Before the imperial edict of war was issued, everyone had already fought this battle numerous times. In their hearts, in their minds, on paper drawings, in sand table formations, and repeated demonstrations across the vast grasslands. Beyond studying tactics, they also studied people—the great clans and families in the towns along their route.
“Since we need a swift and decisive victory, we must utilize human resources,” said Deng Yi, pointing at the map hanging in the study hall. Unlike the battle map hanging in Chu Zhao’s room, this map had family names written on every location.
“Previously, when I was seeking official positions everywhere to form connections, I carefully studied many great clans. Later, after becoming the Imperial Tutor, many sons of these great families, hoping to associate with me, entrusted me with their family resources and candidly recommended themselves. I learned even more about them.”
“These great clans have extensive networks in their localities. If they are willing, they can even overshadow the local government.” At this point, Deng Yi let out a cold snort. “You’ve personally experienced their assistance, Your Majesty.”
Chu Zhao couldn’t help but laugh, knowing he was referring to the time during the rebellion when the great clans of Han County suddenly switched sides, causing Xiao Xun’s army to collapse. But after laughing, she mocked herself.
This assistance had come through Xie Yanfang.
The Xie family had deep foundations, and Xie Yanfang had been cultivating relationships for many years. The interests and connections between the great families were intricate and intertwined. Xie Yanfang could persuade them to assist.
Moreover, Deng Yi’s current proposal was something Xie Yanfang had done in that previous life. When Xie Yanfang was locked in a stalemate with the imperial court, the clans of one fortress area switched sides, severely weakening the imperial forces and allowing Xie Yanfang to firmly occupy half the territory.
Could she, Chu Zhao, do the same? She still remembered the contemptuous attitude of the Wei family of Han County toward her.
“When did Your Majesty become so timid?” Deng Yi coldly mocked from the side. “You praised my capabilities from our first meeting, yet you never feared confronting me.”
Chu Zhao laughed again at his sarcasm. Alright, alright, she understood. She would do it. She merely had self-awareness, but she was still full of courage.
However, in practice, things weren’t going so smoothly. Before coming to Pingyang Prefecture, they had already visited two other locations where great families resided but hadn’t been able to approach the heads of the households. Just by observing the attitudes of the outer managers, they could discern the situation, and they nearly exposed their identities and movements.
The Tan family was their last hope.
With thirty thousand troops dispersed and infiltrating secretly, reaching this point had been extremely difficult. If they delayed any longer, they would be discovered and forced into direct conflict, attacking cities and seizing territory. Even if they could hold their ground without retreating, they would inevitably be trapped in a predicament for one, two, or even three years, with no chance of approaching the capital.
This confrontation would then truly be like that previous life—unable to end even after ten years, with the final victor uncertain. Perhaps, in the end, it would still be Xie Yanfang sitting before her coffin, reminiscing.
Thinking of this, Chu Zhao took a deep breath and once again reached up to touch her face.
“Please buy me some of Pingyang Prefecture’s best face powder,” she said to Chu Tang.
……
……
The Empress Chu’s campaign against the Xie family was widely discussed, but the actual fighting was still confined to the area around Yunzhong Commandery, so although the atmosphere was tense, daily life wasn’t greatly affected.
Restaurants, teahouses, and people hurrying along the roads remained bustling with activity.
Today, East Main Street was particularly lively. Carriages and horses streamed in from all directions, stopping in front of Ximo Pavilion. There were men and women, the young and the elderly.
This excitement attracted the attention of idle onlookers, especially when they saw the garrison soldiers who had been inspecting even mouse holes recently pass by without dispersing or checking them. Instead, they helped maintain order, ensuring the carriages and horses outside could enter.
The onlookers grew more curious. What was happening? East Main Street wasn’t the liveliest area in the city—it only had a few shops selling scholarly supplies and one or two unpopular teahouses. Why were so many people suddenly gathered here?
More and more people crowded around, asking “How’s it going?” and “Who’s winning?”
Soon, a shop assistant from the bookstore erected a blue silk banner outside the door, causing an immediate commotion among the spectators.
“The scholars have won!”
At the same time, people surged forward as the shop assistant hung a scroll on the rack outside the bookstore, densely covered with writing.
“Quick, look what it says!”
“Whose brilliant composition is it?”
The onlookers were pushed back and forth, forced to steady themselves against the wall, and again asked, “What exactly is happening here?”
Someone who had been pushed over explained, “Ximo Pavilion is hosting a yuanhuihui.”
