Chapter 386 High-Level Game
"Eh, Magistrate Yuan, what does this mean?"
Late at night, on the street in front of the mansion with two red lanterns hanging in the air...
Zhu Yuheng was followed by a group of neatly dressed knights. As he mounted his horse, he glanced down and sideways at Yuan Ji, the magistrate of Fushui County, who was seeing him off at the gate.
Behind the middle-aged magistrate followed a delicate young woman wearing a veiled hat, who stood with her head bowed, not daring to look at anyone, holding a tray in both hands.
Magistrate Yuan smiled and said:
"General Zhu, I, Master Chen, am truly impressed to learn that you are so young yet have gone to war alone to fight for the country. At the welcome-back banquet just now, even after you had eaten and drunk your fill, you did not forget to put on your armor. Wearing this cold armor, you will be spending the night in the military camp. The night will be long and cold, and I, Master Chen, am very worried. Your health is of utmost importance, General."
"Therefore, Master Chen specially sent his youngest daughter to deliver a warm autumn coat. It's cold, so please don't be shy, General Zhu. Although you are a dashing and heroic man, just like your father, you have never committed any offenses against the people. But since you are fighting for the country, we can't let you suffer from coldness, can we?"
Magistrate Yuan pointed to the end of the east street:
"Walk a hundred paces along the street, and you'll find an elegant villa belonging to the Chen family. General, you may go there with Miss Chen to change your clothes. If the size is not right, let Miss Chen take your measurements right there and prepare a warmer and more suitable one for you overnight. What do you say?"
"This is a small token of appreciation from all the officials and people of Fushui County. We hope the general will accept it."
"Hahaha." The drunken soldiers following behind burst into laughter.
Zhu Yuheng glanced at the middle-aged magistrate standing under the red lantern with a smile, then tilted his head to look at the delicate young woman behind him.
On the tray she held, lined with red cloth, lay a stack of silk garments and a brass key.
Zhu Yuheng sneered.
Tonight marks the third day since he led his troops to capture Fushui County without bloodshed.
Fushui County is the eastern gateway to Hongzhou. Now, Zhu Yuheng's vanguard has entered the county, and apart from dealing with a small group of fools at the beginning, they have hardly lost a single soldier.
Magistrate Yuan was quite sensible; he directly bound the junior officer sent by Cai Qin and handed him over. The surrender was swift. Tonight, he even gathered wealthy landowners, local gentry, and scholars from the county to host a lively welcome banquet for Zhu Yuheng and his soldiers, sincerely inviting them to attend.
Zhu Yuheng was originally reluctant to come, as military affairs were important. However, remembering some of his father's instructions, he came and had a few drinks. He was still on guard, but now it seems he was overthinking things.
His gaze swept over the delicate young woman wearing a veil; just looking at her figure was enough to make a man temporarily forget about her appearance, like turning off the lights.
But... is it Master Chen's youngest daughter?
Zhu Yuheng's lips twitched as he recalled the portly old master who had sat quite close to him at the banquet.
He was speechless. "You look like a pig, how could you give birth to such a delicate little daughter? Are you sure she's not the son of the rich man next door?"
Despite the snickers, it didn't matter whether this young lady was Chen Yuanwai's biological daughter or a temporary pick from a brothel. What mattered was the attitude shown by Magistrate Yuan, Chen Yuanwai, and others, who represented the officials and people of Fushui County. Zhu Yuheng was quite satisfied with this.
"Let's forget about the house," Zhu Yuheng said calmly. "I'm used to the wooden planks in the barracks, and I'm not comfortable sleeping on a warm, soft couch."
Magistrate Yuan nodded and immediately replied, "General Zhu is indeed a young hero, with the demeanor of your father. I am ashamed."
He paused, then said:
"To be honest, I have long admired your father. In early spring last year, I had the pleasure of seeing your esteemed face in the main hall of Hongzhou. As expected, like father, like son. What a perfect pair of father and son fighting side by side."
"hehe."
On horseback, Zhu Yuheng, looking down from above, chuckled twice. He circled his mount three times with the reins, then slapped the horse's rump with a deep red whip before finally bringing it to a stop.
Zhu Yuheng pointed with the horsewhip he used to pat the horse's rump at Magistrate Yuan below, whose expression remained unchanged, and shook his head with a chuckle.
"Lord Yuan, Lord Yuan, you are actually a hero, hahaha, I misunderstood you before, please forgive me."
What kind of outstanding person? A person who knows when to yield is a true outstanding person. If Zhu Yuheng remembers correctly, this Magistrate Yuan was quite aloof back then and didn't give his father much face.
Every spring, local county magistrates would, as was customary, travel to Hongzhou City to report on their duties. Other county magistrates within Hongzhou City would, upon arriving in Hongzhou City, be very tactful and would immediately come to Hongzhou City, not to report to the main hall of Hongzhou, but to the Governor's Office of Hongzhou to pay a visit, present invitations and gifts.
The only exception was this seventh-rank county magistrate named Yuan Ji, who considered himself superior and always came empty-handed. He also gave his father, who came from a military background, a hard time on some issues concerning the prefecture and county, and refused to cooperate.
