This journey naturally led to a perilous battle.
You Tong had recently heard Fu Deqing mention Jingzhou a few times, and knew that the disparity in strength there was significant and the situation was not optimistic. Feeling worried, she followed him down the stairs and said, "Swords have no eyes, husband, you must be careful. When do you plan to leave?"
"If nothing unexpected happens, after watching the Lantern Festival with you, it's time to set off."
"Then only..."
"Seven or eight days." Fu Yu tightened his embrace. He used to be solitary and aloof, never feeling weary even after days of arduous battles, preferring to train troops and go on patrols when he had free time. Now, with his beloved wife in his arms, having tasted that soul-stirring flavor, he had enjoyed these past few nights of bliss, and the thought of parting filled him with reluctance. He lowered his head, inhaling her delicate fragrance, and gently kissed her, saying, "The smell of wine hasn't dissipated yet; it seems you had a very pleasant time entertaining guests today."
"It's Lanyin. I had a couple of drinks with my sister-in-law." You Tong felt tickled by his breath and laughed as she dodged to the side.
Once inside the courtyard, they first helped Fu Yu remove his armor and wash away the dust from the training ground before setting out the meal.
You Tong wasn't hungry yet, so she only drank a couple of sips of soup with him. Afterwards, she changed clothes, bathed, and had incense burned and the bed made. Because there were maids and servants present, Fu Yu still maintained a dignified demeanor. While You Tong was washing up in the inner room, he went to the side room to read a book. Only after everyone else had left did he reveal his true colors. Using the excuse that he would be leaving Qizhou soon, he tormented her until midnight before stopping.
...
Thousands of miles away in Jianchang, there are also people thinking about Wei Tianze at this moment.
In early spring, the weather in Jianchang was much warmer than in Qizhou, and the residence of Jiedushi Jiang Shao was filled with joy.
The New Year celebrations were already halfway over, and the women were busy attending banquets and lively gatherings, while the men gradually returned to their government offices and military camps. As the military governor, Jiang Shao could not indulge in too much comfort, so he would go to the government office every morning. If there was nothing important, he would return to his residence to enjoy himself.
He was forty years old and came from a prominent local family. In terms of martial arts skills and decisiveness, he was far inferior to Fu Deqing and his son from Yongning, and even to Wei Jian himself. Fortunately, he wasn't a bad person and had some sense of responsibility. His rule wasn't exactly clean, but compared to the corrupt officials under Wei Jian, he could barely ensure that the people could make a living. He maintained an army of fifty to sixty thousand men and had a few capable veteran generals who could hold their own, managing to hold his territory and keep to himself with the surrounding areas.
This situation persisted in the Jianchang area for about twenty years, from Jiang Shao's father to him.
Jiang Shao originally thought that he could enjoy this stable and wealthy life for another ten years or so, but now that's no longer possible.
Two years ago, a rebellion swept across the south. The bandit leader, Sun Tiancheng, was fierce and ruthless, and even Jianchang's troops suffered. If Fu Yu hadn't been ordered to help quell the rebellion and crush the rebels with his iron hooves, he probably would have lost half of his troops and might not have been able to hold onto his territory. Even so, after Fu Yu returned with his troops, there were no fierce generals in the south who could intimidate the villains like the Fu family. Although there were no major wars in various places, small groups of rebels and bandits rose up one after another, making it difficult for the government to suppress them and causing headaches.
Judging from this situation, the precarious peace and stability that has been maintained is unlikely to last.
Jiang Shao naturally had to plan for the future.
The royal family was in decline, and it was obvious to everyone that the throne would change hands sooner or later. If he did not want to be devoured by others and end up with the ruin of his family and his own death, he either had to rise up alone and carve out his own territory, or find a powerful patron and seek refuge on someone else's ship.
Jiang Shao was self-aware.
He had no powerful generals under his command, and his 50,000 to 60,000 troops were barely enough to defend his own territory. How could he have the strength to covet other places? If he set his sights on the fat meat of the capital, he would probably be crushed to ashes long ago.
The only way out is to find a powerful backer as soon as possible, while he still has a daughter who is about to be married.
In the present world, those capable of vying for power are, after careful consideration, only the Fu family of Yongning and Wei Jian, the Prince of Xiping.
