UCTOOT CH124

“Why ask that? It may have nothing to do with being tired.”

Xie Wuchi glanced around the vacant temple. Inscriptions and murals had weathered away over the years. Shi Shu said, “I just feel that ever since coming back from Min territory, you’ve been busy day and night drilling troops, refitting armaments, and stocking the harvest, yet you never seem truly happy.”

Beyond Buddhist scriptures, the walls bore chronicles of strange legends. Instead of answering directly, Xie Wuchi said, “Upon this wall, a tale is recorded. During a dynastic struggle for power, the descendant of a deposed crown prince was summoned into the imperial palace to serve as regent prince. Rising early and retiring late, he dedicated himself wholeheartedly to the people.”

Shi Shu leaned against a stone seat. “What happened to him?”

“This prince regent suffered from an eye affliction; whenever exertion and grief grew severe, he would lose his sight. Later, when foreign invaders breached the borders, he led his armies to the front lines regardless, defending his country through thick and thin alongside his lover. Yet on the day of victory, his eye disease flared from sheer exhaustion. Treacherous court officials framed him, not only snatching his military merits, but falsely accusing him of plotting rebellion.”

Shi Shu asked, “And after that?”

“Blind in both eyes, he fled through frigid alien lands. His devoted wife guided him across the wilderness, sharing coarse steamed buns, sheltering in the humblest boarding houses, and hiding in a stranger’s estate while surviving on the paintings she sold. Having tasted the bitterest dregs of life, once he reunited with his loyal army, his path of vengeance began. In the end, his rebellion succeeded, and he ascended the throne as emperor.”

Having finished the story, Xie Wuchi looked away.

Shi Shu stared at the traditional characters inscribed on the mural. “Why is a story like this recorded inside a temple?”

“Before raising his rebellion, he chanted sutras in a prayer hall for months and received the mandate of heaven, which granted him victory. Hence, it was recorded.”

“…”

A spell of silence descended. Xie Wuchi gazed toward the Buddha statues, his plain robes rustling softly in the breeze, lost in unreadable thoughts.

“Buddhas are benevolent, delivering all sentient beings, yet temples are often where ghosts and demons run most rampant.”

Pacing slowly, Xie Wuchi returned to Shi Shu’s side. “The prince regent claimed the throne through a relatively bloodless coup. First, because of his noble bloodline; second, because years of regency had already woven an extensive network of allegiances across the court, so that old companions opened the capital gates for him willingly. Yet apart from rare exceptions like his, every dynastic transition and transfer of supreme power is monstrously bloody.”

Comprehension gradually dawned in Shi Shu’s mind. “You mean…”

Reflected in Xie Wuchi’s eyes were the solemn, austere downcast gazes of towering divine statues; silent benevolence intersecting with pools of blood. “When tempestuous tidal waves surge, the fortunate ride atop the crest, while the unfortunate drown beneath. This world-drowning deluge will arrive very soon.”

Carried all the way back to the gate of the military headquarters, Shi Shu mumbled sleepily, “Xie Wuchi, do you know why I love wandering around the agricultural settlements?”

“Why?”

Shi Shu said, “Because everyone is working: building houses, repairing yards, turning soil. It’s completely different from the plague in Shukang, the snowy night in Dasheng, or the endless mountains of corpses in Yunzhou. Walking through those open, bright fields puts me in such a good mood.”

Wiping Shi Shu’s hands, Xie Wuchi paused at those words. “Shi Shu, over these past three years, you have endured immense trauma too, haven’t you?”

“I don’t know…” Too exhausted to think, Shi Shu rallied a bit of energy. “But if I get to stay here with you for good, I’m ready to dedicate my youth to these fields.”

Before he could finish, Xie Wuchi leaned down, pressing their foreheads together. “Good boy. Sweet boy. Little puppy.”

Shi Shu grunted, “I’m not a dog. I don’t play along with that.”

Xie Wuchi looked at him with dark eyes, a faint smile gracing his lips. Kissed until his head spun, Shi Shu covered his mouth. “You…”

Xie Wuchi rested his forehead against his. “My baby.”

Over the following days, the military camp bustled with preparations for the harvest across both commanderies. Xie Wuchi spent nearly half a month at the front line, directing and organizing affairs.

Persuading a foreign prince to defect and surrender territory was an extraordinary achievement. Beneath the surface, currents swirled through officer ranks with unpredictable tension. Ordinary foot soldiers knew nothing of the Emperor’s secret decrees; hearing war drums, they charged forward to fight, the main army steadily advancing toward the boundary river. Some deduced from these maneuvers that the handover of the prefectures was underway, and festive jubilation rippled through the encampment.

