Chapter 70 Setting Off: She had wanted to go to the Northwest before her death.
The news that Pei Xiaoyun had decided to personally lead the expedition caused an uproar and shock in the imperial court.
Although our dynasty has suffered greatly from the invasions of foreign tribes beyond the northwest border, and the border people have endured untold hardships, the emperors of successive dynasties have been mediocre and incompetent, and have never been determined to eliminate those covetous foreign tribes, often only sending troops to suppress them.
In no more than a year or two, they will return with renewed force, and the war in the Northwest will continue indefinitely, with no peace ever again.
Trying to stop boiling water by adding more water is not as effective as removing the fuel from under the pot.
Pei Xiaoyun had dealt with spies from the Wuhuan Kingdom in Suzhou, Hangzhou, Guanzhou, Xuzhou and other places. These people were vicious and ruthless, colluding with local officials to wreak havoc in the Central Plains. If they were not eliminated, the court would be unable to maintain stability.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, he led his troops north and joined forces with Shen Mingshu to completely destroy the Wuhuan Kingdom.
There were also those in the imperial court who advocated for peace, urging him to think twice before acting, worried that the battle might be difficult to win.
But his mind was made up, and he would not be swayed by others.
The imperial edict to launch the expedition was issued, and the very next day the emperor went deep into the army to personally organize the troops, with 50,000 soldiers awaiting orders in the capital.
On the eve of his departure, he summoned Pei Yu'an to Cheng'an Palace.
In the past two years, he has felt that she has grown up more and more. She has learned all the palace rules and etiquette very well, and can even answer questions about national affairs fluently. Sometimes when he is confused because he is so engrossed in love, she can scold him instead.
His child with Mingying will be no less than a son.
This dynasty has had its share of empresses before. He will not take any more concubines to continue the family line. In the future, this vast empire will probably still be handed over to her.
Everyone behind his back says he's a traitor, but this year he destroyed the Wuhuan Kingdom, leaving a peaceful and prosperous era for future generations. So, his "stolen" throne wasn't a complete waste.
"Is my father looking for me?"
When Pei Yu'an heard the news that Pei Xiaoyun was going to personally lead the expedition, he did not go to see him first. Instead, he waited for Pei Xiaoyun to send someone to summon him. When he arrived at Cheng'an Hall, he saw Pei Xiaoyun sitting in the shadows, stroking a painting, and gave him a slight bow.
Pei Xiaoyun's fingertips brushed against the cheek of the person in the painting, and after hearing her voice, she hung the painting back in its original place.
"You've heard I'm going to the Northwest, haven't you?"
"I've heard about it."
Pei Xiaoyun often felt that she was like Mingying, but not entirely. Perhaps she was like him in that coldness in her personality.
He curled his lips into a bitter smile: "If I don't summon you, you won't come to see me."
The father and daughter sat by the window, the other standing by the table, their figures roughly the same height. A dim light separated them, showing that they were connected by blood, yet distinctly separate.
Pei Yu'an replied calmly, "Father's mind is made up. He must be well-informed and confident. I rest assured that you can go."
She spoke with maturity and composure, rarely displaying the filial piety one would expect from someone her age to show towards their parents.
Pei Xiaoyun was at a loss for words. He felt guilty towards both the mother and daughter. Every time he met Pei Yu'an's calm eyes, he would think of many things, and his heart would feel as if it were being pierced by a needle, with a sharp pain rising up.
The wind outside the window carried willow catkins into the palace, and grass clippings got into his eyes, causing a slight pain in his eyes: "She also wanted to go to the Northwest when she was alive, but unfortunately, I didn't let her go."
At that time, she was almost in the Northwest when he personally brought her back.
If we had let her go back then, would she have lived a good life in the Northwest?
Will it not happen...?
Two years have passed in the blink of an eye. Regret is truly like a poison that pierces the intestines.
He shifted his gaze to conceal the slight redness in his eyes, took out a jade seal from a sandalwood box, and then beckoned to Pei Yu'an.
"come over."
Pei Yu'an walked over and took the flawless jade seal, a symbol of imperial power.
"While I am away, this is entrusted to you."
His confidants obeyed only him, and seeing the imperial seal was like seeing him in person. In addition, he also kept a group of old ministers who would obey her orders and do their best to protect her.
As for what will happen to him after he goes to the Northwest, he still prefers not to think about a way out. With no way out, he can move forward without hesitation.
Pei Yu'an felt the jade seal was heavy and thick in her palm. She could hardly hold it and had to use both hands to hold it firmly.
