Chapter 150 Chapter 150 Before Ji Yanlang received the escort envoy...
"Fuzhou boasts the natural barrier of the Yellow River. The Hu people chose this place to attack, which means they've lost their geographical advantage. The Yong'an Army is renowned for its bravery and skill in battle. We should just travel with peace of mind. I believe we'll have victory soon."
Mrs. Li glanced at her youngest son and said, "Don't worry, your mother has seen a lot of things before."
An, who was sitting next to him, echoed, "Indeed, last year when the Hu people were closest, we could hear the war drums in the city."
Ji Yanlang had read the battle reports. He knew it was impossible to hear the sound of war drums in Zhenzhou City. However, anyone who had been on the battlefield would exaggerate, let alone a woman like my third sister-in-law. So he laughed and said, "It's my fault. I forgot that my mother and my third sister-in-law had seen the Hu people invade in Zhenzhou last year."
So on the day off, the whole family happily went out for an outing.
Ji Yanlang played with the children for a while, toasted his mother and sisters-in-law, and drank a few glasses with his brothers. When he saw a chance, he went to replace Lichun and supported Fang Ying as they strolled along the tree-lined avenue.
"There are too many people this time and it's so noisy. Next time we won't bring them and will just go out to play as a family of three." Ji Yanlang said as he walked.
Fang Ying felt that it was nice to have some fun occasionally, but she liked the second half of his words, so she smiled and said "OK".
Unexpectedly, before the next day off, Ji Yanlang received a military order to escort the special envoy to Xiazhou.
He acted relaxed in front of his mother, saying that he had been to Yinzhou two years ago and that this time he was familiar with the route and would be back soon. Fang Ying thought that it would be the same as that time and that he would be back in a month at most.
Unexpectedly, when Fang Ying returned to the room and told the maid to pack his luggage, Ji Yanlang suddenly said, "Just take two sets of outer robes, and a few more sets of inner clothes. Can you make summer clothes?"
"There are two newly made sets." Xing Niang replied.
"Put them all on."
Fang Ying waited until the maid had finished cleaning up before she whispered to him, "Why? Are you going to be gone for a long time this time?"
"I can't say for sure." Ji Yanlang frowned slightly. "The higher-ups only said they were escorting a special envoy, but they mobilized 5,000 imperial guards, most of whom were cavalry. I don't think something is right."
"Is there any unusual movement in the Dingnan Army?" Fang Ying asked.
Ji Yanlang said, "I also speculate so, but if the Dingnan Army really has unusual movements, 5,000 imperial guards are too few."
"How many people went to Yinzhou last time?"
"one thousand."
That was very wrong. Fang Ying frowned unconsciously. Seeing this, Ji Yanlang hurriedly held her hand and said with a smile: "Maybe I'm overthinking it. The Hu people are invading the prefecture and state. Maybe the court is just being cautious."
Fang Ying didn't want him to worry about her, so she nodded and said, "Then you should be more careful."
Ji Yanlang embraced her, reached out and gently stroked her belly, and whispered, "Don't worry." He then warned her, "Don't tell your mother about this, so as to avoid unnecessary worries."
"I know."
Ji Yanlang gave her some further instructions on how to take care of herself during pregnancy. Fang Ying smiled and said, "It's not the first time. Besides, mother is here now, and the maids are all here. What else do you have to worry about?"
"It's not that I'm worried," Ji Yanlang tightened his arms and sighed softly, "I should have been guarding you all the time."
Fang Ying's nose felt slightly sore, but she still smiled and said, "State affairs are urgent."
Ji Yanlang bent down and kissed her cheek, hoping that this errand was as simple as it seemed and that he could go and return early.
Early the next morning, Ji Yanlang bid farewell to his mother and his brothers and sisters-in-law, and walked towards the Chuihua Gate, holding Hong'er in one hand and Fang Ying in the other.
"Daddy, when will you be back?"
Ever since he knew he was leaving, Hong'er had asked him no less than five times. Ji Yanlang patiently answered as he had every time before: "Daddy doesn't know either, but before I come back, I will definitely write to your mother and you."
