Legend of the Female General

Chapter 257: Request for Campaign

On the third day of the second month, the Fourth Prince Guang Shuo ascended the throne. The new emperor continued using the "Qingyuan" era name of the Hezong reign and adopted the honorific title "Zhaokang."

After Emperor Zhaokang's accession, he rejected the Wutuo People's plea for peace, thoroughly investigated and purged the remaining faction of Xu Xiang, posthumously honored Wei Xuanzhang, the head of the Virtuous Prosperity Academy, with the posthumous title "Wenzheng." The truth of the Singing Water case was revealed to the world.

Xu Jingfu had controlled the court for so many years, colluding with the Crown Prince to exploit the people. Now that Emperor Zhaokang had taken the throne, none of those who had followed the Crown Prince from Xu's faction would be spared.

The only exception was likely Xu Jingfu's proud disciple, the Chu Fourth Young Master from the Shi Jinbo estate. Not long ago, Emperor Zhaokang granted Chu Zilan's request to resign from office. After resigning, Chu Zilan left the Chu family and disappeared from Shuojing City. It was said someone had seen him once at a post station outside the city—he had likely left Shuojing, but where he went, no one knew. However, no one saw that stunningly beautiful maid by his side either.

In the courtyard, Qingmei was feeding Er Mao cooked bones from a bowl.

He Yan watched their harmonious scene, somewhat dazed.

"You wouldn't want to gnaw on that bone too, would you?" someone beside her asked, with a hint of teasing.

He Yan snapped back to reality and saw Xiao Jue walking in from outside. He had left early in the morning—the Fourth Prince... now Emperor Zhaokang—had been frequently summoning him since ascending the throne.

He Yan understood the Fourth Prince's intentions. With remnants of the Crown Prince's faction still in court, Xiao Jue and Yan He were the ones Emperor Zhaokang had decided to heavily rely on.

This should have been good news, yet He Yan felt uneasy.

"Something on your mind?" Xiao Jue raised an eyebrow.

"After the Emperor's accession, things seem to have settled," He Yan looked up at the sky. "But those Wutuo People probably won't give up easily. Having schemed for so many years, colluding with the Crown Prince and Xu Jingfu from within, now that the Crown Prince and Xu Jingfu have fallen, would they really accept it? You know as well—generation after generation, when a new emperor ascends, it's the most dangerous time."

During power transitions, the throne is still unstable, especially when court officials have differing loyalties, making it easiest for others to exploit. He Yan had dealt with those Wutuo People before, and by all appearances, they didn't seem like the type to willingly retreat.

"I know," Xiao Jue said calmly.

He Yan looked at him. "How did the Emperor handle those Wutuo envoys?"

"Previously, the Crown Prince released them. Now some have been captured, but news must have reached Wutuo."

"You mean they'll act soon?"

Xiao Jue gave a slight smile. "Exactly."

He Yan sighed silently. Though she was a military officer, she didn't like war. War meant bloodshed and sacrifice, countless families torn apart. Especially at this critical juncture.

And...

She glanced at the man beside her. His gaze rested on the lively yellow dog playing in the courtyard, a faint smile curling his lips.

This was a rare moment of peace.

Forget it, she swallowed the words on the tip of her tongue. After a moment, she reached out and took Xiao Jue's arm, speaking earnestly, "Xiao Jue, I want braised pigeon for dinner tonight."

"..."

...

Peaceful days were always exceptionally brief.

Less than ten days after Emperor Zhaokang's accession, the Wutuo People launched a massive military assault against Great Wei, advancing northward along the Xing River.

The war between the Wutuo People and Great Wei, after decades of preparation, had finally begun.Within just three days, the cities of Nine Rivers, Ji County, Yunzi, and Bing River fell to the Wutuo People due to insufficient defenses and deliberate arrangements by the Crown Prince's faction. After breaching the city gates, the Wutuo People carried out widespread massacres. According to survivors who managed to escape, corpses piled up like mountains along the riverbanks, staining the waters crimson with blood.

Emperor Zhaokang was furious and immediately ordered troops to suppress the enemy. However, after years of prioritizing civil affairs over military matters in Great Wei, few capable commanders remained aside from General Feng Yun and the Flying Goose General. At present, the Flying Goose General He Rufei was an imposter, and the command of the Pacify Yue Army had been returned to the imperial family.

