Chapter 70: The Heir Wins

The north wind sweeps the ground, bending the white grasses. At the end of October, a heavy snow fell in Chen Prefecture, swirling and drifting, filling the air with icy wind and frost.

A young man on a fine horse galloped through the snow. Turning around a mountain col, the terrain gradually opened up. With a loud shout of “Hyah!”, his steed ran even faster.

Arriving at the Northern Pacification Camp outside Cultured Prefecture, he had his waist token checked at the gate and casually tossed his horse’s reins and bridle to a patrolling soldier before striding quickly toward the main commander’s tent.

There were also soldiers guarding outside the Grand General’s tent, but they informed him that Grand General Wei wasn’t inside. Suppressing his anxiety, he paced a small semicircle around the entrance before hurriedly running toward the adjutant’s tent nearby.

Fortunately, the Adjutant happened to be there. After a hasty bow, he stood up and whispered a few sentences into the Adjutant’s ear.

Xiao Zheng’s expression flickered slightly. He frowned in thought for a moment, then ordered him to keep the matter secret and return to await further summons. Immediately after, he strode out of the tent and headed for the military tournament grounds.

Today was the day of a minor competition within the Northern Pacification Army. Even though snowflakes were as large as mats and the northern land had turned breath into ice, it couldn’t quell the hot-blooded fervor of the young men’s contests.

Wei Huaishu stood on the viewing platform with a group of Deputy Generals. Down on the field below, Wei Qingchen and another young commander each led a squad, locked in a simulated battle.

Both squads were infantry, wearing red or blue headscarves to distinguish friend from foe. Wei Qingchen led a hundred-man squad, facing off against a three-hundred-man squad under Vice General Zhuang. This was a challenge given to her by her father. She had to break through! Every man in her hundred-man squad wore a red cloth on his head. Her third younger brother, Wei Jiewu, followed her left and right as her second-in-command. The two siblings led from the front, but with such a huge disparity in numbers, even fighting desperately, Wei Qingchen’s hundred-man squad gradually fell to a disadvantage.

The young commander opposing her was a nephew of Vice General Zhuang, named Zhuang Zerui, also personally groomed by the Vice General. Despite his youth, his military merits had already promoted him to a fifth-rank military officer. About to defeat the Wei Heir, his face showed a hint of arrogance, causing Vice General Zhuang to frown.

Wei Qingchen had a trace of blood on her eyebrow, cut moments before by a bamboo sword wielded by an enemy soldier. It had nearly sliced into her eyeball. The heavy snow was still falling. She wiped her face along with the snow, blood and sweat mingling to soak her cheeks. Seeing her soldiers being knocked down one after another, Wei Qingchen steeled her resolve in her heart. Her expression turned cold and severe. She ordered her signal officer to use flag commands. Her soldiers, exhausted and unwilling to admit defeat, saw their commander issue a do-or-die order and immediately firmed their resolve. Following the pre-arranged plan, they changed formation and quickly clustered around their commander, forming a triangular advancing column as sharp as a blade.

“Yo!” Several Deputy Generals on the platform all brightened simultaneously, their focus intensifying as they peered down at the field.

“Kill!!!” The blade drew from its sheath, charging into the enemy line. Wei Qingchen led the remaining thirty-plus men against the enemy’s nearly one hundred.

The soldiers with red headscarves cared no longer for their own lives, roaring their battle cries as they fought fiercely. They swiftly tore a gaping hole through the opposing formation. When the soldiers charged near the enemy commander, just as they had drilled before, they immediately scattered like flowing water to the sides. Zhuang Zerui, having experienced battles both large and small, naturally knew this meant they were trying to capture the leader to defeat the army. The guards around him swiftly closed ranks to protect him. Wei Jiewu suddenly abandoned his defense, fighting three men alone, recklessly tying up three close-in guards. He shouted loudly, “Second Brother!”

Wei Qingchen surged out from behind him, bamboo sword in hand. Under the shocked gaze of the young Zhuang commander, she struck with lightning speed. In just three to five exchanges, she “slayed” him before the army!

