Chapter 149 Is Madam bribing me?
The delegation from the capital stayed in the small county for several days, during which time Dai Li only went out to stroll once. The atmosphere in the county was tense, with military patrols coming and going in a hurry, seemingly busy organizing the suppression of bandits.
However, this trend dissipated automatically after Dai Li returned to the post station. The northern troops seemed quite casual about the bandit suppression and didn't care much about it.
Dai Li once asked Qin Shaozong, who only said, "No rush."
Okay, it seems he already has a plan.
After resting in the small county, the team set off again.
Chang'an is in Yongzhou, which is west of Yanzhou. If one wants to go to the capital, one should theoretically travel southwest from Yuyang to reach Chang'an the fastest.
But now Qin Shaozong is heading south first, and then west, which is like taking an extra turn and going around in circles.
Shen Tianming belatedly realized what was happening and said with a displeased expression, "Lord Qin, you've taken the wrong path."
“You didn’t go the wrong way.” Qin Shaozong curled his thin lips. “Last year, Fan Yanzhou colluded with the Qinglian Sect to cause chaos and harm the people. I was invited by Nangong Qingzhou to go south to rid the people of this scourge. Later, I killed the leader and parasite of Yanzhou. Yanzhou lost its leader and fell into disarray. In the end, this matter was caused by me, so how could I ignore it? I had no choice but to work hard and take on the position of Governor of Yanzhou with Nangong.”
Shen Tianming's face twitched violently.
He clearly killed Fan Yanzhou and seized his territory, yet he can still make it sound so high-sounding.
How utterly shameless!
Qin Shaozong could easily see what he was thinking, but that didn't stop him from continuing to smile: "Now that I'm about to travel far away, and Chang'an isn't too far from Yanzhou, I thought I'd stop by Yanzhou to see how much life has been restored here after the pests were eradicated. General Shen, are you not happy to see the people living in peace and prosperity?"
Faced with such a heavy accusation, Shen Tianming naturally denied it outright. "No, it is certainly a good thing that the government is efficient and the people are harmonious. However, the matter of going to the capital cannot be delayed. Why don't we part ways here? I will take your wife and son to the capital to receive their appointments, while you, my lord, will continue to Yanzhou to carry out your duties."
Qin Shaozong coldly retorted, "The imperial edict only stipulates the deadline for departing for the capital, but does not specify the arrival time. Moreover, I have already sent someone to report this matter to the emperor. I will take full responsibility if the emperor blames me. General Shen need not worry."
Guo Nai, who was eager to get to the capital, couldn't agree to Qin Shaozong's suggestion to take a longer route. But just as he opened his mouth to speak, Shen Tianming stopped him and shook his head slightly.
After much deliberation, Shen Tianming realized that the situation was not going in the direction he hoped for.
Those accustomed to wielding power in the north cannot tolerate repeated provocations. If they truly anger this northern tiger, it's uncertain whether they will even be able to reach Kyoto safely.
There's nothing we can do; they only have less than ten people left on their side!
Shen Tianming gritted his teeth and said, "Very well, since Lord Qin has already submitted a memorial to the court, let's take a few more steps and go to Yanzhou to take a look first."
The group continued south.
Time flies like an arrow; sunrise and sunset are fleeting. After traveling for about ten days, Dai Li and her party arrived at the border between Yan and Ji provinces. If they continued south, they would soon enter Yan province.
As dusk approached, the group arrived at a mountain village on the border of the two states. There were no towns nearby, only villages, and they would spend the night there.
The village was not small, with about a thousand households. Qin Shaozong's three hundred men arrived, less than a third the number of the enemy, but their imposing presence was overwhelming.
The villagers were terrified when they saw them carrying knives and swords, wearing armor and riding fine horses.
"Village chief, are the bandits here?"
Upon hearing this, Shen Tianming glared angrily at the speaker, "Nonsense! When did I, the dignified General of the Cavalry, personally appointed by His Majesty, degenerate into a bandit?"
This shout carried far and wide, leaving many villagers looking at each other in bewilderment.
"Not bandits?"
"He said he was a general of the imperial court. Could it be that the imperial court knew about the bandits in the Chunmiao Mountain area and finally sent someone to suppress them?"
"That must be true. Thank God, thank you for Your Majesty's great kindness!" Someone was the first to kneel down.
As soon as he knelt down, a whole bunch of people collapsed to their knees.
