Chapter 278: Hello Chang'an
Chapter 278: She Will Guard Well
Yuan Xiang slapped his own face wildly in his mind before he managed to say, “Since Lady Chang is worried, I will send men to contact our brothers in Luoyang at once and ask if they have heard any word of the Grand General.”
Chang Suining nodded.
No sooner had Yuan Xiang withdrawn than Xiao Min came up the deck.
After the two exchanged the usual matters and returned to their respective duties, the commander watched the soldiers drilling on the deck not far off and could no longer hold back: “May I ask Young Miss Chang a question?”
Chang Suining gave a soft, “Mm.”
“May I?”
“There were indeed no spies,” she answered plainly.
“……” Xiao Min’s expression flickered. He had not meant to ask that exact question, but hearing her plainly admit it sent a cold shiver through him. If Xu Zhengye had not indeed left Jiangdu and marched here, and they had secretly taken troops out of Huainan Road only to leave it undefended, that would have been a capital crime.
Seeing his reaction, Chang Suining asked, “Was that not the question you meant to ask, General Xiao?”
“No…” Xiao Min’s features were complicated. “Before I came, I had some suspicion.”
When she spoke of “spies” back then it felt too impromptu—like a quick line thrown out to quiet him, to put his mind at ease. The offhand manner in which Grand General Chang had to play along was not especially artful.
Chang Suining exclaimed, “General Xiao is truly perceptive.”
Meeting the genuine admiration in the young woman’s eyes, Xiao Min cleared his throat and almost choked on his own saliva. He wanted to say, “Not so,” but she went on earnestly, “and your courage is no common measure.”
On that compliment he was no longer modest. He admitted he had nerve—and a knack for reading people, especially the latter.
Chang Suining smiled with him. “Thank you, General Xiao, for trusting me—knowing I lied and still agreeing to risk moving troops out of Huainan Road.”
“Because of Young Mi
ss Chang’s past deeds,” Xiao Min said, “I trust it is worth the risk. And since Grand General Chang approved the plan, why would I doubt it?”
Grand General Chang had won more battles than Xiao Min had ever raised his voice at his son. In front of the great general, Xiao Min was a younger brother—no, a younger brother among younger brothers. He had long learned: recognize your place and you will avoid grave error. If he followed the elder’s footsteps and still failed, then fate had simply been unkind—perhaps had he led, things might have been worse.
A man who excels at reflection does not waste time blaming those greater than himself.
Chang Suining, who rarely showed contrition, surprised him with, “I still owe you an apology. Lying was wrong.”
“Has Young Mistress Chang not already given me a tremendous ‘recompense’?” Xiao Min said with a smile, gesturing south.
That was the direction where Xu Zhengye’s army lay.
The reproachful voices outside grew by the hour; the court was casting blame—holding them responsible that Xu Zhengye left Jiangdu and advanced on Luoyang. Yet those critics could not know that ten days ago they had already covertly reached the Bian River and lay in wait for Xu Zhengye. Their seeming hasty pursuit had simply been a ruse—feigned disorder to bewilder Xu Zhengye and the forces he had left behind.
The pretended chase was a lure; the true plan was to entrap him.
Now, on this crucial ground that decides the safety of Luoyang, they had the initiative—not Xu Zhengye.
“This battle is not yet decided; it cannot yet serve as recompense,” Chang Suining said.
“Then we will wait until victory,” Xiao Min replied.
“All right.” Chang Suining smiled. “Then I must win this battle properly.”
“So—what did General Xiao want to ask me?” she added.
“I wanted to ask… did Grand General Chang and Young Miss Chang refuse repeated summons at Jiangdu, insisting not to commence battle there, specifically in order to wait for Xu Zhengye to come here?”
“Yes.”
“May I ask the reason for that?”
Xiao Min might have guessed parts of it, but he wanted to hear the full rationale and deployment—if only to learn more of the art of war.
“There are two reasons.” Chang Suining braced her hands on the railing and watched the darkening dusk and the soldiers returning to the cabins after drills. “Yangzhou and Jiangning are protected by natural defenses. We are not numerous enough to guarantee victory in a direct assault; forcing it could take a year or longer to uproot Xu Zhengye. If we attack and fail, the court’s face will be lost. That will only embolden the Xu faction, and the officials comfortably ensconced at court will not listen to explanations. They see the vast expenditures of silver and grain with no return—how could they not point fingers?”
Xiao Min’s brow knitted; she spoke the hard truth. The treasury was thin; many officials had been forced to contribute personal funds to sustain the war. Those who had spent money felt justified in holding others to account.
“More importantly, if we forced an assault over a year, our casualties would be at least thirty percent,” Chang Suining continued. “Seventeen thousand? No—seventeen ten-thousands soldiers currently; thirty percent is fifty thousand lives.”
She watched the men returning to the cabins after drill. “Soldiers can die, yes—but they cannot die in vain; better that they not die at all.”
