Volume Two: Lords and Heirs Chapter 63: Ninth Lady
Wei Fufeng nodded. Li Xian continued, “If I may be so bold, what did His Majesty say to you?”
Wei Fufeng smiled. “What was said—can my second uncle truly not guess?”
Li Xian laughed, “Those in the Yan Ying Hall are all trusted attendants of His Majesty. Even Yang Fugong cannot learn what transpires there—only who enters and leaves, and when.”
Wei Fufeng nodded and recounted the audience with the Emperor.
After listening, Li Xian’s expression grew grave. “His Majesty is allowing the Fufeng Army to enter Chang’an; it seems he intends to move against Yang Fugong.”
Wei Fufeng’s spirits lifted. “Is that really possible?”
Li Xian replied, “Not very likely. Yang Fugong controls the Divine Strategy Army: if His Majesty acts rashly, Yang may well strike back, depose the Emperor, even commit regicide. Without absolute certainty of his own safety, His Majesty will not dare make a move.”
Wei Fufeng nodded, somewhat disappointed. Li Xian added, “Perhaps you are unaware—my father has gone to Hedong to serve as Assistant Commander.”
Wei Fufeng was startled. “Master Li Xi has gone to Hedong?”
Li Xian nodded. “He’s reportedly headed to Shizhou to succeed Sun Kui in charge of military affairs. Sun Kui has been promoted to Inspector-General of the Zhaoyi Army and is to take office in Luzhou.”
Wei Fufeng frowned. Li Xian said, “My father is no man of war. He had hoped to rely on you, but as you are no longer in Hedong, I fear for him.”
Wei Fufeng replied, “It is difficult for me to return to Hedong, but I can send some officers familiar with the region back to Shizhou.”
“That would be excellent,” Li Xian said joyfully.
Wei Fufeng advised, “I do not know Master Li Xi well. Please tell him: in Shizhou, the best course is to seek no merit but avoid fault—restrain the troops, hold the city, and do not harm the people.”
Li Xian nodded. “So you do not believe the campaign against Hedong will succeed?”
Wei Fufeng nodded. “The imperial forces move too slowly and have missed the best opportunity. Now the main army of Hedong will face the northern loyalist troops in decisive battle. If Hedong wins, they will turn back and destroy the imperial army.”
Li Xian’s face changed slightly. “Then my father is in great danger.”
Wei Fufeng nodded. “A grave danger indeed. He should hold the city, avoid clashing with Hedong’s cavalry. When the imperial main force reaches Taiyuan, only then should Shizhou send troops. But if Hedong’s army wins in the north and returns, Master Li Xi’s best choice is to abandon the city and withdraw from Hedong.”
Li Xian hesitated. “If he abandons the city, my father will be charged with dereliction.”
Wei Fufeng explained, “If Hedong’s main army returns victorious, the imperial troops will likely be routed. If Master Li Xi can save any imperial soldiers, that in itself is a great merit—at worst, his merits and faults will balance.”
Li Xian understood and nodded. Wei Fufeng continued, “Shizhou has the Mengmen Pass and the Yellow River crossing—the Fufeng Army uses this route to send supplies north to Hexi. I will instruct my subordinates to prepare more sheepskin rafts and boats, so the retreat is secure.”
Li Xian rose and bowed deeply. “You have my gratitude, Lord Wei.”
Wei Fufeng stood and returned the bow. “We are family—I am only doing my duty.”
After these courtesies, they sat again. Li Xian said, “My father is upright but inflexible. I wish to go to Shizhou to assist him.”
Wei Fufeng nodded. “I will have my men accompany you.”
Li Xian was pleased. Wei Fufeng then asked, “Has Uncle Ji replied?”
“He has. Li Ji writes of the situation in southern Sichuan. I did not expect that you would implement the Military Prefecture system there—dividing the soldiers, separating the three departments. It is a most astute administrative structure.”
Wei Fufeng replied, “I had only one uncle I could trust in southern Sichuan, so I had no choice but to divide powers. Otherwise, commanders with troops might rebel.”
Li Xian nodded. “Though it is wise, it is not ideal for you to be away so long.”
Wei Fufeng answered, “The position of Military Governor in southern Sichuan is new; ambitious commanders cannot yet build their power. Though I am away, the officers rotate to report to me. Over time, their loyalty remains with me.”
“So you do not plan to return soon?” asked Li Xian.
Wei Fufeng replied, “Not yet. First, I must deal with the Hedong campaign; second, the strategic importance of Jinzhou deters Yang Shouliang from sending too many troops against southern Sichuan.” Of course, he did not mention his true reason for leaving was to avoid danger.
Li Xian nodded, now understanding the real motive behind the Wei clan’s move on Jinzhou.
Wei Fufeng asked, “Is Uncle Ji comfortable in Fuzhou?”
Li Xian replied, “He says it is tolerable. Five thousand southern Sichuan troops are garrisoned there, having forcibly taken some land from wealthy households. After his appointment, Li Ji gained the garrison’s support and took over the thousand local militia. The officers say that apart from the seized military land, all other matters are under the Prefect’s authority.”
Wei Fufeng nodded. Li Xian hesitated. “Lord Wei, I feel that forcibly taking land from the wealthy may have dire consequences and hinder future development.”