"Once we return victorious this time, I will persuade your uncle to come back and see you. He has been too cruel..."
"There's no need for that."
Pei Yu'an immediately interrupted him, her thoughts drifting forward as she recalled the kite she had burned that year.
She had seen the backs of two people leaving from that spot, and for a long time afterward, she would dream of flying kites at the mansion.
She resented their departure, leaving her behind without a care.
But then she thought, who should she blame? It was her father, the emperor. He made everyone suffer and forced everyone to take that step.
She spoke as Pei Xiaoyun looked slightly surprised: "Uncle is unwilling to return to the capital, perhaps because he is afraid of being reminded of the past. Father, there is no need to persuade him."
She was afraid to see them, so she preferred not to see them at all.
Pei Xiaoyun felt even more guilty because she was so sensible.
Perhaps their family used to have opportunities for happiness and harmony, if none of this had happened...
"Does Father have any further instructions?" Pei Yu'an didn't want to see the sorrow he showed; she always mocked him from the bottom of her heart.
Pei Xiaoyun subconsciously looked around. The hall was empty, but the paintings hanging and the camellias on display were all he had.
"These paintings in the palace, these flowers that I planted, you must send people to take care of them at all times, so that the paintings don't get dirty and the flowers don't wither."
Pei Yu'an nodded in agreement, and seeing that he had no further instructions, he turned to leave.
For some reason, Pei Xiaoyun felt a sense of fear as they parted. The battlefield was dangerous, and he wanted to say something more to her.
"There have been times when I have wronged you..." His throat was hoarse, and he could not say anything more.
Pei Yu'an paused, her skirt casting a shadow as she turned her back to him.
"Take care, Father."
Three days later, Pei Xiaoyun led his troops north, the army departing from the imperial city in a long, winding line.
He took He Lianqing with him on this trip north.
In the past two years, because of his longing for Mingying, he believed in witchcraft and took many poisonous pills, which damaged his vital energy. In the past, when the poison in his body flared up, he was in excruciating pain. He also increased the dosage of the medicine that He Lianqing prepared for him.
—
The battle at Langzhou was raging, and the city was sparsely populated with troops, with only a few thousand remnants remaining to defend the city gates.
On the tenth day after Shen Mingshu went to Langzhou, spies from the Northwest Governor's Office obtained news:
After two years of dormancy, the Wuhuan Kingdom developed a new type of Gu poison within its borders, which was extremely dangerous. They joined forces with neighboring small countries, seemingly intending to conquer Langzhou, but in reality, they anticipated that Shen Mingshu would lead troops to support him. Therefore, they set up an ambush in Cangxi Valley, a necessary route to Langzhou in the northwest, and buried tens of thousands of elite troops, spreading the newly made Gu poison, all in order to annihilate Shen Mingshu's entire army.
Shen Mingshu was like a pillar of strength in the Northwest, repeatedly defeating and scattering the Wuhuan people. Only after his death could the Wuhuan people act without restraint and focus solely on the Northwest.
The spy was discovered by the enemy, but at the last moment, he risked his life to send the message back.
Since her brother went to war, Mingying has been uneasy and unable to sleep at night. She goes to the governor's mansion almost every day to inquire about news from the front.
When the news came back, Shen Mingshu's subordinates who stayed behind in the Northwest were all gnashing their teeth, their faces filled with gloom and despair.
Upon hearing this, Mingying's lips turned pale instantly, and her heart pounded wildly.
"Could we try to contact my brother and tell him to be careful?"
She said that she had been feeling uneasy lately and had a feeling that something bad was about to happen.
The deputy general left behind by Shen Mingshu was surnamed Guo and named Guo You. He looked grief-stricken and smashed a cup of tea.
“We have sent messages to the general by carrier pigeon many times, but the pigeons have never returned. The messages have disappeared without a trace.”
Mingying's blood seemed to freeze, her fingertips were so cold she couldn't move, and her pupils contracted, revealing a look of anxiety.
During military campaigns, all the messages sent out were lost, and she knew very well what that meant.
She once used this method to scheme against Pei Xiaoyun.
As expected, Guo You slammed his fist on the table in anger, looking at her with annoyance: "I'm afraid there's a spy in the general's army, and the news has been intercepted."
Mingying's heart skipped a beat, and all the light in her eyes was drained away.
After a long silence, amidst the somber atmosphere, she calmed herself down and said, "Brother has only been gone for ten days, he must not have reached Cangxi Valley yet. General Guo, I am not very familiar with the terrain of the Northwest. May I ask if there is a shortcut between the Northwest and Langzhou that leads directly to Cangxi Valley?"
