Fish Meat – Chapter 218

by Little Panda

The First Year of Shunde

Jointly Chasing The Lost Deer (14)

Wei Jing’an and Zhangsun Wu’s armies were stationed at Xiaoxian¹, forty li² from Ruxian. Xiaoxian and Ruxian were situated to the northwest and southwest of Yanxing, respectively. If they could capture Yanxing, they could connect the three counties into a single battle line and attack Runing from three directions. This would allow them to unite their forces when advancing and spread out like a net when retreating, catching any pursuing troops off guard. If they could cut off the supply lines, conquering Runing would only be a matter of time. Their primary objective now was to take Yanxing.

Wei Jing’an led a light cavalry unit to Yanxing to scout the situation. By the time he wrote to Wei Tingxu, Zhen Wenjun had already transferred Wei Tingxu, Li Feng, and some of the wounded from Ruxian to Bai’an³ further behind the lines.

Once the battle commenced, Ruxian would be the first line of defense, which was far too dangerous. Wei Tingxu’s injuries required a period of rest. She couldn’t be disturbed or walk, so moving her away from the front lines to recuperate was paramount. Any further delay might leave her legs with lasting complications. Even if she could still stand with the help of medicine, as she aged, she might have to rely on a wheelchair for the rest of her life.

Zhen Wenjun told her not to worry about anything and assured her that she would be informed immediately of any developments. She just wanted Wei Tingxu to focus on healing.

“Your injury hasn’t healed either.”

Wei Tingxu knew that the arrow wound on the side of Zhen Wenjun’s neck still hadn’t fully recovered. Whether it had damaged her tendons or the toxins hadn’t been completely purged, the area around the wound would still noticeably feel hot or cold from time to time. Zhen Wenjun had many other injuries as well; old and new wounds that never seemed to fully heal. Years of campaigning had left her scarred, but at twenty-two, Zhen Wenjun was in the prime of her life, the perfect time to achieve great things. Moreover, with the nation in crisis and multiple factions vying for power, she couldn’t afford to rest and recuperate.

Despite her busy schedule, Zhen Wenjun had developed several medicinal plasters for herself, which she carried with her. Whenever the wound bothered her, she would apply one to alleviate the discomfort temporarily.

Zhen Wenjun didn’t pay much attention to this, but Wei Tingxu kept it in mind. Every time Zhen Wenjun came to Bai’an, Wei Tingxu would mention it without any particular emotion. She didn’t want to control Zhen Wenjun and didn’t even offer any treatment suggestions or advice her. She didn’t want to hinder her, but she also feared that Zhen Wenjun would forget about her injury. So, Wei Tingxu simply stated a fact, leaving the decision to Zhen Wenjun.

“It’s nothing serious. I can treat myself. I know the severity of this injury better than anyone. I always have medicinal plasters with me.”

Since she said so, Wei Tingxu let it go. Restraining her usual assertiveness, Wei Tingxu became somewhat silent.

Perhaps still immersed in the trauma of Yanxing and the grief of Xiaohua’s death, Wei Tingxu was quiet as a shadow during her time in Bai’an. Without Xiaohua, who used to accompany her everywhere, Wei Tingxu in her wheelchair became even less noticeable.

She often held several books that Ah Liao had brought her, hand-copied volumes sewn together with paper. She would read them for an entire day without speaking to anyone.

Zhen Wenjun heard from the Wei family members attending her that their mistress had been like a burnt-out ember lately, causing them concern.

Zhen Wenjun thought differently.

“Having been at others’ mercy, I understand that the only way to avoid being framed or abused in this world is to grasp it with my own hands, to make it a brush in my hand, and to paint the world I envision.”

These ambitious words still echoed in her ears.

If someone else had said this, Zhen Wenjun would have dismissed them as overreaching. But because these words came from Wei Tingxu, they carried a different weight.

Wei Tingxu’s fire had never been extinguished. The trauma of Yanxing was merely a gust of wind blowing against a raging fire. It might seem to flicker and sway, but in reality, it only fueled the flames, making them burn fiercer and hotter.

Wei Tingxu was storing up the power to set the plains ablaze.

Moreover, there was another possibility.

Bai’an, located eighty li⁴ south of Ruxian and twice its size, was originally intended as a support base for Ruxian. It was entirely filled with her people. Wei Tingxu and the Wei family members were safe there.

Zhen Wenjun personally went to Xiaoxian and met with Wei Jing’an and Zhangsun Wu. She discovered that, besides these two, the Wei and Zhangsun families possessed many other talented individuals capable of leading troops in battle. This surprised her.

