Chapter 41: The Lady Arrives (Please Keep Reading)
Clip-clop, clip-clop—
“Make way! Make way!”
“The general is leaving the city, pedestrians step aside!”
At the gates of Xinye, a troop of cavalry whipped their horses, galloping swiftly out of the city. Leading them was a tall, broad-shouldered young man, clad in white brocade robes and jade armor, a golden warrior’s crown upon his head, a four-foot-long sword of blue steel at his waist. His features were handsome and spirited, rivaling the famed beauties of antiquity, though his physique was too robust, his bearing too fierce, and his rank too high for anyone to approach him without awe.
This was none other than General Cao Xin, styled Ziyu, the Governor of Nanyang, who had recently won four consecutive battles, defeating thirty thousand with three thousand men, and securing Xinye in a single engagement.
It was said that General Ziyu faced enemy armies without ever changing his expression, yet now he appeared restless and impatient, urging his black stallion to fly faster, racing out of the city gates.
The crowd was astonished—what could make the general so anxious? Was it an invasion from Jingzhou?
Curiosity piqued, many followed the cavalry outside the gates, where they saw a convoy of carriages approaching slowly along the northern official road. At the gate, the convoy halted, and General Ziyu leapt from his horse, striding toward a luxurious carriage at the center.
The door swung open, and a veiled woman emerged, dressed in exquisite silk robes with crossed collars. Her tall, slender figure and graceful demeanor were captivating, so much so that even a mere glimpse of her profile was mesmerizing.
“Hey, what are you staring at?”
A city guard gripped his sword and barked, scaring off those who dared glance.
“Haha, Jade, what brings you here?”
Beside the carriage, Cao Xin embraced Gan Jade, kissing her veil several times. Her skin was smooth and warm, her scent subtle and cool, igniting his passion.
“General, Jade missed you and so she came.”
Gan Jade cupped his face in her delicate hands, her bright eyes fixing on him as she smiled, letting herself be held without regard for the gazes of those inside or outside the city.
“Haha, I missed you too, Jade. Let’s return to the city and welcome you properly.”
Cao Xin laughed, his arm around Gan Jade.
“General, there’s someone else in the carriage.”
Gan Jade smiled gently and tapped the carriage wall. “Lily, come down now, or the general will punish you severely!”
“Hmph, sister, the general only thinks of you, not me. I might as well go home.”
A graceful hand parted the curtain, and another veiled beauty in a striking red dress, fair and voluptuous, appeared. Her bright eyes shimmered with emotion—part teasing, part joyful, part plaintive—as she cast a glance at Lord Cao. Though her face was hidden, her bashful resentment was palpable.
Seeing Zou Lily, Cao Xin laughed heartily, “This woman dares to sulk with me—indeed, she deserves a lesson. I’ll punish you with three days in bed!”
“General~”
Zou Lily shyly tucked her feet beneath her wide skirt, her rounded figure barely concealed.
“Haha, come here and let me spoil you.”
Cao Xin extended his muscular arm with a laugh.
Zou Lily smiled, bent low, and was firmly gathered into his embrace.
“Hmm—”
Cao Xin’s arm suddenly sagged. “Lily, have you gained weight?”
“General~”
Zou Lily’s cheeks flushed as she patted his chest in embarrassment.
“Haha~”
Gan Jade covered her lips and laughed softly.
“Haha, you’re not heavier, it’s just that my strength has waned. Come, today is a double celebration; let’s return to the city and reminisce.”
Cao Xin gathered both beauties onto the carriage, letting them sit inside, and personally drove them back to the city.
“Welcome, Lady, welcome, Madam Zou!”
At the city gate, generals Liao Hua, Yu Du, Zhang White Rider, and others waited, saluting loudly.
“Please rise, generals!”
Gan Jade lifted her hand at the carriage window and spoke gently. “General Yuanjian, my sister Zou and I have prepared gifts for the brothers. Kindly help distribute them.”
“Lady is too gracious. Yuanjian thanks Lady and Madam Zou on behalf of the brothers.”
Liao Hua bowed deeply.
“Thank you, Lady, thank you, Madam Zou,”
Zhang White Rider, Yu Du, and the others also saluted and expressed their gratitude.
“All right!”
Cao Xin laughed. “Old Zhang, Old Yu, Yuanjian, for the next three days, unless there’s an earthquake, flood, or the siege of Wan City, don’t disturb me. If anything arises, consult with Li Zhengfang and Yi Jibo first.”
“Yes, General!”
Liao Hua and the others laughed in agreement.
With a flick of his whip, Cao Xin drove the carriage into Xinye, heading deep into the city.
“They’re gone!”
At the street corner, two scholars dressed as spies from Jingzhou withdrew their gaze. One smacked his lips, “Brother Zhang, this Governor Cao publicly displays affection for his wives in broad daylight—coarse and shameless, no better than an animal.”
“Indeed, rumors say Cao the traitor is cruel and warlike, arrogant and licentious, guilty of every vice—a most violent man. Luckily he’s only a general, for were he a monarch, he’d be a tyrant like King Zhou, King You, or Qin Shihuang.”
The older spy spoke indignantly.
“Too bad he’s so fierce—four battles in succession broke our twenty thousand troops, and now he holds Xinye. The people here will surely suffer.”
The younger one sighed, watching the lively streets.
