After a male student transmigrated into the body of a widow,

Chapter 240 The Young Couple Separated in Two Places

After reading the secret letter sent from the capital, the Marquis of Zhenbei lowered his head and remained silent. In the dim candlelight, his once-robust and unyielding figure, marked by a lifetime of military service, appeared somewhat hunched. After a long while, he picked up the letter and placed it into the candle flame, then threw the burning letter into a copper basin beside him.

The next day, upon receiving a message from the Marquis of Zhenbei, the young prefect, who was about to go to the government office after finishing his breakfast, stopped and turned to instruct Da Zhuo to go to the government office to deliver the urgent document to the military camp. Then, he left the city with Gu An behind him.

Thinking of what the Marquis of Zhenbei might want to tell him, Zheng Hao didn't let Gu An go in with him. Instead, he told Gu An to go to the tent to check the military report first. Gu An didn't ask any more questions and turned to leave.

Zheng Hao entered the command tent, but no one sat in the seat of honor. The Marquis of Zhenbei stood in front of the wall with the sheepskin map hanging on it. Hearing footsteps behind him, he did not turn around: "Since ancient times, Chengdu and other prefectures have been important political, economic and military locations. Now, the generals and prefects stationed there have successively rebelled. The troops sent by the court are unable to quell the rebellion and can only flee back to the capital. If the rebellion cannot be quelled quickly and they are allowed to recuperate, it will be even more difficult to send troops later."

The roads to Shu are more difficult than ascending to heaven. It is already difficult for a large army to enter Shu, not only because of its treacherous terrain, but also because of the poisonous snakes and insects hidden in the grass and forests. After the autumn harvest, when food and fodder are plentiful, if the rebellion cannot be quelled in one fell swoop, the following summer, when the weather is hot and humid, is the time when poisonous insects are most rampant. Any soldier who enters Shu will lose half his life before the battle even begins.

His gaze passed past the Marquis of Zhenbei and landed on the sheepskin map on the wall. A section of the Shu region was marked with specially made small flags, and other flags were planted around the Shu region, as if arranging troops to conquer the Shu region.

Zheng Hao withdrew his gaze, his eyes indifferent: "As long as the emperor is still alive, the various regions can delay the imperial decree but cannot ignore it. After the general escapes back to the capital, they should also send troops to suppress the rebels."

The Marquis of Zhenbei turned around, not following the young military supervisor's words. He turned to the weapons rack, drew a large sword, and Zheng Hao saw that it was forged by the armory using the steel-casting method.

The Marquis of Zhenbei brandished his broadsword, wielding it with fierce power. As he swung it, gusts of wind blew through the tent, and Zheng Hao's stray hairs were blown by the wind.

While brandishing his sword, the Marquis of Zhenbei said in a deep voice, "This great sword was sent by Xiao An. He said that as soon as the weapons workshop developed the steel-forging method, Gu Fulang had someone forge a great sword for me."

Zheng Hao stood not far from the Marquis of Zhenbei, without uttering a word.

Without waiting for his reply, the Marquis of Zhenbei moved his feet and swung his broadsword. The light reflected from the snow-white blade shone on people, making them feel a chill.

Sheathing his broadsword, the Marquis of Zhenbei showed no signs of fatigue or panting after his earlier display of skill. He turned to Zheng Hao and said, "I am old. It is now the era of you young people. The Tiger Tally is in your hands. Apart from my orders, the Marquis of Zhenbei will obey you without question."

"The rebellion in Chengdu Prefecture is not an isolated case, but the beginning. Before long, the Great Qian Dynasty will be in complete turmoil. Youzhou Prefecture is located on the frontier, and it will inevitably be attacked from both sides." At this point, the Marquis of Zhenbei's gaze became deep: "In such a situation, the Zhenbei Army needs a person with both courage and shrewdness to lead it in order to play its most important role."

The Marquis of Zhenbei turned his head and stared directly at Zheng Hao with his sharp eyes: "I entrust the Zhenbei Army to you. I hope that in the future you will be able to do what you say."

Upon hearing that he would have full command of the Zhenbei Army, Zheng Hao showed no surprise or joy. He looked at the Marquis of Zhenbei and asked calmly, "Has the imperial court ordered you, Marquis, to go and quell the rebellion?"

