Chapter 155 Pillars of the Nation
Chapter 155 Pillars of the Nation
The festive atmosphere of the Mid-Autumn Festival had not yet completely dissipated, but the political winds in the imperial court were already subtly shifting. A military report, delivered by urgent courier from the border, arrived in the capital: taking advantage of the autumn's good weather and the horses' fatness, the northern barbarians, in league with several tribes, had repeatedly raided the border, burning, killing, and looting, causing immense suffering to the border people. In an instant, the once peaceful and festive city of Chang'an was like a calm lake tossed with a boulder, now rippled with tension.
Duke Gu Yangui, the most distinguished and renowned military general of the Great Zhou Dynasty, was summoned to the palace by the emperor almost immediately upon receiving the military report. He was gone for a whole day, only returning late at night.
Su Wanrou had been waiting for him. Hearing familiar footsteps coming from the front yard, she immediately got up to greet him. In the candlelight, Gu Yangui's face showed undisguised fatigue, his brows were slightly furrowed, and his dark court robes seemed to still be damp with the chill of the late autumn night dew in the palace gardens.
“Husband,” Su Wanrou stepped forward to take off his cloak, her hand feeling its icy coldness, and she couldn’t help but feel sorry for him, “Have you had dinner yet? There’s been some porridge and side dishes warming up on the stove.”
Gu Yangui shook his head, sat down at the table, and rubbed his temples. "I spent the whole day in the palace discussing matters with His Majesty and several ministers, and didn't have time to eat." He paused, looked at Su Wanrou, and said in a deep voice, "The situation in the northern border is more severe than the military reports say. The Rongdi are coming with great force this time, and I'm afraid it's not a small matter."
Su Wanrou was startled, but she didn't ask about the details of the court affairs. She simply said softly, "Eat something to warm your stomach first. No matter how important things are, you must take care of your health." She personally went to the small kitchen and brought him a bowl of chicken and rice porridge that had been kept warm, along with a few light side dishes, and placed them in front of him.
After finishing the hot porridge, Gu Yangui's tense expression eased slightly. He spoke briefly, nothing more than about the Rong and Di tribes harassing the borders and the need for the court to devise a countermeasure. But from his tired eyes and solemn tone, Su Wanrou already understood that a major war might be inevitable. And her husband, as a pillar of the nation, would once again shoulder the heavy responsibility of protecting their country.
In the days that followed, Gu Yangui became exceptionally busy. Before dawn, he would go to the palace to attend court assemblies and discuss matters related to provisions, supplies, and troop deployment with officials from the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue. In the afternoon, he would often be summoned by the emperor alone to discuss military secrets. When he returned to his residence at night, the lights in his study would often stay on until late at night, with a constant stream of staff and generals coming and going, and maps and sand tables filling his large desk.
The atmosphere in the Duke's mansion subtly changed due to the master's busyness and solemnity. The servants walked softly and spoke in hushed tones, afraid of disturbing the Duke who was busy with state affairs. Even the most lively Gu Sheng seemed to sense something and was no longer as noisy as usual, only occasionally peeking through the moon gate of the study courtyard, only to be gently called back by Su Wanrou.
Su Wanrou saw all of this and felt a pang of pain in her heart. She knew that Gu Yangui at this moment was not only her husband and the father of her children, but also the Duke of Zhenguo of the Great Zhou Dynasty, a pillar supporting this vast land. What she could do was not to question or worry, but to manage this mansion and this home perfectly, making it the most secure and warm harbor for him when he returned weary.
She instructed the kitchen to prepare a variety of nourishing and easily digestible meals every day, so that no matter how late Gu Yangui returned, he could always have a hot meal. She restrained the servants from discussing politics or spreading rumors, and ensured that the mansion was kept in perfect order. She took meticulous care of her three children, especially Mingxuan, who was thoughtful and sensible, and particularly sensitive to the border war and her father's busy schedule.
That evening, after dinner, Su Wanrou saw Gu Yangui deep in thought in his study, staring at a huge map of the northern border. He didn't even notice her bringing him ginseng tea. She gently placed the teacup on a corner of the desk, not making a sound to disturb him, but simply standing quietly to the side, watching his furrowed brows and the names of passes and places on the map repeatedly circled in red ink.
After a long while, Gu Yangui finally snapped out of his reverie. He was slightly taken aback when he saw Su Wanrou beside him, but then his brows relaxed, and he took her hand: "How long have you been standing here? Why didn't you call me?"
"You seem to be thinking about something," Su Wanrou handed him a cup of warm ginseng tea. "Have some ginseng tea to refresh yourself. Is the matter... very troublesome?"
Gu Yangui took the teacup but didn't drink; he simply held it, feeling the warmth emanating from the porcelain. His gaze returned to the map, his voice slightly hoarse: "The Rongdi cavalry are fierce and swift as the wind. This time, it seems they were guided by a master, avoiding the strong and attacking the weak points of our border defenses. Several border generals advocate for stability and a defensive posture, but this will cause suffering to the border people. If we were to launch a proactive attack, we would need to mobilize a large force, which would consume a huge amount of food and supplies. Moreover, winter is approaching in the north, and the weather is unfavorable..."
He spoke of matters of national importance, his tone calm and analytical, but Su Wanrou could sense the immense pressure he was under from his slightly pursed lips and the bloodshot eyes. This pressure stemmed from the safety of the people on the border, the lives of his soldiers, and the stability of the nation.
Unlike ordinary women confined to their homes who would only offer empty words of "take care of your health," she carefully examined the map and asked softly, "I remember... my husband mentioned before that there is a place in the northern border called 'Fallen Eagle Gorge,' a place with treacherous terrain. Could we set up an ambush there?"
