Two incense sticks’ time later, Zhao Wuji and Zhang Ping, who had lost his left arm, finally arrived on horseback, surrounded by over ten guards.
Li Pu also saw Feng Yi, who should have been at Han Qian’s side at this time, had also come with Zhao Wuji and Zhang Ping. He didn’t know if Han Qian had some special orders to convey through him to Zhang Ping and Zhao Wuji.
“Lord Zhang, Commander Zhao!” Li Pu suppressed the doubts in his heart and furiously told Zhang Ping and Zhao Wuji about the dispute. “How will the Chishan Army handle this matter?”
Liu Zishu had regained consciousness by now, but having lost so much blood, he was extremely weak. Whether he could survive this ordeal and live was still completely uncertain.
Zhao Wuji wore a suit of blue armor. He was lean and upright with handsome features.
Over these years following Han Qian, whenever he had leisure time he would study books. He possessed an upright, refined scholarly air rare among military generals. A sword hung at his waist, a horse lance was bound to his back, a bow hung on the left side of his saddle, and three quivers of arrows on the right. Sitting on horseback facing the furious Li Pu and Wei Zhen, he calmly surveyed left and right, observing the situation on the scene.
Although Zhao Wuji was only nineteen this year, Li Pu knew he was unmatched in archery. Beyond the longbow, he had also trained arduously in saber techniques and spear combat, and was a representative figure among the household troop descendants at Han Qian’s side. Moreover, his elder sister Zhao Ting’er was currently the only young mistress Han Qian had formally married.
Zhang Ping was gentle by nature, and Feng Yi handled matters diplomatically. The two of them dismounted first upon arriving, exchanging courtesies with those around them. In particular, they both knew the green-robed elder’s identity and knew Li Xiu, Li Qi and others were brave warriors, not daring to show any disrespect.
Zhao Wuji, however, sat quietly on horseback like a sharp blade resting in an ancient, simple scabbard—not revealing its edge, yet unwilling to be covered in dust.
Having followed at Han Qian’s side these years practicing and studying, he felt no one in the world could surpass Han Qian. Even toward Li Yu, who enjoyed renowned fame and held the title of Great Chu’s foremost general, he had no special feelings.
After hearing Li Pu explain the matter, Zhao Wuji had no interest in carefully distinguishing right from wrong here. Pointing at the troublemaking Han Donghu, he instructed those around him in a deep voice: “Arrest this fellow and escort him to Nantang Fortress to be questioned and dealt with by my lord!” He then cupped his hands toward Li Pu and asked, “Can the Marquis dispatch witnesses to go together to Nantang Fortress to present their testimony?”
Although Zhang Ping was the supervising military commissioner, the Chishan Army had not assembled a group of people under Zhang Ping to form a formal military supervisory office. Therefore, jurisdiction over troop discipline temporarily did not fall under Zhang Ping’s control. His role as supervising military commissioner was mainly to report Han Qian and the Chishan Army’s movements to Yueyang in a timely manner.
Zhao Wuji followed standard military procedures for handling this, having someone walk toward the troublemaking Han Donghu. Han Donghu didn’t dare resist, honestly surrendering his weapons—sword, bow—as well as his warhorse, allowing people to bind his hands securely behind his back. At this point, Zhao Wuji designated one of the guards beside him to command Han Donghu’s cavalry detachment.
Although Zhao Wuji gave people a feeling of arrogant rudeness, seeing this situation, Li Pu and Wei Zhen had nothing to say. They immediately found two aristocratic family sons who had witnessed the conflict near Liu Zishu to accompany Han Donghu first to Nantang Fortress to present testimony.
Next, Li Pu was about to ask Zhang Ping in detail about Han Qian’s intentions sixty li away at Nantang Fortress and why Feng Yi had rushed over here. At this moment, clamoring came from the camp where the various families’ female relatives and elderly were temporarily resting. A young woman wearing light blue collared clothing, a purple skirt below, and embroidered shoes hastily trampling through muddy ground that had gotten filthy, pushed aside several women blocking her and came forward, shouting loudly: “Officers of the Chishan Army, this common woman has testimony to present regarding Shang Hu’s wounding of someone!”
As a commanding general, Zhao Wuji had no interest in getting too entangled with Li Pu and Wei Zhen. He was just thinking of escorting Han Donghu away first, leaving other liaison matters to Zhang Ping and Feng Yi, when unexpectedly a woman rushed out from the camp. His sharp gaze swept over Li Pu and Wei Zhen. Regardless of their opinions, he instructed those around him: “Bring that woman over.”
