Volume 3: Southern Expedition and Territorial Expansion - Chapter 118: The Lady of Marquis Fufeng

The marching column trudged forward, shrinking away from the biting cold. They struggled across the Zhongnan Mountains and passed through Shangluo County before turning southwest toward Jinzhou.

Li Xuerou and her entourage of handmaidens sat huddled together for warmth inside two rented, simple-canopied donkey carts, wrapped in thick quilts. The journey had been arduous; it was far less comfortable than her home in Chang'an.

"Who are you people?" Seven days later, as they entered the borders of Jinzhou, the column was intercepted by two men in cotton robes, each carrying a long saber.

"We have come from Chang'an, heading to Xicheng County in Jinzhou to visit relatives. May I ask if you are soldiers of the Jinzhou garrison?" the fire-leader at the head of the column replied.

"We are Jinzhou patrols. May I ask for the official rank and name of your master?" the patrolman asked politely.

"My mistress is a relative of the Marquis of Fufeng," the fire-leader answered.

The two patrolmen were taken aback. They exchanged glances, and one of them gestured to the other before they stepped away to consult privately. A moment later, one returned and asked, "Since you are relatives of the Marquis of Fufeng, may I have an audience with her?"

"Please wait a moment," the fire-leader said. He sent someone to relay the message, and upon receiving word back, he allowed the patrolman to pass.

The patrolman was led to the donkey cart. The canopy curtain was pulled back, revealing three beautiful women sitting inside. The patrolman took one look and quickly offered a respectful military salute: "Your subordinate pays respects to the Lady."

"Oh, you are a Jinzhou patrolman. Do you have any instructions?" Li Xuerou asked, her voice trembling slightly from the cold.

"I am on patrol under orders and must inquire about military details. May I ask your name and the nature of your armed escort?" the patrolman asked respectfully.

"My name is Li Xuerou, wife of the Marquis of Fufeng. These armed men are my subordinates who are escorting me," she replied.

The patrolman nodded and said, "Apologies for the intrusion, my Lady. I shall take my leave."

Watching the patrolman depart, Li Xuerou ordered the driver to lower the curtain and continue the journey. Inside the cart, the maid on her left asked, "Princess, why did you not reveal your true identity?"

"Revealing it would only invite trouble," Li Xuerou whispered. "If the Marquis's family knew, and they came out to welcome me, it would be against their true feelings. If they did not, it would be a blatant slight to my status as a Princess. I must be tactful. I shall approach them as a daughter-in-law paying respects to her parents-in-law; putting on the airs of a Princess would only breed resentment."

***

The group followed the southern bank of the Han River until they finally reached the East Gate of Xicheng County. The East Gate was an inner gate; the expansion of Jinzhou city had primarily been toward the south and west, and the East Gate had been renovated with brick, making it more grand and aesthetically pleasing than before.

As the carts entered the barbican, Zhao Heng, the military commander guarding the East Gate, was there to receive them. Having received the report from his patrol, he dared not be negligent or discourteous. He had already reported to the Jinzhou Prefect, but had yet to receive a reply.

"I am Zhao Heng, commander of the city gate, paying respects to you, my Lady," Zhao Heng said, saluting the cart.

"General Zhao, may I enter the city?" Li Xuerou asked.

"In reply to the Lady, the Military Commissioner has ordered that all entrants must be carefully vetted for their origins. Please state your background, my Lady. I cannot neglect my duty simply because you are the wife of the Marquis of Fufeng," Zhao Heng said respectfully.

Li Xuerou thought for a moment and had her maid produce the imperial marriage decree and the Princess's golden seal. Zhao Heng stepped forward, unfolded the documents, and examined them closely. He was stunned, but suddenly heard her ask, "Is the Marquis of Fufeng still in Jinzhou?"

Zhao Heng started, looked up at Li Xuerou, and replied, "Why would the Marquis of Fufeng be in Jinzhou?"

