Chapter 151
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The next day, Yuan Li handed over the well-hidden map of the grassland terrain to Chu Hechao.
Though Chu Hechao was angry at Yuan Li’s recklessness, he still carefully accepted the map, as it was a map Yuan Li had painstakingly drawn. They spent the day studying the map together.
Yuan Li’s illness did not fully recover until the end of the month.
Once he was fully recovered, Chu Hechao took Yuan Li and hurried towards Jizhou.
The generals in the Northern Frontier bid them farewell warmly.
During this month, the generals stationed in the Northern Territories visited Yuan Li many times. They didn’t say much, only showing concern for Yuan Li’s health and gratitude for his contributions. Their behavior seemed normal, but occasionally, their gazes toward Yuan Li were peculiar.
Yuan Li believed that they probably knew about his relationship with Chu Hechao. After all, Chu Hechao’s unusual behavior during his illness was too obvious. However, he didn’t know what Chu Hechao had said to these trusted generals, as they didn’t show anything unusual in front of him.
Yuan Li was relieved and acted as if nothing had happened, chatting and laughing with them as usual.
Privately, Mi Yang and Duan Yuquan also marveled at the fact that the general was together with Yuan Li.
It wasn’t that men couldn’t be together, it’s because they were also considered in-laws. But when they first noticed something was amiss, it was quite shocking. Normally, they would have tried to advise against it, but when they saw the way the general acted like a madman because of Yuan Li, they couldn’t say anything to stop it.
So be it.
The generals in the Northern Frontier thought as they watched Chu Hechao and the Governor disappear into the distance.
After all, they couldn’t change the general’s mind.
Five days later, Yuan Li finally returned to Jixian.
As soon as he returned, his subordinates surrounded him, deeply worried about his safety. They scrutinized Yuan Li several times from head to toe. Yuan Dan even cried, his eyes filled with tears, repeating, “Le Jun, thank goodness you’re alright!”
Yuan Li touched his nose, feeling speechless. After exchanging a few words with them in a gentle tone, Chu Hechao stepped in and said, “The Governor has just recovered from a severe illness and traveled a long way. You should all return for now and report anything tomorrow.”
Everyone agreed and left.
Yuan Li breathed a sigh of relief. After entering the room, he collapsed on the bed and didn’t want to move.
A man came over and kicked his leg, scolding, “You’re covered in sweat and still lying on the bed? Go take a bath.”
“…” Yuan Li quietly shrank into the bed, playing dead.
Chu Hechao squinted dangerously and said, “Yuan Li.”
Yuan Li buried his head under the blanket.
The next moment, Chu Hechao’s strong arm went around his waist, lifting him up and carrying him out of the room to the bathhouse.
Yuan Li gave up resisting lazily, “Bring me some clean clothes too.”
Chu Hechao glanced at him, “So lazy.”
But he still went back to get Yuan Li’s clothes and draped them over his shoulder before carrying him to the bathhouse.
After bathing, they took a nap together.
Chu Hechao hadn’t been this relaxed in a long time. He didn’t know how long he had slept when he woke up, only to find Yuan Li lying in front of him, staring straight into his eyes.
Chu Hechao’s heart skipped a beat in fear, “…”
Realizing the situation, he frowned, “What are you doing?”
Yuan Li replied, “I was waiting for you to wake up. Brother, tell me how you dealt with the Xiongnu and Wuwan.”
Chu Hechao rubbed his temples; he knew that Yuan Li would eventually ask about this matter. There was nothing he couldn’t say, so he embraced Yuan Li and patted his back, speaking leisurely, “You triggered internal strife between the various barbarian tribes and Huyan Huntu. The grassland won’t be peaceful for a short while. For now, you can put the Xiongnu matter aside. As for the Wuwan, they can’t stay in Youzhou.”
His tone became heavier, “Hu people should not be allowed within the Great Wall defense line.”
The Wuwan people, despite being vassals of Northern Zhou, repeatedly betrayed their allegiance. Every year, the Northern Zhou court had to reward them to pacify their discontent. Some of the wealth from the five Governorates of Youzhou was constantly being plundered by the Wuwan. Yet, even with all the concessions, the Wuwan remained unsatisfied. The only thing they did for Northern Zhou was to be conscripted to fight against the Xiongnu, but now they were secretly colluding with the Xiongnu.
Chu Hechao had always wanted to get rid of the Wuwan people.
However, his cavalry was too few, and his forces too weak back then, so he could only make the Wuwan submit by force. The Northern Zhou court eagerly relocated the Wuwan people to Youzhou, placing them under Chu Hechao’s control, and used them to fight against the Xiongnu. Chu Hechao didn’t see this as a long-term solution, but he had no other choice given the circumstances.
