The Road to Glory

Chapter 178: "He Was Trapped for the Princess, I...Fine snow drifted under the eaves, and the bronze bell hanging below had a layer of frost condensed on its chain, unmoved by the wind.

Inside the warm pavilion, Wen Yu held a purple clay teapot and poured a cup of hot tea for Gu Xiyun. Amid the rising steam, she asked, "Have you grown accustomed to life in the military?"

Gu Xiyun accepted the teacup with both hands and replied, "Officer Zhou has already familiarized me with all military affairs. These days, escorting grain supplies with the army, I've mostly adapted to military life. Lord Chen Wei has granted me permission to accompany the troops in the attack on Xiangzhou. I've heard that the defender of Xiangzhou is Han Qi of the Han family, who boasts that the Han Family Spear Technique is the finest in the world."

Her expression showed clear displeasure, but it soon shifted to a determined resolve: "How infuriating that he never showed any prominence when my elder brother was renowned. After every male in my Gu family died on the battlefield, he dares to boast so shamelessly and claim such a title! I will surely bring my Gu family's Dominant Spear to reclaim the title of the finest spear technique in the world!"

Wen Yu poured herself a cup of tea as well, holding the cup in one hand. Upon hearing this, her movements paused slightly, and she advised, "The battlefield is perilous. You must strictly follow military orders and not act impulsively."

Gu Xiyun had just taken a sip of tea; it was too hot, and she fanned her lips with her hand. She looked at Wen Yu in disbelief and said, "Are you worried I won't obey military orders? Have you forgotten the bandit troubles in Hexi four years ago? My father was ordered to suppress the bandits, and I, reckless as I was, begged my brother to take me along. Although we ended up achieving merit, when my father saw me in the bandit den, the look in his eyes was practically enough to flay my brother alive. He immediately ordered twenty military strikes for my brother, beating his buttocks into a pulpy mess. He couldn't get out of bed for three days. It happened to be close to your birthday then, and I was the one who delivered his gift to you. I lied and told you he had fallen off a horse and injured his leg, so he couldn’t move well for a while."

Recalling this past event, the two seemed to return to their days in the royal manor. Wen Yu shook her head with a smile but still said, "That time, you two were truly too bold. Brother Changfeng actually allowed you to recklessly pose as a merchant's daughter and get captured by those mountain bandits to act as an inside agent. If anything had happened to you, what would we have done?"

Gu Xiyun suddenly looked a bit embarrassed and said, "Back then, out of respect for my brother's dignity, I didn’t dare tell you. The reason he agreed to let me do it was that he disguised himself as my maid and got captured into the bandit den with me!"

Wen Yu was slightly taken aback. In her memory, Gu Xiyun's elder brother had always been as steady and refined as her own brother, truly living up to the saying, "a gentleman of grace and virtue."

She had never imagined he had such a side to him and couldn't help but chuckle.

Gu Xiyun laughed for a while, her eyes reddening as if she were about to cry. Grinning widely, she continued, "When my father punished my brother with military strikes, he said that since I wasn't part of his military camp, he wouldn't punish me. But as one of his subordinate officers, my brother had dared to commit such an offense and had to be disciplined according to Military Regulations. That lesson was indeed more effective than if my own buttocks had been beaten to a pulp."

Having also lost her father and brother, Wen Yu understood Gu Xiyun's feelings. She didn't offer much consolation, only saying, "You will become a great general, just like Uncle Gu and Brother Changfeng."

Gu Xiyun lifted her eyes forcefully, holding back the sting of tears, and laughed, "Of course I will!"Before the two could say anything more, the door curtain of the warm chamber was lifted from outside. Zhao Bai strode in swiftly and presented an urgent dispatch to Wen Yu: "Your Highness, a battle report from the front lines."

After reading it, Wen Yu seemed lost in thought and did not speak immediately. She handed the report to Gu Xiyun, saying, "Take a look."

After reviewing it, Gu Xiyun remarked, "We have recaptured several counties from that dog Bandit Pei. This is good news."

Wen Yu said, "Pei Song is conscripting troops."

Gu Xiyun glanced again at the report's mention of a sudden increase in refugees fleeing war-torn areas from Guanzhong to the Southern Border. He asked, "Is Your Highness concerned that Bandit Pei might make a desperate last stand? And with the harsh winter, managing the influx of refugees will be difficult?"

Wen Yu shook her head, her long eyelashes lowering slightly. "Last year at this time, Pei Song breached Luodu by capitalizing on the mutual destruction of my father and the Party of Ao. But when he took Fengyang, it was also because many commoners held grievances against the Great Liang."

Even though Changlian Wang, his son, and all upright officials had been striving to oppose the Party of Ao and the Empress Dowager to save the people's livelihoods...

The lowest strata of society, struggling even for basic sustenance, had no means to understand her father and brother's efforts or the court disputes. They certainly didn’t know that Pei Song was the one who had aided the Party of Ao in oppressing and exploiting them.

When news of Luodu's fall and the impending collapse of Great Liang reached these commoners—who had long suffered under corrupt officials bred by years of maternal relatives' rule—their pent-up resentment toward the court and corrupt government made them eager to overthrow the old dynasty and build a new one for a better life.

Those who harbored deep hatred for all officials and wealthy gentry likely joined the rebel army, helping to tear down this crumbling edifice.

Pei Song's rebel army, which looted, ravaged, and massacred wherever it went, was initially formed this way.

They harbored hatred toward Great Liang and all who lived well. Anger and greed made them unstoppable.

Killing, plundering, rising above others.

Where they slaughtered, the land was filled with lamentations, but since both poor and rich largely perished when the army arrived, few voices remained in the populace to condemn Pei's camp.

