Fish Meat – Chapter 246
by Little PandaThe Tenth Year of Shunde
Like Snapping Dried Twigs and Pulling Up Rotten Wood (13)
A detachment of Yao family light cavalry traveled under the cover of night. Spies closely monitoring the Yao family army swiftly reported back to Wei Tingxu.
Wei Tingxu sensed something unusual was afoot. She ordered her people to continue shadowing the light cavalry, cautioning them not to act rashly. Meanwhile, she quickly went to rendezvous with Zhen Wenjun.
Zhen Wenjun and her contingent were currently in Nanling1, a small border town in Pingcang, precisely the place where Gong’er and Grand Empress Dowager Geng resided.
After the two met, Wei Tingxu recounted everything about the recent encounters with the Yao family. Several generals and advisors gathered inside a tent to discuss the situation.
Zhen Wenjun said, “It seems the Yao family intends to turn our own scheme against us2, making us mistakenly believe they’ve already become enemies with the Hengshui King, and sending light cavalry to probe Sui County. If we rashly force a crossing of the Wei River to attack Da County, we’ll fall into their ambush. But if we don’t attack, I fear we’ll end up in a stalemate, wasting provisions and grain, which would be extremely disadvantageous for us.”
Zhangsun Wu remarked, “This Ge Sheng is certainly cunning, deliberately letting us see a detachment of light cavalry. This way, we’re bound to speculate, and once we start speculating, we’ll become even more hesitant. I suppose that old thief Ge wants us to be hesitant, afraid to cross the Wei River easily, thus buying more time for their plans.”
Wei Jing’an stated, “That Sui County is indeed a problem. Why not attack Sui County first, use it as a base, and then attack Da County? That would be more prudent.”
Zhen Wenjun stroked her chin, pondering for a moment, then asked Bu Jie:
“Wensheng, what are your thoughts?”
Bu Jie saw Wei Tingxu opposite him, gazing at him with a smile, seemingly waiting earnestly to hear his esteemed opinion. Bu Jie calmly replied:
“General Wei speaks rightly. Sui County is the fiefdom of the Hengshui King. He has been secretly recruiting soldiers and horses, quite possibly hiding them all in Sui County. The Hengshui King harbors great hostility towards us; at this moment, he is a major threat that could erupt at any time. I believe the Yao family army initially retreated towards the Wei River having already considered the power dynamics here. Now, the Yao light cavalry heading to Sui County serves, one, to confuse us, and two, shows they are determined to ally with the Hengshui King. Once these two ally, the Wei River will be difficult to attack, and with our insufficient supply lines, I fear retreat will be our only option. The best plan for now is to attack Sui County first, then break Da County.”
After Bu Jie finished speaking, everyone in the tent nodded frequently.
An urgent message was delivered into the tent. Wei Tingxu unfolded the letter, glanced over it, and then looked up at the assembled group.
“What is it?” Zhen Wenjun asked.
“Yubei King Li Mu has marched his troops north, striking directly at Runing. They have already reached the city walls.”
“What?”
Zhen Wenjun exclaimed, “Who on earth is this Yubei King Li Mu? I’ve never heard of him before. To think he’d attack Runing at a time like this.”
Zhangsun Wu said, “Runing is currently vulnerable, with only the capital’s Imperial Guard remaining. For this Li Mu to make a move on Runing is a monstrous crime3. Not only will he face condemnation from all sides, but he will also bear eternal infamy4. It seems he cares about nothing, has come prepared, and is determined to succeed.”
Zhen Wenjun looked at Wei Tingxu, “Zizhuo predicted that someone would inevitably attack the capital after we left Runing, and had already evacuated all relatives in the capital back to Pingcang. I didn’t expect it to come true just a few months into the campaign. This Yubei King probably couldn’t hold back any longer and has revealed his true colors.”
“Meimei,” Wei Jing’an asked Wei Tingxu, “Do we send aid or not?”
All eyes were on her, waiting for her decision.
Wei Tingxu folded the urgent message, the answer already clear in her mind. “No aid,” she stated crisply.
Zhen Wenjun walked out of the tent, Ah Bi following closely behind, tail wagging furiously.
Just as she picked Ah Bi up, Wei Tingxu happened to walk out.
Zhen Wenjun looked around for a place to hide the clingy, stupid dog. Wei Tingxu’s smile was a bit stiff as she approached and tentatively stroked Ah Bi’s furry head.
“Eh?” Zhen Wenjun was particularly curious. “You’re not afraid anymore?”
Ah Bi opportunely stuck out its soft tongue and licked the back of Wei Tingxu’s hand. Wei Tingxu smiled, “I am afraid, but I can’t stay afraid forever.”
