Chapter 277: Hello Chang'an
Chapter 277: A Bit Worried About Him
If something happened to Cui Jing, it would mean the Xuanzhe Army was without a commander. At such a critical moment, this was no small matter.
Although the Protector of Qin was filled with grief and anger, he dared not hesitate in the slightest. He immediately sent men to inspect the site of Cui Jing’s incident and simultaneously wrote urgent letters—two in total: one sent to the capital, the other to Luoyang.
The extremely urgent dispatch reached Luoyang on the second day after the Xuanzhe Army, sent from the capital, arrived in the city.
The letter was handed to Li Xian, who was temporarily in command of the Xuanzhe Army.
The Xuanzhe troops were encamped outside Luoyang. Li Xian was received by the Prefect of Luoyang and consulted with the city officials on defense matters.
After leaving the Prefect’s residence, Li Xian mounted his horse and, accompanied by an official, led a detachment of guards to inspect the defenses of the imperial palace. This had also been the Holy Emperor’s instructions before he left the capital.
He dismounted outside the inner palace gates and was greeted by palace attendants. After inspecting the premises, he entered Ziwei Palace and ascended the tower to overlook the entire city of Luoyang.
“Truly worthy of the records in the books—Central Capital, Luoyang…” a young woman beside Li Xian, clad in a lake-blue cloak with attire and accent unlike that of the Central Plains, exclaimed.
Li Xian stood with his hands behind his back, eyes scanning the distant city. “By next month, when the peonies bloom, it will be just as I remember from my youth in Luoyang.”
There was a hint of nostalgia in his voice. The young woman couldn’t help but glance at him.
The man had striking features. Though over thirty, he looked under thirty. He was clean-shaven, fair-skinned, with beautifully shaped eyes, the corners slightly upturned, exuding charm as if perpetually smiling. He appeared gentle and tender.
The young woman’s eyes softened. “General, you’ve longed for home. Now you have finally returned.”
“Yes,” Li Xian said with a trace of sigh, a slight smile in his eyes. “After four years, I’ve finally returned.”
At that moment, a sword-bearing guard hurried over and saluted. “General, an urgent letter from the north!”
Li Xian received the letter. The young woman politely lowered her gaze and stepped back a few paces.
Li Xian tore open the envelope and read the contents. His eyes flickered with shock.
Cui Jing… had something happen during the journey?!
He quickly masked the brief flash of surprise in his eyes, but his mind remained unsettled.
With Cui Jing in danger, the Xuanzhe Army…
The sky was overcast, the spring wind still carrying a chill. Li Xian calmed himself, collected his composure, folded the letter, and turned to look toward the encamped army outside the city.
…
In the afternoon, at the hour of Shen, Li Xian returned to the camp with his men.
Several deputy generals of the Xuanzhe Army quickly came to meet him, asking for his next orders.
Li Xian sat cross-legged behind the sand table, calm and measured. “No rush. Xu’s rebel army has been stalled by heavy rains for seven or eight days, unable to advance. They are still not near Bianzhou.”
They had also encountered heavy rain on the way to Luoyang, but farther south, the downpour was worse. Roads were muddy, supply wagons stuck, and rivers impassable in the storm. Xu Zhengye’s army had been forced to halt for nearly ten days.
In Li Xian’s view, without this rain, Bianzhou would have already fallen.
He continued: “Our mission is to guard Luoyang. The battle is uncertain; we must observe first, not act rashly, lest Luoyang fall due to negligence.”
He looked at the generals. “Moreover, Grand General Cui has not yet arrived. This battle must follow his command to ensure absolute success.”
His tone was humble yet full of respect for Cui Jing. The generals nodded and replied politely, “General Li, we await your orders at any time.”
Li Xian inclined his head.
After further discussion on Xu’s troop movements, the generals departed to attend to their duties.
“…When will Grand General arrive?”
“Estimate—at the latest, in two or three days.”
“Then we wait for him to arrive before finalizing our strategy. Until then, we must carefully monitor the situation at Bianzhou.”
The generals exchanged a few low words and then separated to continue their work.
Inside Li Xian’s tent, a white-haired strategist whispered in a low, tense voice, “General… you mean Grand General Cui died on the way?!”
Li Xian nodded. “The letter came from the Protectorate of the Northern Frontier. Likely accurate.”
“Do we know who did it?”
“The letter said the assassins’ identities remain unknown,” Li Xian said, narrowing his eyes. “But clearly, someone leaked the information about Grand General Cui’s journey to Luoyang.”
The strategist pondered a moment, then focused on the immediate matter. “If Grand General Cui is dead, why didn’t you inform them?”
“For such a matter, without the Holy Emperor’s approval, I cannot announce it,” Li Xian replied. “If it caused disorder in the Xuanzhe Army, how could I bear responsibility?”
“What’s your plan next?” the strategist asked cautiously.
Though the questions hinted at confusion over “who is strategist,” it was because he knew Li Xian well. Without knowing Li Xian’s intentions, he preferred to speak little.
“This will soon reach the Holy Emperor. Until then, we guard Luoyang,” Li Xian said.
“And Bianzhou…” the strategist murmured. “The rain has stopped. Xu’s army will act soon.”
“Bianzhou…” Li Xian smiled faintly. “I am only ordered to defend Luoyang.”
He had his duty, and Bianzhou had its own. Bianzhou, as the forward line, had to obey orders and defend to the last. Without this rain, Bianzhou would already be fulfilling its duty.
Though he led the Xuanzhe Army there, he should not obstruct Bianzhou from acting.
Xu Zhengye’s army numbered over one hundred thousand. It was better for Bianzhou to engage and wear down a portion of the enemy while he, in Luoyang, could strike decisively.
