At first, Huo Zhizhang was still eagerly looking forward to it, already fantasizing about getting the telescope, holding it to look at distant mountains, at small birds in the woods, and even using it to search for traces of enemy scouts.
He had many ideas.
But as the command tent gradually grew quiet, Huo Zhizhang finally sensed something amiss. Looking at his father's face again, which had been smiling earlier, he realized it had now darkened at some point.
Huo Zhizhang's heart sank, thinking to himself, "This is bad."
"Leading troops and still haggling with your old man? Huo Zhizhang, you've really grown bold. What, from now on, will you demand a reward every time you lead troops? Refuse to go unless the terms are settled?" Huo Tingshan sneered.
The surrounding generals all looked at their noses and noses at their hearts, not daring to stick their necks out at this moment.
That the Grand General had obtained a telescope was known to all, and no one wasn't coveting it. A telescope, a "thousand-mile eye"! Having this object was practically no different from having the eyes of an eagle!
None of them had seen it before. Who wasn't curious? Who didn't crave it? Especially since the Grand General would occasionally take it out.
It wasn't as if no one had shamelessly asked Huo Tingshan to borrow the telescope, but the usually generous lord had changed his usual temperament, refusing them all.
And he had reasonable grounds for refusal: This object was a gift from their lady, painstakingly made by her own hands with great effort. As her husband, he naturally had to treasure and value it; how could he lend it to these rough-and-tumble generals?
The generals were thus rebuffed with a single blow.
The strategists' side was also restless. The advisors considered themselves meticulous and thoughtful, far more refined than the clumsy generals. They thought the lord would refuse the generals but had no reason to refuse them.
In fact, there was still a reason. Huo Tingshan's reason was quite straightforward—
Generals wanting to borrow the telescope was for military campaign needs. The advisors didn't need to go to the battlefield, so they had no use for it.
Gongsun Liang and the others: "..." They had nothing to say.
However, Huo Tingshan was well-versed in the principle of wielding both the stick and the carrot. Later, he dangled a carrot for everyone: There's only one telescope for now, but once your lady manufactures the glass, everyone will have their own telescope.
Thus, both generals and strategists quieted down, even glimpsing a bit of the underlying truth through the surface.
But there was still one who slipped through the net.
The "escaped fish," having been scolded, hung his head, not daring to speak, and listened quietly as his father deployed the troops.
The plan was set and swiftly executed. As Huo Zhizhang had previously suggested, the march slowed down, even coming to a complete halt in the end.
Military orders are as weighty as a mountain; those who disobey and act without restraint are beheaded without pardon.
Therefore, when Huo Tingshan issued several rather bizarre military orders, the soldiers were merely puzzled in their hearts but carried them out promptly.
The camps stationed on the outskirts soon echoed with coughing, a "plague" breaking out everywhere.
When soldiers met, their conversations often shifted from today's rations or asking if the other had been on patrol, to: "Have you completed your military task for today?"
No?
Then hurry up and cough a couple of times, don't delay.
On the third day of the widespread coughing, the Youzhou army set up a "plague camp," separating a portion of the "sick soldiers" from the main force and specially relocating them to a spot about two miles away from the main army. At the same time, they dispatched men to search the surrounding area for medicinal herbs, boiling and stewing them into decoctions to suppress the plague.
The Youzhou army's movements were quite noticeable, all seen by the scouts hidden in the shadows.
Two more days later, another batch of "sick soldiers" broke away from the main force, also going to the plague camp. The originally 200-person plague camp rapidly expanded to 800 people.
On the same day, soldiers near the plague camp began digging pits, while others lit bonfires that burned for several hours, seemingly for cremating bodies.
Inside Chenyuan Pass.
"Report!" A Jingzhou soldier hurried in.
The middle-aged man drinking in the hall looked up. His face resembled that of a xiezhi (mythical beast), imposing and dignified in appearance. He was Fang Gang, the general stationed at Chenyuan Pass by Cong Liuqi. Fang Gang was powerfully built, reputed to have the courage of a hundred men.
The hurriedly entering soldier interrupted the drinking and revelry in the hall.
"What is the report?" Fang Gang thundered.
The soldier clasped his hands. "Commander Fang, scouts just reported that outside Chenyuan Pass, that batch of Youzhou soldiers who had already separated from the main force are collectively digging pits and lighting fires with wood, appearing to cremate bodies."
Upon hearing this, many in the hall burst into laughter.