Hong'er hugged his neck, put her little face against his, and said with a pout, "I don't want Daddy to leave."
"Have you forgotten what Daddy does?"
"An official."
"Yes, who should officials listen to?"
Hong Er shook his head: "I don't know."
"I obey the court. If the court sends me on a long journey, I must go. This is called eating the emperor's salary and being loyal to the emperor."
Hong'er didn't understand, so her father asked her to ask Mr. Feng when she went to school later.
Fang Ying heard this and called her daughter down with a smile, "It's getting late, Daddy has to leave."
Hong'er got down from the ground reluctantly and held his mother's hand.
The couple had said everything they needed to say last night. Ji Yanlang patted his daughter's head and smiled at Fang Ying: "I'm leaving."
Fang Ying nodded and watched him stride out the door.
After that, everything in the Ji Mansion returned to normal. Although Fang Ying couldn't help but worry about it, she tried not to think too much about it and focus on the things at hand.
After Feng Rong got familiar with the young ladies in the Ji Mansion, he rearranged the class times according to each person's academic progress. For example, Hong'er, who was there to make up the numbers, would arrive at the beginning of the Si hour, attend class for half an hour, and then go back, and would not have to come again in the afternoon.
The three Huaiyun sisters had to go to school after breakfast. While Hong'er and Huairong were learning to read, they were allowed to rest and play. They came back at 9:00 PM and went to school until noon. They had another hour of class in the afternoon.
Huairong didn't have to go to morning classes, but had to go with her sisters afterwards. Feng Rong asked her to practice tracing red characters in the morning and attend classes in the afternoon. It didn't matter if she didn't understand, she could first practice her patience to sit still and listen to the class.
An was unexpectedly concerned about this matter, and she even pulled Fang Ying aside and said that Huairong could also get up early in the morning, and asked if she could talk to Mr. Feng and let Huairong attend classes like Huaiyun and the others.
Fang Ying advised her that Huairong had just started school, and if she went to school all day long, with the teacher lecturing in classes she couldn't understand, it would be bad if she became bored with studying. It would be better for her to listen to Mr. Feng's arrangements and proceed step by step.
"We have delayed the birth of the child." After hearing this, An sighed.
"Huairong is only seven years old. She hasn't missed anything. Don't worry, Third Sister-in-law."
An thought, Huairong is not too late, but Dalang is already nine years old. If it weren't for his careless father, how could he have just started to learn to read? But she would never say this in front of her sisters-in-law.
Fang Ying didn't know what she was thinking. She recalled that she had said in front of Feng Rong that her third sister-in-law was picky. She also said to Lichun privately, "I am just being mean."
"My lady just forgot the relationship between Mr. Feng and the Crown Princess." Lichun said as he massaged Fang Ying's legs.
Fang Ying was stunned for a moment before she laughed and said, "I was confused. I didn't expect she was after this."
Lichun shook her head: "My lady values Mr. Feng's knowledge and will not think about these things." She also said that the people in the third house often asked them and the people in Wuniang Courtyard about the Feng family.
The Feng family was a simple family, so it was useless to ask. Although Fang Ying was not very happy, she did not say anything - it was better for An to be willing to make friends than to find fault for no reason. As for whether she could make friends, it depended on herself.
However, after the Chinese New Year this year, there was no letter from Zhou Congshan. He only sent a verbal message that everything was fine. Fang Ying felt uneasy and asked Li privately.
Li first reassured Fang Ying, saying that the Crown Prince and Crown Princess were hosting a New Year's banquet at the East Palace, and that the prince, princess, and Princess Kangning were all in attendance. "No letter has arrived, so it must be out of caution."
The incident caused by Prince Wei's brother and sister caused the emperor to send the eunuch back to Bian Jing. It is reasonable for the Eastern Palace to be cautious.
Just as Fang Ying felt relieved, news of the killing of Dingnan Jiedushi and the rebellion in Xiazhou reached Luoyang.
"Don't worry, mother and sixth brother's wife. Liu Lang and his men have escorted the special envoy safely to Yanzhou. The eldest son of the Dingnan Jiedushi is still in the capital. I expect the court will soon send troops to quell the rebellion."
