Volume II: Grandfather and Grandson, Lords and Vassals Chapter 36: Return to Shangluo County

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Shangluo County, the domain of Han Jian, a regional warlord. How could Wei Fufeng dare to lead his troops back there? After settling the Fufeng Army, he quietly departed Lantian County with Xiaoxue and five subordinates, returning to Shangluo County in two carriages.

Several months had passed since his last visit. When he left, the chill of early spring bit through the skin; now, he returned under the sweltering sun of summer, entering Shangluo’s city with a heart heavy with unease and longing.

As he walked through the city, he saw that the number of refugees remained nearly unchanged since his departure.

“Han Jian is said to care for the people, yet he ignores Shangzhou entirely. At the very least, he ought to provide thin gruel to the destitute,” Wei Fufeng silently reproached.

But he knew well that Han Jian was in no position to offer much relief. In these chaotic times, regional lords could only hope to survive by raising and sustaining armies; grain was the foundation of military strength. Han Jian could only absorb the able-bodied among the refugees for his own use.

Wei Fufeng’s rule in Luzhou was secured by seizing resources from wealthy families, thereby supporting his troops. Moreover, as Luzhou had not been ravaged by war, many refugees had migrated there.

Han Jian’s territory was a land beset on all sides. To the east lay the military might of the Shan’guo Governor of Hezhong, to the north the Hezhong and Hedong Governors across the Yellow River, both threats in their own right. To the west, the capital region and Li Maozhen, the Governor of Fengxiang, cast covetous eyes, while to the south, the Loyal and Righteous Army (Governor of Shannan East Circuit) threatened his flank.

In truth, Han Jian’s holdings were beleaguered, his power hemmed in and unable to expand, surrounded by enemies.

Of these, the warlords north of the Yellow River posed the greatest threat. Fortunately, Li Keyong of the Hedong Army focused his campaigns against the Xuanwu Army and had not yet attacked Tongguan (Huazhou) south of the river.

Han Jian had advanced south to seize Shangzhou; southern expansion was his only viable path, and only by nibbling away at Shannan East could Han Jian grow stronger. Yet he dared not commit too many troops southward, lest his base at Huazhou be left vulnerable.

On his way, Wei Fufeng found an inn for Xiaoxue and his followers to rest. His subordinates did not know why he had come to Shangluo, nor did he wish them to know the roots of his intentions.

Alone, he made his way to Old Feng’s residence, determined to learn the latest about Shangluo and prepare himself.

Arriving at Chongyi Lane, Wei Fufeng, familiar with the route, reached Old Feng’s home. He entered the courtyard and was startled to find five unfamiliar figures—old and young alike.

The moment he stepped inside, two elderly men and women stood up in surprise; three children peered at him with both fear and curiosity, one of them darting behind the elders.

Seeing these five ragged strangers, Wei Fufeng’s expression remained calm as he asked, “Where is Qin Feihu?”

“Who are you, looking for Brother Qin?” the old man replied, startled and suspicious.

Wei Fufeng nodded. “My surname is Wei. I am young master to Qin Feihu.”

“Oh, then you must be the Seventeenth Young Master. When Brother Qin left, he said this house belonged to you. We pay our respects, Seventeenth Young Master.” The old man bowed respectfully.

Wei Fufeng frowned slightly. Qin Feihu was an orphan, taken in by Old Feng. Old Feng always considered himself Wei Fufeng’s servant, and Qin Feihu had become his attendant as well—the name “Feihu” was given by Wei Fufeng himself.

“Where has he gone?” Wei Fufeng asked, displeased, for he had intentionally left the fourteen-year-old Qin Feihu behind out of concern for the dangers in Sichuan.

“Brother Qin joined the army. They say a general took a liking to him. We were taken in by Brother Qin’s kindness. He told us that if you returned, we should tell you he would not forget your grace,” the old man replied with deference.

“Joined the army? Which army?” Wei Fufeng pressed.

“He didn’t say,” the old man answered helplessly.

Wei Fufeng frowned, pondering, “If Feihu encountered an officer in the city, perhaps he joined Han Jian’s troops?”

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A wave of disappointment rose within Wei Fufeng. He lacked trustworthy followers and had hoped that one day Qin Feihu might become his confidant.

But now Qin Feihu was gone, and it would not be wise to seek him out. He did not blame Qin Feihu for betraying him; in turbulent times, each found their own fortune, and opportunities should not be missed.

“Young Master, my granddaughter is obedient and clever. I beg you to take her in,” the old man suddenly knelt and pleaded, interrupting Wei Fufeng’s thoughts.

Wei Fufeng was momentarily taken aback, seeing five figures, old and young, kneeling before him. One girl crawled forward, kowtowing and timidly saying, “I am willing to serve you, Young Master. Please take me in.”

He gazed at them in silence. In times of chaos, human life was worth less than grass, especially for refugees. To be sold into service in a large household was often the only hope of survival. Yet for a poor family, an extra mouth was an added burden.

“Very well, you may stay in this house,” Wei Fufeng agreed calmly. Whether out of charity or for his own needs, he did not mind having another maid—Xiaoxue could use the company.

“Thank you for your great kindness, Young Master!” The old man kowtowed in gratitude as Wei Fufeng turned to leave.

The girl hastily got up, tottering after him.

Outside the gate of Chongyi Lane, Wei Fufeng paused to let the girl catch up.

When she drew near, she greeted him respectfully.

He nodded. The girl was thin as a reed, likely twelve or thirteen, yet her features were fair.