"It seems the Youzhou army is already in complete chaos."
"A plague is like a tiger, yet colorless and formless. Even if that Huo Tingshan were a divine general reborn, possessing Herculean strength, he could never hope to win with an army full of grieving soldiers and countless disabled troops."
"Speaking of which, it's all thanks to Advisor Poison Zhou's quick wit for such a brilliant, earth-shattering plan."
"Indeed. 'Gongsun of the North, Poison Zhou of the South.' Did you really think people just said that casually, that it meant nothing?"
"Well, it's just that before, we had only heard of Advisor Zhou's reputation, never truly witnessed his prowess. This move Advisor Zhou has revealed now truly makes me bow in admiration."
"Let's wait quietly a few more days. Right now, the Youzhou army still has the energy to cremate bodies. When they're all too sick to get up, that will be our time to act."
Everyone in the hall discussed animatedly, all certain of victory. Fang Gang, seated at the head, was in excellent spirits. After ordering the scouts to continue reconnaissance, he sent someone to fetch fine wine. "Bring five jars of the Pei Family Fine Brew! Today, we drink until we're drunk!"
Hearing it was the Pei Family Fine Brew, many wine connoisseurs present perked up.
For those who had tasted the Pei Family Fine Brew, it was truly hard to favor any other fine wine afterward. But matching its exquisite taste was its price.
Twenty taels per jar, and it was only sold in Chang'an, not available in any other province.
Shrewd merchants purchased stock from Chang'an and transported it to other places for resale at high prices. After such operations, the selling price of a jar of Pei Family Fine Brew was far more than twenty taels.
Now, being able to drink the Pei Family Fine Brew was clearly a symbol of status and position.
The fine wine was soon brought. Fang Gang kept one jar for himself and distributed the other four to those below. He personally removed the cloth seal from the jar, and a rich, mellow aroma instantly wafted out. Fang Gang took a deep breath, utterly intoxicated.
Chenyuan Pass was a natural fortress. Coupled with the fact that the Youzhou army had now become plague-ridden chickens, there was even less to worry about.
They continued drinking.
After three rounds of drinks, someone suddenly said, "I heard the creator of the Pei Family Fine Brew, Lady Pei, is a peerless beauty. Not only is her appearance transcendent, but she is also virtuous and talented. Soap, fine brew, even the ice sold in large quantities at the Shengjing Pavilion in Chang'an—all are operated by this woman alone."
Someone chuckled, stroking his small goat beard. "Rumor has it that Huo Youzhou deeply cherishes this Lady Pei. He even had to take her with him when he went to the northern lands before. This southern campaign against our Jingzhou is certainly no exception."
"After we defeat Huo Tingshan, perhaps that Lady Pei could be invited to our army camp."
Fang Gang narrowed his eyes. "If she can survive the plague, I'll ensure she continues to live in silks and satins."
As for how he would ensure it, the men present exchanged knowing smiles.
Youzhou Army Camp.
Huo Tingshan looked at his stammering youngest son before him and said impatiently, "Huo Er, I asked you to report intelligence, and you've been hemming and hawing for half the day. Did you grow a tongue just to taste flavors and nothing else? If that's the case, it might as well be cut off."
Huo Zhizhang felt a bitterness in his heart and cursed Qin Yang once more.
The scouting division was originally Qin Yang's responsibility. But earlier, when he ran into the man, Qin Yang proactively brought up the favor Huo owed him, saying he had a request to make.
At that time, still unaware of the treacherous nature of men, Huo Zhizhang thought a debt of gratitude must be repaid. So, without even asking what the matter was, he agreed upfront.
The request seemed reasonable enough—merely to relay a piece of intelligence gathered by the scouts on Qin Yang's behalf. He had thought it a trivial task, almost feeling he was taking advantage of Qin Yang by using it to settle the debt.
However, after hearing the specifics, he only wanted to renege and curse. No wonder Qin Yang had looked instantly relieved the moment he agreed. That fellow had offloaded his burden, and now it was squarely on Huo Zhizhang's back!
"Father, there's something I need to tell you. Please don't be angry," Huo Zhizhang said in a low voice.
Huo Tingshan didn't speak, merely glancing at his son.
Huo Zhizhang swallowed hard, his voice dropping another notch. "Father, the scouts just reported that within Chenyuan Pass, construction is underway. They are apparently renovating an old pavilion and renaming it... 'Chiluan Pavilion'."
Huo Tingshan's eyebrow twitched slightly. "Where is this pavilion located?"
