In the past, shortages of grain and armor on the northern frontier occurred from time to time, and ordinary officials had never regarded such matters as matters of life and death. Today, hearing Shen Zhishu's resolute words, they were momentarily struck dumb, and no one dared to make excuses for Pang Mu anymore.
However, his act of executing an official from the commissioner's office without reporting or memorializing was truly chilling and terrifying.
Everyone thought that even he would show some consideration for Meng Tinghui and would not casually pass judgment on someone whom Meng Tinghui had personally transferred to Chao'an. Yet, it turned out they had all miscalculated.
Only then did they realize that Shen Zhishu's reputation as the emperor's trusted minister was not undeserved. Though usually refined and elegant in demeanor, he showed no hesitation when severity was called for.
Shen Zhishu glanced at them disdainfully and added, "I know some of you are contemplating how to draft a memorial to impeach me. Why not let me draft one for you later? You can simply sign it jointly and send it to the capital, sparing yourselves the trouble of weighing every word."
Jiang Yun quickly stepped back and said, "We would not dare. It's just that the thirty thousand dan of grain and fodder guarded by Pang Mu were consumed by fire, and the grain and armor allocated from the western Fengqing Route have not yet arrived. The official granaries in our Qing Province area cannot currently gather so much grain. If we try to procure it from elsewhere, I fear it may not reach the northern front in time."
Shen Zhishu's face turned cold. "Only now do you realize the gravity of the situation?"Seeing Jiang Yun lower his head, he continued, "The dispatch from the Comfort Department of Di Nian arrived the day before yesterday, and you have all read it." The Battle of Minshan resulted in heavy losses. Di Nian has mobilized Garrison Soldiers from Qingzhou and Fenzhou to Minshan and plans to march north in twelve days. If our army has no provisions by then, who will bear the blame?"
Jiang Yun was extremely embarrassed and could only remain silent, enduring the sarcastic rebuke.
It was only then that Cao Zixiong finally spoke, addressing Shen Zhishu, "Since you have spoken thus, it seems you must have some solution."
Shen Zhishu frowned deeply for a moment before replying, "It's hardly a solution, and I don't yet know if it can be managed. For now, send people to the official granaries in nearby provinces to gather grain. Regardless of whether you can gather the full thirty thousand dan, send whatever you have north immediately."
Cao Zixiong nodded and sighed deeply. "The Qingzhou camp previously suffered losses in aiding Minshan to the north, and the numbers have not been replenished. This matter still requires you to report it to the Comfort Department."
Shen Zhishu stood up, his brow furrowed tightly. "Bandits are blocking the roads in Jiankang Route, and the Imperial Army in Linhuai Route cannot be heavily deployed. If the pacification office had any other options, they would not have even mobilized troops from Qingzhou to the north. Go and tell Song Zhirui to wait a little longer. Once the troops from the western routes are deployed to the northern frontier by imperial order, I will immediately replenish his camp with soldiers and horses."
Seeing Cao Zixiong nod, Shen Zhishu swept a stern gaze over the several people standing in the hall, said nothing more, threw on his outer robe, and walked out.
·
By the time Yan Fuzhi returned to her residence, Shen Zhishu had already been waiting for her in the small hall of the front courtyard for most of the day.
Dusk was approaching, and the evening fragrance of the purple jasmine in the courtyard wafted in, its faint sweetness permeating the heart and causing a momentary daze.
A maid entered to inform Shen Zhishu, replaced the long-cold tea on the table with a fresh cup, and then withdrew.
After a while, Shen Zhishu heard footsteps outside the room, slow and dragging, and immediately stood up, turning toward the door.
A red skirt flowed into the hall like a blossoming flower.
His eyes met a pair of bright eyes, accentuated by dazzling pearl earrings that made the entire hall seem brighter because of her."When your people came looking for me, I had already made arrangements to attend an opera performance and couldn't leave immediately." Yan Fuzhi walked two steps to his side, lifted the teacup lid with a flick of her hand, and took a sip. "Lord Shen, if you plan to visit next time, you should inform me in advance to avoid making you wait half the day like this."
Shen Zhishu's expression darkened.