Glancing at the sky, now well past noon, Wei Fufeng bent and scooped up the girl, carrying her in his arms.

Startled, she shrank into herself, not daring to move.

“Don’t be afraid. I know you’re hungry and can’t walk far,” he reassured her gently.

“Thank you, Young Master,” she whispered.

He smiled, “What is your name?”

“Amber, Young Master,” she replied softly.

Wei Fufeng was surprised. “A good name. Can your family read?”

“My mother can,” Amber answered.

He gave a soft “Oh,” and walked into the main street, soon entering a porridge shop. He set Amber down and ordered bowls of rice gruel and pickled vegetables, waiting as she ate.

She ate with great care, clearly famished but forcing herself to take delicate sips, her tiny hands occasionally reaching for the pickles.

Meanwhile, Wei Fufeng watched the door, where four men with cudgels stood guard, making the place seem anything but a simple porridge shop.

When ordering, the proprietor had insisted he pay first—a bowl of gruel and a dish of pickles cost half a tael of silver. In Luzhou, that amount could buy a whole jin of good rice.

“More than twice as expensive as when I left—no doubt a consequence of the court’s campaign against the Hedong Governor,” Wei Fufeng mused. It made him realize just how valuable the grain he’d transported was.

“Young Master, I’ve finished,” Amber said softly, setting down her empty bowl with gratitude.

He nodded, smiled, and left with her, returning to his home in the Chief Scribe’s Residence in the eastern part of the city.

At the gate, two servants were surprised to see him. One middle-aged servant stepped forward, exclaiming, “The Seventeenth Young Master has returned!”

“Uncle Zhang, how have you been?” Wei Fufeng replied calmly.

“Well, Young Master. The Chief Scribe gave orders—if you returned, we were to report to him at once,” said the servant respectfully.

Wei Fufeng was taken aback. “Grandfather instructed you?”

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“The order was left at the gate, and it’s my turn on duty today,” the servant replied.

Wei Fufeng frowned slightly. He had rarely seen his grandfather, who had never summoned him directly. Within the Chief Scribe’s Residence, his presence was little more than that of a minor, overlooked member.

It was this neglect that had driven him to yearn for the outside world.

“Oh. I’ll return to my quarters. If Grandfather wishes to see me, inform me there,” Wei Fufeng replied blandly. Times had changed; he no longer cared about the intimidation of his elders.

The servant watched as Wei Fufeng and a poorly clad young girl entered the residence, surprised. It seemed the Seventeenth Young Master had changed—not only was his face now tanned, but even his manner was somehow different.

Yes, there was something of the Chief Scribe’s presence about him now.

Wei Fufeng returned straight to his secluded little courtyard. His main reason for coming back to Shangluo was to see his birth mother, and to settle Xiaoxue—now, Amber would join them as well.

“Amber, you and Xiaoxue will live here from now on. Later, I’ll take you to meet my mother,” Wei Fufeng said gently.

Amber nodded softly. Suddenly, Wei Fufeng noticed the room was remarkably clean, not at all like a place left vacant for long. There were even a few women’s garments and embroidery supplies folded on the bed.

“Could it be that someone else was placed here during my absence?” Wei Fufeng wondered, a sense of displeasure rising within him.

Suddenly, the hurried sound of footsteps approached. The middle-aged servant dashed to the doorway, breathless. “Young Master, the Chief Scribe wishes to see you at once.”

Wei Fufeng looked at him calmly, then turned to Amber with gentle warmth. “Rest for now, Amber.”

She nodded quietly, and Wei Fufeng left the courtyard. The servant urged him to hurry, but Wei Fufeng ignored him, walking at his own pace.

On the way, he asked, “After I left, who moved into my quarters?”

The servant hesitated, then replied, “I heard it was the Tenth Lady who had Mingyu stay there.”

“Mingyu? That’s the maid who serves my eldest mother,” Wei Fufeng remarked.

“Yes. After you left, Lady Li in the Tenth Lady’s quarters was very distressed. The Tenth Lady had Mingyu move into your room, hoping for your safe return,” the servant explained.

Wei Fufeng nodded in silence, feeling a pang of guilt. Lady Li was his birth mother, a handmaid who had accompanied the Tenth Lady as part of her dowry.

Wei Fufeng’s grandfather had seven sons—his father was the fifth, but ranked tenth in the family.

The Wei clan was a great and sprawling family, divided into nine main branches: the Eastern, Western, Jingzhao, Prince Consort’s, Meritorious Nobles’, Nanpi Duke’s, Longmen Duke’s, Carefree, and Lesser Carefree branches.

Wei Fufeng’s grandfather was from the Jingzhao branch, a brother to Great-Uncle Wei Zhaodu.

The Wei clan wielded significant power in Jingzhao Prefecture, much like other noble and meritorious families, owning vast tracts of land.

But the chaos of the age, especially the devastation when Huang Chao seized Chang’an, had severely weakened the Wei clan’s influence in Jingzhao.

As the saying goes, a lean camel is still bigger than a horse. The Wei clan remained formidable by virtue of its size, even if it could not act as one.

Wei Zhaodu’s rise to the post of Grand Chancellor owed both to his own scholarly achievements and the deep foundation of the Wei clan.

Wei Zhaodu and his brother, though born to the Jingzhao branch, had suffered decline and poverty in their youth. The gap between rich and poor within the Wei clan was immense. Only after Wei Zhaodu passed the imperial examinations did the wealthier family branches extend their support, making him the clan’s representative in officialdom.