When Emperor Zhaokang asked in court who was willing to lead troops to quell the rebellion, only the Loyal and Virtuous General Yan He and the Right Army Commander Xiao Jue stepped forward. To be precise, it wasn't that no one else was willing—some veteran generals were eager to take up arms once more. Unfortunately, they were simply too old to return to the battlefield.

The bitter consequences of the Great Wei imperial family's long indulgence in comfort finally revealed themselves at this moment.

In the Golden Luan Hall, Emperor Zhaokang gazed at the civil and military officials below the steps, his expression dark as water, and sighed, "My lords are incapable of protecting the rivers and mountains of Great Wei."

Amid the silence, someone stepped forward, her voice clear and bright. "Your Majesty, I am willing to lead the Pacify Yue Army to Nine Rivers to resist the enemy."

The woman in crimson court robes stood in the hall, appearing exceptionally tall and heroic. She raised her head to look at the emperor on the high throne, her gaze pure and resolute.

This was the Marquis of Wu'an, He Yan, also the wife of General Feng Yun.

Emperor Zhaokang paused slightly.

In the struggle against the Crown Prince, the Xiao family had ultimately sided with him. Xiao Jue was also clever, never directly involving himself. Emperor Zhaokang intended to employ Xiao Jue but could not grant him too much power. After much thought, he finally promoted He Yan.

After all, He Yan was a woman, and now she held only a marquis title. Promoting He Yan served both as a reward to Xiao Jue and prevented the Xiao family's power from growing to a disquieting extent. As the current Empress Dowager once said, one should not underestimate women. Promoting He Yan, in a way, also served as a check on Xiao Jue.

But Emperor Zhaokang truly had not expected He Yan to step forward at this moment.

He instinctively glanced at Xiao Jue, hoping to catch some emotion on his face. Unfortunately, the renowned Right Army Commander of Great Wei remained calm and composed, showing no ripple of emotion.

Did he already know about this? But if he knew, why hadn't he mentioned it privately beforehand instead of waiting until now?

He Yan bowed and said, "I have engaged the Wutuo People several times and boldly request Your Majesty's permission to lead troops to Nine Rivers."

In terms of experience against the Wutuo People, she indeed had some—whether in Jiyang or Rundu—which was why Emperor Wenxuan had promoted her back then. But as for leading troops into battle...

Before Emperor Zhaokang could speak, a civil official interjected, "Marquis of Wu'an, you are merely a woman. How can you lead troops to resist the enemy?"

"Your Excellency may have forgotten," He Yan replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "the Flying Goose General, who once awed the four seas, was originally a woman."

The minister was left speechless.

Indeed, the true Flying Goose General had been a woman.

After a long silence, Emperor Zhaokang said, "This matter is of great importance. I cannot decide arbitrarily. Allow me to consider it before making a decision."

He looked toward Xiao Jue.Up to this point, Emperor Zhaokang still could not be sure whether Xiao Jue knew of He Yan's intentions. If Xiao Jue also supported He Yan's decision, he would surely come to seek him out privately. If Xiao Jue were to speak up, Emperor Zhaokang would consider agreeing. After all, if He Yan truly lacked the capability, the Right Army Commander of Great Wei would hardly let his own wife march to her death.

Of course, the most crucial point was, as Consort Lan had said, Great Wei had run out of capable people. Excellent commanders skilled in leading troops into battle were few and far between. Even if He Yan did not go, who else could?

He inwardly smiled bitterly, feeling the weight of the bright yellow dragon crown upon his head.

...

After the court session ended, He Yan followed Xiao Jue as they walked out, when Yan He unexpectedly caught up from behind.

He called out to He Yan, "Hey, are you really planning to lead troops to Nine Rivers?"

"What of it?" He Yan, preoccupied with her thoughts, replied absentmindedly, her gaze fixed on Xiao Jue's back ahead.

Yan He followed her gaze forward, thought for a moment, and asked, "Does Xiao Huaijin not know about what happened in court today?"

He Yan remained silent.

"He Yan, you're truly something," Yan He understood, looking at her in amazement. "No wonder Xiao Huaijin seemed so angry. You didn't even discuss such a major matter with him, going for the 'act first, report later' approach? Impressive. If you can even anger Xiao Huaijin like this, it seems that even if you really go to Nine Rivers, those Wutuo People won't be a match for you." He made as if to pat He Yan's shoulder but, halfway through, likely remembered she was a woman, and withdrew his hand. Looking at He Yan with a hint of schadenfreude, he said, "Xiao Huaijin is this angry, Marquis of Wu'an, good luck to you." With that, he flicked his sleeve and strode ahead.

