Chapter 43

In the middle of the journey, the sentry horses never cease.

Bao Zhong’s side was in dire straits. At the height of the battle, the commanding general was grievously injured and could not recover; morale plummeted. When their formation fell into disorder and they suffered a crushing defeat, they never managed to regain the upper hand. They even lost one of their trusted generals, Zhou Qian, just yesterday.

This type of engagement was not meant for a prolonged fight. Dong Du issued a do-or-die order for a quick, decisive battle. He led his troops—riding on their momentum—to encircle the large camp in the eastern suburbs and relentlessly attack it day and night. If they continued this way, breaching the camp would not take long.

This was exactly the situation Wei Jing desired; the precarious, barely holding condition of Bao Zhong’s forces was most advantageous for him. Otherwise, Han Xi would not have remained inactive.

After a rapid march of over two days, they reached Gaoling, now less than fifty li from the large camp in the eastern suburbs.

“Send word to the vanguard: take a detour via Dingxiang and rendezvous with the Fang County and Puyin forces.”

“Dispatch an order to Zhang Yong and the Qingzhai Guards…”

While on the run, Wei Jing issued a string of military orders with apparent ease. Finally, he ordered Wang Jing and his colleagues: “Escort the Lady to Yingzui Slope first. You must keep a tight guard around her—do not allow her to stray even half a step. This matter is critical; there is no room for error, so act cautiously!”

A fierce battle was imminent, and naturally, Wei Jing showed no fear. However, he would not continue to keep his wife—who was not adept in martial affairs—on the battlefield. Upon arriving at Gaoling, he planned to relocate her, Ji Huan, and the others to a concealed location. This was an essential measure.

The location had long been chosen—it is both secluded and secure, and it even overlooks the large camp in the eastern suburbs. Now is exactly the right time to split up.

Wang Jing and his accompanying guards had already removed their armor and assumed disguises. Upon hearing the order, they immediately responded in a resounding tone, “If we fail, we’ll bring our head to you!'”

Finally, Wei Jing turned to Shao Qing and said, “Ah Qing, you go over with Boyan first; I’ll be right back to pick you up.”

Clad in his scarlet armor, he stood there with a calm bearing and an imposing presence. Shao Qing quickly replied, “All right—you need not worry about me at all; I’ll take good care of myself.”

There was no time for any further idle chatter. Taking a deep breath, she declared, “My husband will surely triumph in this battle!”

“Absolutely!”

Racing on horseback and flanked by his troops, there was no moment for expressions of worry or attachment. Wei Jing gazed at her for a moment, nodded, and watched as Wang Jing and his men, under cover of dusk, quietly escorted her, along with Ji Huan and the others, away.

Bao Zhong had more than one trusted county at his disposal. Pingtao, for instance, was rather distant—even if Wei Jing had been fully prepared and arrived swiftly, counties such as Puyin, Fang County, and Xin Zheng had already mobilized their troops and reached the scene ahead of time.

Dong Du, too, was not without his watchers. As soon as he discovered that Bao Zhong had secretly called for reinforcements, he, cursing furiously, immediately dispatched 10,000 troops to seize the initiative.

The three counties combined for 8,000 soldiers—against 10,000 county troops, the manpower wasn’t drastically different. However, the coordinating ability and combat effectiveness of the three counties could not match that of the enemy; moreover, the enemy’s troops were equipped with far superior arms. After the first clash, they suffered a crushing defeat and are now in a state of disorganized retreat, completely at a loss for how to proceed.

Fight? They cannot win if they engage. And if they do not fight, that’s even less acceptable—once Dong Du secures a victory, what awaits them is a massive purge.

Wei Jing’s arrival came at exactly the right moment. His military insight was unique and his battle experience was vast—far surpassing that of ordinary county officers. While studying the terrain map and listening to a detailed report of the situation, he immediately signaled his intent by pointing out a horseshoe-shaped pass in the northeast as the key point to break the enemy’s line.

The defenses at that spot were relatively weak. It was the perfect time—after a full day of fighting, when the Dong forces were exhausted in both men and horses—to secretly bypass the main forces and launch a surprise attack. Using the natural cover of the terrain, his troops would undoubtedly breach the enemy’s encirclement and enter the large camp in the eastern suburbs.

Indeed, Wei Jing’s next objective was precisely to infiltrate the eastern suburban camp. As for the other three county commanders, joining with the main force was far superior to fighting alone. The decision was made immediately.

Wei Jing then promptly arranged his troops and devised his battle formation.

When a master acts, there is no hesitation—he naturally became the cornerstone of the combined assault formed by the four counties.

He then dispatched soldiers to disrupt the enemy’s line of sight. Under the cover of darkness, the united force of the four counties—numbering over ten thousand—quietly advanced toward the northeast. Although they had suffered casualties and many of the soldiers were unfamiliar with one another, Wei Jing ordered that, while the forces were merging, the Qingzhai Guards should silently join in.

