Fu Tianlei has been poisoned by the Northern Barbarians spy and his place will be temporary held by General Zhao.
By the end of the second month, although there was still a hint of chill in the air, spring had arrived, and people were gradually swapping their thick clothes for lighter ones.
Xu Wu entered the inner courtyard with a grim expression and reported to Yuxi, "Madam, we've just received word that the Northern Barbarian army is only three hundred li1 away from Yu City. In less than three days, they will reach the city gates."
Yuxi asked, "What's going on? Was the previous information wrong?" Just the other day, she had heard Xu Wu say that the Northern Barbarian army of 250,000 troops was preparing to set out to attack Yu City.
Xu Wu replied solemnly, "The man we planted in the Northern Barbarian army must have betrayed us." That traitor had deliberately given them false information.
Yuxi quickly calculated and said, "The newly conscripted soldiers will arrive in Yu City in the next two days. Even if they have 250,000 troops, there's nothing to worry about."
Xu Wu said, "Madam, please pack your things — tonight you should leave Yu City and head to Lanzhou. This way, if anything unexpected happens, you and the children will be safe."
Yuxi felt that something was off. "What's the matter? Even if the enemy has 250,000 troops, with our 50,000 recruits plus the original 40,000 soldiers, we should be able to hold out for at least half a month. I believe that during that period, the General should be able to return in time."
Xu Wu gave a bitter smile. "This time, the commander of the Northern Barbarian army is Bate'er. He has come fully prepared, and Yu City is bound to face a fierce battle. My Yifu2 and I both feel it would be best if Madam set out for Lanzhou as soon as possible."
Yuxi naturally knew who Bate'er was — the third prince of the Northern Barbarians. He was a brave and skilled warrior who k!lled people as if they were hemp stalks3, and his fame was on a par with Yun Qing's. "I told you a long time ago that if I left with the children, it would undoubtedly shake the troops' morale. Besides, no matter how good Bate'er is at fighting, what difference does it make? We have ninety thousand men — we can certainly hold out for half a month."
In front of Yuxi, Xu Wu did not fear speaking frankly: "This time, all the recruits are fresh soldiers. I'm afraid we can't hold out for half a month."
Yuxi responded coldly, "Even if we can't hold out, we still must — we can't let Yu City become another Tong City." Seeing that Xu Wu still wanted to speak, Yuxi waved her hand and said, "You needn't persuade me further. I will not leave Yu City, and I believe the General will return in time to aid us."
Xu Wu had already guessed this outcome. "Very well, I'll go tell my Yifu2."
Yuxi stopped Xu Wu and said, "I'll write a letter to Xu Chong — have someone deliver it to him." Xu Chong was Xinping City's prefect and one of their people.
Xu Wu nodded. "Alright."
After taking the letter, Xu Wu asked, "Madam, should we have the Eldest and Second Young Misses leave for Xinping City? It's never truly safe here."
Yuxi thought for a moment, then shook her head. "No need." With a shortage of soldiers and horses in turmoil4 and with hidden spies lurking in Yu City, it would actually be more dangerous to send the children away from the city.
Xu Wu took the letter and left the inner courtyard.
Yuxi stood before the desk and exhaled slowly. What Yun Qing had been worried about had finally happened — they were now truly beset by enemies on both sides. Only by overcoming this critical trial would they be able to consider it a true success.
Yuxi left the study and went to the side room to visit Zao Zao and Liu-er. Zao Zao, the restless little girl, was playing with a rattle drum when Yuxi entered, filling the air with its clamorous 'dong-dong' sound. Meanwhile, Liu-er was nestled motionlessly in Madam Lan's arms, her gaze fixed on Yuxi.
Holding Liu-er, Mama Lan smiled and said, "Both the Eldest and the Youngest Young Misses are especially happy every time Madam comes."
Yuxi briefly stayed with the children in the side room, then put down the clingy Zao Zao. "Mom has things to do — you be good at home and listen to Mama Lan, alright?" The side room was too cramped for both children, but ever since Zao Zao started living with Liu-er, she had been unwilling to move out. Yuxi thought that it was a good thing for the sisters to be close, so she went along with it.
