Zhang Ping, Li Chong, Yao Xishui, and Chun Shisanniang cleared out several courtyards in the Wuling Army post station to move into. Their surroundings were all guarded by the dozens of escorts Li Chong had brought this time, so they finally no longer felt like they were living dependent on others’ charity as before.
“If Wen Rulin’s strategy can work and end the Tanzhou chaos early, it’s something everyone hopes for.”
Late at night when all was quiet, Li Chong, fearing walls had ears, lowered his voice as he debated with Zhang Ping in the small hall.
“Han Qian resents Wen Rulin for repeatedly devising strategies to harm him and his father, or perhaps he’s envious of talent—that’s why he disregarded Wen Rulin’s words. But we cannot sit by and ignore this.”
“At this moment, we don’t know what mindset prompted Wen Rulin to say such things. We cannot be careless.” Zhang Ping’s severed arm hung before his chest as he said gravely. He didn’t believe Han Qian would be envious of talent and deliberately prevent Wen Rulin from finishing his words.
“Wen Rulin has some strategic talent, but not necessarily much backbone,” Li Chong didn’t think Wen Rulin still harbored any intent to deceive at this point. Besides, with so many people present, who could Wen Rulin possibly fool? He insisted: “Ma Rong was defeated and committed suicide, but he disguised himself as a wounded soldier, intent only on escaping with his life. Right now, unwilling to become a prisoner of war, he naturally wants to demonstrate his usefulness.”
Yao Xishui and Chun Shisanniang hadn’t gone to the county yamen at night. Seeing Zhang Ping and Li Chong return from Han Qian’s and continue arguing endlessly, it took them quite a while to figure out what was happening.
“To think there’s such a formidable figure who saw through Emperor Tianyou’s plot to reduce feudal domains so early.”
Chun Shisanniang had previously focused with Yao Xishui on covertly learning various treatment methods at the medical camp and hadn’t had the opportunity to interact with the captured Tanzhou military officers. Some matters were still unclear to her. After hearing Li Chong explain this, she couldn’t help but sigh.
“If the Ma father and son had truly adopted his suggestions and killed Han Qian in the Dongting Lake waters two years ago, who knows how the situation would have developed! Probably only such a formidable figure could see Han Qian’s capabilities and truly pay him serious attention. It’s just a pity the Ma father and son are a pair of fools, and Tanzhou really has no other noteworthy figures.”
“Whether it will work or not, we don’t have the final say. I’ll send someone to the Yuedong camp right now to deliver a message.” Li Chong insisted.
Seeing Li Chong determined to send someone to report to Marquis Xinchang Li Pu, Zhang Ping found it inconvenient to obstruct him.
Zhang Ping was the Military Supervisor, and Li Chong was the Recording Clerk and Advisor to the Army. When they sent someone out of the city in the middle of the night to deliver a message, the military officer guarding the city gate couldn’t stop them, but he immediately reported this to Tian Cheng, who rushed to the county yamen and woke Han Qian from his sleep.
“I know, it’s no big matter.” Han Qian wasn’t particularly concerned. He stood in the corridor and listened to Tian Cheng explain, then went back to his room to sleep.
Xi Ren, wrapped in her robe, stood in the corridor watching Tian Cheng withdraw. Curious, she pushed open the door and entered Han Qian’s bedroom. Seeing him beginning to snore lightly again, she sat at the edge of the bed, lifted the cloth curtain, gave Han Qian a push, and asked: “Why pretend to sleep? Li Chong and Zhang Ping sent a messenger out of the city in the middle of the night—can you truly remain indifferent?”
“It’s so late already. I can’t sleep for more than two hours before dawn—why do you concern yourself with all this?” Han Qian yawned and lazily rolled over.
The room had no lamp lit, but outside the window the moon was bright and stars sparse. With the window open, it was quite bright inside. As Han Qian turned over, he saw Xi Ren had draped a thin gauze over herself, revealing arms and shoulders snow-white and jade-like. He reached out and embraced her slender, enchanting waist. When he was about to make further moves, he was met with Xi Ren’s gaze cold as ice and frost.
Han Qian obediently placed his arm on Xi Ren’s thigh, taking advantage to embrace her waist, and said: “They’re merely reporting Wen Rulin’s matter to Marquis Xinchang. There’s really nothing worth making a fuss about.”
“Wen Rulin said he could devise strategies to end this war early, and I thought you truly disdained it!” Xi Ren grasped Han Qian’s arm to prevent him from pressing his advantage, and asked.
“In this campaign to reduce feudal domains, my father and I have already achieved prominent merits. If I present Wen Rulin’s strategy to gain further merit, it will only invite jealousy and resentment, so this credit must be yielded,” Han Qian said, looking at Xi Ren’s absolutely beautiful face in the moonlight. “After pacifying Tanzhou, I’m still hoping Marquis Xinchang will speak some words for my father and me. At this time, we must let them obtain some practical benefits.”
