"This is simply intolerable!"
"That Ji Xianbai is utterly shameless. He was the one who poisoned the young emperor, yet he pins the blame on you, Great General."
"Once this proclamation is issued, I'm afraid the whole world will soon know of it."
"Nonsense! The young emperor died in the Chang'an palace, far from where the Great General was. What does it have to do with us? Anyone with clear eyes can see he's the thief crying 'stop thief'!"
"Xiong Mao, don't forget, how many in this world can actually read? Most are ignorant commoners. The young emperor has been on the throne for three years. Some might think, if Grand Marshal Ji truly intended regicide, why would he wait until now? Not to mention Ji Xianbai has always been excellent at maintaining appearances, presenting himself as a loyal minister to the outside world."
Everyone was furious, yet also couldn't help but worry.
Their Great General had taken control of the entire northern territories without proclaiming himself emperor, precisely because he was concerned about his reputation.
Although the Great Chu dynasty existed in name only, the first to declare himself emperor would always face the harshest criticism from historians and scholars, branded as a treasonous usurper. Those who followed would attract less glaring scrutiny.
Now, Ji Xianbai was throwing this bucket of filth, aiming right at the vital spot.
Gongsun Liang said gravely, "My lord, if they can issue a proclamation, so can we. They accuse you of poisoning the young emperor; we accuse Ji Xianbai of being the thief crying 'stop thief', harboring treacherous designs, using this scheme to frame you, and being the true regicide."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
They absolutely could not sit idle and wait for death. If the other side issued a proclamation condemning Youzhou, they would denounce them right back.
Chen Shichang was skilled at drafting official documents. Huo Tingshan looked at him: "The matter of the proclamation shall be entrusted to Master Chen."
Chen Shichang bowed, accepting the order.
Everyone understood clearly that given the circumstances, the proclamation was no longer the main issue. The focus was the impending warfare.
Because once the war of words began, no one would come out clean. Since that was the case, only real swords and spears could determine victory.
The proclamation served as kindling; the flames of war were about to ignite... No, perhaps the fire had already been lit in Jingzhou at this very moment, just that the news hadn't reached them yet.
Huo Tingshan's gaze swept over the furious faces: "The matter of the proclamation is a done deal. Further discussion is pointless. Next, let's discuss the war situation in Jingzhou."
Pei Ying had drunk quite a bit of wine. After washing up and getting into bed, she fell asleep quickly. However, in the middle of the night, she was awakened by some small noises. The room was dimly lit, with only a faint glow, likely because the person who entered had only taken one luminous pearl from the black silk pouch.
The pale light fell upon his burly frame, casting a long, dark shadow on the floor.
"Huo Tingshan, what time is it now?" Pei Ying mumbled.
"Did I wake you?" The man, who had just removed his belt, paused his movements. "It's still early. Sleep a while longer, my lady."
She murmured an assent.
But when Huo Tingshan got into bed, he found the person who had just agreed to sleep didn't seem sleepy at all. She was still thinking about his earlier words, "I'll tell you later."
"So, what happened?" Pei Ying asked.
It seemed she wouldn't sleep until she got a clear answer. Huo Tingshan pressed his fingers to his temples. "I'll tell you tomorrow. Otherwise, you won't be able to sleep after knowing."
Pei Ying: "I will. On the contrary, if you don't tell me now, I'll keep guessing and that's what will keep me awake."
The luminous pearl was still in Huo Tingshan's hand. By its faint light, he saw her lips pressed together slightly.
Alright, she was being stubborn.
The two looked at each other in the darkness for a moment. Finally, Huo Tingshan, resigned, gave a brief summary, concluding: "...My lady, we have now completely torn up all pretense of cordiality with Yongzhou. There are many hard battles to fight ahead."
Huo Tingshan thought she would be very worried upon hearing this. Unexpectedly, she drew out an "Oh..." and simply said, "I see," then lay back down, pulling the covers over herself, clearly adopting a posture of 'mystery solved, time to sleep again.'
This time, it was Huo Tingshan who became intrigued. "My lady doesn't seem concerned."
