UCTOOT CH129

Two rows of glazed lanterns illuminated the people striding forward, two in the lead and others following closely behind, walking into the side courtyard of the residence gate.

The night was dark and heavy when a young servant knelt on the ground, practically tumbling in headfirst. “My Lord, the masters are all leaving; we can’t stop them!”

Xie Wuchi kept guests and advisors. At this moment, a large group of servants looked at the empty doors and windows in this courtyard. The rooms were packed clean, bundles neatly tied. The advisors from the Eastern Capital had fled upon hearing the wind. Some still stood in the courtyard, glaring at those trying to stop them.

“Let go! I am free to come and go, what right do you have to stop me!”

“Scram! Even if General Xie comes, I’m not afraid.”

“Back then, hearing that General Xie was training a new army to resist foreign aggression, we followed here to this border defense land, eating cold wind and drinking sand, suffering bitter cold. Who knew that now General Xie actually has disloyal intentions! Disobeying the imperial edict! Different paths cannot make plans together, let me go!”

“…”

Shi Shu lifted his feet and walked into the courtyard. Several people were shouting insults. After Xie Wuchi entered the courtyard, their cursing didn’t stop but became even more impassioned.

Xie Wuchi walked slowly to the water vat where lotus leaves were raised, stopping with each step. Raising his calm eyes, he asked, “What’s going on?”

The attendant replied, “These masters heard news from somewhere saying my Lord is plotting rebellion, and one after another they want to return to the Eastern Capital to protect His Majesty.”

Xie Wuchi swept his eyes over the luggage and bedding on the ground. “Who is spreading rumors that this General has disloyal intentions?”

As soon as he arrived, some appeared to shrink back, while others became more impassioned: “The Xu clan of Changyang, Confucian masters for a hundred generations. Young Masters Xu Hengmen and Xu Hengfeng have long fled Yanzhou for the capital!”

Xu Hengfeng, Xu Hengmen? Shi Shu heard these two names—ah? The two of them? On second thought: No wonder. The Xu family ancestors held high positions in the court, with prominent family prestige and family friendships with many powerful ministers in the court. With extensive connections, they probably heard the wind early and fled back to the Eastern Capital to show loyalty.

However, back then when Xie Wuchi was just promoted, they came together to Yanzhou to gain experience and gild themselves. Now that Xie Wuchi might rebel, they turned and left immediately. One had to admire their sensitivity.

Xie Wuchi wasn’t anxious, looking at the group of scholars before him: “For the few years in Yanzhou, I haven’t treated you thinly. Now you actually believe slanderous words and leave directly without coming to ask me.”

Several people supported each other, huddled together, gaining courage: “Urgent loyalty led to leaving without saying goodbye; don’t talk about feelings to get involved. Since we’ve been stopped by you, if you want to kill us, kill us quickly!”

“Exactly! Drawing the blade for a quick end, kill me if you have the ability!”

Someone even shouted abuse: “You treacherous minister and traitor!”

Xie Wuchi: “This General has a heart for the people, consolidating border defense, yet is slandered by the court as rebelling. It’s hard to explain even with a hundred mouths. Since you all want to go be loyal and filial, how could this General stop you? Those who want to leave can leave now; ten taels of gold per person for travel expenses, escorted out of the city.”

“What?”

“…You, stop your hypocrisy.”

Not only were the advisors in the courtyard astonished, but Shi Shu was also somewhat surprised.

The advisors looked around, seemingly puzzled. After a moment, they awkwardly packed their bundles and walked out. Some refused the gold, striding away with heads held high, even spitting on the ground.

Xie Wuchi: “They want to be martyrs who disregarded their safety, leaving a good name for a thousand ages, but I won’t let them have their wish. To be labeled with killing the innocent before even rebelling, inciting the verbal and written condemnation of scholars under heaven—that’s not good.”

Shi Shu: “You really have your own logic in governing.”

Xie Wuchi: “Moreover, people’s hearts always proceed step by step. If not thoroughly disappointed with the court, few would betray a dynasty established for hundreds of years to bet on another unclear person.”

Shi Shu: “So this is also the reason you haven’t raised troops all this time?”

“Correct,” Xie Wuchi said. “Raising troops relying on military strength can only become fleeting mutinies like the An Lushan Rebellion or Wang Mang usurping the Han. Establishing a unified dynasty requires the will of the people.”

Shi Shu had to admire: “With this brain of yours, you’d succeed at anything.”