As Deputy Military Governor of Ezhou and deputy commander beside the Third Prince, Marquis Xinchang Li Pu’s status was even slightly higher than Shen Yang’s, so naturally he was the main strategic planner for the various Tanzhou campaigns.
However, in the punitive war fought up to now, needless to say, his Han family father and son as well as Zheng Hui had achieved merit commanding troops in the Yuan River. Shen Yang’s governance of Ezhou, pre-war preparations, and maintenance of military affairs in perfect order while accompanying the army was great merit. Yang Jian primarily commanded the Tower Ship Navy fleet coordinating operations on all fronts—also meritorious. Li Zhigao was even bolder in offering strategies, leading his forces deep into the Yuan River to join with the Wuling Army and capture Langzhou—also great merit. Only Li Pu and Chen De’s performance was truly mediocre.
In his early years, Chen De was merely a Battalion Commander-level mid-ranking military officer. As a relative of the Hereditary Consort, he received preferment, but no one expected him to have any outstanding performance in military strategy. He only needed to be utterly loyal to the Third Prince. Marquis Xinchang, as a meritorious general from the older generation, had a mediocre performance this time, which truly damaged his reputation.
“Are you certain you’re not digging a pit to bury them?” Xi Ren was well aware of the grievances between Han Qian and the Marquis Xinchang’s mansion and Wanhong Tower. She stared at his eyes suspiciously and asked.
“This concerns the survival of tens of thousands of soldiers. However audacious I may be, how would I dare manipulate such matters?” Han Qian asked, displeased. “Are you too suspicious of me?”
Taking advantage of his displeasure, Han Qian exerted force with his hands and suddenly pulled Xi Ren toward him while she was off guard.
Caught unprepared, Xi Ren braced her hands against Han Qian’s chest. Staring into his eyes, she said coldly: “I will ultimately serve you. In others’ eyes, I’m also your concubine. If you don’t mind my body, I cannot refuse—I shouldn’t refuse.”
“Are you still brooding over Xi Cheng’s death?” Han Qian asked.
In this age, childbirth was a life-threatening ordeal for women—actually because young girls’ bodies hadn’t fully developed and they became pregnant and gave birth before reaching the proper natural timing, the risk of difficult childbirth was particularly high.
Han Qian truly trusted only a few people. He didn’t dare let Zhao Ting’er risk this danger. Sometimes he would have Zhao Ting’er stay overnight with him, but he also stopped at propriety. No matter what, he would wait until Zhao Ting’er reached twenty years old before truly taking her as a concubine.
Only Xi Ren’s attitude had always been cold, leaving Han Qian somewhat unwilling in his heart.
“I suffered torture from that old villain Feng—how could I possibly still be interested in matters between men and women?” Xi Ren said.
Han Qian sighed softly. Not wanting to reopen Xi Ren’s wounds, he said: “Since you woke me, you must at least keep me company until I fall asleep before you’re allowed to leave.” He shifted his body inward, letting Xi Ren lie down.
This time Xi Ren didn’t evade. She let Han Qian turn on his side, then gently embraced his broad shoulders from behind. After he fell asleep, she quietly departed…
……
……
On the twentieth day of the fifth month, Marquis Xinchang Li Pu led Guo Liang’s forces and landed at Shishou aboard navy warships.
Guo Liang’s three thousand elite troops entered Shishou City, primarily to completely cut off the eastern escape route for Ma Yuanheng’s forces besieged in Jiang’an City. But Marquis Xinchang Li Pu didn’t remain in Shishou City. The next day, he took his escorts and departed from Shishou City without stopping to rest, crossing the Dongting Lake western plain now devoid of enemy troops, and entered Wuling City on the twenty-second to meet with Han Qian, Zhang Ping, and Li Chong.
As deputy commander, after Marquis Xinchang Li Pu entered Wuling City, even though there was no explicit order placing western front operations under his command, from this moment forward, all affairs in Wuling City still had to follow his orders and commands.
Of course, when Marquis Xinchang Li Pu arrived at Wuling City, he didn’t directly demand Wen Rulin. He still invited Han Qian over to consult: “Chong’er sent someone with a message saying that Ma Xun’s strategist Wen Rulin, after you captured him, intended to submit and pledge loyalty to His Highness?”
“I suspect his so-called submission also harbors evil intentions. Besides, a figure like him cannot casually be given the opportunity to approach His Highness.” Han Qian said.
“We still need to hear what he has to say,” Marquis Xinchang Li Pu said. “Not only Wen Rulin—if anyone from Tanzhou sincerely and genuinely submits to the court, His Highness is willing to treat them with courtesy.”
Since Marquis Xinchang could come, he had certainly persuaded the Third Prince to nod in agreement. Han Qian didn’t entangle with him and said: “I’ll have someone bring Wen Rulin over right away. Everything follows the Marquis’s instructions.”
