The day Chu Zhao arrived at Yueshan Pass, it happened to be raining. He rode his horse through the rain into the pass, entered the council hall, and had just taken a handkerchief to wipe off the water when the general from Yuanwang Camp fell to his knees with a thud.
Just as he was about to speak, Chu Zhao cut him off mercilessly.
Chu Zhao: “Get up.”
Rainwater slid down his chiseled face as he wiped it away: “Victory and defeat are common in war. Save all requests for punishment and taking blame for when we return to Yuanwang Camp. I don’t listen to useless talk. Tell me the current situation in detail.”
The Yuanwang Camp general’s eyes reddened. General Qi from Yueshan Pass pulled him up and reported the situation to Chu Zhao.
“The barbarians have occupied Yuanwang Camp and engaged us in several guerrilla battles on the twenty-li grassland. Scouts have discovered that they’ve expanded Yuanwang Camp and left about twenty thousand men there.”
General Qi pushed forward a sand table: “They’ve left small troops outside Mingsha Pass, divided into small teams. They don’t fight proper battles and don’t even have a fixed camp. Their camping equipment is tied to their horses, ready to flee at a moment’s notice. They’re cunning, specializing in harassment outside Mingsha Pass. The civilians have all retreated inside the pass and don’t dare go out to graze their herds. Zhan Yan has pursued them several times, but without Yuanwang Camp in our hands, he didn’t dare pursue deeply. This cat-and-mouse game puts us at a disadvantage.”
Being at a disadvantage in this game was bad, but not defending was not an option either.
“This is our own territory. Who wants to play chase with them?” Chu Zhao pointed at the sand table. “Tell Zhan Yan to set up several temporary outposts thirty li outside Mingsha Pass. If the barbarian cavalry doesn’t cross the line, leave them be. If they cross it, greet them with crossbow arrows. Kill as many as possible. Don’t chase those who flee far.”
Once Yuanwang Camp was recaptured, these temporary outposts could be withdrawn, and they wouldn’t need to remain so passive.
Chu Zhao’s measured voice contained murderous intent: “Let’s see how many lives they dare to risk playing this game.”
Several messengers were waiting, and someone immediately accepted the order and left.
Chu Zhao then shifted his gaze to the original site of Yuanwang Camp.
Although Yuanwang Camp had suffered defeat, their retreat route had been well-chosen. At the time, with fighting on both sides and no news yet from Mingsha Pass, they had chosen Yueshan Pass over Mingsha Pass, avoiding being surrounded by cavalry retreating from Mingsha Pass and preserving their remaining forces.
“Your Highness, their gunpowder for attacking the city was too powerful, and the quantity was too great-unusual,” said the Yuanwang Camp commander. “Otherwise, with Yuanwang Camp’s military supplies, we should have been able to hold out.”
Chu Zhao stared at the sand table, finished wiping off the water, and tossed the handkerchief aside: “I’ve heard, but it’s not as powerful as our gunpowder, right?”
“Yes, our gunpowder is more devastating against their troops, but the walls collapsed too quickly. In close combat, when everyone was mixed together, we couldn’t use gunpowder anymore. Ah, Your Highness, rest assured, we took all the gunpowder we could during the retreat and ignited what we couldn’t take. We didn’t leave them even a bit.”
Chu Zhao made a sound of acknowledgment.
General Qi continued: “The items Your Highness previously ordered to be prepared have also arrived. I’ve placed them in my own quarters, ensuring there won’t be any problems.”
While still in the capital, Chu Zhao had sent messages to several places, transferring some of the guns distributed to other locations. Now Yueshan Pass had ten guns, enough to form a small squad.
Great Qi currently had only fifteen guns in total, so ten was considered a significant allocation.
Of course, during transport, the components in the boxes were disassembled. This way, even if unfortunately intercepted, outsiders wouldn’t know what these scattered pieces were for.
“Having occupied Yuanwang Camp without coming to negotiate terms, they clearly want to continue fighting. Yueshan Pass and Tianque Pass…” Chu Zhao pinched a flag and moved it on the sand table. “Tell Tianque Pass to be vigilant. They will most likely target Yueshan Pass and Tianque Pass.”
“As for their gunpowder, it likely comes from Donglin.” Chu Zhao stood up and pointed at the map hanging up. “The chaos at the eastern market draws everyone’s attention, making it easy to overlook the area where the northern frontier borders Donglin.”
General Qi understood his meaning and abruptly stood up: “The border between the northern frontier and Donglin is only a small area, and most of it is separated by high mountain ranges with difficult roads. If they want to trade or deliver items without passing through Great Qi territory-”
Chu Zhao nodded, drawing a line with his finger: “Then only this area remains passable.”
“I’ve already sent messages to the eastern garrison, asking them to investigate. If Donglin is truly flirting with the northern tribes, I want their supply line cut off.”