Along the endless dirt road, Shi Shu was returning from the military colonies, exhausted after a full day settling newly arrived refugees. Walking beside him, Du Zihan asked, “Just realized, how long has Brother Xie been away?”

Shi Shu: “Half a month?”

“What kind of partner leaves you keeping watch over an empty bed alone?”

Shi Shu looked at him. “When you dragged me out at midnight to climb trees for fruit, grill fish, and roast meat, weren’t you the one saying it was lucky he wasn’t around?”

Du Zihan: “I’m just reminding you: when Brother Xie gets back, don’t mention any of that.”

“…”

Both were caked in dust and grime. Passing a brimming brook, Du Zihan washed his hands, the calluses on his palms rubbed raw and red. “Refugees keep pouring in. Ever since commoners in Zhongchu Prefecture rebelled and declared a king, displaced folk have fled toward Yanzhou. Hauling dirt and mixing mortar every day feels like being stuck in a civil engineering degree. You’re basically in the same boat.”

Shi Shu: “Can’t be helped. People can’t just spend their whole lives avoiding labor.”

Du Zihan stared at him. “Yes they can. Humans definitely can.”

“…”

Shi Shu paused, then crouched by the pool to rinse the dust from his hands. Just then, several members of the medical bureau passed by, washing herbs along the riverbank, their bodies half-hidden by swaying reeds. Snippets of their conversation drifted over: “I heard General Ping’s elite heavy cavalry has already deployed to the boundary river. It seems the reclamation of Yong’an and Bufuzhou isn’t mere idle talk!”

“Such top-secret matters, how could you know?”

“A few days ago I treated advisors outside the central command tent and overheard them chatting. Word is the eunuchs from the Eastern Capital are stamping their feet in fury, crying that before the Emperor’s Father-in-law arrives, how could General Xie monopolize the glorious merit of reclaiming lost territory? Truly preposterous, hahahaha!”

“You certainly hear a lot.”

“Keep your mouth shut outside. Those bloodsuckers from the Eastern Capital only know how to reap without sowing and steal credit. If this is true, General Xie’s actions bring sheer satisfaction to every heart!”

“…”

Shi Shu washed his hands spotless, watching the two medical attendants depart. “Xie Wuchi’s reputation in the Northern Army is beyond dispute. Time to head back!”

Du Zihan: “Your man isn’t home tonight. Why not crash at the Qiu Army barracks?”

Shi Shu considered it for a second, smiling lazily. “Sure! Sleeping on the communal bunk is great, with endless chatter late into the night. It’s just that the temperature dropped recently, and the bare floor is freezing cold against your back. Freezing, I swear!”

“Squeezing together is what keeps it warm. Let’s go find Song Sinan.”

“Let’s go, let’s go.”

Shi Shu straightened up, suddenly recalling a certain person with a blazing body temperature. Come winter, sleeping curled against him was pure warmth. Yet that man had been consumed by monumental affairs of late, with little communication beyond routine letters.

“Why isn’t he back yet…” Shi Shu mumbled aloud.

“Hya! Whoa!” A swift steed suddenly appeared ahead, the rider scanning around until his eyes locked onto Shi Shu. Pulling the reins tight, the messenger leaped down. “Second Young Master! I’ve been searching everywhere. King Zhouchi has arrived after a long journey to surrender his allegiance. General Xie commands the Second Young Master to change into formal attire and proceed to the camp gates to receive the guests immediately!”

Shi Shu: “My brother is back?!”

“Yes! General Xie has returned!”

Shi Shu turned toward Du Zihan. “Well, uh, I have to go accompany someone…”

Du Zihan gave him an ‘I understand completely’ look. “Go on back. The communal bunk will be plenty warm without you tonight. Hurry along and fulfill your wifely duties.”

What duties? The duty of warming Xie Wuchi’s bed?

Shi Shu: “Hey, Zihan, watch your mouth!”

Shi Shu raised a hand to reason with him, trying to prove he wasn’t someone who chose romance over brotherhood, yet his feet were already poised to sprint. Pointing backward as he retreated, he said, “I’m warning you, don’t slander me.”

Du Zihan sighed in mock despair. “Just look at you, wrapped around his finger like a puppy!”

“…”

Say no more; time to bolt.