Guo You shared the same thought: since the letter couldn't be sent out, they had no choice but to send someone to chase after it.
“There is a shortcut that few people know about. It is a route used by many smugglers who cross the border. I am also preparing to ride fast to catch up with the general. If I travel quickly, I should be able to catch up.”
Guo You was born into a military family and was rescued by Shen Mingshu on the battlefield five years ago.
He was illiterate and had little strategic thinking, but he possessed great courage and unwavering loyalty. Having come up with this only possible solution, he decided to quickly lead his men to pursue them.
Inside the charcoal brazier, the embers glowed a deep red, casting an orange-red light that illuminated Mingying's face and revealed her anxious expression.
"General Guo, please wait." She stopped Guo You from getting up.
Guo You looked at her with a puzzled expression.
She asked, "Is the Cangxi Valley area under the jurisdiction of the Northwest Governor's Office, or does it belong to Langzhou?"
The terrain and conditions in the northwestern prefectures are complex and varied. With the war imminent, she is even more cautious, as the slightest misstep could lead to even greater danger.
"After the new emperor ascended the throne, he redistributed the jurisdiction of the various prefectures and states in the northwest. Cangxi Valley is now within the territory of Langzhou. Why do you ask this, young lady?"
Mingying's voice tightened, and her forearm trembled because her sleeves covered her wrists.
"If it's Langzhou territory, then it's likely that Langzhou itself, along the road to Cangxi Valley in the northwest, has been controlled by the enemy, or that local officials have already colluded with them. Otherwise, the Wuhuan people wouldn't have the resources to use Langzhou as a cover to ambush in Cangxi Valley."
Only by taking Langzhou City into our hands can we spare the effort to set a trap.
Therefore, if General Guo or someone from the army were to go and deliver the message, it would likely be exactly what they wanted, and they would never return.
Guo You's expression turned serious. She sat down again to think, and realized that what she said made sense.
The general did not take him on the expedition, leaving him to guard the northwest because his leg injury had not yet healed. Now, he was the only one in the Northwest Governor's Office who could speak up, but he was helpless.
He clenched his fists, his jaw tightened, and every word was filled with anger and determination: "I am by no means a coward who fears death. As long as the general is safe, I am willing to brave even mountains of knives and seas of fire."
“General Guo, I have a plan.” Mingying stood up, wanting to discuss it with him.
"Please speak, young lady."
“Let’s take that shortcut. Didn’t General Guo say that there are many smugglers on that road? I can disguise myself as a merchant going to the border to buy spices. If we encounter any checks, I can get away with it.”
Guo You immediately refused, saying, "No, the general told me to protect you when he left. How can I let you go into danger?"
Mingying had anticipated his words and shook her head deeply at him, "General Guo, time waits for no one, and there is no better way now. I am also worried about my brother."
If she had any ability, she would want to protect her brother; she didn't want to hide behind him forever.
If she were to remain in the Northwest, she would feel even more restless and heartbroken.
Guo You's forehead veins throbbed as he slammed his fist into the table: "Shameless scoundrel!"
In the end, he had no other choice but to agree to Mingying's plan, "Don't worry, young lady, I will bring a few more brothers to protect your safety."
"My safety is not important."
Mingying's eyes were red and hot, reflecting the light and shadow dancing in them, bringing out the moisture: "If we want the message to get through, we can't bring too many soldiers. Too many people will arouse the enemy's suspicion."
Guo You paced back and forth, nodding through gritted teeth.
—
Mingying couldn't wait until dawn and planned to set off tonight. Before leaving, she made a special trip back to the shop to tell Shen Yao where she was going.
Lin Xian, who was outside the door, heard their conversation clearly.
He hadn't seen Mingying for several days, and after much hesitation, he decided to use the excuse of borrowing medicinal herbs to make natural dyes to find her.
The door was ajar, and he heard Mingying say that she was going to Cangxi Valley in Langzhou.
The fighting in Langzhou was common knowledge among the people of the Northwest. Even though he heard that she was worried about her brother's safety, he was still reluctant to let her, a woman, go to the front lines alone.
After finishing her business, Mingying didn't linger for a moment longer. She pushed open the door and bumped right into Lin Xian.
She was slightly surprised, and her heart skipped a beat: "You wanted to see me... Is there something you need?"
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop on your conversation." Lin Xian apologized to her first for overhearing their conversation, then looked into her eyes and asked, "You're going to Cangxi Valley, right?"
