Chapter 149: All Return Home
In the eighth month of the Shu Tian Calendar 37th year, in the Western Palace of Hao State. King Hao looked at the troops confronting on the south side of Gu Shou Pass on the map, that “Eastern Market Army” label, his teeth gritted tightly: “As long as this kid is not eliminated for one day, all the beauties in my harem lose their color!”
Ever since losing Bo Prefecture, consumption among the upper echelons of Hao State had visibly dropped. Palace maids’ clothes changed from silk fabrics to cotton cloth, and grain shifted from rice to millet (sorghum).
However, a young Dragon Descendant official nearby said: “Your Majesty, it’s just that someone doesn’t want to eliminate this kid.”
King Hao glanced at this Dragon Descendant but did not warn him. Because already more than one person had been indirectly pointing out that Zhao Cheng had grown wary of the Imperial Court and wanted to raise bandits for personal gain. This was no longer the slander of one or two people, but had become a force within Hao State; yet Zhao Cheng was not alone either, his subordinates from the Military Merit Faction, who had won battle after battle, grew even more united the harder they were suppressed.
After all, the rumors from the monthly correspondence between Wu Fei and Zhao Cheng had already created a “three men make a tiger” momentum.
This “monthly correspondence” came from Wu Fei’s side, where Wu Fei openly told all parties: “No one understands Great General Zhao better than I do, we are good friends.”
His bold and magnificent claim was such that even the political enemies within Da Yao who couldn’t stand Wu Xiao Que did not seize on it to accuse Wu Fei of “colluding with the enemy,” but instead mocked Wu Fei for bragging.
But people in Hao State did not think that way. After all, Zhao Cheng had always been invincible before, and this year several times exiting closed-door cultivation for small military tests had forced Wu Fei into a flurry, losing dozens of carts of food and grass originally meant for the Fortress. But now, why couldn’t they take him down no matter what?
Losing Bo Prefecture meant, for Hao State and for military strategists, the loss of those grain-producing areas, but for the top echelon accustomed to upper-class life, the commercial profits from the south were all cut off, severely affecting their “daily life.” Their daily life was no ordinary “daily life”; even for heating, it was not ordinary firewood, but silver bone refined charcoal.
And on Wu Xiao Que’s territory, any great clans daring to have such “daily life” proved they still had “fat” left, not scraped enough. So much so that in places governed by Xuan Chong, the culture of great clans for a full century was “restrained,” “low-key,” and “wealth not exposed.”
The big shots of the maintenance committees in various parts of Bo Prefecture now, when riding horse carts to meetings, could only lie in hay piles for warmth. After returning home, they still dug rat holes together with their servants.
In Wu Fei’s calculations, this saved quite a bit of cotton cloth resources, allowing the Eastern Market Army to have enough cotton clothes for winter.
The original noble families of Chong Land, under warfare and Wu Fei’s iron fist, were forcibly simplified from luxury to frugality.
In Shu Tian Calendar 37th year, both Wu Fei and Zhao Cheng were mutually blockading, controlling the flow of resources like food and grass, medicine, cloth, etc., under their governance; but Wu Fei’s ability to control resources was more adept than Zhao Cheng’s.
As for whether Hao State had the “daily life” items needed by Da Yao’s wealthy families? Yes, it did.
For example, the lamps burning in King Hao’s great hall at this moment were eternal lamps made from whale oil, a top-grade item for God Cultivation. Once brought into Da Yao, they were “essentials” that great clans were willing to spend a hundred gold on, used in ancestral halls as incense candles to enshrine ancestors.
And at this time in the palace hall, though glazed tiles were few, bright pearls were plentiful, and the blue, purple, and red corals were exceptionally dazzling. These rarities obtained from the sea were also top-grade for magic cultivation and spell cultivation.
Zhao Cheng allowed these resources to be carried south by merchants for trade, in exchange for grain, cloth, alcohol; but Wu Fei did not allow inland Da Yao people to buy them.
But on Hao State’s side, any merchants carrying “prohibited trade goods” were all robbed by Wu Fei on their return journey.
…Wu Fei to Zhao Cheng: In using troops, I can’t match you; in terms of the situation, yours is much harder than mine…
In year 37, Wu Fei began reorganizing and training the Eastern Market Army and Wu Family Northern Army. Although both troops had been led by Wu Fei, due to differences in local customs and dialects between the two sides, there were still barriers between them.
For this, Wu Fei divided the entire army into two groups, randomly drew lots, grouped them into teams, and drilled artillery techniques and siege tactics coordination.
Forcibly merging two troops into one under the old army system was impossible.