Shen Tianming was dumbfounded, feeling as if he had been lifted up in an instant.
But bandits? Are there mountain bandits here too?
Qin Shaozong rode forward and asked the man who had knelt down first if he could stay the night.
The other party responded to everything, but at the end said, "My lord, the bandits of Chunmiao Mountain are cunning and treacherous. Please be very careful when you are suppressing them. The officers from the government office who went there before all returned empty-handed."
Qin Shaozong did not respond immediately, but instead glanced at Shen Tianming, whose face was stiff.
The team moved in and settled in first.
Upon hearing the words "mountain bandits," Dai Li knew the time had come; action would take place at the earliest tomorrow night, within five days.
As she expected, after the meal, Shen Tianming took the initiative to seek out Qin Shaozong.
"Lord Qin, what are your thoughts on the bandits of Chunmiao Mountain?" Shen Tianming asked.
He had been resentful about the previous attack, but strangely, the remaining dozens of bandits disappeared without a trace after that incident. It was unknown whether they had fled after completing their mission or had gone into hiding to wait for an opportunity to strike.
“If there is a thief, the trouble must be eliminated. Besides, General Shen has already revealed his identity, and the people are kneeling to thank the Emperor for his grace. If we ignore this, wouldn’t it be a disgrace to His Majesty’s reputation?” Qin Shaozong said.
Shen Tianming hesitated for a moment, then decided not to get involved: "If you want to suppress bandits, then go ahead, but this matter is not part of my mission, so I cannot accompany you."
"Whatever you say." Qin Shaozong was easy to talk to.
Then, in front of Shen Tianming, he summoned Feng Feng and said, "Feng Feng, pick a few quick-thinking scouts to go and explore the terrain of Chunmiao Mountain tonight."
Feng Feng: "Yes."
In just a few words, the matter of suppressing the bandits was already a done deal.
Shen Tianming said ambiguously, "Then I wish Lord Qin a resounding victory."
Qin Shaozong accepted it all, saying, "No problem."
Most of the houses in the village were single-story, and Dai Li could hear everything they said inside. They talked, and she went about her business.
Shen Tianming left after finishing his business. Dai Li, who was busy in the room, heard the creaking sound of the wooden door hinges turning. The man's footsteps approached, but she didn't look up, remaining focused on her work.
The woman sitting on the wooden chair had delicate, dark eyebrows and a beautiful, radiant face, like a peony in full bloom.
At this moment, she lowered her eyes, looking at the small purse that was gradually taking shape in her hand. A faint smile was reflected in her dark eyes, and her whole person seemed to be enveloped in a soft and peaceful halo, making it impossible to look away.
Qin Shaozong suddenly stopped, his narrow brown eyes narrowing slightly.
These past few days, he'd been traveling on horseback, while she'd been in a carriage; they'd only spent a little more time together in the evenings. He'd initially thought she was just embroidering handkerchiefs for fun, but now he realized that wasn't the case...
"What is Madam embroidering?" he asked, knowing the answer already.
Dai Li didn't hide anything, "I embroidered a small purse. When I was wandering around the small county, I saw an old man selling amulets. He said that the amulets were brought back from a temple far away, and the paper used to fold the amulets had been blessed by a high monk for more than half a year. They are only given to those who are destined to receive them."
At this point, Dai Li couldn't help but smile. "Actually, I understand that what he said was somewhat exaggerated. In reality, the peace charm is just a piece of paper, but when I thought about Zhouzhou and Qinian going to suppress bandits, I still couldn't help but buy it."
He stared intently at what she was holding and offered his sincere advice, “Since the amulet was bought, why bother with needle and thread, Madam? Why not just go out and buy a couple of purses?”
Dai Li disagreed, "How can that be the same? The temple is too far away for me to go, but I can embroider a small purse."
Actually, her embroidery skills weren't very good; after all, she only learned needlework from Nianxia and the others on a whim last winter.
Qin Shaozong then asked, "If nothing unexpected happens, the bandit suppression operation is scheduled for the day after tomorrow. Does Madam intend to finish making the small purse before then?"
"Of course, we'll let the two brothers each wear one then." Dai Lixin estimated that it would definitely be in time the day after tomorrow.
The purse was started ten days ago. She even ruined one at first, but luckily it only contained a lucky charm and was small, otherwise it would have been too late.