Li Pu stared at that young woman with displeasure. He didn’t recognize her identity or know what testimony she had to present, but at this moment he also found it inconvenient to order her stopped.
“Isn’t this shameless woman’s private meetings with a lowly slave embarrassing enough?” Wei Zhen stood at Li Pu’s side, stamping his feet and muttering.
“This common woman’s father was Shuishui County Lieutenant Wei Yanzhang. He unfortunately died in battle when Shuishui City fell. This common woman was released from Shang Family Fortress and sought refuge with her mother’s clan. Knowing this matter, she dared not have the slightest complaint. But mindful that her father had cherished her since childhood and was hastily buried, she worried that without making a marker, she wouldn’t be able to find the grave mound to pay respects when returning home in the future. Two days ago on the road, this common woman encountered General Shang Hu and privately entrusted him to find her father’s grave and erect a monument so it would be easy to recognize in the future. General Shang Hu came just now to inform her about erecting the monument. Unexpectedly, Liu Zishu saw this and had some misunderstanding. He loudly rebuked and used a whip to strike General Shang Hu. General Shang Hu didn’t even fight back. This common woman wanted to say a few words to Liu Zishu, but Liu Zishu insulted this common woman. General Shang Hu reached out to block him, but he drew his saber to cut down General Shang Hu. Only then did General Shang Hu have no choice but to draw his saber and wound him… Every sentence this common woman speaks is true. Please, General, examine clearly.”
“Marquis, is there anything concealed that hasn’t been said about this matter?” Zhao Wuji looked coldly at Li Pu and asked.
Seeing Zhao Wuji’s arrogant, cold manner, Li Pu was so angry that the veins on his forehead twitched. But thinking of Han Qian whose backbone was even harder, and that he still needed to rely on Zhao Wuji’s cavalry battalion to cover the flanks of the Shuishui County people, he had no way to get angry with him. He said coldly: “A woman’s words may not be true. Moreover, Liu Zishu had responsibility for guarding the camp. Driving away a lowly slave was also within his duty.”
“Whether it can be true or not, my lord will have his own judgment. No one may conceal anything. Furthermore, Han Donghu received his name from my lord. He is a soldier of our Chishan Army. If he violates military discipline, naturally he will be severely punished without leniency. But if before my lord someone casually calls our Chishan Army soldiers lowly slaves, even one as esteemed as the Marquis will be rebuked by my lord.” Zhao Wuji said coldly.
Next, Zhao Wuji paid no attention to Li Pu’s reaction. Looking toward that young woman, he asked: “I now need you to go to Nantang Fortress as a witness. Can you ride a horse?”
“This common woman can ride a horse!” the woman said.
Zhao Wuji signaled for those around to let out a horse for the woman. He then led his people directly away along the muddy path, leaving other matters for Zhang Ping and Feng Yi to handle.
Watching Zhao Wuji lead his people away in a cloud of dust, Li Pu felt his temples throbbing. He didn’t know how many such rude scoundrels like this there were around Han Qian. He grabbed Zhang Ping and asked: “What is Han Qian doing at Nantang Fortress right now?”
Currently, the Chishan Army occupied four or five main strongpoints on the western foothills of the Jieling Mountains and between the Jieling Mountains and Fuyu Mountains—all rebuilt on the basis of village fortresses or town wharfs abandoned by aristocratic clans.
After the Chishan Army’s main forces retreated south overnight, Nantang Fortress located on the western foothills of the Jieling Mountains was currently the northernmost main fortified settlement controlled by the Chishan Army.
Previously, Han Qian had always remained at Guangde Fortress on the northern foothills of the Fuyu Mountains.
During the previous dynasty, Guangde County had been established on the northern foothills of the Fuyu Mountains, governing Guangde City. In the eighth year of Tianyou, it was destroyed in the fires of war suppressing Prince Yue Dong Chang. Afterward, Guangde County was abolished, with most of its land merged into Langxi County of Xuanzhou, and a small eastern portion merged into Anji County of Huzhou, leaving only a ruined city on the northern foothills of the Fuyu Mountains.
“Lord Han anticipated that the first wave of people from Shuishui County should arrive at Nantang Fortress tomorrow, but he didn’t expect the Shuishui County people’s southern retreat to be so slow. He worries that if it drags on further, the Chuzhou Army and Southern Court Forbidden Army will increase harassment intensity. He had Feng Yi come to urge the Marquis—he also ordered Zhao Wuji that three days later, he must lead the cavalry battalion back to Nantang Fortress.” Zhang Ping said.
