UCTOOT CH127

After eating and drinking his fill, Shi Shu went to bed. Xie Wuchi sat on the edge of the bed as Shi Shu reached out to unbutton his outer clothes, the orange light illuminating his back.

Shi Shu reached out to touch the scars on his back. “Is our relationship stable lately? Your temper has improved a lot.”

Xie Wuchi: “I told you earlier, I’m not a very aggressive person.”

Shi Shu: “…………”

“Do you know yourself?”

Xie Wuchi: “When I’m in a good mood, I also give people a pleasant look.”

“Either way, others have to watch your mood regardless.”

It was inconvenient for Shi Shu to prop himself up on his knees, so he simply sat on Xie Wuchi’s lap, toying with a strand of raven hair by his ear that was perfectly in place. Xie Wuchi raised his eyes, the shadow on the bridge of his nose cool and detached. Shi Shu scrutinized him carefully. “We’ve been dating for over half a year, and you still occasionally look at me like you’re looking at a dog. What kind of family raised you to be like this?”

Shi Shu touched him with a rare fondness, feeling the scars on his wrist, and leaned in to kiss them. Xie Wuchi let him kiss for a moment, then lowered his head and lifted Shi Shu’s chin.

Shi Shu looked up, recalling all sorts of things from the past. “I’m going to love you for a lifetime.”

Xie Wuchi stroked his face. “Hmm?”

Shi Shu: “Before, you brought me food every day, slept with me, and got up in the middle of the night to relieve yourself. In the temple, in the Flowing Water Nunnery, in the small courtyard in Senzhou… you were very good to me.”

Xie Wuchi: “That counts as good?”

Shi Shu: “Of course. One can’t always think about others being good to oneself; I have to be good to you too.”

Shi Shu rolled over, pressing him underneath, and Xie Wuchi reached out to hold Shi Shu’s waist. Winter was cold, and a brazier burned in the room. Shi Shu quickly pulled the quilt over them, covering them tightly. Shi Shu breathed near the hair by his ear, and only after a long while did he say, “I’ve saved all my wages from the Tuntian Office and the Medical Bureau.”

Xie Wuchi: “Why?”

Shi Shu: “Your line of work is dangerous, with great ups and downs. In the future, in case we’re exiled three thousand miles again, have our home raided, or end up destitute, I have money, and I can roam the world with you.”

Xie Wuchi said indifferently, “Then your fantasy is destined to be shattered. I won’t fail.”

“…”

Shi Shu struggled to lift his head and breathe. “You.”

Just as he finished speaking, a scorching kiss covered him again. Shi Shu tried hard to speak amidst Xie Wuchi’s kiss. “Good thing. It’s a good thing you won’t fail.”

They kissed for a long time until Shi Shu grew sleepy, burying his face in the pillow and falling asleep, feeling peace and warmth with him. The late autumn weather turned cool, and Shi Shu was busy working at the Tuntian Office. At night, if he could make it, he would return to the main camp, occasionally riding a horse back so he could share a bed with Xie Wuchi.

Xie Wuchi was busy rectifying the four major prefectures, managing internal military affairs, and receiving resources from Yong’an Prefecture and Bu Prefecture. By now, he had become too powerful to be easily removed. The newly arrived Pacification Commissioner could no longer integrate into the Yanzhou forces to balance him. The civil administration, finance, and military power of the four prefectures were all in Xie Wuchi’s hands. The commissioner could only sit idle in the office, even fearful of being killed.

In everyone’s eyes, Xie Wuchi remained upright, dignified, deeply reserved, and unfathomable, impeccable. However, he left a door open for Shi Shu. Whenever night fell, Shi Shu often had to be escorted to his central army tent.

Whenever there was a rest day, Shi Shu slept in General Xie’s bed. Everyone said their brotherhood ran deep, and no one asked for further details.

After some time passed like this, heavy snow fell from the sky on this day, like goose feathers.

The end of the year was approaching, and agricultural work was finished. Shi Shu and Du Zihan wandered idly in the city. In the afternoon, Shi Shu carried a braised rabbit out of the city to the military camp to find the still-busy Xie Wuchi.

The military camp was solemn and heavy, the red flags flapping in the wind, and snow accumulating at the camp gate. From time to time, rapid columns passed by, patrolling left and right. Shi Shu carried the braised rabbit, stepping on the accumulated snow, striding forward. Suddenly, he heard a rustling sound like broken jade.

Shi Shu looked up and saw a column of people walking hurriedly in the snow. This column of people wore round-collar silk official robes, ribbons around their waists, red and blue large sleeves fluttering. Each had a solemn expression, clearly either rich or noble. Behind them followed many attendants, bowing and serving, greeting and sending off.

And this group of people was only responsible to one center. That person wore fine armor in winter, with a pale crane cloak draped over it, his raven hair tied high, served in the center of the crowd. It was none other than Xie Wuchi.