The plan to team up with a tiger for its skin had backfired, and the Wuwan’s frequent acts of betrayal had made Chu Hechao loathe them even more. Keeping these people on his territory, within the Great Wall defense line, was like raising hungry wolves in his home; it would never be safe.
They needed to be eliminated, but it had to be done with a proper reason.
Yuan Li’s thoughts aligned with Chu Hechao’s. He looked at the stubble on Chu Hechao’s chin and playfully tugged on it. “How do you plan to deal with the Wuwan people? They are not like the Xiongnu or Xianbei; they are ‘vassals’ of the Northern Zhou court. Although they are getting restless, they haven’t taken any real action. If we want to attack them, we need a legitimate reason.”
Chu Hechao winced in pain, grabbing Yuan Li’s mischievous hand. “I plan to conscript the Wuwan people to attack the Xiongnu.”
Yuan Li’s eyes lit up, and he said with a meaningful tone, “General, you have a wicked mind.”
Chu Hechao chuckled, thinking, is this really wicked? You haven’t seen anything yet.
He reached under the blanket, pinching Yuan Li’s buttocks, and said in a serious tone, “This is the Wuwan people’s duty. If they refuse to attack the Xiongnu, it would be disrespectful to Northern Zhou. Then, it would be justified to attack them. If they are afraid of my deterrence and genuinely fight the Xiongnu, it would be more advantageous than detrimental for us. In that case, the two sides won’t have any chance to collude again.”
Yuan Li nodded in agreement.
The Wuwan and the Xiongnu probably didn’t expect that Chu Hechao would be able to capture Jizhou so quickly.
Not only the Xiongnu and the Wuwan, but the Governors of Yanzhou and Qingzhou, Che Kangbo and Hui Zizhen, were also taken by surprise.
As soon as they heard that Yuan Li was sending troops to attack Jizhou, they eagerly gathered their soldiers and prepared to join the fight against Wu Shanshi to prove their innocence. However, before they even reached the battlefield, Chu Hechao had already defeated Wu Shanshi and even captured him. Chu Hechao had won, and he had already returned to Youzhou.
Che Kangbo and Hui Zizhen were dumbfounded.
Standing on the border of Jizhou, one in the east and the other in the south, they couldn’t believe what had happened, doubting themselves, and fell into silence.
This was too unbelievable…
How did the battle end so quickly after it began?!
They had sent many scouts to investigate inside Jizhou, and all the information they received was consistent: Chu Hechao had indeed defeated Wu Shanshi.
Che Kangbo and Hui Zizhen’s faces were as if they had eaten flies, irritated and wanting to grab Wu Shanshi by the collar and curse at him, “You son of a b*tch, didn’t you declare yourself an emperor? Don’t you have allies? How could you be so weak, not even lasting a month against Chu Hechao!”
If Wu Shanshi could have held out for just one more month, they could have washed off the dirt that Wu Shanshi had thrown at them. Che Kangbo and Hui Zizhen couldn’t imagine that Wu Shanshi, the famous rebel, and the legitimate heir of the Wu family in Runan, would be this weak!
Only a month? If you can only last a month, what right do you have to call yourself an emperor!
The two of them were filled with hatred, but they were helpless.
Jizhou was now under Yuan Li’s control. If they led their troops to advance into Jizhou, it wouldn’t prove their innocence and rid themselves of suspicion; instead, it would further confirm that they were indeed allies of Wu Shanshi. Only after Chu Hechao defeated Wu Shanshi did they lead their troops to Jizhou to provoke Chu Hechao…
This kind of stupid thing, even if their political instincts were slow, they would resolutely not do it.
The two of them could only turn back the way they came. With Wu Shanshi dead, the only way for Che Kangbo and Hui Zizhen to prove their innocence was to send lavish gifts to Yuan Li and Chu Hechao, and then constantly extol their virtues and tell the world how loyal and admirable Yuan Li and Chu Hechao were in killing Wu Shanshi, and how despicable Wu Shanshi’s actions were.
Though this act might seem like flattery and sucking up, Che Kangbo and Hui Zizhen had to restrain their displeasure and flatter Yuanli and Chu Hechao. They really didn’t want to do it, but they had no choice. With Wu Shanshi “dead without evidence,” clearing their names was the best outcome they could hope for. At this point, they cared little about preserving their dignity; all that mattered was washing away any blame that might be cast upon them.
Soon, the generous gifts from Qingzhou and Yanzhou arrived in Ji County.
Seeing these gifts, Zhou Gongdan instantly remembered how his lord had pretended to be the Governors of Qingzhou and Yanzhou and sent lavish gifts to Wu Shanshi. The scene before him overlapped with that memory, making Zhou Gongdan feel extremely grateful. In an instant, he figured out many aspects of this matter, and couldn’t help but admire and say to Liu Jixin and Guo Mao, “My lord is truly a brilliant strategist, and Gongdan is far from his match.”