Hearing Zhang Ping say this, Li Pu felt both ashamed and anxious, saying: “In three days Han Qian wants to withdraw the cavalry battalion—how can so many elderly, weak, women and children make it to Nantang Fortress in time?”
Facing Zhao Wuji’s arrogant rudeness, Li Pu could endure it. At this moment, the Southern Court Forbidden Army was dispatching large numbers of scouts and reconnaissance cavalry to harass from the north. It was mainly Zhao Wuji leading the Chishan Army cavalry battalion elite blocking them at the perimeter.
Imagine—three days later when they still haven’t reached Nantang Fortress—at the current snail’s pace, three days would only be enough for the twenty thousand-plus rabble to complete about half the remaining distance to Nantang Fortress—yet Zhao Wuji would first withdraw the Chishan Army cavalry battalion.
Although the Southern Court Forbidden Army and Chuzhou Army’s main forces harbored misgivings, making it unlikely they would pounce within three days, elite cavalry forces of thirty to fifty or over a hundred men like hungry wolves following from the north—wouldn’t their dragging formation stretching over ten li become a little fat sheep ready for slaughter?
Seeing Li Pu like this, Feng Yi laughed contemptuously in his heart. This kind of person looked down on Han Qian and the Chishan Army from his bones, but when impoverished, cornered and at his wit’s end, he tried every means to expect rescue from Han Qian and the Chishan Army.
“Han Qian knows the Shuishui County people’s impoverished slowness. He has already dispatched people to establish four temporary rest and supply camps along the route every fifteen li, requiring the Shuishui County people to strictly prohibit any stops or delays except when reaching temporary camps. Furthermore, beyond necessary grain and clothing, Han Qian hopes the Marquis can make up his mind to forcibly require everyone to abandon all unnecessary burdensome items! Additionally, please have the Marquis escort Magistrate Wei and the various families’ female relatives, elderly, and young children to proceed first—this might increase speed. Han Qian also said that if the Marquis cannot make some firm decisions, the Chishan Army can help the Marquis do some dirty work and hard labor. Along the route, all violations of orders and resistant behavior will first be served with clubs and sticks. If clubs and sticks don’t work, then swords and axes will be applied…” Feng Yi cupped his hands and stepped forward to speak.
Now it was Wei Zhen’s turn for his temples to twitch:
Escorting the various families’ female relatives and young children to proceed first would increase the speed of the Shuishui County people—what did these words mean?
Was Han Qian saying that the various families’ sons were deliberately delaying, wanting to escort him along with the female relatives and young children ahead first to serve as hostages?
The Chishan Army didn’t mind helping Li Pu do some dirty work and hard labor—was this saying that if Li Pu couldn’t bring himself to do it, the Chishan Army would use military force to suppress any behavior from the various families’ sons that didn’t suit their intentions?
In Li Pu’s heart, he actually hoped the Chishan Army could help him apply pressure to the various families.
Regardless of how hateful Han Qian was as a person, the Chishan Army currently had thirty thousand able-bodied men organized, and previously when attacking Shang Family Fortress, the Chuzhou Army organized several thousand elite infantry and cavalry yet failed to tear open the Chishan Army’s flank defensive line, instead suffering casualties—so one couldn’t say the Chishan Army recruited from slaves was all rabble.
Wei Zhen and other families might have thoughts of submitting to the Chuzhou Army, but before the Chuzhou Army and Chishan Army had further military confrontations to determine superiority, the Chishan Army loomed like dark clouds over the heads of the various Shuishui families, making them dare not make any unusual moves.
However, Li Pu wouldn’t show this expectation on his face. With a gloomy expression, after a long while he looked toward Wei Zhen and asked: “Magistrate Wei, what do you think?”
“Such dragging is absolutely unacceptable. If the Marquis has a decision, then make up your mind to implement it.” Wei Zhen could only say self-deprecatingly at this point.
He didn’t know if after sending the Shang family slave to Nantang Fortress, Han Qian would be biased and protective, but the Shang family slave had unhesitatingly, without any qualms, severed Liu Zishu’s left arm with one stroke. He truly worried that if they revealed any hesitation or intention to submit to the Chuzhou Army, that bastard Han Qian would very likely carry out a bloody purge and suppression of them.
After all, Han Qian doing this could also suppress Li Pu’s ambitions to compete with him for power and position in Yueyang…