Volume Two: The Grandfather and Grandson Lords Chapter 38: Parents

Wei Fufeng fell silent. A hundred thousand troops—he too now commanded a hundred thousand men, but they were a rabble, an ill-disciplined horde, facing a battle-hardened army as fierce as tigers and wolves.

Against such a force, even ten thousand battle-hardened soldiers could rout a hundred thousand unruly men.

Suddenly, his grandfather asked, "Fufeng, what do you think the court should do?"

Wei Fufeng was taken aback for a moment, then replied, "The court's troops are mostly newly recruited, many joined simply to fill their bellies. When faced with real battle, everyone is only thinking of saving their own skin. Therefore, the court should not send troops, but rather observe as the regional warlords fight among themselves. Given time, the army can be drilled and made obedient to command."

His grandfather nodded, then turned to look at the Fourteenth Uncle and said, "Fourteenth, if your subordinates were to flee from battle, what would you do?"

The Fourteenth Uncle replied, "If men flee in battle, they must be executed to set an example."

"If a single soldier flees, you can execute him and instill fear. But if dozens panic and flee together, who then do you execute? What Fufeng says is true. Most of the hundred thousand troops in Chang'an joined just to get by, they lack proper training, and are even more poorly equipped," the grandfather said.

"Father, you mean you don't want me to go?" The Fourteenth Uncle said in a disappointed whisper.

"As your father, I too wish you could pursue an official career, but this campaign against Li Keyong, I do not have high hopes for. The main reason is that the troops in Chang'an are of poor quality, lacking any elite forces.

"However, since you have already been registered in the army, not going would bring many troubles. I will devise a compromise for you—allowing you to keep your registration with the Divine Strategies Army, yet also reasonably avoid having to go to Hedong," his grandfather said gently.

The Fourteenth Uncle nodded softly in assent. Standing by, Wei Fufeng understood: his grandfather did not want his youngest son to march to his death, but neither did he want him to spend his life in mediocrity.

His grandfather then turned to him, saying kindly, "Fufeng, go see your parents now. Your marriage is for your mother to decide."

Wei Fufeng bowed in acknowledgment. Suddenly moved, he added, "Grandfather, I wish to change my name. Fufeng shall be my courtesy name."

His grandfather was briefly surprised and said kindly, "If you wish to change your name, you may."

"I wish to be called Wei Zheng—Zheng as in 'prominent' or 'towering'." Wei Fufeng quickly added.

Wei Fufeng's current name could easily give him away. If, with his grandfather's approval, he took the name Wei Zheng, as the Military Governor of Chuan'nan, it would silence any talk among the clan.

"Zhengrong—good, I will alter your registration. You shall be wed under the name Wei Zheng," his grandfather agreed.

"Thank you, Grandfather, for granting me this name." Wei Fufeng replied with respect, knowing full well that his grandfather valued the alliance with Li Xi greatly. As for his marriage, it was simply a means to solidify that relationship.

Wei Fufeng left his grandfather's study, while the Fourteenth Uncle remained to talk further.

Exiting his grandfather's residence, Wei Fufeng was immediately greeted by a crowd. At the fore stood a middle-aged man, refined and handsome despite his half-worn round-collared robe—it was his father, Wei Xuan.

Beside and behind his father stood several women, among them an eleven- or twelve-year-old girl—his younger sister. The older women were his father's wife, his own mother, Concubine Zhao, and several maids and servant women.

Wei Fufeng hurried forward, bowed and greeted them, "Your son greets Father and Stepmother."

"Good, it's well that you're back. You have been too reckless," his father replied, showing genuine concern.

Wei Fufeng felt his nose sting; he had always thought his father didn't care for him, and in truth, they seldom met.

Yet his mother had told him before that his father too had his own frustrations—perhaps it was his grandfather who favored him the least.

"Fufeng, you mustn't act so rashly again. Since you left, your grandfather has been restless day and night, and your mother has wept herself dry," said his father's wife, a beautiful middle-aged woman, admonishing him gently.

"I know I was wrong," Wei Fufeng replied, feeling warmth in his heart.

"That's enough. Feng'er, go speak with Fufeng," the wife said with a smile.

A pretty, round-faced woman standing by her gave a gentle "mm" in assent. Wei Fufeng turned to his father and said, "Father, just now in Grandfather's study, he granted me the name Wei Zheng, with Fufeng as my courtesy name."

Wei Xuan was briefly surprised, then nodded. "If your grandfather granted you a name, that is a good thing."

Wei Fufeng nodded, and the family turned to leave the residence.

His grandfather ruled the household with an iron hand. Without a summons, even Wei Xuan dared not enter the courtyard—an indication of his cautious and prudent nature.

On the way, the family separated. Wei Fufeng and his mother returned to their own rooms, accompanied by a graceful maid in a green dress.

He recognized her as Mingyu. He looked at her kindly and nodded with a smile.

Mingyu lowered her head in shyness, her fair hands nervously tugging at her sleeves.

Wei Fufeng felt his heart stir. Mingyu was a maid from his father's wife's rooms, about fifteen or sixteen—a beauty with snowy skin and delicate features.

In wealthy households, such maids generally had three futures: to become a concubine, to marry a favored servant, or to be given as part of a daughter's dowry.

As for buying their freedom, that was rarely allowed.

His mother, seeing this, smiled and said, "Fufeng, Mingyu likes you. She told me herself that she's willing to entrust herself to you. You must cherish her in the future."

Wei Fufeng felt a gentle warmth—he had never expected that such a beautiful maid would be fond of him, though he had certainly envied his older brother for having five such beauties serving him, while he himself had not even a single servant.

