The Prisoner of Beauty - Chapter 121

Chapter 121

"How many troops does Yang Xin have? One hundred thousand! And how many does the refugee leader have? At most, less than half that number! Furthermore, they are nothing but a ragtag mob! Xiaqiu also has Xue An's Xuzhou soldiers! Even with all that, they still managed to lose the battle!"

Wei Shao rose abruptly, throwing his hands behind his back as he paced back and forth in front of his desk. His heavy footsteps thudded loudly against the floor, echoing sharply in the room.

"Go ask him exactly how many more troops he needs me to give him before he can finally bring down that refugee leader for me!"

He stopped short with a sudden turn, his voice burning with deep fury.

Gongsun Yang felt a flicker of surprise in his heart.

Yang Xin had failed to suppress Bi Zhi as the Lord Marquis had wished, and had instead lost the territory of Xiao. Upon learning of the battle report, Gongsun Yang had expected the Lord Marquis to be displeased.

But the sheer magnitude of the Lord Marquis's reaction caught him off guard.

Having assisted him since the Lord Marquis was seventeen years old, Gongsun Yang had witnessed over a hundred battles, big and small. It was not as if they had never encountered setbacks while conquering cities and seizing territories.

Yet even when facing the greatest of setbacks, it was rare for Gongsun Yang to see the Lord Marquis fly into such a massive rage.

Moreover, although the location of Xiao was important, its loss would not temporarily alter the overarching strategic landscape of the Huainan region, provided no major upheavals occurred on Xue An's side.

The Lord Marquis's reaction was truly excessive.

Gongsun Yang hurriedly said, "My Lord, please appease your anger. Yang Xin was merely careless for a moment, allowing Bi Zhi to slip away. Furthermore, although Bi Zhi built his power base by gathering refugees, I have also heard that his fierce valor is rarely seen in this world, and he governs his army with proper discipline. He currently commands great prestige among the people in the Huai River region, and countless followers flock to him upon hearing his name. My Lord must not underestimate him." After speaking, he looked toward Wei Shao.

With his back turned to Gongsun Yang, Wei Shao kept his right hand pressed against the hilt of his sword. He had already drawn the blade a few inches from its scabbard, the cold light of the steel gleaming brightly. After a moment, with a sharp clank, he thrust the sword back in, slowly loosened his grip on the hilt, and turned around.

"Write a letter on my behalf and tell Yang Xin to retake Xiao as quickly as possible, regardless of the cost, and to pin that refugee leader down at Lingbi..." He paused slightly. "Lingbi must not fall into his hands either! He must be driven out! If he requires material or human resources, tell him to ask me!"

Gongsun Yang was stunned, and then hesitated for a moment. "My Lord, I have a few words, though I do not know if I should speak them."

"If you have something to say, Mister, please speak freely."

The rage Wei Shao had displayed moments ago seemed to have faded, and he seated himself once more behind his desk.

"The Xuzhou region connects to Yangzhou, Yuzhou, and Jiangxia; it has been a crucial strategic prize contested by military strategists since ancient times. Although Bi Zhi has emerged out of nowhere, he cannot be underestimated. For the sake of your future grand strategy for the realm, My Lord, we naturally cannot allow a tiger cub to grow into a menace. However, in my humble opinion, it may not be necessary for you to resort to such grand military measures..."

He stole a glance at Wei Shao.

"I have heard that the Lady has a sister who seems to have married Bi Zhi. When the Lady journeyed south at the end of last year, General Jia also escorted her to Lingbi to meet with Bi Zhi and his wife. The Lady disregarded the long, arduous journey just to meet them, which shows that her bond with Bi Zhi and his wife is profound. It is better to dissolve enmities than to foster them, especially when tied by marriage. Why doesn't My Lord consider pacification instead of warfare? Not only that, but if you could bring Bi Zhi under your banner, My Lord, it would be no different from a tiger growing wings. Since it is a beneficial matter, why shouldn't My Lord gladly do it? Why not halt the hostilities first? You can discuss this with the Lady. I surmise the Lady would also be unwilling to see My Lord and Bi Zhi at daggers drawn. If the Lady were to send a letter or mediate between you, backed by My Lord's current illustrious reputation throughout the realm, I expect Bi Zhi would gladly come to offer his allegiance..."

"Military Counselor! Do you think just anyone is worthy of my strategy of pacification?"

Before Gongsun Yang could finish, Wei Shao interrupted his words.

His expression was ice-cold.

"He is merely a rebel leader of refugees occupying a speck of land! How does he warrant such tolerance from me? You need not say any more! My mind is made up and will absolutely not change! Just deliver the message to Yang Xin exactly as I have spoken!"

With that, he lifted the hem of his robe, rose from behind his desk once more, and strode away without looking back.

Gongsun Yang watched the Lord Marquis's departing figure, his brow furrowed in deep perplexity.

Gongsun Yang knew very well that after the Lord Marquis secured the north and pacified the west, a direct and massive war with Xing Xun would inevitably follow.