These past few days, Wen Rulin had been placed under house arrest alone by Han Qian. Now he was brought in a daze into the great hall. But seeing the people seated in the hall, his spirits immediately refreshed. He performed a deep bow with clasped hands toward Marquis Xinchang Li Pu seated behind the main table: “Wen Rulin greets Marquis Li!”
Marquis Xinchang Li Pu was certain he had never met Wen Rulin face to face. Seeing him able to determine his identity at a glance, he secretly approved in his heart and said: “His Highness petitioned for an edict to punish traitors, but his heart to recruit talented people remains unchanged. Commissioner Han praised Scholar Wen as greatly talented, so His Highness ordered Li Pu to come meet Scholar Wen.”
Wen Rulin cast a suspicious glance at Han Qian, but then swept his eyes over Zhang Ping, Li Chong, and others seated to the left below Marquis Xinchang Li Pu. Only then did he perform a deep bow with clasped hands toward Han Qian: “Master Han is too kind. Wen is merely a prisoner—what great talent is there to speak of?”
His gesture made clear he could guess that Zhang Ping and Li Chong had sent the message, which led to Marquis Xinchang Li Pu’s visit today. But on the surface, he still had to follow Marquis Xinchang Li Pu’s meaning and express gratitude to Han Qian.
Han Qian dismissed Wen Rulin’s show of cleverness with disdain. Marquis Xinchang Li Pu’s eyes brightened. Without further testing, he got straight to the point: “Commissioner Han said you have a strategy to pacify the Tanzhou chaos early. What strategy do you have? Can you tell me?”
“The Ma father and son are indecisive. If Ma Yuanheng doesn’t surrender Jiang’an City, they will harbor false hopes at Yueyang. The Marquis should cut off their retreat before the Ma father and son withdraw south to Tanzhou. At that time, Tanzhou can be pacified by proclamation.” Wen Rulin said.
“How can their retreat be cut off? Tanzhou City still has ten thousand elite troops guarding it!” Li Pu couldn’t suppress his inner excitement and leaned forward to ask.
“Gao Long, the defending general of Baimao City at the mouth where the Xiang River enters Dongting Lake, married Ma Yin’s daughter and Ma Xun’s elder sister. Quite trusted by the Ma father and son, he was given command of troops to guard the Xiang River gateway. Ma Yin’s daughter is ugly in appearance but naturally fierce. When Gao Long once secretly took a beautiful concubine, Ma Yin’s daughter learned of it, seized the woman, stuffed her into a wine jar and steamed her until cooked, then sent her to Gao Long’s table during a night banquet as a warning. Only three to five people in Tanzhou know of such a secret matter. But I ask the Marquis—at this time, Gao Long appears utterly loyal to the Ma family, but in his heart, does he truly have any resolve to die for the Ma family?” Wen Rulin asked.
Marquis Xinchang Li Pu had not heard of such secret matters beforehand, but he also couldn’t confirm this wasn’t fabricated by Wen Rulin. He hesitated without speaking.
Wen Rulin continued: “If Wen can go there, I will certainly be able to persuade Gao Long to surrender Baimao City. At that time, the Marquis can lead troops to occupy Baimao City. Though the Xiang River southwest of Baimao City appears broad, the river channel is shallow and silted. The navigable channel for large ships is extremely narrow. Scuttling seven or eight large ships to sink to the river bottom will seal the channel and block the Ma father and son’s retreat. At that time, won’t the rebel army surrender by proclamation?”
Marquis Xinchang Li Pu naturally couldn’t make a decision based solely on Wen Rulin’s one-sided account. He temporarily had the escorts he’d brought detain Wen Rulin, then asked Han Qian: “Commissioner Han, do you think this strategy is feasible?”
Han Qian said: “After the Hanshou garrison fled east, they withdrew into Baimao City. Currently Baimao City has four thousand garrison troops. From the Yuan River mouth, whether by water or land route, it’s about one hundred li on foot. Whether to use Wen Rulin’s strategy or not, please decide, Marquis.”
At this time, the forces under Zheng Hui’s command assembled at Hanshou City had already exceeded twenty thousand. Before the Ma father and son led their troops to flee back to Tanzhou, their numbers already surpassed the garrison forces of Tanzhou’s various cities. Even if Wen Rulin couldn’t persuade Gao Long to open the city and surrender, withdrawing from Baimao City back to the Yuan River mouth and Hanshou was only about one hundred li distance.
And Wen Rulin had fallen directly into their hands after Wuling City was breached. There was no need to worry that Wen Rulin could conspire with anyone to set a trap luring the Longque Army elite into a deployed ambush.
Marquis Xinchang Li Pu pondered in silence for a long time, then said to Han Qian: “Let us bring Scholar Wen to Hanshou City to meet Zheng Hui!”