Where do you feel unwell? Do you want to eat something?
Chu Tong asked in a hoarse voice, "Has my brother's funeral been held?"
Yun Yinghuai's face darkened as he grasped Chu Tong's hand and said, "Wang Lang is the Minister of War, stationed in the capital. His death will surely shake the morale of the army. Therefore, the court has ordered that the Wang family not announce his death for the time being. Wang Lang's body is currently kept in the Wang family ancestral hall... Xing'er, would you like to go see him?"
Chu Tong shook her head and said, "I haven't avenged him yet, I have no face to see him." After saying that, she coughed a few times and struggled to sit up.
Yun Yinghuai quickly helped Chu Tong up, sighed, and comforted her, "The dead cannot be brought back to life, try to think more positively. You once carried Wang Lang while swimming and caught a cold, and then you fought with someone in the apricot grove and suffered internal injuries. In addition, your heart was filled with too much grief, so your body couldn't take it all at once. You need to take good care of yourself." After saying that, he carefully fed her water.
Chu Tong said, "Young master, let's set off for Fire Lotus Mountain as soon as we can."
Yun Yinghuai frowned and said, "Your body is weak, how can you set off so soon?"
Chu Tong hugged Yun Yinghuai's arm and said, "I can recover on the way. It's a half-month journey from here to Huolian Mountain. By the time we get there, my injury will be almost healed!" After saying that, she coaxed and pleaded with him, and Yun Yinghuai couldn't resist her, so he had to agree.
The next day, Yun Yinghuai finished preparations, carried Chu Tong onto the carriage, and, accompanied by the Northern Liang guards, the group headed towards Fire Lotus Mountain. Chu Tong thought to herself: Big brother, you wait, I'll dig up the treasure and avenge you!
She lifted the carriage curtain and looked out, only to see the capital city growing ever more distant.
How many times have mountains and rivers known war?
These past few days, Emperor Dexin of the Great Zhou Dynasty has been quite irritable. He has just ascended the throne, and the people are not yet convinced of his authority. His own brother has conspired with high-ranking officials to rebel, and the Huai River region has been flooded, disrupting the grain transport. However, the national treasury is running low on silver and grain, and increasing taxes would only further burden the people, inevitably leading to greater instability. The thought that Wang Lang, a capable minister whom he had once relied on, had also met with misfortune only added to Dexin's displeasure.
De Xin frowned as he gazed at the high pile of memorials on the table, put down his imperial pen, and sighed deeply. The court had dispatched a large army to suppress the rebels, a war that was originally thought to be resolved in three months had dragged on until now. Although the rebels had been driven into the deep mountains, a centipede with a hundred legs does not die easily; no matter how many more troops the court sent, it would never be able to wipe them out. At this moment, De Xin heard a eunuch beside him say, "Your Majesty, Prime Minister Wang Ding requests an audience."
De Xin said, "Let him in." The eunuch hurriedly went to announce his arrival. Soon, a thin, haggard-looking old man slowly walked in, knelt down, and said, "Your humble servant greets Your Majesty, long live the Emperor!"
De Xin said, "Rise, Minister Wang." He knew that Wang Ding was grieving the loss of his son and couldn't help but feel sorry for Wang Lang's untimely death. He stood up and came to Wang Ding, intending to offer a few words of comfort, but then he heard Wang Ding say, "Your Majesty, I have some good news to report to you."
Dexin asked curiously, "Oh? What good news is it? Tell me quickly."
Wang Ding said, "There is a remarkable woman in the countryside named Yao Chutong who wants to donate 20 million taels of silver to the imperial court to quell the internal strife."
De Xin was taken aback and couldn't help but ask with some doubt, "Donate twenty million taels? Is there really such a woman in the common people? What did her ancestors do? How could she have so much money?"
Wang Ding said, "Your Majesty, Yao Chutong is just a little orphan with no background, but she is famous in the martial arts world and is a female knight-errant. She obtained a large sum of money by chance and wanted to serve the country by donating it to the court."
De Xin's interest was piqued, and he smiled, "Oh? It's truly remarkable that a commoner can always think of the country and the court. Where is this woman now? I wish to summon her."
Wang Ding said, "Yao Chutong is waiting for the imperial decree outside the door."