After this group bowed to Xie Wuchi, they walked into the heavy snow. On the other side, the military generals, scholars, and strategists beside Xie Wuchi were waiting in a dense mass behind him.

Xie Wuchi looked contemplative, as if they had just brought unsettling news. Seeing Shi Shu, he said, “Raise the tent for discussion; bring the Second Young Master over.”

“Me? Me too?”

Shi Shu, carrying the braised rabbit, heard an attendant say, “Second Young Master, please. It’s cold outside; come into the tent to warm up by the fire.”

Shi Shu entered the tent. Charcoal was burning in a large copper basin with cloud patterns. After the group entered, they took their seats.

Shi Shu swallowed his words and sat in a warm spot near the fire. Xie Wuchi lowered his eyes as an attendant carefully wiped the snowflakes from his crane cloak. He looked wordlessly at the bright yellow imperial edict placed on a tray directly in front of him.

Xie Wuchi: “Everyone, speak first.”

Miao Yuanliang was the first to speak: “Congratulations, my Lord, on your promotion to Military Commissioner of Xingu and Changping Prefectures, and Pacification Commissioner of Linjiang Prefecture! This subordinate said, how could there be no reward for recovering the two prefectures from the Min people? Why did it only arrive at the New Year?”

Shi Shu was startled and thought to himself: So those people just now were from the capital? The Emperor finally sent down rewards for Xie Wuchi’s unparalleled achievement of recovering Yong’an Prefecture and Bu Prefecture?

Just as Miao Yuanliang finished, Lin Yan chuckled secretly, and Ping Yichun also laughed. “You only see the eating, not the beating!”

What beating?

Miao Yuanliang: “How did I not see the beating? Being appointed Military Commissioner and then being sent to fight the rebels in the southwest—isn’t this a promotion in name but a demotion in reality, wanting us to bleed our army dry for this empty title?”

Shi Shu suddenly looked up: What? Recovering two prefectures and being appointed Military Commissioner isn’t a promotion? Instead, it’s to make him lead an army to fight the southwest rebels with an empty title?

The southwest rebels, also known as the “Green Army,” were mentioned by Xie Wuchi. They had been causing trouble for a year or two, suppressed and then rising again. This time, they fought out of the gates of Qian’an Prefecture, making a noise known to all under heaven, revealing the weight of this civil rebellion.

According to Miao Yuanliang, was it intentional to send Xie Wuchi to suppress the rebellion, pitting the two armies against each other so that, like Feng Chongshan in Yunzhou back then, his assets would be beaten to pieces?

What kind of people are they! The Military Commissioner title isn’t a commendation for high promotion. Recovering two prefectures of the old country in exchange for official promotion turned out to be a plot to make him squander his family fortune?

If Xie Wuchi took action, firstly, he could suppress the internal chaos of Great Jing, and secondly, he would weaken his own strength. Good, very good. A good plan to kill the enemy to eliminate external threats and kill oneself to eliminate internal chaos.

While Shi Shu was feeling chilled to the bone, Xie Wuchi’s expression remained calm. He only asked, “Where has the Green Army reached?”

Miao Yuanliang: “Answering my Lord, they are causing trouble right up to Central Chu Prefecture. Once they cross the river, it’s Linjiang Prefecture. I guess that’s why they hurriedly appointed you as the Pacification Commissioner of Linjiang Prefecture!”

Xie Wuchi remained placid: “Oh, it seems according to His Majesty’s will, the Northern Army has no choice but to go. What do you all think?”

Everyone looked at his face. Xie Wuchi’s governance of the army had always been outwardly peaceful, but everyone knew his methods were thunderous, with no cherish for human life, handling matters with considerable speed, ruthlessness, and accuracy.

Lin Yan said, “My Lord, the boundary of Linjiang Prefecture, together with Shukang Prefecture, guards the Eastern Capital. If the Green Army were to break into Linjiang Prefecture and spy on the Dragon Court, that would be unbecoming…”

Xie Wuchi stood up, took the fire tongs, and poked the charcoal in the basin, the light reflecting on the bridge of his nose. “No need to hem and haw. There are no outsiders in the military tent.”

“Yes, my Lord. This subordinate believes that reasonably and emotionally, troops should be dispatched… regardless of the consequences for now. If not, firstly, it defies the imperial edict. Secondly, people will say you are self-respecting with heavy troops and have rebellious intentions, which is not good.”

Shi Shu realized then that everyone in this room was Xie Wuchi’s accomplice.

After Lin Yan finished, Miao Yuanliang clicked his tongue, greatly disapproving: “Lord Lin! There are plenty of people who comply outwardly but disobey inwardly. What’s the difference from defying the imperial edict? Secondly, you say self-respecting with heavy troops. In today’s court, which civil official isn’t only for their future, and which military general isn’t self-respecting with heavy troops?! Without our Lord’s ‘self-respect with heavy troops,’ I’m afraid if the Min people attacked, the Northern Army would be the weakest point, unable to withstand a blow!”

