Chapter 218

Chapter 218

The army leaves tomorrow, so Father will stay at the camp tonight and sent me back to the city to say goodbye to everyone.

Following the order from south to north, Tong Sui first went to the Qiao family, only to find out that Aunt Xiao had already gone to the Duke's residence. Tong Sui then left Anye Fang and headed to Gong'an Fang, where the Tong family lived.

Tong Youyu wasn’t the type to sit around doing nothing. Since arriving in Luoyang, he had been looking for something to occupy his time. After discussing it with Xiao Zhen and the old master, they decided to put the two hundred hectares of land from the two Xiao family estates under his care. The land would be farmed by tenants, managed by the estate heads, and Tong Youyu’s job was to supervise the heads to ensure they didn’t bully the tenants or withhold rent.

It being the spring plowing season, Tong Youyu had been staying at the estate these past few days and hadn’t returned home tonight.

Zhou Qing and her niece-in-law, Tian Shi, were at home.

Tong Gui had married before Xiao Ye, and last winter, Tian Shi found out she was pregnant. She is now showing.

Recently, Zhou Qing had been entirely focused on her niece-in-law but, like Aunt Xiao, had been worried that the two self-proclaimed emperors in the south might take the opportunity to attack since Tong Gui and the Xiao family men had gone to fight in Wu country. Once the fighting started, the old master and her daughter might have to lead troops into battle.

Seeing her daughter walk into the house in her battle armor, Zhou Qing’s heart sank.

Tong Sui guided her mother and sister-in-law into the hall, offering a reassuring smile. “I’m going to Jingzhou with the old master. This time, we’re defending the city, not attacking, so it’s not as dangerous. Don’t worry.”

Tian Shi, not understanding these matters, looked nervously at her mother-in-law.

To keep her niece-in-law from worrying, Zhou Qing went along with what her daughter said. However, when they were alone, Zhou Qing hugged her daughter, saying painfully, “In the past, you followed the old master into battle because there was no choice. Now that peace has finally come, there are so many great generals around the emperor. Why do you and Father feel the need to prove yourselves again?”

Tong Sui replied, “There are many generals, but there are also many fronts to defend. The old master is one of the best, so naturally, the emperor will send the most likely to win.”

Looking at her daughter, who could still smile, Zhou Qing sighed. “Alright, go if you want to. Just remember, your mother and father are waiting for you at home.”

Tong Sui bowed three times to her mother, preventing her from seeing her off, and quickly left.

At the Zhou family’s place, Zhou Jingchun and Zhou Yuanbai would remain in the capital city. Zhou Xian and Zhou Gui were ready to continue following Tong Sui with the army.

After confirming the departure time for tomorrow morning, Tong Sui finally returned to the Xiao residence.

Everyone from both estates was at the Duke's residence, including Aunt Xiao and Uncle Xiao.

The old master and granddaughter had already packed their belongings, and the farewells had been said several times before, leaving a general atmosphere of gloom.

Tong Sui took out a letter from her sleeve and handed it to Aunt Xiao, saying, “Grandfather asked me to give you this. He said you should read it after you return home.”

The letter was thick, and as soon as Aunt Xiao received it, her eyes turned red. As his daughter, she knew exactly what he would write without even reading it.

Tong Sui could also guess, but she was determined to make sure the old master’s letter became nothing more than a stack of waste paper.

As for herself, she had different instructions for everyone except Lin Ningfang, to whom she didn’t say a word.

Night had already fallen, and Tong Sui urged everyone to go back to their rooms to rest.

Yan Mingxiu wanted to return to the Marquis’s residence with Tong Sui. Liu Chu, holding the new daughter-in-law’s hand, smiled. “Come on. Tonight, Aman will sleep with your third sister-in-law.”

Surprised, Yan Mingxiu looked back. Are the second and third sisters-in-law that close?

——

In the eastern courtyard of the Duke's residence, Ah Zhen laid out a pristine quilt on the bed, left a lamp burning, and quietly left.

Tong Sui didn’t use the couple’s bathtub, just roughly wiped herself off in the western room, and came over. Seeing Lin Ningfang sitting at the vanity inside the canopy bed, brushing her hair.

Tong Sui sat on the bed, touched the pearl-white brocade quilt, and smiled. “Your things are so elegant. It’s clear you have excellent taste.”

Lin Ningfang: "This bed has never been used since it was made because neither Third Master nor I are worthy of it. Only Lady Anguo is qualified to use it."

Tong Sui: "..."

Lin Ningfang left her seat and gestured for Tong Sui to sit next to her. "Let me comb your hair too. I don't have the leisure to do this when we're outside."

Tong Sui: "You’re right. During urgent military situations, I’d sleep with my hair tied up, but I wouldn’t dare ask you to do this for me."

Lin Ningfang: "It's not tiring. I don't feel it yet."

Only then did Tong Sui sit next to her.

Their reflections stared back at them from the mirror.

Their eyes met, and Tong Sui’s voice softened with regret, "I wonder if we’ll make it back in time for the baby’s birth."

Lin Ningfang, holding her long hair and combing it, said, "As long as you're safe, it doesn't matter when you return. Even if you come back early, it's my own business when I give birth. You can't help me with that. Besides, there's Big Sister-in-law, Mingxiu, Auntie, and Jade Cicada. Mother-in-law and Jade Cicada are also becoming more sensible. You don't need to worry about us."

Tong Sui deliberately said, "So I'm not as important as Second Master and Third Master teased."

Lin Ningfang smiled, looking at the hair in her hand. "As long as you're safe outside, I'll be fine at home."

She didn’t say the latter part of the unlucky words, but Tong Sui understood.

After combing her hair, the sisters-in-law lay down side by side.