Though war raged in the north, the wealthy families in Qingzhou City still believed the conflict had nothing to do with them. Their extravagant, decadent lifestyles continued unabated, as if nothing could disrupt their pleasures.
She stood holding the teacup for a while before finally looking up at him. "Did the sun rise from the west today? You actually came to find me."
Shen Zhishu stiffened slightly before stating bluntly, "I need to ask you for a favor."
"I imagined as much." She swept her skirt aside and sat down directly, her expression somewhat listless.
Since he had been summoned to the capital for debriefing last year and returned to Chao'an as a transport commissioner, nearly half a year had passed without them meeting.
Naturally, she wouldn't go looking for him, and he hadn't taken the initiative to visit her residence either.
Today, when he said he came to ask for her help, she wasn't surprised at all, which actually made him hesitate momentarily.
The hall remained quiet for a long time before Yan Fuzhi spoke again lightly, "What capability do I possess that could possibly assist Lord Shen?"
That address of "Lord Shen" immediately brought him back to his senses.
Shen Zhishu frowned slightly but still spoke directly, "I need to borrow grain from you."
Her face showed no surprise as she replied calmly, "How much?"
He paused, not expecting her to skip asking why, and said hesitantly, "Thirty thousand dan."
"Fine." The word slipped lightly from her lips without the slightest hesitation, as if he had only asked to borrow a hairpin from her head.
Shen Zhishu stood frozen, speechless.
Thirty thousand dan was no small amount. Even with the Yan family's substantial wealth, they couldn't easily produce that much grain for him.
After a long while, he finally stepped closer to her, his frown deepening. "How will you manage to gather that much grain?"
Yan Fuzhi glanced up at him lightly. "You only asked to borrow grain—why should you concern yourself with how I obtain it? I'll give you thirty thousand dan when the time comes."
Shen Zhishu knew her temperament well but still couldn't help saying, "You're not even going to ask why?"
She let out a soft hum. "You've been establishing your authority with severe punishments at the government office all day. Lord Shen's ruthless reputation has spread throughout Qingzhou City in just half a day—why would I need to ask why? That fool Pang Mu must have let the newly allocated military provisions burn, forcing you to swallow your pride and come begging from me."
He watched her red lips part and close, unable to describe the feeling in his heart.
But hearing her unrestrained words, his expression cleared somewhat, and the gloom in his chest over this matter dissipated completely.
Calling the court-appointed official Pang Mu a fool—probably only she would dare say such things.
He said quietly, "Have someone bring paper and ink. I'll write you an IOU."
After hearing this, she sat quietly for a moment before suddenly standing up and turning away. "No need. I suppose you wouldn't dare cheat me out of money and grain."
Unable to see her expression, he frowned again and said, "If this matter succeeds, I will definitely submit a memorial to the court requesting honors from the Emperor for your Yan family."
She immediately turned her face to stare sharply at him, snorting with extreme disdain. "Do I care about those worthless honors?" Without another thought, she turned and walked out.Shen Zhishu watched her fiery red retreating figure, and his heart suddenly sank. He strode forward, catching her by the waist before she could exit and pulling her into his embrace.
Yan Fuzhi struggled violently but was no match for his strength. She raised her hand to slap him.
He didn’t dodge, instead pressing her tightly against him and suddenly saying, "If you don’t want to be with me, why treat me so kindly?"
Trembling with rage, she spat out fiercely, "Get away from me!"
He raised his hand to grip her chin, silencing her curses, his gaze piercing deep into her eyes as he said coldly, "I know what you’re afraid of—it all boils down to three words: you don’t trust me."
Furious, she struggled with all her might until he finally released her.
Flipping his robe as he turned, he said coldly, "Rest assured. I, Shen Zhishu, am not the kind of man to cling shamelessly. If you’ve made up your mind not to pledge your life to me, I will never mention this again."
Only when he walked away did she seem to collapse, her body going limp as she stumbled back into the chair.
What a bastard!
She cursed him viciously in her heart, still unsatisfied. Reaching for the teacup on the table, she hurled it—lid and all—with all her strength at his retreating back.
He had just reached the hall door when a sharp, shattering sound erupted beside the doorpost. Frowning, he turned his head just as a shard of flying porcelain sliced his face.
At the sight of blood, her anger instantly vanished.