“If you’re not even afraid of dogs, then Zizhuo truly has no weaknesses left.”
Wei Tingxu gazed at her for a long moment. “Who doesn’t have weaknesses? It just depends on whether one is willing to overcome them.”
The allied Wei forces and the Yao family army engaged in a back-and-forth, evenly matched; neither could achieve a decisive victory. Just as Xiao Xiao and the others rendezvoused with Zhen Wenjun, battle reports arrived from Runing: the Yubei King’s army had slaughtered their way into Runing, the city had fallen. The Son of Heaven, Li Feng, under the protection of Liu Shao, had escaped the capital and taken refuge in the fiefdom of the Lin’an King, Li Min.
Li Mu occupied Runing. Soon, heroes rose across the land5, and calls to crusade against Li Mu surged wave after wave. Attackers converged on Runing, an endless stream6 wanting to drag Li Mu out and whip his corpse.
Li Mu held Runing and refused to come out, defending the city with heavy troops, making a forced assault extremely difficult. After three months, Li Mu remained comfortably within the Forbidden Gardens, already considering himself the Son of Heaven. At this time, uprisings large and small erupted successively across the land of Da Yu. In Liu Shao’s hometown of Liu County, his large-scale construction projects7 had burdened the people and drained resources8; the local populace had long harbored deep resentment. Amidst the chaos engulfing the realm, they were the first to revolt. The uprising quickly spread like a prairie fire, sweeping across the entire Da Yu.
Looking back through the history of Da Yu, apart from the two most stable and prosperous periods—the foundational Wenyu Reign9 and the Yongshou Restoration10—during which uprisings were few, nearly every other period saw various kinds of revolts erupt almost annually. Whether it was the Yellow Earth Righteous Warriors or the Purge the Evil Cults, no uprising had ever exploded with such speed and ferocity as this one. Besides the eruption of long-suppressed resentment, a figure with extraordinary leadership qualities suddenly emerged among the common people. It was said this person’s surname was Huang, given name Fu11, with a head of red hair and a red beard, appearing like fire from afar. His shoulders were exceptionally broad, and he possessed three eyes, capable of looking into the past and seeing the future.
The rebel army called themselves the Red Lotus Cult12. This massive uprising, originating from Liu County, quickly gathered strength from all directions, forming powerful fists that punched through local defenses one by one, charging towards Li Min’s territory, demanding he hand over Liu Shao and the Son of Heaven.
Li Min had always possessed an extraordinary talent for trimming his sails to the wind13. Seeing the unstoppable, menacing advance of the Red Lotus Cult, he shrewdly handed over Liu Shao and Li Feng, then fled Da Yu with his family along the Path of Ten Thousand Directions.
Liu Shao was killed on the spot, while Li Feng was snatched away by Geng family forces. The Geng family, holding the Son of Heaven, thought they could command the realm, but unexpectedly, within a month, three different factions engulfed the Geng clan, simultaneously vying to seize Li Feng again.
Li Feng escaped under the desperate protection of three young eunuchs14. The young eunuchs were quickly killed, leaving Li Feng to flee frantically alone in a horse-drawn carriage.
A large army pursued him from behind, the thunder of hooves shaking the very earth. Li Feng was actually within firing range, but being the Son of Heaven, no one dared to loose an arrow.
Li Feng bounced precariously in the carriage, pursuers close behind, in imminent danger. Yet, the brilliant sunset dyeing the land ahead captured all his attention.
The wide road stretched unobstructed before him. The whistling wind blew against his face, making him feel alive.
How many years had it been since he last left the Forbidden Gardens, since he had galloped wildly, experienced the tension of life and death on the line, drenched in foul sweat?
This was his world; he was the king here!
Li Feng faced the golden light, cheering loudly, laughing and shouting, turning a desperate escape into a carnival.
Finally, he drove the carriage off a cliff.
By the time news of Li Feng’s fall reached Wei Tingxu’s ears, the Central Plains had descended into a chaotic melee, and their standoff with the Yao family had reached a fever pitch15.
The Yao family cut off their supply lines, but this instead galvanized the fighting spirit of Zhen Wenjun and her people. After the bridge leading to Da County was repaired, Wei Jing’an, leading the vanguard, was the first to charge into the enemy formation.
Wei Jing’an had always been a vanguard commander, fighting at the very front. He had sustained numerous injuries over the years. As he grew older, he was no longer as fierce and valiant as in his twenties, but this time, he still decided to lead the troops across the Wei River at the earliest opportunity.
“You can let others do these things. I think that Huang Bu seems quite capable,” Zhangsun Wu tried to persuade him before departure not to push himself so hard. Wei Jing’an, however, shook his head:
“I wouldn’t feel at ease entrusting it to others.”
