Light dust
The Southwest Army suffered another defeat, with three thousand soldiers killed in action. Yuan Qifeng slammed his fist on the table in a rage, and in the blink of an eye, the table shattered into pieces.
Seeing this, everyone in the government office dared not utter a sound, keeping their heads down and not daring to breathe.
"Two years! Two years have passed since we began suppressing the rebels! How come the number of traitors seems to be increasing despite our efforts to eliminate them? Are you all just sitting around doing nothing?!"
The subordinates, upon hearing this, dared not speak out in anger. The general was brave and always managed to crush the arrogance of the rebels at Fengming Mountain whenever he led his troops into battle. But they were not cowards either. However, every time they fought bravely, they would suffer defeats. After several battles, the deputy generals felt that the enemy's troop deployment was guided by a master, and that their enemies were not just the likes of Shang Yi.
At first, Yuan Qifeng listened to his subordinates and believed that Shang Yi had a strategist behind him, so he also went into battle to see which traitor had come to Fengming Mountain.
However, after several encounters with Shang Yi, he found nothing unusual. This man was as cowardly as ever, and so were the bandits under his command, who were unlikely to amount to anything.
After this happened a few times, Yuan Qifeng's gaze towards his subordinates changed.
He leaned low, squinted, and scrutinized the lieutenants before him like a wolf.
There must be a spy in the army!
The deliberate defeats were intended to demoralize the troops, crush our morale, and cause the Southwest Army to disintegrate!
The person adding fuel to the fire was a eunuch from Pingdu.
As Yuan Qifeng was angrily rebuking his subordinates, a soldier came to report that His Majesty had issued an edict.
The crowd looked up at each other, puzzled, but followed Yuan Qifeng in kneeling to receive the imperial decree.
The eunuch's voice was high-pitched and lacked any masculine vigor, yet no one dared to look down on him; they treated him with the utmost respect, as if they were seeing the emperor.
After the decree was read aloud, Yuan Qifeng raised both hands high above his head to receive it, already knowing that His Majesty was dissatisfied with him.
No! It's not that His Majesty is dissatisfied with him. What does a fifteen-year-old child know? He spends his days eating, drinking, and having fun. He doesn't understand military, civil, or political matters. The one who is dissatisfied with him is His Majesty's "father" behind him!
He had been fighting the bandits of Fengming Mountain for nearly three years. During those three years, he asked the imperial court for grain and people, which had already aroused Yang Gonggong's suspicion!
The man surnamed Yang thought that he was deliberately using these bandits to recruit soldiers and expand his own power, so he delayed in eliminating them. This time, he even sent a supervisor to personally oversee his suppression of the bandits.
Yuan Qifeng sneered inwardly, but his expression remained unchanged. After receiving the imperial edict, he personally greeted the newly arrived Supervisor Wang.
Wang Jianjun was over forty years old, with most of his hair white, but he combed it neatly and dignifiedly. Having been immersed in the palace for many years, he had a calculating look on his face, eyes like a rat, and a nose like a wild boar. When he spoke, his eyebrows flew wildly, making people feel very uncomfortable.
As night fell, Yuan Qifeng ordered his subordinates to prepare a banquet and invited Wang, the military supervisor, to join them. When the wine was flowing freely, the military supervisor, his face flushed, embraced a beautiful woman and, after a burp, slowly said, "Although Jianchuan is not wealthy, it is still well-fed and clothed. Why doesn't the general lay down his sword and become a proper ruler, enjoying more of his glorious years?"
Yuan Qifeng was also drunk. Upon hearing this, he fiddled with his empty wine cup and asked with a smile, "What does the military supervisor mean by that?"
Wang Min was already seven-tenths drunk, and when asked this question, he revealed the truth: "Our master said that in such a vast Jianchuan, mere mountain bandits are not a threat. If someone wants to occupy a mountain and become king, then let the bandits take it. Does such a large Jianchuan not even have a single mountain to be divided up?"
Yuan Qifeng suppressed his smile, lowered his eyes, and asked softly, "According to the supervising officer, these bandits will not be eliminated?"
Wang Min let out another heavy hiccup, waved his hand, and laughed, "Suppressing the bandits is a minor matter. Jianchuan is a border region of Great Wei, and stability is the top priority. Right now, General, what you should be worried about is the sea cliffs that separate Jianchuan from the mountains and forests!"
