Chapter 80 Staggering
The turmoil in Zhuzhou came as suddenly and unexpectedly as a storm.
The marriage between the Zhou and Tang families was a calculated move, with one family harboring ulterior motives and the other having sinister intentions.
Rain dripped steadily from the eaves of the thatched house.
The ground outside the thatched house was muddy and slippery.
A thick wooden plank lay across the path from the main house to the kitchen, for people to walk on.
The peasant woman, Gouwa's mother, wearing straw sandals and carrying a bowl of medicine covered with a plate, walked out of the low kitchen, nimbly stepped over the plank, and arrived at the main room.
The main room has a mud floor, which has become smooth and even after being trampled by generations of people and swept clean.
At the entrance of the main house, the male head of the household and his elderly parents, dressed simply, sat on a bench watching the rain.
Three children, about the same age, dressed in clothes that looked like straight-cut pajamas, were playing with grasshoppers in the room.
"Get out of the way, you'll get burned!"
Dog-wa's mother scolded the child loudly.
The windows in the room are not large, which makes the room quite dark.
After getting used to it for a while, Gouwa's mother lifted a dark blue curtain in the room and entered what was called the inner room.
"Big sister, the medicine is ready."
Li Qu was standing by the window, her gaze fixed on the donkey that had been squeezed out of the straw shed by the jujubes.
Inside the thatched shed, Dazao was engrossed in eating.
After three days of travel, both the man and his horse were pushing their physical limits.
Each time they rest, they immediately replenish their energy to prepare for the next journey.
Li Qu knew that he could not hide his whereabouts from Hezhou for long.
She was afraid that Zhou Jin would pester her.
She hoped to use the stamina of the jujube tree to travel a thousand miles a day and shake off any potential pursuers.
But she overestimated the vitality of the little one in her womb.
She started bleeding.
Li Qu turned her head upon hearing the voice and looked at Gouwa's mother: "Thank you, little sister."
"Oh, you're welcome." Every time Gouwa's mother met Li Qu's gaze, she would subconsciously look away.
She always felt that the older woman who was staying at her place was a bit ugly, but her eyes were excessively bright.
She placed the medicine bowl on the small table by the bedside and said, "With the rain so heavy, we probably won't be able to travel for a while."
“At night, my husband can go to Dad’s room and sleep with him for another night. My mother and I will still sleep on the floor outside with the children.”
"You may stay another night."
The people of today are poor and struggling, yet simple and unpretentious.
Along the way, if Li Qu couldn't find an inn to stay at, he would ask to stay at a family's house with a livestock shed.
Being able to afford to raise livestock indicates that there is hope for the future.
When there is hope in life, the risk of taking risks and doing bad things is smaller.
Li Qu accepted the other party's kindness: "Judging from the rain, if it is really impossible to continue the journey, then I will trouble you for another night."
I will pay the accommodation fee as usual.
Dogwa's mother quickly waved her hand: "No, no, big sister, you've already given us enough. It's enough for our family of seven to eat for more than half a year."
These days, two taels of silver can buy forty shi (one shi is fifty jin) of the most ordinary coarse grains to fill one's stomach, but it can't buy a plate of pastries from Yuzhenlou Restaurant in Hezhou.
Behind the red gates, meat and wine go to waste; on the roads, the bones of those frozen to death lie.
Li Qu said, "It's not that I can't travel, it's just that the horse is my master's favorite, and he's very delicate."
"I don't dare let it get sick from getting wet."
"The silver was given to me by my master, so please accept it."
"However, young lady, you should know the principle of not flaunting your wealth, so don't make a fuss about it."
Dog-doll's mother quickly agreed.
Just then, the male head of the household's voice came from outside: "Yesterday the village head said that Zhuzhou is in chaos, and there's an urgent message heading north. I wonder if there's going to be another war!"
“When there is a war, there are soldiers registered in the military and households. We are farmers. As long as the world is not in chaos, we will be fine.”
The old man offered words of comfort.
The man worried, "I'm afraid they'll conscript soldiers from the farmers."
“I am the only adult male in the family. If I leave, how will you, the old and the young, live?”
