that it was something that the soldiers from Daizhou had given them when they were forced to perform labor after they occupied the area.
Many people carry these.
The soldiers around them saw this and helped to remove it.
It wasn't until around evening that the message was sent to the last person.
Ah Zheng let out a long breath, sweating profusely despite the cold winter weather.
However, many of the people outside the grain shed did not leave and stayed there to guard it.
Fearing a commotion caused by people grabbing the food, Qin Yuan called out, "One per person, no more. Those who have received theirs today, please go home and come back tomorrow."
The people not far away looked at each other in dismay, and then suddenly knelt down on the ground.
They were startled, and Qin Yuan hurriedly went forward to help them up, but they kowtowed so forcefully that each kowtow caused them to fall into the dust and snow.
He was shouting something.
Yu Wanyin couldn't hear clearly, but she could hear a lot of crying.
It looks like they're paying homage to a high-ranking official.
They worship their future lord and pray for a normal life.
But it makes sense, people in times of suffering often turn to faith.
The city of Anding is always busy until evening, but fortunately, things are improving every day.
Once things are settled, they can finally go home and rest for the night.
When Rong Si came out of the bathhouse, he saw Yu Wanyin leaning against the window, where she had made several small snow lions to stand guard.
He stepped forward and placed his arm on Yu Wanyin's side.
As Yu Wanyin continued to knead, her vision was blocked on both sides by strong forearms, and the heat emanating from the man's body proclaimed his presence everywhere, reaching from behind to the top of her head.
Yu Wanyin paused for a moment.
Rong Si placed the little snow lion she had just finished sculpting on the window and then closed it. "Isn't it warm to be by the window so late at night?"
With the windows closed, the room belongs entirely to the two of us.
Rong Si didn't get up, but instead, while still in that position, he lowered his head and kissed her ear.
Yu Wanyin's ears itched, but she did not refuse.
Rong Si's kiss became even more intense, moving down his ear.
The man's arm crossed over her chest, encircling her, his bulging muscles creating a rounded, snow-white silhouette.
The contrast between hardness and softness is captivating, even just looking down at it can stir one's heart.
The hand that had been holding her arm had moved to a different position.
The rounded shape is squeezed into various forms, as if trying to knead people into their bones and blood.
The veins on the back of his hand were bulging.
His breathing grew heavier and heavier, mixed with the crackling sounds of burning charcoal in the room, as if something had exploded inside his body.
During the march, Rong Si took his medicine intermittently.
After all, a war takes several days. The war did not diminish his longing for her. On the contrary, when the killing and slaughter stopped, the unknown dangers brought by life and death made his sense of gain and loss begin to swell.
Even as blades clashed on the battlefield, all he could think about was seeing her again.
He only feels better when he sees her.
In the brief time we spend together, I long to return to those days.
We'll take the medicine to suppress it after the troops are deployed.
He used war to vent his lust.
War also fueled lust.
She is my hope.
It is also the wall that imprisons me.
The bright moon hangs high, drawing me to life, and tempting me to death.
The biting winter wind pounded heavily against the window frame, making a clanging sound.
A slow, deep breath rose and fell rhythmically in my ear.
Hearing Yu Wanyin's voice made her muscles and bones ache.
He asked, "Shall we continue?"
Yu Wanyin tilted her head slightly, thinking to herself that he had never asked this question before and always continued directly. Why did he ask it today?
She gently bit her knuckle; she had never answered that question before and didn't know how to respond.
Rong Si probably sensed the ambiguity in those words, and his voice deepened, "I mean, shall we continue fighting?"
He could see with his own eyes that Yu Wanyin's ears were flushed a deep, blood-red color.
Like spring flowers blooming amidst ice and snow, the pink and white hue spreads from the stamens.
Yu Wanyin took a deep breath.
He said something ambiguous, "It's all good."
Rong Si discerned a different meaning from the phrase "all is well".
His expression became obscure and inscrutable.
After scraping the dew, the area where the dew had seeped in swelled up.
The delicate swelling became transparent.
The people of Daizhou and the Northern Chi are of the same lineage, and their bloodline is inherently warlike.
Currently, we are at a disadvantage due to ongoing internal strife, but once things stabilize, we will certainly not allow the Northern Chi tribe to dominate.
Give them an inch, and they'll take a foot.
Now that Rong Si has offended them, he's not afraid to take them down directly.
After a period of rest, the troops expanded their camps, becoming a large and imposing force.
Yu Wanyin followed them up the city wall.
Although it was just a newly recaptured city, its layout was more meticulous than that of ordinary city defenses.
Chai Feng walked beside her and told her about the current situation on the outskirts of the city.
All around were neatly arranged soldiers.
When we first took back Taixi, everyone was in a state of chaos.
Now, several months later, they are making more thorough and skillful preparations every day than ever before.
His words no longer conveyed the worry, anxiety, and confusion he had shown before.
As Chai Feng was speaking, someone came looking for him.
Looking at the current situation, Yu Wanyin said, "You go ahead and do your work. I'll just walk around by myself."
The city walls were surrounded by their own people, so Chai Feng had nothing to worry about. "Okay, fine."