He Yan, having been berated by Yan He like this, wasn't angry. Today's events—she hadn't discussed them with Xiao Jue and had directly requested to lead the campaign in the Golden Luan Hall—likely had angered Xiao Jue. However... there were many concerns, and she truly didn't know how to broach the subject with him.

By now, Xiao Jue had already walked toward the Xiao family's carriage outside the palace. He Yan hurried to catch up, entering the carriage herself and sitting beside him. As the coachman drove the carriage back to the Xiao Manor, she occasionally glanced at the person beside her. Xiao Jue's expression was calm, but the calmer he seemed, the more He Yan could sense his anger.

He Yan remained silent; she still needed to think about how to explain.

When the carriage stopped at the entrance of Xiao Manor, Xiao Jue got off first and walked inside without looking back. He Yan jumped down after him. Perhaps the atmosphere inside the carriage had been too stifling, the kind coachman even reminded He Yan, "Young Madam, the young master seems in a bad mood today. Perhaps you should comfort him."

He Yan smiled, "I certainly will."

As she followed Xiao Jue into Xiao Manor and returned to their courtyard, Qingmei was sunning quilts in the yard. Seeing He Yan, she happily called out, "Young Madam—"

"Shh." He Yan made a silencing gesture and trailed after Xiao Jue into the room.

As soon as she entered and closed the door behind her, she met Xiao Jue's cool gaze.

Without a word, He Yan went over and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Calm down first."

Xiao Jue stood in the room, unmoving as she held him, and said coldly, "Don't use the same trick every time."

Though it lacked novelty, it worked—that was what mattered. He Yan thought to herself. She didn't want to use this trick every time either, but if Young Master Xiao fell for it, what else could she do?"Let me explain," He Yan said earnestly, clutching tightly at the belt of the person before her. "I wanted to tell you, but every time I tried, it felt like it would ruin the mood. So I kept putting it off until today. Let me make this clear—I absolutely did not act first and report later. Even if I had, it would have been to the Emperor, not to you. Today, I was afraid that if I didn’t speak up, the Emperor might appoint someone else to lead the troops, so I had to speak first. Xiao Jue," she lifted her head to look at him, "I really didn’t mean to."

Xiao Jue avoided her gaze, his tone cool. "Miss He, even when you lie now, you’re so perfunctory?"

The fact that he used the words "Miss He" showed he was truly angry. He Yan’s heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly said, "Xiao Jue, as the commanding general, how can you jump to conclusions? I really didn’t lie to you."

She had indeed intended to speak, but during these peaceful days, seeing Xiao Jue so rarely relaxed, she couldn’t bring herself to bring it up.

"Alright, I was a bit hesitant," He Yan admitted honestly, seeing that the Second Young Master Xiao’s attitude remained icy. "I... I didn’t know how to tell you."

She released her grip on his belt, lowering her head like a child who had done something wrong, staring at her own toes, her tone hesitant. "With the Wutuo People in such chaos, you’re leading troops to Yunzi, which is in a different direction from Nine Rivers. If I take the initiative to request permission from the Emperor to lead the expedition, and he agrees, I’ll have to lead troops alone to Nine Rivers."

"You’d definitely worry."

She glanced at Xiao Jue’s expression, noticing he was looking down at her. Her eyes brightened, but he quickly turned his head away. Sensing an opportunity, He Yan grabbed his hand, looked up at him with affection, and said tenderly, "Since marrying you, I’ve realized that no other man in Shuojing City is as considerate and attentive as you. As a husband, you’re truly one of a kind, and you’d surely worry about a delicate wife like me being alone out there. If I really led troops to Nine Rivers, you’d miss me and worry about me every day. You might even lock me in the house. A fragile woman like me, hidden away from the sun..."

She was rambling again. Xiao Jue was both amused and exasperated, glancing at her. "Lock you in the house?" he scoffed. "There’s no such thing as a delicate wife who can punch through a door lock."

"You misunderstand me," He Yan pointed to her chest. "Even though I may look strong and imposing, my heart is fragile. For example, when you were angry just now, I was very sad. My heart was broken."

Her shameless words flowed effortlessly now, leaving Xiao Jue speechless. After a long pause, he finally spoke in a neutral tone, "Do you think I would disagree with you leading troops to Nine Rivers?"