"I'll take care of things when the time comes, old man."
"Father, you're almost fifty. Going there would be suicide."
"Hehehe, you underestimate this old man? You're not even as good at farming as I am."
After a moment of silence, the man spoke again: "When there is unrest, taxes should be increased."
The old woman interjected, "What's there to be afraid of? We still have a donkey. If we're desperate, we can sell the donkey."
The man sighed.
The old man said in a high-spirited tone, "Three hundred years ago, when the world was in chaos, life was even harder."
"If our ancestors could overcome it, why can't we?"
The old woman spoke up: "Perhaps it's just trouble caused by bandits from somewhere."
"The bandits in Shanxi last year weren't too bad, and they were eventually wiped out."
"This time it'll probably be just another small matter."
The children suddenly started fighting over a grasshopper.
Gouwa's mother lifted the curtain and went out, slapping each of them once, and they all behaved.
Li Qu sat on the bed, picked up the medicine bowl, and blew on it.
The lives of ordinary people are as bitter as the medicine they taste.
But with her own feet covered in mud, how could she possibly empathize with this era?
The discussion outside the curtain continued, while Li Qu stared blankly at the medicine bowl.
After the medicine cooled down, she picked it up and drank it all in one gulp.
*
With a loud bang, a thunderclap resounded in the sky, startling Li Qu so much that she dropped the empty medicine bowl from her hand.
The child outside the curtain was also frightened and cried.
At this moment, the city gates of Zhuzhou City sounded like thunder from another sky, creating a deafening roar.
The city gates were breached.
The sharp blade hidden beneath the red wedding robes finally pierced the enemy's heart.
Five thousand soldiers charged into the city gates of Zhuzhou, then retreated step by step.
Tang Xian, a high-ranking official of the second rank and a regional governor, stepped out alone, holding a long sword and wearing the robe bestowed upon him by the emperor when he achieved the highest rank in the imperial examination.
His demeanor was clearly refined and scholarly, yet it was as if he were followed by a vast army.
Reaching the middle of the moat, the soldiers retreated to both sides, and he caught sight of the man on horseback, far beyond the range of his arrows.
The man was dressed in a robe that combined civil and military attire, exuding both righteousness and wickedness, and possessed unparalleled handsomeness.
It cannot be denied that Zhou Jin was both a scholar and a warrior, a talent capable of bringing peace to the world and also capable of handling chaotic times.
"pity."
This is a pity for the Xiao imperial family.
He raised his voice and shouted, "Zhou Jin, do you dare to fight me to the death?"
Zhou Jin placed his hands on the saddle, holding his long spear horizontally in his hands.
"A wise man does not stand under a crumbling wall."
"My lord, the crossbowmen on the city wall are too accurate in their aim; I dare not approach."
“Since the master has said so, you may step forward.”
Tang Xian mocked, "Zhou Jin is far too timid."
"Provocation tactics are ineffective against me."
Tang Xian chuckled, knowing he couldn't fool Zhou Jin, and stepped forward with his sword drawn.
Zhou Jin spoke up: "Make way."
Behind him was a wedding procession of two thousand people.
During the three-day battle, these two thousand people merely watched.
Everyone looked radiant and impeccably dressed in red, especially the groom, Zhou Kang, whose large red flower on his chest was utterly ironic.
Tang Xianxing walked to a position where he could communicate with Zhou Jin at a normal volume, his eyes probing Zhou Jin's face.
"The Emperor has treated you well!"
"How could you harbor disloyal intentions towards the Emperor?"
Zhou Jin stared at Tang Xian for a long time, then tossed his long spear to Huai Yan behind him and dismounted.
"The Emperor ordered me to recruit the grain transport troops, and I obeyed without question, without any intention of disobeying him."
"My lord, the Emperor trusts you, how dare you harbor soldiers and harbor treacherous intentions?"
Even though Tang Xian had experienced half a dynasty's trials and tribulations, he was still amused by Zhou Jin's bland yet shameless demeanor.
Zhou Jin: "This humble official was ordered by the Emperor to suppress the rebellion. I have offended you."