Dexin sat back on the dragon throne behind the dragon desk and said, "Summon her." After the eunuch announced the arrival, a girl of about sixteen or seventeen years old walked in respectfully from outside the door. The girl was wearing a bright apricot-red silk dress with gold embroidery, with a matching belt around her waist and a sash with gold and pearl tassels hanging down. Her hair was styled in two buns, and from a distance, she looked like a figure from a painting.
The young girl stepped forward respectfully, knelt down, and said in a clear voice, "This commoner, Yao Chutong, pays her respects to Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor!"
Dexin laughed and said, "I thought the female knights in the martial arts world were all heroic and agile, but I didn't expect them to be such a young girl."
Chu Tong knelt obediently on the ground. Although she dared not let her eyes wander, she secretly glanced around the room. The room was filled with a dazzling array of flowers and decorations. More than ten glass lamps hung on lacquered lampstands, and a bronze kylin incense burner sat on a carved lacquered table, from which wisps of sandalwood incense rose. The room, with its jade windows and elegant lamps, exuded royal luxury. Chu Tong thought to herself: "This Emperor's study is quite flamboyant, unlike the refined and elegant rooms of others."
At this moment, Dexin laughed and said, "Yao Chutong, raise your head and let me see you."
Chu Tong thought to herself: Why does the Emperor talk like a patron in a brothel? Those old men who drink and dine with women, when they see a beautiful girl, they all pretend to be charming and say things like "Raise your head and let this old man take a look" or "Beauty, don't be shy." Thinking this, she raised her face, and then, remembering that she rarely had the chance to see the Emperor, she was determined to take a good look at him today so that she could brag about it to Yun Yinghuai when she got out. So, she changed her submissive demeanor and looked at Dexin.
Behind Long Shu's desk sat a young man in his early twenties, with a square face, broad nose, thick eyebrows, and a large mouth. He exuded an imposing aura, even without anger. Chu Tong looked him up and down several times, thinking to herself:
This emperor has a noble appearance; even without wearing this dragon robe, you could tell at a glance that he is a powerful and influential man.
Then she thought: It's clear that a man's looks don't matter; what's important is having a certain air of masculinity. Take my husband, for example; even in simple clothes, he exudes an intangible noble and domineering aura. Thinking of this, she couldn't help but grin and nod smugly.
De Xin was very surprised to see this. The little girl kneeling below first looked at him curiously with her bright, cold star-like eyes, looking him up and down, left and right, and then showed an expression of "So this is what you look like". Then she seemed to be lost in thought, and then smiled and nodded frequently.
De Xin couldn't help but be surprised, thinking to herself that if ordinary people came here and saw the emperor's face, they would all hold their breath and be obsequious, but none of them were as bold as her. In fact, De Xin had no idea that Yao Chutong had seen so many emperors, crown princes, and princes that she had long since become indifferent. She often thought to herself, "What's so great about the emperor? He's just a head and two eyes, he eats when he's hungry, and he defecates when he's done eating. Living in the palace is so unfree and uncomfortable. I wouldn't even want to be the emperor."
Dexin remained calm and asked, "What are you thinking about? Why are you smiling and nodding so often?"
Knowing De Xin's volatile temper, Wang Ding quickly stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, Yao Chutong is just a commoner. Please forgive her if she has acted improperly."
Chu Tong was startled, remembering Wang Ding's repeated admonitions to be cautious and never offend the emperor. She quickly bowed and said loudly, "Your Majesty is mighty! I am naturally overjoyed to see Your Majesty. I wonder what good deeds my ancestors accumulated over eighteen generations to be able to see Your Majesty's true face!" She thought to herself: Everyone likes to hear flattery, and the emperor is no exception. Then, she flattered him further, "Your Majesty, I was just thinking, ah! Your Majesty is so majestic and extraordinary, so noble and imposing, truly the glory of our Great Zhou, the fortune of our people, and the blessing of our nation! That's why I smiled and nodded repeatedly."
Wang Ding was taken aback, never expecting Chu Tong to say such a thing. He couldn't help but find it amusing and glanced at De Xin a few times. De Xin was a little bewildered by Chu Tong's flattery and couldn't help but touch his face, asking, "What does my appearance have to do with the fate of the Great Zhou Dynasty?"
