Chapter 109
On the day He Jingyuan returned to Jizhou, Fan Changyu, Tang Peiyi and other generals went to see him off in person.
He Jingyuan's injury had not yet healed, so he could not ride a horse. Waiting for him outside the camp was a carriage with a green canopy.
Before He Jingyuan got on the carriage, Tang Peiyi clasped his fists and said, "My lord, please go back to Jizhou and rest assured. I will definitely capture Chongzhou and capture Sui Yuanhuai alive, and I will live up to your high expectations!"
He Jingyuan looked at him and nodded, then patted his shoulder with satisfaction. When his eyes swept over Fan Changyu and the generals who had followed him in the past, there was a hint of sorrow in his eyes.
Everyone who came today was his own family, so he spoke without too much scruples, saying, "Pei Yi, I will trouble you to take care of my niece in this life from now on."
Tang Peiyi said hurriedly, "Although Commandant Fan is a woman, she is a brave general admired by everyone in the army. It was Commandant Fan who killed the three scouts that day, which saved the plan from being ruined. Otherwise, if Lucheng was lost, I would be blamed even if I died. From now on, I will rely more on Commandant Fan."
He was promoted to the position of commander-in-chief because of the military achievements made by the right-wing army, so these words were not all just empty talk.
He Jingyuan said: "This girl is sometimes very stubborn. You should give her more advice on matters related to the court."
This time Tang Peiyi didn't say anything more and agreed to everything.
He Jingyuan then looked at Fan Changyu again. Fan Changyu felt mixed emotions and called out, "Uncle."
He Jingyuan said: "Work hard under General Tang and make achievements."
His eyes still hid complicated emotions related to too many things in the past seventeen years, but those words could not be said in front of others after all.
Fan Changyu nodded vigorously.
A general standing beside Fan Changyu had a circle of light blue stubble on his chin. He looked very heroic, but at this moment his eyes were red: "Sir."
He Jingyuan just smiled at him and said, "I have kept you by my side for so many years, and your temper has been tempered. Wen Chang, follow General Tang and make a career on the battlefield."
This man was Zheng Wenchang, who had been transferred here from Jizhou not long ago.
Previously, the rebels wanted to take over Hezhou and attacked Lucheng, the gateway to Hezhou. He Jingyuan went to Lucheng in person to supervise the battle, and handed over all matters of Hezhou to Zheng Wenchang. On another level, he also became his eyes in Hezhou, monitoring Li Huaian.
Now Li Huaian has found what he wanted and stayed on the battlefield in Chongzhou. He Jingyuan was transferred back to Jizhou. He Jingyuan was afraid that Fan Changyu would be alone in the army, so he transferred Zheng Wenchang as well.
In the past, Tang Peiyi and Zheng Wenchang were both his subordinates, but Tang Peiyi and he were only superiors and subordinates, and were not as close as Zheng Wenchang, his student.
Now that Tang Peiyi holds great power, he has to be prudent in many matters.
After saying goodbye, He Jingyuan got on the carriage back to Jizhou.
When Fan Changyu returned to the camp, he glanced at the high sky and felt a little disappointed.
As she walked along this road, it seemed that all the people close to her left her, but she had to keep going.
Just the night before, He Jingyuan summoned her alone.
Let her keep calm and make military achievements on the battlefield first, and then wipe out the rebels and return to Beijing to receive the emperor's personal commendation. At that time, the matter of him helping her parents to forge identities will also be re-examined.
After Wei Yan was implicated, the emperor and the Li family personally interrogated him, and Wei Yan could no longer hide the incident that happened seventeen years ago.
He also told her that Zheng Wenchang was his man and that if she had any difficulties, she could ask Zheng Wenchang for help.
Fan Changyu was extremely grateful to He Jingyuan for these thoughtful arrangements.
Since her parents passed away, she has never received such care from the elders except Aunt Zhao's family.