It was simply a matter of time.

If they won, they would sweep through the realm like splitting bamboo.

If they lost, the future of the supreme throne would remain uncertain.

It was not that the situation at the Huai River and Xuzhou was unimportant, but rather that at this crucial juncture, the great war with Xing Xun was the true pivot that demanded the Lord Marquis's full focus.

Gongsun Yang did not believe the Lord Marquis failed to understand this reasoning.

The reason he had come to Xindu to summon the commandery governors and remaining generals from various regions, and why banquets were held night after night in the Xin Palace some time ago, was naturally not for pleasure.

It was to bind the hearts of the people and prepare for the coming storm.

The current battle situation in Huainan could clearly be attempted to be resolved without fighting first.

According to Gongsun Yang's line of thinking, if Bi Zhi refused to accept pacification, it would still not be too late to fight him then.

However, if they could win over Bi Zhi without a fight, then with Bi Zhi's strength combined with Yang Xin's, devouring Xuzhou—where Xue Tai had already died—would be as easy as turning over a hand.

In this way, the vast and beautiful lands along the Huai River would fall into the Lord Marquis's purse without a single battle.

Not only would he gain territory, but he would also gain a general like Bi Zhi, who might one day stand shoulder to shoulder with Grand General Li Dian.

With such an advantageous and wonderful outcome available, why did the Lord Marquis stubbornly insist on his own way, deliberately creating unnecessary complications by ordering Yang Xin to crush him?

Judging by the Lord Marquis's tone, it seemed he looked down on Bi Zhi's background and thus disdained to employ him.

Yet Gongsun Yang knew that although the Lord Marquis possessed a proud nature, his ability to respect the wise and treat subordinates with courtesy was highly commendable.

Otherwise, so many fine ministers and fierce generals would not have gathered under his banner, willingly allowing themselves to be driven by him.

Take Li Dian, for instance; his background in his early years was also impoverished, yet today he had become the premier general under the Lord Marquis's command.

That he should be so hostile toward Bi Zhi specifically was truly anomalous.

Gongsun Yang fell into a long, deep silence, a faint inkling rising within his heart.

He suspected the Lord Marquis was venting redirected anger.

The Qiao family was the Lord Marquis's sworn enemy, yet he seemed deeply infatuated with the Qiao daughter, showing signs of being unable to extricate himself.

Although it had been some time since Gongsun Yang last saw the Lord Marquis grit his teeth whenever the Qiao family was mentioned in his presence, knowing the Lord Marquis as he did, he surmised that it was impossible for him to let go of his familial blood feud so easily in his heart.

Bi Zhi could be considered half a member of the Qiao family.

To pacify Bi Zhi, in the Lord Marquis's eyes, was likely no different from pacifying a member of the Qiao family.

How could he easily relent?

He could only look at it this way. Otherwise, Gongsun Yang truly could not fathom why the Lord Marquis's attitude on this matter was so obstinate and contrary to reason.

Inside the council hall, Gongsun Yang stroked his beard, slowly pacing back and forth.

He had also considered whether he could relay this news to the Lady.

If she stepped forward to persuade him, the effect might be far better than if he wore his own lips thin with talking.

But he quickly dismissed the idea.

Evidently, the Lord Marquis's order for Yang Xin to drive out Bi Zhi was something still being kept from the Lady.

Although he usually received courteous treatment from the Lord Marquis within the army, and the Lord Marquis listened to almost everything he said while the officers and soldiers also respected his status, his official title was Military Counselor.

As a military counselor, his role was to oversee military affairs and deliberate on strategies. The final decision lay with the superior.

If it were any other reason, and he encountered the Lord Marquis taking such an unreasonable and disruptive action, Gongsun Yang would certainly find another way to advise him, even at the risk of offending his superior.

But if the Lord Marquis was truly insisting on crushing Bi Zhi out of the personal motives he had just surmised—which involved the deep-seated hatred between the Wei and Qiao families—then as an outsider, acting covertly against the Lord Marquis's wishes would be highly inappropriate.

He was a military counselor; his primary focus when analyzing a problem was naturally related to military matters.

Looking at the current situation in the Huai River region, if Yang Xin succeeded and Bi Zhi's forces were wiped out, it would naturally be for the best.

If Yang Xin failed to succeed, they should still be able to maintain the current tripartite balance of power. Considering that no matter how outstanding Bi Zhi's abilities were, it was highly unlikely for him to counterattack Yang Xin and subsequently swallow the entirety of Xuzhou in the short term. It should have no major impact on the grand strategic landscape.

Therefore, after hesitating for a long while, Gongsun Yang finally decided to act according to the Lord Marquis's wishes for now.

For the time being, he could only let him indulge his willful nature this once. He would quietly observe the changing situation, adapt to the circumstances when the time came, and determine their future strategy accordingly.

...

The following day, Xiao Qiao was already prepared to depart, but Wei Shao told her that due to a sudden unexpected turn of events, they would not be leaving for the time being and would remain in Xindu for a few more days.