Gu Yangui glanced at her with some surprise. The treacherous terrain of Luoying Gorge made it an ideal location for an ambush, and he had been repeatedly considering the feasibility of this plan recently. He hadn't expected his wife, who lived a secluded life, to be so insightful. A hint of admiration flashed in his eyes as he nodded, saying, "I have indeed considered it. However, the Rongdi are cunning and may not be willing to fall into our trap. Furthermore, the mobilization of a large army requires precise timing and seamless coordination."
“My husband is a brilliant strategist, and his soldiers are elite. With proper planning, we will surely defeat the enemy.” Su Wanrou’s tone was firm, not blind admiration, but based on a deep understanding and trust in his abilities. She reached out and gently smoothed his slightly wrinkled collar. “I know I can’t help with these things, but I’ll take care of everything at home. You don’t need to worry. The children are all doing well. Mingxuan has been studying even harder these past few days, Sheng’er has become much more sensible, and Mo’er can call him ‘Daddy’ now. They’re just waiting for you to have some free time to spend with them.”
Her voice was gentle, her words ordinary, yet like a warm current, it slowly seeped into Gu Yangui's heart, which was hardened and weary from days of hard work. He put down his teacup, reached out and pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head, which exuded a delicate fragrance, and took a deep breath.
"Wanrou," he whispered, his voice tinged with barely perceptible dependence, "It's so good to have you here."
But this brief moment of tenderness was quickly broken. A respectful voice from outside the study came: "My lord, Minister Li of the Ministry of War and several generals have arrived."
Gu Yangui immediately released her, his expression losing its usual coldness and majesty, only softening slightly for a moment when he met her gaze: "Go back and rest first, you don't need to wait for me."
Su Wanrou nodded, straightened his clothes, and said softly, "Don't stay up too late." Then she quietly withdrew, leaving the space to the men who were about to discuss important military and national affairs.
Stepping out of the study into the courtyard, a cool night breeze dispelled the heavy atmosphere that had filled the room. Su Wanrou looked up at the night sky; the stars were sparse, and a crescent moon hung on the horizon. She knew that her husband was working tirelessly for the sake of the countless lights shining under this starry sky. All she could do was protect their home and ensure he had no worries.
A few days later, the court finally decided on a strategy. The emperor overruled the objections of the others and appointed Gu Yangui as the Grand Marshal of the Northern Expedition, in charge of the military and political affairs of the northern border, granting him the power to make decisions on the spot. He would soon lead the army on the expedition.
The night the imperial decree was issued, Gu Yan returned to his residence earlier than usual. Su Wanrou was playing with the children in the warm pavilion. Mo'er was learning to walk, wobbling along, with Gu Sheng protecting her. Mingxuan was sitting by the window reading, occasionally glancing up at his younger sister. The scene was warm and peaceful.
Gu Yangui stood at the door, not going in immediately, but quietly watching this scene. The fatigue and pressure of the past few days seemed to be largely dispelled by the warm light and the laughter of his family at this moment.
"Father!" Gu Sheng, with his sharp eyes, was the first to spot him, cheering and rushing over. Mo'er also opened her arms, babbling. Mingxuan put down his book, stood up, and bowed respectfully, his eyes filled with filial affection.
Gu Yangui bent down to pick up his youngest son, then touched his daughter's face, nodded to his eldest son, and then sat down next to Su Wanrou.
"The imperial decree has been issued?" Su Wanrou asked softly, her heart still clenching even though she had expected it.
"Yes." Gu Yangui nodded, his tone calm. "The army will set off in three days."
The warm room fell silent instantly. Even the innocent Mo'er seemed to sense the change in atmosphere, staring at her parents with her big, bright eyes. Gu Sheng hugged his father tightly around the neck and whispered, "Daddy, are you going to fight the bad guys? Will it take a long time?"
Gu Yangui patted his son on the back, his gaze sweeping over Su Wanrou and Mingxuan before finally settling on Su Wanrou's forced composure: "It won't be long. If all goes well, we should be able to return triumphantly before the end of the year."
His words were meant for the children, but also as words of comfort for her. Su Wanrou understood that matters of national importance were not easily predicted. However, she showed no worry, only smiling as she said to the children, "Father is going to protect our country; he is a great hero. We must be good at home and not worry Father, okay?"
Mingxuan nodded solemnly: "Mother, don't worry, I will take good care of my younger siblings and study hard."
Gu Sheng, seemingly understanding but not quite, puffed out his little chest: "I'll be good too! I'll wait for Daddy to come back!"
Looking at the sensible children, Gu Yangui felt comforted. He held Su Wanrou's hand and whispered, "I'm leaving the family to you."
Su Wanrou interlocked her fingers with his, nodded vigorously, her eyes filled with unwavering trust and support: "Go with peace of mind. I'll take care of everything at home. The children and I will be waiting for your triumphant return."
There were no tears, no lingering reluctance, only a heavy promise and trust beneath the calm words. He was a pillar of the nation, leading troops on the battlefield to protect the people; and she was his strongest support, stabilizing the rear so he could focus on his work without distraction.
That night, the lights in the warm pavilion stayed on very late. Gu Yangui, unusually, put aside his military duties and spent a long time talking with the children. He listened to Mingxuan's newly learned article, praised Gu Sheng's crooked and messy characters, and then held the babbling Mo'er, teaching her to clearly say "Daddy".
Su Wanrou watched quietly from the side, etching this scene deeply into her heart. She knew that in the months to come, and even longer, this warmth would be the greatest strength supporting her, and also supporting him, who was far away at the border.
The pillars of the nation are not cold and heartless. It is precisely because they have families in their hearts and loved ones who need protection that they can better understand the weight of the country on their shoulders. And the warmth of family is the most solid and warmest foundation under these pillars.
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