Although Wei Jian was known for his decisive and forceful actions and formidable army, his officials were corrupt and oppressive, resulting in a poor reputation. In contrast, the Fu family, guarding the northern border, achieved repeated victories against the Tatars and Dongdan, and Yongning's reputation for clean governance gradually spread, earning them considerable praise from the people. When Fu Deming entered the court as prime minister, he further won over many hearts and minds.
Among the younger generation of the Fu family, Fu Yu is the only one who is unmarried, of similar age to Jiang Daijun, and has some ability.
Jiang Shao initially set his sights on Fu Yu.
Unfortunately, their mission was unsuccessful. Jiang Daijun and her brother traveled thousands of miles north, only to be rejected outright by Fu Yu.
When news of Fu Yu's impending marriage to his ex-wife reached Jiang Shao, he nearly vomited blood in anger. He immediately sent a message on horseback, instructing his son to switch sides to Wei Jian.
Jiang Boyan then left Qizhou in October, taking his sister westward to visit the Princess of Xiping, intending to arrange a marriage.
Upon hearing this, Wei Jian felt as if he had seen a pie falling from the sky; how could he not be overjoyed?
The Wei family had many wives and concubines, and also many children. The six sons were of varying abilities. The one who was of suitable age for Jiang Daijun and was not yet married was the son of a concubine, Wei Congxiu, who was the fourth son. Unfortunately, Wei Congxiu was mediocre. Although he had an old general to teach him archery and horsemanship, he was fond of comfort and pleasure and did not have much ability.
Compared to Fu Yu, who was famous throughout the court and the country, they were worlds apart.
Jiang Daijun didn't think much of him and was hesitant, but the concubine was overjoyed. She tried every means to speak well of Wei Jian and also had her son win over Jiang Boyan, hoping to marry the Jiang family's daughter who controlled 60,000 troops.
Little did the mother and son know that just as they were making their plans, Wei Tianze suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
...
When Wei Tianze fled back to Suizhou and moved into the Xiping Prince's Mansion as Wei Jian's son, Wei Congning, he caused quite a stir in the Dingjun tent.
Nearly twenty years have passed since this happened, and many people have long forgotten about the child who died at the age of four or five. No one remembers him at all.
Who would have thought that after disappearing for many years, the child would suddenly return?
Fu Yu's reputation was known throughout the court and the country, and several of his young generals who had made great military achievements were also quite famous, Wei Tianze being one of them.
Wei Jian had initially sent his son to infiltrate Yongning to stir up trouble. Now that the plan had failed, he was naturally frustrated, but he also valued Wei Tianze's talent and intended to give him an important position. Therefore, he did not hide his past achievements. He only slightly lied, saying that he had not died young, but had been abducted by human traffickers and suffered a lot before being reunited with his ancestors.
This claim is only used to deceive the people; how could the veteran generals not know the trickery involved?
The six sons of the Prince's mansion had already been divided in terms of ability, but suddenly a person whose abilities were no less than those of the veteran general appeared out of nowhere, which inevitably aroused speculation.
When the news reached Jiang Daijun's ears, it greatly excited her.
Wei Congxiu was mediocre and incompetent; in terms of skill, he was not even as good as Jiang Boyan, which she disliked very much.
But Wei Tianze was different. Even though Jiang Daijun had been rebuffed in Qizhou, she knew the abilities of the Fu family father, sons, and brothers, and that Fu Yu's right-hand men were all capable of handling things independently. Although Wei Tianze wasn't a legitimate son, in terms of skill, military achievements, and talent, he was in no way inferior to the heir of the Xiping Prince's Mansion. With such a foundation, his status as Wei Jian's son, and the support of the soldiers under her Jianchang command, how could he not have a chance to rise to prominence?
Wei Tianze returned alone, getting caught up in the already divided power structure of the Prince's mansion. His situation was not necessarily favorable, and he probably hoped for some help.
Jiang Daijun made a quick decision and asked her brother to find out Wei Tianze's intentions.
The two parties immediately hit it off.
The Jiang siblings immediately returned to Jianchang. The Wei family proposed marriage, and the Jiang family agreed. They quickly asked for the bride's name and accepted the auspicious date, setting the wedding date for the latter half of the first month of the lunar calendar.
The Jiang family is currently busy preparing for the wedding.
Jiang Shao took this marriage very seriously. After returning home and drinking for a while, he heard that Jiang Daijun had arrived, so he left his concubines and summoned his daughter to his study. Because Jiang Daijun asked about the dowry, the father and daughter discussed it and inevitably brought up Wei Tianze again.