Chu Tong solemnly replied, “Of course it’s related. When I first entered the palace, I was terrified, and my legs were trembling. But just now, when I saw Your Majesty’s face, your majestic countenance gave me boundless strength in an instant. I was immediately filled with confidence and fearless. It is clear that if all the people in the world could see the Emperor’s face, everyone would be filled with pride and excitement! So at this moment, I only want to kneel down and shout, ‘Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!’” As he spoke, he shouted and knelt down.
De Ting laughed heartily and said with a gentle smile, "Miss Yao, please rise!"
Chu Tong thought to herself: The Emperor is young, this is what "the Emperor is overjoyed" means, it shows that flattery will never fail.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Chu Tong stood up with her head bowed and eyes lowered. Wang Ding secretly praised Chu Tong for being sensible and knowing how to behave appropriately.
De Xin was initially troubled, but the sudden donation of such a large sum of money, which could solve her immediate problem, filled her with joy and satisfaction. When she saw Chu Tong again, she found her eloquent, clever, and witty, much more interesting than the people around her, which made her even happier. She also found it quite enjoyable to listen to Chu Tong's nonsensical flattery.
De asked, "Miss Yao, you have donated such a large sum of money to the court. It is admirable that you have such a loyal heart for the country. But I wonder where this money came from?"
Chu Tong said, "I was once the head of the Cloud Peak Sect. Legend has it that the Cloud Peak Sect possesses two sacred boxes; if you collect them both, you can open a great treasure. I was lucky enough to collect both boxes and opened the treasure." She then fabricated a story about how she obtained the boxes, and finally, with a passionate and impassioned tone and a solemn expression, she said, "This is a time of great crisis for the court! As the saying goes, 'The rise and fall of the nation is the responsibility of every citizen.' Although I am just a woman, I know that I cannot stand idly by in the face of such a moment! Therefore, I am willing to donate all the treasure to express my deep patriotism!"
De Xin nodded slightly and smiled, "If all the people under heaven were like you, Miss Yao, then my Great Zhou could enjoy peace forever." At this point, thinking of the rebels, De Xin frowned and slammed her hand on the dragon desk, saying, "But there are always some treacherous villains who rebel and try to plunge the people of my Great Zhou into misery!"
Wang Ding hurriedly cupped his hands and bowed, saying, "Please calm your anger, Your Majesty!"
Chu Tong thought to herself: Yes, Your Majesty, your brother wants to seize your mansion, steal your money and women, of course you're going to be angry! It has nothing to do with the common people, in this world, what difference does it make who's emperor? But her face still showed a look of unwavering loyalty, and she righteously echoed, "Your Majesty, you're absolutely right! Those treacherous villains who dare to dream of seizing your empire are simply delusional! You truly have the countenance of an emperor, while that lecherous pretty boy Deming is utterly incompetent."
Hearing Chu Tong help others scold Deming, Dexin felt even more pleased and said with a smile:
“Miss Yao, your loyalty to the country is a rare talent in our Great Zhou Dynasty. I will reward you handsomely.” He hesitated for a moment, thinking: Yao Chutong has donated a large sum of money to the country; it's clear she sees money as something external. Rewarding her with money is out of the question. If she were a man, he might be given an official position, or even a lowly marquisate, but she is a woman… Dexin looked Chutong up and down, suddenly finding her remarkably beautiful. Taking her into the harem wouldn't be bad.
Just as De Xin was about to speak, Chu Tong suddenly knelt down and burst into tears. De Xin was startled and quickly stepped forward to help Chu Tong up, asking, "Miss Yao, what's wrong?"
Chu Tong sobbed uncontrollably, her eyes blurred with tears, and said, "Your Majesty, I am overjoyed to see you. I feel that the radiance emanating from Your Majesty's body is as bright as the sun and the moon. Therefore, I have a request that Your Majesty grant."
Dexin said, "Please speak, Miss Yao."
Chu Tong said, "I have no father since I was a child. My mother was a prostitute who sold smiles in a brothel, but she also passed away when I was young. So I have always been alone and have no relatives."
From childhood, this commoner girl dreamed of having a father who was a man of unparalleled talent and wisdom, capable of governing the world and possessing both literary and military prowess. She had searched tirelessly for him, but to no avail. But today, upon seeing the Emperor, she suddenly realized that only the Emperor himself was a true gentleman, capable of governing the world and possessing a spirit that could move mountains and rivers!