General Qi exclaimed excitedly: “As expected of Your Highness!”
A marshal must keep an eye on all four borders. When war breaks out anywhere, one must not only focus on that point but also look elsewhere. Otherwise, by the time you realize both the eastern and western walls have rotted, it will be too late.
Chu Zhao: “We need to wait for news from the east. In this battle, we might attack first, or they might use Yuanwang Camp as a rear base to attack us. Ask the brothers to work hard, stay alert on patrols recently. After we win, I’ll treat everyone to drinks.”
Chu Zhao’s leadership in the military was built on actual achievements and skill-who wouldn’t respect him? With his return, morale had risen significantly. Everyone saluted: “Yes!”
“By the way, Your Highness, there’s a letter from the capital for you that arrived three days ago,” General Qi handed over the letter. “It came through the official post station, sent by the consort. It should be a family letter.”
While Chu Zhao was on the road, his position constantly changed. Pigeons could only carry urgent messages, not several pages of letters, so Shen Ziqin simply sent letters through post stations, first to Yueshan Pass.
Hearing this, Chu Zhao immediately perked up and eagerly opened it.
He didn’t notice the other officers winking and exchanging teasing looks.
After so many days apart, Chu Zhao missed him terribly.
This letter had been written by Shen Ziqin many days ago. Since it had to pass through the palace, it couldn’t mention their secret plans and was filled with private talk between the couple.
He wrote that he was doing well in the palace, wondered about the weather on the road and at the frontier, and asked Chu Zhao to take good care of himself, pay attention to his diet and rest. He had filled two full pages.
It was all trivial talk, and some parts didn’t even connect logically, showing it was written casually, putting down thoughts as they came.
Yet Chu Zhao cherished these ordinary words, his lips curving upward again and again.
A family letter-this was truly a family letter. Every stroke was a comfort, able to dispel all his worries.
The family letter had three pages in total. The last page contained only one sentence, perhaps the only one that could be considered a proper love message.
[A rare flower has bloomed in the imperial garden, called “Hidden Fragrance of the Valley.” It blooms wildly. As I look at the flowers, I think of you.]
Think of you…
These two words pierced Chu Zhao’s heart. He pressed his lips together and took a deep breath.
Did he think the wild blooming flowers resembled him, so they made him think of Chu Zhao? Or was it the joy of appreciating flowers that he wanted to share, making Chu Zhao the first person he thought of?
Or was it because, like himself, once idle, he couldn’t stop the flood of longing, and whether looking at flowers, the moon, or water, everything reminded him of a certain person?
Chu Zhao slowly caressed these two words, his gaze extremely gentle.
And then…
Then a chorus of coughs rose and fell around him.
Mood killers.
Chu Zhao came back to his senses, sweeping his gaze over them while carefully folding the letter: “What’s with those expressions?”
General Qi cleared his throat: “Well, Your Highness, the way you were looking at that letter was rather intense.”
The Yuanwang Camp general also smiled: “Your Highness and the consort have such a good relationship. I’ve heard the consort is a great beauty. It would be nice if we brothers could have a chance to see him sometime.”
“Even if you saw him, he wouldn’t be yours. If you’re envious, go find someone yourself.” Chu Zhao put away the letter. “Is there any other news from the capital?”
General Qi shook his head: “Nothing else for now.”
Chu Zhao’s gaze left the family letter and became sharp again: “I don’t have the tiger tally. If the barbarians attack other places, I still need to deploy troops as needed. Will you obey?”
Knowing Chu Zhao was coming, representatives from several pass commanders were in the council hall. They cupped their hands: “The general has already said, as long as Your Highness gives the order, we dare not disobey!”
Chu Zhao smiled: “Think carefully. Following the orders of a marshal without a tiger tally means you might be sent to the capital in chains.”
The others showed no fear: “We need to win the battle first to have a chance to live and go to the capital, don’t we?”
The group suddenly burst into laughter. With powerful enemies nearby and uncertainty in the court, their heads hung by their belts, yet they remained calm in the face of danger, still able to face it with composure.
In the following days, Chu Zhao assembled the guns in Yueshan Pass and practiced with the men and horses selected by General Qi. The newly formed gun squad needed to coordinate.
Fortunately, the warhorses were already accustomed to the sound of firearms and wouldn’t be frightened into kicking wildly.
Chu Zhao also secretly led troops out of the city to patrol. The northern tribes had indeed guarded the area around Yuanwang Camp strictly, making intelligence gathering difficult.
When he returned, he received good news.
Hei Ying opened a letter, and after reading it, even his usually expressionless face showed rare joy: “Your Highness, news from the capital!”
Chu Zhao looked up.
Hei Ying: “The emperor is gravely ill, Prince Rui is serving as regent, and has sent people with the tiger tally and additional supplies. This letter was sent several days ago. Calculating the journey time, the envoy might soon arrive at Yueshan Pass!”
