Chapter 106

Chapter 106

The Rebel King has led his troops to attack Yun County in the west.

When this news spread through the streets of Wei County, the people's previously relaxed minds tightened once again. They hoped that the Rebel King would continue to suffer defeats, but they also feared that Yun County, lacking the strength of the Xiao family, would likely fall. If it did, it would only add more soldiers to the Rebel King’s ranks. Once he grew strong enough, he would surely come back to attack Wei County again.

The people were uneasy, unsure if they could have a peaceful year. Meanwhile, the Xiao family continued to train their troops with great intensity.

Sun Wei oversaw the blacksmiths and carpenters working day and night to prepare weapons. Qiao Changan led the convoy to buy grain from the villagers, who were more willing to sell their surplus grain for money rather than hand it over as taxes to the government.

Zhang Wengong was responsible for the military payroll, and both Sun Wei and Qiao Changan had to come to him for funds. Zhang Wengong meticulously verified every transaction.

Tong Sui and Aunt Xiao took on new tasks from the elder, recruiting skilled seamstresses from the city to sew thick winter clothes and quilts for the soldiers. The necessary needles, thread, coarse cloth, and cotton were all procured by Uncle Xiao. Tong Sui and her mother were tasked with supervising the work to ensure no one cut corners.

Guests began to visit the house frequently, but after hosting them twice, Tong Sui lost interest and handed off the responsibility to Lady He and Lin Ningfang. She focused entirely on her new task.

On the twelfth of October, thirty miles from Wei County, the cavalry camp was completed. That same day, Xiao Zhen moved the entire cavalry regiment there.

Xiao Zhen had mentioned to Tong Sui earlier that morning that they might move today, so when she received confirmation at dusk, she wasn't surprised.

It wasn’t until the evening of the fifteenth that Xiao Zhen returned home. After seeing Tong Sui briefly, he went to meet with the elder. At dinner, the grandfather and grandson ate together in the main hall.

Lady He glanced at Xiao Zhen and said to Xiao Yan, "Remind your Fourth Younger Brother and the others to come home for a meal tomorrow. They stay in the camp all the time, and we miss them."

Xiao Yan sided with his brothers: "Everyone is training hard, even practicing night raids and defense against raids. Not just them, I won't be coming back tomorrow night either."

He looked at his wife.

Lin Ningfang kept her eyes downcast as she ate, seemingly not paying attention to their conversation.

After dinner, everyone returned to their rooms.

In the East Wing Courtyard.

Over the past few days, Tong Sui had made a set of winter clothes for Xiao Zhen, using coarse black fabric lined with thick new cotton.

After Xiao Zhen washed up and cleaned himself, Tong Sui retrieved the new clothes from the cabinet for him to try on.

He looked imposing in black, which enhanced his martial appearance.

As Tong Sui examined him, Xiao Zhen touched the material and said, "Save these for the New Year; wearing new clothes in the camp isn’t worth it."

Tong Sui replied, "I made them because I was worried you’d be cold there. Who wears black during the New Year? I’ll make another set for you."

Xiao Zhen said, "Then save these for when we return to the city. My winter clothes from last year are still fine."

Tong Sui, being frugal, didn’t argue further. She walked over to help him take off the clothes and neatly folded them back into the cabinet.

Instead, Xiao Zhen threw the heavy robe onto the eastern end of the bed and lifted Tong Sui onto it.

Tong Sui’s heart raced, and she complained, "What’s the rush?"

Xiao Zhen quickly undid the buttons on her clothes, his dark eyes fixed on her. "I think about you every night. Tell me, am I not in a hurry?"

Tong Sui turned her head, blushing.

She missed him too, especially on cold nights when she longed for his presence.

After an hour, Xiao Zhen held her in his arms and spoke.

Tong Sui pressed her face against his warm chest and asked, "Are you getting used to living there? How’s the training going?"

Xiao Zhen replied, "If I tell you, you’ll worry. On the twentieth, I’ll bring you to see the cavalry. By then, they should be presentable."

Cavalry training was impressive, but it was challenging. Xiao Zhen feared she might laugh if she saw them now.

His brothers were all dedicated to training their troops, not just to prepare for the Rebel King but also to outdo each other, wanting their units to be the best.

Managing the cavalry camp, Xiao Zhen had high standards for himself, even without direct comparisons to other camps.

Tong Sui felt a surge of warmth hearing this.

These troops were protecting their county and their family, so the stronger they were, the better.

---

While the Xiao family was intensively training their troops, the Rebel King was also active. By the nineteenth, his forces had occupied Yun County and Yu County to the west, recruiting over twenty thousand new soldiers through a mix of persuasion and threats, bringing the total number of troops to forty thousand.

This intelligence was gathered by the Xiao family’s scouts, though most of the townspeople were unaware. However, the women of the Xiao family had received the news.

Lady He and Xiao Yuchan’s spirits, which had lifted briefly, were dampened again. They stopped visiting the city and stayed home.

With the enemy approaching, Tong Sui’s trust in the elder and Xiao Zhen wavered slightly. She still believed in them but found herself tossing and turning at night, filled with anxiety.

In the evening, Xiao Zhen returned as promised, carrying a light blue cloak over his left arm.

Xiao Yuchan greeted him first. "Second Brother, is this for yourself?"

Xiao Zhen glanced at Tong Sui and said, "It’s for your Second Sister-in-Law. She’s going with me to the cavalry camp tomorrow morning, and it’s windy on horseback."