Now that things have come to this, Tang Xian doesn't want to waste any more time on these nonsense.
His gaze swept over the five thousand soldiers standing on either side, and he slowly spoke: "Of the four hundred thousand grain transport soldiers in the south, one hundred thousand are registered."
"The other 300,000 troops, you will spend six months hiding them among the civilians."
"Ordinary farming and land reclamation will increase grain and salary."
"In times of war, they rise up in rebellion and take up their swords to fight."
"Zhou Jin, you've played a clever trick of feigning compliance while secretly opposing us!"
"Now they're even turning around and accusing me!"
Zhou Jin: "Warfare is based on deception. You have yielded."
"When did you set your sights on the 100,000 troops in Zhuzhou?"
This is what Tang Xian finds most incomprehensible.
One hundred thousand soldiers, not ten or twenty thousand!
Not a single person obeyed the emperor's orders!
Three days ago, he opened the city gates wide to welcome Zhou Jin into the city, but Zhou Jin said he was waiting for someone at the city gate.
He intended to trap the turtle in a jar, but he couldn't scare the person away if the turtle didn't come in.
They then remained inactive and closely monitored the situation.
The next day, two thousand cavalrymen appeared, swords drawn, charging through the city gates and shouting: "Young Master He Kang is joyously marrying Lady Tang! Open the city gates!"
The city gates opened.
The city gates were stained red with blood.
It turns out that not only the Tang family wanted to take advantage of this marriage, but also the Zhou family.
Zhou Jin brought his own wedding procession of two thousand, and another two thousand were added.
With 5,000 troops stationed in Zhuzhou and 2,000 for city defense, they have a good chance of winning.
The two sides went to war.
But as the battle raged on, their own army of 100,000 remained motionless, while suddenly 3,000 fierce soldiers dressed in peasant clothes appeared on the other side, armed with swords.
The Zhuzhou soldiers who were ambushed suffered heavy casualties.
On the night of their return to the city, the Zhuzhou soldiers were ambushed again by hidden soldiers who appeared to be civilians within the city.
Those hidden soldiers were no different from ordinary people. After their surprise attack, they retreated and disappeared into the crowds and households, making them difficult to find.
When the news reached his ears, he felt dizzy.
Just then, someone presented Zhou Jin with his own handwriting.
The emperor said: "If we surrender, we will implement good policies to pacify the people; if we resist, we will massacre the city."
Tang Xian sat there all night, waiting for the movements of the 100,000-strong army that should have blocked Zhou Jin's retreat long ago.
However, there was no movement at any of the military camps located 20 miles from Zhuzhou.
A regional governor who cannot mobilize troops is nothing more than a tiger's skin.
Tang Xian didn't even know when his house had been raided.
The tide has turned.
At daybreak, he settled his family, changed his clothes, opened the city gate, and appeared before Zhou Jin.
Looking at the other person's calm acceptance of death, Zhou Jin finally spoke: "It wasn't me who did it, it was my father who did it."
Tang Xian swayed slightly.
The current head of the Zhou family, a senior whom Tang Xian looked up to in his youth.
He has been out of the public eye for many years, and many people have overlooked him.
"Defeated by the Duke of Zhou, he was wise and convinced of his own superiority."
Zhou Jin's father was a genius boy who achieved the highest rank in the imperial examinations, stunning many people, becoming a nightmare for many, and being admired by many.
He was a prominent figure of another era.
A sense of desolation crept over Tang Xian.
"Your Majesty, I have failed you!"
Looking up at the sky, he let out a long roar: "Do your best and leave the rest to fate!"
"Today, destiny is to kill me."
“I am willing to repay Your Majesty’s kindness with my life.”
Having said that, he placed his long sword against his neck and looked at Zhou Jin: "A gentleman keeps his word. I hope you will devise a wise plan to bring peace to the people!"
Zhou Jin spoke up: "See Lord Tang off."
The longsword slit his throat, and blood spurted out.
His scholar's robe was dyed deep red.
*
The gloom of death enveloped the city of Zhuzhou.
A white flag was raised on the city gate.