After the 'Bailian Steel' was produced, whenever he discussed matters with his advisors, he occasionally brought her along to listen in. Therefore, she was certainly not like other women who knew nothing of the current situation.
Pei Ying truly wasn't worried: "Huo Tingshan, in matters of warfare, you are the most formidable person I have ever seen. To be honest, I have little to worry about."
They met in Beichuan County. Later, he took her south on campaigns, and then north to fight the Xiongnu. Through years of campaigning north and south, apart from that time in Yuzhou when Huo Tingshan's ship was rammed and he was seriously injured, she had never seen him suffer many losses in other battles.
Some people are born military geniuses, as if divinely aided when they go to war. Pei Ying felt Huo Tingshan was that kind of person.
Having woken up in the middle of the night, Pei Ying's voice was softer than usual, like a ball of cotton that would dent with a poke.
Having said her piece and closing her eyes to sleep, her eyelids had barely shut for a moment before she was scooped out from under the covers.
In the cool late autumn night, his inner robe slightly open, revealing a small patch of firm, dark-toned muscle, she leaned sideways against his chest. He held her waist with one arm and lifted her chin with three fingers of his other hand.
"My lady trusts me so deeply; it brings me great joy." His kiss descended.
When golden wind meets jade dew, their encounter surpasses all worldly delights.
The grand wedding of Huo Mingji had just concluded, and the betrothal gifts for Huo Zhizhang were promptly arranged soon after.
On the same day, the servants within the Governor's mansion were also very busy. The household servants received orders: their master was to depart Luoyang City tomorrow, so the luggage needed to be packed swiftly and properly.
The day passed in a blink. The betrothal gift ceremony concluded in an orderly manner. Shi Shi, who had been staying at the Governor's mansion, moved out and went to live with her younger brother, who had been settled in Luoyang.
Before her marriage, Shi Shi would reside in Luoyang City, not following the Youzhou army on campaigns.
"...Is everything packed? Check once more. The masters depart at mao hour (5-7 am). Make sure nothing is left behind."
"Already checked twice. Nothing missing. But the kitchen needs to hurry up."
They were to depart today, so Pei Ying woke up much earlier than usual. She was awake as soon as a sliver of pale light appeared in the sky.
Washing up, having breakfast, all done in one go.
By the time she finished tidying up, the sky was just bright.
This time, Huo Mingji was not alone seeing his family off. Lei Jingque stood beside him, watching his parents and younger siblings board the carriage together.
"Your son awaits your triumphant return, Father."
"Your daughter-in-law awaits your triumphant return, Uncle-father."
Huo Tingshan acknowledged with a sound. "You guard Luoyang well."
Pei Ying looked carefully at the newlywed couple. Lei Jingque's complexion was rosy, and Huo Mingji also seemed in excellent spirits. It appeared the young couple was doing well, which set her mind at ease. "I don't know when we'll return from this journey. Once things are settled, I'll send a family letter back."
Lei Jingque looked at Pei Ying and asked somewhat nervously, "May I write family letters to you then?"
Huo Mingji glanced at his wife beside him.
Pei Ying smiled. "Naturally you may. Zhizhang especially loves writing family letters, and we very much enjoy reading them."
Beside them, Huo Zhizhang grinned, showing a mouthful of white teeth.
Lei Jingque's heart settled completely.
The procession set off, soon growing distant under the gaze of those seeing them off, until they completely disappeared from sight.
"Let's go back," Huo Mingji said softly.
Lei Jingque gave a soft "Mm," but her gaze still lingered in the direction where the carriage train had vanished.
Huo Mingji's eyebrow twitched slightly.
It seemed her words back then were not false in the least...
I woke up early today and wasn't feeling very well, so it wasn't until we had left the city that Pei Ying, catching sight of the massive city emblem hanging on the gate tower by chance, belatedly realized they had exited through the West Gate, not the South Gate.
Huo Tingshan was sharing the carriage with her today. Pei Ying turned to look at the man beside her. "Huo Tingshan, why aren't we taking the South Gate?"
Luoyang lies to the north of Jingzhou. Exiting from the West Gate would mean taking a detour back to Jingzhou, wouldn't it?