However, Yuan Ji was, after all, a scholar who had passed the imperial examinations and was from a respectable family. He had governed Fushui County well, was strict and fair, and was well-loved by the people of Fushui. He also lived a simple and disciplined life, somewhat similar to Ouyang Lianghan, who had served as the magistrate of Longcheng County in Jiangzhou.
Of course, it wasn't as outrageous or as illustrious as Ouyang Lianghan's miraculous flood control and his sweeping down of local tyrants, but it was still quite famous within Hongzhou.
Therefore, the Hongzhou Governor's Office could not find any fault to deal with this tough nut, which made my father very embarrassed. Some counties in Hongzhou followed suit, and some of the Governor's Office's orders were no longer effective.
Tell me, what could be more satisfying than seeing someone who used to be tough soften up?
Zhu Yuheng smirked and said leisurely:
"Lord Yuan is a clever man. He surrendered to the county's people quite quickly both times, just like the weeds on my wall. Ha, if he really wanted to, he should have prepared all the grain, boats, and men to transport the grain."
"Do not hinder the imperial court's important campaign to quell the rebellion or affect the battle opportunity. Just wait for my father's army to arrive. The vanguard of 100,000 troops will set off from Xunyang City tomorrow and sweep away the remaining rebels of Cai in Hongzhou with overwhelming force."
"Lord Yuan will soon be able to see his esteemed face again. Then, let's catch up properly."
Standing under the lantern, Magistrate Yuan, whose expression was not clearly visible, nodded:
"Very well, we await the arrival of Grand Commander Zhu's 100,000-strong army. General Zhu, please take your time. The provisions will be ready the day after tomorrow. However, I hope you will wait a moment. It is currently the Autumn Equinox, the time for harvesting and planting. The villagers are busy gathering grain, so we will have to postpone it for a couple of days. But I assure you, the conscripts will be ready within seven days. Just seven days, once the busy farming season is over..."
"Within three days."
Zhu Yuheng interrupted, giving a curt instruction.
"A mere thousand conscripts, only for three days in your county. I'm leaving now, Lord Yuan, please wait."
Zhu Yuheng, a martial artist who wasn't particularly interested in farming, finished speaking and prepared to lead the way away.
Yuan Ji sighed, turned around, and prepared to bring the delicate young lady inside.
But suddenly a questioning voice came from the street ahead:
"Where did Lord Yuan take my autumn clothes?"
Looking back, he saw that Zhu Yuheng had reined in his horse, raised his head, and stopped, turning back to Yuan Ji to ask him a question in surprise.
Immediately, a light cavalryman from Zhu Yuheng's entourage rushed out to help his young master. As he passed the gate, the horseman skillfully snatched the young woman and her autumn clothes from the ground.
The young woman cried out softly, and the brass key fell to the ground.
The group of martial artists laughed heartily and strode away.
Watching Zhu Yuheng's retreating figure, Yuan Ji, the magistrate of Fushui County, twitched at the corner of his mouth.
He stood still for a moment under the two red lanterns, then turned and went inside, murmuring:
"Twice?... But what's the difference between you two?"
After finishing his drink, Zhu Yuheng rode back to the military camp on the outskirts of the county town with his personal guards. The evening breeze from the distant fields sobered him up considerably. Looking out at the wild night sky, he suddenly felt a sense of boundless freedom and exhilaration.
Zhu Yuheng was not unaware of Yuan Ji's petty scheme to secure a good harvest for the local farmers, but at this moment, he felt only admiration and deep emotion for his father, who was strategizing in Xunyang City.
Father was right; civil wars and foreign wars are indeed different.
During the civil war, the will to resist was weak in various places, and it was very easy for them to surrender. Everyone was watching and waiting for the victor to be decided so that things could return to the peaceful normalcy of the past.
The nature of this civil war meant that it was not only beneficial to the rebel forces of the Kuangfu Army, such as Li Zhengyan, but also to the father and son's "recovery of lost territory."
Military merit is within easy reach; all that's needed is to focus on the crucial decisive battle against Li Zhengyan and Cai Qinjun.
As my father earnestly analyzed:
Aside from cavalry forces venturing deep into the desert, wars fought on the frontiers against foreign tribes cannot be rushed; they are contests of national strength and blood feuds between Chinese and barbarians.
But civil war cannot be delayed!
The main strategy is to snowball the problem.
The winner takes all; it's about seizing the opportunity, sweeping everything aside, and winning the crucial decisive battle. Bystanders will naturally surrender, rather than engaging in a protracted and exhausting struggle, which is foolish.
My father, who was skilled in using force and large-scale decisive battles, had a clear vision and seized this opportunity.
This was the same situation when Cai Qinjun captured Hongzhou City, took his father hostage, and swiftly recovered the entire territory of Hongzhou before attacking Jiangzhou.
However, his momentum was interrupted by his father's battle at Guling in Jishui County.
Currently, thanks to the defection of his father and the cooperation of his old subordinate Zhao Rushi, the court, which should have been slow to react, has regained the initiative early on. With Jiangzhou as its base, relying on its complete logistics system, it has gathered superior forces and turned defense into offense.