"As expected, I couldn't hide it from you." The Marquis of Zhenbei smiled, his previously serious face softening somewhat. He said, "Since His Majesty ascended the throne, he has always been wary of me. This time, the Grand General's attempt to quell the rebellion failed, and the court was unable to find a suitable military commander. Therefore, His Majesty ordered me to lead a large army and command the Southern General to jointly suppress the rebels. After this battle, regardless of success or failure, I cannot return to Youzhou Prefecture. His Majesty will likely keep me in the capital and keep me under strict supervision."

"This situation is not unbreakable."

The Marquis of Zhenbei raised his hand, stopping the young military supervisor from saying what he was about to say.

The Marquis of Zhenbei's deep-set eyes revealed a hint of nostalgia: "When I was young, I was the late emperor's study companion. At that time, the late emperor was not favored. Because of his humble birth mother, he suffered humiliation from other princes and princesses. But the late emperor never lost heart. He had lofty ambitions and made a promise with me that after we came of age, we would go to the front line to repel the northern barbarians and recover the lost land."

But life is unpredictable. Friends who were once companions in their youth eventually fell into a situation of mutual distrust between ruler and subject.

However, in the Marquis of Zhenbei's view, the late emperor had already treated him quite well. Although he harbored suspicions about him, he had never summoned him back to the capital. Each time a military supervisor was sent, ostensibly to monitor him, nothing ever came of it. Although there were delays in the delivery of provisions and military pay, they were always eventually made…

Putting aside his reminiscences, Marquis Zhenbei turned to Zheng Hao and said, "I regard the late emperor as both a monarch and a friend. I cannot sit idly by and watch the turmoil in the south."

The new emperor is the heir to the throne and also the son of a friend. Even knowing that the other party is wary and suspicious of him, the Marquis of Zhenbei cannot remain indifferent.

Even though he knew that if he obeyed orders to leave Youzhou Prefecture, the other party might discard him after the rebellion in the south was quelled.

The Marquis of Zhenbei looked at the young military supervisor, who had just come of age in the autumn and was only six years older than Gu An. Yet, he entrusted him with the heavy responsibility of the entire Youzhou Prefecture and the Zhenbei Army.

All his emotions and thoughts coalesced into one sentence, Marquis Zhenbei: "From now on, Youzhou Prefecture and Zhenbei Army will be handed over to you."

Zheng Hao remained silent, but raised his hand in a gesture of respect, which appeared exceptionally solemn compared to his previous gestures.

The solemn expression of the Marquis of Zhenbei softened into a relaxed smile.

In the autumn of the first year of the Qianyuan era, General Gao Yuan led an expedition against the rebels, but suffered a crushing defeat in Chengdu Prefecture, losing over ten thousand soldiers. The emperor was enraged, dismissed him from his post, stripped him of his title, and imprisoned him.

The following spring, the rebel forces were rampant, and the emperor appointed the Marquis of Zhenbei as the Grand General of the Expedition, bestowing upon him armor and a horse, and ordering him to take charge of all military affairs in the southern border region. Upon arriving in Jiangling, the Marquis issued a proclamation to all the generals, sternly declaring, "Those who disobey orders are treasoners!" Liu Yue, the general of Jiangling, secretly sided with the rebels and refused to send troops. The Marquis secretly dispatched light cavalry to capture and execute him that night, displaying his head to the public, which terrified the southern border region.

In April, a battle was fought outside Jiading. Hou sent elite soldiers to cut off their supply lines, and the rebel leader surrendered. All the generals joined forces to encircle and annihilate them, and issued proclamations to all prefectures: "Those who were coerced into joining will be pardoned, and the ringleaders will be executed." Within ten months, the rebels were completely wiped out.

Upon hearing the news of the victory, the Emperor was overjoyed and issued an edict: "The Marquis of Zhenbei's achievements surpass all others; he shall be granted the Nine Bestowments!" He bestowed upon him ten thousand yi of gold, five thousand bolts of silk, and increased his fiefdom by ten thousand households. He further ordered the Marquis to return to the capital to receive his rewards, and sent an imperial envoy to urge his departure.

Hou received the imperial edict and told his attendants, "The emperor has summoned me; I will not wait for the emperor's carriage." Without waiting for dawn, he abandoned his baggage and led thirty personal riders, galloping back day and night. Passing through prefectures and counties, officials came to greet him, but he refused to see them, only requesting replacements by post horses. He arrived in the capital in seven days. The emperor, hearing of his swift arrival, exclaimed, "Truly a minister of the state!" He personally went out of the Zhuque Gate to welcome him, bestowed upon him three cups of imperial wine, and took his hand to ascend the city tower, displaying him to the people.