Because soldiers and squad leaders were bound rigidly, and command transmission between them was unique.
Soldiers in the old-style army could only adapt to the command habits of their original squad leaders; more than a decade ago, in the Wu Family old army, when squad leaders changed their tone, the soldiers below knew the priority of the orders.
But in the new army system, with the drill manual’s construction perfected, the command system was unified; now in the merging process, the soldiers below could receive familiar instructions from the mouths of unfamiliar squad leaders, allowing effective command.
This was one of the differences between new army troops and old army troops that was very inconspicuous yet quite crucial.
After continuous days of spirit infusion on the drill ground, the soldiers gradually grew familiar with the different accents but standard identical commands of unfamiliar squad leaders.
With flags and orders issued, ranks of crossbow bolts firing in unison, catapult lobbing shot drills, the final result proved: After Wu Hengyu’s army and the Eastern Market Army exchanged non-commissioned officers, combat power declined somewhat, but only within two to three tenths, completely within acceptable limits.
By the way, through intelligence, Wu Fei also learned that Zhao Cheng had obtained his own drill manual and begun a series of experimental improvements.
Note: After obtaining the bamboo slips, Zhao Cheng read them by candlelight for three days and nights, and his evaluation was that it was a Legalist genius work.
To say Wu Fei had no qualms about Zhao Cheng figuring out his own troop training methods, that would be false, but he was not that fearful either.
Wu Fei: I still say the same, Zhao Cheng’s shortcoming is not in using troops, but in “a small state cannot support a great general.”
…mutual probing, probing each other’s weaknesses…
And in the great camp in Yan Land, facing the imperial decree transmitted by the Dragon Descendant to transfer him to the western front, Zhao Cheng said nothing, but his eyes were filled with disappointment.
Zhao Cheng: “I wished to assist the monarch in achieving the great undertaking, but alas, the monarch views me as a jackal.”
After the Dragon Descendant left, Zhao Cheng said to his checkpoint generals: “While I am away these days, you must maintain strict military discipline. The Wu Family kid in the south is naturally suspicious and will soon write letters to test; I am leaving three letters, when you see him growing suspicious, reply to him with them. Wu Yuanchang is overly suspicious, you must hang my flag on the checkpoint, putting on a show of ‘I have fake departed and can return anytime.’ This can ensure peace for half a year. As for after half a year, prepare defense strategies, drag it out moment by moment.”
His subordinate generals asked: “Great General, after half a year, will the Yao People surely attack us?”
Zhao Cheng nodded: “Yes, a change has occurred within Da Yao, the Wu Family kid is also amid mutual suspicion between monarch and ministers, it’s just that he can stay calm for now.”
Zhao Cheng covered his face and sighed: “If I could stay here another half year, success would be achieved, but my king is too hasty.” (However, under the covered face, he used saliva to substitute for tears.)
On the chessboard beside him, the general piece on the board had moved off the main position.
One day later, which was the round-trip time for messenger pigeons, a gold token recalled Zhao Cheng.
…the confrontation line began to quiet down…
Just after Zhao Cheng left the checkpoint, unbeknownst to him, Wu Fei had also quietly left the checkpoint, returning home once to meet Wu Hanluan.
This was calculated precisely: after the three Dragon Descendants from Haotian took over the rear, a series of operations would prevent Hao Army’s food and grass from gathering quickly. Even if something happened, Wu Fei could have Wu Hengyu return directly within two days.
So he took the opportunity to travel through the Great Grotto-Heaven with Wu Hengyu and quietly returned to Tianchi City.
And Da Yao Dynasty also saw a change; in Yao Capital City, Su Wang’s faction, after Emperor Ling announced he would enfeoff many external ministers as marquises, did not intend to stop, demanding that generals leading armies outside send hostages to the capital. A large batch of imperial decrees left the capital, sent to all parties.
In Chong Land, in Lelang City, Wu Hanluan listened to the latest imperial decree sent by the Imperial Court, which seemed to mockingly proclaim the “Thousand Inn Pavilion Marquis” to enter the capital. As if to settle the score for not drinking the respectful toast of “Cloud Marquis” back then, now how to handle the punishment wine.
In front of the eunuch, Wu Hanluan snatched the imperial decree, then had armored soldiers escort this envoy from the Capital City to rest.
Wu Hanluan unrolled this scroll sealed with the imperial seal, sensed the power commanding mountains and rivers on it, then shook his head: “There are corrupt ministers beside the current emperor.”
Da Yao’s monarch bears Heaven’s Mandate, receives the enshrined masters from the people under heaven, and the Son of Heaven possesses the power of “mind alone changes heaven and earth”.