At this moment, he and his father represent the righteous imperial army, and they also have the advantage in military strength. His father was once the governor of Hongzhou. The fact that Hongzhou had originally surrendered to Cai Qin and the Tengwangfu Kuangfu Army has even less reason to resist them.
Of course, Yuan Ji would welcome the royal army with great joy. Who would dare to disobey the Zhu family father and son? That would be disobeying the overall situation!
This is the general trend; even the toughest bones have to be softened.
The former cold-faced magistrate Yuan Ji was like this, as was the troublesome Ouyang Lianghan.
How could their excellent situation be sacrificed simply for the sake of the small autumn harvest and busy farming season of the people of Hongzhou?
"What a brilliant strategy! Subduing the enemy without fighting."
Zhu Yuheng sighed, his faith in and admiration for his father growing stronger. He deeply regretted his youthful impetuosity and hot-bloodedness, which had led him to mistakenly trust Yue Zi'ang and his group.
"My father said that after this battle, we will wipe out Li Zhengyan, help the Wei family win military merit in the southwest, and defeat the pro-Wei faction. Once the Wei family recommends and appoints me, we can find an opportunity to send me to the northern border army, where I can truly make a name for myself and not be confined to a corner of Jiangnan, but have the chance to compete for the title of general for all time!"
Having just sobered up, Zhu Yuheng was still a bit tipsy. The promising future ahead was more intoxicating than fine wine and beautiful women. He muttered to himself:
"I will never disobey Father again. Facts have proven that Father's choices were all correct..."
Zhu Yuheng turned his head, laughing loudly, and lashed the buttocks of the delicate young woman on the horse behind him with his riding whip. "Ah—" came a cry of pain, a mixture of resentment and shame.
Zhu Yuheng laughed heartily, and then led his men back to the military camp.
"Send her and her autumn clothes to my tent."
With a smile, Zhu Yuheng gave the order and prepared to wash up and change into his autumn clothes. Unlike the other soldiers, he was covered in sweat and did not want to offend the beauty; he also wanted to maintain his dignity.
"Young Master, the Governor has sent someone, saying it's urgent! They've been waiting for half an hour."
Suddenly, a guard who had been waiting for a long time stepped forward and anxiously reported.
Who's here?
"It's General Zhao," the guard whispered.
Zhu Yuheng's expression shifted slightly. "Uncle Zhao?"
This is a letter from my father, a former subordinate of the governor's office. Later, during a time of peace, he had to be transferred to Jishui County as a county magistrate. The recent battle of Jishui proved his loyalty to my father. He was not alienated by the transfer and was a confidant among confidants.
"Okay, I understand."
Zhu Yuheng had no time to worry about the autumn clothes or the young lady; he immediately led his entourage to the main tent.
As he approached the main tent, he stopped discreetly, ordering two Xianbei guards to wait at the entrance, and then, with a normal expression, gave his instructions:
"No outsiders are allowed in."
"yes."
Zhu Yuheng entered the tent.
A lame man, whose face was calm, had been waiting for a long time. He was none other than Zhao Rushi, the guerrilla general.
"Uncle Zhao, what brings you here so late at night? Does Father have any new instructions?" Zhu Yuheng asked, sounding puzzled.
Upon seeing Zhu Yuheng, the lame man immediately stood up excitedly, walking with a limp due to his pigeon-toed gait. He rushed forward, grabbed Zhu Yuheng's hand, and shoved a hard object into it. Zhu Yuheng looked down and saw a familiar jade ring. The lame man leaned close to his ear and whispered:
"Young Master, something terrible has happened in Xunyang City! Something horrific has happened!"
"Li Zhengyan somehow found a high-level Qi cultivator, who seemed to be some kind of Yunmeng Lady, and brought with him a strange cauldron sword that looked like a painting. Last night, he sneaked into the city, first killing Ouyang Lianghan and Wang Lengran, then beheading two female officials in colorful robes, and then massacring the Xunyang Prince's Mansion without leaving a single survivor, before framing the imperial court."
"Before leaving, Li Zhengyan secretly sought out the Commander-in-Chief. The Commander-in-Chief, having no other choice, weighed his options carefully and decided to join the Kuangfu Army, which possesses the Dingjian sword, to try his luck. He has now joined Li Zhengyan in burning the Xunyang official ship and fled overnight. He has specially ordered me to deliver this message to you, so that you immediately lead the vanguard to join Cai Qin in Hongzhou. Do not delay, for the pursuers are right behind us!"
"What did you say?!" Zhu Yuheng was stunned upon hearing this.
Zhao Rushi immediately took out a felt hat that Zhu Yuheng also recognized from her sleeve, and anxiously patted it on his palm: "Li Zheng... Before Li Gong left, he asked us to pass it on to General Cai of Hongzhou. This is a token."
Zhu Yuheng lowered his head, gazing at the jade ring and the old felt hat. His mouth gaped open silently, a thousand words condensed into a single syllable:
"ah?"
(End of this chapter)
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