The Prisoner of Beauty

The region where Xihe Commandery borders Shang Commandery, Huangshui, and Liangzhou is a complex and volatile area, with the forces of Feng Zhao, the Inspector of Liangzhou, the Shaodang Qiang, the Beihe Qiang, and other Qiang tribes interlocking like a dog's teeth. To the north, it connects with the Xiongnu, making the situation intricate and often leading to chaotic battles.

Since seizing Bingzhou last year, the first thing Wei Shao did was to deploy troops to the wilderness of Xihe, constructing stockaded villages and establishing communication routes spanning twenty li. He also left Zhang Jian, Li Chong, and Wei Liang to guard the area, demonstrating his strong determination to pacify this region.

Originally, the situation had been brought under control, and from mid-last year to the end of the year, the area remained peaceful. Unexpectedly, at the beginning of this year, the Shaodang Qiang took the initiative to attack, launching a cavalry assault on Shang Commandery. Due to constant vigilance, they were quickly repelled, and no significant losses were incurred. However, suspicions arose that Feng Zhao of Liangzhou was involved behind the scenes, prompting Wei Shao to personally come from Youzhou to oversee the situation.

A few days ago, after completing the defense arrangements in Xihe, Wei Shao intended to return to Jinyang. Before leaving, concerned about the situation, he took only a small group of close attendants and went to inspect the terrain near the Great Wall in Jingbian. There, he unexpectedly encountered several hundred of Feng Zhao's men, and arrows rained down upon them.

Fearing for Gongsun Yang's safety, Wei Shao prioritized his retreat but was accidentally struck in the arm by a poison crossbow. Upon returning, he took to his bed.

And so, he remained bedridden for seven or eight days.

At night, the wilderness on both sides of Xihe was pitch black, and the stockaded village was eerily silent. Only the monotonous footsteps of patrolling soldiers walking on the wooden planks of the defensive walls could be heard.

Inside Wei Shao's tent, candles burned brightly.

Zhang Jian, Li Chong, Wei Liang, and other generals who had come to visit had already left. Wei Shao's complexion was slightly paler than usual, but his spirits were high. He was not lying down; instead, he sat upright behind his desk, still engaged in a candlelit conversation with Gongsun Yang.

On the desk before him was spread out a three-foot-square, finely drawn sheepskin map.

Wei Shao's gaze fell on the map, and as Gongsun Yang spoke eloquently, a promising vision of the future of this region once again unfolded before his eyes.

By eliminating Feng Zhao, who had long been Xing Xun's lackey, and pacifying Hexi, they could open a route to Yumen in the west, establishing a connection with the Western Regions.

Most importantly, to the north, they could sever the communication links between the Qiang and the Xiongnu.

From a military perspective, this was the key.

Only by eliminating the threats from the rear could he freely deploy troops to the south without hesitation.

"...Why are the Liangzhou troops so fierce? Among them, twenty thousand are Qiang barbarian soldiers who were lured into service."

Gongsun Yang spoke with conviction.

"Thirty years ago, when Li Gong served as the Protector of the Qiang Commandant, many Qiang tribes, including the Shaodang, admired his authority and were persuaded to surrender, numbering in the hundreds of thousands. Longxi also enjoyed peace for several decades. Unfortunately, Li Gong was later slandered by treacherous officials and died unjustly in a government prison. History also records, 'The Qiang value honest officials. Previously, eight commandants were greedy for wealth, causing suffering. Only when Li Gong upheld integrity did his authority and influence spread widely.' This shows that the Qiang inherently admire loyalty and bravery and respect incorruptible officials. However, after being relocated inland, their customs diverged, and their language became a barrier, making them incompatible with the Han people. Mutual distrust already existed, and since Li Gong's time, the Protectors of the Qiang Commandant appointed by the court have been mere figureheads. Not only did they fail to fulfill their duties of leading and protecting, but they also sowed discord and were insatiably greedy, leading to intense conflicts, frequent rebellions, and even joint raids on commanderies and counties."

Wei Shao listened intently throughout."The immediate priority for you, my Lord, is to stabilize the border. If the Qiang people can be pacified, it is best to do so, as winning their hearts is the fundamental solution. Once the Qiang are loyal, Feng Zhao will no longer be a threat. Without Feng Zhao, Xing Xun will lose a crucial ally in the Liangzhou troops. What is there to fear from him then?"