“My Lord! My Lord!”

Shi Shu was looking at the courtyard when suddenly an official stumbled up, out of breath: “My Lord, those, those people who fled—”

Xie Wuchi’s brows sharpened: “Speak.”

“This subordinate just went to the government office and saw documents turned upside down, many books stolen!”

Shi Shu: “They stole the government office’s documents?!”

“Exactly, exactly! Stolen were all documents on governing and administration, household registration records, land registers, public security books, policy essays. Although there are backups… but—”

Xie Wuchi: “Go take a look.”

Stealing things too? The highest-end power struggles often require the simplest methods, right? Burning account books, stealing documents, forging the Imperial Jade Seal…?

Shi Shu thought while following: Xie Wuchi’s young and enterprising governance has greatly enhanced the strength of Xingu and Changping Prefectures in a few years, especially his strict military management, worthy of being a model. This group clearly saw this and stole his advanced administrative methods along with them before returning to the Eastern Capital.

Xie Wuchi said: “Check the military camp first.”

A moment later, people from the main camp arrived and caught a thief. The military camp was strict after all; nothing was stolen. But many texts within the public office were stolen!

At midnight, deep in the night, Xie Wuchi stood in the government office’s study in plain clothes. A group of officials were rapidly counting the stolen classics, lying on the ground amidst messy books, sweating profusely.

“This is gone too, this is gone too…”

“Stolen, this was also stolen…”

Xin Bin asked: “My Lord, should we pursue? They haven’t gone far. Dispatch cavalry and we can catch up to their carriages immediately.”

Xie Wuchi said nothing, lowering his eyes to look at the documents on the desk. After a moment, he suddenly spoke: “Why is this pile missing?”

“What?” An official hurried over to confirm and then said: “This part is the copied official correspondence between my Lord and the King of Zhouchi, handling the administrative affairs of Bu Prefecture and Yong’an Prefecture. Indeed, how could they all be stolen?”

Moonlight shone into the room through the window lattice.

Shi Shu was still recuperating, panting after a few steps, sitting on a chair to the side drinking warm water, not looking up.

Xin Bin: “My Lord, pursue?”

Xie Wuchi remained silent, seeming to have scarlet fire in his eyes.

A moment later, Shi Shu was helped up. Xie Wuchi put down the documents, supporting him across the threshold before saying: “No need to pursue.”

In the severe winter of the twelfth lunar month, snowflakes fluttered. The sky was often dark cyan. A vast expanse of white snow covered the withered yellow wilderness. Two figures, one in front and one behind, followed by guards, were walking along the wide mountain road.

The one in front wore fresh green clothes, agile and nimble, looking around while running. The one behind wore a fox fur crane cloak, appearing indifferent and imposing in the ice and snow, walking steadily and slowly, covered in fine snow.

Shi Shu ran in front. Since being kicked twice by Yin Kun last time, Xie Wuchi worried about his safety. Plus, with the leisure of winter days, he always came to the settlement to pick him up. Shi Shu still had energy after a busy day, running while walking, face red from the cold snow.

“Ah!!!” Suddenly a scream.

Xie Wuchi stopped. Amidst the heavy snow filling the sky, Shi Shu was near a slope. Probably losing his footing, he slid down the slope with a crash, then climbed up, only to slide down again.

“…”

Shi Shu loved to run and was healthy. Xie Wuchi followed slowly behind. Shi Shu could run even in winter, running until the cold wind whistled, then returning to Xie Wuchi’s side, looking at him longingly with a face red from cold.

Xie Wuchi took out a warm water flask from his bosom: “Drink slowly.”

Shi Shu drank a few gulps with “glug glug” sounds, turned, and ran off again. Xie Wuchi idly watched him run; anyway, if he ran far, he could come back himself. Holding hands was basically impossible.

However, because Shi Shu ran too urgently, he suddenly fell to the ground with a “thud!”, lying spread-eagled. Really hurting himself, he made no sound instead—silent. When Xie Wuchi approached to help him, Shi Shu was still dazed, but his eyes were red: “I…”

Xie Wuchi: “Doesn’t hurt. Gege will hold you.”

Hearing he wanted to hold him, Shi Shu quickly stood up rubbing his head: “Don’t ‘gege hold you,’ the guards are behind, what if they hear.”

Xie Wuchi: “Now, won’t let me hold or hold hands, won’t hold me at night saying ‘I love you.’ What, honeymoon period over?”

