Chapter 1289 – Targeting Huang Song, East Qing Unification (31)
Yang Si felt a heavy blow to his heart, but he dared not lash out at his master, who was on the verge of exploding like a firecracker!
This all started from the battle report received not long ago—
Jiang Pengji was having a delightful conversation with Yang Si, enjoying the water pouch that Nong Qin had presented while sipping it down under Yang Si’s watchful gaze.
Before she could let out a sigh, a messenger outside called out that he had urgent news.
Jiang Pengji furrowed her brows, muttering, “What could possibly be so important at this time?”
There were very few people who knew about her leading fifty thousand troops to harass Huang Song in Chenzhou, let alone sending a messenger to intercept them midway.
“Let him in to speak.”
The messenger had been racing day and night to deliver the news, and he looked worn out, but upon seeing Jiang Pengji, his eyes brightened a little. He reported, “Milady, I must inform you that the front lines at Hujun have fallen, and the enemy has invaded Zhunghe County, with over six thousand soldiers casualties. Captain Luo Yue has led the remaining troops to retreat to the Three Mountain Canyon, while Military Adviser Han Yu has gone north to provide support. The situation has stabilized for now.”
Jiang Pengji was taken aback, her eyes widening as if she couldn’t quite process what the messenger said.
“Zhunghe County has fallen? We lost just one county? We were only able to barely hold the Three Mountain Canyon because Wen Bin held back Huang Song’s troops?”
Her voice suddenly rose; although not loud, everyone felt a thick tension in the air, as if they could hardly breathe.
Jiang Pengji’s expression turned cold, and as she restrained her overwhelming presence, the messenger felt the temperature of fear wash back over him.
“Answer me carefully, what exactly happened at the front lines?”
The terrain of Hujun was rather unique—surrounded by towering mountains, yet the interior was flat and open. Thanks to Liu Zhi’s governance, with the introduction of inland water sources and the vigorous development of groundwater, the drought situation in Hujun had been resolved, making it a major production center within East Qing.
Zhunghe County was close to the artificial inland river, which was also the area with the highest grain yield in Hujun.
Now that Huang Song’s army had breached Hujun’s defenses, the pressure on them to defend had suddenly increased. Hujun was in grave danger!
If it weren’t for Han Yu recognizing the dire situation and holding off Huang Song’s troops, they would have lost more than just one county.
With autumn harvest coming in two to three months, Huang Song’s attack could spell disaster for them!
The messenger answered timidly, and Jiang Pengji’s fury boiled.
“These old bastards think they’re just dying for fun—why are they so eager to flatter the enemy? Who gave them the guts!”
She had assigned a significant force to guard Hujun, and while it may not have been an impenetrable fortress, it certainly wasn’t made of paper!
Why did they fall so quickly? Ah, it seems there was a traitor!
Jiang Pengji was truly angry.
Hujun was Liu Zhi’s old territory. When she took over, everything was quiet and peaceful; she hadn’t disturbed the balance. Unexpectedly, when she fell ill, those old codgers couldn’t sit still anymore!
Yang Si said, “Milady, don’t be angry. Look at it from another angle; this could be a blessing in disguise. It’s better to expose these issues now than to let them fester.”
Fortunately, Hujun hadn’t fallen entirely; they had only lost Zhunghe County, and Huang Song’s losses in Chenzhou would balance the scales.
“I understand that principle, but I’m still furious!” Jiang Pengji said with a dark expression, grinding her teeth. “The thing I hate most is betrayal!”
She had a deep loathing for the very word “betrayal.” She admired and respected those with unyielding loyalty, while despising the fickle-minded. Once someone fell in line with her—whether sincerely or pretending—they could not betray her thereafter.
Otherwise, no matter who it was—
They would have to die!
Others might not grasp this sentiment, but Wei Ci understood well.
In her past life, why did Xu Ke receive the remark, “fickle by nature, born with rebelliousness”?
It was because Xu Ke’s former master was killed by the Emperor, and under the surface, he feigned loyalty while secretly colluding with remnants of his old ruler to stir trouble.
Although he didn’t raise much chaos, he had truly angered the Emperor and became the only strategist that she personally executed.
The others either took their own lives with dignity, went into hiding, or swore loyalty, and the Emperor respected the integrity and beliefs of scholars as much as possible.
Xu Ke, however, fared badly; his body was not only left in disarray, but he also ended up becoming carrion for wild beasts.
Of course, this time around, Xu Ke had become Steward Xu, and he wouldn’t face such a catastrophic end.
Jiang Pengji declared, “Those old geezers are so bored with dying that they want to drag their whole family down with them, huh?”
Even Yang Si, with his scholarly demeanor, could sense the terrifying killing intent radiating from Jiang Pengji.
He tactfully remarked, “Naturally, we cannot use traitorous scum.”
Killing a few typical figures to establish authority should suffice, preventing the involvement of entire clans.
“To be precise—traitors are a waste of air as long as they’re alive,” Jiang Pengji corrected him. Despite her anger, her rationality remained, “I need to give a proper accounting to the six thousand valiant soldiers who sacrificed themselves. I can’t blame Lord Bo Gao; war is a life-and-death gamble—the winners survive, the losers perish; there’s no room for negotiation. But those who stab me in the back, causing my soldiers to die unnecessarily, I won’t let a single one escape! What’s the point of only punishing a few to set an example? I need everyone to know the cost of betraying me!”
If it was a death from the gambit of war, at least the soldiers’ sacrifices would hold some value; they died for a purpose.
But dying due to betrayal from their own, she could not accept!
“This is my fault; over the years of cultivating my character, I’ve made them think I’m an easy target—”
Jiang Pengji’s gaze turned fierce, leaving Yang Si momentarily speechless with how to advise her.
“Milady… something seems off…”
Yang Si and Nong Qin were dismissed; he leaned in to murmur to her.
“What’s off?”
Nong Qin remained expressionless; Jiang Pengji’s commands were absolute law—there was no need for her to question, only to execute.
Yang Si replied, “Milady’s reaction to the word ‘betrayal’ is unusually intense, unlike what a normal person would feel.”
Nong Qin furrowed her brows. “What do you mean?”
Yang Si clarified, “Normal people might despise ‘betrayal,’ but their reaction wouldn’t be this intense unless they’ve been deeply ‘betrayed’ themselves. Considering all of Milady’s experiences over the years, she’s always the one playing others; when has it been her turn to be ‘betrayed’ by someone else? So I find it strange.”
Nong Qin countered, “You’re overthinking it. Milady is simply being genuine.”
Yang Si responded, “…Yes, you’re absolutely right!”
To her, Milady’s abnormality was always considered normal!
(╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻
As a normal person, why was he so blind, zeroing in on someone with a few screws loose?
Nong Qin was a die-hard fan, consistently wearing rose-colored glasses, while Yang Si had a different perspective—he was sharp enough to notice the oddities.
But this oddity didn’t indicate too much, so he didn’t delve any deeper.
The truth often hangs by a thread; Yang Si’s speculation was not wrong—Jiang Pengji, who railed against heaven and earth, indeed had been betrayed.
However, that was old history from a past life.