Back in Yongzhou, she had written manifestos denouncing Pei Song's atrocities, which spread most widely among the scholars of the land.

Pei Song's tactic of massacring cities had the greatest impact on provincial officials. Though commoners discussed it with fear, it was someone else's prefecture suffering—the blade hadn't fallen on them, so after some cursing, the matter was forgotten.

For them, the struggle for the realm was the business of the powerful. Whoever sat on the throne, their concern remained filling their bellies.

Only when war flames spread to their doors, forcing them to flee with families in tow, would they feel true calamity.

Pei Song seemed to exploit this numbness and dullness of the common people, using war to sustain war for military supplies. He let his troops vent their rage on the most resistant prefectures through massacres, thereby intimidating weaker ones into surrender.

In captured cities, he might have briefly restrained his army for various reasons, but when battle loomed, his true nature was laid bare.

In all last year's conflicts, mercy toward the people seemed the most laughable and useless virtue.Gu Xiyun, upon hearing Wen Yu's words, initially thought she was disheartened by how the people had aided the tyrant despite the dedication of Changlian Wang and his son. He said, "The people's resentment was not directed at the prince and the heir, but at the Great Liang controlled by the maternal relatives at that time. The Great Liang that the princess has now rebuilt is already vastly different from the past, and the people will eventually understand."

Wen Yu's dark eyes remained calm as she replied, "I am not troubled by this matter. Instead, I feel that the people's resentment toward the former Great Liang seems to have shifted to Pei Song."

Gu Xiyun showed a puzzled expression, and Zhao Bai immediately turned his gaze toward them.

Wen Yu picked up the military report again and explained to the two, "The number of refugees fleeing from the pass to the Southern Border this time far exceeds that of last year when Pei Song raised his banner in rebellion. Moreover, the fact that Pei's camp is so openly recruiting soldiers even during the standoff between the two armies further indicates that the situation in his camp is far from optimistic."

Gu Xiyun asked joyfully, "Has that dog thief Pei Song completely lost the people's support?"

Wen Yu replied, "The people's resentment toward the former Great Liang stemmed from over a decade of oppression by corrupt officials when the maternal relatives held sway. However, after Pei Song rebelled, he did not bring about a change for the better. Instead, his rebel forces indulged in burning, killing, and looting, making life increasingly unbearable for the people of various prefectures. Thus, while he initially garnered widespread support when he rebelled, this past year has been enough for the people to see his true nature."

Even the common people, though uninformed about politics, could clearly discern whether their families could survive.

The vicious individuals willing to follow Pei Song in burning, killing, and looting to vent their hatred had already flocked to his army early in the year.

The people who managed to survive the ravages of war now were all those who simply wished to live in peace.

Pei Song likely still hoped to recruit an army capable of sacking cities as he had before, but he forgot that it was he himself who was now driving the people to desperation.

Wen Yu pressed the letter firmly onto the table with her five fingers and, under the gaze of the two, said clearly and solemnly, "We need to add fuel to the fire, to show the people a better path forward."

"Distribute porridge and clothing, clear out the vacant civilian houses in various prefectures, and properly settle all refugees fleeing from the pass."

With the hope of finding stability in the Southern Border, the people within the pass would be less likely to succumb to Pei Song's tyranny.

Gu Xiyun, who had recently been responsible for escorting provisions, hesitated slightly. "But the provisions stockpiled in Pingzhou are already scarce..."

Wen Yu frowned slightly and said, "Set aside the grain for porridge first. Later, I will discuss with Minister Li about reallocating some of the grain seeds from the administered prefectures for military provisions. Then, before spring, we must reopen the trade route outside Hundred Blades Pass to sell the silk stockpiled in the pass since the war began and exchange it for grain seeds."

Gu Xiyun could no longer remain seated. He stood up and said, "This plan sounds feasible, but there are likely many details to discuss with Minister Li and the others. Since I need to go to the military camp anyway, I will pass on the message for Minister Li to come."

Wen Yu nodded, and Gu Xiyun hurriedly lifted the tent flap and left.

Zhao Bai, feeling that a major defeat of Pei Song was within sight, also said, "This servant will dispatch more Azure Guard members to Fengyang to covertly approach the heir's consort!"

Wen Yu asked, "Have the people sent earlier sent any messages back?"

Zhao Bai shook his head, his expression slightly embarrassed. "We only learned that the heir's consort is now pregnant and is being closely guarded day and night by Pei Song's Hawk Hounds. Our people cannot infiltrate the area."When Jiang Yichu proposed using herself as bait to help the Azure Guard escort Grand Tutor Yu and other senior ministers out of Fengyang, she did not mention she was pregnant.

Wen Yu pondered briefly and said, "Have them shift their focus to A Yin."

Zhao Bai was momentarily taken aback before understanding dawned. Pei Song had been using the young county mistress to threaten the consort. Their people still couldn’t approach the courtyard where the consort was held under house arrest, nor could they confirm whether the person imprisoned there was truly the consort.

But by keeping a close watch on the young county mistress, they could still determine whether the consort remained in Fengyang.

She clasped her fists and said, "This servant will issue the orders immediately."

As she turned to leave, she suddenly paused, seeming to hesitate briefly before asking, "Your Highness, should this servant dispatch more people to the Northern Border to rescue him?"

Wen Yu looked somewhat surprised, a faint smile glimmering in her eyes as she gazed at Zhao Bai.

Zhao Bai remained expressionless, though her face appeared slightly tense as she stiffly added, "He is trapped because of you, Your Highness. Our Azure Guard owes him a debt."