The tides of battle had reversed. The soldiers watching around the field fell into a moment of stunned silence, then erupted into thunderous cheers. Mixed within the cheers were shouts like “Red Squad wins! The Heir wins!” Gradually, the voices converged into a unified chant: “The Heir wins! The Heir wins! The Heir wins!”

“Grand General, both Young Lords have shown youthful promise. Truly worthy of congratulations!” On the viewing platform, colleagues one after another offered their congratulations to the Grand General.

Wei Huaishu was inwardly very pleased. A smile appeared on his face, though he simply said, “Young men, they still need more tempering.”

Although this battle was only a minor competition, the fight between the two armies was fought with real effort. The final reversal, with the Wei Heir snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, was truly blood-stirring!

In terms of tactics and coordination, the Wei siblings both performed brilliantly, their teamwork practically flawless. Zhuang Zerui accepted his defeat wholeheartedly. When Wei Qingchen extended a hand to pull him up from the ground, he cupped his fist to her in front of everyone: “Heir! You are truly formidable! This humble officer is sincerely convinced!”

Wei Qingchen spoke no false pleasantries. She simply clapped him on the shoulder and laughed heartily. “When we get leave, I’ll treat you to meat in the city!”

“Ha ha ha ha ha!” Zhuang Zerui was a magnanimous young man and nodded with a loud laugh. Beside him, Wei Jiewu also wiped the sweat from his brow and squinted. “I heard that! Second Brother must treat us to meat!”

“Ha ha ha ha!!”

Not far away on the viewing platform, the Grand General stepped forward and stood by the railing. Any soldiers from the two squads still able to stand had sprinted back into formation, lining up and waiting.

Wei Huaishu offered a few words of encouragement, announced the Red Squad’s victory, and rewarded everyone with an extra half-month’s pay. The Red Squad cheered thunderously, as if the extra money was already in their hands.

Xiao Zheng had been there for a while. During the most intense point of the battle moments ago, he hadn’t gone up to disturb anyone. Seeing the Heir win now, he also felt great satisfaction in his heart.

The Wei Heir had both courage and strategy. The Third Young Master was an excellent deputy. The Northern Pacification Army had worthy successors.

Thinking of this, he suddenly remembered the Eldest Young Master and raised his eyes to look. Wei Chengxian stood behind his father, his body half-turned toward him. A smile seemed to be on his face, but since Xiao Zheng couldn’t see his eyes, he felt that smile contained… some indescribable meaning.

Xiao Zheng stepped forward. The Deputy Generals all respected him and naturally parted to create a path. With many people present, some things were inconvenient to say right now.

Several more matches followed, all between different Red and Blue squads, led by young commanders under the various Deputy Generals. Wei Huaishu watched for a while longer. Only when the next match also had a decided victor, which he personally announced, did he leave the viewing platform.

Xiao Zheng returned to the main commander’s tent with him. Only after clearing the tent of others did he relay the message brought back earlier by the scout to the Grand General.

Wei Huaishu’s expression darkened. “Is it confirmed?” he asked.

Xiao Zheng replied, “Not yet verified. But we must always take precautions.”

“Investigate further.”

“Yes.”

A few days passed, and it was time for rotational leave. Wei Qingchen, as promised, invited Zhuang Zerui and several other young commanders whose leave fell on the same day to head into the city together. Wei Jiewu specifically arranged a swap of leave duty with Kang Xun. Kang Xun cursed him, “All you can think of is eating!” Wei Jiewu retorted, “I’ll bring you a Hundred Flowers Chicken from the Flying White Tower, free of charge!” Kang Xun relented, “Fine!”

The Hundred Flowers Chicken at the Flying White Tower was famed far and wide throughout Cultured Prefecture. The group rode their horses, swaggering into the city, and headed straight for the Flying White Tower. The innkeeper, judging by their overall demeanor, guessed they were likely military men. He didn’t call for the junior waiters to serve wine, simply sending up plump Hundred Flowers Chickens, one whole platter after another.