They were not her soldiers by birthright; they belonged to the court, to the Holy Empress. But as their Head Master, she could not squander their lives on an unprofitable campaign.
Xiao Min was struck dumb for a moment.
He had imagined many of the Chang family’s stratagems; he had guessed at a dozen tactical maneuvers. Yet those cunning ploys seemed pale beside that single principle—men may die, but not in vain; and ideally not at all.
“If the battle begins, it will hardly stop easily. Xu Zhengye will not be able to leave Jiangdu then, so we must not start the fight prematurely. This place is more suitable to open battle than Jiangdu—quicker and with far better odds for us,” she said.
“We may not match his elite navy, but we have trained in water warfare without cease these days; we are far stronger than Xu Zhengye’s hastily recruited levies,” she added.
“Indeed.” Xiao Min said, “Thanks to Young Mistress Chang’s foresight, training intensified even before the Lantern Festival.”
He watched the soldiers, each practicing diligently every day.
And the winding river channels convenient for concealment—Young Miss Chang had chosen more than ten such locations. Their warships were not limited to the few visible here; they were dispersed across many stretches. Sentinels guarded every key route, vigilantly monitoring every riverway.
In other words, this seemingly tranquil Bian River was in their constant control.
“Beyond combat capability, having taken the initiative and employing trickery, we can minimize casualties,” Chang Suining said, gazing at the river. “And another convenience…”
Throughout Xiao Min listened intently. When she paused, he looked toward her openly seeking instruction.
“After slaying the enemy, we simply throw the bodies into the water—no battlefield cleanup required.” Chang Suining said. “Feed them to the fish. The fish of the Bian River will have meat for the New Year.”
Knowing she was deliberately saying this to lighten the mood, Xiao Min was silent a beat, then nodded. “…Yes. The entire lineage of fish in this river will be forever grateful to Young Miss Chang.”
“Mm. It will offset our sins,” Chang Suining relaxed her hands on the railing and turned back toward the cabin. “All right, it’s time to sleep.”
To conceal their movements they rarely lit fires at night; except for patrols, everything was done by day. Thus they slept early.
When night rose over the water, this small world sank into slumber, leaving no trace of human disturbance.
……
Three days of clear skies at last. Xu Zhengye resumed his advance with his main force.
Their ability to move meant the pursuing troops behind them must also resume marching—they could not be delayed. During the ten or so days trapped by the rain, Xu Zhengye had anxiously debated routes with his staff and ultimately decided to advance on Bianzhou by water.
It was the fastest, most feasible route with the least resistance.
Their deficiency in large-scale naval warfare could not be ignored; yet they had absorbed surrendered troops from Yangzhou and Jiangning—many skilled in water combat. Before deciding on Luoyang, Xu Zhengye put his men through drills.
Moreover, they possessed the finest warships and armaments from Jiangning—superior to Bianzhou’s.
Bianzhou’s garrison numbered only a few ten-thousands; even if they sallied forth en masse, they posed limited threat on water.
As for the Xuanzhe army outside Luoyang…
No matter how formidable Xuanzhe was, Xu Zhengye would not naively think Luoyang would fall into his hands without struggle. His venture was dangerous by design. Retreat at the sight of the Xuanzhe army would brand him a coward; he might as well go home and till fields.
History’s great achievers are forged in repeated bloody struggles. Besides, there were pursuers behind him—retreat was not easily done.
If he fled from seventy-thousands of Xuanzhe troops without a fight, he would become the world’s mockery.
And Xu Zhengye judged that against the Xuanzhe troops under Li Xian, victory was not guaranteed. He did not know Li Xian well, and reserved judgment on his command, but Li Xian was certainly inferior to Cui Jing.
Inside Luoyang many noble clans had been in secret contact with him; they could cooperate from within when needed.
Thus his current plan: take Bianzhou swiftly, use it as a base, and then decide how to take Luoyang.
Xu Zhengye stepped onto the plank, his crimson cloak flapping in the wind.
After two days at water, he received a sealed letter from Luoyang—Li Xian had no plan to move troops to Bianzhou; he intended to hold Luoyang.
Xu Zhengye snorted: “A timorous fellow!”
A mocked, “Is the Marquess of Han another Li Yi?”
“I care not for his ability or intent—” Xu Zhengye set his gaze ahead, his eyes filled with certainty, “If he will not come, then I will take Bianzhou first.”
Rows of warships moved slowly across the water, cutting through the channels like blades. Each banner bearing the character “Xu” flapped in the wind, projecting a formidable aura.
……
“…Not coming?!”
Hu Lin, Prefect of Bianzhou, turned pale upon hearing the report from Luoyang.
Xu Zhengye had already led his army onto the Bian River, advancing toward Bianzhou!
But General Li Xian refused to dispatch troops to aid Bianzhou, claiming that he had been ordered to hold Luoyang. To ensure Luoyang’s absolute safety, he could not leave, not until the situation became clear.
The explanation was not entirely wrong.