And specifically on this imperial decree, at the peak of its authority, a single decree can take down a regional governor.
During Emperor Shu’s reign, although external wars were lost and dragon qi weakened, overall it could still suppress Wu Hanluan’s arrogance.
One year ago Wu Hanluan did not have the courage for this, but now Emperor Ling is several magnitudes weaker than Emperor Shu in inheriting Heaven’s Mandate, like a “dwarf”.
If Emperor Ling came in person, or dispatched a minister promoted during Emperor Shu’s era as imperial envoy, Wu Hanluan would still give full manners and yield on non-core interests.
But now, Wu Hanluan would be merciless toward the eunuchs who use heavenly might as a facade,
In recent years Wu Hanluan has high merits and won the people’s hearts in Zhenzhou. Although he cannot yet lead in denying Emperor Ling’s legitimacy, he has the qualification to define some of Emperor Ling’s actions as “being deceived by corrupt ministers”.
Three months ago, that minister who crashed his head to death in the grand hall, accusing Emperor Ling of “favoring petty people and distancing wise ministers” and shaking Emperor Ling’s weak dragon qi spot, also has a follow-up. — This minister’s soul has been worshipped with incense and fire by the clans sympathizing with him, becoming one of the ninety-nine yin officials following Emperor Shu; these yin officials can serve as city gods under heaven and enjoy incense and fire.
After Wu Fei and Wu Hengyu quietly returned, Wu Hanluan had the two hide behind the scenes, then summoned advisors, mainly to let Wu Fei and Wu Hengyu see which of these advisors could be used.
Wu Hanluan’s advisors immediately gave a unanimous judgment: this is a forged decree, not to be obeyed.
These non-Wu Family external advisors now have complex backgrounds, some from Lei Shui and Zhu Prefecture, some from Donghua Commandery, others local to Zhenzhou, but their current interests are deeply bound to Wu Hanluan.
These advisors, between Emperor Ling and the local regional governor, unhesitatingly choose Wu Hanluan. Because everyone is very realistic, making choices for their own “prospects”.
Although Emperor Ling grasps the moral high ground, those around him are all petty people; all promotable positions have been occupied by Su Wang’s faction. There are people for the beheading business, but no one willing to do thankless work.
In the scholars’ eyes: as long as the Wu Family does not commit the great taboo under heaven of claiming the throne, attaching to them will steadily elevate family forces. — Given time, with a change of dynasty and restoring order, can their own ironclad forces not exchange for higher positions?
In Prince Lelang’s former residence, Wu Hanluan faced his subordinates with feigned earnestness: “We can disobey the decree, but my nephew is in the north. Alas, it’s hard on him.”
Wu Hanluan quietly watched these advisors with his gaze, while behind his screen, Wu Fei and Wu Hengyu who were already there held their breath.
Among the advisors, someone immediately added: “The Young Military Master is the General of the Northern Expedition personally appointed by the late emperor; although the imperial court is now controlled by corrupt ministers, they will not touch him.” This was spoken by the Zhu Prefecture faction advisors of the Northern Route Army.
Although this General of the Northern Expedition title has not yet been implemented and requires first breaking Gu Shou Pass as a prerequisite, the advisors sitting before Wu Hanluan now are all his own people; raising this title early is all. In the Wu Family’s view, with Wu Yuanchang and Wu Hengyu both gathered under Gu Shou Pass, is taking Gu Shou Pass difficult?
However, raising “General of the Northern Expedition” at this time, this group of Northern Route Army origin advisors have ideas.
The Southern Route advisors immediately opposed: “With corrupt ministers ruling the imperial court, the Young Military Master leading the army in Bo Prefecture already draws jealousy; the rumors from the corrupt faction slandering the Young Military Master as colluding with foreign powers have piled up before His Majesty’s case, how can you all ignore this?”
The Wu Family Army has faction distinctions on this matter. At least the Zhu Prefecture and Lei Prefecture faction generals now more hope Wu Hengyu can return to take charge.
And this scene, when Wu Fei and Wu Hengyu each lead one side in the future, will show how to rely on ministers based on “loyalty to oneself”.
Wu Hanluan asked the faction leaders: “What do you think?”
Under everyone’s gaze, the forcibly named advisor braced himself and said: “The imperial court is without dao, great calamity will come soon!”
Just as everyone was shocked by this hothead and prepared to persuade and interrupt him, he said: “Wu Yuanchang there should make an early decision, have the eldest young master (Wu Hengyu) assist the northern warfare, then wait for the imperial court’s decree before deliberating long-term.”