His expression was perfectly normal when he spoke. How could Xiao Qiao have guessed that the purpose behind his temporary change of itinerary to remain behind was for the war in Huainan? She simply assumed that his major masculine affairs were inconvenient to discuss with her, so she did not ask further. She merely instructed Nanny Chun to unpack the luggage that had already been put away.

With this arrangement, another ten days or so passed in the blink of an eye. Yet Wei Shao made no mention of when they would resume their journey.

However, she did know that he had sent a letter to Madame Xu, who had already returned to Yuyang, stating that because he was tied down by various matters, he could only delay his return to see his grandmother.

He also wrote that he and Xiao Qiao were getting along very well now, asking his grandmother not to worry.

Xiao Qiao also wrote a letter.

In her heart, she was worried about Bi Zhi and Da Qiao. Since it was inconvenient to inquire with Wei Shao about the current battle situation in the Huai River region, she sent a letter to Da Qiao to ask about their recent circumstances.

She handed the letter privately to Jia Si, instructing him to dispatch a trustworthy messenger to deliver it to Lingbi as quickly as possible.

Although the Yellow River still lay between this place and Lingbi, the distance was already considerably shorter.

When she handed the letter to Jia Si, she specifically asked roughly how long it would take to receive a reply.

Jia Si said that if sent by a swift horse riding like a shooting star, and provided there were no accidents on the road, half a month would be more than enough for a round trip.

After the letter was sent out, Xiao Qiao kept waiting expectantly for a reply.

...

Half a month later. Lingbi.

Da Qiao reclined on the bed, shaking the pellet drum in her hand to produce a crisp, rapid patter of sounds like falling rain, teasing the infant sitting inside the bed.

The infant's infant name was Li'er. He was only a little over half a year old, raised plump and fair. He loved to smile and was incredibly adorable. At this moment, sitting by his mother's side and drawn by the sounding drum in her hand, he stretched out a pair of chubby little hands, babbling incoherently from his mouth.

Da Qiao gave the pellet drum to Li'er.

Li'er caught it in his hands, shaking it randomly a few times. Hearing it make a sound, he looked at his mother, a look of wonder seemingly appearing on his face, and then broke into a delighted, bubbling laugh.

Da Qiao played with her son for a moment, and seeing the infant gradually growing drowsy, she fed him until his belly was full.

The infant's soft, tender cheek pressed against his mother's warm skin as he peacefully drifted off to sleep.

Looking at the infant sleeping in her arms, Da Qiao's eyes were filled entirely with the gentle, loving affection of a first-time mother. Suddenly thinking of her husband, Bi Zhi, who was currently fighting in the territory of Xiao, her heart grew anxious once more.

Just a few days ago, Yang Xin, who had been repelled, had surged back once again.

Although Bi Zhi had not spoken of it with her, she had also heard that Yang Xin's renewed attack was massive in scale and fiercely aggressive. Furthermore, the Xuzhou army was positioned to the north.

Da Qiao was truly somewhat worried.

She had been worrying for several nights in a row, failing to sleep well. At this moment, with her son sleeping peacefully beside her, the room in the afternoon was completely silent and still. A wave of exhaustion gradually washed over her, and she slowly closed her eyes as well. In her hazy state, she felt her face being lightly touched by fingers. Thinking Li'er had woken up, she opened her eyes immediately, only to find that her husband, Bi Zhi, had actually returned at some unknown point. He was currently sitting at the bedside.

The one who had just touched her face was his palm. Meanwhile, the infant was still slumbering peacefully by her side.

Looking into her husband's smiling eyes, and fearing she might wake her son, she rose slowly before throwing herself into her husband's embrace.

Feeling her husband's strong, powerful, and steady heartbeat, all the original trepidation and anxiety in Da Qiao's heart suddenly vanished completely.

...

Da Qiao called for the wet nurse to look after Li'er, and went with her husband into another room.

Bi Zhi pulled her onto the couch, unfastening her clothes. The two leaned close, their ears and temples rubbing together as they held each other tightly.

After their tender intimacy, Da Qiao rested her head against her husband's shoulder and asked, "How is the war progressing?"

Bi Zhi held his wife and said, "The territory of Xiao is easy to defend but difficult to attack. They cannot break through for the time being. Do not worry."

Perplexed, Da Qiao asked, "Didn't Yang Xin originally have a falling out with the Xue family? Why is he refusing to fight Xue An now, and instead making things difficult for you time and time again?"

Bi Zhi said, "The reason I came back was precisely to tell you this. Yesterday, I captured a lieutenant general who moved in Yang Xin's inner circles. After interrogating him, I learned of a certain matter..."

Seeing him pause, Da Qiao turned over to press further, "What matter?"

Bi Zhi hesitated for a moment, gazing intently at Da Qiao before speaking slowly, "According to that lieutenant general's words, Yang Xin seems to have thrown his allegiance to the Marquis of Yan."