87 General Zhenbei
◎Yu Fu's face turned pale, and she forced a smile◎
The cavalry, galloping northward from the capital, endured a fortnight of forced march, enduring the elements. As they reached the Luo River, the weather suddenly changed, with heavy snow falling and a chilling wind piercing the face. The army was ordered to camp and rest for a day.
The tents were set up just before dark.
Chen Ergou huddled in the corner, shivering as he untied his frozen shoes, moving his almost numb toes, and carefully taking out the hay fluff from his shoes that had long been soaked with sweat and had lost its warmth-retaining function. He then took out dry new grass from his backpack and carefully stuffed it back in.
The other soldiers who were resting in the tent were doing the same thing, some were resting, some were changing their shoes with straw.
Soon, outside the tent, a gong clanged and rang, and the captain's hoarse voice, like a broken gong, pierced through the wind and snow: "Dinner is ready—dinner—"
Chen Ergou jumped to his feet, opened the heavy tent curtain, and scurried out. After a day of rapid marching, his sweat soaked through his heavy clothes. Now, the sweat melted away, and a gust of wind blew, bringing a chill like snow foam that penetrated deep into his bones. But he had no thicker clothes, so he tightened his collar and hunched his neck as he walked toward the center of the camp.
The tents were arranged in a circle, with a blazing bonfire in the center. Steam was rising from a large pot, and white smoke mixed with snow foam rushed straight into the lead-gray night sky.
After waiting in line for a while, he was given a hard, dry biscuit and a bowl of steaming hot soup. He squatted in front of the squad tent, holding the bowl. He took a sip of the soup, and the pungent, spicy smell rushed straight to his head, almost choking him to tears. "Ahem... what the hell is this!"
A veteran who was older than him and had been to two battlefields looked at him and laughed heartily. He chewed his dry biscuits with difficulty and said vaguely: "You dislike it? Give it to me! I don't dislike it!"
Chen Ergou's eyes rolled, and he immediately held the bowl tightly, putting on a smile: "Brother Gu, what kind of soup is this? Why does it taste so strong?"
He was seventeen years old, and this was his first time being drafted into the army, so everything he saw was new to him. Several other equally clueless recruits nearby pricked up their ears.
Gu Ge wiped his mouth and tapped the rough wooden bowl in his hand. "Good stuff! Scallion and ginger water! Fights the cold and keeps the wind away! In this awful weather, if you don't drink some of this, you'll freeze into a popsicle!"
He raised his head, gulped down the drink, and smacked his lips. "You new recruits, you're lucky! Back when I was fighting, who cared if you lived or died? If you caught a cold and can walk, just move along. If you can't, you'll just be thrown to the side of the road and fed to the stray dogs!"
After hearing what he said, several new recruits suddenly felt that the soup in the bowl became precious. They pinched their noses and drank it with gritted teeth. After a bowl of soup was swallowed, the hot air rushed from their throats to their limbs, and they exhaled a puff of white mist, and they didn't feel so cold anymore.
As the night deepened, the north wind howled mournfully through the tents. Some had gone to their tents early to rest, while those who could not sleep gathered in groups of three or four around the campfire to warm themselves.
Chen Ergou couldn't sleep, so he sauntered over to sit next to Gu Ge. He picked up a small wooden stick and scratched the frozen ground, mumbling, "Gu Ge, do you think we can win this battle? On the battlefield... are there any ways to survive? Since we're from the same hometown, can you give me some advice?"
He had just arranged a marriage with Zhenniang from the village. He had a frail old father and a ten-year-old brother at home. He just wanted to return home safely and didn't dare to think about military merit or wealth.
Brother Gu glanced at him and sneered, "You kid, you're a coward... Secrets? Bullshit secrets! Don't be too bold, but don't be too timid either. If you run into someone, you'll risk your life!"
"As for whether we can win..." He paused, his gaze casting towards the brightly lit commander's tent in the distance, and lowered his voice, "As long as the general leading the troops this time is not a fool, there's no reason we can't win! I've been fighting for half my life, and this is the first time I've seen such thorough preparation!"
A soldier who was listening to their conversation laughed and couldn't help but interrupt: "Idiot? Do you know who's leading the troops this time?"
"Who?" Chen Ergou and Gu Ge looked at him at the same time.
"General Xuanwei, Pei Yue! The one who beat the Turks to a pulp in the first half of the year! His father was a famous general who fought against the Turks back then! Like a father, like a son, how could they lose this battle?" He looked proud, and then continued, "Besides, do you know why the food and armaments are so abundant this time?"
Chen Ergou stretched his neck: "Why?"