Haiya was a small country in the southwest with many tribes. The people were fierce and had invaded Jianchuan several times. Yuan Qifeng became famous after fighting the Haiya people and driving them back at Muji Mountain. He then settled down in Jianchuan and was appointed as the Jiedushi of Jianchuan.
Born into a prominent family and with military achievements, he was unparalleled in Jianchuan.
Haiya had not invaded the territory for many years and had paid tribute and submitted to the emperor for three consecutive years, acting humbly and subserviently. Yuan Qifeng couldn't understand why he should worry about this barbaric little country anymore. When he asked Wang Min for the reason, the man became more alert and waved his hands repeatedly: "This... um... I don't know. General, just do as my master tells you."
The master he spoke of was none other than the emperor's father, Eunuch Yang Fujin.
Wang Min collapsed from drunkenness. Soldiers helped him up and took him back to his residence. Yuan Qifeng stood up and stared fiercely at the drunken figure.
The military supervisor was drunk and didn't wake up until the afternoon of the next day. When he asked about Yuan Qifeng's whereabouts, he learned that General Yuan was training troops on the parade ground.
He thought about it and went to the parade ground, but was blocked at the gate by soldiers who said that no unauthorized personnel were allowed to enter.
If he had a beard, Wang Min would have made the little mustache twitch with anger. Because of his master's status, he was very well-connected in the palace. Even high-ranking officials would respectfully address him as "Eunuch," unlike now when he was blocked at the door by a lowly soldier from the border region.
Wang Min immediately roared, "Summon General Yuan to come out and see me!"
The soldier looked at the newcomer suspiciously. He noticed that the man's voice was high-pitched and thin, and that he didn't have a beard. Suspicious, he went to report to Yuan Qifeng.
It was already afternoon. Yuan Qifeng, who was in a bad mood from training his troops, guessed that Wang Hai had come after hearing the soldiers' report. He immediately scolded, "This is a military camp, what is a eunuch doing here? Send him away!"
His lieutenant, Guo You, immediately stopped him: "General, you mustn't!"
Guo You had served as the city guard of Pingdu. When he was transferred to Jianchuan, Yang Fujin had not yet risen to power, but he knew that the power of the powerless eunuchs in the palace was immense, and none of them could be offended. Now, this man was sent by the palace, so he was not to be underestimated. Therefore, he kindly advised Yuan Qifeng to treat him with courtesy and not to offend this eunuch easily.
Yuan Qifeng was not unaware of the prevailing trends. In recent years, eunuchs had been in power, and they were even showing a tendency to rival the aristocratic families. However, he believed that he had not achieved his current success because of the Yuan family's protection. He relied on his unyielding integrity and his willingness to risk his life to obtain the position of military governor.
Now, even a tiny silverfish has to grovel and fawn over him—how can this be tolerated?
Yuan Qifeng said coldly, "Enough! A mere military supervisor has made you so cowardly! Is it because you're the same way when you're trying to exterminate bandits that you've suffered repeated defeats?"
He then brought up the matter of his subordinates' ineffective suppression of the bandits. Guo You dared not say anything more, so he immediately shut his mouth, took a step back, and let Yuan Qifeng do the work.
The army hadn't even made a single step into the camp, and had been dismissed by a mere soldier. Wang Min had never been so humiliated. After returning to his residence in a fit of anger, he immediately wrote a letter and had it sent to Pingdu by secret cavalry.
News of the arrival of the palace supervisor in Jianchuan also reached Fengming Mountain. Yi Gong immediately went down the mountain to find Lu Chang and asked him if he knew why.
Lu Chang did not want anyone to know his identity, so he never lived on Fengming Mountain. He only lived in a small village at the foot of the mountain. Even during his battles, he wore a mask. Only a handful of people had ever seen his face.
Yi Gong was worried that the people of Pingdu had discovered the identities of the Lu family army's former generals, so he specially sent someone to Jianchuan to urge Yuan Qifeng to send troops to annihilate them.
He entered with his men, just as Lu Chang was reading a letter. The two suddenly barged in, and Lu Chang had no choice but to fold the letter and put it under the inkstone.
Seeing his actions, Yi Gong felt guilty: "Have I disturbed you?"
Lu Chang got up and personally made tea for him: "It's just a letter from a friend; you can read it later."
"A letter? Did you leak the matter of Fengming Mountain to your friend?" The speaker was Liu Xun, the adopted son of Yi Gong when he was in exile. He had been raised by Yi Gong's side for five years and was now seventeen. He was deeply trusted by Yi Gong, but Lu Chang could also sense that this adopted son was somewhat hostile towards him.