Therefore, this humble woman dares to ask Your Majesty to recognize me as your goddaughter, to fulfill my long-cherished wish! Having said this, she knelt down again, hugged Dexin's legs, and cried, "Although you are not much older than me, this has always been my wish, Your Majesty, please, please grant me your goddaughter's wish!"
Wang Ding quickly chimed in, "Indeed, Your Majesty. Miss Yao has a tragic past, but she possesses a rare and precious heart of loyalty to the emperor and patriotism. Your Majesty should grant her wish. This will surely become a celebrated story in the future."
De Xin looked down at Chu Tong and couldn't help but laugh. Seeing that Wang Ding was still standing next to him, he could only wave his hand and say, "Alright, Miss Yao, you are loyal and righteous, so I will recognize you as my goddaughter."
Chu Tong said loudly, "Your Majesty's words are golden, thank you Father for granting my request!" Then she pressed on, "Father, in order to better serve the country and share your burdens, I would like to volunteer to go on an expedition to punish the traitor Xie Linghui. I hope you will grant my request."
Dexin was taken aback and asked, "You're just a frail woman... do you even know how to fight?"
Chu Tong said with righteous indignation, "I have two wishes in my life. The first is to recognize an invincible true gentleman as my father. The other wish is to one day become a heroine like Hua Mulan, Mu Guiying, and Liang Hongyu, to fight for the country and the people, to gallop across the battlefield, and to leave a lasting legacy. So please grant my wish, Father!"
Dexin flicked his sleeves and walked back to the dragon's desk, saying, "What a joke! Matters of national importance cannot be treated like child's play!"
Chu Tong hurriedly knelt a few steps forward and said, "Father, I dare not treat the affairs of the nation as a game. I only wish that you would send me to fight against the rebels, even if I am just a minor supervisor. I only want to personally cut off Xie Linghui's head and send it to you!"
After a moment of contemplation, Dexin said, "This is a matter of great importance, and I need to consider it carefully. I will issue an imperial decree today, ordering the Ministry of Rites to draft an imperial edict to bestow upon you the title of Princess of the Great Zhou."
Chu Tong turned her head slightly and saw Wang Ding make a gesture to her. Knowing that she couldn't rush things, Chu Tong knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty!"
After Yao Chutong and Wang Ding left, Dexin let out a long breath. Just then, the beaded curtain beside him rustled, and a slender young man stepped out from behind it. Judging from his demeanor, it was easy to guess that he was a handsome and elegant gentleman. However, when the man raised his head, it was quite surprising—the young man had more than a dozen scars of various sizes on his face, making it impossible to see his features!
Dexin asked, "Minister Du, what is your opinion on this matter?"
The man said, "Your Majesty, I suggest that we send her to be a military supervisor, or even give her some military power."
Dexin raised her eyebrows and asked, "Oh? What do you mean?"
The man said, "As far as I know, Yao Chutong and Xie Linghui have a long-standing feud, and she can't wait to take Xie Linghui's head. Not only that, her background and experiences seem to be quite interesting as well."
De Xin's interest was piqued, and he said, "Then, Minister Du, please tell me about it."
The young man with a scarred face seemed to know Chu Tong very well, and he recounted the whole story in a vivid and detailed manner. De Xin listened intently. After the man finished speaking, he closed his eyes and pondered for a moment. He picked up his pen and scribbled a few strokes on the paper. Then he stamped the imperial seal on the paper and handed it to the young man, saying, "Draft an imperial edict, appointing the commoner Yao Chu Tong as Imperial Envoy and Commander-in-Chief of the War, and bestowing upon her a golden plaque. She shall immediately go to the front line to supervise the war."
The young man respectfully held the paper in his palm, then slowly withdrew. He unfolded the paper again, chuckled, and muttered to himself, "General of War, this position has no rank; it's just a title the Emperor casually bestowed. But to appoint Yao Chutong as Imperial Envoy—that's quite an honor!" He then raised his head, gazing at the setting sun in the distance, and murmured, "Wang Lang, Wang Lang, if you have a spirit in the afterlife, knowing that the money-loving Yao Chutong would spend such a huge sum for you, you would surely be smiling in your grave."
