Chapter 1049 – Reunion with Old Friends (2)
Jiang Pengji looked at her, the fragments in her mind becoming clearer.
In her memories, Wan Xiuer was gentle and wise. She was the epitome of a Noble Girl from Aristocratic Family, charming and tender.
But now, seeing her again, it was as if she had morphed into a different person, her eyes seeming to see through worldly matters.
Her husband was dead, yet her reaction was like losing a familiar stranger; it was eerily calm.
Though a prisoner, Wan Xiuer did not suffer because she was a “friend” of Jiang Pengji.
“Thank you.”
Wan Xiuer bowed and followed the female soldiers to the camp specifically designated for female captives.
“Why are you stretching your neck like that?”
Jiang Pengji shot a glare at Feng Zhen.
Feng Zhen, who had been caught by the tail, responded unhurriedly, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. With a beauty so pleasing to the eye, it only makes sense for the Lord to take a few more glances. After seeing crumbling walls and blood-soaked lands, it’s bound to dampen the mood—don’t you think it makes sense, my Lord?”
“That’s nonsense!”
Jiang Pengji huffed, sending people to clear the battlefield, while Feng Zhen hurried to catch up, with Cheng Jing letting out a soft sigh as he followed closely.
This battle had been a sweeping victory, and the entire army was in high spirits, fueled with enthusiasm. The military generals wanted to seize the moment and cross the Song River; if they delayed, the enemy reinforcements would arrive, and both sides would have to face each other across the river, wasting both time and energy.
However—
The strategists held opposing views.
The Song River was vast and turbulent; it was still winter now, and there were no floating ice chunks on the surface.
If they were unfamiliar with the water, crossing rashly would give the enemy an edge.
Moreover, after such a fierce battle, both armies had suffered significant losses and needed time to recuperate.
If they recklessly crossed the Song River without preparation, even if they reached the other side, they would be exhausted and without fighting capacity.
Running into the enemy would be as good as asking for death!
Military maneuvers on water were not the same as on land; those who were poor swimmers would suffer from seasickness, their condition plummeting, and may even fall sick due to unfamiliar conditions. The Song River was no gentle stream; its turbulent waters could easily capsize someone lacking in swimming skills!
In addition, the strategists had their own considerations.
Military strategy states: if the enemy is crossing the water, do not meet them in the water, but strike them halfway—this is advantageous.
This is what is known as “striking them halfway,” a very useful tactic.
Simply put, when the two armies face off across the water, if the enemy starts crossing and some have landed while others are still in the water, they will be disorganized and vulnerable. It’s a perfect chance for our side to attack. If Jiang Pengji and her team crossed without any preparation, they would be easy targets for the enemy. At that point, they couldn’t manage both ends and were unfamiliar with water combat, ensuring their demise.
Just like before, when they fought against Beijiang; if Beijiang had not disordered their formation first, and instead seized the opportunity to attack while Jiang Pengji was ‘half-crossed’—ha, the outcome would have been entirely different. Unfortunately, Beijiang made a critical mistake, revealing their vulnerabilities first, allowing Jiang Pengji to take them down.
Jiang Pengji and Huang Song pondered the opinions of the strategists and decided to set up camp near the Song River, allowing the troops to rest for several days.
After this great victory, Huang Song rejected the suggestion of splitting the spoils evenly, actively taking 40% while Jiang Pengji took 60%.
Huang Song’s military generals were very displeased with this decision but had to admit that Jiang Pengji contributed the most to this battle.
Those who contributed the most naturally had the right to take the bigger share.
Jiang Pengji assigned Wei Ci and Feng Jin to handle the captives, supplies, and distribution of other resources.
Just as Wei Ci and Feng Jin were leaving, they heard Feng Zhen calling from behind.
They stopped and turned to look at him, silently inquiring with their eyes.
They were busy, and had no time to humor Feng Zhen.
“I’ve heard the Lord has entrusted you both with important tasks—there’s a small request here—”
Feng Zhen, rarely serious, spoke in a cultured manner, even using “Zhen” as his self-reference.
“What is it?” Feng Jin asked.
Due to his personality, Feng Jin didn’t particularly like Feng Zhen, but since their Lord was also a free-spirited character, Feng Jin could only try to deal with Feng Zhen. Spending long periods together, he gradually found Feng Zhen’s annoying quirks somewhat bearable.
Feng Zhen glanced between Feng Jin and Wei Ci, hesitating.
He indeed wanted to confide in one person, but doing so would certainly offend the other.
So, he took a leap of faith.
“Regarding the female captives from this battle, there’s someone—you both, you know what I mean.”
Feng Zhen raised an eyebrow with a smile, and the expressions on the faces of the two in front of him turned sour.
They didn’t understand!!!
Seeing this, Feng Zhen quickly used Jiang Pengji as a shield, speaking earnestly, “Don’t misunderstand; that woman is an old acquaintance of the Lord. However, the Lord is quite busy and seems to have forgotten about her, and it’s not like I’m worried that the female captive might be picked up by Huang Song’s men—”
Feng Jin and Wei Ci: “…”
How naive do you think we are!
Finally, it was Wei Ci who gave him a break.
“Who is that woman?”
Even if Feng Zhen was being frivolous, he was still a close friend, after all.
“She hails from Hejian County with the Lord, and she appears to be the widow of the Guard Commander of Han Chang Pass. After some indirect inquiries, her name is Wan Xiuer.”
Wan Xiuer?
Wei Ci’s eyes widened slightly as he stared at Feng Zhen for a long time.
The name Wan Xiuer was not unfamiliar to Wei Ci.
In Jiang Zhao, women continue to use their maiden names after marriage, not simply becoming Feng Wan.
Wei Ci remembered the name Wan Xiuer for two reasons.
First, this person had made Feng Zhen settle down.
Second, she was Changsheng’s confidant—Feng You’s birth mother.
If he recalled correctly, before remarrying Feng Zhen, Wan Xiuer had indeed been the wife of a certain general under the Meng Clan.
However, the circumstances of the past life and the present were different.
In her past life, the Meng Clan was swallowed by Huang Song, and Wan Xiuer’s husband subsequently sided with Huang Song. At that time, Feng Zhen was also serving under Huang Song.
After Huang Song was killed by the Lord, Feng Zhen regained his heart and sought Wan Xiuer, who was now widowed.
And now—
Fate was indeed intriguing!
Wei Ci said, “Okay, I’ll remember this.”
In fact, there was no need for Feng Zhen to tiptoe around; Jiang Pengji hadn’t forgotten about this matter at all.
Once she finished her business, she stood up to visit Wan Xiuer in the female camp.
After all, they were old friends, and given that she had killed her husband, it was only right to show her some consideration.
“Do you wish to retain your husband’s family?” Jiang Pengji asked her, “If you do, it wouldn’t hurt to give them a meal.”
Three noble concubines, six lowly concubines, four maids who had shared his bed, and five children—two boys and three girls.
With such a large entourage, one could imagine how Wan Xiuer must have lived in the man’s courtyard these years.
Wan Xiuer replied, “Everyone has their destiny; let it be.”
Let it be?
So that’s a no-go, huh?
Jiang Pengji was astonished, “You won’t leave a trace of your short-lived husband’s bloodline?”
A sliver of coldness flashed in Wan Xiuer’s eyes as her right fingernails nearly embedded into her palm.
“Leave a trace of bloodline for him? Hmph—he never thought about letting me keep a trace of my bloodline; it’s just retribution!”