"We are not returning to Jingzhou." Huo Tingshan discerned her confusion. "We are going to Chang'an. The proclamation has been issued. The Jing and Yi regions are no longer the primary focus. It's better to strike directly at the heart—to Chang'an, to capture the traitor Ji Xianbai."
In truth, ever since he and Ke Zuo had finalized their strategy of 'cleansing the court of evil ministers' towards the end of last winter, they had intended to march on Chang'an.
However, winter was not an opportune time. Even with padded garments, they couldn't deny the fact that the quantity was still insufficient, far from enough to equip the entire army; even covering one-tenth would be difficult.
As for the spring and summer seasons this year, they are for cultivation. Most of the current soldiers are also farmer-soldiers; otherwise, the daily grain consumption alone would be a terrifyingly large number. Last spring and summer saw little cultivation, and if it were the same this year, food shortages would be inevitable.
Furthermore, the wedding of his eldest son was set for the Beginning of Autumn. Once a major campaign begins, the commander-in-chief cannot easily leave the camp, yet it was impossible for him and his wife not to attend their eldest son's wedding.
Considering all these factors together, Huo Tingshan scheduled the plan for this autumn, intending to issue the proclamation to the realm only after Huo Mingji's marriage.
But in the end, someone else moved first.
After hearing his plan, Pei Ying said, "Directly taking Chang'an is good too, a one-step solution. If Chang'an is captured, the Jing and Yi provinces and other regions will surely fear your military might like a tiger, making them much easier to subdue than before."
Huo Tingshan nodded with a smile.
Their proclamation had been issued from the Youzhou side, so their change of course towards Chang'an was almost an open secret. Consequently, as soon as they crossed into Yongzhou territory, the Youzhou army encountered its first enemy attack.
It was a night with only a half-moon. Pei Ying, asleep halfway through the night, was suddenly awakened by the deafening sound of gongs and drums.
"Enemy attack! We're under attack!"
Pei Ying could sense that almost the instant the gongs and drums sounded, the man beside her had swiftly risen.
"Huo Tingshan..."
"Rest, my lady. I'll go out and take a look." Huo Tingshan helped tuck Pei Ying's quilt in.
All the military officers in the camp were awake and hurried over.
Qin Yang reported, "Grand General, the enemy force isn't very large. They appeared in small groups from the southwest and northwest directions, launched brief attacks, and immediately retreated. Just now, Huo Er and Lan Zimu have already led men in pursuit."
Huo Tingshan acknowledged with a sound.
Qin Yang expressed slight concern, "The enemy is employing this kind of fishing tactic. Could there be a trap behind it?"
"Obviously." Huo Tingshan looked into the distance. "However, the terrain here isn't particularly special. Even if the enemy has an ambush, Huo Er and the others should be able to handle it."
At this point, Huo Tingshan chuckled derisively, "If, armed with refined steel blades, one cannot be invincible in such terrain, then in my opinion, they should promptly yield those treasures to others who haven't yet had the chance to wield a good blade."
Qin Yang gave a light cough and agreed.
After rising during the night, Huo Tingshan did not return to sleep. At the break of dawn, Huo Zhizhang and Xiong Mao returned one after the other.
Both wore expressions of great satisfaction.
"Father, the attackers numbered about three thousand. Aside from those who fled, all have been executed." Huo Zhizhang had barely slept all night but was still quite exhilarated.
Previously, he had been assigned to guard the Chenyuan Pass. Heaven knows how frustrating those battles had been. Despite having refined steel blades in hand, the difficult terrain prevented his divine weapons from unleashing their full potential.
Refined steel was rare and had only been forged into blades. As for bows and arrows, which might be lost and not return, those were absolutely not made from it.
Yet, the terrain of Jingzhou was complex, often favoring long-range weapons like bows and arrows to initiate battles, with only about half the chance of close combat ensuing. And often, before they could use their refined steel to shatter the enemy's weapons, the enemy troops would withdraw into the city.
Huo Zhizhang had been bottling up that frustration for a long time. It was only tonight that he finally vented it all in one go, feeling exceptionally pleased.
Huo Tingshan stood before a large sheepskin map. "In two days at most, we will reach the Hangu Pass. To enter the Guanzhong region, one must first pass through Hangu Pass, and this place is of extraordinary significance."