He clearly hadn’t expected this. After a long pause, he slowly reached up, touched the bleeding cut on his face, and then narrowed his eyes at her.
She froze momentarily, then immediately looked down at her own hand.
Shen Zhishu’s face had captivated countless women, yet now she had marred it. And she had assaulted a court official—if he were truly enraged, what would he do to her?
To her surprise, after watching her for a moment, he lifted his robe and crouched down, carefully gathering the shattered porcelain pieces from the doorpost and stacking them to the side. Then, raising an eyebrow, he asked, "Feel better now?"
Blood still seeped from the wound on his face. Her heart clenched at the sight, and she gritted her teeth, rising to approach him. She pulled out a handkerchief and pressed it gently against his cheek, not daring to use too much force as she wiped away the blood.
He stood motionless, his eyes fixed intently on her.
His stare made her hands tremble. Finally, she tossed the handkerchief into his arms and turned to leave.
But he caught her by the waist and pulled her back into his embrace.
This time, she didn’t struggle, and his hold was gentle. They stood there, holding each other in silence for a long while.
After what felt like an eternity, he let out a soft sigh. "You’re afraid you’ll hinder my career, and you’re afraid I’ll destroy your freedom. But how could I not know your heart? And how could you not know mine?"
She remained silent, lips pressed tightly together, her gaze averted.
Shen Zhishu lifted his hand and turned her chin toward him, speaking earnestly, "Why would I fear being impeached? If you would only speak your heart, even if others accuse the Chao'an Canal Administration of colluding with merchants, I would not be afraid."
She suddenly flared up, gritting her teeth as she retorted, "Stop spouting nonsense in front of me. Save those sentimental words for other girls. What is the relationship between your Shen family and the Emperor? No matter what, you won’t be punished. But my Yan family has worked tirelessly to build what we have today. I won’t believe your empty promises just because of a few pretty words."
He responded urgently, "Then marry me."Yan Fuzhi stiffened, her eyes suddenly misting over as she let out a cold laugh. "Fine. We can speak honestly only when you no longer hold the post of Transport Commissioner. If you think I’d abandon my family and livelihood for you now, you’re living in a fool’s paradise."
Shen Zhishu slowly released her. "I knew you’d say that." He turned away, growing visibly agitated. "What if I told you His Majesty already knows about us?Her cold smile remained. "Shen Zhishu, when have your romantic escapades ever been few? Even if the Emperor knows, he’d merely consider me another entry in your ledger of floral dalliances."
He stared at her, frustration welling in his chest.
Yan Fuzhi continued, "And spare me your talk of devotion. When I lend you thirty thousand dan of grain this time, it’s not without expecting something in return."
Shen Zhishu’s face darkened. "What do you want?"
She replied lightly, "The previously discussed matter of private salt trade under the Chaoan North Circuit Tea and Horse Office."
Understanding dawned on him, and he frowned. "I cannot agree to that."
Yan Fuzhi shot him a sidelong glance. "Weren’t you the one who proposed allowing private merchants to trade in official salt? Why refuse me?" Not letting him interject, she added, "I’m not asking you to break any laws—just grant the Yan family half of the quota set by the Tea and Horse Office."
"Shen Zhishu," he said with mild irritation, "you certainly know how to seize an opportunity for profit."
Her eyes gleamed clearly. "So I hope Lord Shen won’t delude himself into thinking I’m lending you grain out of personal affection."
After a long pause, he conceded, "Very well. But this must be reported to His Majesty."
"As you wish," she said indifferently. "Rather than petitioning the Emperor to credit the Yan family, better ask him to grant us some tangible benefits."
For a moment, Shen Zhishu struggled to discern whether her dismissive attitude was genuine or feigned. Standing rigidly, he finally murmured, "Agreed." Then, meeting her gaze with a furrowed brow, he added, "In that case, I’ll await your family’s grain. Once the provisions transferred from the western Fengqing Route arrive, I’ll repay the Yan family in full."
Yan Fuzhi waved her sleeve toward the hall door. "Don’t let me keep you."
Without another word, he turned and strode out.
Watching him leave so decisively, her face fell instantly.
She sneered inwardly.