“Are you uneasy about others, or uneasy about Zhen Wenjun’s people?”
Wei Jing’an smiled and shook his head, continuing to polish his weapon.
“If anything should happen to you, what about Saozi16? What about the children at home? Zilian, you mustn’t try to be overly brave.”
Just as Wei Jing’an was about to speak, the old injury on his waist suddenly flared up, causing him to break out in a cold sweat from the pain. Zhangsun Wu quickly told him to lie down and brought medicinal wine to help massage and soothe the area.
“Many thanks, Zhanying17,” Wei Jing’an thanked him while lying prone on the bed.
“Why stand on ceremony with me?”
“Um… Zhanying,” Wei Jing’an hesitated, “That incident back then… it was my fault. I had a rush of blood to the head and…”
Zhangsun Wu chuckled softly. “That’s all just old, trivial stuff18, why bring it up?”
“Back then, I took advantage, and afterwards, I treated you like that… I’m really not a decent person.”
Zhangsun Wu gave his injured waist a thump, making him break out in a cold sweat again from the pain.
“That kind of thing, naturally, we were both happy. How could it be that only one person took advantage? I knew long ago that you, Wei Zilian, are a man of unyielding integrity19. That business with men20 was just a moment of being possessed21; you were always going to return to the path meant for you. You and Saozi got married because you truly hit it off22, and now you’re happy and fulfilled. As your brother, I’m happy for you. I never held onto those past matters; you’re the only one still thinking about them.”
Wei Jing’an turned his head and smiled at him. “Zhanying, if you ever need your Gege’s help with anything in the future, you must tell me!”
“Why would I need you to worry about me? Preserving your life and returning safely is more important than anything.”
With years of unspoken tension finally resolved, Wei Jing’an transformed back into a fierce tiger, rapidly crossing the Wei River and charging towards Da County.
Prior to this, Xiao Xiao had already rejoined the main army. Using Yao Zhaoyi’s life as leverage, they demanded the Yao family quickly exit the city and surrender. The Yao family deliberated through the night. Ge Sheng advised sacrificing the young lady’s life to prioritize the greater good. Yao Lin and his son could only agree, albeit painfully.
Before reaching Nanling, Xiao Xiao was a commander. After arriving in Nanling, surrounded by famous generals, she was merely a junior, basically having no opportunity to speak. With nothing much to do, she went to watch over Yao Zhaoyi.
Unexpectedly, even without working or fighting, her stomach grew hungry exceptionally easily. The two steamed buns distributed to her were simply not enough; every day she had to secretly ask her Ah Mu for two more.
Zhen Wenjun was somewhat astonished. “You eat four steamed buns in one meal?”
Xiao Xiao, while eating, held up a hand showing the number “six,” meaning she needed six to feel full.
Recalling her own appetite as a teenager, Zhen Wenjun came to a conclusion: perhaps the people of Changge had large appetites flowing in their blood; they could eat and drink heartily.
Zhen Wenjun deeply understood the feeling of an empty stomach. Xiao Xiao was at a growing age and couldn’t be allowed to go hungry. However, it wasn’t right to skimp on military rations just for her own child. So, Zhen Wenjun ate only one steamed bun per meal, giving the saved one to Xiao Xiao. When Wei Tingxu learned of this, she simply gave both of her buns to Xiao Xiao as well; Wei Tingxu couldn’t bite into those iron-like things anyway.
Xiao Xiao was responsible for guarding Yao Zhaoyi. When Zhen Wenjun delivered the steamed bun, Yao Zhaoyi heard her voice, opened her eyes, and saw Zhen Wenjun under the bright sun.
“Lady Yao, long time no see.” Zhen Wenjun handed her a flask of wine.
“General Zhen, I trust you’ve been well23.” Yao Zhaoyi’s lips curved upwards, glancing sideways at her. “I don’t drink.”
Zhen Wenjun helped her sit up, pressed a hand against her lower back, then pressed upwards again. Yao Zhaoyi felt dizzy and saw stars from the pain but endured without crying out.
After pressing several times, Zhen Wenjun released her. Yao Zhaoyi said, “Could it be General Zhen still thinks I am faking my disability? General, you needn’t trouble yourself. Ever since I fell from Xiangyue Rise that year, I have spent several years accompanied by a four-wheeled chair. I need assistance for dressing, eating, and daily living. I am a genuine cripple!”
Meeting Yao Zhaoyi’s hate-filled eyes, Zhen Wenjun showed no expression, simply leaving with the words, “Take care, Lady Yao,” and departed.