Chang'an possessed the strategic advantages of the Xiao and Han regions, making it a land fortified on all sides. The Hangu Pass to its east faced Luoyang across the river. Chang'an was not only the capital of this dynasty but also of the previous one. It can only be said that for multiple dynasties to establish their capitals here, 'she' must have exceptional qualities.
These 'exceptional qualities' were manifested in the terrain. To the north of Chang'an lay the Loess Plateau, to the south the Qinling Mountains, and to the west the Long Mountains. Combined, they formed a formidable position that was advantageous for both offense and defense.
For instance, the Hangu Pass, which one must pass through to reach Luoyang, was reputed to be a place where 'one man can hold the pass against ten thousand.'
The Chenyuan Pass had also been extremely perilous back then. However, at that time, the Jingzhou army secretly allied with Li Xiaotian, jointly employing the vicious scheme of plague. They, believing themselves invincible, were arrogant and underestimated the enemy, which gave Huo Tingshan an opportunity to seize the Chenyuan Pass.
Now, it was different.
The proclamation had been issued. Ji Xianbai was well aware that Huo Tingshan was bringing troops to fight and would definitely not underestimate the enemy. It was even possible he would personally lead the army this time.
Xiong Mao's face fell. "During the Rebellion of the Seven States centuries ago, Hangu Pass held out for a full three years before it fell. Grand General, this Hangu Pass..."
Qin Yang knew what he meant to say. In fact, rather than saying Hangu Pass was stormed, it would be more accurate to say it was worn down. Because other forces at the time tied up Hangu Pass's reinforcements; with the main force failing to arrive for a long time, the pass gate was finally breached.
Huo Tingshan also knew this. He pinched the bridge of his nose. "In front of Hangu Pass lies the Hongnong River, a tributary of the Yellow River. To breach the pass, one must first cross the river. Beyond the river is a flat, exposed beach with no cover, making concealment difficult."
There were watchtowers in the Guanzhong region. The moment they crossed the river, they would be discovered. What awaited them would undoubtedly be a sky-darkening rain of arrows, not to mention that warships could only carry a limited number of troops. No matter how many soldiers they had, they could only cross in separate groups.
Facing such a force, divided and scattered, wouldn't it be easy to deal with?
Huo Tingshan's gaze shifted downward on the map, below Hangu Pass.
There were two routes above and below Hangu Pass: the northern route was the Pujin Road, and the southern route was the Wuguan Road. The former required crossing the Yellow River, then traversing successive mountains and ridges, before crossing the river once more.
Just preparing the boats needed for these two river crossings alone would be a tremendous burden.
If taking the southern route, they would first need to march south through a basin, then travel overland through the Qinling Mountains. This route didn't require frequent river crossings; after passing through the Qinling Mountains, they could enter Guanzhong.
However, this path was very long, roughly three times the distance of going via Hangu Pass. The road conditions were difficult, and along the way, there were also two fortified passes guarding it: Wuguan and Lantian Pass.
Seeing Huo Tingshan's gaze fix on the lower part of the map, Gongsun Liang understood. "My lord, you are considering taking the Wuguan Road."
It was not a question, and upon hearing this, those who were perceptive could tell Gongsun Liang supported this idea.
The shrewd strategist stroked his goat-like beard. "Under normal circumstances, I would not recommend this route either. The mountain paths are narrow, making it difficult to supply provisions and logistics. If our supply line were cut and we were stalled for two or three days, the consequences would be unthinkable."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Provisions are the lifeline. Soldiers, already weary from long marches, would lose most of their fighting capacity by the next day if they had no food.
Gongsun Liang smiled and said, "But now, we have the mistress's white sugar. I privately believe a small piece of white sugar can be the equivalent of several hu-bing cakes. My lord, you might consider having each soldier in the vanguard carry some white sugar. Even if they are unexpectedly attacked en route and the forces are scattered, the separated soldiers would have enough time to await reinforcements."
Upon hearing "white sugar," everyone was momentarily stunned. Their initial joy was quickly tempered with hesitation as they looked at Huo Tingshan.