Lu Chang merely glanced at him before turning to Yi Gong and asking him what brought him here.
After Yi Gong told Lu Chang about Wang Min's arrival in Jianchuan, Lu Chang pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, "Yi Gong, don't worry. Wang Min's trip is not to suppress bandits; he has other plans."
Li Zheng sent a secret letter informing him that Wang Min had gone to Jianchuan to illegally mine iron ore.
He only said this much, but Yi Gong, though puzzled, trusted him. Liu Xun, dissatisfied, pressed him, "How do you know Wang Min isn't here to annihilate us! If we were to be wrong and trust the government troops, resulting in our complete annihilation, how can you bear that responsibility?"
His tone was unfriendly, which angered Yi Gong, who immediately rebuked him for not knowing the rules and for being disrespectful to Lu Chang.
Lu Chang leaned back lazily in his chair and looked at Liu Xun: "Whether it's true or false, we'll know in a month. If Pingdu is going to send troops to attack Fengming Mountain, they'll gather their forces and come to fight within a month. Just wait and see if they make a move in this month!"
"What does that old eunuch want to do in Jianchuan!" Liu Xun just couldn't stand Lu Chang's perpetually carefree and noble demeanor, and he couldn't bear the unusual air about him!
He was just born into a good family. His father was a great general, and even when his family fell on hard times, he could still cling to his maternal grandmother's family. He lived a comfortable life as a wealthy young master in the capital. He had been in Fengming Mountain for nearly three years and was treated with special care and respect by his adoptive father. Even though he had helped him devise strategies and led troops to victory against Yuan Qifeng's incompetent subordinates, Liu Xun still couldn't stand him!
Lu Chang did not reply to Liu Xun's words, nor did he even glance at him again. He only instructed Yi Gong to continue resting and recuperating on the mountain and to put his mind at ease for the time being.
Yi Gong knew that he always had a clear understanding of things, so even though he still had doubts, he held back and did not want to bother him any further. He simply took Liu Xun away.
After the two left, someone else came to visit the cottage in Xinghua Village.
The carriage stopped in front of the cottage, driven by a white horse with a pure and glossy coat and strong muscles; it was a well-bred horse.
A young man stepped down from the carriage. He was dressed in fine clothes, wooden clogs, and a white jade crown. He looked like a noble young master who did not engage in productive labor.
The coachman knelt steadily on the ground, bowing his head, and the nobleman stepped on the coachman's broad back to get off the carriage.
A woman followed behind, also standing on the coachman's back. The man who got off the carriage took her outstretched hand and carefully helped her down.
The woman was carrying a food box in her right hand. Accustomed to a life of luxury, her wrists were too weak to hold it properly, and it felt heavy as soon as she picked it up. Looking at the simple little thatched hut in front of her, she was even more dissatisfied. Lifting her skirt, she walked inside first. When she saw Lu Chang sitting in the hut reading, she complained to him as usual and advised him to find a more suitable place to live.
"Qingqing, you should move to the city. This place is really cramped, and it's inconvenient for getting around and finding food and lodging. If you move to the city, Dongchi can take better care of you."
She looked around but couldn't find a table to eat at, so she placed the food box on the small table where Lu Chang was studying and took out the food from it one by one.
“Your heart pain is hard to cure completely, and drinking bitter medicine every day is also a torment. So I mixed this medicine with honey and made it into cakes. They taste very good. Come and try them.”
Gu Qingchen brought out a small plate of snacks, which consisted of several petal-shaped pastries. To make them look nicer, she had specially added rose juice for coloring.
Lu Chang looked at them and laughed, "It's rare to eat such exquisite pastries." Although he said that, he had no intention of tasting them.
Cui Dongchi placed a small plate in front of him and teased, "Since that's the case, why don't you eat it? I'm lucky to get to eat some pastries made by my sister."
He simply wanted to tell Lu Chang that the cakes were actually made by Gu Qingchen herself, hoping that his sister would put in a good word for him and let Lu Chang know her feelings.
However, Cui Dongchi was unaware that his words had completely dispelled Lu Chang's desire to taste it.
Looking at the pastries again, Lu Chang sighed inwardly. How could he not know Gu Qingchen's thoughts? He had spoken frankly to her before, but she seemed not to care and continued to do as she pleased.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