"Are there all those who went to suppress the bandits?" he continued to ask.
Dai Li wasn't a slow-witted person; he rarely pressed on to the same question repeatedly. She paused, then finally looked up at him.
In that instant, Dai Li met those amber-brown eyes, those mirror-like eyes staring at her, their depths swirling with a dark, unknown depth.
Dai Li coughed lightly, "Yes, but you're not going to fight the bandits..."
“Who said I’m not going?” he interrupted her.
Dai Li's red lips parted slightly, but she didn't say anything.
Where did this man go? During the previous night raid, half of the imperial court was killed, and that eunuch surnamed Guo had his arm cut off, yet he didn't personally go out to hunt down the culprit.
They are just ordinary bandits now, and he had already thoroughly investigated this area beforehand. What difficulty is there in suppressing them this time?
Qin Shaozong sat down beside her and picked up one of the small pouches to look through it.
The purse was dark blue, plain, and unembroidered. It was already small, but it looked even smaller and more delicate in the man's large, dark hands; it probably only took up about a quarter of the space, let alone half.
After looking at it over and over, Qin Shaozong said, "Qin Yanzhou is going into battle for the first time. As his father, I should be there to look after him."
Dai Li: "..."
"Does what you just said stand?" Qin Shaozong asked again.
Seeing him turning her nine-tenths finished purse over and over, Dai Li knew his intentions shouldn't be too obvious, so she could only say, "...it counts."
Qin Shaozong smiled and said, "Then I will await good news from you, Madam."
...
A night passed in the blink of an eye.
After waking up, Dai Li continued to finish her little purses. The two purses were almost finished yesterday, and the finishing touches were quick. They were completed by 9:00 AM.
After embroidering the two, Dai Li hesitated for a moment before finally taking out another small purse from the small box.
This purse was the first one she sewed, the very first one that broke. She was in the carriage cutting the thread with scissors when the carriage wheel got stuck in a small ditch. The scissors slipped during the bumpy ride and accidentally cut the surface of the purse.
A piece of the outer fabric was missing and unusable, so she simply set it aside and took new fabric to sew it again.
Of course, besides the surface being damaged, the stitching on this first purse was also unsurprisingly rudimentary.
Dai Li stared at the little thing in her hand, then suddenly scoffed, "New for three years, old for three years, patched and mended for another three years, don't expect me to embroider a new one."
...
Time passed unnoticed and it was already late afternoon. The scouts sent out earlier returned.
The scouts gave a detailed report on the situation around Chunmiao Mountain, including the location of the bandit camp, the number of enemy troops, the main routes up the mountain, the frequency of enemy shift changes, and some simple defensive equipment around the bandit camp. They even mentioned where the streams were in the mountains.
Simply put, Chunmiao Mountain has a cliff on one side, and there are only three paths to get up the mountain: two main roads to the east and west, plus a small path on the back of the mountain.
After listening to the report, Qin Shaozong began to assign tasks, "We will move out at the end of Yin hour tonight. We will split into three groups. Feng Feng, you will lead forty men to ambush us on the rear path. We don't need to attack directly; we can just wait for them to come to us. Qin Er, you and Bai Jianping will lead eighty men up from the east. Qin San, you and Wei Qing will lead another eighty men to attack from the west. You two will follow orders and not act rashly."
The end of Yin hour corresponds to 5 a.m. in modern times.
The hour of Yin (3-5 AM) is the darkest time before dawn. After the first round of sneak attacks, it should be light by then, which would be perfect for daytime combat and minimize the bandits' terrain advantage.
The men bowed and accepted the order, and the two commanders of the Xuanxiao Cavalry quickly went to make preparations. Qin Yanzhou and Qin Qinian were about to follow when Dai Li, who came out of the house, called them back.
The two turned around at the same time and saw Dai Li beckoning to them, so they both went over to her.
Dai Li handed the two brothers a small pouch, one for each of them, saying, "I made a small pouch for you, with a good luck charm inside. Take it with you when you go into battle, go happily, and come back safely."
Both of them were taken aback.
Qin Yanzhou looked at the little purse and kept whispering, "Mom..."
"Thank you, Mother!" Qin Qinian was overjoyed. He held the pouch in his hands, turning it over and over to look inside. He opened the small pouch and looked inside, his lips curving into a wide smile. "Mother, don't worry, I will definitely come back the same way I went."