Shi Shu swung onto a mount and spurred toward the central command camp, his heart leaping into his throat. Returning to camp, he immediately donned solemn ceremonial robes, joining the ranks at the main gates to await the victorious host.

Autumn in the northern border was fleeting. Yellow clouds stretched across the horizon above vast, withered grasslands. In this formal diplomatic reception, armored commanders and guards stood in dark, disciplined ranks under an austere atmosphere. In the far distance, banners broke against the horizon, followed by columns of warhorses marching in ant-like formation.

Behind them, the ceremonial guard and cavalry stretched endlessly, soldiers peeking out to observe the spectacle.

Shi Shu watched intently. Suddenly, a tall figure emerged at the forefront. Xie Wuchi was draped in a fox-fur cloak, riding ahead through the frost with an imposing, unyielding presence. Beside him on a bay steed sat King Zhouchi, while Northern Army escorts guided throngs of Min cavalry, keeping the bustling scene orderly.

Delight bloomed across Shi Shu’s face. “Xie…”

Dismounting, King Zhouchi dropped to his knees before him in a deep bow: “This king offers heartfelt gratitude to the Second Young Master for keeping his word!”

“Please rise, rise quickly! This was a deliberation of state between you and my elder brother, and has nothing to do with me. Please, come inside and take a seat.”

As King Zhouchi entered, Yuan Guan followed in plain robes. “Second Young Master…”

Shi Shu: “Please be seated as well. My brother has struck your family’s slave registry from the records. From now on you are free citizens; whatever follows depends on your own fortunes.”

Yuan Guan nodded, his sickly frame still bearing traces of frailty. Flutes and drums resonated through the barracks as ceremonial court music commenced, marking the formal opening of the banquet.

The crowd filed inside in order. As Xie Wuchi’s robes brushed past him, Shi Shu caught the faint scent of gunpowder clinging to his clothes after their long separation. Before they could exchange more than a few words, Xie Wuchi was ushered by the assembly to the primary seat at the head of the tent. Draped in his aristocratic crane cloak, his expression remained tranquil and commanding.

Shi Shu had long grown accustomed to his stoic, unreadable public demeanor. He never spoiled the mood on formal occasions, understanding the gravity of the setting.

“This grand gathering and the smooth completion of our submission is entirely thanks to General Xie commanding the overall situation. That our modest tribal territory can submit to the banners of Dajing is our boundless honor. This king offers a toast to General Xie…”

Praise for Xie Wuchi’s martial brilliance filled the banquet, while Xie Wuchi merely demurred with polite modesty: “It is solely thanks to His Majesty’s sagacity that such an auspicious event could come to pass.” For now, he refrained from showing hostility toward the imperial court.

An ordinary official banquet. Though Shi Shu had been the pivotal reason Yuan Guan brokered this defection, after a few perfunctory mentions, the assembly focused entirely on currying favor with the man who wielded tangible power. Bureaucratic politics had always worked this way.

Midway through the banquet, boredom set in. Seeing no one watching, Shi Shu plucked a grape and flicked it straight into Xie Wuchi’s wine cup.

Plop.

Xie Wuchi lifted his eyelids. A playful smile lit Shi Shu’s handsome face as he crooked a slender finger at him. Unhurriedly picking up his chopsticks, Xie Wuchi fished out the grape and ate it.

Shi Shu thought, Huh? He actually ate it? Our flirting really is as sickening as ever.

Xie Wuchi said nothing, his expression implying that there were far more sickening things to come.

“…”

Commanders, high officials, and dignitaries spoke with stately gravity, delivering grand pronouncements. Having eaten his fill, Shi Shu thought, This banquet looks just like those elite political summits in historical dramas. Good to broaden my horizons, but I’m done here. Time to head back to the tent.

Shi Shu retired early to Xie Wuchi’s living quarters. In the gathering darkness, the snort of horses caught his ear, and he stepped outside.

Xie Wuchi approached through the night wind, leading two tall warhorses. “Let’s go.”

Finally alone together. Curious, Shi Shu asked, “Where are we going?”

“Taking you to see the camps of the Northern Army.”

“Sure! But Xie Wuchi, you just got back, yet you don’t even catch up with me first,” Shi Shu muttered as he swung into the saddle, “taking me straight to… waaah!” A yelp of alarm tore from his throat as the horses surged into a gallop, hurtling through the night wind.

Brisk air whipped against his face as Shi Shu gripped the reins tight. “Good thing my riding skills are sharp, or you would’ve scared the soul out of me!”