Back in her bedroom, Yuxi instructed Gancao, "Go to the kitchen and ask Momo to come to the bedroom." Momo Quan was in the kitchen preparing medicinal food for Yuxi.
Upon entering the bedroom and seeing that Yuxi's complexion was not good, Momo Quan suddenly felt uneasy. "Has something happened?" Heaven forbid it be something to do with Yun Qing.
Yuxi explained that the Northern Barbarian army was preparing to attack the city. "Momo, this time the commander of the Northern Barbarian forces is the third prince of their royal court, Bate'er — a man with an extreme lust for killing." Killing was the lesser evil; he was also known to eat human flesh, a perverse cruelty that made many people tremble in fear at the mere mention of his name. As for why he had been put in command this time, Yuxi had no idea.
Looking at Yuxi, Momo Quan asked, "You're not planning to leave, are you? Would you like me to take Zao Zao and Liu-er away? But Liu-er's health is too fragile; if we left in such a rush, her body wouldn't be able to take it."
Yuxi shook her head. "Zao Zao and Liu-er will stay in Yu City with me to wait for the General. Momo, I'll have someone send you to Lanzhou — wait for me there!" Back then, Qin Zhao had told Xu Shi to take the children and flee Yu City, and afterwards, the other generals had also sent their families away from the city. In truth, this action had already sapped the soldiers' confidence. Fortunately, Yun Qing had burned the enemy's grain supplies at the time; otherwise, Yu City would not have been able to hold out until the end.
Momo Quan gave a small laugh. "At my age, I've only got a few good years left. What do I have to be afraid of if you're not afraid? Do whatever you want to do — I'll take good care of Zao Zao and Liu-er for you." She had her own motives for coming to Yu City this time. With rebellions springing up everywhere, she knew that there would surely be war all over the land in the future, and that her family would never be able to live in peace. Now that Yun Qing had risen in rebellion with a promising outlook, she thought that if he succeeded and became the master of the northwest, she could take refuge with Yuxi, and her family could live without constant fear and anxiety. Moreover, she could secure a future for her two grandnephews.
Yuxi nodded. "All right, then I'll entrust Zao Zao and Liu-er to you. I'll leave Hongdou and Hongqi behind — if anything happens, they can protect you and the children."
However, Momo Quan felt it wasn't quite proper. "You'd better take those two maids with you. I'll be in the inner courtyard with the children — nothing should happen there."
Yuxi smiled and assured her, "I have people to protect me. Momo, there's no need to worry."
Upon reaching the front courtyard, Yuxi led Master Yang and Xu Wu to an area beneath the city wall. Less than a hundred metres from the wall, many sheds were set up in neat rows — some for cooking, some for treating the wounded and some for the soldiers to rest in. Having these sheds around would save a great deal of trouble if it rained.
At that moment, no one in the sheds was idle. Some carried firewood while others transported liquor, medicinal herbs, and bandages. Everyone kept their heads down, working — no one stood around chatting.
Yuxi asked, "Do these people know the Northern Barbarians are coming?" The atmosphere felt unusually solemn, leading her to suspect that they already knew the enemy was coming.
Xu Wu nodded. "We haven't hidden it."
Just as they were speaking, one of the men hurried over and said, "Boss, bad news! General Fu has suddenly collapsed and lost consciousness — we don't know what happened!"
Xu Wu's face turned pale — before the battle had even begun, the commander had already produced little moths5. Initially, there hadn't been much certainty about the outcome of this battle; now his heart felt even less sure.
Yuxi didn't ask what had happened to Fu Tianlei, only said, "Xu Wu, go at once to the Zhao residence and invite General Zhao to take command of Yu City. In terms of seniority, there's no one more suitable."
Xu Wu hesitated a little.
Yuxi explained, "Before the General left, he told me that if anything happened, I should go to General Zhao. He has defended Yu City for over twenty years — he won't just watch it fall into the hands of the Northern Barbarians."