As their eyes adjusted to the darkness, they could make out the outline of the canopy bed and the shadow of the gauze curtains. Tong Sui held Lin Ningfang's hand and counted her fingers. "Ten years ago, when the two self-proclaimed emperors in the south started opposing the court, the villagers of Taohuagou were quite happy. We hoped they could defeat the corrupt emperor and bring in a good emperor who would let everyone live a good life."

"Soon after, the court ran out of military strength and had to conscript soldiers from villages. My uncle, my father, and my older brother were all conscripted. At that time, I didn't think the self-proclaimed emperors were good anymore. If they hadn't caused trouble, the court wouldn't have gone to war, and the men in our family wouldn't have had to risk their lives on the battlefield."

"When the court made peace with the two self-proclaimed emperors, my uncle died, my brother disappeared, my father lost his eyesight, and others in the village had their own sufferings. But the war was finally over, and I hoped for a peaceful life. Who knew there would be refugees, bandits, and rebel kings? Small battles turned into large ones, endless."

"Each group had its own reasons: the refugees were starving and resorted to robbery, the bandits were driven by official oppression, and the rebel kings had no choice but to rise up. But they killed innocent people for their own sake. The only two I’ve seen who truly cared for the people were Old Master and the Xingping Emperor."

"I think the Xingping Emperor is a good person. The people of Ling Kingdom and Liang should also think their emperors are good. Now, the people in these three places are gradually going to live better lives. However, from the start of his reign, the Xingping Emperor began preparing to wage war against the Ling Kingdom and Liang. Those emperors also seize every opportunity to attack us. At this point, are they still thinking about the people?"

Lin Ningfang: "There cannot be two suns in the sky, nor two rulers in a country. This is an eternal truth. No matter the initial reasons, once there are other emperors, they become mortal enemies. Emperors are human too. They want to survive. It's better to strike first before another emperor grows strong enough to attack."

"As for the people, those with abilities might benefit. Most will be driven by the rulers until the country is unified. If fortunate, they’ll be protected by a wise ruler and live well; if not, they’ll suffer under a corrupt or tyrannical one."

"So, when later generations evaluate an emperor, they focus on their civil and military achievements. Their personal ambitions are not important."

"For the various leaders in troubled times, success determines whether they survive and earn their place in history."

Tong Sui thought for a moment and sighed, "That's something the emperors need to worry about. We're just people trying to survive. Right now, we're just trying to stay alive. Outside, we have some military forces. In Luoyang, you'd be trapped in a crisis. Ningfang, I've left some hidden sentinels in the city. They won't show themselves unless something happens in Luoyang. If there's a change, they'll come to you. You'll have to protect these families then."

She then told Lin Ningfang the secret orders to confirm the sentinels' identity.

Lin Ningfang: "I've remembered. Don't worry. I also have connections in Luoyang. They're not from powerful families, but they're loyal. They can be relied upon in times of danger."

——

On the morning of March 25th, Tong Sui, along with Zhou Xian and Zhou Gui, and eight close guards, arrived early at the Southern Camp.

As Xiao Mu’s 80,000-strong army set out, the Xingping Emperor's 100,000 troops and Qi Heng's 80,000 troops also departed on separate routes.

The journey from Luoyang to Jingzhou is about 300 miles. At the pace of 60 to 70 li per day, it would take half a month.

Qi Heng's troops had a longer journey to Hezhou, which would take about twenty days unless there was an emergency requiring a faster pace.

On April 9th, when Xiao Mu's army was only half a day's journey away from Jingzhou, a strategist from the Ling Kingdom, bearing lavish gifts, once again secretly entered General Xie Jian's camp in Jingzhou. The strategist tried to sway Xie Jian with emotional appeals and tempting offers: "As long as you are willing to surrender to our great Ling Kingdom, the Emperor will not only reward you with gold, silver, and jewels several times more than what you have now, but he will also grant you Jingzhou as your territory. If you continue to remain loyal to Han Zongping, even if you help him destroy our Ling Kingdom and unify the world, Han Zongping will still force you to surrender your wealth and lands. Why remain loyal to such a foolish and ungrateful ruler?"

Xie Jian, in the prime of his life at forty, slightly plump and with a shrewd appearance, glanced at the six boxes of jewels in front of him and said, "No matter how much gold and silver I have, I need to be alive to enjoy it. Take these away for now. I appreciate your Emperor's efforts to recruit me, so I’ll hold Jingzhou for now. You may go and attack other places. When you truly have the ability to capture Hezhou, I will consider your Emperor’s proposal."

Han Zongping was a man of emotion. Even if Han Zongping were to unify the world, as long as he handed over what he had embezzled, Han Zongping would spare his life. Therefore, it was wise to wait and see. It would only make sense to defect to the Ling Kingdom if Han Zongping’s rule became unstable. Otherwise, I’d end up being destroyed along with the Ling Kingdom.

"See off our guest," Xie Jian ordered.

The strategist returned empty-handed, crossing the river and waiting anxiously for news from Hezhou.

At the Hezhou camp, in the weapon workshop.

While most weapons were supplied by the imperial court, the camp had a small forge for repairing damaged equipment.

As night settled in and the other soldiers headed to bed, the rhythmic sound of hammering still echoed from the forge.

A soldier peeked through the curtain and saw Pan Yong gripping a glowing blade with one hand while rhythmically pounding it with a hammer in the other. Pan Yong looked more like a blacksmith than a general, his muscles glistening with sweat as he hammered away at the glowing blade. The soldier sneered and returned to report to General Qin Sizhu: "General, Pan is still working on his large blade."

Qin Sizhu nodded and said to another soldier, "Bring him here."

The strategist had come with gifts, so Pan Yong couldn’t see him.