The young men ate to their hearts’ content. After eating, they even strolled around the streets for a bit. It was past the hour of the Sheep (1-3 PM) by the time they retrieved their horses and headed back to camp.

It hadn’t snowed today, but it was still piercingly cold. As Wei Qingchen and Wei Jiewu approached the camp gates, they saw a familiar figure in the distance. Wei Jiewu slowly reined in his horse, walking closer gradually. He muttered, half-jokingly, “Is Brother Kang that gluttonous? Can’t even wait to eat the Hundred Flowers Chicken?”

Wei Qingchen also smiled and spurred her horse forward alongside him.

Kang Xun had already spotted them. He hurriedly came out to meet them at the gate.

“Heir, Third Young Master, you’re finally back.” He steadied their horses as the two siblings jumped down and said urgently, “Hurry to the main tent! The Grand General is looking for you!”

Wei Jiewu’s hand, moving toward his horse’s saddlebag, stopped mid-reach. His face fell. “Is Father going to scold us? Isn’t today a leave day?”

“It’s not about that.” Kang Xun took the horses. He glanced at Wei Qingchen and said, “A letter has arrived from the Capital City. Go quickly. The Grand General is waiting for you in the main tent.”

Wei Qingchen frowned slightly. Judging by Kang Xun’s expression, the letter from the capital wasn’t good news. She nodded slightly and headed toward the main tent. Wei Jiewu followed behind her, took a couple of steps, then turned back. He shoved the Hundred Flowers Chicken wrapped in lotus leaves into Kang Xun’s arms, instructing, “Eat it while it’s hot!” With that, he sprinted a few steps, caught up to his second brother, and together they headed to their father’s main tent.

The Commander’s Tent was located slightly to the rear of the main camp headquarters. The two siblings walked for quite a while before reaching its entrance. The guards recognized them, saluted, went inside to announce their arrival, then lifted the felt curtain to let them enter.

Inside the main tent, besides Grand General Wei Huaishu, there were also Military Advisor Xiao Zheng and the Eldest Young Master Wei Chengxian. All three wore solemn expressions, clearly waiting for their return.

“Father!” The two siblings cupped their fists in unison. After Wei Huaishu acknowledged them, they both straightened up and stood at attention.

Wei Huaishu looked at his three sons in turn. Finally, his gaze rested on Wei Qingchen. His voice deep, he said, “A letter has come from your mother. Her Highness the Empress Dowager is slightly unwell. As her grandson, you should return to pay your respects. The journey to the Capital City is long. Pack your things and set out tomorrow.”

Wei Qingchen’s heart sank. She was far away in Chen Prefecture; even on a fast horse, it would take over ten days to reach the capital. And this was during the winter patrol, with the army in the field. Yet her mother had specifically written a letter. She feared her Imperial Grandmother’s illness wasn’t as minor as “slightly unwell.”

She knelt on one knee. “Son understands. Son will depart early tomorrow morning.”

Wei Huaishu saw her head lowered, her voice strained with emotion. He sighed inwardly. “The rest of you, leave first. Chen’er, stay.”

Xiao Zheng and the others acknowledged the order in unison and slowly withdrew from the main tent. Wei Chengxian paused as he passed his second brother and patted her shoulder.

Only father and son remained in the tent.

The north wind howled outside, its sound forming a screen to block sound at this very moment.

Wei Huaishu looked at his grown-up child and put on a severe expression. “Her Highness the Empress Dowager’s illness is truly not serious. The reason you are going to the Capital City this time is to bring a message to His Majesty. The scouts have confirmed it: the Southern Plume and the Northern Chen are making frequent covert contacts. A meeting between them, one in the south, one in the north, separated by ten thousand li, must indicate a secret conspiracy. Our Eastern Radiance lies between their two territories. If they join forces, we will truly be attacked from both front and rear. On this trip to the capital, you must seek an audience with His Majesty and deliver this message personally. Respectfully request His Majesty’s sagely judgment!”

Wei Qingchen was both shocked and filled with reverence. She immediately clasped her fist in a pledge. “Son will not fail the mission!”