Although Gu Ge didn't say anything, he gave him a questioning look. He remembered that this guy was recruited from the capital.
The man lowered his voice mysteriously, "Hey, it's all thanks to our general's wife! The general and his wife are so loving! When the wife heard that the general was going to the war, she was so distressed that she mobilized all the noble ladies in the capital to donate money and supplies! That's why we have this situation now!"
Chen Ergou exclaimed, "Wow!" and immediately felt that he was really lucky to have such a general and his wife. However, he was just a soldier and had only seen the general's back from a distance. He still didn't know what the general looked like!
Gu Ge looked the man up and down and asked, "How do you know so much?"
The soldier puffed out his chest, quite proudly saying, "My fifth aunt is doing needlework in the general's mansion! She said all this herself!"
After saying that, he tugged at Chen Ergou's thin sleeve and said, "Your coat is too thin. It won't last two days. I heard there are new cotton-padded clothes in the baggage this time. You are so sweet-talking. Go and talk to the centurion and see if he can get you one."
"Is it possible..." Chen Ergou's heart became lively. He moved his butt and leaned closer to whisper.
Snowflakes fell silently from the dark night sky.
…
On the third day after the heavy snow, the army finally reached the foot of the Almer Mountains. Two hundred miles further east lay their destination, Huaping. The entire army, as ordered, camped there to rest and recuperate.
After a day of rest, the military order was issued and the entire army was ready to attack the city the next day!
Behind the layers of human walls, Chen Ergou finally saw the legendary General Pei up close for the first time.
The general was much younger than he had imagined, and looked only a few years older than him, but his aura was cold and intimidating. He was wearing black armor, and his brows were as cold as frost and snow.
The general's voice pierced the biting cold wind, ringing out clearly: "The Turkic barbarians have harassed our Great Yan's northern borders for hundreds of years! Last winter, they committed all sorts of atrocities, including murder, looting, and arson, throughout Lingzhou! Your Majesty has ordered us to march north to eradicate this violence and protect the people, putting an end to future troubles! The journey, braving the wind and snow, must be arduous, isn't it?"
Is it hard?
Chen Ergou was stunned, not knowing how to respond. The soldiers around him looked at each other in confusion and whispered among themselves.
After a while, a brave old soldier shouted out: "It's hard work!" In this icy and snowy weather, the soles of the shoes are worn through, how can it not be hard!
The general's gaze was like lightning. He swept the area around him and shouted sternly, "As long as the Turks remain undefeated, there will be no peace in the northern borders of Great Yan! Are you willing to let your descendants suffer the same pain we endured today?!"
Chen Ergou had no children, but the first thing he thought of was his younger brother. This road had been difficult and arduous, with a near-death experience, and he absolutely didn't want his brother to go through it again! A surge of hot blood rushed to his head, and he roared loudly, "No!"
"I don't want to--!" In an instant, thousands of voices gathered into an earth-shaking roar, resounding through the sky!
"Okay!" General Pei tightened the reins and unsheathed his sword, pointing the sharp blade straight to the north. "Men of Dayan, listen to my orders! Tomorrow at dawn, we will march forward and wipe out the enemy!"
"Destroy the enemy—"
-
Beijing, White Horse Temple.
Snowflakes are flying all over the sky, and the world is covered in silver.
The bluestone steps of the White Horse Temple were covered with a thin layer of ice, making them slippery and difficult to walk on. Chu Yufu and Madam Shen supported each other and climbed up carefully, one step at a time.
Finally crossing the high threshold, Chu Yufu released her hand and gently brushed off the accumulated snowflakes on her hood. She said helplessly, "You insisted on coming out with me in this freezing weather. If anything goes wrong, how can I bear the consequences? I'm afraid the Duke will hate me to death."
Pei Yue had been away on the expedition for more than half a month, and although he was missing, she always felt that the huge house was empty and deserted. Life became much more boring, and she could hardly concentrate on reading. She could only chat with the ladies in the Bixu Pavilion to kill some time.
Yesterday I remembered the wish I made at the White Horse Temple at the beginning of the year, asking to marry a man of my dreams. Now that my long-cherished wish has come true, I forgot to fulfill it, so I thought of coming here today.
Who would have thought that just by mentioning it casually in front of Mrs. Shen, she would actually want to come along! You know, she is only two months pregnant, the fetus is still unstable, it's cold and the road is slippery, what if she falls?
Madam Shen gathered her thick fox fur cloak, raised her hand to catch the small snowflakes falling from the sky, closed her eyes and took a deep breath: "Don't worry, I specially wore non-slip felt boots, so I'm safe. Don't you think the air after the snow is particularly refreshing?"