With this good news, everyone immediately became excited. This was great-Prince Rui was regent, so they didn’t have to worry about people in the capital causing trouble while they fought!
Chu Zhao immediately grabbed the letter to read it again. After finishing, he let out a long breath, his lips curving upward involuntarily.
The emperor was seriously ill, his second brother was regent-everything was going very smoothly. That meant Ziqin must have already left the palace and returned to the prince’s residence, where he would be safe.
Why hadn’t he written in these days?
Knowing Shen Ziqin was safe, Chu Zhao’s heart was completely at ease, fearing nothing: “Prepare paper and brush for me. I want to write a letter to the prince’s residence…”
Chu Zhao paused, correcting himself: “A family letter.”
As he said the words “family letter,” Prince Qin’s tail discreetly curled up to the sky. Those around him immediately began to tease, some whistling, some loudly exclaiming “Ooh” as if getting goosebumps. Chu Zhao slapped his riding crop on the ground, laughing and cursing: “Get out of here! Go do your own work!”
Everyone dispersed with laughter.
“By the way,” General Qi remembered something, “which official was not mentioned as bringing the tiger tally?”
Chu Zhao, already pondering how to write his family letter, didn’t pay much attention: “They’ll certainly choose one of our own people. With an imperial edict, it’s likely a civil official. We’ll just need to receive them properly when they arrive.”
General Qi nodded and asked no more.
Chu Zhao wrote a thick family letter. Unfortunately, there were no flowers here, so he couldn’t include dried flower petals like last time. After some thought, he wrote at the end:
[The moon is beautiful here. When the world is peaceful, let’s travel everywhere. I’ll bring you to see it.]
Riding horses across the grassland, enjoying the fullest moon, drinking the strongest liquor, embracing the most beautiful person.
Oh, Ziqin can’t drink strong liquor, so I’ll have to hold him while he watches me drink.
Chu Zhao was making excellent plans. After the ink dried, he sealed the letter and sent it to the post station.
The next day, news from the east arrived. Chu Zhao and the others reviewed it in the council hall.
As Chu Zhao had predicted, the gunpowder used by the eight major tribes of the grassland was indeed supplied by Donglin. Besides that, they had also distributed other weapons and provisions. For this purpose, Donglin was willing to disrupt the market and sacrifice profits to provide cover for this supply line.
Donglin had capable people. Though their gunpowder was far inferior to Chu Zhao’s, compared to what originally existed in this world, it was a significant improvement.
Now that the line had been cut, the northern tribes no longer had such abundant gunpowder.
The eastern garrison had cut the line and seized the goods, while also keeping the news concealed. The White Wolf tribe and other tribes likely hadn’t yet received news that their supplies had been cut off and might take a couple of days to realize it.
“A good opportunity,” Chu Zhao said. “We-”
“Report-!”
A messenger rushed in excitedly: “Your Highness, generals, a court envoy has arrived with plenty of provisions and supplies!”
Chu Zhao held back what he was about to say and beckoned to everyone: “Let’s go welcome them first.”
As they walked out, the young soldier’s cheeks were still flushed: Oh my, that envoy was the most beautiful person he had ever seen-he didn’t know men could be so beautiful.
Chu Zhao was walking at a normal pace, talking to General Qi beside him: “With Ziqin and my second brother managing things in the capital, the person they sent won’t cause us trouble. Is the accommodation inside the pass ready? Find a-”
Chu Zhao’s words suddenly stopped.
General Qi: ?
Find what? He was still waiting to hear.
And why had he suddenly stopped walking?
General Qi watched as Chu Zhao’s expression froze, staring straight ahead.
General Qi followed Chu Zhao’s line of sight.
Outside the camp, a beautifully dressed person stood with graceful bearing. Just standing there, he made their ordinary gate look as if it were gilded, like a heavenly gate, too dazzling to look at directly.
Goodness, which celestial being had descended?
Judging by Chu Zhao’s reaction, he must know this person?
General Qi: “Your Highness, who is this-”
Chu Zhao murmured: “No need to find him accommodation.”
General Qi was taken aback.
That wouldn’t be right, wouldn’t that be neglecting the guest? And he hadn’t finished his question-
Chu Zhao: “He’ll stay in my room.”
General Qi: ???
As soon as he finished speaking, Chu Zhao rushed out like the wind, with a speed that even the wolves of the grassland couldn’t match.
Then, before everyone’s eyes, Chu Zhao embraced the envoy tightly.
Everyone else: “…”
Weapons clattered to the ground in shock.
General Qi stared in astonishment, then slowly raised his hand to manually close his gaping mouth.
Well, no need to ask the question now.
So this was their consort.
#
(advanced chapters available on kofi)
