The Prisoner of Beauty

"How many troops does Yang Xin have? A hundred thousand! And how many does that refugee leader have? At most, half that number! And they're nothing but a ragtag mob! Xiaqiu still has Xue An's Xuzhou troops! How could he possibly lose a battle like this?"

Wei Shao abruptly stood up, clasping his hands behind his back, and began pacing back and forth in front of the table. The sound of his footsteps echoed sharply through the room.

"Go ask him—just how many more troops does he need from me before he can finally crush that refugee leader for me?"

He suddenly stopped and turned around, his tone icy with fury.

Gongsun Yang was somewhat taken aback.

Yang Xin had failed to suppress Bi Zhi as the Lord had hoped, and worse, had lost the strategic territory of Xiaodi. Upon receiving the battle report, Gongsun Yang had anticipated the Lord’s displeasure.

What surprised him, however, was the intensity of the Lord’s reaction.

Having advised Wei Shao since he was seventeen, Gongsun Yang had witnessed countless battles, large and small, and setbacks in campaigns were not unheard of.

Yet even in the face of the greatest defeats, he had rarely seen the Lord erupt in such fury.

Moreover, while Xiaodi was indeed important, its loss would not significantly alter the broader strategic landscape in the Huainan region—so long as Xue An’s forces remained stable.

The Lord’s reaction seemed excessive.

Gongsun Yang quickly interjected, "My lord, please calm your anger. Yang Xin was merely careless, allowing Bi Zhi to slip away. And though Bi Zhi rose to power by rallying refugees, I’ve heard he is not only exceptionally fierce and brave but also adept at military leadership. He has gained considerable popular support along the Huai River, with countless followers flocking to his banner. My lord should not underestimate him." Having said this, he looked at Wei Shao.

Wei Shao stood with his back to Gongsun Yang, his right hand gripping the hilt of his sword. The blade was already half-drawn, its cold steel glinting. After a moment, with a sharp clang, he sheathed it again, slowly loosening his grip before turning around.

"Send a message on my behalf to Yang Xin. Tell him to spare no cost and retake Xiaodi as soon as possible, then confine that refugee leader to Lingbi..." He paused briefly. "Lingbi must not fall into his hands either! Drive him out at all costs! If he requires additional resources or manpower, inform me!"

Gongsun Yang hesitated before speaking cautiously, "My lord, there is something I wish to say, though I’m uncertain if it’s appropriate."

"If you have something to say, speak freely."

Wei Shao’s earlier anger seemed to have subsided as he settled back behind the table.

"The Xuzhou region connects Yangzhou, Yuzhou, and Jiangxia—it has always been a contested strategic stronghold. Though Bi Zhi emerged unexpectedly, he is not to be underestimated. For the sake of your grand ambitions, my lord, we cannot afford to let a potential threat grow unchecked. However, in my opinion, it may not be necessary for my lord to mobilize a full-scale campaign..."

He glanced at Wei Shao.

"I’ve heard that the Lady has a sister who is married to Bi Zhi. Last winter, the Lady traveled south, and General Jia escorted her to Lingbi to meet with Bi Zhi and his wife. The fact that she undertook such a long journey to see them suggests a close bond. Enmity is best avoided, especially when kinship is involved. Might my lord consider appeasement over warfare? Not only that—if Bi Zhi could be persuaded to join your ranks, it would be like adding wings to a tiger. Since this would only benefit you, my lord, why not attempt it? Perhaps a ceasefire could be arranged. My lord might discuss this with the Lady. I suspect she would not wish to see you and Bi Zhi locked in conflict. If she were to send a letter or mediate, leveraging my lord’s formidable reputation, I imagine Bi Zhi would be eager to pledge his allegiance..."

"Advisor! Do you think everyone is worthy of my appeasement?"

Before Gongsun Yang could finish, Wei Shao cut him off.

His expression was cold."He's nothing but a refugee bandit leader who's seized a tiny patch of land! Why should I tolerate him to this extent? No more words are needed—my decision is final and unchangeable! Just deliver my message to Yang Xin as I instructed!"

With that, he lifted the hem of his robe and rose from behind the desk once more, striding away without a backward glance.

Gongsun Yang watched the Lord's retreating figure, his brow furrowed in confusion.

Gongsun Yang understood perfectly well that after pacifying the north and subduing the west, the Lord would inevitably face a direct confrontation with Xing Xun. It was only a matter of time.