As a general of high rank, she could also participate in the meetings in the central military camp, but she had not read many military books, and most of the time she just listened to Tang Peiyi and his men talking in front of the sand table. Occasionally, when the generals below got excited, they would spit at each other as if they were going to have a fight.
Fan Changyu was confused at first, but now he could understand what they were saying. However, he still had not decided on a strategy to continue attacking Chongzhou.
But one thing is certain, when she goes to the battlefield again, she will be a striker.
A cavalry unit of 200 men was assigned to Fan Changyu. Although the number was small, it was enough to serve as the tip of the spear in the vanguard.
The young leader who led this cavalry was actually someone Fan Changyu had met a few times.
When the dam was being built, she was captured and forced to dig for earth and rocks. Among the detained civilians, there was a very strong man who was given chicken legs for every meal.
Now he is the leader of this cavalry team.
When he met Fan Changyu, he might have known from the beginning that he would be assigned to her work, so he was not surprised at all.
Only one of his cavalrymen stared at Fan Changyu blankly: "Oh my god, isn't this the girl who kicked down the door of the women's barracks on the day the dam was destroyed and the rebels attacked?"
Apparently, this cavalryman was also one of the refugees at that time.
In order to be compatible on the battlefield, Fan Changyu now has to take time out to work with the cavalry in addition to training the infantry.
Fortunately, the cavalry seemed to respect her. Maybe it was because they had heard about her bravery in killing Prince Changxin, or because they had heard too much about her deeds of digging earth and rocks.
Fan Changyu still had to go through the trouble of learning about current affairs and world trends from the aides hired by Xie Wu, and he didn't have the time to care about what his subordinates talked about when they had nothing to do.
When the rumor that she could knock down a city gate with one kick spread throughout the army, Fan Changyu was completely stunned.
She asked Xie Wu, "When did I ever knock down the city gate with my foot?"
Xie Wu said: "I heard that it was during the anti-bandit raid on the Jizhou Army that was repairing the dam."
Fan Changyu was shocked and explained: "I didn't kick the city gate, but the door of the barracks where the women were imprisoned."
Xie Wu chuckled twice and said, "Let this rumor spread. It will do the captain a hundred good things and no harm. It can also scare the enemy when we confront the rebels in the future."
Fan Changyu has read a lot of military books recently. After several of her staff members lost half their hair, she finally learned the Thirty-Six Strategies.
Unfortunately, her salary increased several times, and several of her staff members were unwilling to stay and continue teaching her.
At this point, she understood that what Xie Wu was talking about was a method of attacking the heart. She said with some emotion: "This so-called military strategy is actually darker than someone's heart, right?"
Xie Wu smiled sheepishly, "If the battle of wits can reduce the number of deaths, that's good."
Fan Changyu nodded and said, "Okay, find me some more staff."
Xie Wu's smile froze on his face.
But one must not underestimate those pedantic scholars who do not enter officialdom but instead serve as guests in other people's homes; they are very well-informed.
He spent a lot of effort to find a few talented aides for Fan Changyu. When they heard that they would work under the new female general, they had some concerns, but after hearing about Fan Changyu's military achievements, they were willing to come and serve.
It’s a pity that after teaching for only half a day, they all felt like quitting because of the headache.
How can I teach Fan Changyu when he hasn't even finished reading the Art of War?
As for the situation in the court, she didn't even know who the officials were in the court. It was difficult to tell her which ones were from the Wei Party, which ones were from the Li Party, and which ones were the pure ministers who remained neutral.
The staff only felt that their future was bleak. With only bravery but no wise generals, let alone a successful career, it would be a blessing from heaven if they did not die in the battlefield.
Only when they were forced by several swords did they teach Fan Changyu the "Art of War" with a sad face. They ate half a bowl less of rice every day, and their weight decreased visibly due to their worry.
Fan Changyu felt half guilty and half ashamed, fearing that these old gentlemen who taught her military tactics would die of depression here with her, so she finally agreed to let them go.
After returning home, several staff members drank to their heart's content and complained that they would rather die than come to Fan Changyu. However, the reputation of the staff members spread among the scholars.