Since Wu Shanshi’s defeat, Zhou Gongdan had returned to using his real name.
Liu Jixin and Guo Mao were curious, “Oh?”
Zhou Gongdan explained briefly about how his lord had sent gifts to Wu Shanshi, and couldn’t bear to see those valuable items being wasted on him. He had even questioned his lord about it, thinking that it was a waste to give such valuable things to Wu Shanshi. His lord had been magnanimous at the time, telling him that it was no big deal and that there were gains after sacrifices. Zhou Gongdan had thought that the “gains” referred to making Wu Shanshi declare himself an emperor. Who would have thought that it was not just as simple as that? His lord had already foreseen that Che Kangbo and Hui Zizhen would send gifts to him today. With these gifts, didn’t it fill in the gap from the gifts his lord had intended for Wu Shanshi?
Back when Wu Shanshi ascended the throne, to maintain the luxurious life and the imperial pomp of an emperor, the gold, silver, and jewelry that Yuan Li had sent over had long been squandered by Wu Shanshi. Zhou Gongdan had regretted that fortune back then, but he never imagined it could be filled here.
He truly worshipped Yuan Li.
Liu Jixin and Guo Mao suddenly realized, and their gazes towards the gifts changed.
Guo Mao stroked his beard and generously praised, “My lord is a true strategist, deciding the victory from thousands of miles away. We, who have lived many more years than my lord, are not as wise as him.”
“Yes, yes,” Liu Jixin laughed heartily, “We still have much to learn.”
When the gift lists from Qingzhou and Yanzhou reached Yuan Li, he exclaimed, “Wow, they really splurged!”
The gift lists were too long; Yuan Li couldn’t finish reading them even during dinner. As Chu Hechao walked in from outside, he glanced at the gift lists and said, “You already knew that Che Kangbo and Hui Zizhen would send you gifts. Since you anticipated this, why bother reading them in such detail?”
Yuan Li looked up at him with a puzzled expression, “When did I guess that they would send me gifts?”
Chu Hechao raised an eyebrow, surprised by his response. “Didn’t you guess?”
“How could I have guessed this?” Yuan Li’s brow twitched with helplessness. “I originally thought that when you attacked Wu Shanshi, they would come to take a share and prove their innocence. With the combined forces of the three provinces, we could have easily defeated Wu Shanshi. If these two were sensible enough, they would have considered surrendering to us. If they weren’t honest, we could have used Wu Shanshi’s ally status to crush them… But who could have guessed that Wu Shanshi would be so useless? You came back within a month, leaving them with no chance to make an appearance.”
Chu Hechao clicked his tongue, “Are you blaming me for this?”
How could he?
Yuan Li playfully gave Chu Hechao a big thumbs up and praised him with dozens of flattering remarks, which made Chu Hechao’s eyelids twitch and the corners of his mouth twitch. He raised his hand to signal that he had heard enough, and Yuan Li finally stopped.
He put away the list of gifts and focused on eating. After the meal, Chu Hechao asked, “Are you still going to see Wu Shanshi?”
Yuan Li thought for a moment and shook his head.
There was no need to see him. Wu Shanshi was already a defeated general, with no chance of turning things around. There was nothing in his character worth Yuan Li’s respect, and meeting him would be a waste of time.
“Ask Jia Qing if he still wants to see Wu Shanshi,” Yuan Li sighed and said to Lin Tian, “Let him help Wu Shanshi tidy up and bring him some food. As long as it’s not too difficult, you can agree to his requests.”
Lin Tian nodded in response.
Yuan Li then looked at Chu Hechao, “Brother, what do you plan to do with Wu Shanshi?”
Chu Hechao sipped his tea casually and said, “I captured him for you, so it’s up to you to decide.”
Yuan Li decisively said, “Then let’s present him to the emperor. It’s a good opportunity to remind His Majesty to grant me the title of Duke.”
Chu Hechao credited his wife for this achievement and felt extremely delighted. It was not much different from when he was made the Grand General. He suddenly smiled mischievously, “Do you know who else I captured in Jizhou?”
Yuan Li’s curiosity was immediately piqued, “Who?”
Chu Hechao put down his teacup, smiled mysteriously, and said, “Our former county magistrate of Guangyang County, Cai Ji, Lord Cai.”
After being informed that he could visit Wu Shanshi in prison, Jia Qing remained silent for a long time before finally nodding.
When he was about to go to the prison, Jia Qing asked Zhou Gongdan if he wanted to come along. Zhou Gongdan smiled and shook his head, “I won’t go to irritate him. After all, the things I did were indeed not what a gentleman should do.”
Jia Qing didn’t insist and went to the prison alone with some clothes and food.
In the prison, Wu Shanshi and Cai Ji were locked in adjacent cells.
When Jia Qing was led to the disheveled Wu Shanshi, his heart was full of complex emotions, recalling the time when he had been imprisoned and left to die by Wu Shanshi.