What nonsense about devotion! If he had even an ounce of genuine feeling, why hadn’t he visited her once in the six months since returning to Qing Province? He only came now because he needed something!
Then she cursed herself.
Why was she so weak? Even knowing his nature, she couldn’t bear to refuse his requests. She’d already been pondering the grain matter earlier that day—had he not come to plead tonight, she’d likely have sent someone to his office with supplies soon anyway!
The sharp edges of the shattered porcelain cups by the doorpost made her eyes sting.
Outside, the night wind swept up dust, howling after his lean, retreating figure.
Shen Zhishu’s spine went rigid with cold. As he walked, his expression hardened.
Before he returned to the capital to report on his duties, she had been so resolute and unyielding, outright refusing to accompany him or compromise her dignity for him.
He was not shameless; even upon returning to Qing Province, how could he pester her like some rogue?
He knew well that her family status didn’t match his.
And his visit to her residence tonight—was it truly just about borrowing grain?Were the wealthy merchants of Qing Province solely comprised of the Yan family, such that he couldn't borrow grain from others?
Undoubtedly, she intended to use this grain-borrowing opportunity to seek merit from the Emperor on behalf of her Yan family. If the Emperor were inclined, the Yan family might even receive titles and rewards.
But why should she care?
Enough. Regardless of his intentions, she would not accept it anyway.
Why should he continue to court such futility in the future?
·
The night wind at the foot of Mount Min was even more biting.
Outside the newly built camp, torches blazed brightly. A column of armored warhorses, bits in their mouths, slowly entered through the southern gate along the road. Behind them, ranks of soldiers surged like tides, their cold armor glinting ominously in the night.
A junior officer sprinted along the camp path, stopping only when he reached the central command post. Gasping for breath, he shouted outside the tent, "Report—!"
The tent flap was lifted from within, and Song Zhirui stepped out.
The junior officer immediately presented his military tally and said rapidly, "Reporting! The forces of Di Nian, Pacification Commissioner of the Northern Three Routes and General of the Left Gate Guard, have arrived south of the camp!"
Song Zhirui's face brightened. "Where is General Di?"
The junior officer replied, "He is outside the camp, supervising the entry of his troops."
Song Zhirui dismissed the officer with a wave, turned to fetch his horse, mounted in one swift motion, and galloped toward the southern gate. As he reached the southern wall of the camp, he spotted a figure on a black horse clad in silver armor standing by the roadside, a long spear cradled in his arm.
A faint smile touched his lips as he urged his horse forward to greet him. While still several yards away, he called out loudly, "General Di!"
Di Nian turned at the sound, squinting for a moment in the darkness before recognizing Song Zhirui. He smiled in return, "General Song." Then he guided his horse closer and added, "We had planned to arrive tomorrow morning, but we made better time on the road and ended up arriving tonight. I apologize for troubling your troops to welcome my men into the camp."
Having accompanied Meng Tinghui to Chao'an to quell the rebellion earlier, he was already acquainted with Song Zhirui. He knew well that this middle-aged officer from Qing Province camp was a capable commander, and their coordination during the major suppression of rebels outside Liuqi City had been seamless. Thus, upon learning that Cao Zixiong had dispatched Song Zhirui north from Qing Province to reinforce Mount Min, Di Nian had resolved to temporarily retain him under his command to assist with the northern campaign.
Song Zhirui sent someone to take over supervising the troops' entry and said to Di Nian with a smile, "General Di, your words humble me. Just the day before yesterday, General Luo Bitao arrived with twenty thousand troops from Qingzhou. I truly didn't expect your forces to travel so swiftly from Fenzhou to reach here."
Di Nian guided his horse into the camp, his expression darkening slightly. "With the Emperor's decree ahead, who in the army would dare to delay? The cost of war is immense. Each day of delay adds to the people's suffering. We must proceed as quickly as possible."
Song Zhirui escorted Di Nian all the way to the central command tent and sent someone to summon Luo Bitao before continuing, "I had thought that with you stationed in Fenzhou and the Jiankang Route rebels still unsubdued, you would send another general to Mount Min. I didn't expect you to lead the troops here personally."
Di Nian replied tersely, "Northern affairs take precedence."