The onlookers widened their eyes. “Ximo Pavilion doesn’t have any damn garden.” The place was so small, only two stories high.
The person beside them laughed heartily, with a hint of showing off: “You just don’t understand. Yuanhuihui doesn’t refer to a garden tour. It’s a type of literary gathering popular in the capital where men and women compete on the same stage.”
But someone nearby snorted, “What do you mean ‘popular in the capital’? It was established by Empress Chu. Now that people dare not mention Empress Chu, they call it ‘popular in the capital.’ If you have the courage, continue saying the name Empress Chu—”
Empress Chu.
To even be associated with Empress Chu! The onlookers were shocked.
But someone disliked this sarcastic tone and coldly laughed: “What’s wrong with saying it was created by Empress Chu? Empress Chu may be guilty, but does that make literary gatherings guilty too? Empress Chu has only existed for a few years, but how long have literary gatherings existed? Are you suggesting that because Empress Chu is guilty, literary gatherings should be forbidden throughout the land?”
The person immediately flushed red with embarrassment, unable to bear such an accusation. “You’re talking nonsense, twisting my words—”
And so an argument broke out. The onlookers were once again dumbfounded, while others around them laughed: “This is nothing. Yuanhuihui is all about arguing. In the earliest yuanhuihui in the capital, men and women would insult each other.”
There was such a thing? Men might do so, but women also dared to quarrel? The onlookers were shocked. Meanwhile, people had started to shout, “Let’s debate!” and “You should also compete and see who wins!”
The street outside Ximo Pavilion grew noisy.
Inside Ximo Pavilion, it was equally clamorous.
Downstairs, the men were laughing. Upstairs, the women were indignant.
“What’s there to be smug about! That Zhang Xuan is already thirty years old, so it’s no surprise he won against us.”
“Right, A-Ru could still hold her own against him. Our A-Ru is also very impressive.”
“Exactly, A-Ru, you were amazing! Didn’t that white-bearded old man say you were only slightly less sharp with your pen? With a bit more practice, you’ll be fine.”
“Hehe, A-Qi, you dare call Master Wen a white-bearded old man—be careful your father doesn’t punish you when you get home. That’s your father’s respected teacher.”
Although the women were indignant, they encouraged and praised each other, laughing and joking, filled with the vibrant spirit of youth.
Standing to one side, dressed as a maidservant, Chu Zhao couldn’t help but smile gently.
“It reminds me of our younger days,” she said softly.
Chu Tang, also dressed as a maidservant, glanced at her: “We’re not seventy or eighty yet! That was only five or six years ago!”
Chu Zhao quickly lowered her head to avoid laughing out loud and appearing inappropriate.
Meanwhile, the female proprietress of Ximo Pavilion began to announce, “The new topic has arrived. This time it’s calligraphy.”
Chu Tang nudged Chu Zhao with her elbow: “Stop reminiscing. Let’s get to work.”
Chu Zhao raised her head and responded affirmatively, composing herself as she lifted a tray. Her gaze turned toward the innermost table.
Chu Tang gave her a meaningful look, then walked in another direction, inquiring of each table of young ladies: “Would the young miss like to try calligraphy?”
Each table usually seated four young women, with close friends sometimes squeezing five or six together. Upon being asked, some nodded together, while others had only two or three responding. Chu Tang arranged the papers from her tray according to the number of participants.
Chu Zhao had also reached the inner area and stood before a table. Here, only one young woman sat alone. Unlike the others whose maidservants waited in an adjoining room for instructions, her two maidservants stood behind her.
“Young miss,” Chu Zhao asked with a smile, “would you like to try calligraphy?”
This young woman was fifteen or sixteen, fair-skinned and pretty, though her expression was as cold as the jade ornaments by her ears. With one hand supporting her chin and the other twirling an empty teacup on the table, she didn’t even raise her eyelids at the question: “No.”
This wasn’t the first time. Since this young miss had entered, she had answered everything with a single “no.”
Chu Zhao didn’t say anything more, acknowledged with a “yes,” and was about to walk away when a girl at a nearby table snorted.
“Miss Tan, you’ve been here for half the day and haven’t participated in anything, not even drinking tea,” she said. “Did you come to watch us for your amusement?”
Miss Tan continued to keep her eyelids lowered, her fingers turning the teacup around and around: “Indeed, I came to see how ridiculous you all look competing with men.”
This remark not only made the girl who had spoken raise her eyebrows in anger, but it also caused other girls to look over with complex expressions.