With infantry leading the way and cavalry escorting, Zhou Kang, dressed in red with a red flower on his chest, led the way.
Zhou married a woman from the Tang family, but discovered that the Tang family had secretly amassed a large army. He was then ordered to suppress them and won a great victory.
The urgent message, delivered over 800 li (approximately 400 kilometers), arrived at the Imperial Palace a few days later. The 67-year-old emperor, after reading it, rose and cried out in anguish:
"You little brat Zhou Jin, how dare you threaten my life!"
Tang Xian, courtesy name Yanqing.
He lost his imperial composure, stamping his feet and beating his chest, tears streaming down his face: "It pains me so much! It pains me so much!"
A mouthful of blood gushed out, and he fell off the dragon throne and fainted on the spot.
*
At present, the Tang residence of the Provincial Administration Commissioner of Zhuzhou City.
When Zhou Jin delivered the body to the door, all the male members of the Tang family had already been arrested according to the family genealogy and were now being forced to kneel in the courtyard.
The gilded robes swept past the former noblemen's residences, but Zhou Jin remained calm and continued walking.
Someone struggled to their feet and cursed, "Zhou traitor, you are intolerable to the world! Today, the blood of my Tang family is spilled three feet deep, and this is the beginning of all your wrath!"
After entering the main hall, Zhou Jin calmly took his seat.
Officials from Zhuzhou in the past knelt outside the hall, waiting to be summoned.
Zhang Zaiquan, the Prefect of Zhuzhou, served tea to Zhou Jin: "Third Master, the Master has sent word that Lord Tang has been rooted in Zhuzhou for a long time and has a good reputation. Zhuzhou needs to be appeased."
Therefore, the marriage between Young Master Kang and Lady Tang shall proceed as before.
Upon seeing this, Tang's son angrily cursed, "No wonder there's chaos in Zhuzhou!"
"Zhang Zaiquan, my father treated you well! How dare you betray him and serve under that traitorous Zhou!"
Zhang Zai straightened his sleeves, stood beside Zhou Jin, and answered neither humbly nor arrogantly: "The Zhang family of Yinzhou were originally retainers of the Zhou family!"
"You're talking nonsense!"
Zhang Zaiquan spoke again: "No matter who takes the position of Provincial Administration Commissioner of Zhuzhou in the future, it will not shake the fact that Zhuzhou belongs to the Zhou family."
"The fact that the 100,000 troops received the order to remain stationary is the best proof of this."
"To kill Zhou in the south is a delusion."
"Three hundred years ago, the Xiao and Zhou families made an agreement to divide the country into North and South. It was the Xiao imperial family that broke their promise first!"
"The Zhou family's rule over Zhuzhou is perfectly legitimate."
“I will only say these words once, so that they may enter your ears and your hearts.”
"When the new provincial administration commissioner arrives, everyone must serve him as you did with Lord Tang."
Tang's son was shocked.
"W-what do you mean!"
The Zhuzhou official who was knocking on the door understood.
A chorus of responses rang out: "Your humble servant obeys."
Zhou Jin put down his teacup: "Except for the youngest daughter of the Tang family, all other female members of the Tang family will be confiscated and placed in the lowest social class according to their crimes."
"The male members will be dealt with according to the law."
Tang's son's face twisted in agony: "Zhou Jin, you'll die a horrible death!"
Zhou Jin continued: "I would like to trouble you, Lord Zhang, to assist with matters such as confiscating property, comforting the wounded and the injured, rewarding those who have contributed, and posting notices to reassure the people."
Zhang Zaiquan bowed and accepted the order.
"The wedding ceremony will be held at the Tang residence tonight, arranged by Huaiyan."
"yes."
“Zhou Kang will stay in the city to oversee the city tomorrow. Once the new provincial governor appointed by the emperor has taken office, you can take your new bride back to Hezhou to kowtow to your grandmother.”
Zhou Kang accepted the order: "I will obey my third uncle's instructions."
"The rest of you who attended Young Master Kang's wedding banquet may do as you please. But you must not disturb the people, or you will be dealt with according to military law."