Qin Shaozong stood to the side, watching the two children fiddling with their purses, finding it increasingly irritating. He clicked his tongue lightly, "Alright, you two go and survey the terrain."
After the two children were driven away, Qin Shaozong looked at Dai Li and said, "Madam."
Dai Li knew what he meant, and slowly took out another small pouch from her sleeve. "This is for you."
Qin Shaozong's intention was merely to remind her not to forget him. He knew she was new to needlework and not yet proficient, but he hadn't expected her to immediately pull out a small purse.
He took it and couldn't help but ask, "Did Madam really embroider this herself, without asking someone else to do it?"
Dai Li was furious. She was already being generous by getting him one, and this guy dared to doubt everything. She immediately reached out to snatch it back, saying, "I didn't embroider it, so don't take it."
"Once it's given away, there's no reason to take it back," Qin Shaozong said, raising his long arm so she could only take empty air. The man examined the purse closely; the material and size were the same as the one she had given to the two boys earlier.
The difference is that the brothers' pouches are plain, with nothing embroidered on either side, while his has a small flower embroidered on one side.
Qin Shaozong paused.
Upon closer inspection, it really is a small flower, even smaller than the nail of his little finger, and it has a strangely cute feel to it.
Seeing him staring at the patch, Dai Li quickly said, "I only bought two amulets back then, there's nothing inside this one."
Qin Shaozong responded with an "Mmm," not caring at all; he was still looking at his purse.
Dai Li glanced at his face and tentatively said, "Husband, since you said you were going to the battlefield, then help me keep an eye on Zhouzhou. After all, it's his first time on the battlefield, and he doesn't have much experience."
He finally realized what was happening and asked ambiguously, "So, Madam, you're bribing me?"
Dai Li didn't speak.
He snorted, "Qin Yanzhou is also my son, Madam, there's no need to worry."
The operation was scheduled for the night, so everyone had been catching up on sleep during the day. As night fell and time slowly ticked to 9 PM, the soldiers led by Qin Shaozong set off for Chunmiao Mountain.
Two hundred people were dispatched for this mission, with the remaining one hundred guarding the base camp.
Chunmiao Mountain is not too far from the village, but considering that horses are not needed to go up the mountain, and that traveling at night may alert the bandits on the mountain, Qin Shaozong and the others abandoned their horses and went on foot.
The night was deep, and a bright moon hung high in the sky, casting its gentle light.
After traveling the initial section, as they approached Chunmiao Mountain, Feng Feng, who had been assigned the task of guarding the trail behind the mountain, led his men away from the group.
After traveling for a while, the two directions, east and west, need to separate.
Bai Jianping was in charge of the east side. He looked at Qin Shaozong and waited for orders.
Although the Lord had previously ordered him to be in charge of the east and Old Wei to be in charge of the west, that was before the Lord himself arrived. Now…
Bai Jianping wasn't the only one awaiting orders; Wei Qing was too.
Qin Shaozong said calmly, "I'll be in the east tonight."
Wei Qing understood, bowed to his superior, and continued leading his men forward.
The time was right, and it was not yet the appointed time. The group quietly climbed a short section of the mountain before finding a shelter that the scouts had previously discovered to rest temporarily.
Qin Shaozong sat on the ground, with Qin Yanzhou beside him.
In this night filled with anticipation, Qin Shaozong casually remarked, "I have read the agreement you signed with your wife."
The young man turned his head, his eyes dark and calm.
"As the saying goes, the beginning is always the hardest. If you can get through the first time smoothly, everything else will be easy." Qin Shaozong suddenly said, "Qin Er, how about you stay here and wait tonight?"
Qin Yanzhou was stunned.
According to the agreement, he cannot be injured in the slightest. If he simply comes but stays at the foot of the mountain and doesn't go forward, he is absolutely certain he won't get hurt.
This is exploiting a loophole in the agreement.
The young man was silent for a moment, then shook his head. His eyes shone like jewels in the moonlight. "No, I must go up the mountain with you. You can hide for a while, but you can't hide forever."
Qin Shaozong chuckled lightly, "You're quite determined, kid."
Time flies by, and before we know it, it's the hour of Yin (3-5 AM), and we slowly move from the beginning of Yin to the end of Yin.
Qin Shaozong looked up at the sky, and seeing that it was about time, he blew the bird whistle.
