Chapter 112 Spring is Coming
When Zhi Junyuan heard Guan Zhiwei categorize him as a wife, he felt deeply ashamed.
He knelt on the ground, his teeth almost grinding to powder, his eyes wide open, his eye sockets bulging, and blood flowing from the corners of his eyes like tears.
"My father...my father! My father..."
"I know everything." Guan Zhiwei still smiled gently, "So I didn't expect you to come, it's a pleasant surprise."
"Of course I'm coming, I absolutely have to come, even if it's a mountain of knives and a sea of fire ahead, I'll still come." Zhi Junyuan looked up at Guan Zhiwei as if she were the sun, it was too dazzling, and tears streamed down her face.
"The Grand Tutor put aside such a vital matter as the siege to come and save me! If I hadn't come, I would be a pig, a dog, a beast, definitely not a human being!"
Guan Zhiwei thought to herself, "What a wonderful misunderstanding."
She helped him up, brushed the dust off his clothes, and said with feigned concern, "I saved you that day simply to save you, not for any reward. Besides, you are you, and your father is your father; I can distinguish between the two."
Zhi Junyuan wiped away his tears, feeling angry, anxious, and ashamed: "My father has failed the Grand Tutor. What can we do? While the Grand Tutor was fighting the allied forces, he attacked and occupied those cities one by one."
Hey you bastard, I'll kill you!
Guan Zhiwei said gently and casually, "It's not a big deal. I just won the war. As long as your father admits his mistake, I'll just fine him a few years' salary."
He was stunned, incredulous: "The Grand Tutor is willing to forgive him? He has already betrayed the Grand Tutor!"
Guan Zhiwei maintained her smile, her saintly glow radiating across the earth: "It's alright, I just want to establish a mutually beneficial relationship with him, with aligned goals and a pleasant cooperation. You don't need to worry about how cracks in the relationship make it hard to trust each other. Betrayal can damage a relationship, but I'm not trying to build a relationship with your father."
Zhi Junyuan was taken aback by what she said, but she had a soft glow about her that made people unconsciously believe her.
"Grand Tutor, your heart is as vast as the sky."
Guan Zhiwei thought to herself, "If you compare me to the sky, then don't be too surprised when the heavens strike you with lightning on a sunny day."
She continued smiling, "The war outside will be over soon. Write a letter to your father and ask him to come over. Let's talk things out. We're all comrades-in-arms on the battlefield, there's nothing we can't overcome."
This old man's life is about to hit a snag.
Knowing that Junyuan had believed her lies, he quickly wrote to his father, asking him to come and apologize; it was still not too late.
Unfortunately, Old Harden isn't as easily fooled as Little Harden.
Zhi Fang's first reaction upon receiving the letter was, "Could destiny truly be with her?"
Guan Zhiwei fought the Yuan clan first, then the allied forces, suffering heavy losses with most of her remaining men captured. Yet, she managed to win over the hearts of the people so quickly, gaining their loyalty without the slightest wavering in her ranks! Even the powerful families of Yanyang City did not hinder her efforts!
He felt a sense of relief.
I listened to Guan Zhang's advice and didn't go too far.
Knowing that Junyuan had gone to the rescue without regard for anything else, he managed to salvage half of the situation.
But if you were to say that Guan Zhiwei is broad-minded and doesn't care about anything, he wouldn't dare to go to pay his respects to her.
"Even if fate has decreed it, I will never surrender. I'd rather live ten years less than be powerless for even a single day!"
Knowing that he had made up his mind, he immediately wrote back.
The letter stated that he led his troops to attack in order to help the Grand Tutor, and that they had surrounded the allied forces' stronghold. The city had now been completely captured.
As the Grand Tutor's capable subordinate, he will take good care of these places, so the Grand Tutor need not worry.
As for the Grand Tutor's invitation to go to Yanyang City, it is probably not possible for the time being. He still has to lead troops to fight against the enemy and cannot get away.
This man made up his mind that he would never see Guan Zhiwei again in this lifetime.
As long as she piles up a thick army between the two of them, she can kill Gao Yang among a hundred men, Yuan Chizhong among a thousand men, and Yuan Qiuhe among ten thousand men. How could she possibly kill me, Zhifang, from a distance of one hundred thousand men?
After calming himself down like this, he felt much more at ease. He felt that the most important thing right now was to capture Hongfeng and Jinshi's cities and take them all into his possession.
News of the war arrived at the outskirts of Yanyang City at breakneck speed.
"This... that despicable Guan Zhiwei actually had a backup plan! Attacking from both sides! How insidious!"
With no hope of conquering the city, Hong Feng was so anxious upon hearing that his stronghold had been captured that he nearly vomited blood. He hastily withdrew his troops, determined to reclaim his home.
Li Chengxi was always opportunistic; since everyone else had left, he naturally didn't stay either and quickly departed.
When Guan Zhiwei got up the next day and looked down at the city, all that was left were thousands of miles of rotting corpses.
These people were not born on the same day, but they died on the same day.
Gao Huan summoned the laborers in the city to either burn or bury the corpses outside. They worked very hard, and by properly handling the bodies, they prevented the spread of plague; otherwise, they would easily fall ill when the weather warmed up in spring.
After fighting so many battles, even the laborers have become experienced.
"Grand Tutor, the arrangements here are almost complete. Shall we proceed to attack Zhifang next?"
"The war is over, spring is coming."
Bathed in the spring sunshine, everything in sight is exceptionally beautiful. The grass and trees have not yet grown, but the gentle breeze carries the fragrance of flowers and plants, and everywhere is full of vitality, with all industries waiting to be revitalized.
Spring is the time for planting. Every household prepares mortars, millstones, sieves, and winnowing baskets. Skilled women begin to weave brooms of various sizes, while diligent men prepare farming tools such as measuring cups, measures, and measures. Even half-grown children should learn to pound, pound, and winnow.
They sow seeds in the spring, weed in the mornings and evenings in the summer, and harvest in the autumn, so that they can safely get through the cold winter months.
They eat fried rice for three meals a day, along with a small dish of pickled ginger and other condiments.
Eating broken rice cakes and cooking porridge is just like Guan Zhiwei's days in the blacksmith's shop, holding a large bowl with both hands, and shrinking back when she gets burned.
Even if it's very hot, you have to drink it quickly, because it will warm you up. Even on a cold morning with heavy frost and snow, you'll gather up enough heat to go forging.
This is how laborers live their entire lives.
Guan Zhiwei announced that the troops would return to Beijing.
The army was fully prepared to depart, and Jie Qianchou and the others saw them off with tears in their eyes.
Guan Zhiwei gave them several official positions in the imperial court, and Gao Huan made arrangements for things like tax collection. In short, things were good for everyone for now, but who knows what would happen after this period.
She also took Yuan Chizheng with her, after all, they were so deeply in love back then, how could she just abandon him in the blink of an eye?
Once they arrived in Kyoto, she casually tossed Yuan Chizheng to Gao Huan.
Guan Zhiwei's good news kept coming back, and the officials were numb with despair. From now on, they would really have to make a living under this blacksmith and medicine seller.
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