If the scouts deemed it worth reporting, this Chiluan Pavilion must be significant. Was it built on high ground for observation?
Huo Zhizhang: "...Within the Jiejie's residence."
Huo Tingshan frowned, not understanding why a pavilion inside a residence warranted a report. "You've been hemming and hawing all this time, just to say that?"
Steeling himself, Huo Zhizhang continued, "Fang Gang has bragged that... after achieving a great victory over the Youzhou army and taking your head... he will... invite Mother to reside in the Chiluan Pavilion."
His voice grew smaller and smaller. Even though he deliberately softened the wording, replacing "imprison" with "invite," and omitted the more vulgar parts, he could still feel an overwhelming pressure and a chilling aura bearing down on him.
It was as if winter had suddenly descended, piercingly cold. A dozing, magnificent tiger in the forest opened its bloodthirsty eyes.
A cold sweat broke out on Huo Zhizhang's back.
He dared not look up or speak, cursing that old fox Qin Yang again in his mind. The man was over a decade his senior; how could he stoop to scheming against a junior? Utterly shameless.
A deep, male voice, calm and devoid of emotion, broke the silence. "The King of Hell hasn't called for him yet, but Fang Gang seems in a hurry to report for duty."
Huo Zhizhang hunched his shoulders.
During the evening meal, Pei Ying keenly sensed that the atmosphere seemed off. The man beside her wasn't exactly cold-faced, but he lacked his usual relaxed casualness.
Pei Ying asked curiously, "Huo Tingshan, has something gone wrong with the military affairs?"
The man lowered his gaze, his tone even as he said, "No. The quarantine camp is proceeding smoothly. The daily 'cremations' and burials leave no room for suspicion."
The plague was invisible and intangible. The enemy scouts didn't dare get too close, and without tools like telescopes, they naturally couldn't see that what was being burned and buried weren't corpses.
Hearing the quarantine camp was fine, Pei Ying thought for a moment and asked about Sizhou. "What about Sizhou in the rear?"
Huo Tingshan: "Still waiting, hoping to pick up the pieces."
It had been more than a day or two since half of Sizhou's main force had been lagging behind. As the "plague" situation worsened on the Youzhou army's side, the Sizhou troops had retreated again and again, now over a hundred li away from them.
Pei Ying was puzzled.
If it wasn't the quarantine camp or Sizhou, why was this man so tense, looking like he wanted to slaughter a city?
Meeting Pei Ying's clear, apricot-shaped eyes, Huo Tingshan paused. He slowly exhaled a turbid breath, as if expelling the violence and whatever else was churning inside him.
The man regained his usual languid air. "Jingzhou has many famous mountains and beautiful waters. In a few days, after I've taken the Chenyuan Pass, I'll take you, my lady, for a spring outing."
Seeing he was back to normal, Pei Ying wondered if she had been overthinking earlier. However, his mention of a spring outing reminded her of something else.
"To fully lull them will still take some time, at least ten days, maybe a month. By the time you take Chenyuan Pass, it will be summer. Speaking of which, spring has already passed. The cotton we planted should be sprouting, and the sugarcane planted last autumn should be about ripe now," Pei Ying said.
Both sugarcane and cotton had a maturation cycle of seven months. But the cotton seeds had been obtained a bit late, already in winter, so they couldn't be sown until the following spring.
A smile touched Huo Tingshan's lips. "In a little while, I'll have Mingji send some white sugar."
White sugar was a rarity. Apart from Pei Ying, everyone else had a sweet tooth, so the first batch they had refined earlier was long gone.
Pei Ying's thoughts drifted, thinking of the Shengjing Pavilion in Chang'an. Soon, the Shengjing Pavilion would be stocking the new white granulated sugar.
The days passed one by one, and in the blink of an eye, twenty days had gone by.
"General, according to scout reports, that small contingent from Sizhou has begun mobilizing their troops. It seems the Sizhou side is growing restless," Qin Yang reported.
Mobilizing an army camp typically indicates one of two intentions: either to retreat and regroup with the main force, or to advance.
As for where they would advance, it was still towards the Youzhou side.
Huo Tingshan twisted the thumb ring on his hand. "Restlessness is good. It means Jingzhou is also growing impatient. Since they are allied now, they will most likely attack from both front and rear."
In the eyes of Sizhou and Jingzhou, the time for harvest had arrived. Similarly, this timing also belonged to their Youzhou forces.