Li Xuerou spoke calmly, "I am acquainted with the Marquis. I have come to Jinzhou to pay respects to his parents, after which I shall settle in Yuzhou in southern Sichuan."

Zhao Heng gave a soft "Oh" and said respectfully, "You are Her Highness the Princess; please forgive my insolence."

"I do not wish to draw attention to my arrival. I am merely the wife of the Marquis of Fufeng. I ask that you not spread word of my status as a Princess, General Zhao," Li Xuerou said.

Zhao Heng hesitated, not confirming whether he would or not, and instead shifted the topic: "Is there anything the Lady requires of me?"

Li Xuerou was slightly startled. Based on their exchange and Zhao Heng's respectful attitude, she realized that this gate commander was likely a subordinate of the Marquis. Her mind shifted, and she smiled, "Please send someone to escort me to the County Office."

Zhao Heng nodded, "I shall have men escort you."

Li Xuerou added, "Since you are providing an escort, please see to the arrangements for my hundred guards. Food and lodging are sufficient; treat them as you would the Jinzhou militia."

Zhao Heng nodded, "Rest assured, my Lady, I will handle it."

Li Xuerou smiled and nodded, "Thank you."

Zhao Heng saluted in silence, stepped aside, and ordered two squads of soldiers to provide an escort. As the carts departed, Zhao Heng sent messengers to both the County and Prefecture offices. He ordered his men to house and feed the hundred guards, while also confiscating their long spears and prohibiting them from leaving their quarters without authorization.

Twenty soldiers from the city gate marched in two rows on either side of the carts. Inside, Li Xuerou whispered, "Look at the soldiers outside. How do they differ from our own guards?"

"The soldiers outside are very imposing, while our guards look listless," the maid on the left replied.

"This is the vast difference between the Imperial Army and the warlord armies. Our hundred guards are far inferior in morale and equipment. If they were to clash, those twenty men outside would be enough to defeat our hundred," Li Xuerou whispered.

"Indeed, Princess, you are right. I took a closer look; many of the soldiers at the gate wear armor, and even those who don't have bows and arrows. Our guards don't even have armor for their officers," the maid said.

"When we reach the County Office, we must be humble. Even to the servants, be gentle," Li Xuerou instructed.

***

Upon arriving at the County Office, Xuerou and her maids disembarked. Looking toward the gate, she saw many people coming out to meet them. At the forefront were a middle-aged man and woman; the man wore green official robes, and the woman wore a pleated ru-skirt.

Xuerou hurried forward, and before the greeters could speak, she performed a respectful bow: "Daughter-in-law Li Xuerou pays respects to Father-in-law and Mother-in-law."

The Wei couple was taken aback. They had received an urgent report, and after some deliberation, had decided to welcome her according to protocol. Even if the Wei family of Jinzhou had become a warlord power, they were still subjects of the Great Tang. In truth, they had long known of the imperial marriage, but they had not expected the Princess to come to Jinzhou.

"Her Highness the Princess has graced us with her presence. I apologize for not welcoming you from further away," Wei Xuan said, his surprise lingering, yet remaining respectful.

"Daughter-in-law Xuerou comes only to fulfill her filial duty. I ask that you two elders not make things difficult for me," Li Xuerou replied respectfully. She then knelt on the steps and kowtowed, and the maids behind her quickly followed suit.

"Ah, please, rise quickly," the elder woman hurried down to help her up.

After helping Li Xuerou up, the elder woman said with pity, "It is cold outside; let us go inside to talk."

Li Xuerou nodded, took the woman's left arm, and walked into the County Office with an air of intimacy.

***

Wei Xuan followed behind. Once inside the residence, they went to the second hall, where a fire brazier made the room warm and pleasant.

Li Xuerou took the initiative to sit in the lower seat and said, "I left Chang'an and reached Hu County, then turned toward Jinzhou to pay respects to my father and mother-in-law. They do not know in Chang'an that I have come to Jinzhou."

"Oh, and how did Your Highness come to know of the Fufeng family's background?" Wei Xuan asked.