Mingying nodded without hiding anything: "I'm going to deliver a message to my brother."
Shen Yao had just been wondering why she, a woman, was to go alone, and he had heard Ming Ying's explanation clearly.
"If you can't bring your soldiers, I'd rather go with you... so we can look after each other."
For some reason, when he heard that she was about to be in danger, he felt an overwhelming sense of sorrow.
Mingying gave him a smile and shook her head slightly, "No need, I'm not alone, I have General Guo and the others too."
She knew Cangxi Valley was dangerous, so she couldn't let him go with her.
He has already done it once for her.
Lin Xian lowered her head, outwardly agreeing not to insist on following, but only asked one question: "When will you set off?"
"First thing tomorrow morning," Mingying answered decisively.
"Then be careful."
Looking at her face, Lin Xian felt as if she could see her own imprisoned past.
Unfortunately, it's still gray and I can't remember anything.
But his intuition told him that she was a very important person, just like how he couldn't put his worries aside when he heard that she was going to Cangxi Valley, and he would definitely follow her the next morning.
He turned and left, the moonlight casting a long, slender shadow of his aloof figure.
Mingying watched him until he disappeared at the end of the road, her face wet and warm. She looked up and wiped her face; it was tears.
She went to the governor's mansion to find Guo You at the appointed time.
Guo You had prepared a carriage in advance, with various incense boxes containing spices on it. Everything was ready, and he only brought two brothers with him.
The night was dark and vast, the reeds hung down like fluffy cotton, and the wind howled and roared in the north.
Mingying boarded the carriage; it was a race against time, and she didn't want to waste any more time.
"General Guo, let's set off."
They had calculated the time perfectly; if they traveled day and night, they could catch up with the army ahead in ten days at most.
Ten days later, the soldiers at the front still had not arrived at Cangxi Valley.
But if it had been a day or two later, it wouldn't have worked.
Therefore, the four of them rode at full speed along that path for five or six days, not even having time to eat or drink. They ate only one meal of dry rations each day and dared not close their eyes.
The people along this shortcut were indeed a mixed bag; we encountered many bandits who robbed money or merchants who sold poisons along the way.
Fortunately, they had military officers on board, who killed such people when they encountered them, so the journey was relatively smooth.
Initially, there were no officers or soldiers setting up checkpoints along the way. The closer they got to the Cangxi Valley area, the more rigorous the search became, with checkpoints set up almost every ten miles.
Under the pretext of a major battle at the front and the fear of Wuhuan spies infiltrating, the officers and soldiers rigorously inspected merchants on the road and intercepted young and strong men.
Seeing this, Guo You said indignantly, "This time, the girl really guessed right."
The area near Cangxi Valley, including Langzhou, may have been controlled by the Wuhuan people. They dare not completely intercept the people, lest it attract the attention of the entire Northwest government. They can only use the pretext of checking details to intercept men who appear to be from the military camp, for fear that they are Shen Mingshu's men who are trying to tip them off.
It was late at night again, and the moon was full.
The horses were too tired to walk any further, so they had to stop and rest for a while. Guo You took one person to the front to cut dry grass to feed the horses.
Mingying and another man lit a fire to keep warm and prepared to roast some sweet potatoes to fill their stomachs.
The fire was lit, illuminating the open space under the tree.
Mingying was stringing a few sweet potatoes onto a thin bamboo pole when a fat man with big ears suddenly jumped out from behind her.
The man was a wealthy merchant traveling with them. Seeing that the two of them, a man and a woman, had no weapons, he assumed they were ordinary people on their journey. He noticed a fire burning nearby, and the firelight illuminated Mingying's face. He was immediately overcome with desire and came over.
"As the saying goes, meeting is fate. We're traveling together into the night. May I ask where you two are headed?"
Seeing that this person's behavior was frivolous and did not seem like a good person, the man next to Mingying slowly reached for the knife at his waist.
Mingying looked around; in the distance, the firelight flickered faintly, and she could see the figures of officers with swords at their sides.
Just a few steps ahead was the checkpoint, guarded by many soldiers. If a fight broke out here, it would attract attention, and once exposed, all the progress made in the past few days would be wasted.
She quietly pressed the hand of the man beside her, without raising her head, and answered the wealthy merchant from before: "My brother and I are going to Xuzhou."
The man, who was being restrained by Mingying, seemed to sense her concerns and could only silently sheathe the knife at his waist, waiting for an opportunity.
Seeing their friendly attitude, the wealthy merchant assumed they were easy targets, and with servants in his carriage, he felt no fear whatsoever.