Two mounts led the way with guards trailing behind, galloping over autumn frost toward a brilliantly lit military compound. Tonight the entire army was feasted to celebrate reclaiming Yong’an and Bufuzhou. Along the wooden stockades, cauldrons of burning tung oil cast blazing reflections over polished armor, radiating festive joy.

Xie Wuchi explained, “This is the primary Northern Army garrison. Part of the direct-line Crane-Controlling Army is stationed in Yanzhou, while the rest occupies various strategic outposts. They form the elite core of our forces.”

Shi Shu: “I know, the elite heavy cavalry! Recruits must pass grueling assessments to enter, and their discipline and combat prowess are terrifying.”

The horses pressed on, hooves splashing through muddy ruts. Recognizing the path, Shi Shu noted, “Isn’t this the road to Song Sinan’s unit?”

“Indeed. The Qiu Army encampment is stationed here. After more than a year of drills, they comprise cavalry, infantry, and archers.”

Shi Shu didn’t quite understand why he was suddenly touring troops tonight. Chilly wind brushed his neck, but a rare midnight excursion with Xie Wuchi past sprawling cantonments put him in high spirits. Calling out a cheerful “Hya!“, the steeds dashed past the torchlight, leaving the Qiu Army camp behind.

After riding for some distance, another brilliantly lit encampment appeared ahead, still under construction. The timber of the palisades bore fresh green shavings and damp coats of paint, clearly housing a newly expanded contingent.

“This place…” Shi Shu hopped down from the saddle. Over ten thousand men were being registered overnight, allocated to barracks and squads. Clerks with pale, parched lips clutched rosters, straining their voices to shout above the din:

“Name!” “Age!” “Native place!”

Shi Shu noticed many recruits sprawled across the dirt in undisciplined disarray, scratching their hair or backs, laughing and whispering among themselves. Completely unlike regular soldiers, they were evidently fresh enlistees.

“Who are they?”

Xie Wuchi: “Soldiers recruited from Yong’an and Bufuzhou.”

“Oh.” Then realization struck like lightning. “Xie Wuchi, with Yong’an and Bufuzhou surrendering, didn’t you just seize territorial land and massively expand your ranks at the same time?”

“Naturally,” Xie Wuchi replied with cool detachment. “The loyalist remnant forces, mountain outlaws, and peasant militias from both prefectures have all been integrated into the Northern Army.”

The court’s frantic deployment of imperial kinsmen to steal the glory, the replacement of the military supervisors, the panicking eunuch: everything suddenly fell into sharp focus.

Connecting the dots in his mind, a shiver ran down Shi Shu’s spine. “No wonder you didn’t wait for the envoys from the Eastern Capital and pushed this through ahead of time! You’re an absolute genius!”

Stepping behind him, Xie Wuchi murmured, “If the Emperor’s Father-in-law had arrived first, these troops would belong to the capital. Since he hasn’t arrived, they belong to me. Integrating them early ensures that except for me, no one can command this host.”

An army: possessing an army meant commanding absolute authority.

“Dividing the Min from within not only reduces casualties, but also expands your military power. Two birds with one stone…”

Shi Shu surveyed the scene in sheer awe. Daoist Han Tian was wielding a broad blade to maintain order, barking as he walked: “Straighten up, all of you! You shameless scoundrels, when you were in the hills I let you off easy, but now that you’re in the army, shape up!”

Seeing him occupied, Shi Shu refrained from greeting him and departed with Xie Wuchi. Moving further along, bright torchlight nearby caught his attention once more.

Shi Shu: “Why is there another new camp being built?”

Shi Shu stepped closer to inspect. Warriors with recurve horn bows, lacquered bows, and scimitars strapped at their waists carried themselves with untamed ferocity, robe hems tucked into waistbands and jade pendants dangling from their earlobes. Handlers herded plump oxen and sheep into the stockade, shouting: “Clear the way, clear the way! Sent by General Xie to feast our ranks!”

“Bring them in, bring them in!” “These lambs are fat and tender! Pure savory goodness!”

As livestock was driven inside, a chieftain stepped forward laughing boisterously, drew a dagger to slit open a sheep pelt, carved off a strip of bloody raw meat, and shoved it straight into his mouth. Chewing in the firelight with blood dripping down his chin, he looked like a demonic wraith.

It was actually an army of Min warriors!

Shi Shu gasped, “…He can eat that raw?! Min soldiers, where did you get them? They surrendered and gave you their army too?”