It was known that Xu Zhengye had sympathizers within Luoyang; the situation was unpredictable and caution was warranted.
Yet Luoyang may be crucial, but could Bianzhou be deemed insignificant? The soldiers there were living men; the townspeople were also citizens of Da Sheng!
Hearing the outraged officials below, Hu Lin raised his hand to stop further complaints.
There was no use in speaking now.
“The Li from the capital really looks down on little Bianzhou!”
“If they won’t come, then fine! Who do they think they are?!” a general shouted, red-eyed with anger. “Without them, I can still hold Bianzhou!”
“Let’s go, rally the men and fight the enemy!”
Watching his subordinates storm off, Hu Lin clenched his fists and closed his eyes for a moment, suppressing his grief, rage, and sense of injustice.
The imperial order demanded they “die” defending Bianzhou. It was the edict of the Holy Emperor—ministers must obey.
A moment later, Hu Lin rose, immediately ordering his men to equip him with armor and sword.
As he was about to leave the Prefect’s office, he suddenly heard the cry of a young girl behind him:
“Father! Father, where are you going?!”
Hu Lin froze. This was his youngest daughter, the one he doted on most. No matter how busy he was, he always made time to hold her.
Yet now he dared not look back.
He feared that if he did, the warmth in his chest would collapse, and he would lose the courage to leave—becoming a disobedient fugitive.
“Seventh sister, don’t be afraid. Father will return soon…”
His eldest daughter ran to the crying girl, holding her gently and whispering comfort.
But when she looked at their father’s retreating figure, tears of fear welled in her eyes. She bit her lip hard to keep them from falling.
Hu Lin suppressed the moisture at the corner of his eyes and resolutely crossed the threshold, mounting his horse and departing.
……
“Refuse to send troops?”
Chang Suining frowned slightly, her eyes flicking with the memory of Li Xian as a youth. She tried to recall any impression of him, but it was faint.
Though once cousins, they had had little interaction.
One thing was certain: this man was no Li Yi.
At this critical moment, the safety of Luoyang would not be entrusted to an incapable man.
If he was neither cowardly nor incompetent, yet refused to send troops to aid Bianzhou, his intentions must be suspect.
“Yes. As for Bianzhou, I hear he is using it as an excuse to wait for the Grand General—or to await the Holy Emperor’s orders…” Yuan Xiang mentioned the Grand General, his eyes full of worry.
By now, they could conclude that the Grand General had likely encountered some mishap en route to Luoyang.
The exact nature of the accident was still unclear, but imagining the worst made Yuan Xiang struggle for breath, gripped by unprecedented fear and anxiety.
If the Grand General were safe, he surely would have sent word…
“On campaign, he is the commander. He has the discretion to act; he need not consult the Holy Emperor on every matter,” Chang Suining said coldly. “He intends to wait in the rear, taking advantage of Bianzhou’s bloodshed to secure himself a flawless victory.”
He may not openly watch Bianzhou fall, but with this attitude, even if he intervened, it would only be after the city had bled, both sides exhausted and ruined, then he could appear as the savior.
“This man is ruthless in action,” Yuan Xiang said, seeking Chang Suining’s instruction. “Shall I send word to our brothers in Luoyang to dispatch troops? I recall, Young Miss Chang, you have the Grand General’s copper token—”
“No need. Acting against the commander’s order will later be used against us.”
Chang Suining continued, “Besides, how could we let him reap unearned gains and credit?”
At first, when she heard the Xuanzhe army was coming to Luoyang, she had felt it unnecessary—but they were her own children, so she did not mind sharing half the credit with them.
But now, Li Xian would not be so lucky.
Bianzhou truly needed him?
Had she or Xiao Min not been here, perhaps.
But at this moment, she neither needed nor would allow a cunning man to take credit that belonged to her and her people.
She would guard Bianzhou herself.
The reproachful voices outside, in Chang Suining’s eyes, were justified.
Xu Zhengye had indeed been provoked here by her actions; thus, she bore the responsibility to defend Bianzhou and Luoyang. Should anyone die in Bianzhou, it would be her fault and her alone—no one else need blame her. She would accept responsibility.
Yet having lured the wolf here, she was confident in killing it, giving it no chance to harm others.
Thus, she would certainly guard this place well.
Xu Zhengye would come here, but not return alive.
As for the Li Xian who only wished to wait in the rear—
“Since he enjoys waiting so much, let him wait.”
Chang Suining descended from the tower ship and hurried to meet Xiao Min, saying to Yuan Xiang: “Also, send more men to swiftly inquire after the whereabouts of Grand General Cui Jing.”
Her concern for Cui Jing had shifted from mild worry to deep anxiety.
No one wished to see a friend in danger, especially one so important.
Setting aside friendship, Cui Jing was a rare general—perhaps one in a century. In these turbulent times, Da Sheng could not afford to lose him.
She did not wish to lose Cui Jing. Not as a friend, nor in any other regard.
At this moment, she needed nothing from him—she only wanted him safe, to return to her unharmed.
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