Chapter 74: The promise was fulfilled, with both feet bound by shackles.
As the Jingbei Army marched forward, Youzhou was eerily quiet.
Since Wan Houyi, a general under the former Prince Jingbei, defected to Youzhou about half a month ago, the main city of Youzhou has been in a state of constant bickering between two factions. One side believes it is a trick by Prince Jingbei, Jiang Xu, to lull the people of Youzhou into a false sense of security, while the other side holds a rather credible view. Whenever they discuss matters, they always stick to their own opinions. It wasn't until the last two days, when they saw that their Grand Marshal had not expressed his opinion or taken any action for a long time, that a few of the advisors realized that Prince Jingbei and their Grand Marshal were "old acquaintances," and they quickly pulled their arguing colleagues to shut up.
Another day.
Before the desk, books lay out neatly, and the staff members gathered there.
Mao Maochong noticed the unusual quietness and varied expressions of the people below him, and asked, "Regarding the secret letter sent by the imperial court, do any of you have any insights?"
Upon hearing this, a middle-aged man wearing a dark blue headscarf immediately suggested, "Since Governor Shen died under mysterious circumstances, Lord Shen has been investigating the matter. Now that the other party has allied with Minister Pei, he must be standing against Prince Jingbei to avenge his son."
Beside him, a young man immediately sneered, "Revenge? What kind of revenge could Shen Guoyu possibly have? If he has any doubts, he should go directly to Prince Jingbei himself!"
"Colluding with foreign tribes and buying and selling grain—what kind of nonsense is this?"
The powerful and influential people in Luoyang had been away from the north for too long and had long forgotten the time decades ago when the Turks almost reached the capital. Mao Maochong listened quietly without saying a word.
Even with his extremely complex thoughts, he had to admit that Jiang Xu... his son possessed the spirit of his elder brother Jiang Su, was exceptionally talented in military strategy, loved the people like his own children, and disliked excessive killing. Even now, from the enemy's perspective, this child whom he had watched grow up and personally taught martial arts to was still outstanding.
Thinking back on the past, Mao Maochong inevitably picked up some of the weariness that belonged to his age. Coming back to his senses, he remained silent for a few moments before speaking, "Our informants in Luoyang are probably few and far between now." Pei Sheng was determined to make a fortune while the dynasty was about to collapse. No matter what the court or the people did, his own interests would not be harmed, and his clan's social standing would not decline.
There's no turning back now that the arrow has been released. No matter how much he reminisces about the past, he can't afford to be foolish at this moment. "Prince Jingbei... that kid is probably already on his way to Youzhou. If we passively engage in battle, what do you all think our chances of victory are?"
"this......"
The young man who had just spoken sarcastically said, "I'm afraid the odds are at most 20% or 30%." Everyone fell silent for a moment, knowing in their hearts that this was already a polished and relatively reasonable estimate; in reality, it was probably even lower.
Mao Maochong looked around at everyone, chuckled twice, and sighed ambiguously, "The world these days should be left to the young people..." After speaking, he waved his hand and said, "Gentlemen, we must not sit idly by and wait for our doom. Now, we only have one path to choose from."
......
Somewhere in Youzhou.
Wan Houyi sat alone in his room, idly flipping through a play. Outside the door, a trusted confidant reported, "General, it seems the Grand Marshal of Youzhou has received a letter from Luoyang."
"Did the letter say anything?" Wan Houyi asked, his expression unchanged. He held a booklet of opera scripts, the words "Prince Jingbei wins a great victory over the barbarians" standing out among the other handwriting.
The confidant, without looking to the side, shook his head and said, "The Grand Marshal is extremely cautious. He only summons his advisors to discuss matters in secret in the study where he holds meetings. Our people haven't been able to get close enough."
After a moment's thought, Wan Houyi asked, "How did those two or three advisors you were asked to keep a close eye on perform after the meeting? Especially the one from the Cui family."
This person has a great fondness for blue, and always wears a blue headscarf. At his age, this attire, combined with his unremarkable features, makes him look rather strange.
