Fish Meat – Chapter 220

The First Year of Shunde

Jointly Chasing The Lost Deer (16)

Walking side-by-side outdoors was not very convenient, so Zhen Wenjun walked in front, letting Wei Tingxu rest her hands on her shoulders from behind. The two walked slowly, taking a long time to pass through the covered corridor​¹ and arrive at the garden.

            

Wei Tingxu was a bit tired, exhaling some white breath. Zhen Wenjun let her sit on a stone stool to rest for a while.

“I’m sweating a little.” Wei Tingxu lifted some of her long hair to let the heat from the nape of her neck dissipate, lowering her temperature slightly.

“In this season, the more you sweat, the less you should remove clothing. Your constitution is already weak, so you mustn’t be careless.”

            

“I didn’t plan on taking anything off.” Wei Tingxu merely gathered all her long hair atop her head, let the thin layer of heat disperse, and then let it down again, covering her delicate nape once more.

There was indeed a new flowerbed in the garden. As the two sat on the stone stool, they found themselves encircled by Wandering flowers. At night, the Wandering flowers were dyed a layer of black by the darkness, yet under the moonlight, they presented a luminous grey-blue, as if wanting to break through the night’s confinement and bloom with brilliance.

Just like Wei Tingxu.

            

Zhen Wenjun realized that recently, apart from attacking Yanxing and the Path of Ten Thousand Directions, what she thought about most was Wei Tingxu.

All things resembled her, yet all things fell short of her.

“If you had been at Yanxing back then, what would you have done?” Wei Tingxu, perhaps looking at the Wandering flowers, had her dense eyelashes slightly upturned. Her eyes reflected the distant points of firelight, like the Star River​² pouring into them. Auspicious moments, beautiful scenery, and Zizhuo were before her eyes, yet what Zizhuo thought of were other matters.

            

Zhen Wenjun knew what she was asking. Perhaps she wasn’t acting; she truly hadn’t been able to let go of the Yanxing predicament, hadn’t been able to let go of Xiaohua’s death.

“Lure the snake out of its hole.”​³

These four short words made Wei Tingxu’s expression freeze, and she immediately smiled bitterly:

            

“It was I who was too blindly confident. It was I who caused Xiaohua’s death.”

Zhen Wenjun said: “Speaking as an outsider, anyone can offer strategies and speak eloquently. But only when deeply involved does one understand the myriad changes on the battlefield. Seemingly simple, correct decisions are accumulated through vast experience. Analyzing them afterwards is always hindsight wisdom.”​⁴ Zhen Wenjun held her hand, “It wasn’t you who killed Xiaohua, it was the Yao family.”

“Unfortunately, the Yao family left no tangible evidence that could be grasped, otherwise, we could certainly have pinned the crime of rebellion on them this time.”

            

“The current situation is complex. Even if an edict were immediately issued to launch a punitive expedition against the Yao family for rebellion, it would only deplete our own strength. Besides the Yao family, there are also the Pang​⁵ clan of Hetian Commandery​⁶, the Yan​⁷ clan of Jingji Commandery​⁸ recently?” Zhen Wenjun recalled this detail, suddenly understanding.

“Yes.” Wei Tingxu said, “Actually, I’ve read a lot of military strategy. I’ve finished reading all the famous scrolls and rare copies, and memorized them. But the battle at Yanxing this time made me realize that armchair strategy​⁹ can never compare to fighting a real battle.”

Hearing this, Zhen Wenjun already had a bad premonition. Sure enough, Wei Tingxu continued: “Tomorrow, when attacking Yanxing, can you take me with you?”

            

“Don’t speak such nonsense. The battlefield is no joke.” Zhen Wenjun immediately refused.

Wei Tingxu had known she would be refused and didn’t press further.

Seeing her like this made Zhen Wenjun feel even worse. The way her brows lightly furrowed and her pink lips pressed together was clearly meant to induce guilt. Zhen Wenjun almost agreed on the spot, but ultimately, reason regained the upper hand​¹⁰; she didn’t truly lose her head:

            

“If you want to know, wait for my return, and I will tell you all the details one by one.”

Wei Tingxu turned her wrist, grasping Zhen Wenjun’s hand in return, and said solemnly: “Yanxing is very important. The Yao family knows we will attack again and must have set traps waiting for us. Wenjun, you must be careful during this siege.”

Zhen Wenjun said: “I have continuously deployed spies around Yanxing to observe the Yao family’s movements. The main Yao army already withdrew ten days ago. We know the Yao family’s thoughts, and they also understand ours. There are likely two possibilities regarding the troop withdrawal. One is that they understand we will definitely prepare thoroughly before striking Yanxing again. If it’s a direct conflict, even if the Yao army wins, they will pay a heavy price. Over on the Nanya side, Guan Xun and Jiang Wang have also begun to counterattack. Cao Fei and the others probably didn’t expect Huaiyang’s defense line to be so solid and reinforcements to arrive so quickly, not only resisting their sneak attack but also having the strength to counterattack. It’s highly possible the Yao family withdrew troops to defend Nanya first.”