Shi Shu glanced at him and started laughing.

Xie Wuchi: “Laughing at what?”

Shi Shu: “I was wondering, how did I suddenly trigger your combo move?”

Shi Shu stood up, calling Xie Wuchi “gege, gege” to curry favor. This road they passed was originally a main road in Yanzhou. Occasionally travelers with shoulder poles passed by, covered in frost and snow, eyebrows frozen. On such a snowy day, they still carried goods shouting their wares, seemingly very busy with business.

Shi Shu then asked: “The Emperor sent you ten edicts in a month asking you to return to the Eastern Capital to apologize for your crimes. Are there any new edicts now?”

Xie Wuchi: “No. The military generals newly appointed by the court also delay daring to come to Yanzhou to take office. Now, the confrontation with the court is out in the open.”

—The confrontation with the court had officially begun.

Shi Shu: “Understood. After the confrontation, other prefectures immediately isolated us, cutting off contact. No wonder the common people are living so hurriedly.”

The cold wind scraped faces like a knife. Shi Shu saw a tea stall far ahead, bamboo curtains closed tightly. Passing merchants and travelers couldn’t stand the wind and cold and went in for hot tea. He quickly pulled Xie Wuchi: “Let’s go, I can’t walk anymore, let’s go warm up by the fire in the tea stall too!”

Entering the room, it was indeed extremely warm. Shi Shu drank hot tea leaning against Xie Wuchi: “Refreshing, refreshing! Let’s have some food to fill up.”

Shi Shu put his hands into Xie Wuchi’s fox fur sleeves. Very warm, just not very proper. Xie Wuchi took his hands out instead, holding them in his palms to warm them. While touching Xie Wuchi’s hot hands, Shi Shu looked around. Many traveling merchants inside couldn’t walk due to the heavy wind and snow, staying here to rest, lazily speaking some words.

“When will this snow end?” Someone drank two cups of wine and complained, “And when will Pingtang Pass open? If it never opens, when can we people stranded in Yanzhou go home?”

“Yeah, yeah! I’m from Shukang Prefecture. Back home they say General Xie rebelled and sealed the border pass tight, not allowing commoners to enter or exit freely. But we who stayed in Yanzhou haven’t seen any rebellion? General Xie is protecting the country!”

“Exactly, exactly. Gods fight and we mortals suffer. Originally planned to go home after New Year, now trapped in Yanzhou, heavy snow every day, no place to stay, truly bleak!”

Shi Shu turned around, seeing this person looked familiar, suddenly recognizing him. He slapped the table pointing at him: “Hey, isn’t this the merchant who offered a tablet to General Xie and respected General Xie with incense?”

That person looked up, seeing the handsome young man smiling at him. He smiled too: “Ouch, recognized even like this.”

“A living person receiving incense, really hard to forget!”

Shi Shu smiled at Xie Wuchi, then looked up asking: “What happened to you guys, why can’t you go home?”

“The court sealed the passes, sealed the roads, sealed the prefectures, sealed the government offices, not letting commoners in or out, so can’t go back.”

Oh? In ancient times people got separated during war and couldn’t return home for decades—so this was the reason?

Shi Shu asked: “What about that living tablet? You still worshiping it?”

This person looked miserable, pouring out bitterness: “Sigh, who dares to worship anymore? Worshiping a living person’s tablet brings retribution, it’s true. You don’t know? The sky has changed! The court found out people in the Eastern Capital worshiped General Xie’s living shrine, smashed them all, threw General Xie’s statues into fire to burn, found thousands of monks to perform rituals to curse him. Searching house to house, anyone daring to worship General Xie’s living tablet gets caught and jailed. It’s causing panic, many people reported by neighbors were beaten to death!”

Shi Shu’s brain buzzed: “Wasn’t it fine not long ago? Killed people?”

“Of course, said they were all General Xie’s accomplices in rebellion, killed many people before the year ended. Xiangnan Temple was surrounded, abbot and monks all arrested, scriptures and talismans related to General Xie all destroyed and sealed, even nailed many thick dragon-slaying nails. A commoner originally from Yong’an Prefecture questioned when caught by soldiers: General Xie recovered the mountains and rivers, what’s wrong with worshiping him? Beaten to death on the spot!”

Shi Shu: “This is too excessive, right? What wrong did the common people do?”

