The journey south was fraught with peril, and we encountered ambushes several times, which he skillfully evaded each time. I also learned to borrow a black veil to shield myself from the sun and followed beside him, gradually reducing the need for his constant care. However, when we occasionally encountered enemy troops, he inevitably had to exert himself. I considered learning to wield swords and spears, but I would become breathless after only a few attempts. He always said, "What's the point of a woman learning these things? Are you looking down on me?"
That was obviously a joke, but it made me feel quite at ease.
He practiced swordsmanship with his left hand every day, even at night when they were camped, he would practice for a long time by himself. It seems he was impatient. He was both emperor and general; having taken on the responsibility of governing the country, he could no longer relinquish it.
The journey was swift, taking less than ten days to reach the southern front. Just as they were taking a short rest, Mao Tui'er, dressed in full military uniform and less of his usual roguish air, sheathed his knife and jumped over, glancing at his arm with a slightly somber expression.
"How could it be cured so easily? More than half a month has passed since we arrived in the capital." He dismounted and said, pretending to be relaxed.
"Didn't Mr. Xu say that there are doctors in the capital who can save lives?"
Mr. Xu? Fu Xi is back?
He raised his right hand, the empty sleeve looking particularly desolate, yet he still smiled and said, "What kind of doctor could save such a life? I didn't have high expectations, but this trip saved me from much of the suffering on the battlefield. I wonder what kind of state you've made of guarding the south for me."
Hairy Legs' expression darkened further, and my heart sank accordingly.
"The old emperor has returned, and the rebellion in the south is gaining momentum." He leaned closer and said, "That day, a light flashed in Fuqi's camp, and many people saw it."
bright?
"Auspicious omen." Ji Mo said it with great certainty.
"Yes. Since then, our Jiugao army has suffered more defeats than victories. If His Majesty doesn't return soon, we really won't be able to continue fighting."
"You really want to lose to that old man?" Ji Mo flicked his sleeve, facing the warm sun, his eyes deep and thoughtful. "Fortunately, they have auspicious omens, and we also have a gift from heaven."
I lowered my head, hoping he wasn't talking about me.
Hairy-legged Man looked over with a smile, then turned back and said, "His Majesty is preparing..."
Ji Mo turned around, his gaze landing lightly on me, before asking, "What did Mr. Xu say?"
In their eyes, Mr. Xu was a strategist who was knowledgeable in astronomy and geography. Given the current situation, it was most appropriate for him to speak of auspicious omens.
Mao Tui'er scratched his head: "Mr. Xu has left. It seems like he had something extremely urgent to do. We couldn't stop him even if we tried."
Just as Ji Mo was about to give up, he suddenly added, "Mr. Xu seemed to have said that it was related to Miss Liao. The direction was also north."
Heading north? Does he think I'm still in the capital? What important matter could Fu Xi have to discuss with me at this time? We haven't been in touch for so long that I've almost forgotten his somewhat nonsensical words and the legends of the so-called dragon sons and grandsons.
Ji Mo looked at me again, raised his hand to signal someone to take me to rest, and then turned to Mao Tui'er and ordered, "Summon the generals of the three armies into the tent for discussion."
The sun was high in the sky, and I couldn't see his features or expression clearly. But inexplicably, I sensed an aura emanating from him, a power that seemed to engulf the heavens and the earth, just like the moment he pushed open the door in the mourning hall. I couldn't see anything else, only that overwhelming aura remained.
The battlefield fighting was as usual, and I wasn't involved in it at all. I had no idea when they left or when they broke camp. Ji Mo suddenly became very busy, but my tent was no longer as deserted as before. Every day, someone would bring me the simplest food, their devout manner as if they were worshipping some great deity. They went to great lengths to ensure it was auspicious, as if I were truly a lucky omen. If that were true, how could Ji Mo's right arm be...?
To this day, he still doesn't mention it, and I don't even know who attacked him or whether his wounds still hurt.
In the past, Jimo often used cavalry raids, with small groups constantly provoking the Guifang's anger, making it unpredictable when they would leave their camp to engage in battle. Now, with a large army under his command, he no longer deals with the Guifang's elite cavalry, and his tactics are no longer what they used to be. He is rarely seen personally engaging in battle, increasingly appearing as a strategist. Even so, opportunities to see him are still scarce. He no longer faces swords head-on, yet he seems more weary than when he is charging into battle. Every time I visit him, Maotui always shoves a cup of tea into my hand and pushes me into his tent, as if it is no one but me who must deliver that cup of tea.
His brow furrowed deeper with each passing moment, and the tea grew colder with each passing moment.
The journey south was going smoothly until it came to a standstill in this small town, where it lasted for a month.
The city seemed small and easily defeated, with only its name suggesting extravagance—Yu Shang. Yet, this very place withstood a month-long siege. They said the true land of wealth and prosperity lay south of Yu Shang, and this city was, in reality, a wall protecting the rich south.
A direct assault failed, and even a clever maneuver proved extremely difficult for the Jiugao army, yet in the end, all their efforts were thwarted. It was as if this small town was impregnable, as if everything had been a mere illusion.
I sat opposite him, his gaze still fixed on the map, his eyes unwilling to miss a single detail, a single opportunity. I had seen him like this before, beneath the walls of another city. Back then, I had also come to offer him tea, and that cup of tea, too, had slowly cooled, never to rise again. Last time, I had noticed something amiss, but this time, I couldn't discern a clue.
Given the current situation, he absolutely had to capture Yushang; otherwise, the army would run out of supplies on its southward march and be forced to retreat north. Who knew how Fuqi would celebrate then? After a month of wasted effort, the army's reserves were insufficient. They left Yushang and captured neighboring cities. Even if the soldiers could endure, no city could maintain its previous food supplies, except for Yushang and the areas behind it.
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