He understood the Emperor's intent clearly. Only with a secure northern border could the various routes within the country remain safe. Compared to the remnant rebels of Zhongwan in the Jiankang Route, the aggressively advancing Northern Frontier army posed a far greater threat.
Although Song Zhirui had previously managed to repel the Northern Frontier forces north of Mount Min, this fell far short of the Emperor's expectations. The Privy Council's directive stated explicitly that he must drive the tens of thousands of Northern Frontier troops back within the Golden Gorge Pass—only then would he be considered without fault.Although the order was strict, he could understand the court's intentions.
When Luo Bitao arrived, Di Nian stood with his hands behind his back and asked Song Zhirui, "How many troops did the Northern Frontier army have when they launched that surprise attack on the Min Mountain camp earlier?"
Song Zhirui replied, "Approximately over thirty thousand men."
Di Nian pondered for a moment, "How many remnants remain now?"
Song Zhirui frowned, "Eighteen thousand, retreating and stationed north of Min Mountain."
Di Nian sneered, "It seems the Northern Bureau of the Ministry of War was deceived by these Northern Frontier barbarians. Their military reduction at the border must have been a bluff."
Song Zhirui sighed, "If Lord Dong hadn't previously transferred twenty thousand troops from the Min Mountain camp westward, my forces wouldn't have suffered such heavy losses this time."
"Rest assured," Di Nian said with a stern expression, "This time, our Great Peace will surely demand justice from the Northern Frontier!"
As they spoke, Luo Bitao lifted the tent flap and entered, promptly saluting Di Nian and Song Zhirui. "I didn't expect General Di to arrive tonight—I retired early."
"No matter," Di Nian had heard of this Qingzhou general's blunt and straightforward nature and smiled. "By rights, both of you generals are older than I and have served much longer in the Imperial Army. Though I am now humbly serving as the Northern Three Routes Pacification Commissioner, it is solely due to His Majesty's exceptional trust. Once we march north, should there be any merit, I dare not claim credit for myself. I will share both achievements and failures with you two generals, so as not to betray our camaraderie."
These words moved both men deeply. Song Zhirui added, "When I previously worked with General Di to quell the Liu Banner mutiny, I already knew his character. To stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you in resisting the enemy is a great fortune in my life. General Di hails from the Three Commands, and those in the Palace Guard Imperial Guards Cavalry all hold your name in high esteem. With you now overseeing northern affairs, we will certainly follow your lead."
Di Nian naturally understood that the respect he commanded from the border route Imperial Army was not solely due to his appointment as Pacification Commissioner by the Emperor, but also because he was the heir of the late Duke of Wuguo. This was why these seasoned Imperial Army generals were willing to follow his orders.
Given this, how could he betray the Emperor's favor, the Di family name, or the millions of troops in the Great Peace Imperial Army!
Song Zhirui turned and walked to the massive military defense map hanging in the tent. "In my opinion, it would be best to wait until provisions and armor are fully prepared, then dispatch thirty thousand troops northward from Min Mountain to swiftly besiege the Northern Frontier army's encampment."
Luo Bitao thought for a moment and raised an eyebrow, "What does General Song mean?"
Song Zhirui glanced at both men. "If the Northern Frontier wants to save these eighteen thousand troops, they must divert forces from elsewhere, and the nearest is at Tingzhou. If the Northern Frontier withdraws troops besieging Tingzhou to reinforce the east, the siege of Tingzhou can be lifted, and our defending forces can advance north into their border. If the Northern Frontier does not move their Tingzhou troops, we will attack their eighteen thousand. The Northern Frontier already lost nearly half their forces in the previous battle with General Song's troops. Seeing our thirty thousand troops advancing together, they certainly won't dare to stay and fight. If they flee to Golden Gorge Pass, we will split our forces westward to join Tingzhou's defenders in annihilating the Northern Frontier's western army."
Di Nian concentrated deeply and said, "This stratagem of feinting east and striking west is a common Northern Frontier tactic—they likely won't fall for it this time. The Northern Frontier army stationed north of Min Mountain only has eighteen thousand troops, yet they haven't retreated. They must be waiting for reinforcements. If our siege fails and their reinforcements arrive, the situation will likely become deadlocked, and the outcome will be hard to predict."Luo Bitao nodded, "General Di's words are quite reasonable. What brilliant insight does the General have?"