Actually, it was easy to understand upon further reflection. The Da Yu court had gradually weakened since the later years of Emperor Ming. Li Ju ascended the throne as a young emperor, accelerating the decline of the central authority. Although Grand Empress Dowager Geng held court from behind the curtain with the assistance of the Xie family, she was ultimately mediocre. Based on Zhen Wenjun’s understanding of Xie Fucheng and the Xie clan, his greatest skill lay in political maneuvering. He was adept at using assassinations and eliminating rivals, but when it came to governing, he hadn’t accomplished much during his time as one of the Three Excellencies. Famine, poverty, and war persisted. Therefore, Xie Fucheng’s cunning hadn’t prevented the growth of various powerful families. The eleven years of Shenchu and the five years of Zhaowu had sown the seeds of the current chaos engulfing the land.

The great clans already had centuries of accumulated power, and during the Shenchu and Zhaowu eras, they had frantically stockpiled their strength. There were many like Zhangsun Wu, seemingly spoiled, rich young men who could suddenly take command of two hundred thousand troops with ease. The Yao family alone had exceptional individuals; Zhen Wenjun had witnessed this firsthand.

She had thought that Li Yanyi’s death would lead to a final resolution, but who knew that Chongjin’s heavy blow to Da Yu’s aging body would create so many new problems? Even without Chongjin’s invasion, after Li Yanyi’s death, these long-latent families would have quickly risen, engaging in endless internal strife and declaring themselves kings, just like today.

While discussing the strategies for capturing Yanxing and breaking through Runing with Wei Jing’an, Zhangsun Wu, and the others late into the night, Zhen Wenjun also pondered her current situation.

She now had Bu Jie and more than twenty other strategists, each one carefully selected and hard-won. Apart from Zhu Maosan and a few others, her available generals included her allies Guan Xun and Jiang Wang, and their soldiers. These two were currently allies, but their future allegiance was uncertain. It wasn’t that she had any prejudice against them; it stemmed entirely from Zhen Wenjun herself. She could no longer easily trust or invest too much emotion in anyone, always fearing betrayal. She knew who had taught her this lesson. This lesson was like a whip, lashing across her naive body, tearing her tender skin, and transforming her into a “grown-up” who overthought everything. In the long run, perhaps this was a good thing.

Alliances were based on temporary shared interests. Ultimately, their troops, chariots, supplies, and resources were under their individual control and could be withdrawn at any time. Zhen Wenjun had to continue expanding her own power base.

They would concentrate their forces and attack Yanxing in three days.

After their discussions, Zhen Wenjun and the others returned to Ruxian under cover of night. After boosting morale and finalizing the plan of action in Ruxian, Zhen Wenjun received a letter from Huaiyang.

In his letter, Guan Xun said that it was fortunate Zhen Wenjun had recalled her troops to support them. Otherwise, the Yao family’s surprise attack would have caused significant losses to Huaiyang.

Zhen Wenjun replied with a quick letter, warning Guan Xun not to be careless. The Yao family had already dealt a heavy blow to the Wei family in Yanxing. With Cao Zimao and Ge Zihong, two extraordinary individuals, now under their command, there were likely more challenges ahead.

Writing up to this point, Zhen Wenjun paused. Besides guarding against a Yao family sneak attack, there was another, more crucial matter to address.

Now that her mother had been sent away, Zhen Wenjun could devote herself fully to the war effort. She had to continue recruiting strategists and soldiers, keep the ironworks running, and she had also instructed the trusted aides who had escorted her mother to Sudu to establish escort agencies and banks there, focusing on generating income.

The most important issue was the situation in the south.

Although Da Yu was engulfed in war and the source of the Path to Ten Thousand Directions had been destroyed, this trade route, built at great expense, absolutely couldn’t be abandoned.

Since Runing could no longer serve as the starting point of the Path to Ten Thousand Directions, they would establish a new one. The immense profits that once flowed into the Da Yu court would be diverted to a new starting point.

She had chosen Huaiyang in the south with this in mind.

As a remote area for exiled criminals, Huaiyang possessed the natural defenses of the mountains. No matter how the war in the north raged, the Path to Ten Thousand Directions leading to the southern countries could remain unaffected. Zhen Wenjun intended to move the starting point of the Path to Ten Thousand Directions to Huaiyang and develop it into a prosperous commercial metropolis, the next Runing. By then, she would have immense financial resources to support all her unfinished endeavors.