“Don’t fret, brother Tan. Our army from Jingzhou has set out from Xiangyang; in two days, we’ll reach Xinye. Once the troops arrive, Cao the traitor will retreat, and the people will be spared.”
The elder spy spoke confidently.
“I hope our army arrives soon.”
The younger spy sighed.
“Hey, you two over there!”
A soldier with a saber at his waist pointed at them. “Nanyang Prefecture is recruiting—one string of cash per month, meals, lodging, and clothing included. Will you join?”
“Nonsense! We are scholars, men of letters, not soldiers or killers!”
The older spy snapped.
“Tch, I thought you two looked pitiful and wanted to offer you honest work. You don’t appreciate it—good intentions wasted.”
The city guard glanced at their ragged clothes, flicked his own new leather armor, and hummed as he resumed his patrol.
The younger spy’s eyes turned. “Brother Zhang, as the Art of War says, know your enemy and yourself and you’ll always win. I think joining Cao’s army is a good idea: one, we can learn their strengths and weaknesses; two, we’ll know their movements sooner.”
The elder spy frowned. “You make a good point. But I’m too old—best you try it, brother Tan.”
“Very well. Take care, brother Zhang.”
Young Tan bowed and strode toward the recruitment post at the gate.
Zhang watched his back, reflecting silently: The wind blows cold at Yishui; with such heroes as brother Tan, how can Jingzhou fail to accomplish its great cause?
——
“No snatching! No one is allowed to snatch!”
Outside the Xinye county office, Gan Jade’s maid, Yingchun, stood with hands on her hips in front of the carriage, glaring at Zhang White Rider and the generals.
“Madam said: every commander gets a set of under armor, a silk robe, and a pair of boots—everyone gets something. Each cavalryman gets under armor, each scout gets boots, each infantryman and supply troop gets two pounds of dried meat. The archers have already received theirs at Wan City—you needn’t worry about them.”
“Got it, Lady Yingchun—hurry up, I want to wear my new clothes!”
Yu Du the big-bearded commander shouted.
“You’re always the most impatient, Commander Yu!”
Yingchun rolled her eyes, took a set of armor, robe, and boots from maid Nuanyu, and handed them to Zhang White Rider. “General Zhang, these are yours. Madam knows you like white, so she bought special white silk for your robe.”
“Thank you, Lady Yingchun, and thank you, Madam.”
Zhang White Rider took the items awkwardly and hesitated. “Lady Yingchun, I’m getting old and not picky about colors. Next time Madam rewards us, please tell her I’ll wear anything, any color!”
“Hahaha~”
Yu Du, Pei Yuanshao, White Phoenix, Liu Dash, and several commanders burst into laughter.
Yingchun, Tan Chun, Nuanyu, and Liuxiang, the maids, covered their lips and laughed softly. Yingchun smiled, “General Zhang, you’re too polite. I’ll let Madam know.”
“General Zhang, these are two hundred sets of under armor for the Langya cavalry. Is that enough? If not, use boots for now, and we’ll make up the rest later.”
Nuanyu led a carriage over.
“It’s enough. There are only one hundred sixty-five in the Langya cavalry.”
“Oh!” Nuanyu nodded.
The four young women distributed gifts and supplies to Pei Yuanshao and the scouts, Yu Du and White Phoenix and the infantry, Liu Dash and the supply troops—each commander and unit receiving their share.
When the clothes were all given out, Yingchun wiped a thin sheen of sweat from her forehead, then noticed there was still one set left in the chest. “Hmm, why is there one set left? Which commander hasn’t received theirs?”
“Liao Hua!”
Yu Du shouted toward the distance. “Lady Yingchun is handing out clothes—why are you crouched over there counting ants?”
“I wasn’t counting ants! I was practicing calligraphy!”
Liao Hua stood up from beneath a tree and tossed aside a twig.
“What are you practicing? Let me see.”
Pei Yuanshao rose.
“No peeking! No peeking!”
Liao Hua shoved Pei Yuanshao and rushed over to stomp out the writing on the ground.
“...”
Everyone stared at him in confusion. “What’s gotten into him?”
“Ahem, my writing isn’t very good.”
Liao Hua’s face reddened.
Yingchun smiled, “If it’s not good, you should practice more. You’re the chief clerk—must be both literate and martial.”
“Lady Yingchun is absolutely right—thank you, Lady Yingchun.”
Liao Hua received his clothes, expressing his thanks repeatedly.
“Wait, something’s off.”
Yu Du pointed and shouted, “Look, Liao Hua’s face is redder than a monkey’s behind! Is he lovesick?”
“Hahaha~”
Everyone laughed, except Liao Hua and a few maids, their cheeks flushed.
“Don’t talk nonsense!”
Liao Hua glared at Yu Du in embarrassment.
“Tch, you only dare scold us—when you see Lady Yingchun, you act like a docile kitten.”
“Hahaha~”
Everyone burst out laughing.
“Bad news, bad news!”
Just then, the chief clerk Yi Ji came running, and Li Yan, the registrar, hurried after him.
“Quick, go and call the general! Jingzhou has mobilized—Liu, the governor of Jingzhou, has dispatched thirty thousand troops from Xiangyang, joined by ten thousand under Wen Pin from Zhangling and ten thousand under Deng Ji from Huyang—fifty thousand in all, claiming one hundred thousand, preparing to advance on Xinye. Hurry and inform the general to convene a council!”
The group’s expressions changed as they exchanged glances. Should they wake the general now?
——