Only then did Xu Wu nod. "Madam, I'll send you back first before going to the Zhao residence! Your safety is the top priority."
Yuxi shook her head. "There's no need to escort me. With so many people around, nothing will happen." She had come this time to check for any flaws and fix them quickly if necessary.
Seeing Xu Wu's hesitation, Master Yang said, "Don't worry — with me here, no one will get close to Madam." When Yuxi went out this time, she had Master Yang by her side at all times. Of course, there were also quite a few guards.
Less than half a shichen6 later, Yuxi returned to the Yun residence and called for Xu Daniu. "What happened to General Fu?" He had suddenly collapsed unconscious, so it was certain that he had been the victim of foul play.
Xu Daniu replied, "General Fu was poisoned — someone put it in his food." Noticing Yuxi's puzzled look, he added, "The poisoner was the cook — she's a Northern Barbarian spy. She has been working for the Fu family for over twenty years."
Yuxi felt a chill run down her spine — this honestly couldn't be blamed on Fu Tianlei. Who could have guessed that the cook, who had worked in the Fu household for over twenty years, was a Northern Barbarian spy? "How is General Fu now?"
Xu Daniu shook his head. "I'm not clear on the details." The only certain thing was that Fu Tianlei could no longer lead the troops. Losing the commander at this critical moment would undoubtedly shake the army's morale.
Yuxi said, "There's no need to panic — I've already sent Xu Wu to invite General Zhao. With him here, nothing major should go wrong. Still, these spies are far too brazen." Several groups had already been apprehended, yet they kept emerging like bamboo shoots after a spring rain7, one wave after another — impossible to kill them all.
Xu Daniu said, "The Old Master has already gone to the Fu household — I believe there will be results. Madam, given the current situation in Yu City, you'd better leave with the Eldest and Youngest Young Misses!" He was sure this battle would be even bloodier than the one two years ago.
Yuxi shook her head. "Don't worry — I believe the General will make it back in time." Neither Xu Wu nor Xu Daniu seemed confident, which made Yuxi herself feel a little uneasy. Nevertheless, she had never considered leaving Yu City.
Xu Daniu didn't try to persuade her any further.
Half a shichen6 later, Xu Wu returned. "Madam, it's all settled." He had thought he would have to expend a round of lips and tongue8 — after all, it was their General who had removed General Zhao from his post. However, surprisingly, General Zhao had agreed without hesitation upon hearing his purpose.
Yuxi gave a slight nod. "That's good. But make sure to protect General Zhao — don't let any spies wriggle themselves into a gap9 again." These spies were truly able to enter through any hole.
Thinking of this, Yuxi quickly added, "Don't let the spies who have infiltrated the camp spread rumours and cause trouble, undermining the soldiers' morale." The Northern Barbarians were determined to take Yu City this time; otherwise, they wouldn't have activated spies who had been hiding for over twenty years.
Xu Wu nodded. "Rest assured, Madam — we will never allow such a thing to happen."
Footnotes Full List
- 里 lǐ: a traditional unit of length, equal to 150 zhang (市丈), and equivalent to 0.5 kilometre or 0.311 mile
- 义父 yìfù: adoptive father)
- The phrase, 杀人如麻 (shārénrúmá), means to slaughter without mercy and in great numbers.
- 兵荒马乱 (bīng huāng mǎ luàn) — literally "soldiers in famine, horses in chaos," meaning a time of great turmoil and war.
- 出幺蛾子 (chū yāo'ézi) is an idiomatic phrase meaning 'for some unexpected trouble/problem to arise' or 'to cause mischief'.
- 时辰 shíchen: 2 hours
- The phrase, 雨后的竹笋 (yǔ hòu de zhúsǔn), means things that appear rapidly and in great numbers.
- The phrase, 费一番唇舌 (fèi yī fān chún shé), means to talk at length, making a lot of verbal effort.
- The phrase, 钻空子 (zuān kòngzi), means 'to exploit a loophole' or 'to take advantage of an opening'.
COMMENTS