"I was just about to report this to you! This person... I don't know what method he used, but he secretly contacted an informant on the grasslands, and it seems..."
"You mean those on the grasslands..." Wan Houyi almost immediately sensed something amiss. His voice tightened, revealing a subtle yet alert killing intent.
"Outsiders?"
*
The army marched forward and arrived at the edge of Youzhou on June 20th.
As soon as they entered the country, Mao Maochong sent someone to invite Jiang Xu for a chat. The atmosphere was somewhat strange as the old friends met again.
On either side of the table, Mao Maochong and Jiang Xu sat facing each other, each holding one side. In the center, wisps of white smoke rose from the gilded incense burner, giving it an ethereal feel.
"I admire the Grand Marshal for still being willing to sit here and discuss matters with me," Jiang Xu said coldly after everyone else had left.
Throughout history, it is rare to see two armies facing each other while their commanders sit opposite each other.
"We are both in the North, and I know that a war is inevitable. That's why I wanted to tell you about our past friendship."
Jiang Xu heard this and wished he could grind the enemy to dust. "The two armies are vastly different in strength. What the Grand Marshal did in the past, he can pay back this time."
Those who are family know their own situation best; as Jiang Xu said, the Youzhou army's chances of victory are indeed slim. The two exchanged a few pleasantries, but beneath the surface, a glint of steel was hidden beneath the surface.
The negotiations ended unhappily, but Mao Maochong felt a sense of relief. He had always maintained a delicate position among the court, the foreign tribes, and the Jingbei Army. He seemed to be independent, but only he knew that this was not the case.
Now that the balance has been suddenly broken, he has no choice but to do this in order to protect himself.
Only by joining forces with Luoyang and the imperial court can we find a glimmer of hope.
Today's conversation made this idea even clearer. Even though several years have passed, Jiang Xu, Jiang Su's son, has never forgotten him, an old friend.
It was his greed for quick success and rash actions that led to his father's death.
But... in that situation, if it wasn't Jiang Su who died, then it could only be him.
Mao Maochong questioned himself, and even as he grew older, he still couldn't do it.
......
On June 26, the Youzhou army and the Jingbei army officially went to war.
The Youzhou army, having been lying in wait for a long time, launched the attack first.
In the first battle, Jiang Xu personally led his troops to meet the main force. Although the situation was unfavorable, the Jingbei Army still managed to fight the Youzhou Army, which was lying in ambush, to a standstill thanks to their formidable fighting power.
By the second day of the seventh lunar month, in just six or seven days, they had captured three cities in succession.
July 3rd.
The battle situation became increasingly chaotic. Jiang Xu and Mao Maochong repeatedly ordered reinforcements and clashed with each other, causing the battle to expand continuously. By mid-July, after a long and fierce battle, the weather was hot. In the Youzhou army, generals went out to fight one after another, including the generals under Jiang Xu.
After initially capturing two cities and making no progress for ten days, Jiang Xu once again personally donned leather armor and led light cavalry into enemy territory, immediately attracting a barrage of fire.
However, Jiang Xu himself was extremely agile, and he killed almost every enemy he saw. In the end, some soldiers from Youzhou subconsciously dared not get close, as if they had seen a demon, and they were in complete chaos.
After several unsuccessful battles, the Youzhou army launched an even more frenzied attack the following day, even firing oil-filled arrows into the Jingbei army, causing flames to fill the sky and arrows to fly everywhere.
Just as they were trapped in the inferno, they were fortunate to receive timely rain.
However, when it landed in the Youzhou army, it caused an uproar. Jiang Xu seized the opportunity when the army's morale was shaken and captured another city in one fell swoop.
Once the army loses momentum, it can no longer regain control of the rhythm and can only passively fight back. Jiang Xu was determined to avenge his father. The commander was like a god of death, and his soldiers were no less formidable. By the end of August, only three of the ten cities in Youzhou remained.
The tense atmosphere between the two armies grew increasingly intense. Driven by their strong survival instincts, some recalled Master Xuanmin's words or were secretly instigated by Xiao Chijie's men. By September, a sense of unease had already settled over the Youzhou army.