"According to news from Suizhou, Wei Tianze's situation is not good; he is being suppressed by the Crown Prince." Jiang Shao was both happy and worried.
Jiang Daijun didn't take it to heart. "He's been away for too long, and his sudden return means he's temporarily without any capable men, so his situation is naturally difficult. However, he's served under Yongning for many years, honing his skills and enduring humiliation for over a decade, which shows his resilience. Of all the Wei family's sons, none can compare to him in terms of ability. Father, rest assured, he'll be able to turn the tide in less than six months."
“I hope so.” Jiang Shao nodded. “I didn’t realize that old scoundrel Wei Jian had such methods. He planted this pawn more than ten years ago; he certainly had foresight. The Wei family’s most troublesome enemy is Fu Yu and his son in Yongning. Wei Tianze is a trusted confidant of the Fu family. He has been lying in wait for all these years and has thoroughly investigated their background. In the future, when the war breaks out, knowing both himself and his enemy will be a great advantage. When we get there, we must treat him well. I think Wei Tianze has a better future than Fu Yu.”
Jiang Daijun bowed gracefully and said with a smile, "Your daughter understands."
The father and daughter chatted idly, quite satisfied with this promising son-in-law, and secretly looking forward to their marriage with the Wei family.
When He Qinglan and her father, who were in the military camp outside the city, talked about this matter, they had a different opinion.
Chapter 116 Acid
He Qinglan's father, He Yuanzhong, was a renowned veteran general under Jianchang. At fifty years old, his agility and skill were no less than those of young heroes; he was old but strong, and exceptionally brave. He grew up here from a young age. Although not from a prestigious family, he had risen through the ranks from the lowest ranks of soldiers, and was full of skills.
He is just straightforward and honest, and he will not flatter or fawn. Occasionally, after drinking, he can roll up his sleeves and criticize his superiors, speaking his mind without reservation.
Therefore, he was not very popular with his superiors.
After decades of experience, he has only managed to obtain the position of Captain, stationed on the outskirts, and rarely shows his face in front of Jiang Shao.
However, he was quite famous under Jianchang's command—his archery and horsemanship skills were exceptional. Even in his later years, few under Jianchang could match him. Despite such abilities, he wasn't given important positions. When people inquired, they learned it was because of his overly straightforward temperament. While they felt sorry for him, they also admired his skill and frankness. What made him even more famous, however, was his daughter, He Qinglan.
He Qinglan was only seventeen years old. She was He Yuanzhong's youngest daughter, born when he was in his thirties, and was extremely doted on.
At that time, He Yuan was middle-aged and vigorous, but he was not given important positions. In his frustration, he devoted himself to his daughter, teaching her martial arts and literacy from a young age, and having her learn with him while holding a small bow and arrow.
He Qinglan was intelligent and quick to learn. As a child, she admired the prestige of the military camp and worked very hard.
By the age of fourteen or fifteen, she had already mastered archery and possessed exceptional skills. During a martial arts competition held under Jianchang's command, she, a woman, defeated several older young generals. Her horsemanship, archery, and quick thinking were all outstanding, earning her widespread fame. Whenever others mentioned He Yuanzhong, they would praise this young girl. Jiang Shao had specifically asked He Qinglan to accompany his beloved daughter to protect her, precisely because he valued her abilities.
He Qinglan did not fail in his mission; he was vigilant and diligent throughout the journey, and upon his return, he received a very generous gift from the Jiang family.
This long journey concerned matters concerning the Fu and Wei families, and He Qinglan naturally took notice of it all.
When Jiang Shao sent someone to inquire about giving her a position as a female military officer to accompany Jiang Daijun to Suizhou, He Qinglan hesitated and went to her father's tent to ask for advice.
He Yuanzhong was quite patient. After listening to her pour out her grievances, he asked, "Isn't being a female military officer leading troops into battle what you've always wanted to do?"
“I do want to learn how to lead troops on the battlefield, but…” He Qinglan frowned and hesitated, “If I go with Miss Jiang, I will have to serve Wei Tianze and his son in the future, and I am not willing to do that.”
"Why is that?" He Yuanzhong asked in surprise. "I heard that Wei Tianze is quite capable, and he used to be Fu Yu's lieutenant."
"Just for this! Father, do you know how Wei Tianze returned to Wei Jian's side?"
How could He Yuanzhong know about this?