Xiao Xiao had assumed that seeing her enemy again would put Yao Zhaoyi in a terrible mood, perhaps leading to a quick decline. Unexpectedly, over the following days, Yao Zhaoyi was actually able to eat a little, her spirits improved considerably, and she even proactively asked to drink the wine Zhen Wenjun had left. Unlike before, when she resembled nothing more than a waxed corpse.
“Are you interested in my Ah Mu?” Xiao Xiao blurted out, the steamed bun in her mouth suddenly losing its flavor.
She expected Yao Zhaoyi to ignore her as usual, but surprisingly, she answered very seriously:
“Not in the way you’re thinking. I hate her, yet I envy and resent her. More than that, I admire her, and feel regret for her. Someone like her should have had more choices.”
“And that doesn’t count as being interested?” Xiao Xiao forcefully tore off a large piece of steamed bun and stuffed it into her mouth.
Yao Zhaoyi: “…”
She instantly regretted it. Why did she confide in a little brat24?
“Hey, if you could still walk, what would you want to do?” Xiao Xiao finished eating but didn’t leave, continuing to question her.
Yao Zhaoyi replied, “I never think about ‘if’.”
Xiao Xiao mentally noted this phrase, finding it remarkably cool and out of the ordinary.
This Yao family woman possessed many qualities that Xiao Xiao wanted to savor and understand more deeply. Unfortunately, she would not get the chance to continue savoring them.
Two days later, Yao Zhaoyi died, assassinated by the Yao family.
Footnotes
- 南嶺 | Nánlǐng
- 將計就計 | jiāng jì jiù jì | Lit. “take the stratagem and use the stratagem”; To beat someone at their own game, turning their plan against them.
- 彌天大罪 | mítiān dà zuì | Lit. “sky-filling great crime”; A heinous, heaven-offending crime.
- 千秋罵名 | qiānqiū màmíng | Lit. “thousand autumns cursed name”; Infamy that lasts through the ages.
- 群雄并起 | qúnxióng bìng qǐ | Lit. “group of heroes rise together”; Often refers to various warlords or leaders rising simultaneously during chaotic times.
- 絡繹不絕 | luòyì bù jué | Lit. “connecting threads not cut”; Continuous, uninterrupted flow (of people, traffic, etc.).
- 大興土木 | dà xīng tǔmù | Lit. “greatly promote earth and wood”; To carry out large-scale building projects.
- 勞民傷財 | láo mín shāng cái | Lit. “toil the people, injure wealth”; Describes actions that waste manpower and deplete finances, causing hardship.
- 文武之治 | Wénwǔ zhī zhì | Lit. “Civil and Martial Rule,” referring to an era of good governance by the founders.
- 永壽中興 | Yǒngshòu Zhōngxīng | Lit. “Eternal Longevity Restoration,” referring to a period of mid-dynasty revival.
- 黃複 | Huáng Fù
- 紅蓮教 | Hónglián jiào | A name often associated with rebellious or millenarian peasant movements in Chinese history.
- 見風使舵 | jiàn fēng shǐ duò | Lit. “see the wind, use the rudder”; To act opportunistically according to the situation.
- 小黃門 | xiǎo huángmén | Lit. “little yellow gate.” A title for eunuch officials, often serving in close proximity to the imperial family.
- 白熱化 | báirèhuà | Lit. “white-hot-ification”; Reaching a state of intense heat or climax.
- 嫂子 | sǎozi | Elder brother’s wife; sister-in-law. Here referring to Wei Jing’an’s wife.
- 占穎 | Zhānyǐng | Courtesy name for Zhangsun Wu.
- 陳谷子爛芝麻 | chén gǔzi làn zhīma | Lit. “stale grain rotten sesame”; Old, insignificant matters not worth mentioning; water under the bridge.
- 鐵骨铮铮 | tiě gǔ zhēng zhēng | Lit. “iron bones clanging”; Describes someone of strong moral character and integrity.
- 和男人那點兒事 | hé nánrén nà diǎnr shì | Lit. “that little bit of business with men.” A euphemism implying a past homosexual encounter or relationship.
- 鬼迷心竅 | guǐ mí xīn qiào | Lit. “ghost confusing heart’s aperture”; To be possessed, obsessed, or act irrationally.
- 情投意合 | qíng tóu yì hé | Lit. “feelings thrown, intentions join”; Mutual affection and understanding; perfectly suited for each other.
- 別來無恙 | bié lái wú yàng | Lit. “since parting, have there been no troubles?”; A formal way of asking if someone has been well since the last meeting.
- 小屁孩 | xiǎo pìhái | Lit. “little fart child.” A dismissive term for a young child; brat, kid.
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