Instead, he became even more aggressive, getting closer to Mingying and seemingly brushing against her clothes, laughing intimately, "Little lady, play with me for a bit. My carriage is spacious; I'll let you get in, cover yourself with a fox fur coat, and have some mutton soup."
The man who stayed behind to protect Mingying was clenching his fists so tightly they were about to break. He could no longer bear it, and his eyes flashed with malice.
Mingying simply shook her head slightly at him, indicating that it was not possible.
She stood up, brushed the mud off her clothes, pointed to the woods on her left, and said to the wealthy merchant, "There are too many people here, why don't we go over there?"
The wealthy merchant was overjoyed, never expecting to get his hands on this young woman so easily. He scoffed inwardly: What brother and sister? These two are probably shameless scoundrels!
"Alright, alright!" He looked at the grove of trees Mingying pointed to, his lust rising, and without thinking twice, he took a step and turned around.
With a soft thud, it was the sound of a sharp blade piercing flesh.
The wealthy businessman felt a sharp pain in his back, his eyes widened as he turned around, and saw the woman holding a knife, which was plunged straight into his back.
The blade spun a few times inside the flesh.
He collapsed silently and suddenly.
Mingying's face remained calm, but her wrists were actually trembling violently. Several streaks of blood were splattered on the hem of her skirt, and she immediately scooped up a handful of wet yellow mud to cover them up.
She killed someone...
But her brother had taught her that if she got involved with such a rogue, the only thing to do was kill him, otherwise she would get herself into trouble.
Then, she calmed herself down and, together with the man beside her, dragged the body to the bushes ahead, covering it with dead wood and leaves.
From behind the bushes not far away, the wealthy merchant's entourage witnessed the entire scene and were terrified, breaking out in a cold sweat.
Soon, Guo You and the others returned with some dry grass, and Ming Ying had also roasted sweet potatoes. The group shared them casually with some cold water.
With their energy restored and their horses well-fed, the east began to lighten, and it was time to continue their journey.
There was a checkpoint ahead, and as usual, they were stopped.
"Stop! What are you doing?" the officer shouted.
As the owner, Mingying showed them the travel permit and used the same excuse she had been using all along: "I run an incense shop. I am with these three employees to pick up a batch of precious spices in Xuzhou. I dare not entrust this to others."
Guo You and his companions were dressed in tattered clothes, their faces smeared with yellow mud and dust. One of them was lame, another was hunched over, and the third was thin and wore a gray-blue robe, looking very much like a scholar doing accounts.
The official checked the box containing spices in the carriage and found that there were still various spices left inside. He took a closer sniff and found that it was indeed fragrant. He then looked at the group of people and found that they were indeed ordinary people in appearance and attire.
Then, he returned the travel permits to them and waved his hand, saying, "Let them pass."
Mingying breathed a sigh of relief and finally felt at ease.
This is the last checkpoint. Once you get out of here, you can wait for your brother ahead.
Guo You flicked his whip, and the cart wheels slowly began to turn.
Just then, a shout came from behind.
"Officer, don't let them go! They killed my master, and that woman has a knife on her! She's probably a Wuhuan spy!"
Mingying sensed something was wrong; her palms felt damp, and her legs and even her whole body felt weak.
The officer's expression changed drastically, and he drew his weapon. Guo You reacted first, drawing his dagger and slitting the man's throat with a single stroke.
Completely exposed, the others dropped their pretense, drew their short blades to kill the enemy, and surrounded the carriage to protect Mingying.
The officers guarding the checkpoint rushed forward, intending to capture them.
With dozens of enemy soldiers, Guo You and his group, lacking superhuman abilities, gradually found themselves at a disadvantage.
Before anyone could react, the carriage was overturned, the shafts fell apart, and the spices on the carriage were scattered everywhere, turning the place into a gray mess.
Mingying rolled to the ground, narrowly avoiding a knife while rolling, but her arm was cut. She clutched her arm and groaned in pain.
Guo You severed the reins connecting the horse to the carriage with a single stroke, brought Ming Ying onto the carriage, handed her a map, and cleared a path for her.
"Girl, run!"
The three of them formed a wall with their bodies to defend against the enemy's attack from both sides, preventing them from getting close to the checkpoint behind them.
"General Guo!"
With tears in her eyes, Mingying turned her head away, finally steeling her resolve, tightened the reins, and turned the horse around: "Giddy up—"
-----------------------
Author's note: [Keep it up!][Keep it up!]
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