She had great confidence in her business acumen, but there was a major obstacle: the Yao family of Nanya, bordering Huaiyang.

Nanya was directly on the Path to Ten Thousand Directions, making it much easier for the Yao family to control it. Zhen Wenjun would have to build a road from Huaiyang to compete with Nanya’s business.

This wasn’t simply a matter of road construction; it was a major battle for resources.

This was crucial. It was the most important turning point for the next twenty years in southern Da Yu, and perhaps even for the entire Da Yu for the next two decades.

Runing had to be taken, and the Path to Ten Thousand Directions had to be secured. Zhen Wenjun wished she could be in two places at once.

After sending the letter back to Huaiyang, Xiao Xiao, who had been observing everything from the shadows, approached Zhen Wenjun and asked if she was troubled by the Path to Ten Thousand Directions situation. Zhen Wenjun was quite surprised; she hadn’t expected Xiao Xiao to share her thoughts and recognize the importance of the Path to Ten Thousand Directions.

“If Ah Mu is willing, please entrust the matter of the Path to Ten Thousand Directions to me. I will return to Huaiyang and work with Uncle Guan and Uncle Jiang to build the road and drive away the Yao family.”

Zhen Wenjun hesitated, feeling that Xiao Xiao was too young.

In the first year of Zhaowu, she had saved Xiao Xiao’s life at the ruins of Changge. The nine-year-old Xiao Xiao had then followed her to Da Yu. Four years had passed in a flash, and Xiao Xiao had grown taller. Zhen Wenjun had almost forgotten Xiao Xiao’s existence amidst the busyness. Now, calming down and talking with her, looking at her carefully, she realized that the child was different from her memories. She had grown considerably taller, reaching Zhen Wenjun’s lips. Her features were also starting to blossom, showing a youthful vigor, truly resembling a child of the Gulun Grasslands.

“You want to go to war? But you’re only thirteen.”

“Ah Mu had already experienced many hardships by the age of thirteen. I believe I can do it too. Besides, if I don’t experience the world and endure hardships, no matter how old I get, I’ll still be a child and never a true adult. Ah Mu… I know I’m not your biological child. It was my willfulness that made me insist on following you.” Tears glistened in Xiao Xiao’s eyes as she spoke. “I was abandoned as a child, and the grandfather I depended on has also passed away. You took me in, taught me martial arts, taught me to read, and gave me a warm place to call home. You are even closer to me than a real mother.” Xiao Xiao knelt on the ground and declared, “Xiao Xiao has nothing to repay you with, but I only wish to alleviate Ah Mu’s worries and difficulties in these chaotic times! Ah Mu, please let me go! I want to grow into a useful person quickly! I want to repay Ah Mu!”

Xiao Xiao kowtowed heavily on the ground. Zhen Wenjun pulled her up before she could complete the second kowtow.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you afraid of damaging your head by kowtowing so hard?”

“But…”

“If your head is damaged, who will help me secure the Path to Ten Thousand Directions?”

Hearing Zhen Wenjun’s words, Xiao Xiao’s face immediately lit up. “Does this mean Ah Mu agrees?!”

“I’m very happy to hear you say these words. I feel that you’ve matured and become like an adult. Since you’re an adult, I will support you in any endeavor that is beneficial. However, there is one thing. This battle for the Path to Ten Thousand Directions will certainly be perilous, and you may face great danger.”

“With Uncle Guan and Uncle Jiang there, how could I be afraid of those Nanya barbarians!”

“You must understand that although Uncle Guan and Uncle Jiang will help you, they are still themselves. There’s only one person in this world who is truly trustworthy. Do you know who that is?” Zhen Wenjun deliberately tested her, expecting her to answer, “It’s Ah Mu.” But Xiao Xiao’s gaze lingered on Zhen Wenjun’s eyes for a moment before answering somewhat dejectedly:

“It’s… myself.”

Zhen Wenjun knew that from this moment, from this sentence onward, Xiao Xiao had truly grown up.

She felt at ease letting Xiao Xiao return to Huaiyang, with Zhu Maosan leading troops to accompany her.

Openly, Zhu Maosan was the one giving orders, but in reality, he followed Xiao Xiao’s lead. Of course, if Xiao Xiao made any wrong decisions, Zhu Maosan would offer guidance.

With the Path to Ten Thousand Directions situation somewhat settled, the battle of Yanxing was imminent.

The day before the battle, Zhen Wenjun went to Bai’an.

Before setting off, she desperately wanted to see Wei Tingxu.