Gongsun Yang continued, "Currently, the Qiang and Hu tribes are dominated by the Shaodang and Beihe clans. The Shaodang are militarily strong, but the leader of the Beihe Tribe is highly respected and revered by the Qiang people along the Huangshui River. Last month's attack on Shangjun was carried out by the Shaodang; the Beihe were not involved. My Lord, you should start with the Beihe. If you trust me, I am willing to go to the Beihe on your behalf to convey your goodwill. Once the Beihe submit, the other Qiang tribes—Ruo, Canlang, Zhong—will surely follow suit. As for the Shaodang, even if they refuse to surrender, how could they withstand your military might?"

Wei Shao immediately shook his head, "Your plan is excellent, Master, but there is no need for you to take such a risk. I can send another envoy."

Gongsun Yang replied, "My Lord, you have already risked your life for my humble self. Fortunately, you are blessed by heaven, or else I would be eternally remorseful! This is merely a trip to the Huangshui River to deliver a few words. Where is the risk in that? I cannot trust others to go. For the sake of your grand plan, I beg you to allow me to go."

As Wei Shao hesitated, Gongsun Yang smiled and added, "Once the Qiang and Hu are subdued, my Lord, you can appoint a trusted person as the Protector of the Qiang Commandant, tasked with maintaining order, resolving grievances, and addressing the people's hardships. With the western border secure, your ambitions can flourish. In the future, your influence could even extend to the Western Regions!"

A glimmer of determination flashed in Wei Shao's eyes as he smiled and said, "In that case, I will trouble you, Military Advisor!"

Gongsun Yang replied, "This is my duty. There is no trouble in it!"

Wei Shao's emotions stirred. He pressed his hands on the table and stood up abruptly, saying, "If the pacification succeeds, I will credit you with a great merit!"

Before he could finish, he felt a slight dizziness and swayed momentarily. Though he quickly steadied himself and continued to speak cheerfully, Gongsun Yang had already noticed. He hurriedly rose to support him, saying, "It is getting late. My Lord, your health has not fully recovered. It would be best for you to rest early. I shall take my leave now."

Wei Shao pushed away the hand that reached out to support him and laughed, "I am not a woman who would collapse from a gust of wind. It was just a minor flesh wound, and it has been days since then. Why are you all so worried? I am already healed, but you all keep fussing over me, forbidding me from doing this and that..."

Suddenly, as if remembering something, he said, "Since there is nothing urgent here for now, I will set off for Jinyang tomorrow! If anything urgent arises, send a Meteor Swift Horse to report to me."

Seeing Gongsun Yang about to speak again, he waved his hand to cut him off, "Military Advisor, there is no need to persuade me further. I know my own body best. Besides, the journey from here to Jinyang is convenient. I will depart early tomorrow morning."

...

Ever since the Lord returned after being struck by a poisoned arrow, he had been bedridden for three days. From the moment he could walk, he had been eager to return to Jinyang.

Naturally, Gongsun Yang did everything in his power to stop him.

He had some knowledge of medicine and knew that the Lord's current condition made long journeys particularly dangerous. He earnestly advised him to rest and recuperate.After much effort, he finally managed to calm him down. Seeing that he was now insisting on returning to Jinyang, Wei Shao couldn't help but sigh inwardly. He said, "There's something I need to tell you, my Lord. Please don't be upset."

Wei Shao looked at him and asked, "What is it that I should be upset about?"

Gongsun Yang replied, "My Lord, while you are recovering from your injury, it would be best to have someone attentive to take care of you. This way, you can recover more quickly. However, there is no suitable person in the camp to provide such care. I know that the Lady should have already arrived in Jinyang by now, so I took the liberty of sending a letter to Jinyang a few days ago, informing her of your condition and requesting her to come and attend to you. If she sets out after receiving the letter, I estimate she should arrive within a day or two. Therefore, my Lord, there's no need for you to return. Please wait patiently. Otherwise, if the Lady arrives and you are not here, you might miss each other."

Wei Shao was taken aback and hesitated for a long time before saying, "This... this... might not be appropriate. There are seventeen military regulations with fifty-four punishable offenses, and one of them states that women are not allowed in the camp. Although I am the commander, I cannot break this rule myself..."