Victory would mean an unstoppable momentum across the land.

Defeat would leave the future of Luding uncertain.

It wasn’t that the situation in the Huai River region and Xuzhou wasn’t important—but at this critical juncture, the decisive battle with Xing Xun was the pivotal point, requiring the Lord’s full attention.

Gongsun Yang couldn’t believe the Lord was unaware of this logic.

When the Lord summoned the various commandery governors and garrison commanders to Jizhou, the nightly feasts in the palace weren’t for mere revelry. Their purpose was to consolidate loyalty and prepare for the future.

Now, the conflict in Huainan could clearly be resolved without resorting to war.

In Gongsun Yang’s view, if Bi Zhi refused to surrender, there would still be time to fight later.

But if Bi Zhi could be won over without battle, his forces combined with Yang Xin’s would make seizing Xuzhou—now that Xue Tai was dead—as easy as turning a hand.

Thus, vast stretches of fertile land along the Huai River would fall into the Lord’s hands without a fight.

Not only would territory be gained, but Bi Zhi himself—a general who might one day rival even the great Li Dian—could be secured.

Given such an advantageous opportunity, why was the Lord stubbornly insisting on complicating matters by ordering Yang Xin to crush him?

From the Lord’s tone, it seemed he disdained Bi Zhi’s humble origins and thus refused to employ him.

Yet Gongsun Yang knew that despite the Lord’s pride, he had always been commendable in his respect for talent.

Otherwise, his camp wouldn’t have gathered so many capable ministers and fierce generals willing to serve under him.

Take Li Dian, for example—though of lowly birth in his early years, he had now become the Lord’s foremost general.

Yet the Lord’s hostility toward Bi Zhi was unusually intense, which struck Gongsun Yang as peculiar.

Lost in thought, Gongsun Yang couldn’t shake a growing suspicion.

He wondered if the Lord was displacing his anger.

The Lord’s sworn enemies were the Qiao family, yet he seemed inexplicably infatuated with Qiao Nu, to the point of near obsession.

Though it had been some time since Gongsun Yang last saw the Lord gnash his teeth at the mention of the Qiao family, he knew the Lord well enough to doubt that such deep-seated hatred could fade so easily.

Bi Zhi was, in a way, half a member of the Qiao family.

To the Lord, accepting Bi Zhi’s surrender might feel no different from reconciling with the Qiao family.

How could he possibly relent?

This seemed the only plausible explanation. Otherwise, Gongsun Yang couldn’t fathom why the Lord’s stance on this matter was so unreasonably obstinate.

In the council hall, Gongsun Yang stroked his beard as he paced slowly back and forth.

He even considered whether to relay the news to the Lady.

Her intervention might prove more effective than his own exhausted persuasions.

But he quickly dismissed the idea.

Clearly, the Lord had kept his orders to Yang Xin—to drive out Bi Zhi—a secret from her.

Though Gongsun Yang enjoyed the Lord’s respect in military affairs, with his counsel rarely ignored and his status honored by the officers, his official role was that of an advisor.

An advisor’s duty was to oversee military affairs and offer strategic counsel—but ultimate authority rested with the sovereign.

Had this been any other matter, Gongsun Yang would have risked overstepping to voice his concerns over such an irrational decision.But if the Lord truly harbored such selfish motives as he had just speculated and insisted on eliminating Bi Zhi, involving the enmity between the Wei and Qiao families, as an outsider, it would be inappropriate for him to act against the Lord's wishes in private.

As a military strategist, his primary focus naturally lay in military matters.

Considering the current situation along the Huai River, if Yang Xin succeeded and Bi Zhi's forces were destroyed, it would naturally be for the best.

If Yang Xin failed, the current tripartite balance of power could likely be maintained. Even with Bi Zhi's exceptional abilities, it was unlikely he could retaliate against Yang Xin and swallow all of Xuzhou in the short term. Thus, the overall situation would remain largely unaffected.

After much hesitation, Gongsun Yang finally decided to proceed according to the Lord's wishes.

For now, he could only allow the Lord this indulgence. He would observe the changing situation and adapt accordingly to determine the next steps.

...

The next day, Xiao Qiao was already prepared to depart when Wei Shao suddenly informed her that due to unforeseen circumstances, they would not be leaving yet and would stay in Xindu for a few more days.