The three walked on, and his mother continued in a soft voice, "The young lady chosen for you from Lord Li Xi's household is a concubine's daughter. I believe she must have a gentle disposition."

"Legitimate or not, it makes no difference to me. It's just a pretext for our elders to strengthen their ties," Wei Fufeng replied indifferently, not necessarily approving of his elders' arrangements.

"You child, you mustn't speak so carelessly. If this marriage with the Li family goes through, you'll have the chance to embark on an official career," his mother chided him.

Wei Fufeng said nothing. In truth, he was a real military governor in his own right—his rank was not below Li Xi's, and in terms of actual power, he far surpassed him.

He felt a surge of pride, but then a shadow crossed his mind: all he had in Chuan'nan might be nothing more than a fleeting dream. He should not let arrogance take root.

"Indeed, having connections in the capital is essential for an official career. If Li Xi could secure for me a local post, with the Fufeng Army still under my control, perhaps I could establish my own base, and with it, support my troops..."

Suddenly, his mother asked, "Fufeng, what are you thinking?"

"Oh, Mother, I was just thinking about the marriage arranged for me in my childhood," he replied absently.

"Since we left Fufeng County, there's been no word—best to consider it void," his mother said.

Wei Fufeng nodded. He used to wear a jade marriage token on his chest, but when he began living alone, his mother, fearing it might be lost, kept it for him.

The marriage had been arranged with a concubine's daughter. His father had fallen on hard times, and with no word from the other family, that engagement might as well not exist.

He and his mother returned to their rooms.

Seeing him return, Amber stood by respectfully and nervously.

Wei Fufeng introduced her, "Mother, this is Amber, a maid I recently took in. There's another, Little Snow, whom I'll bring tomorrow."

His mother looked Amber up and down, then nodded and said softly, "Since you brought her here, let her stay, but you must register her with the authorities to avoid any trouble."

"Amber's family is in Shangluo County. I'll take care of it tomorrow," Wei Fufeng replied with a smile.

His mother nodded, and he added, "Mother, I need to go to Chang'an in a few days."

"Why do you need to go to Chang'an? The marriage can be arranged without you," his mother said in surprise.

"I wish to call on Lord Li Xi myself and seek an official post as soon as possible," he explained, needing to take command of the Fufeng Army.

"Matters of office are best handled by your elders. It's not proper for you to go," his mother objected.

"Mother, my great-uncle recommended me to Lord Li Xi. If I passively wait for him to return, it may be too late," Wei Fufeng replied.

"How could it be too late when your great-uncle returns?" his mother asked, puzzled.

"My great-uncle's campaign in Western Sichuan is going poorly. The Emperor will surely punish him—at the very least, he will be demoted. I must seek office soon, so as not to disappoint him," he explained.

His mother nodded, then hesitated, "But isn't it rash to rush to meet him like this?"

"If Lord Li Xi wishes to maintain ties with my great-uncle, he'll certainly grant me a post. If he intends to distance himself, no matter when I go, it will make no difference," Wei Fufeng replied.

His mother nodded. "You must inform your grandfather. No more reckless actions."

"I understand," Wei Fufeng replied, though in truth, he had no intention of seeing his grandfather—better to act forthrightly, rather than be caught in another lie.

His mother fussed over him a bit more before leaving, reminding Mingyu to fetch his dinner.

Meals at the Chief Secretary's residence were distributed according to rank.

After his mother left, Mingyu shyly addressed him as "Young Master" and formally greeted him.

Wei Fufeng smiled and nodded. Mingyu then took Amber by the hand to the wooden couch, pulling out a set of clothes for her.

Wei Fufeng walked into the courtyard, gazing at the setting sun behind the western hills, pondering the feasibility of securing an official post.

He knew that even if he succeeded, it would only be as an assistant county magistrate. Many military governors accepted the court's appointment of assistant officials in their territories.

But such posts generally carried no real power.

For Wei Fufeng, however, so long as he had a legitimate title, he could wield military power from behind the scenes, turning a nominal position into real authority.

The crucial question was: where would be the best place to seek appointment?

He crouched down, picked up a stone, and began drawing on the ground, silently counting the prefectures south of Chang'an—Shannan West Circuit, Shannan East Circuit, Jingnan and the Three Gorges.

Shannan West Circuit was under Yang Shouliang; Shannan East bordered Huainan.

Jingnan was held by Cheng Rui, who reportedly refused to accept any court-appointed officials.

Hmm, Jinzhou (Ankang in southern Shaanxi).

After counting, he marked Jinzhou, east of Yangzhou, with a stone.

Jinzhou and Yangzhou were adjacent, both historically part of Hanzhong Commandery.

The Han River, a tributary of the Yangtze, rises in the Qinling and Daba Mountains, flowing west to east through Xingyuan Prefecture, Yangzhou, Jinzhou, Junzhou, Xiangzhou, and finally to Ezhou (Wuhan), where it joins the Yangtze.

Xixiang County in Yangzhou, Hanzhong, was the starting point of the Ziwu Road north to Chang'an, as well as the starting point of the Lychee Road south to Bazhong and Fuling.

Jinzhou is located in the Ankang Basin along the Han River, bordering Kuizhou of the Three Gorges to the south, with the Qinling Mountains to the north; through the Kukudao in the Qinling, it connects directly to Chang'an.

To the northeast, Jinzhou borders Shangzhou. The two prefectures were once governed together by the Jinshang Military Commissioner, but after Shangzhou was taken by Han Jian, the court assigned Jinzhou to the Wuding Military Governor.