His response was a group of soldiers who had lived and breathed death, who replied with smiles, "Yes, sir!"
Suddenly, a soldier said, "Third Master, Lady Tang is of noble birth. Rather than having her reduced to the lowest social class as an actress, prostitute, or slave, why not ask her if she would be willing to be our concubine? We would both be of the lowest social class, and it wouldn't violate any rules."
Zhou Jin almost blurted out "casual," but then he remembered something and changed his words: "It can only be done with the consent of the women of the Tang family; forced marriage is not allowed."
The soldiers chuckled.
Tang's son angrily retorted, "Zhou Jin, the Emperor has not yet issued an edict to convict you, what right do you have to..."
"By the grace of His Majesty, I have been appointed as the Commander-in-Chief, which has given me the authority to handle matters expediently."
Zhou Jin found this Tang boy particularly noisy.
He put down his cup and stood up: "Please invite all officials to gather in Lord Tang's study."
Pressuring officials and strengthening the chain of evidence is an important undertaking.
The officials outside the hall agreed.
Zhang Zaiquan personally led Zhou Jin to Tang Xian's study: "Third Master, this way please."
Zhou Jin walked out of the hall with composure and turned the corner, following Zhang Zaiquan's directions.
Just then, Tang's son, who had been cursing and swearing, suddenly changed to a mocking tone: "So what if Master Zhou won this match?"
Zhou Jin kept walking.
"It's a pity that Master Zhou lost his beloved wife and son! His life was never complete!"
Zhou Jin paused.
Seeing that his words had finally caught Zhou Jin's attention, Tang Shizi burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha, I've heard that Master Zhou's beloved wife, Madam Li, is as beautiful as a flower, and even while pregnant, she is still incredibly charming!"
Zhou Jin took a step back and turned around.
"I love playing with pregnant women!"
Footsteps approached rapidly, exuding a menacing aura.
"I originally planned to catch Third Master like a turtle in a jar, send him on his way first, and then take her into my arms and pamper her."
"Ask her who is more virile, her father or Zhou Sanye."
A powerful hand gripped the other person's neck.
The intent to kill was palpable.
"You're asking for it!"
"You've accused my Tang family of harboring soldiers, which is treasonous! I was supposed to die!" Tang's son's face turned red from being choked, and veins bulged on his forehead.
But he didn't back down at all, staring at Zhou Jin with a ferocious look in his eyes, finally finding his sore spot.
"What, hasn't Master Zhou received the news yet?"
Huaiqiu quickly replied, "There's been no news from Hezhou."
"Hahahaha! Heaven is fair, and it has given you, you scoundrel, a weakness!"
"It's a pity he's dead, otherwise he would definitely be a powerful tool to control you in the future!"
Zhou Jin tightened his grip, the veins on the back of his hand bulging: "Explain yourself clearly, and I'll let you have a good time on your way."
"That's exactly what happened. I wanted to sleep with your woman, so I sent men to capture her alive, but they ended up causing her to fall into the water and die!"
Zhou Jin suddenly remembered the scene from New Year's Eve when he asked her to learn to swim, and she refused.
She can't swim!
Zhou Jin stared intently at Tang Shizi, pointing to his brother.
Where is the message?
Knowing that Zhou Jin was capable of using private punishment, Tang's son could not bear to see his brother die because of him. He spoke with great resentment, saying, "The message arrived by carrier pigeon this morning; it's in my sleeve."
Huaiqiu quickly searched and found it, then handed it to Zhou Jin with both hands.
Zhou Jin threw Tang's son aside: "Cut off his tongue!"
Military generals naturally took charge of this horrific and inhumane task.
Zhou Jin opened the note.
Upon seeing the description above, his jaw suddenly tightened.
She closed her eyes and calmed herself for a long time before opening them and crushing the paper slip between her fingers: "Castration! Stuff it into his mouth!"
He strode outside, his aura heavy, then his voice suddenly rose: "Lingchi! Give him lingchi!"
"Crush his bones and scatter his ashes!"
"I'll make sure he never gets reincarnated!!!"
With a stumble, the usually composed Master Zhou almost tripped on the steps.
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