They were well aware of the market price of white sugar. Equipping every soldier with it would undoubtedly amount to a staggering sum of silver.
Frankly, it was a painful thought...
"Approved," Huo Tingshan agreed.
Gongsun Liang smiled and cupped his hands in salute. "My lord is most generous."
"In that case, there's no urgent need to head south through the Wuguan Pass route just yet," Huo Tingshan stated.
Although the army possessed white sugar, the quantity was far from sufficient for the soldiers. Someone needed to be sent back to the Pei family's trading firm in Luoyang.
Pei Ying saw Huo Tingshan again in the late afternoon, nearing dusk. The army had halted its advance and was setting up camp.
"Why is my lady standing outside in the wind?" Huo Tingshan asked, seeing Pei Ying outside the tent.
Pei Ying gazed at the distant sky. "The wind has picked up. It looks like there might be rain."
Hearing this, Huo Tingshan also glanced at the sky. The orange-yellow hues of dusk were deceptively gentle, but a large mass of dark clouds loomed in the distant east, threatening to roll in at any moment.
"Each autumn rain brings more chill. It will likely rain tonight. Don't stay out too late seeking coolness." Huo Tingshan led her into the tent.
The couple dined alone that evening, without the younger generation joining them. As the meal was served, Huo Tingshan explained the current military situation and his plans to Pei Ying.
The formidable reputation of the Hangu Pass was well-known, and Pei Ying had naturally heard of it. Hearing him now speak of taking the Wuguan Pass route to bypass Hangu Pass, she nodded in agreement. "Changing course south to take the Wuguan Pass route is wise. A direct assault on Hangu Pass would incur heavy casualties, and with the enemy already on guard, we certainly couldn't take it swiftly. Advisor Gongsun is correct. White sugar, as an excellent strategic supply resource, can indeed be of great help."
Huo Tingshan acknowledged, "My lady speaks wisely."
Although he agreed and his demeanor remained composed, Pei Ying still noticed he ate slightly less than usual during the meal. He was likely still somewhat anxious beneath the surface.
Pei Ying sighed softly.
The Wuguan Pass route was too long, guarded by two passes in succession. Moving a large army through it was no easy feat. If the forces were carelessly scattered and isolated, it was entirely possible for those units cut off from the main force to be completely wiped out.
The sky darkened gradually, and soon it was time to retire for the night.
Lying on the soft couch, Pei Ying listened to the wind howling outside, feeling little sleepiness. She could sense the same restlessness in the person beside her.
A sigh broke the darkness. "If I had known my lady would be so troubled that she finds it hard to sleep, I shouldn't have discussed the war situation with you at dinner. It might even damage my image in your eyes."
Pei Ying denied it. "It has nothing to do with that."
"Then what is it?" he asked.
Pei Ying turned over, presenting her back to him. "There's no particular reason. Just occasional insomnia."
Huo Tingshan gave a low chuckle. Just as he was about to speak again, a "clang!" sounded from outside as the gong was struck once more.
"Enemy attack! We're under attack!"
In the darkness, the man's smile vanished instantly. He rose from the couch and hurried out after a brief instruction for Pei Ying to sleep first.
Pei Ying turned over again, lying on her back and listening to the chaotic noises outside, her mind unable to settle for a long time.
She didn't know how much time had passed when the commotion outside gradually subsided, only to be soon replaced by the rumble of thunder. The thunder roared, one peal after another, as if trying to split the vast sky in two.
Pei Ying murmured to herself, "Judging by the sound, the coming rain will likely be heavy. But that's also good; heavy rains usually don't last long."
"BOOM—!!"
A clap of thunder seemed to explode right beside her ear. For a moment, Pei Ying was stunned, thinking she had gone deaf. As her hearing returned, she heard shouts from outside: "A tent's been struck by lightning! Run!"
Shocked, Pei Ying got up, hastily threw on a robe, and stepped out of the tent. As soon as she emerged, she saw a tent not far away engulfed in roaring flames, with soldiers nearby retreating fearfully to a distance.
The flickering firelight illuminated Pei Ying's slightly pale face, its reflection in her eyes like a spark of light.