Di Nian approached Song Zhirui, pressing his hand on Tingzhou on the map. "In my opinion, we should directly dispatch ten thousand troops to Tingzhou. The Northern Frontier's western army besieging Tingzhou is employing the 'lure the tiger from the mountain' tactic—Tingzhou holds no strategic value for them. If they see us transferring additional forces from Minshan to Tingzhou, they'll either retreat behind the passes or merge with their northern encampment at Minshan. Then our main forces would split: the Minshan base holds position while the ten thousand troops sent to Tingzhou turn northward," his finger slid upward and tapped lightly, "to sever the Northern Frontier's supply route."
"Brilliant!" Luo Bitao exclaimed in admiration. "If we cut off the supply line north of Minshan, their northern army stationed there will be easily crushed by us!"
Di Nian lowered his voice, "If the Northern Frontier forces besieging Tingzhou remain unmoved, I'll order the Linhuai route troops to directly assault their border at Zizhou, creating enough disruption. Meanwhile, we'll mobilize the western Imperial Army routes. Once our main forces arrive, we'll press the Northern Frontier army with our full border strength, forcing their retreat behind the passes."
Song Zhirui nodded with a faint smile. "The General's considerations are indeed more thorough than mine." He paused, his gaze shifting to the Jiankang route area, expression turning grave. "It's unfortunate the Jiankang route is experiencing bandit troubles now. If we could mobilize those tens of thousands of Imperial Army troops currently suppressing bandits there, we wouldn't be so passive."
Di Nian also frowned. "The court has issued proclamants for bandit suppression—the people will rise against them. Before departing Fenzhou, I ordered Guo Ming to dispatch more troops south to clear the bandits, with reports every three days. However, these roaming bandits pose negligible threat compared to the Northern Frontier wolves. Once northern matters are settled, the bandit scourge will naturally perish."
·
The capital remained restless through the night.
With the Ministry of Rites examination results for the Female Scholar Examination announced during the day, the entire city buzzed with celebratory atmosphere. This final palace examination for female scholars naturally attracted exceptional attention, momentarily making the capital's residents forget the distant northern border conflicts.
Ministry of Rites affairs concluded well past 9 PM.
Shen Zhili was organizing her bookcase when something slipped from her robes as she bent over.
Picking it up, she recognized the thin peachwood piece Di Nian had given her on their wedding night, her heart tightening instinctively.
Nearly twenty days had passed without news from the north.
No letters had arrived via post horses either.
The slender red cord on the peachwood piece had frayed through. Holding it in her palm for closer inspection, she realized how long he must have carried this token.
Candlelight flickered across the desk, wispy smoke curling upward.
Memories surfaced vaguely—that spring night when she first met him.
Her brother had accompanied the Crown Prince to Suiyang in the western capital on official business, returning with an additional youth in tow.
He couldn't tear his eyes away upon seeing her, only looking away awkwardly after she glared at him several times.
From then on, he became a constant presence in her life.
Joining the Imperial Guard Platoon, then the Imperial Army, eventually entering the elite Shenwei Cavalry—the finest among the three commanderies.
Even her mother remarked that Di Nian was born for military service.
That summer when he went riding and archery with her brother, she became fascinated by his gilded longbow. He came running over sweating profusely, grinning foolishly as he said, "Zhili, this bow was my mother's... I—I'll definitely give you an even better one someday."
Whenever he obtained novel trinkets during military service, he'd rush to show her: "Zhili, look at this! Do you like it? Can I give it to you?"During a cavalry drill of the Imperial Army, someone accidentally injured him; blood seeped through his armor on his right chest. She saw it but laughed heartlessly, saying, "Who told you to be so unskilled in martial arts?" He actually laughed along, his thick eyebrows raised high in the sunlight. "Zhili, your smile is truly beautiful. I really love seeing you laugh."
Zhili, Zhili, Zhili...
Zhili, how deeply I love you.
Zhili, believe me, I will surely treat you well for a lifetime.
...
In this quiet depth of night, these memories suddenly surged forth from the depths of her mind, knocking on the door of her heart without the slightest warning.
She abruptly shed tears.
Then wept uncontrollably.
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