"Beep—"
The surrounding grass rustled and whispered in the wind, the sound traveling upwards until it reached the fence made of wooden stakes and thorns halfway up the mountain.
About two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters) behind the fence, two figures were dozing off with their arms crossed.
Qin Yanzhou picked up a longbow, and together with Bai Jianping, they nocked an arrow, drew their bows, and aimed at their target.
The two let go almost simultaneously.
With a "whoosh," two arrows pierced the air, striking the heart simultaneously. Two streams of bright red blood spurted out and splashed onto the grassy ground.
Upon seeing this, a Northern soldier in front of the fence took the lead and slashed, cutting the wooden stake into several pieces with a thud. The Northern soldiers behind him surged in like a tide.
After passing two checkpoints, the sleeping bandits finally came to their senses.
The clanging of gongs and drums echoed throughout the mountain.
The mountainside, which had been shrouded in darkness, seemed to have suddenly been engulfed by a fiery dragon. The long, bright dragon swiftly climbed up the land, encircling a small circle and illuminating the area as bright as day.
"Enemy attack! Get up! Enemy attack!" someone shouted.
"Quickly, wake everyone up."
"Damn it, are the government officials here again? We just learned our lesson last time, how come they haven't learned their lesson so quickly?"
Amidst the hustle and bustle, the first light of dawn slowly rose in the east, and the night gradually faded away.
The bandit's den was in complete chaos. Some bandits were not even properly dressed, and came out with their chests exposed, brandishing knives and slashing at anyone they saw.
Qin Yanzhou, dressed in a black robe and wielding a curved sword, attacked a house frequented by mountain bandits along with several northern soldiers.
The iron blades clashed, grinding and sliding against each other, producing a creaking sound that sent shivers down one's spine.
The young man's scimitar moved like a dragon, leaving a trail of crimson blood in its wake. His sword strikes continued relentlessly, the crimson gleaming in the distance, casting afterimages. The bright light fell upon his handsome, cold eyes, revealing a chilling, almost demonic, demeanor.
"Gurgle..."
Heavy objects kept rolling down, and with each thud, someone's expression was frozen in time.
The crimson hues quietly gathered, some seeping into the soil and loosening the mud; others settled at the roots of plants and were absorbed silently when no one was watching.
"Oh no, there are people on both the east and west sides, and we can't go to the west either."
"Something's not right. Why are the people from the government different from the last time?"
Bai Jianping grinned, "Do you think your dad is like those spineless cowards from Yanzhou?!"
Wang Hu never expected that in just one night, all his former glory would be shattered. Holding his longbow, he hid in a high clump of trees, watching his comrades fall one after another, his eyes bloodshot with rage. "You deserve to die!"
The enemy launched a night attack, simultaneously assaulting from the east and west. Their numbers were roughly equal to theirs, but they were several times more ferocious.
"I need to take someone down with me." Wang Hu drew his bow and aimed it at a black-robed youth below.
But after a brief pause, he moved the arrow away.
This person is extremely agile; it's hard to say whether this rare opportunity will result in a hit.
He set his sights on another person.
With a release of his fingers, the long arrow flew out with a whoosh.
Qin Yanzhou felt a chilling killing intent for a moment, but it vanished without a trace in an instant.
He swiftly dispatched one of them with a backhand stroke, when suddenly a long arrow flew from not far away, aimed directly at a northern soldier two steps away. At that moment, the soldier was fighting two bandits, one against one.
Qin Yanzhou's pupils suddenly narrowed. On the other side, a bandit, seeing that he was distracted, raised his knife and slashed at him.
At that moment, many things flashed through Qin Yanzhou's mind.
He remembered the soldier's name; the man was Xun He, a heavy drinker and a very forthright fellow. Just yesterday, Xun He had told Mo Yanyun that after this battle, he would exchange his accumulated military merits for silver to go home and buy new clothes for his wife and children.
He also thought of the agreement and his mother's worried eyes...
The chaotic things rushed by, and in a split second he had made his decision.
The young man swiftly stepped forward, deflecting the deadly arrow with his curved blade, then quickly parried with his own. However, due to the extra movement he had made, the bandit's blade was faster, the tip already pressing against Qin Yanzhou's arm.
His robe was ripped open, and he felt a sharp pain in his arm.
-----------------------
Author's Note: Sorry I'm late [crying emoji]
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