After receiving the imperial decree, Chu Tong immediately urged Yun Yinghuai to bring his guards and accompany her on the journey. After half a month, they arrived at the military camp. Several generals, military advisors, and captains had already learned of the imperial envoy's arrival to supervise the army, so they were all waiting early at the camp gate. They craned their necks, eagerly watching and whispering amongst themselves. Someone said, "I heard that this imperial envoy is a very wealthy man, who donated twenty million taels of silver to the court just to come and experience the thrill of military campaigns."
"Who says otherwise? I've also heard she's a woman, some kind of female knight-errant in the martial arts world... Old Liu, you've been in frequent contact with people from the martial arts world, what's her background?"
"Yao Chutong, the former leader of the Yunding Sect, has a bounty of one hundred taels of gold on her head, which is the number one kill order in the martial arts world... She is an extraordinary woman. She does not fight for pleasure, but to end the war as soon as possible and spare the people from the suffering of war."
"Yes, I heard that she stood out at the martial arts tournament. Everyone says she is a great heroine, righteous and chivalrous, and all the heroes of the martial arts world praise her." Everyone praised her, saying that this woman was a peerless heroine whose beauty would be remembered throughout history. For a moment, everyone craned their necks to look into the distance, eager to see this legendary heroine with superb martial arts skills, extraordinary wisdom, and outstanding demeanor.
Just then, the sound of horses' hooves came from not far away. Everyone thought, "They're here!" Two tall horses galloped towards them from afar. As they drew closer, they saw a girl of about fifteen or sixteen years old riding on the first horse. She wore a fiery red cloak, held a thick wooden staff in her right hand, and gripped the reins in her left. She had an upright and dignified air, but her eyes were darting around furtively. Everyone couldn't help but wonder: Could this girl be the imperial envoy, the legendary heroine of the martial world? But why is she holding a staff? Is it a weapon? Or is she just incredibly agile? At this moment, the horse had already reached them. The girl dismounted, landing on her feet with a fluid and swift movement.
The crowd rushed forward, cupped their hands in greeting, and said, "We greet Your Majesty the Imperial Envoy! Your Majesty must be exhausted from your journey."
Chu Tong, leaning on her wooden cane, smiled and said, "It's nothing, it's nothing. You gentlemen have worked hard." She was then ushered into the tent by a group of people. Seeing her walking with a cane, the others couldn't help but shake their heads inwardly, thinking with pity: such a fine young girl, so young, yet her legs are already so weak. Seeing her incongruous attire and her frivolous grin, completely lacking the demeanor expected of an imperial envoy, they couldn't help but shake their heads again, thinking that such a young girl acting as a military supervisor was nothing short of causing trouble. But since things had come to this, they could only force a smile and escort the imperial envoy into the main tent.
Yun Yinghuai followed behind the group, finding it amusing. A few days earlier, Chu Tong had pestered him to tell her which female general in history was the most powerful. Yun Yinghuai had mentioned Hua Mulan, Mu Guiying, and Yang Paifeng, but Chu Tong had all shaken her head, finding them unsuitable. Finally, Yun Yinghuai mentioned Lady Yu, and Chu Tong's eyes lit up. She exclaimed excitedly, "That's it! The most powerful female hero must be Lady Yu! The plays say she could still lead troops at a hundred years old. I'll imitate Lady Yu and borrow her spirit!" Then, following the costume from the plays, she found a bright red cloak and Lady Yu's cane, but dressed up with a somewhat mature and dignified air. Yun Yinghuai knew she was always mischievous, so he let her fool around.
As soon as Chu Tong stepped into the tent, she saw the feast laid out on the table, knowing that the soldiers were hosting a welcome dinner for her. Without any hesitation, she sat down in the main seat, raised her wine cup, and said with a smile, "You are all great generals and fine men of iron will. I admire you greatly. This cup is enough for me to toast you all. Before I came, His Majesty told me that you soldiers have worked hard on the battlefield, and he is very pleased. He asked me to come here and offer you all a proper toast. If you all work diligently for the Emperor and quell the rebellion, you will be promoted and become wealthy in the future; your prospects will be extremely bright!"
The soldiers were initially ashamed. Zhongchuan had been besieged by tens of thousands of troops for months, and the rebels remained elusive. The Emperor's leniency in not punishing them was already a great favor; they had no desire for promotion or wealth. But hearing the Imperial Envoy's words, they all felt honored, smiles playing on their lips. They hurriedly stood up, raising their wine cups, and said, "Your Excellency, you are too kind. Serving the country and His Majesty is our duty. You are too kind, Your Excellency." They felt an even greater affection for Chu Tong.