Xiao Yuchan immediately responded, "I want to go too. Where did you buy it? I’ll get one for myself."

Xiao Zhen named the shop but left the cost to her, as he didn’t have much private money.

Xiao Yuchan turned to Lady He for the funds.

Lady He took the cloak and examined it. "It’s lined with sheepskin and trimmed with rabbit fur. How much did it cost?"

Xiao Zhen replied, "Six taels. I borrowed three months’ salary from Zhang Wengong in advance."

The Wei Cheng Army's salaries are clearly defined: one tael of silver per month for ordinary soldiers, and Xiao Zhen, as a thousand-household commander, receives two and a half taels.

Mrs. He: "…"

Xiao Yuchan knew it would be difficult to get so much from her mother, so she went to find the old man to pout.

Xiao Mu: "Go to your father."

Xiao Shouyi: "…" How could he have any money when it all goes to his wife?

Xiao Yan looked at the cloak returned to his second brother by their mother, then turned to Lin Ningfang.

This time, Lin Ningfang finally gave him a look: don't.

If Xiao Yan dared to buy it for her, Xiao Yuchan and Mrs. He would surely mock her together. Why bother getting into trouble over an unnecessary cloak?

---

Back in the East Wing Courtyard, Tong Sui, having received the cloak, quietly scolded Xiao Zhen: "Why do you think I'm so delicate? Buying this is both wasteful and troublesome."

Xiao Zhen: "I spent my monthly salary; even Grandfather can't control me."

Xiao Er was truly impressive. Tong Sui pointed next door: "If you're so capable, say that to Grandfather's face."

Xiao Zhen pulled her into his arms: "Not capable enough, only brave enough with you."

He was genuinely happy. Since the money was already spent, Tong Sui stopped nagging, pushed him away, and sat on the bed, fondling the cloak affectionately. The fine cloth exterior, lined with fur, had fluffy rabbit fur around the hood and collar, warm and soft.

After admiring it enough, Tong Sui started calculating: "A cloak like this probably uses five sheepskins. At current prices, one sheepskin costs about one tael of silver. The rabbit fur and cloth aren't worth another tael."

Xiao Zhen smiled at her: "They need to earn some for their craftsmanship."

Tong Sui: "…"

Xiao Zhen also touched the cloak and said: "Noble families wouldn't even look at sheepskin. This will do for now; later, I'll buy you fox or sable fur."

Tong Sui nervously replied: "I'm already content with your thoughtfulness. The money in the military camp is accounted for; don't misuse it for this."

Xiao Zhen: "Am I that kind of person? What I spend on you comes from my honest earnings."

Tong Sui smiled and walked to the bronze mirror to try on the cloak.

Xiao Zhen leaned against the bed, watching her joy, feeling the few taels were well spent.

After washing up, they shared passionate moments in bed. The next morning, after breakfast, Tong Sui accompanied Xiao Zhen, holding the cloak until they reached the gate and mounted the horse outside. If she wore it inside, Xiao Yuchan's eyes would turn red.

The sky-blue color was beautiful yet understated, making Tong Sui's cheeks appear even more radiant. Xiao Zhen kept glancing at her while riding.

Tong Sui ignored him and sped up once they left the North Gate.

The wind carried a chill sharper than autumn's, proving the cloak's usefulness.

After running and stopping for half an hour, they arrived.

Outside the cavalry camp, ten hundred-household commanders from Lingshui Village were leading new recruits in drills. The flat ground was marked with three-foot-high logs at intervals, which the cavalrymen leaped over on their horses, displaying bravery and agility.

Tong Sui: "So this is how they train. I thought just being able to ride fast was enough."

Xiao Zhen: "The battlefield isn't always flat; sometimes battles happen on mountainous terrain. They practice on flat ground first, then move to mountains."

Tong Sui nodded.

Xiao Zhen led her into the camp: "In the morning, they practice riding skills; in the afternoon, spear techniques and archery. Each day, they also dedicate half an hour to mounted combat and mounted archery."

Tong Sui saw a row of targets on another empty field.

Seeing her gaze fixed there, Xiao Zhen asked: "Want to try?"

Tong Sui's archery was excellent, but she had never practiced mounted archery.

Xiao Zhen fetched a bow and arrows. Tong Sui took off the cloak and handed it to him, then ran toward the targets with the bow and arrows.

Confident in herself, she realized the difficulty of mounted archery when she tried to release the reins and draw the bow.

On her first run, Tong Sui focused on balancing on the horse and missed all shots.

On her second run, she fired several arrows, some hitting the target, others missing.

The cavalrymen who had finished their drills stopped to watch Lady Second shoot.

When Tong Sui hit the target on her second run, the spectators' amusement turned to admiration. By her fifth run, every arrow hit the target, and the thousand cavalrymen cheered loudly.

Tong Sui wasn't satisfied yet, as her accuracy still needed improvement.

Xiao Zhen approached, teasing her: "How about staying here and going back with me when I leave?"

Tong Sui could imagine what Xiao Zhen would do if she stayed overnight.

Despite the military camp being a serious place, he still acted frivolously. Tong Sui reloaded her bow and turned to aim at him.

The watching cavalrymen, initially stunned, then shouted encouragement: "Lady Second, don't go easy on him! Teach him a lesson!"

Tong Sui remembered the soldiers watching and blushed, glaring at Xiao Zhen, putting away her bow and running into the camp.

Xiao Zhen smiled and followed her, riding leisurely.