Now I'm looking for aides for Fan Changyu, but before I could finish my words, those scholars picked up their bags and ran away.
Xie Wu said thoughtfully: "Captain, if we look for it again, I'm afraid we don't have enough money..."
Fan Changyu heard that Xie Wu was talking about finding an aide for her, but he had spent several times the money and still couldn't find anyone. So he sighed and said, "My adoptive father is so powerful that he wanted to take me in as his apprentice at first. Could it be that he is too old and his eyesight is blurry?"
Xie Wu said: "The commander is very wise, and Master Tao must have noticed this in him."
Fan Changyu knew there was a saying called "great wisdom appears foolish". Does this mean that she looks stupid?
She didn't know for a moment whether Xie Wu's words were meant to comfort her or to continue stabbing her, so she said helplessly, "Alright, you go down first."
He immediately wrote a letter home, asking Xie Qi to hire a teacher for Changning.
Now that Chongzhou is at war, private schools have long been closed, but the sons and daughters of wealthy families can hire private teachers.
Fan Changyu felt that he could not let Changning follow in his footsteps, and he must let Changning study hard from a young age.
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A carrier pigeon fluttered its wings and landed above the dove cage. Inside the wooden dove cage, one could vaguely see the pigeon inside, peeking out from the round hole for entry and exit.
The servant guarding the dove cage saw the newly returned white pigeon, and hurried forward to take the letter from the pigeon's mailbox. After putting the pigeon back into the dove cage, he hurried into the military tent.
"Sir, this is a letter sent from Chongzhou City."
The man who was writing something at the desk put down his pen when he heard the words. He stretched out his slender and white hand like a bamboo and took the rolled-up letter handed to him by the servant.
Unlike the delicate and boneless fingertips of women, these hands have the strength and bones of men, but unlike those of a military general whose knuckles are prominent due to years of martial arts training, it is only because of years of holding a pen that a thin layer of stiffness is formed on the knuckles.
Li Huaian opened the letter and read it, but his handsome eyebrows were still frowning. He murmured: "Wei Yan's palace is very deep, and he shouldn't fall for it so easily."
The letter was sent by Sui Yuanhuai who was trapped in Chongzhou City.
When the Li family found out about He Jingyuan, Wei Yan was afraid that the emperor would interrogate He Jingyuan and give himself away, so he wanted to kill He Jingyuan, but failed.
Now He Jingyuan is not only protected by his own assassins, but also by the assassins of the Li family who are secretly protecting him. Wei Yan can no longer take action against him.
Sui Yuanhuai proposed to pretend to cooperate with Wei Yan, and if Wei Yan helped him to keep Chongzhou, he would help Wei Yan to stabilize the military power in Jizhou.
After all, once Chongzhou was captured, Sui Yuanhuai, the "son of a rebel", would have to be executed, and the military power of Jizhou and Chongzhou would fall into the hands of the Li family, which would be extremely disadvantageous to Wei Yan.
At the moment, cooperation between the two parties seems to be the best option.
But after Wei Yan was approached by Sui Yuanhuai, he agreed so readily that Li Huaian became a little hesitant.
Inducing Wei Yan to cooperate with Chongzhou was a scheme by them and Sui Yuanhuai to overthrow Wei Yan as soon as possible.
Originally, he and his grandfather wanted to make a fuss about what happened seventeen years ago, but after investigating for so long, the only clue, the letter, was cut off in Wei Yan's hands. Even if they were to go to court one day, Wei Yan would have a hundred ways to excuse himself.
They then thought of using the military power of Chongzhou and Jizhou to set up a trap.
Once Wei Yan agrees to cooperate with Yuan Huai, the evidence they get this time will be ironclad.
Even without the truth from seventeen years ago, this incident could still be used to bring down Wei Yan.
But the plan went too smoothly, which made Li Huaian feel that Wei Yan seemed to have realized that this was their scheme and was just a trick to trick them.
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