Knowing that defeat was inevitable, Mao Maochong proposed a one-on-one battle with Jiang Xu, which Jiang Xu readily agreed to.
Accompanied by mournful wails, the battlefield was littered with corpses.
Time has passed, and now, with spears drawn and horses in hand, clad in iron armor and wielding long swords in the hot wind, they point directly at each other's heads, exuding a chilling aura. The two exchange blows, neither giving an inch.
After several rounds of fighting, Jiang Xu's sword tip made a feint to the opponent's left shoulder. Mao Maochong instinctively blocked, and the next moment, a sharp pain suddenly came from his right side.
Before he could react, Jiang Xu feigned an attack on his lower body, but actually thrust his blade upwards. Mao Maochong was caught off guard and had no choice but to meet the blow head-on. Instantly, blood splattered everywhere. His confidants saw their Grand Marshal being cut off from his horse from afar, and in a panic, some rushed forward.
However, in the center of the battlefield, Mao Maochong almost immediately tensed up, mustered all his strength, and rolled backward several meters before stopping.
"Cough cough..." As soon as he uttered a sound, his throat felt like it was on fire. "Good lad, I taught you this move myself back then."
On horseback, Jiang Xu nodded slightly, glanced at the confidant galloping towards him not far away, and chuckled, "Therefore, today, I must ask my master to examine me alone." After speaking, he stopped wasting words and mercilessly pressed down on the sword. Mao Maochong was already at his limit and unable to dodge, and was directly pierced near his heart.
When his trusted men rushed over and pulled him onto the horse's back, the jolts caused him to bleed profusely, which could no longer be stopped.
Behind him, a guard asked, "Your Majesty, shall we give chase?"
"No need." Jiang Xu stared at the enemy's panicked retreating figures, raised his longsword, and shouted, "Our commander is dead. Lay down your weapons, and you will be pardoned!"
Blood dripped down the sword, and instantly, the Youzhou army was thrown into chaos. Behind them, the remaining soldiers of the Jingbei army immediately shouted, "Put down your weapons, and you will be forgiven!"
"Lay down your weapons, and you will be forgiven!!!"
Just as dawn was breaking, the corpses of several soldiers lay scattered on the ground, completely buried by the stench of blood.
With the commander-in-chief having fled, the two remaining cities of Youzhou that had not yet been conquered were now within their grasp.
......
*
From early June to early September, for a full three months, the fighting was fierce and the casualties were numerous. In the sweltering heat, Jiang Xu had Xuan Min take charge of reciting scriptures for the fallen soldiers, tallying the war achievements, and providing relief to the people. Jiang Xu was so busy that he barely had time to breathe.
After the White Dew, the autumn chill gradually deepened, and it wasn't until the Mid-Autumn Festival that the busy work finally came to a conclusion.
Inside the courtyard, Shi Wan was placed here. The city was in a mess, and there were many disaster victims. These days, she distributed porridge every day. Relying on books and the advice she received along the way, she made some heat-clearing and detoxifying soups, which was her way of doing her part.
When Jiang Xu arrived, she was engrossed in studying the booklet.
"What are you looking at?" Jiang Xu sat down and calmly took a sip of the tea she hadn't finished earlier. "I heard you've been busy these past few days. Are you feeling alright?"
"It's no trouble at all. I'm happy to be able to help." Shi Wan had never experienced this novel feeling before, being able to do something with her own skills.
Hearing this, her eyes softened even more. Jiang Xu noticed this and his gaze flickered slightly. "Once we've finished this, we can start working on our own things."
"I haven't even had a chance to congratulate you on achieving your goal. Soon, you'll have complete control of the North." Shi Wan smiled, seemingly oblivious to the deeper meaning in Jiang Xu's words. "So, does that mean we'll have to stay here for a while longer?"
"Tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival," Jiang Xu said in a hoarse voice. "September always calls for a festival."
Shi Wan avoided his gaze and replied softly, "Now that Youzhou is in dire need of rebuilding, it won't be able to recover in a short time. You must be quite busy, and I'm afraid... this festival will be rushed."