After Chai Feng left, Yu Wanyin stood by the city wall and looked out.
There are still many soldiers stationed outside Daizhou on the opposite side.
Perhaps a few months ago, they would have needed to pretend they had a large army to set a trap for Daizhou.
But these are no longer needed.
The fall of a kingdom breeds warriors. After the fall of Yanzhou, many warriors from the common people joined them in the fight.
Even if Rong Si wanted to stop there, these warriors, whose bodies were stained with blood, were unwilling to let go of the enemies who had destroyed their homes.
After the area outside the city wall was cleared up, the garrison troops were neatly arranged.
The troops they deployed outside this time were less than one-tenth of the total number of troops in the entire military camp.
However, Daizhou was so anxious that it immediately set up a large number of military camps outside the city as a warning.
Yu Wanyin looked at the western sky for a while, where smoke and dust were flying everywhere.
Qin Yuan leaned closer and asked, "Does Your Majesty wish to go to Daizhou again?"
With no one around, Yu Wanyin sighed, "I'm not going."
She could only see Rong Si this far.
However, it seems that he no longer needs her to do anything.
She turned her gaze away and looked at the military camp that had been cleared out within the city.
Shouts and training sounds echoed from within the camp.
Powerful and resounding.
My heart trembled upon hearing this.
The people in the city were much calmer than they had been in a panic a few days ago, and they seemed to feel more at ease hearing such sounds.
Qin Yuan also said, "It's better not to go. The situation in Daizhou is complicated. If we go, we might not be able to get out easily."
"When does the Queen wish to leave?"
Yu Wanyin pondered for a moment, "I'll go home once they send troops to Daizhou and I've calculated that they've won."
As she walked down the city wall, Yu Wanyin remembered something halfway down. "Oh right, when you go to the clinic, please bring me something."
"Alright," Qin Yuan agreed. "What does Your Majesty desire?"
Yu Wanyin pursed her lips gently, slipped her a silver ingot, and whispered, still somewhat embarrassed, "A contraceptive."
Qin Yuan was stunned for a moment.
But she didn't ask too many questions, and left after agreeing.
Yu Wanyin watched her retreating figure and breathed a sigh of relief.
In the past, her periods were irregular and she had difficulty getting pregnant, but she didn't care much.
But in recent months, her periods have become more and more regular.
Yu Wanyin couldn't help but worry.
She couldn't possibly take a child home with her on her way.
In times of war, everyone suffers.
It was not only a burden, but also difficult for her health.
Not long after Yu Wanyin returned to her residence, Qin Yuan came back with some things.
She handed over the medicine, saying, "This medicine will be effective if taken within three days."
Yu Wanyin swallowed it with warm water.
She had just finished eating when she suddenly heard footsteps outside.
Yu Wanyin casually stuffed the porcelain bottle into a drawer next to the table.
The moment after it was stuffed in, Rong Si came in from outside, holding something in his hand, and handed it to Yu Wanyin, saying, "Look."
Yu Wanyin was feeling guilty at that moment, and asked vaguely, "What?"
"Snow Lion".
Rong Si held the finished pendant in his hand.
The snow lion, about the size of a thumb, was made by poking loose cotton scraps on top. The round snow lion looked very delicate.
Yu Wanyin's attention was quickly drawn to this. "Who hit this?"
“An old woman in the city who does some handicrafts took on a tailoring job, making things out of scraps of leftover material.” The old woman gave Rong Si a string of coins, saying it was to bring good luck and avoid misfortune.
Rong Si gave Yu Wanyin a pair of pendants, which he hung on the jade pendant at her waist, saying, "You should also avoid trouble."
He touched the jade pendant without realizing it, unaware that it was a symbol of her impending departure.
Yu Wanyin looked at the snow lion hanging on her jade pendant and fell silent for a moment.
Rong Si was completely unaware of anything amiss. After helping her hang it up, he took her out to have dinner together.
I had dinner with He Zhi Qiu and the others, and we chatted briefly about entering Daizhou City.
He Zhi Qiu asked Yu Wan Yin, "Does Your Majesty wish to come along?"
Yu Wanyin scooped the porridge from her bowl, not answering immediately, but instead looking at Rong Si.
Rong Si was silent for a moment, then said, "I won't take her. Daizhou is not like here."
Daizhou is more dangerous.
The people there are like wolves and tigers, and there is a shortage of women.
Taking Yu Wanyin there would be too risky; "It's better if we come back as soon as possible."
Daizhou is not a large area on the map, half of which is high mountain grassland, snow-covered mountains and rivers, and is an uninhabitable place.
If a real fight breaks out, it could be difficult, or it could be easy.
These all depend on the internal situation in Daizhou.
Rong Si calculated that if he could finish quickly, it would only take a month or two.
Missing her only means taking more medicine.
Yu Wanyin had a little trouble eating.
He Zhi Qiu nodded in agreement. "Indeed, it's safer here."
"Moreover, Daizhou has a complex terrain, including plateaus and mountains, which the Queen's body may not be able to adapt to."