Gongsun Yang said seriously, "My Lord, why do you say that? The Lady is not an ordinary woman. Besides, you are not inviting her into the camp without reason. You are injured and poisoned, and you need her careful attention to recover quickly. How can this be considered breaking the rules? Generals Zhang, Li, and Wei are also hoping that the Lady will come soon to take care of your injury."

Wei Shao's heart was already leaping with joy, but he put on an even more serious expression. After pretending to be troubled for a moment, he finally said reluctantly, "I still feel it's inappropriate, but since the military advisor has already sent the letter without my knowledge, I have no choice..."

Suddenly, he remembered something and asked, "Will there be any danger on the road?"

Gongsun Yang quickly reassured him, "My Lord, don't worry! Besides sending the letter to the Lady, I also sent a message to Jia Huben. With Jia Huben escorting her, there will be no danger on the road!"

Wei Shao finally felt completely at ease and nodded solemnly, "I understand. You've worked hard today, sir. Please return to your tent and rest early."

...

After Gongsun Yang left, Wei Shao had no intention of sleeping. Lying on the camp bed, he tossed and turned, feeling more awake the longer he lay there. Eventually, he got up and sat behind his desk to read military texts.

His eyes were fixed on the characters on the bamboo slips, but a Brave Soul slowly began to drift out of his consciousness.

He knew she had already arrived in Jinyang.

Before he was injured, the reason he hadn't returned earlier was not only because he was busy with affairs here but also because he felt somewhat insecure.

After all, she had been unwilling to come in the first place, and he had forced her to come because he didn't feel comfortable leaving her alone at home.

Now, although he had unexpectedly been injured and had been lying in bed for days, still feeling dizzy, there was a silver lining—she was coming of her own accord.

For the first time, Wei Shao felt that Gongsun Yang was truly an indispensable right-hand man. Taking that arrow to save him had been worth it.

Wei Shao began to think about how he should behave when she arrived.

Should he tell her that he was already fine and that she didn't need to worry about him anymore, or should he put on a show to win her sympathy?

This decision was incredibly difficult. It was even harder than planning military strategies and arranging troops.

Wei Shao pondered for a long time, but before he could resolve this dilemma, another thought suddenly popped into his mind.In fact, could it be that she still harbored resentment towards him, and thus, despite knowing he was injured, she hardened her heart and ignored his plight?

Wei Shao was then unsettled by this new thought that emerged in his mind.

If she truly had such a hardened heart, knowing he was poisoned and injured yet still ignored his life or death, then...

Then she shouldn't expect him to be lenient with the Qiao family! When he felt like it and decided to take action, she shouldn't come crying and begging for mercy!

Wei Shao made a fierce resolution. Since the beginning of the year, just because he had drunk too much that night and told her to sever ties with the Qiao family, she had been giving him the cold shoulder, let alone actively accompanying him to bed.

He increasingly felt that Gongsun Yang's letter might have been written in vain.

The initial excitement, surprise, and anticipation in Wei Shao's heart, like the tide after ebb, slowly receded, and he finally felt somewhat annoyed, unable to focus on the military texts.

He truly felt a bit tired.

Dealing with this woman, he was physically exhausted, and even more so mentally.

Outside his tent, there suddenly came a series of hurried footsteps from afar, mixed with a few deliberately lowered voices.

...

The morning after Xiao Qiao received the letter, she had Jia Si escort her to Xihe Commandery. Despite the hardships, they rushed all the way and finally arrived here overnight.

Just now, the carriage stopped outside the camp gate. She was cloaked and stepped down from the carriage.

The centurion in charge of the camp gate had been instructed by Gongsun Yang beforehand, knowing that the lady might arrive these days, and immediately granted her passage, personally leading her inside, swiftly heading towards the central command tent.

Anxious, Xiao Qiao followed the centurion into the military camp, passing by one tent after another, and finally stopped in front of the large tent.

"Reporting to the Lord! The lady has arrived!"

The centurion announced.

There was no immediate response from inside.

Xiao Qiao, in her urgency, directly lifted the tent flap and entered.

The candles in the tent were still lit.

As soon as she looked up, she saw Wei Shao lying on a camp bed, motionless, as if he had fallen asleep. She hurried over. As she approached, she slowed her steps, and finally sat down gently beside him, holding her breath to observe him. Seeing him lying obediently on the pillow, eyes closed, his face somewhat pale, a far cry from his usual annoying demeanor, she felt a pang of heartache and couldn't help but gently grasp one of his hands.