After recalling the Marquis of Zhenbei to the capital, Emperor Qianyuan released Gao Yuan from prison. The defeated enemy troops fled back to the capital. Although Emperor Qianyuan was angry, he did not truly despise the enemy. In order to save Gao Yuan's life, he imprisoned him and did not allow outsiders to visit him.

After living in prison for many days, Gao Yuan did not lose weight because he was served good wine and food every day. In fact, because he was not exposed to sunlight in prison, he became much plumper than before.

Upon seeing Emperor Qianyuan, he knelt down and performed a grand ceremony, tears streaming down his face: "Your Majesty, I am ashamed to have failed to live up to your trust and reliance, causing you to toil for so many days. I beg Your Majesty to punish me."

Unlike his predecessor, Emperor Qian Yuan was more lenient. When it came to those close to him, even if they pleaded and cried, as long as it wasn't a crime of treason, Emperor Qian Yuan was magnanimous and would turn a blind eye.

On the contrary, even though the meritorious official no longer held military power, Emperor Qianyuan was still uneasy. He asked Gao Yuan to stand up: "After the Marquis of Zhenbei returned to the capital, I did not issue an edict. He just stayed in his residence and did not interact with anyone. What do you think I should do with him?"

After returning from the south, Gao Yuan had become more astute and realized that although the Great Qian Dynasty appeared prosperous and powerful, the prefects and generals in various regions were gradually no longer taking the imperial court seriously.

There are few capable military generals in the imperial court. If another rebellion breaks out in the provinces, he may have to go to the battlefield again. The Marquis of Zhenbei will not be able to enjoy his retirement years.

Gao Yuan carefully considered his words: "The Marquis has worked hard and made great contributions in resisting the Northern Barbarians for many years. It is not appropriate to let him work so hard. Your Majesty should bestow upon the Marquis the title of Grand Tutor and appoint him as Minister of Works. In this way, in the eyes of all the people, Your Majesty will be very benevolent."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Qianyuan pondered for a moment. Compared to the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Revenue, the Minister of Works was not an important position. He would appoint the Marquis of Zhenbei to the position and then place two trustworthy Vice Ministers on the left and right. The Ministry of Works would still be in his hands. As for the position of Grand Commandant, it was a sinecure with no real power.

He instructed the eunuch behind him: "Order the Hanlin Academy scholars to draft an imperial edict and go to the Marquis of Zhenbei's residence to proclaim the decree."

The eunuch replied, "Yes."

Chengdu Prefecture.

The General of Jiangnan said angrily, "Your Majesty is confused! The rebels have just been eliminated, and you immediately summoned the Marquis of Zhenbei back to the capital. You are so wary of the Marquis of Zhenbei that you have forgotten the fact that people in the south have disobeyed your orders before."

"With the departure of the Marquis of Zhenbei, I see that the generals of various prefectures are eager to make their move. After that, the prefects and generals sent by His Majesty will probably only become puppets."

"My lord, do not worry. In a few days, His Majesty will probably realize the situation and discuss this matter with the court officials."

The General of Jiangnan shook his head slightly: "After quelling the rebellion here, I will return to Jiangnan the day after tomorrow. I have already submitted a memorial to His Majesty recommending you as the General of Chengdu Prefecture. If nothing unexpected happens, based on your merits over the past few years, it should be a good decision."

Upon hearing this, Niu Qiang was taken aback and looked at the General of Jiangnan without making a move.

Upon seeing this, the General of Jiangnan smiled helplessly: "Why are you so happy you've gone mad?"

After hearing his words, Niu Qiang seemed to come to his senses: "Will this cause trouble for you, sir?"

The General of Jiangnan shook his head slightly: "A general is a military officer, and his path to promotion is different from that of a civil official. You can focus on being a general; I know what I'm doing."

"Moreover," the General of Jiangnan said with concern, "I have my own reasons for letting you stay in Chengdu. After the generals of various prefectures send troops to quell the rebellion and occupy prefectures such as Kuizhou, they will not easily obey the court. I hope you will stay and assist the officials from the court to check and balance the people left behind by the generals of various prefectures."

After giving his instructions, the General of Jiangnan said to Niu Qiang, "This is a dangerous move, so please take good care of yourself."

"Yes, Your Excellency, I will not fail in your trust!" Niu Qiang said, clasping his hands in a fist salute.

The General of Jiangnan waved for him to leave, and Niu Qiang turned and left the General's Mansion, returning to his temporary lodgings.