Northern Route Army faction advisors: “No, the Bo Prefecture warfare is entangled complex as tangled mess. If the eldest young master also gets trapped in it, where will we go then?” — He does not hope the Wu Family’s two second-generation leaders both have accidents in some battle at the same time, otherwise how would they fight for power?
A group of advisors calculating political gains and losses, thinking how to maximize benefits under the current situation, were suddenly shocked silent by Wu Hengyu walking out, and everyone then looked toward the screen.
Wu Fei clutched his head. He originally wanted to spy from behind the screen longer, but Wu Hengyu’s personality is one of “taking charge”. He absolutely would not let forces pulling at him sway his straightforward ideas.
Wu Hengyu extremely domineeringly swept a glance at these people wanting to attach to him, the revealed killing intent making everyone shut up.
Wu Hengyu: “Now is the moment of survival; standing by and watching seems to preserve oneself, but sooner or later will fall with the army’s collapse. Only seizing this time, while we still have room to turn things around, striking hard can shock heaven and earth.”
Then he stared at the Northern Route Army faction advisors, sword in hand pointing at them: “If anyone speaks again of abandoning my brother, do not blame me for chopping off their head.”
With these words, no one dared advise further, and all faction disputes in the ranks ceased from then.
Wu Hanluan knocked the table: “Today’s discussion ends here, everyone go back early.”
Then added: “No one is allowed to leak Hengyu’s return.”
…The attending advisors guessed: how many people behind the screen?…
After everyone left, Wu Fei also came out.
Wu Hanluan asked: “Do you two have confidence to quickly conclude the Bo Yan warfare?”
Wu Hengyu said: “I with eight hundred officers and soldiers can scale the walls first.”
Wu Fei on his side drew a map of mountains and rivers with his sword: “Taking Gu Shou Pass is no problem, but importantly, the strategy for taking the Yan Land north of Bo Prefecture. I need to leave an elite force strong general at Gu Shou Pass, exiting closed-door cultivation each year to plunder, suppressing the population and grain there, so Hao State cannot regroup troops there to threaten this place.
Wu Fei looked at Wu Hengyu, recommending him a list; these are excellent generals from humble Bo Prefecture origins, usable.
Wu Hanluan looked at the two, slowly saying: “You two seem to have decided.” Then to Wu Fei: “Yuan Chang, are you coming back?”
Wu Fei nodded.
Wu Hanluan turned to Wu Hengyu: “Have you decided to leave home and go north?”
Wu Hengyu hesitated a bit then said: “Me?”
Wu Hanluan said: “My Wu Family three hundred years ago also migrated from the east. After you make your mark in the east, repair our ancestor’s tomb.”
Wu Hengyu nodded.
…Disloyalty is manifest on the map of mountains and rivers…
Same year, Yao Capital, Gen Palace, Emperor Ling was still obsessed with everlasting spring undefeated.
However, upon receiving the news of Wu Hanluan in the southern region disobeying the decree, Su Wang immediately flew into rage. But his expression was twisted and stiff, as if wearing a fake face.
His pupils emitted blue light, as he walked into Ziwei Palace which fell last year but is now slowly rising and being repaired.
Su Wang looked at the massive Yao Calculation board in the palace. Around the Yao Calculation board, one hunched Sitian Cheng after another was verifying the heavenly secrets. He walked forward and waved his hand for the unrelated people to withdraw. He then took out the decree, ordering the palace to perform Yao Calculation on the Wu Family. Evidently, Su Wang wanted to thoroughly search for Wu Hanluan’s weaknesses and then launch an attack.
The Sitian Cheng glanced at him, wanting to persuade, but sighed. He activated the massive Yao Calculation instrument in the central palace to perform the verification. This kind of Yao Calculation was generally not done for personal grudges, because once it leaned toward calculating a specific person, the Yao Calculation for Under Heaven would lose its constant accuracy.
However, the Sitian Cheng also knew that the new emperor now ignored state affairs and had handed everything over to Su Wang.
In the end, the Yao Calculation produced results. Su Wang looked at Wu Hengyu’s Hegemonic Way auspicious qi, as well as the situation where Wu Fei’s fate was linked to the Southern Vermilion Bird constellation. He opened his mouth, quite speechless. But after calculating that Wu Hanluan’s auspicious qi actually corresponded to the Green Area Evil Moon in Heaven, his eyes lit up slightly, and a plan came to mind.
Outside the palace, Xian Daoren looked up at the central palace, which had once again been reluctantly raised to a height of a hundred zhang, watching the flickering Yao Calculation lights. A barely