“Just as in the southern border back then,” Li Xian said calmly. “My father and I were ordered to defend the southern border for a full year, exhausting an enemy army for a year. After my father’s death, with countless casualties among our personal troops, Grand General Cui and General Chang Kuo led the Xuanzhe Army to victory—”
Yet after the battle, almost no one remembered the Marquis’s family contributions. Today, walking down the street, mention the southern barbarian campaign, and all credit would go to the Xuanzhe Army, to Cui Jing and Chang Kuo.
“Just as my father and I did then, so Bianzhou must do now,” Li Xian continued. “For the greater good, for Luoyang’s safety, and for the best chance to defeat Xu’s rebels.”
After a moment, the strategist nodded. “Understood.”
“If Bianzhou fails… General Chang will not escape blame, since Xu Zhengye was allowed to escape, bringing ruin to Bianzhou.” Li Xian picked up a teapot. “But no matter. I will guard Luoyang. As long as Luoyang is secure, General Chang will not face severe punishment.”
“As for Bianzhou’s failures…” He poured tea slowly. “…We can report the matter to the Holy Emperor afterward on behalf of General Chang.”
The strategist smiled knowingly. “General, you truly value loyalty.”
Li Xian lifted his cup. “General Chang is a good man.”
He added, “And fortunate… once a mere commoner, he gained the favor of the Crown Prince, and thus became renowned.”
“This is your first assignment upon returning to the capital. Clearly, the Holy Emperor trusts you,” the strategist said. “If victorious, you can make a name for yourself.”
“Fortune is not eternal,” he said, sipping the warm tea. “Thus, I cannot allow even the slightest error in this battle.”
For now, they would await news from Bianzhou.
……
After days of overcast skies, as dusk approached, a brilliant glow finally pierced through the clouds, reflecting on the muddy river, turning it to glittering light.
Along a winding, desolate riverbank overgrown with reeds and weeds, a warship was moored.
Closer inspection revealed not one, but two… ten ships in total.
These vessels were camouflaged and hidden in the river’s curves. Without approaching, one could scarcely detect them.
On the second deck of the largest tower ship, a young girl stood, hand shading her eyes, scanning the distant main river channel.
The glare proved too strong, and Chang Suining abandoned the attempt to see clearly.
A girl in indigo robes, her black hair tied in a ponytail, emerged from the cabin holding a cup of hot tea. “Young Miss Chang, there’s no need to rush. The scout boats will soon return. We’ve been training all day; have some tea and rest.”
“I am not impatient, only restless. I’m merely looking around,” Chang Suining said, taking the cup. “These matters are already handled by Xi’er and Ah Zhi; you need not involve yourself.”
Yao Ran smiled. “It matters not. I cannot remain idle either. Staying in the cabin too long, it is good to get some air.”
She had arrived at the camp the day Chang Suining departed Shouzhou. Initially, Chang Suining did not want her to follow, but she insisted, and was brought along.
She had tried training with weapons, but her skills were weak; tender skin quickly blistered, hidden from Chang Suining for fear of being sent back.
Chang Suining advised her: martial arts cannot be mastered at once; better to use your strengths first, handling clerical work.
Yao Ran absorbed this diligently.
She learned quickly, worked methodically, and showed earnest effort—rare qualities in Chang Suining’s eyes.
They both watched the glare of the sunset, and Yao Ran whispered softly: “Young Miss Chang, the sky is finally clear.”
Chang Suining replied with a nod, glancing at her. Yao Ran’s white face bore a scar, no longer hidden by a veil.
At first, she wore a veil, not out of vanity, but to avoid drawing attention.
Within two days, when Qingjie noticed the scar, she exclaimed, “Pish! What’s the big deal? Who in our army has no scars?”
Yao Ran froze, then removed the veil, never to wear it again.
“The sky is clear, and soon we shall see bloodshed. Afraid?” Chang Suining asked casually.
Yao Ran looked at her, nodding slightly. “A little nervous…”
“Do not fear. Stay behind us,” Qingjie said, wiping her face of sweat or river water, smiling.
Yao Ran smiled. “Thank you, Sister Qingjie.”
Qingjie laughed. “Calling me ‘Sister’ suits you well!”
They knew only Yao Ran’s surname, and interacted freely.
The scout boats returned; two soldiers boarded the large ship, reporting to Xiao Min.
Though distant, Chang Suining noted Xiao Min’s expression: no unusual movement.
Under normal circumstances, Xu’s army could not suddenly appear, yet reconnaissance must be performed thrice daily. Vigilance could not slacken. “Normal” was merely customary, not absolute. Half a month prior, she and General Xiao had already arrived here in advance—a deviation from “normal,” yet necessary.
Sensing her gaze, Xiao Min looked to Chang Suining on the second deck and nodded slightly—a sign that nothing had been detected.
Qingjie and the others sought to learn literacy, and Yao Ran taught them. Returning to the cabin, Chang Suining remained on deck, gazing further across the river.
She sent Xi’er to fetch Yuan Xiang.
“Any news of Grand General Cui these past two days?”
Yuan Xiang paused, then replied, “No news recently.”
As Cui Jing’s most trusted aide, he maintained contact with Xuanzhe units. From the beginning, he knew the Grand General would march from the northern border to Luoyang to rendezvous with the Xuanzhe army, and had informed Chang Suining.
Beyond this, she had no further information.
“By my calculation, he should be arriving soon.” Chang Suining, having estimated the route and timing multiple times, looked north and murmured, “I am somewhat worried for him.”
Her candid tone caused Yuan Xiang to widen his eyes in surprise.
The Young Mistress… worried for the Grand General?!
If her Grand General heard this, even in danger, he would face it without regret… no, he would surely turn misfortune to fortune!
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