Someone echoed: “Yes, yes! The court has always been stingy with grain and military pay, unable to bring it out. The Eastern Capital sings and dances in peace, those capital officials eating dragon liver and phoenix marrow, but what about our border army soldiers? Every one of them drinks the northwest wind. If not for Lord Xie’s painstaking cultivation, how could the men and horses be fed? Lord Xie worked hard to raise the troops and horses, cherishing them himself—how is that called self-respecting with heavy troops?”

Unable to point out the Emperor’s intentions directly, Ping Yichun could only say, “Exactly. My Lord holds heavy resources in the Northern Army and trains the new army to resist foreign enemies. How can we have the time to use elite iron cavalry to deal with rebelling commoners? What about the Gengxu Army stationed in Central Chu Prefecture?! What about the Forbidden Army in Shukang Prefecture and the Eastern Capital! Why must our Northern Army go to suppress the rebellion? The court drags its feet on grain and fodder, but remembers us as soon as there’s a war? If the Northern Army is really beaten out of shape and loses its vitality, how can we protect the country? How can we resist the Northern Min?”

“What you all say makes sense,” Lin Yan nodded. “It’s just that my Lord holds the key position of the Northern Army. Receiving the edict but not dispatching troops is hard to explain! To put it harshly, ‘holding heavy troops and disobeying the edict,’ it wouldn’t be excessive for people in the court to impeach you for ‘rebellion’!”

“Rebellion? Isn’t this forcing a rebellion?!” Miao Yuanliang laughed, “Hahahahahahahaha!”

Cold sweat broke out on Shi Shu’s back. Looking left and right, he finally understood. This group of people, one playing the good cop, one playing the bad cop.

They repeatedly stated the pros and cons just to let Xie Wuchi make the decision.

At this moment, Xie Wuchi sat on the pear wood chair directly in front, admiring a jade disk—a gift for his promotion to Military Commissioner.

Xie Wuchi’s face showed no emotion. The people below couldn’t see clearly, feeling waves of chill on their backs.

A civil official braced himself and said, “We can’t not go. If we really don’t go, I’m afraid our Lord will be falsely accused of rebellion. Then the trouble will be big.”

Another military general said, “Rebellion? Are there few people rebelling within the Great Jing borders?”

“Once the imperial edict is issued, it’s clear they want us to use flesh and blood to fill the hole. How did the civil rebellion in Qian’an Prefecture start? Officials oppressed the people, bullied men and dominated women, sucked the marrow from their bones, so the people rebelled! The people they forced to rebel, they should suppress themselves. Why always let us wipe their asses!”

“My Lord, you absolutely must not dispatch troops! The troops and horses raised with such hard work—if we go to fill this bloody hole, next will be ‘when the cunning rabbits are dead, the running dog is cooked; when the flying birds are gone, the good bow is put away’! Once the Northern Army’s strength is weakened by the rebel army, the lesson of Feng Chongshan is right before our eyes!”

Feng Chongshan, a warlord family, suffered hundreds of thousands of casualties in Yunzhou, his family fortune completely emptied, the central army’s vitality exhausted.

Xie Wuchi already knew the score in his heart, but good or bad, he didn’t use his own mouth to say it, letting others say it instead.

Xie Wuchi sat in the chair, listened to them argue for a long while, and said, “Alright, alright, silence.”

A group of people arguing until the sky was dark and spittle flew heard this sentence. The voice wasn’t loud or quiet, but enough to make everyone stop.

Everyone looked at him.

Xie Wuchi said, “His Majesty’s decree must naturally be obeyed, otherwise what would it look like.” His tone shifted, looking at Ping Yichun beside him, tossing the jade disk in his hand to him. “Received your letter a few days ago saying bandits in the North Cha River territory proclaimed themselves kings and caused trouble. What is the situation?”

Ping Yichun looked up, his broad brows furrowing. “My Lord…”

The North Cha River territory connected to Yong’an Prefecture and lay at the foot of Dongping Ridge.

Upon hearing this sentence, everyone fell silent. Miao Yuanliang: “When did this happen?”

Suddenly, Ping Yichun stood up, armor clanking: “My Lord, this subordinate was just about to report this matter! The bandits of Dongping Ridge in North Cha River have proclaimed themselves kings, massacring and looting wantonly within the territory. This subordinate will dispatch a large army to suppress the rebellion and came first to ask for your instructions, my Lord!”

Xie Wuchi stood up and walked out: “Pacify the bandit scourge first, then plot the matter of going south. Still not going?”

“Yes!”

Cold wind blew in from the curtain, mixed with a few snowflakes, instantly making the warm space cold.

“North Cha River?”

“Bandit chaos in North Cha River?”

The remaining generals in the tent looked at each other. A moment later, a shuddering chill ran down the backs of all the smart people.

When had they ever heard of bandit chaos in North Cha River?

Disobeying the decree, refusing to dispatch troops.

—This was “open rebellion.”

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