Xie Wuchi: “Yes. The Min consist of various clans. These belong to the Yahan tribe, who were hunted by their own kin over blood feuds; many young warriors preferred to defect to us. They were organized into a new division alongside the troops brought by King Zhouchi.”

Shi Shu muttered, “This is way too…” Too terrifying.

The combat effectiveness of Min warriors was legendary. The troops of Dajing were generally softer; Xie Wuchi’s elite heavy cavalry had bested them, but that never meant the Min were weak. Now, both the primary and auxiliary heavy cavalry were under Xie Wuchi’s direct command.

A few thousand elite cavalry could breach fortresses, butcher populations, shatter human dignity, and trample lives like straw. And of such elite riders, Xie Wuchi possessed a hundred thousand! Hundreds of thousands of fighting men answered exclusively to Xie Wuchi’s command. Before such absolute martial force, any opposition would be pulverized to dust.

Walking into this Min contingent, a gathered crowd caught their eye. Dozens of warriors clustered around a speaker whose face shone with enthusiasm: “General Xie declared that from now on, he will grant us fat sheep, fine steeds, pastures, and mountains! When we win, we have everything! Settle down here, pledge your lives to General Xie, and prosperous days await us all!”

Someone asked suspiciously, “Isn’t this General Xie a Jing man? My uncle who fought in the war said General Xie was utterly merciless against our kin at Yunzhou…”

“Shut your mouth!” The speaker glared at him fiercely. “What nonsense! General Xie is General Xie, and the Jing Emperor is the Jing Emperor! General Xie treats us with goodwill, completely unlike the rest. He possesses far greater majesty than any Jing Emperor!”

The crowd instantly fell silent.

The speaker beamed with fervor: “Listen to me! Don’t you know yet? General Xie shares the exact day of birth as the Great Deity Jidu! What does that signify? General Xie might very well be the son of the divine god!”

“…”

Shi Shu’s scalp prickled with numbness. “Xie Wuchi, you…”

Directing such vast forces like one’s own limbs was exceptionally difficult, especially with Min warriors renowned for their fierce, untamed nature. Yet Xie Wuchi had anticipated this from the start, launching a cultural and psychological assimilation!

“One of many mouthpieces in my service. Ideological high ground cannot be surrendered; it will serve vital purposes in days to come.” Xie Wuchi spoke calmly, as if discussing trivial matters. “Let us head back.”

The night was pitch-black. Touring the garrisons along the road, the image of that agitator declaiming from the platform lingered in Shi Shu’s mind.

A cool breeze lifted the hair from Shi Shu’s fair forehead. “Now, with loyalist remnants incorporated into the Qiu Army, plus the Min auxiliary force and the Crane-Controlling Army, you command three distinct forces.”

Xie Wuchi had absorbed the gray-zone Qiu Army and foreign Min units. In the eyes of conventional court officials, this was high treason that none dared attempt. Yet both forces possessed terrifying combat potency.

Shi Shu admired Xie Wuchi’s strategic mastery, cold rationality, and unshakeable command. Across the tens of millions in this empire, barely a soul could match him. Peerless achievement, god-given genius. Although their daily familiarity blurred these aspects, Shi Shu was still frequently awed by his formidable capability.

Back when we shared a single meditation bed at Xiangnan Temple, I never imagined such a day would come, Shi Shu thought in the dark. Here I am, toiling away at the agricultural colonies every day, while with a mere furrow of his brow, Xie Wuchi can cause a million corpses to fall and rivers of blood to flow. Like an impartial deity dispensing retribution and favor, holding the power over life and death at his sole whim.

It was terrifying, and profoundly awe-inspiring. The person right beside him commanded hundreds of thousands of veteran troops, able to snuff out human lives like dusting away ash.

The cool night wind did little to quiet Shi Shu’s racing thoughts. By the time they returned to the central command tent, deep silence had fallen. Chilled to the bone, Shi Shu trotted inside. Having just finished washing up, powerful arms wrapped around him from behind.

Just as Shi Shu tilted his head, an arm hooked under his calf, spinning him around and scooping him into an embrace. Clasping the fabric over the fine scale armor, before he could utter a word, he was pressed against the wooden screen.

Shi Shu first caught the faint scent of blood, the sharp tang of northern battlefield gales, followed immediately by scorching body heat that instantly dispelled the cold, enclosing him within a sheltering warmth.

Resting the back of his head against the wooden rail of the screen, Shi Shu let out a soft pant. Calloused fingers cupped his jaw, tilting his head aside, and in an instant, his mouth was captured by wet, burning warmth that carried a demanding, hungry urgency.