Chu Tong, beaming with joy, ate meat and drank wine with great gusto. After several rounds of drinks and dishes, he became even more unrestrained in his speech, using coarse language and slang without any restraint, and began to address the soldiers as brothers. The military officers, who were originally all rough men, saw Chu Tong's forthrightness and their previous restraint vanished. They felt extremely close to him and began to chat and laugh heartily.
After chatting for a while, as everyone was getting quite tipsy, Chu Tong abruptly changed the subject, shaking her head and sighing:
"Alas, I see that all of you generals are outstanding men, possessing the dazzling might of tiger generals, yet how come you cannot wipe out a mere ten thousand rebels in one fell swoop? Is there perhaps some unspeakable secret behind this?"
Once the conversation started, someone immediately complained, "Your Excellency, you may not know this, but the Zhongchuan area is mostly deep mountains, easy to defend and difficult to attack. However, it is a vital strategic pass connecting the north and south, and it is rich in resources. Even if the army were to capture it, there would still be room for maneuver, and it would not be easily defeated. In addition, Xie Linghui is a brilliant strategist, so we have been besieging him but have been unable to defeat him."
Chu Tong sneered inwardly: "Bullshit! With 30,000 troops, even if we searched every mountain, we could easily capture and devour a mere 10,000 rebels! Hmph, these guys really know how to lie through their teeth." But she still smiled.
At this moment, someone else said, "Xie Linghui is a strange strategist. He never confronts us head-on. He is best at using feints to confuse people and leave them bewildered. Moreover, he is extremely skilled at ambushes, digging pits and setting up ambushes. He uses every trick in the book, and we don't know what to do."
Chu Tong nodded repeatedly and said, "What you all say makes sense. I am a complete novice when it comes to military campaigns. I need your collective wisdom and guidance so that I can report back to His Majesty."
The soldiers exclaimed in unison, "That's right! That's right!" and began to chatter amongst themselves.
After everyone had been talking for a while, the military officer closest to Chu Tong suddenly spoke up: "The situation is not only that. Every time the imperial court sends troops to suppress the enemy, the enemy always manages to escape first. No matter how secret the attack is, it always fails at the crucial moment. This shows that there must be a traitor spy in this military camp!"
A hush fell over the room upon hearing this. Chu Tong squinted at the man. He appeared to be about thirty-seven or thirty-eight years old, tall and robust, with a handsome face, sharp eyebrows, and piercing eyes. His smile was warm and gentle, and compared to ordinary military officers, he possessed a more scholarly air, with a touch of world-weariness, yet his eyes were incredibly sharp. Since Chu Tong's arrival, the officer had rarely spoken, only glancing at her occasionally with a rather complex expression.
Chu Tong asked in confusion, "Who is this general...?"
The military officer said, "My name is Tao Guanglin, and I am the chief general of the army." He looked at Chu Tong with a smile on his face.
Chu Tong was startled, but she pretended to understand. She looked the general up and down and said with a smile, "General Tao is indeed handsome and talented. He has the face of a loyal and patriotic emperor, a kind father and filial son, a virtuous wife and a harmonious family."
Tao Guanglin said, "Your Excellency is too kind."
Chu Tong withdrew his gaze and said, "Since that's the case, I, the Imperial Envoy, understand most of it. I will write a memorial to His Majesty, praising everyone's achievements. Please compile all your great accomplishments and have them sent over. I am tired from my journey today, so please disperse!" After saying this, he stood up, cupped his hands in farewell, and everyone took their leave. In a short time, no one was left except Yun Yinghuai, who remained sitting at the banquet.
Yun Yinghuai said, "It seems that a quick victory in the battle of Zhongchuan is not possible." As he spoke, he picked up a leg of lamb and began to eat it. Seeing that Chu Tong's eyes were fixed on something, he couldn't help but ask, "Xing'er, what's wrong?"
Seeing Chu Tong staring blankly, he went over and nudged her, asking with concern, "What's wrong?" Then he comforted her, "Although the Zhongchuan rebels are difficult to eliminate, don't worry, I..."