Li nodded and asked Ji Yanhui, who replied, "Who killed the Dingnan Jiedushi?"
"It's said he was the younger brother of the Dingnan Jiedushi, named Wu Renli. He refused to submit to our Dachen, and instead secretly colluded with the Hu people. When his deception was exposed, the Dingnan Jiedushi, perhaps out of consideration for their brotherly love, summoned Wu Renli for questioning. He was caught off guard, and was stabbed to death on the spot."
Li was thoughtful: "How can it be such a coincidence?"
Fang Ying nodded in agreement: "Yes, the government just sent a special envoy to Xiazhou... Could it be that he went there for this matter?" No wonder five thousand soldiers were dispatched to protect the special envoy.
Ji Yanhui suddenly realized, "My sister-in-law is saying that the imperial court first discovered Wu Renli's collusion with the enemy, and then sent a special envoy to inform the Dingnan Jiedushi?"
"I just remembered that before Liu Lang set off, he casually mentioned that five thousand imperial guards were being deployed to escort the special envoy. Now it seems that the court must have been prepared in advance."
Li glanced at Fang Ying before asking Ji Yanhui what else he had found out.
When the news first spread, Ji Yanhui only found out this much.
After he left, Li asked Fang Ying, "Did Liu Lang realize something was wrong a long time ago?"
Fang Ying didn't dare to hide anything and answered honestly, "He felt something was amiss, but the military order he received at the time was only to escort the special envoy, and Liu Lang also..."
"I'm not blaming you," Li sighed softly, "It's a good thing he was prepared."
Fang Ying comforted her mother-in-law: "It's just a rebellion in Xiazhou. The court is still on guard. I expect it will be quelled soon."
Li shook his head. "Xiazhou is the seat of the Dingnan Jiedushi, and it's been run by the Wu family for generations. There are probably quite a few who are unwilling to submit, just like Wu Renli. Besides, the northern barbarians haven't retreated yet."
Fang Ying had heard Ji Yanlang say many times that the Dingnan Army was difficult to subdue, and she knew that suppressing the rebellion was not that easy. She just wanted to comfort her mother-in-law.
Seeing that Li had seen through her, she just smiled and said, "Fortunately, the eldest son of the Dingnan Jiedushi stayed in the capital."
With this person around, it would be difficult for Wu Renli to establish himself as a military governor, as it would be unjustifiable.
Sure enough, on the second day Ji Yanhui found out that among the five states of Dingnan, only Xiazhou was occupied by Wu Renli. The other four states refused to obey his orders, but did not send troops to attack. They seemed to be waiting and watching.
The government posthumously conferred the title of King of Xiping on Wu Renyou, the governor of Dingnan, and appointed his eldest son Wu Cong'an as the acting governor of Dingnan and the acting governor of Xiazhou. He ordered the four states of Yin, Sui, You and Jing to send troops to Xiazhou to attack Wu Renli.
"Liulang and his men will go to Xiazhou together with the Zhangwu Army to quell the rebellion." Ji Yanhui said finally.
Li nodded: "Let's just wait for the news of victory."
She looked confident, but within two days she took several of her daughters-in-law to the White Horse Temple to burn incense and worship Buddha, and donated a large sum of money.
Fortunately, good news soon came from the west. After the army surrounded Xiazhou, Wu Renli was killed by Wu Renyou's subordinates. Wu Cong'an successfully entered the city and put down the rebellion.
Li and Fang Ying were very surprised, thinking that Ji Yanlang would be able to return to the court with the army soon. Unexpectedly, there was no news of the return of the army from the court. At the end of May, the Hu people withdrew their troops. Ji Yanlang only sent back a letter saying that he was still clearing out the remnants of the rebels.
While Fang Ying had someone make autumn clothes for Ji Yanlang, he thought to himself: Could it be that the government wants to take advantage of this opportunity to take over all five states of Dingnan?
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The author has something to say: Sorry for the long wait. I recently moved house and it’s hot and tiring.
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