Now, facing Wu Shanshi in the same predicament, Jia Qing didn’t feel the same triumphant satisfaction or schadenfreude. Instead, he felt disappointment, regret, melancholy, and a sense of relief.
The grudge he had against the former master who tried to kill him had suddenly dissipated.
However, Wu Shanshi’s emotions were quite the opposite when he saw Jia Qing. He stared at Jia Qing, his facial muscles twitching, and after the initial shock, rage surged through him, causing him to suddenly wake up, “So that’s how it is… So that’s how it is!”
So, Jia Qing had escaped from the prison in Jizhou and came to seek refuge in Youzhou!
Wu Shanshi suddenly felt like bursting into laughter, how ironic and laughable!
The great general who had brought him victory had been driven away and had sought refuge with the enemy who ultimately defeated him. Jia Qing, Jia Qing, even this loyal subordinate of many years had become a person of Youzhou. How could he possibly fight against Youzhou?
Wu Shanshi’s heart turned cold, and he coldly curled his lips. He couldn’t even muster a smile anymore as he closed his eyes and leaned against the wall, sitting in silence.
Jia Qing sighed silently and said, “My lord.”
Wu Sanshi coldly said, “Why are you here? To laugh at me for your new master? Jia Qing, Jia Qing, I underestimated you after all. I originally thought you were the most loyal and foolish person under my command, but I never expected…”
He chuckled self-deprecatingly, “You are the truly clever one.”
Jia Qing didn’t bother to defend himself and just silently placed the things he brought in the cell. He then asked the guards to bring some hot water for Wu Shanshi to wash up.
Wu Shanshi remained silent.
After finishing these tasks, Jia Qing felt he had fulfilled his duty. As he was about to leave, Cai Ji in the adjacent cell stretched his hand out and tightly grabbed Jia Qing’s robe, “Lord Jia, Lord Jia, please save me!”
Jia Qing looked over, and Cai Ji’s white hair and beard were disheveled. Days in the prison had made him extremely haggard, with sunken cheeks. His clothes were dirty and gave off an unpleasant smell, making him look like he was at death’s door.
Cai Ji was sweating profusely and pleaded with a fawning tone, “Lord Jia, I used to be the county magistrate of Guangyang County in Youzhou, your colleague! The governor and the grand general valued me greatly. They even attended my banquet in the past. Please help me plead with them and ask them to spare me, based on our past relationship. They will surely let me go!”
Jia Qing stepped back, pulling his clothes back from Cai Ji’s hand, “I only know that the current county magistrate of Guangyang County is the father of the governor, Yuan Song.”
Cai Ji’s face was even more pallid, and he trembled all over, “Lord Jia, I beg you to save me. I really regret leaving Youzhou to join Wu Shanshi… I thought Jizhou was the safest place in the world, but in the end, Youzhou won the war and even won the entire northern three provinces… I regret it, I really regret it. Lord Jia, I’m begging you, please plead with the governor and the grand general for me, tell them that I regret it…”
He truly regretted it. Back when he fled from Youzhou, he felt a sense of relief, thinking that he had escaped from the war-torn land. He believed that Chu Hechao and Yuan Li, with their characters, would eventually trip over themselves in the chaotic times and reap what they sowed. But in the end, he became a prisoner in Youzhou, and Chu Hechao and Yuan Li had long gone, leaving him with no trace of their backs.
If only he had realized his mistake and stayed in the northern border obediently, would the situation be different?
Tears streamed down Cai Ji’s face.
Jia Qing didn’t listen to what he said next. He turned around and left the prison, with Cai Ji’s cries of “regret” and Wu Shanshi’s manic laughter fading away until they could no longer be heard.
Outside the prison, the sun was shining brightly, and the sky was clear.
Jia Qing looked up at the sky, feeling incredibly calm.
“How was it?” a laughing voice suddenly came from the side.
Jia Qing turned to see Zhou Gongdan standing there, holding a feather fan, smiling at him.
“They have nothing to do with me from now on,” Jia Qing replied calmly.
Zhou Gongdan laughed heartily and warmly invited him, “That’s the right way to think! Come, Brother Jia, let’s go back to my house and have some wine together. The wine there was specially sent by the Lord from Bingzhou. It has a rich flavor and is a fine wine that you can rarely taste.”
Jia Qing didn’t respond but walked to his side and followed Zhou Gongdan back to his residence.
Halfway there, Jia Qing suddenly said, “The Lord also gave me a lot of Bingzhou wine.”
Zhou Gongdan then realized that Jia Qing was responding to his previous statement, letting him know that he also received wine from Yuan Li!
He couldn’t help but find it funny, pointing the feather fan at Jia Qing without saying a word, the more he thought about it, the funnier it seemed.
Good, this stubborn guy was competing with him for favor!
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