“Exactly, how would folks know right from wrong, only know General Xie recovered the mountains and rivers. Result is suddenly became sinners, no one allowed to mention him…”

“Simply outrageous!”

“Bullying people too much!”

The tea stall filled with rage and sighs. Shi Shu couldn’t say a word, turning to look at Xie Wuchi. They sat for a while until their bodies warmed up, then put on snow clothes and walked out. Shi Shu: “Really didn’t expect getting kicked twice counts as good luck. This Emperor and Yin Kun are crazy on par with each other.”

Xie Wuchi: “He wants to consolidate rule to avoid losing people’s hearts, but that behavior is clearly too hasty.”

Eastern Capital citizens worshiped Xie Wuchi—massacred. Yanzhou advisors fled south—released.

Shi Shu’s impression of this world, from the day he transmigrated, included commoner rebellions being suppressed. Besides that, heavy taxes exploiting commoners, redundant officials, hustling for petty profits, weak and exhausted military power, plus a group of wolf-and-tiger-like meat eaters fighting for power and profit, occupying the city to suck blood, not for the common people under heaven, only for their own family livelihood.

“Since it’s the end times, of course rebel. Tigers and wolves fighting for dominance, everyone is recruiting soldiers and horses, expanding the army.”

Shi Shu grabbed Xie Wuchi’s sleeve: “Min Emperor Great Khan is a tiger, Great Jing Emperor is a wolf, both living by sucking the people’s fat and marrow. As hunters, they hold weapons aimed at the common people.”

Xie Wuchi: “I am also a wild beast; I want to eat people.”

Shi Shu: “You are a fierce beast more vicious than them.” Before the fangs and sharp teeth of the Min Emperor and Jing Emperor, common people could only be eaten. Xie Wuchi was the only person who could kill these two fierce beasts.

“Checking evil with evil, checking violence with violence. Only the stronger can beat those who bully the weak into submission.”

Hearing this sentence, Shi Shu tilted his head looking at him: “Back to your old profession?”

“They worshiped me and lost their lives because of me; I must avenge them to make it right,” Xie Wuchi said indifferently. “Otherwise, wouldn’t I have received incense for nothing?”

Shi Shu raised his eyebrows, genuinely admiring: “Xie Wuchi, your life is so hard. Not afraid of curses, not afraid of living person receiving incense. If you don’t become Emperor, who else would?”

Ask under heaven, whose destiny chart can withstand these tests.

Xie Wuchi: “Later, maybe one day, place a wooden statue next to it and worship you too.”

“I don’t want to. I said it, I also want to be a hunter, but I won’t be a hunter who bullies common people.” Shi Shu huffed, shouting “ahhh” while striding forward, falling into a snow pile with a “plop”.

“…”

Xie Wuchi brought a horse. Shi Shu eventually lay on it, letting him hold the reins, walking slowly in the snow forest.

Shi Shu looked down at the snowy plain from high up. Silence all around. Looking back, only he and Xie Wuchi were together. Shi Shu’s calf pressed tight against the warm horse belly: “Xie Wuchi, if this were a book, it would be great if it ended now.”

Xie Wuchi brushed away dead branches for him: “Why?”

Shi Shu: “Thousands of mountains wind and snow, only the two of us on the road. Isn’t this obviously the scene of brushing off clothes and leaving after the deed is done, hiding merit and fame deeply?”

Xie Wuchi didn’t speak.

Shi Shu let Xie Wuchi lead the horse. His fair fingers occasionally fiddled with snow on branches, making “rustle rustle” sounds as snow fell. Slowly, the snow fell, revealing buds. Green leaves drilled out from treetops, crashing into a sea of green. When wind blew, the forest echoed.

“Rustle rustle,” green branches fiddled with again, a bright green plum picked.

Sunlight was sunny. Shi Shu sat on the bumpy horse back, wiped it clean and took a bite: “Xie Wuchi, plum, sweet.”

Xie Wuchi: “Not eating.”

Shi Shu: “Sorry I forgot again you don’t eat snacks.”

Xie Wuchi: “It’s okay, I’ll answer until you remember.”

“…”

This damn tenderness.

Warm sun shone on the beautiful mountain road. Shi Shu stretched, moving his body on the horse back: “Say, it’s been so long since getting kicked twice by Yin Kun, you still pick me up occasionally. Is it necessary? How old am I?”

Xie Wuchi: “Inspecting Chou Army military settlement today.”

“…………Holy crap you didn’t say earlier.” Shi Shu grabbed the reins, cracked the whip, and rode off into the dust.