Rong Si remained silent.
The meal was eaten in silence.
On the way back to the bedroom, Yu Wanyin said casually, "The civil records of those prefectures and counties ahead have been collected by Prefect He. I've looked through them once, so remember to collect them before you leave."
"Um."
"Then, I put the map they sent in your package."
"If you don't like reading, you don't have to force yourself. I've given you two military books, which should be enough for most of your needs."
"good."
Yu Wanyin said softly and slowly, "Sometimes you shouldn't be so impatient."
"There's always a way to deal with even the worst-case scenario; the big picture comes first."
Rong Si did not respond, but instead looked at her.
Rong Si has gradually become different from before; his temperament is more somber, and his ferocity is more pronounced. Being stared at by his sharp, deep gaze feels like having your very soul peeled open and tormented.
Yu Wanyin felt uneasy under his gaze and asked, somewhat uncomfortable, "What's wrong?"
Rong Si said slowly, "Nothing much, it's just that you didn't sound like I was leaving, it sounded like you were leaving."
"You didn't say this much when we sent troops before."
Yu Wanyin choked up, "If you don't want to hear it, then I won't say it."
"I want to hear it." Rong Si felt that something was off, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. "Yaoyao has been too nice to me lately."
Good and coordinated.
She was so good to him that he felt she couldn't live without him either.
Just like him.
Yu Wanyin remained silent and did not utter a sound.
When people are about to leave this world, they often develop a subtle sense of compensation and cover-up.
They returned to their room and, as usual, washed up and prepared for bed.
The room was dimly lit, and layers of heat rose from the stove.
The entire house was bathed in a dim, yellowish light.
Rong Si stood by the table, and hearing the clear, cool sound of water splashing in the bathroom, he couldn't help but feel aroused again.
Each drop of water felt as if it had fallen on his heart.
He opened the medicine bottle and took one pill.
Just as I was about to pour water, the person in the shower room came out.
Yu Wanyin's long hair was tied up, and from a distance, she met his slightly burning gaze.
Her long hair, which was tied up, was not neat, with some loose strands hanging down beside her ears, and it was also damp from the bathroom.
It made her look exceptionally soft.
Rong Si was about to take his medicine when he heard footsteps approaching from behind.
She didn't say a word.
She simply walked behind him and hooked her arm around his side.
This single gesture was already her most subtle hint.
Rong Si's breathing became heavier. He put down the medicine and squeezed her entire hand along her fingers.
Without saying a word, he pulled the person over and placed them on the table.
She fell down along with her long, tied-up hair.
The cups and saucers on the table spilled out, leaving a slightly cool residue on her.
But the man quickly drank it all.
That's not enough.
His heart was burning with rage, and his throat was parched.
They insisted on taking water from her.
Fingerprints were pressed into the back of her knees. Yu Wanyin turned her head and accidentally discovered that there was a bronze mirror next to her, in which she could see her slightly trembling knees.
The bronze mirror was blurry, especially inside the dimly lit house.
Even through the shadows, one could still see that soft white and a dark shadow.
Judging by the light and shadow alone, it looks like a beautiful woman being held down and devoured by a ferocious beast.
Her waist would occasionally bend, so slender it seemed as fragile as if it would break at the slightest touch.
The spilled tea on the table didn't decrease; in fact, it increased, splashing water everywhere.
The table was also moved.
Rong Si carried her back, and when he put her down, he pressed her into the depths of her soul.
Perhaps he was pressing down on her too much, because she instinctively clung to him.
Rong Si thought crudely and selfishly.
Perhaps, perhaps he has possessed her for so long that she has forgotten Chu Yu.
Perhaps the bright light of the full moon will never be shared with anyone else, but will belong only to him.
As they clung to each other desperately, he poured out, "Yaoyao, wait for me to come back."
Yu Wanyin's mind was blank, her voice weak and feeble, sounding hollow, "I'll wait for you to come back."
In the dead of winter, when snow is falling heavily, most of the houses in the city are repaired before the onset of deep winter in preparation for the winter.
The frosty winter season is far from peaceful.
Fortunately, good news kept coming from the front lines.
Rong Si set off with his troops, and Yu Wanyin had already calculated the date.
The fifth piece of good news arrived late at night, just in time for the New Year, and the city was filled with celebration.
When Qin Yuan came in, Yu Wanyin was still leaning against the window flipping through the victory report.
The ferocious beasts that once roamed only one territory and lay dormant within their small domains have been unleashed from their cages and freed from the constraints of the jungle. Now, they are fierce and invincible.
And it was she who broke free of the cage that bound him.
Even the words "victory report" conveyed a sense of unstoppable ferocity and ruthlessness.
It's as if you can see the rise of a fierce and ruthless warlord amidst swords, spears, clubs, and other weapons.
She raised the most valiant wolf king in those chaotic times.
She saw him off here, settling all scores and debts of gratitude and resentment; it was time for her to leave.
Qin Yuan called out to her, "Your Majesty, it's time to set off."
Yu Wanyin then came to her senses. She put the battle report together, extinguished the lamp, and stood up, saying, "Let's go."
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