Jiang Xu stared at her for a moment, then suddenly smiled without warning. "Yes."
There's no need to ask anymore. Even if he gave her three years, he wouldn't get the answer he wanted.
No, perhaps... we won't even have to wait three years.
From beginning to end, she was thinking about leaving him. If that was the case, how could she possibly wait patiently for three years?
Three days, three months, three years.
The results are all the same.
He stared at Shi Wan, his expression returning to its usual indifference, the same as when they first met. The forced smile that had been deliberately mixed into his voice moments before had completely vanished.
The man's dark eyes were like sharp blades, his gaze heavy and brooding, fixed on Shi Wan's face. The oppressive aura that had been hidden elsewhere gradually became clear, making it hard for her to breathe.
It was unsettling no matter how I looked at it; those vague feelings of unease from the past had solidified into a tangible reality.
For the first time, Shi Wan didn't even dare to look directly into those dark eyes. "However... the hatred of the past has turned into the joy of drinking horses today. It just so happens to be the September Festival, which can also comfort the spirits of our loved ones in heaven."
Jiang Xu listened to her gentle and melodious voice and suddenly felt a little annoyed. Was this what she meant by keeping her promise?
Is there anything else you want to tell me?
Shi Wan was taken aback. Seeing the initial hint of hostility in his eyes, unlike his previous smile, she said, "The important matter is right now, and I shouldn't bother you. Right now, the people of the entire North are counting on you as their 'sky'... When we get back, we can discuss and fulfill our promises in detail."
She reassured her, "I remember the three-month deadline."
Remember? If he had followed his method, Shi Wan should be cleaned up and in bed by now, waiting to fulfill her so-called promise.
But what is she doing?
Sing praises of his merits? Tell him with a smile that he has now achieved his wish, and then change the subject, uttering a few seemingly plausible, verbose, and falsely beautiful words.
Not a single word was what he wanted to hear right now.
She clearly knew... what he wanted to hear right now!
Jiang Xu felt a pang of regret. Had he been too indulgent with Shi Wan, always lifting her up high and letting her down lightly, so that she dared to be so audacious, thinking that this time she could also delay, and do something to try to escape him, just to get by without any real pain?
Now that things have come to this, how could she dare?
How dare you continue to deceive him, how dare you even think about escaping him!
As he pondered, his heart felt like it could barely breathe for a moment, and the anger emanating from him was hard to suppress. As he unraveled the mystery, Jiang Xu unconsciously began to doubt her "love" once again.
If you have feelings for him, why treat him so badly?
If you fear him, resent him, and want to escape him at all times, how can you possibly have feelings of love?
It is appropriate...
She should hate him.
She was unwilling to give birth to a child with his bloodline, unwilling to see him, feigning politeness while harboring deep-seated hatred.
Jiang Xu suddenly laughed, a hearty laugh. The problem that had been looming over him had been solved in one fell swoop. He laughed so hard that he coughed slightly and couldn't help but bend over, his back hunched.
He caught a glimpse of Shi Wan's clearly frightened yet determined attempt to go forward and show concern out of the corner of his eye, and he felt a strange sense of satisfaction.
It should have been done long ago. Even if she didn't want to, she had no choice but to go forward and stand by his side.
He is narrow-minded.
Waiting is useless; it's up to us to make things happen.
Fate is determined by "heaven".
*
As night falls, the corridors divide the inky sky into four squares, and the flowing water is poured into the pond, dripping and pattering, with fish swimming and the fragrance of lotus blossoms filling the air.
In the bedroom, Shi Wan lay on the couch, gently inhaling the calming scent of camphor. Her chaotic thoughts began to subside. With something weighing on her mind, she had been unable to sleep for most of the night, and it wasn't until after 1-3 AM that she finally fell asleep completely.
The next day, at dawn.
Half-asleep, I felt a chill on my ankle, and the sensation became more pronounced as soon as I moved.
Both ankles were bound by shackles.
-----------------------
Author's Note: The nutrient solution count has surpassed 100! Here's a long chapter! [Sprinkling flowers]
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