Horses traveled through fields in spring. Shi Shu jumped off the horse. Before him was a lush green settlement. White egrets flew over vast paddy fields. Land reclaimed by military settlements connected in patches, soil piles neat and tidy, planted with wheat or rice, green leaves fluttering.

Several baskets by the field contained water, cakes, and dry rations. Several waterwheels were continuously guiding water from ditches into fields. Someone was planting rice, planting melon seedlings, someone else dug out a few crabs and loaches, preparing to stew soup for lunch.

“Farming, farming! I’ll whisper first, General Xie is coming to inspect today, don’t let him see.”

Song Sinan: “Let him come. Ask, which military settlement is managed as well as our Chou Army camp? Planted what should be planted, not afraid.”

A field was being opened, salvaging water plants. Shi Shu jumped into the water, placing fishing nets at four corners.

Xie Wuchi approached along the road surrounded by people. Shi Shu was holding a pile of green grass, stepping on yellow mud, obviously very happy.

Seeing Xie Wuchi, Shi Shu waved to signal.

Xie Wuchi’s brows and eyes illuminated by warm spring sun, he looked away, checking around. Shi Shu put all reeds from water onto the bank, sat down to drink water, only seeing a flying horse rapidly galloping from the green wilderness.

“Hya hya hya!”

Seeing the horse, the smile on Shi Shu’s face vanished. The messenger on this horse held a feather letter, shouting “Military affairs! Make way! Make way!”, obviously a horse conveying urgent military intelligence.

Seeing this kind of horse, Shi Shu knew war had started somewhere.

Shi Shu stood up. The messenger rolled off the horse rapidly, kneeling to present the letter to Xie Wuchi: “General!”

Xie Wuchi’s hand paused for a moment before taking the letter. Opening it to look, he casually dropped his hand.

Shi Shu approached, uneasy in heart, still asked: “What’s wrong?”

Xie Wuchi turned around, walking towards his horse: “Jing Emperor and Min Great Khan joined forces, signed an alliance to dispatch troops immediately, dividing forces into two routes from Yunzhou and Pingtang Pass to condemn Yanzhou.”

Shi Shu lost his voice: “Ah?!”

Shi Shu followed behind Xie Wuchi: “They joined forces? How could they join forces?”

“Jing Emperor hates me to the bone, Min Great Khan hates me to the bone. Since I annexed King of Zhouchi’s prefectures, civil rebellions rose everywhere in Great Jing, already a chronically ill tiger, while Northern Min is a wolf cut at the waist. Only by joining forces can they fight me.”

Shi Shu’s heart beat wildly, suddenly remembering the documents stolen by the fleeing advisors months ago. Jing-Min relations were complex. Xie Wuchi could divide foreign tribes, controlling Min wolf soldiers; why couldn’t Jing Great Emperor cooperate with foreign tribes? Carving up Yanzhou forces?

Before Shi Shu’s eyes appeared the Eastern Capital, amidst purple cloud-shrouded palaces, court ministers with unanimous voice, speaking eloquently, making impassioned proposals facing the person on the dragon throne:

“Your Majesty! Using barbarians to control barbarians, Northern rebels can divide Min people? Why can’t the court?”

“Min Great Khan hates the Xie rebel to the bone, must be willing to dispatch troops to attack, forming a pincer formation with our army, attacking from two sides. At that time Xie’s rebel army will have nowhere to hide!”

“Your Majesty, this subordinate was in Yanzhou, saw with own eyes this Xie rebel’s art of controlling foreign tribes. Specially stole it when fleeing, for the court to view!”

“…”

Shi Shu came back to his senses: “This is too shameless? Copying homework?? Plagiarism??”

Xie Wuchi was walking forward. Xin Bin hurriedly brought a horse. Needless to say, Yanzhou had to enter wartime state immediately: “Copy this letter several times, send to the council hall for generals and political councilors to read. Immediately summon them to the central army, raise the tent for discussion!”

“Yes!”

Shi Shu looked nervously at Xie Wuchi, but strangely, he still couldn’t see any flustered busyness from Xie Wuchi’s unmoved face.

Shi Shu was afraid Xie Wuchi was anxious: “Xie Wuchi don’t be anxious, might not be this bad!”

Xie Wuchi turned his head to look at him, only saying evenly: “The situation is extremely terrible, but the one who should be anxious isn’t me.”

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