Chen Qingwan worked diligently and managed Jingzhou in an orderly manner.
The people live in peace and contentment, and the area is thriving.
Under her leadership, the army also grew stronger and more powerful.
However, the rumors about her have never stopped.
In taverns, teahouses, and alleyways, rumors about Chen Qingwan spread like wildfire.
Some say she was just a puppet, and the real power was held by the man behind her.
Some say she was ruthless, eliminating dissidents and harming loyal and virtuous people;
Some even composed folk songs, singing "A hen crowing at dawn brings disaster to the country and its people."
They slandered her for violating moral principles and disrupting the government.
On this day, Chen Qingwan went on an incognito trip and stopped at a teahouse to rest.
As soon as I sat down, I heard several men at the next table whispering to each other.
"Have you heard? That Chen Qingwan doesn't understand how to govern a prefecture city at all; she relies entirely on the men around her for guidance."
A man with a full beard said in a low voice.
"That's right. I heard she has countless male lovers and indulges in pleasure all day long. How could she have any interest in national affairs?"
Another thin man chimed in.
"If a hen crows at dawn, Jingzhou will be occupied sooner or later!"
The third man slammed his hand on the table, his tone full of disdain.
Chen Qingwan listened calmly, but her heart was already churning with emotions.
She had heard these rumors before, but none had ever sounded as jarring as they did today.
She gripped the teacup tightly in her hand, her knuckles turning white, as if she were about to crush it.
Back in the palace, Chen Qingwan locked herself in her study, pondering the words she had overheard in the teahouse.
She knew that these rumors were not unfounded.
There must be someone deliberately spreading rumors behind the scenes, with the aim of undermining her rule.
Looking at the bright moon outside the window, I felt a sense of powerlessness.
She put in more effort than any man, yet she still couldn't gain the world's recognition.
"Lu Yan, if you were still here, what would you do?"
Chen Qingwan murmured softly, a look of loneliness flashing in her eyes.
The study was quiet, with only her soft breathing and the rustling of leaves in the wind outside the window.
He slumped into the chair, his hands hanging limply at his sides, utterly exhausted.
The vile rumors and gossip in the teahouse were like sharp thorns piercing her heart, making her feel suffocated.
She couldn't let these rumors defeat her; she had to do it for the people of Datong.
To pursue our ideals, we must move forward with even greater determination.
But can she really do it?
In this patriarchal era, how easy is it for a woman to secure her position?
She felt more lost and helpless than ever before.
Moonlight streamed through the window and bathed her in a silvery glow.
She raised her head and remembered her father's dying words and her mother's earnest expectations.
I can't keep being so depressed; I have to pull myself together and find a way to solve the problem.
In order to further consolidate her rule over Jingzhou, Chen Qingwan decided to send troops to attack Xuzhou.
Xuzhou has an important geographical location, serving as a vital transportation hub connecting the north and south, and is also a strategic location fought over by military strategists.
Taking Xuzhou would allow them to further expand their sphere of influence.
This will deter those petty scoundrels who are eager to cause trouble.
However, Zhou Chen, the governor of Xuzhou, was not an easy opponent.
This man first served in the military and then pursued a career in literature, possessing both literary and military talents and a deep understanding of military strategy.
The Zhou family was deeply rooted in Xuzhou, having served as officials for generations and controlling the entire economic lifeline of Xuzhou.
The Zhou family claimed to have 100,000 troops, although this was likely an exaggeration.
But this is enough to show that the Zhou family's strength should not be underestimated.
Chen Qingwan suffered a great loss in her first encounter with Zhou's army.
Not only did he suffer more than a dozen superficial wounds, but he also lost nearly three thousand soldiers.
This crushing defeat caused her to lose face and also made her realize something profound.
The Zhou family army was far more powerful than she had imagined.
She immersed herself in the bathtub, the warm water enveloping her body.
But it couldn't dispel the gloom in her heart.
She closed her eyes, but Lu Yan's strong body uncontrollably appeared in her mind.
And their past intimate contact.
She suddenly opened her eyes, her cheeks flushed, and inwardly cursed herself for being absurd.
"Damn Lu Yan, even at a time like this, I still think of him!"
I tried to calm myself down and attempted to analyze the war using Lu Yan's way of thinking.
Lu Yan, that cunning fellow, never sits idly by and waits for his doom. What will he do?
Chen Qingwan walked to the table, spread out the map, and carefully studied the topography of Xuzhou.
She remembered what Lu Yan had once said:
"Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated."
In order to find Zhou Chen's weaknesses and achieve a decisive victory, one must understand his personality, preferences, and military tactics.
She sent people everywhere to gather information and collect all intelligence about Zhou Chen.
She also summoned the generals to discuss countermeasures.
The generals expressed their opinions, some advocating a direct assault, others a clever strategy, and there was no consensus.
Chen Qingwan grew increasingly irritated as she listened to their argument. She slammed her hand on the table and snapped:
"What's all this noise about! Are you all brainless? A direct assault won't work, a clever strategy won't work, are we just supposed to sit here and wait to die?"
The generals were taken aback by her sudden outburst of anger.
They all fell silent, too terrified to utter another sound.
Chen Qingwan took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down.
She knew she couldn't lose her composure; she had to think calmly in order to find a way to defeat the enemy.
"Report! The Zhou family army is at the city gates!"
Qiao'er stumbled into the study, her face pale and her voice trembling so much it was almost inaudible.
"Zhou, Zhou's army, they're attacking..."
Chen Qingwan suddenly stood up, her delicate brows furrowed, and the military map in her hand slipped to the ground.
"That old bastard Zhou Chen actually dared to rebel!"
She grabbed the sword from the table, her tone chilling.
"Pass down the order: all troops, prepare for battle!"
The deafening roar of thunder outside the city grew louder as it approached.
The roars, like those of a giant beast, shook the window frames, causing dust to fall from the roof tiles.
Chen Qingwan walked quickly to the window and saw flames shooting into the sky in the distance.
Thick smoke billowed out, like a dark cloud pressing down on the city, making it suffocating.
She quickly donned her armor, the cold touch of which made her even more alert.
He left the study, walked briskly, and climbed the city tower.
Smoke filled the air, and the pungent smell of gunpowder permeated the atmosphere.
Beneath the city wall, Zhou's army surged forward like a tidal wave, their battle cries shaking the heavens and the earth.
They were dressed in uniform black armor, and in the firelight, they looked like demons crawling out of hell, chilling to the bone.
What shocked Chen Qingwan even more was that the front-line soldiers of Zhou's army were also equipped with muskets!
A dense mass of musketeers, under the command of their officers, stood in neat rows, their guns spitting fire.
They fired fiercely at the defenders on the city wall.
Soldiers on the city wall were frequently shot and fell to the ground, their screams echoing throughout the area.
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