He Yan remained silent.

His gaze fixed on the woman before him, a flicker of anger in his eyes, mingled with a hint of barely perceptible helplessness. Finally, he turned away. "If you had told me directly, I wouldn’t have stopped you."

He Yan watched his retreating figure, her earlier playful demeanor fading as she whispered, "I thought if it were you, you’d want me to go with you to Yunzi..."

"Nine Rivers is near Mo County. You’re familiar with the terrain there, so naturally, you’d prefer to lead the Pacify Yue Army to Nine Rivers," Xiao Jue’s voice was calm. "In Yunzi, you wouldn’t be able to fully utilize your strengths."

He Yan was taken aback. He turned around, his gaze meeting hers.Clear, candid, and transparent as a mirror, it reflected all her thoughts.

He had known all along.

He Yan paused, then wrapped her arms around the person before her again, murmuring, "How do you know everything..."

She did indeed prefer to go to Nine Rivers. She had never been to Yunzi before, and if she went to Yunzi with Xiao Jue, Emperor Zhaokang would inevitably assign another general to Nine Rivers. But no one was more familiar with Nine Rivers than she was—not out of arrogance, but it could even be said that no one understood better than she did how to win battles there.

At present, Great Wei had no one else to rely on. The situation at Bing River was slightly more stable, while Nine Rivers, Ji County, and Yunzi were in the worst state. Though she was confident in her own abilities, concern could cloud judgment. Xiao Jue was now her husband, and he might not be willing to let her lead troops alone into dangerous territory.

Just as Madam Xiao had always tried to stop Xiao Zhongwu back then.

"I've said it before," Xiao Jue's voice came from above her head, "do what you want to do, as long as you can accomplish it."

He Yan looked up and asked, "Do you believe I can do it?"

He snorted lightly, "Is there anything General He cannot do?"

He Yan looked at his awkward expression and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

What she had thought would be difficult to explain had now been made clear in just a few words. He treated her with such immense tolerance that He Yan even felt some of her own considerations and worries seemed laughable.

"However, the Emperor may not directly give me command of the troops." He Yan's smile faded as soon as it appeared, as she suddenly remembered another matter.

After all, in the eyes of outsiders, even her title as Marquis of Wu'an was partly due to Xiao Jue's influence. Even in Jiyang and Rundu, there were Xiao Jue and Li Kuang—she had never led troops alone in battle. If command were directly handed to her, outsiders might not be convinced.

"I will go to the palace to see the Emperor. The command of the Pacify Yue Army should be entrusted to you," Xiao Jue said. "But how to earn the trust of those under your command will depend entirely on you."

"Are you serious?" He Yan suddenly grew excited.

She had plenty of ways to earn the trust of her subordinates. If Xiao Jue could persuade Emperor Zhaokang, this matter would be set in stone.

"The Emperor didn't give you a direct answer today because he was waiting to see my stance," he said, a slight smile curling at the corner of his lips. "He doesn't trust you, but he trusts me. If I vouch for you, he will believe in your ability to lead troops."

"With so much turmoil at hand, isn't the Emperor afraid that giving me command of the troops will concentrate too much power in our hands, posing a threat to him?" He Yan joked casually. At this critical juncture, whoever held military power held the advantage. Although the Crown Prince was no longer around and no one in the royal family posed an immediate threat to Emperor Zhaokang, generals accumulating too much merit... had never been a cause for celebration throughout history.

"Elder Brother and Sister-in-law are still in the capital. Besides, Sister-in-law is already carrying the Xiao family's heir. For the next few years, the Emperor won't suspect the Xiao family."

Another weight lifted from He Yan's heart, but... she looked at the person before her and asked, "I have one more question. You said the Emperor wants you to vouch for me. Xiao Jue, do you believe I can defeat those Wutuo people?"

As if finding her question utterly ridiculous, Xiao Jue couldn't help but laugh. He tilted his head noncommittally and lazily replied, "In all the heavens and the earth, who wouldn't bow in defeat at the sight of you?"Though the words were teasing and almost mocking, the tone carried a pride that seemed to share in the glory.

He Yan was quite pleased to hear this. She stood on her tiptoes, leaned close to Xiao Jue’s ear, and whispered softly, "Likewise, Commander Xiao."

"I also believe you will continue to achieve victory and triumph."

(End of Chapter)