Chapter 118

Chapter 118

The old man agreed to become the commander of seven counties, which meant he had accepted He Lianqing's surrender.

He Lianqing breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, he didn't have to beg anymore; acting was exhausting!

He wiped away his tears and took his seat again.

After chatting for a while, Zhang Wengong entered with four ledger books, saying that the land had been distributed and asked the old man to review them.

He Lianqing did not ask but showed confusion on his face.

Xiao Mu explained, "We were able to defeat the rebel king thanks to the bravery of our young men from these two counties. Now that the fighting has ceased, it's time to compensate the wounded and reward those who contributed."

He explained the two methods of rewarding the Wei Cheng Army to He Lianqing and then asked how He Lianqing planned to honor the Ding City Army.

Looking at the old man's kind smile, He Lianqing felt like he was staring at an old wolf king, one who wanted him to feed the pups. If he didn't, death awaited.

Thoughts flashed through his mind, and He Lianqing smiled. "I had the same intention, but I was in such a hurry to invite you to take charge that I haven't had time to tally the contributions yet."

Xiao Mu said, "Then, Sir, please get back to work. My second son should arrive with the surrendered troops by evening. We'll need you here tomorrow morning to oversee everything together."

He Lianqing agreed repeatedly and took his leave.

As soon as he left, Zhang Wengong said to the old man in surprise, "If Liu Ying is eight parts greedy, this He County Magistrate is at least four. With the rebel king defeated and the danger to Ding County resolved, he's actually willing to give silver and land to reward the militia?"

Tong Sui laughed. "He personally begged my grandfather to be the commander of seven counties. From now on, Ding County's troops will also be under Grandfather's command."

Zhang Wengong's face lit up. "Right, although the county magistrate is greedy, he's smart enough to know better than to act corruptly under Grandfather's watch."

Xiao Mu took the detailed accounts from him and, while flipping through them, said, "After all, we're all commoners at heart. Although what we do is for the good of the people, we still need an official to report to the court on our behalf. We can't control what He County Magistrate did before, but if he reforms and starts thinking about the people, we'll let bygones be bygones."

There were too many accounts, and the old man had only slept for a couple of hours last night. After flipping through them for a bit, he handed all four books to Tong Sui. "Help me calculate this, dear."

Tong Sui felt sorry for her grandfather, who had to handle everything himself despite his age. She took the ledgers and went to the study to check them carefully.

These accounts listed each Wei Cheng soldier's contributions and rewards, including the location of the land.

The old man took nothing for himself. His own children and relatives received silver but no land, while others received both.

According to rank, the first name was Xiao Zhen, the deputy commander of the Wei Cheng Army, receiving double pay—five taels of silver—and ten taels of silver as a top-tier merit award.

Surprisingly, the second name was Tong Sui, with a temporary rank of deputy commander, receiving the same pay and merit award as Xiao Zhen.

Tong Sui felt a bit embarrassed. She could receive fifteen taels of silver, which was the price of a whole deer, meat and hide included.

Next came Xiao Shouyi and the other five thousand commanders, rated for second-tier merit.

Tong Sui silently compared their contributions. The five thousand commanders led infantry to ambush Li Gang, killing more soldiers than Xiao Zhen's side. However, Xiao Zhen single-handedly subdued the rebel king's strongest force of two thousand cavalry without losing any of his own troops, making his contribution equal to the five thousand commanders. Additionally, he devised the overall strategy and defeated Li Zhen's twenty-thousand-strong army, making him deserving of the top-tier merit.

Tong Sui glanced at the "top-tier merit" next to her name.

Both defending the city and repelling the enemy were essential, so perhaps her top-tier merit was justified?

For second-tier merit, there was five taels of silver and five acres of land.

The only "outsider," Thousand Commander Sun Dian, would receive double pay, two acres of land, plus five taels of silver and five acres of land for second-tier merit.

Moving down to the hundred commanders, Tong Sui saw familiar names like Pan Yong under Xiao Shouyi and Pan Dai under Xiao Ye. Both father and son earned third-tier merit for killing enemies, receiving three taels of silver and three acres of land, plus two acres of land for each soldier, totaling ten acres of land near Lingshui Village.

Tong Sui suddenly understood why some men were willing to go to war. Though dangerous, once they achieved military merit, the rewards were substantial!

Her brother, Tong Gui, also a hundred commander, did not receive land due to his familial ties with the Xiao family, just like her father, who had contributed in other ways within the city.

The old man had specifically explained to Tong Sui that taking over seven counties already brought many benefits. Silver should be shared, but land was visible to everyone. Since their family members were capable, taking too much land might lead to resentment and accusations of favoritism.

Since they weren't lacking food or drink, why risk such trouble?

The current fame and fortune were temporary. It was better to use this land to gain a good reputation and prevent future authorities from finding reasons to accuse them.

Tong Sui understood this logic and believed her family would accept it.

---

Tong Sui continued working on the accounts until dusk.

As dinner approached, the old man, who had been busy running around, appeared at the door and asked, "My second son should arrive in about two hours. Would you like to eat here and wait for him, or go home?"

There was a hint of teasing in his tone.

If Tong Sui had been idle, she might have blushed and gone home, but since she had work to do, she chose to stay.

The old man smiled and left. Soon, the kitchen sent dinner. Tonight, they had steamed buns filled with cabbage.