His expression was calm as he spoke, and how could Xiao Qiao guess that the reason for his sudden change of plans was the military campaign in Huainan? Assuming it was a matter of men's affairs that he couldn't share with her, she didn’t press further. She simply instructed her maids to unpack the already prepared luggage.

Thus, they stayed for another ten days or so, with no mention from Wei Shao about when they would leave.

She did learn that he had sent a letter to Madam Xu, who had already returned to Yuyang, explaining that due to unforeseen delays, he would have to postpone his return to pay his respects.

He also mentioned that he and Xiao Qiao were getting along well and asked his grandmother not to worry.

Xiao Qiao also wrote a letter.

Her thoughts were with Bi Zhi and Da Qiao, but she couldn’t bring herself to ask Wei Shao about the current state of the war along the Huai River. Instead, she wrote to Da Qiao to inquire about their well-being.

She handed the letter privately to Jia Si, instructing him to send a trustworthy courier to deliver it swiftly to Lingbi.

Though the Yellow River still lay between here and Lingbi, the distance was now much shorter.

When handing the letter to Jia Si, she specifically asked how long it might take to receive a reply.

Jia Si replied that with a fast courier, barring any mishaps, a round trip could be completed within half a month.

After sending the letter, Xiao Qiao eagerly awaited a response.

...

Half a month later. Lingbi.

Da Qiao lay on her side on the bed, shaking a rattle to produce a rapid, rain-like patter of crisp sounds, amusing the infant sitting beside her.

The child, nicknamed Li Er, was just over six months old, plump and fair-skinned, with an infectious laugh and an utterly adorable demeanor. Now seated next to his mother, he was captivated by the noise-making toy in her hand, reaching out with chubby little fingers while babbling happily.

Da Qiao handed the rattle to Li Er.

The baby grabbed it, shook it clumsily a few times, and upon hearing the sound, looked up at his mother with what seemed like astonishment before bursting into delighted giggles.

After playing with her son for a while, Da Qiao noticed him growing drowsy and fed him until he was full.

The infant’s soft cheek pressed against his mother’s warm skin as he drifted peacefully to sleep.

Gazing at the sleeping child in her arms, Da Qiao’s eyes brimmed with the tender love of a new mother. But her thoughts soon turned to her husband, Bi Zhi, still fighting in Xiaodi, and her heart grew heavy with worry.

Just a few days earlier, Yang Xin, who had been repelled before, had returned with renewed force.

Though Bi Zhi hadn’t mentioned it to her, she had heard that Yang Xin’s latest offensive was massive and aggressive. Coupled with the presence of Xuzhou’s forces in the north, Da Qiao couldn’t help but feel anxious.She had been lost in thought for several nights, barely sleeping well. Now, with her son peacefully asleep beside her, the afternoon room was utterly silent. Gradually, drowsiness crept over her, and she slowly closed her eyes. In her half-asleep state, she felt a gentle touch on her face, thinking Li Er had woken up. She immediately opened her eyes, only to find her husband Bi Zhi had returned unnoticed and was now sitting by the bed.

The touch on her face had been his hand. The baby still slept soundly beside her.

Gazing into her husband’s smiling eyes, she carefully rose, mindful not to wake their son, and then melted into his embrace.

Feeling the steady, powerful beat of his heart, Da Qiao’s earlier unease and anxiety suddenly vanished.

...

Da Qiao called the wet nurse to look after Li Er and went with her husband to another room.

Bi Zhi lifted her onto the bed and undressed her. They nestled close, holding each other tightly.

After their tender moment, Da Qiao rested her head on her husband’s shoulder and asked, “How goes the war?”

Bi Zhi embraced his wife and replied, “The Xiaodi region is easy to defend and hard to attack. They won’t break through anytime soon. Don’t worry.”

Da Qiao frowned. “Didn’t Yang Xin have a feud with the Xue family? Why isn’t he attacking Xue An, but instead targeting you repeatedly?”

Bi Zhi said, “That’s why I came back to talk to you. Yesterday, I captured one of Yang Xin’s deputy generals who often moves around him. After interrogation, I learned something...”

Da Qiao, seeing him pause, turned to face him. “What is it?”

Bi Zhi hesitated for a moment, then met her gaze and said slowly, “According to that deputy, it seems Yang Xin has pledged allegiance to Marquis Yan.”

Author’s note: See you tonight.

I’ll try to be early.