Wei Fufeng answered, “I understand your concern. Seizing land breeds resentment from the great clans. But my authority cannot rely on their support—at least not in southern Sichuan. I must depend on the displaced migrants to form the army; the clans will never support me.”
Li Xian nodded. Wei Fufeng continued, “There is gain and loss in all things. If I sought the clans’ backing from the start, even if I became military governor, I’d be but a puppet in name only.”
Li Xian nodded. “Without a base of military power, one holds the sword by the blade.”
Wei Fufeng agreed, speaking gently, “After I became military governor, the Eastern Sichuan Army attacked. They thought the forty thousand southern Sichuan troops were rabble and would surely be routed. Yet in battle, these men with bamboo spears fought to the death and did not flee. If I’d relied on clan retainers, their resolve might not have matched this.”
Li Xian did not immediately agree. “In the war with the Eastern Sichuan Army, Uncle Ji wrote that the victory was due to your skill as a commander.”
Wei Fufeng looked slightly embarrassed. Li Xian went on, “An inept general dooms his army. His Majesty entrusting the campaign against Hedong to the Prime Minister is a grave miscalculation. Zhang Jun knows nothing of war, yet is arrogant, thinking himself capable, and refuses to ask for advice—hence missing the opportunity.”
“The Emperor dares not employ true military men as commanders,” Wei Fufeng murmured.
Li Xian nodded. “You should go to the west wing now. Tomorrow I leave for Lantian County.”
Wei Fufeng rose and took his leave, escorted by Li Xian to the gate of the west wing.
Inside the gate stood two young ladies, Fourteenth Lady and Mingyu. After Li Xian left, they approached Wei Fufeng, speaking with concern.
He smiled in reply, then accompanied them to the main hall to pay respects to his future mother-in-law.
Entering, Wei Fufeng saw a lady in elegant pale yellow court dress seated regally at the head of the room.
At her left stood a maiden in a ruqun, delicate as a painting, flanked by four maids.
Wei Fufeng approached calmly and bowed. “Fufeng pays respects to Aunt.”
“Sit,” the lady replied kindly. He bowed again and took a guest seat.
His future mother-in-law appraised him with gentle eyes, then smiled slightly. “Nephew, you are seventeen this year?”
“Yes,” Wei Fufeng replied.
She spoke gently, “Your betrothal was arranged by your great-uncle. The Li family considers this very important. What are your own thoughts?”
“Fufeng regards it most seriously,” he replied. Of course, he could not say he simply obeyed his elders.
She smiled and nodded. “Do you usually read or practice martial arts?”
“I strive to balance both, neglecting neither.” In truth, he was not skilled in poetry or essays, but enjoyed reading history, anecdotes, military treatises, and medicine—he had once thought of trading in herbs.
His future mother-in-law nodded. “Stay for dinner tonight.”
“Yes,” Wei Fufeng replied respectfully, secretly relieved she had not tested him on literary skill.
She instructed Mingyu and the Fourteenth Lady to take Wei Fufeng to the side room to rest.
After he left, she turned to the maiden. “Jiunü, what do you think?”
“He is my younger sister’s betrothed. I do not wish to invite gossip,” the girl murmured, lowering her head.
Her mother smiled wryly. “Foolish child, is this something you and I can decide? I wished for you to marry the son of a noble house, but such matters are for your elders. If you refuse, that is what would truly invite reproach.”
The girl fell silent. Her mother added gently, “You need not worry about gossip in the future. I will have Mingyu explain everything to the young master, so he knows this was decided by his elders.”
...
Wei Fufeng entered the side room. Mingyu helped him off his outer robe and asked softly, “Will you be leaving again, sir?”
“It’s hard to say. I must act according to circumstances,” Wei Fufeng replied.
The Fourteenth Lady brought tea, speaking softly, “Here, have some. I just brewed it.”
Wei Fufeng smiled warmly, took the cup, and tasted it. “Jinzhou tea.”
“Yes, Jinzhou tea. Your Fifth Uncle sent it,” she said innocently.
Wei Fufeng was taken aback. He knew his Fifth Uncle had become commander of the Jin City Army, though the title was but an empty honor from the Emperor. Now returned, he meant to give most of the arms seized in Hedong to his grandfather. He had always thought well of his Fifth Uncle.
As he drifted into thought, Mingyu asked quietly, “You saw the Ninth Lady—she is a beauty, isn’t she?”
“Mm? Ah—” Wei Fufeng answered, coming back to himself, and looked at Mingyu.
She spoke softly again, “Your marriage was proposed by Prime Minister Wei; Master Li Xi considers you well matched with the Ninth Lady.”
Wei Fufeng frowned, glancing at Fourteenth Lady.
Mingyu continued in a low voice, “The mistress knows you care for the Fourteenth Lady, but cannot go against Master Li Xi. So your match with the Fourteenth Lady is still in place.”
Wei Fufeng was stunned. A tangle of emotions welled up within him. Having become military governor, the marriage he once yearned for in his humble days now came to him unbidden.
Yet he felt some displeasure, sensing too much calculation in Li Xi. But he knew it was likely Li Xian who had influenced Li Xi’s actions.