            

“And the second?”

“If I were Cao Fei, I would take the second path. Send a portion of reinforcements to support Nanya and compete for support in the south. Ideally, let the enemy know my army has withdrawn. If the enemy is foolish and hasn’t gathered intelligence, I would deliberately leak the news, luring them to attack Yanxing while it appears empty, inviting the lord into the urn​¹¹ to catch them all in one net.”

“I think Cao Fei thinks the same way. Then how will you handle the attack on Yanxing this time?”

            

“The Second Young Master has already spread the word that early tomorrow morning, an army of two hundred thousand will attack the city, telling Cao Fei to wash his neck clean and wait for death. Meanwhile, I will lead troops in ambush outside Yanxing to observe the battle situation. If Cao Fei sets another trap, I will strike him from behind, catching him completely off guard!”

Hearing Zhen Wenjun’s words, Wei Tingxu felt as if she had personally arrived on the perilous battlefield, able to smell the scent of blood and smoke.

This scent didn’t repel her; it even stirred something restless deep within her soul.

            

She also wanted to stand astride a horse with sword drawn, to lie drunk on the battlefield; she wanted to slay enemies, wanted to conquer.

“Wenjun, if one day I can heal my legs, I want to witness a real battlefield.”

“The battle of Yanxing is already a real battlefield.”

            

“Not enough, far from enough. I want to personally see two armies facing off, see the deployment of troops and generals, see how all the back-and-forth, fist-to-flesh​¹² clashes proceed.”

“That’s very dangerous.”

“The greater the danger, the greater the reward. I fear no danger.”

            

Over the years, Zhen Wenjun had met many people. Some were heaven-sent geniuses, some were resolute and courageous, some held the world in their hearts, some innovated and governed effectively. But those who combined all these talents were few and far between, perhaps even non-existent.

Those who reached such heights in history invariably created great enterprises, leaving their names in the annals of history​¹³.

Zhen Wenjun knew that Wei Tingxu would definitely be one of them.

            

“There’s one more thing I’m very concerned about.” Zhen Wenjun pointed to the wound on the back of her neck. “Who was the person who sent that arrow my way? This person hiding behind the scenes has first-rate archery skills. The arrow shot at me was clearly meant to take my life; if I hadn’t dodged in time, I would have long since gone west​¹⁴. To be able to lock onto a target amidst chaotic battle and shoot without missing, this person is quite terrifying. What’s even more terrifying is that based on my observation at the time, the archer must have been on a tree over a hundred paces​¹⁵ away.”

“A hundred paces?”

Zhen Wenjun said: “Yes, possibly even further. I had Guan Xun send people from Huaiyang to investigate the Yao family. Currently, the head of the Yao family is still Yao Wei​¹⁶. Below the eldest legitimate son Yao Lin​¹⁷, there are three younger brothers and two younger sisters. There are fifteen children born of concubines in total. Further down, Yao Lin has four legitimate sons and two daughters, and quite many children born of concubines. The Yao clan was already the foremost aristocratic family in Nanya, and now their family is flourishing with numerous descendants, unmatched by anyone.”

            

Wei Tingxu smiled: “But you still found out the archer’s true identity?”

“Correct.” Zhen Wenjun said, “This person is Yao Lin’s eldest legitimate daughter, Yao Zhaoyi​¹⁸. Speaking of which, I heard about this person when I was young.”

“Heard about her?” Wei Tingxu pondered for a moment then nodded, “That’s right. Xie Suishan of Qi County and a daughter of the Yao clan were once husband and wife.”

            

“Mm, this Yao Zhaoyi was frail and sickly since childhood. Her mother heard there was a divine doctor in Qi County and made a special trip, traveling thousands of li from Nanya, to ask the divine doctor to treat her daughter. It was near the end of the year, and the Xie family’s household servants were all incredibly busy. It was my mother who led her to find the divine doctor. That’s the story I heard. Looking at it now, that divine doctor was truly amazing. Yao Zhaoyi not only survived but also became an archery expert. However, Yao Zhaoyi doesn’t have much major battle experience, having only participated in a few minor battles to quell internal unrest as part of her brother’s private army. Presumably, the core figure giving orders and deploying everything at Yanxing this time should still be Cao Fei. Besides Yao Zhaoyi, her four older brothers each have extensive experience with private armies.”