Warm and comforting, Tong Sui ate while flipping through the accounts, finishing without realizing it.

Night fell, and at the third hour of the Dog, scouts reported that Xiao Zhen's large contingent of surrendered troops was a mile away.

A mile away meant they would arrive in less than fifteen minutes.

The Wei Cheng Army at the South Camp quickly mobilized, carrying buckets of steamed buns wrapped in cotton blankets and hot soup to the city gates.

Tong Sui put on the cloak the old man had sent someone to fetch from home and rode with Zhang Wengong and others to accompany the old man onto the city wall.

The large contingent of surrendered troops was very close, with rows of men holding torches and lanterns at regular intervals.

When the troops reached the city walls, the two riders dismounted, and one called out, "Xiao Zhen leads fifteen thousand seven hundred surrendered troops and three thousand Ding City soldiers to greet Commander Xiao!"

At his call, the entire contingent echoed, "Greetings, Commander Xiao!"

Tong Sui couldn't see Xiao Zhen's face clearly, but she suspected that the entire Wei City had heard the roar of the surrendered troops.

Xiao Mu raised his voice and said, "The rebel king has been executed. As long as you renounce your allegiance to him and cease causing trouble in the countryside, starting tonight, you will be just like the other twenty thousand men—ordinary citizens of the five counties: Yun, Yu, Huai, Ying, and Cheng. You will have no more connection with the rebel king. Are you willing to return to civilian status?"

"We are willing! We are willing!"

"Thank you, Commander Xiao, for sparing our lives!"

After a series of thunderous shouts, Xiao Mu continued, "It's late, and we've set up tents for all of you. Knowing that you haven't eaten dinner due to your hurried march, we've prepared steamed buns and hot soup. Please form twenty lines under the lanterns at the city gate. After eating and warming yourselves, go rest in the tents. Tomorrow morning, after the army assembles, I'll let everyone return home."

As soon as the old man finished speaking, the twenty guards waiting on the city wall lowered twenty strings of red lanterns, hanging them over the battlements.

The twenty strings of red lanterns symbolized a warm meal, swaying gently in the evening breeze.

A chorus of wails came from the surrendered troops.

Can we really go home? Can we really go home?

---

Xiao Zhen and others maintained order below. Once the fifteen thousand surrendered soldiers and the three thousand Ding City infantrymen had eaten and settled into their tents, the Wei City troops entered the city.

Tong Sui had been waiting inside the guardhouse near the city gate. When everyone else had dispersed and only a few familiar faces remained, she stepped out with her lantern.

Xiao Zhen was listening to Qiao Changan and Xiao She boasting to each other. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the lantern and turned slightly. Recognizing the familiar face in the light, he froze.

Qiao Changan chuckled and called over a few single brothers to talk in the barracks.

Tong Gui didn't want to delay the reunion between the second master and the second mistress, but the second mistress was his sister, and he missed her!

"Second Brother!"

Tong Sui, fearing her brother might run away after so many days apart, hurried over with her lantern, temporarily ignoring Xiao Zhen beside her. She stared at her brother, examining him closely. "Are you hurt?"

Tong Gui also looked at his sister. "No, how about you?"

Tong Sui smiled. "I'm fine too, and everything at home is good."

Qiao Changan coughed.

Tong Gui glanced at the second master, who had been neglected by his sister because of him, and finally decided to leave. "I still have things to do. You go home with the second master first; we'll meet up later when we're done!"

Tong Sui watched her brother mount his horse and ride off, chatting and laughing with a few young men.

Still watching, she suddenly felt herself lifted off the ground by the second master of Xiao, placed on the saddle, and then he mounted the horse. He pulled the cloak hood over her head and urged the horse into a gallop.

Tong Sui buried herself in his chest, shielded from the wind by him and the cloak.

The sound of galloping hooves echoed clearly in the empty streets, but she could hear his strong heartbeat.

Xiao Zhen's killing of Li Zhong had already spread among the Wei City troops. Tong Sui knew her husband was strong, but she didn't realize he could be so powerful.

She held onto him tightly.

Xiao Zhen caught her hands and pushed them back under the cloak. "It's cold outside; we can hug more at home."

Tong Sui smiled and hugged him again.

She wasn't cold; she wasn't cold at all.

---

At the Xiao residence, Aunt Xiao had the kitchen maid boil a pot of hot water and used the key Tong Sui gave her to heat the couple's bed.

Not knowing when the couple would return, Aunt Xiao sent the kitchen maid to sleep and lay fully clothed on the heated bed, checking the kitchen every half hour to rekindle the fire if the water cooled down.

Huo lived next door and was restless due to Aunt Xiao's footsteps. Her own husband had returned to the city last night but hadn't come home to see her, making her miss him terribly.

When she heard movement in the front yard, Aunt Xiao excitedly ran out and hugged her second nephew tightly.

Xiao Zhen let her hug him while Tong Sui stood beside him, smiling.

After hugging him enough, Aunt Xiao released him. "Alright, it's good to have you home. The bed is already heated, and there's hot water in the kitchen. Carry it over yourself; I'm going to sleep now!"

Xiao Zhen smiled. "Auntie always cares for me the most."

Then, he squeezed the hand he had been holding.

Tong Sui: "..."

Why does this feel like there's more to it?