Upon entering, a personal guard stepped forward and whispered an announcement. Niu Qiang listened without changing his expression, told the guard to step back, and then proceeded to the backyard as usual.

Niu Qiang stepped into the house and saw the boy sitting by the window with his back to him. He quickly walked over.

Hearing the noise behind him, the boy turned around, and Niu Qiang's breathing became heavy: "Xiao Yao."

As they approached, Lin Xiaoyao raised her hand to support herself against the man's broad chest. Her arms were slender; how could they possibly stop the young general who was fighting fiercely against the enemy? But Niu Qiang stopped and stood in front of Lin Xiaoyao.

"Where does this powdery smell come from?"

Lin Xiaoyao remained calm and asked in a light tone.

Upon hearing this, Niu Qiang frowned, his face becoming even more ferocious: "When I attended the banquet that evening, they hired dancers to perform. I only found out when I arrived, but I didn't look at any of them or ask for any."

"Is that so?" Lin Xiaoyao asked back, her tone ambiguous.

He grabbed Niu Qiang by the collar, and Niu Qiang leaned down, following the other's force to get closer. His nose twitched, and he smelled a scent he hadn't seen in a long time.

If Lin Xiaoyao hadn't reminded him, Niu Qiang wouldn't have realized that he had picked up the scent of the dancer's perfume. He had never paid attention to such things before, but after being with Lin Xiaoyao, he was much more careful than before, yet he still ended up with the scent.

Niu Qiang leaned close to Lin Xiaoyao's neck, his body burning with heat. The other woman's aura was unique; he couldn't quite describe what it smelled like, but it gave him a sense of security.

"Let me see if you're lying to me."

Lin Xiaoyao chuckled, a hint of danger in her voice: "If I find out, you've lied to me..."

Lin Xiaoyao's gaze lingered on the other man's neck for a moment before moving down to Niu Qiang's crotch. "I don't care about your life, I'll cut off your brother myself."

He was being threatened in a crucial place, but the person threatening him was Lin Xiaoyao. Niu Qiang couldn't get angry at all. In fact, when he saw the other party's eyes narrowed and her words of warning, Niu Qiang's body became even hotter.

Lin Xiaoyao paused, feeling the hardness pressing against her waist. Niu Qiang said, "If I lied to you even half a word, you can cut off my head and use it as a football, and I won't complain."

"At least let me prove my innocence first."

Having served as an official for several years, Niu Qiang's verbal skills had improved considerably. Lin Xiaoyao didn't think the other party would dare to deceive her. Even if he did, she wasn't determined to waste her time on one man. There were plenty of men in the world; out with the old, in with the new. Having gone through a marriage, Lin Xiaoyao wasn't so stubborn.

If he really falls out with Niu Qiang, he'll just teach him a lesson a few times and that's it. Niu Qiang is a skilled commander, and he's very important to his master and Lord Zheng. He won't ruin their important plans for personal reasons.

only……

After a passionate encounter, Lin Xiaoyao stood up, her waist trembling. She tried to call for help but found her voice hoarse and her lips sore.

Lin Xiaoyao raised her hand and touched the broken skin, then gasped and cursed, "You bastard!"

He had boundless energy, and when asked to stop, he verbally agreed but repeatedly went against his word.

Lin Xiaoyao cursed under her breath as Niu Qiang brought in the porridge.

He looked up and felt the other man's glare. The satisfied man's tone was full of tenderness: "It's all my fault. Drink some porridge first."

Lin Xiaoyao had cursed the other party about this many times, but she was too lazy to curse again. In her heart, she decided not to come over again for the next six months.

After taking the porridge and drinking it, Niu Qiang rolled up his sleeves and asked, "How many days can you stay here?"

After swallowing the porridge, Lin Xiaoyao said, "I'll leave in five days at most after I've finished purchasing the goods. Staying at your residence for too long will easily arouse suspicion."

Niu Qiang remained silent.

Upon seeing this, Lin Xiaoyao paused, then continued, "The master has ordered a batch of divine weapons to be forged. In a few days, Lord Zheng will send a batch of weapons over. Keep them safe and don't let anyone find out."

Niu Qiang looked at him, as if to say, "That's all you have to say."

Lin Xiaoyao sighed softly, "I have some free time these days, so I can stay at home and keep you company."

Immediately, Niu Qiang's face lit up with joy, as if the rain had stopped: "Okay, I have a horse farm in the suburbs. I'll take you horseback riding tomorrow."

Lin Xiaoyao couldn't help but smile knowingly.

[This chapter remains unchanged; it will be revised tomorrow!]