Ever since the pregnancy was confirmed at the beginning of the month, everyone in Duke Xin's residence was overjoyed. The Duke was extremely cautious, with everything from food to personal belongings being repeatedly checked by doctors. Fearing she would get cold or tired, he practically confined her to the mansion, rarely allowing her to leave. This past month, she'd been bored out of her mind.
The doctor that the Duke trusts the most now is Chu Yufu. Only after he was told to travel with her did the Duke reluctantly give in.
The two walked side by side, leaving deep and shallow footprints in the snow, slowly heading towards the temple. Chu Yufu paused from time to time to identify the direction: "It should be this way... Is your concubine Chun in the mansion doing well lately? You should be more careful with your health right now."
Madam Shen had a faint smile on her lips. "Ever since the diagnosis of pregnancy, the Duke has stayed in my room every night, and she's been very quiet. Actually, she's nothing to worry about. It's just that I was so focused on my son before that I didn't have the extra energy to care about her. Now that my son is in good health, and I'm healthy too, how could she dare to act rashly?"
"That's good." Chu Yufu nodded, feeling a little relieved.
As the deep, deep sound of a bell rang from deep within the temple, the two of them stepped on the snow, making a creaking sound. Madam Shen said, "I went to Bixu Pavilion the other day, and it seemed that there were fewer people there."
Chu Yufu sighed softly: "Well, the situation in the capital has been tense recently. The ladies are all cautious and don't like to go out."
"Rumor?" Mrs. Shen was a little isolated from the news because she was concentrating on taking care of her pregnancy, so she was curious when she heard it.
"The rumors in the palace are getting more and more intense. They say that His Majesty will issue an edict to enthrone the prince before the end of December at the latest. Right now is the height of the storm, who wouldn't be afraid of speaking out of turn? It's better to stay at home and wait for the dust to settle." Chu Yufu explained in a low voice.
"I see." Mrs. Shen suddenly realized.
As she spoke, Chu Yufu had already found the temple she had visited that day, and she helped Madam Shen walk in while speaking.
The hall was dimly lit, and the stone Buddha stood majestically, its brows and eyes gleaming with compassion under the flickering candlelight. The two men straightened their robes and knelt reverently on the cushions.
Chu Yufu silently fulfilled her wish and prayed sincerely for Pei Yue's safe return.
Madam Shen made three wishes: First, for her son to live a long and healthy life, free from illness and disaster. Second, for herself and her unborn child to be safe and sound. Third, for the longevity of the Xinguo Mansion.
After three kowtows, the maids came forward to support them. The two left the side hall and strolled around the temple, enjoying the snowy scenery.
Half an hour later, Chu Yufu supported Madam Shen as they stepped out of the tall threshold of the temple. As they were about to go down the stairs, they saw Yun Xing pacing back and forth anxiously, stamping her feet, beside their carriage.
Chu Yufu's heart tightened inexplicably, and she raised her voice, "Yun Xing? Why are you here? Is there something wrong?"
Yun Xing looked up at the sound and hurriedly ran forward a few steps. She first hurriedly bowed to Madam Shen, then said to Chu Yufu urgently, "Madam! An angel has arrived to deliver the imperial edict! They are waiting for you to return and receive it!"
Chu Yufu's hands clenched under her cloak instantly, pinching Madam Shen's sleeves tightly, and asked with forced calmness, "What is the decree?"
Yun Xing thought for a moment and quickly said, "It's an imperial decree for promotion! The angel looked delighted, smiling and saying that our general had won a great victory and was promoted to the rank of General Zhenbei!"
The four words "General Zhenbei" were like thunder, exploding in Chu Yufu's ears, resounding loudly!
Time seemed to stand still at this moment. Snowflakes danced in the air, and all the surrounding sounds faded away in an instant.
Boom, boom, boom—my heart was beating wildly in my chest.
I still remember what was written in the book: General Pei Yue, the Northern Guardian, died young...
She had been thinking over and over these days, wondering if Pei Yue hadn't died in this battle. After all, the book said he was "General Zhenbei," but his title when he went to war was "General Xuanwei."
But now... they are matched one by one!
Chu Yufu's steps staggered.
Noticing something was wrong with her, he held her arm with his backhand and asked with concern, "Yu Fu? What's wrong with you? General Pei won a great victory, and His Majesty commended him. This is a great thing!"
Chu Yufu's face was pale, and she forced a smile. Her voice was so light that it seemed that it could be blown away by a gust of wind: "Yes, it's a good thing..."
"Go back home."
【Author’s words】
Update before 12 o'clock tomorrow! [Dog head holding a rose]
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