If it weren't for the marriage arranged by the Jiang family, he might not have known that Wei Tianze was Wei Jian's son, even though they were separated by hundreds of miles of mountains and rivers.
He Qinglan then moved a stool and sat astride it, using a dagger to quickly peel fruit. He said, "I have long admired Fu Yu's name. Before going to Qizhou, I also paid attention to Wei Tianze. When I got there, I secretly inquired and learned that the Fu family originally valued Wei Tianze highly, promoting and employing him in every way. His skills were also taught by the Fu family's soldiers. Fu Yu was his comrade-in-arms, and his brothers were also very close to him. But I don't know why, he suddenly disappeared two years ago and has not shown his face since. That day, when Fu Zhao and I were hunting, we ran into him again. He escaped, took us hostage, and even set fire to the Buddhist temple."
She recounted the events of that day to her father in detail, including Fu Zhao's unintentional attitude afterwards.
“I found it strange at the time. How could people who were once as close as brothers have fallen to such a state? Seeing that he acknowledged Wei Jian made me even more puzzled. Later, he had a private conversation with Jiang Boyan. Father, guess what I heard?”
He Yuanzhong frowned. "You went to eavesdrop?"
"Who told Jiang Boyan to be acting so suspiciously?" she said, pursing her lips.
He Yuanzhong picked up the scabbard beside him and lightly tapped her head. "Who is Wei Tianze? If you are discovered, be careful with your life!"
He Qinglan dodged aside. "Actually, Wei Tianze's trip to Qizhou was arranged by Wei Jian. No matter how capable those people under the Fu family are, who would be wary of a seven or eight-year-old orphaned boy? He hid for so many years, not only learning a great deal of skill but also thoroughly understanding the Fu family's background. The Fu family discovered his involvement but couldn't bear to kill him, so they've kept him in prison for the past two years. Logically speaking, the Fu family has been incredibly kind to him, and his brothers in the army have shared life and death with him; shouldn't he have repented? Who knew that after escaping from prison, he would take Fu Zhao hostage and almost kill me. This father and son, ha—"
She sneered, her face showing disdain. "The father is ruthless and uses his own son as a pawn. Wei Tianze isn't much better; he's scheming and repaying kindness with enmity, utterly devoid of integrity! What's the point of following such a family? They can betray even their comrades-in-arms; who knows if they'll turn their backs on them after they've served their purpose!"
She spoke with righteous indignation, leaving He Yuanzhong speechless.
He was upright his whole life, and what he despised most were treacherous and treacherous people who would betray their brothers.
They also looked down on Wei Jian, who was an unkind father.
After a long pause, he said, "As the saying goes, dragons beget dragons, phoenixes beget phoenixes, and a rat's son knows how to dig a hole. This saying is indeed true. Wei Jian used underhanded tricks to cheat for a title back then, and his son is just like that. How can he compare to Fu Deqing's heroic spirit, whose son Fu Yu is a pillar of strength?"
Two or three years later, news spread that Fu Deqing had penetrated deep into enemy territory and killed a veteran Tatar general. He Yuanzhong admired such a fierce person from the bottom of his heart, and consequently also developed a great liking for Fu Yu.
He Qinglan wholeheartedly agreed, "I had only heard that Yongning was a peaceful and prosperous place before, but seeing it with my own eyes this time, it is indeed true."
"I've heard about Fu Deming's abilities in the imperial court; he's a formidable figure."
Hearing him praise the Fu family, He Qinglan was pleased and said with a smile, "Father also thinks the Fu family is better than the Wei family, right?"
He Yuanzhong was a rough man and couldn't see the little joy in his daughter's eyes. He just nodded and said, "In that case, you'd better not go to Suizhou. It's hard to say what will happen in the future. Let's not get involved with the Wei family's mess. I don't think much of Jiang Shao's methods either." After saying that, he stroked his beard and said, "The Fu family is quite interesting. It just so happens that your brother is in the capital. If there is an opportunity, you can sound out their attitude."
"Father is wise! In terms of ability, temperament and magnanimity, the Fu brothers are far superior."
"Ha! You've come along and seem to have quite a good impression of the Fu family?"
He Qinglan smiled and raised an eyebrow, "Who told Father to always praise the Fu family for their bravery and skill in battle?"
—When Fu Yu repeatedly made military achievements, when his iron hooves trampled the Tatars, and when he led troops to quell rebellions, He Yuanzhong privately praised him a lot for being young, brave, and resourceful.
...