Wei Tingxu snorted, “The central government is dim and weak, the regional commanderies​¹⁹ are in chaos; private armies are the direct product of weakened imperial power. Even if Li Yanyi builds more roads, pushes more new policies, and develops more water conservancy projects, it’s not as important as weakening the power of the aristocratic clans. But even if she wants to weaken them, she cannot. Just look at the Geng clan to know; once you try to touch the interests of the aristocratic clans, you only end up causing more trouble. It’s wrong for Li Yanyi to weaken them, and wrong not to. The House of Yu, having reached this point, is already a completely wrong game.”​²⁰

This night, the two spoke freely in the garden, chatting from the state of warfare to military strategy, from military strategy to military commanders, and from commanders to which major renowned strategists were currently distributed among which prominent families, and the respective advantages and disadvantages of these families. They talked until dawn before reluctantly stopping, still feeling there was more to say.

            

“I have to go.” Zhen Wenjun stood up, stretching her sore muscles, quickly becoming energetic again. “Wait for my triumphant return. Then we’ll hold wine and chat merrily!”

“Alright.” Wei Tingxu reminded her, “Be absolutely careful, especially watch out for Yao Zhaoyi shooting hidden cold arrows again.”

“Don’t worry, I absolutely won’t let that person gain any advantage again.” Zhen Wenjun helped Wei Tingxu up and noticed her hands were very cold. “Are you cold? You should have gone inside earlier.”

            

“Not cold. Listening to you talk just makes my blood boil with passion; I feel very warm.” Because of the height difference, the way Wei Tingxu slightly tilted her head up to look at her actually made Zhen Wenjun think of the word “obedient”—had she lost her mind?

“Quickly go back and rest.” As Zhen Wenjun held Wei Tingxu’s hands within both of hers, her heart thumped wildly. This palpitation felt like the heart-fluttering excitement when they first grew close, the wonder of ambiguity.

“It won’t be too late to rest after I see you off.”

            

The two gazed at each other for a long while, neither willing to look away first. It was Wei Tingxu who spoke first: “This isn’t sustainable. I’m afraid if I can’t bear to part, I won’t want you to go.”

These words spoken by Wei Tingxu in the gentle morning light were the most moving words of love Zhen Wenjun had ever heard. Zhen Wenjun didn’t even want to speak, lest she add any noise to this beautiful scene.

Wei Tingxu’s hand slipped out from Zhen Wenjun’s grasp. Just as Zhen Wenjun felt a little disappointed, slender fingertips slowly climbed up her chest, onto her shoulder, and then wrapped around her neck.

            

The approaching lips made Zhen Wenjun involuntarily close her eyes.

Her heart pounded for a good while, but the imagined sweet, soft, fragrant lips never arrived.

Zhen Wenjun opened her eyes in confusion, seeing Wei Tingxu encircling her neck, gazing at her with a clear smile at the corners of her mouth, seemingly appraising her emotionally moved, eyes-closed appearance.

            

“You…”

Wei Tingxu hugged her tighter: “When you return triumphant, there will be more than just a kiss.”

Space Line

            

Having sat in the garden for too long, even dressed thickly, one couldn’t avoid feeling a bit stiff and cold. Wei Tingxu didn’t have the strength to walk back to her room, so Zhen Wenjun carried her back.

Settling steadily into Zhen Wenjun’s arms, Wei Tingxu twirled the ends of Zhen Wenjun’s hair with her fingertips. Drowsiness and warmth made her feel very relaxed and comfortable, even prompting her to ask knowingly: “Will you be angry with me?”

Zhen Wenjun carried her through the covered corridor, glancing down at her: “I’ve been angry enough already. If I stay angry any longer, I’m afraid I’ll anger myself to death, so I might as well let it go.”

            

Wei Tingxu chuckled, burying her face deeper.

Zhen Wenjun carried her back to the bedroom and told her to wait a moment.

Wei Tingxu really couldn’t guess what she was going off to do. After the time it took for two incense sticks to burn [an hour], she unexpectedly returned carrying two plates of food that looked extremely good. She placed them on the low table and set out bowls and chopsticks.

            

“You didn’t eat any of the food Aunt Ah Zhu sent over. I know you’ve always been picky. These two dishes of mine might not suit your taste either, I just tried my best to imitate Xiaohua’s style, they definitely won’t be as delicious as hers. Don’t force yourself. Eat if it’s palatable; if you find it tastes bad, just leave it.”

Wei Tingxu picked up the chopsticks and tasted a bite. Zhen Wenjun waited for her feedback.

“Mm…” Wei Tingxu sighed meaningfully, “It is indeed my favorite flavor. You’ve gone to trouble for me, Wenjun.”

            

Zhen Wenjun had never felt such great ambition before, charging towards Yanxing with a momentum that could engulf mountains and rivers​²¹.

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