"I was close to the wife of Lord Li Ji, and also friends with Jiuniang. During the New Year, I visited my aunt and coincidentally met the Marquis of Fufeng there. I admired the Marquis for his Battle of Hedong and his restoration of Quchi, and was deeply taken by his humility and courtesy. When I learned the Li family had reneged on the marriage, I presumptuously asked my sister-in-law to take charge. She petitioned the Empress, and the Empress requested the Emperor to grant the marriage," Li Xuerou explained, appearing slightly shy.

Wei Xuan nodded. Li Xuerou added, "My original intention was to marry a man I admired. I did not expect that, in addition to the marriage decree, the Emperor would also bestow upon me the title of Princess Jiangcheng. I felt this was improper, so I ask you two elders not to mind my title as Princess."

"The Emperor has bestowed a title; how could I, a humble official, not show respect?" Wei Xuan said, cupping his hands.

Li Xuerou smiled bitterly and whispered, "You should respect the Emperor, but I only wish to be your daughter-in-law. Furthermore, because I presumptuously asked for this marriage, I feel truly guilty toward Jiuniang. In the future, when Jiuniang marries the Marquis of Fufeng, I am willing to honor her as the legitimate wife."

Wei Xuan and his wife were surprised. The elder woman said gently, "The engagement between Fufeng and the Li family no longer exists; as a Princess, you are naturally the legitimate wife."

"The Li family's reneging on the marriage was a matter of not being able to defy the Emperor; it was not Jiuniang's wish. When I left Chang'an, I bid farewell to Jiuniang and promised her that I would honor her as the legitimate wife. I do not wish for the Marquis to abandon her," Li Xuerou said firmly.

Wei Xuan and his wife exchanged a look. Wei Xuan said gently, "Your Highness must be exhausted from your long journey. Please rest first."

The elder woman nodded and rose, smiling as she invited Li Xuerou to the inner quarters, while Wei Xuan left the County Office for the Prefecture Office.

***

In the second hall of the Prefecture Office, Wei Xuan reported, "Father, what do you think we should do?"

The Jinzhou Prefect smiled faintly, "We are subjects of the Great Tang. We naturally cannot refuse the Emperor's marriage decree."

"Could there be any hidden dangers?" Wei Xuan asked.

"The Emperor's intent is nothing more than to appease and utilize us. Princess Jiangcheng herself is not a threat. As for the Marquis's background, it would have been revealed sooner or later; the impact of it being revealed now is not significant," the Prefect said.

Wei Xuan nodded. The Prefect continued, "Since the Princess has come quietly, we need not put on an empty display of ceremony. Let her stay a few days and then send her on her way."

Wei Xuan nodded. The Prefect thought for a moment and added, "We must not be careless. Keep the hundred guards who accompanied the Princess in Jinzhou. Furthermore, send men to escort the Princess to Yuzhou to prevent the court from spying too much on the affairs of southern Sichuan and Jinzhou."

Wei Xuan nodded, "Is the court's appeasement of southern Sichuan intended to keep the Fengxiang Army in check?"

The Prefect said, "That is one of the intentions. If the court finds out that Badong and Wuling also belong to us, this appeasement will be the precursor to an attack."

Wei Xuan was shocked, "The court intends to send troops to attack us?"

The Prefect nodded, "When we petitioned to establish a military governorship, the Emperor refused to grant the title of Jiedushi. This shows that the Emperor is deeply wary of us because we are from the great Wei clan."

Wei Xuan said, "So in the Emperor's eyes, we are a greater threat than Li Maozhen?"

The Prefect shook his head, "Not necessarily. The threat the Fengxiang Army poses to Chang'an is greater than ours, but we are weaker than them. The Emperor's decision leans toward dealing with us first."

Wei Xuan's expression changed, "Does Father have a way to counter this?"

"Beyond holding our ground, there is no other way. Last time, I hoped that the court's coalition would attack southern Sichuan, but the Fengxiang Army refused the order, causing my plans to come to naught," the Prefect concluded.