…

In the dark of night, the revolving battle around the eastern suburban camp continued.

After so many days of fighting, the soldiers were understandably tired. Finally, the time came for a fresh rotation. Amid the clanging of battle signals, the troops locked in fierce combat quietly exhaled a sigh of relief as they exchanged positions with comrades who had just rested, following the directions given by the signal flag.

At that very moment, a resounding beat of golden drums erupted from the northeast, and an entire unit surged forward like a tidal wave. This vanguard force was extraordinarily fierce and brave, thrusting into the Dong army’s ranks like a sharp dagger. When the astonished Dong Du recovered and attempted to rally his men for an encirclement, the initiative had already been lost.

And this army was so ferocious that it truly struck fear into the hearts of onlookers—especially when its vanguard, a young general clad in crimson armor, charged forward. Wherever his blade swept, the enemy was left in ruins. In no time at all, he led his troops to punch through a gap in the enemy’s line, merging with the Bao reinforcements and surging like a tidal wave through the flung-open gates of the Eastern Great Camp.

Dong Du was utterly shocked and dismayed: “Who is this man? How bold and fierce!”

For the moment, no one could answer his question. As for Wei Jing, he had already successfully entered the Eastern Great Camp and was heading toward Bao Zhong’s sickbed.

“My lord, you may not know that the bravery of Magistrate Yang is rare in this age! Furthermore, he is endowed with both wisdom and valor. Now that he has arrived, these reinforcements have finally taken shape and have already fought their way in!”

The speaker was Fan Ya, another senior general serving under Bao Zhong. Ever since the battle began, he hadn’t been able to sleep a wink—especially following Bao Zhong’s grievous injuries and the death of Zhou Qian in battle, with all the burdens falling upon him. Even if his physical strength were robust, the strain had left his eyes sunken, bloodshot with exhaustion.

The battle was growing increasingly dire. The long-awaited reinforcements, upon arriving, had suffered a crushing defeat. As he strained his heart and gritted his teeth to fend off the enemy, fortune smiled from above. Fan Ya hurriedly ordered the camp gates to be opened and personally led his troops to meet up with Wei Jing.

As the two men walked inside, they exchanged brief remarks. Fan Ya expressed his astonishment and admiration for Wei Jing; upon seeing Bao Zhong, he excitedly recounted the earlier events and praised him.

Wei Jing remarked, “A lucky victory—what room is there to speak of wisdom or valor?”

After saying that, he looked concerned about Bao Zhong on his sickbed: “My lord, how are your injuries? Are they severe?”

It was impossible that they were not severe—Bao Zhong was gravely injured and burning with fever, his breath barely holding, unable now to rise. Alas, with the battle growing ever more grim, he had no choice but to cling on with the last of his strength.

At the sight of Wei Jing’s arrival and upon hearing Fan Ya’s report, Bao Zhong’s weakly opened eyes suddenly brightened as he murmured, “…Good, good!”

He struggled to get up but failed, and Wei Jing and his companion hurried forward to support him. Bao Zhong, gasping heavily, gripped Wei Jing’s hand firmly and said, “Zikuang… I fear that from now on, all matters must be entrusted to you.”

At this critical moment of life and death, there was an urgent need for a leader who possessed both wisdom and valor as well as formidable strength. Fan Ya was loyal and skilled in battle, yet he was a talented general rather than a true commander—otherwise, Bao Zhong would not have been forced to cling on so desperately.

However, with injuries that are this severe, holding on could not last long. At this crucial juncture, fortunately, Wei Jing had arrived.

Immediately, Bao Zhong ordered that his seal be fetched and handed over to Wei Jing so that he might temporarily assume command with full authority. Every order he issued would be as though Bao Zhong himself had sent it.

After Bao Zhong managed to finish speaking, his breath gave out in one gulp, and he immediately fainted, losing consciousness.

Inside the room, chaos broke out. Wei Jing ordered the military doctors to begin immediate treatment. He stood up and stepped aside, then remained on one side with his eyes lowered as he watched; his left hand tightened slightly as he gently caressed the newly received golden seal.

…

“My lord, what shall we do next?” Han Xi asked quietly during a lull. Should they try to crush the Dong army immediately or proceed gradually?

Wei Jing gave a faint smile. “No rush.”

“We still have a few battles to fight; first, we must intimidate those who are not yet familiar with him.”

He took hold of the seal. Being well aware of his capabilities, Fan Ya was quite willing—even though some onlookers were always casting sideways glances and murmuring criticisms.

Often, among military commanders, ability is the decisive measure—if you have the talent, I’ll respect you. Once most of the troops are consolidated, any remaining unruly elements can be removed at the opportune moment.

---

After several major battles, Bao’s army completely halted its decline and once again reached parity with the Dong forces; the Dong army could no longer besiege the Eastern Grand Camp.

At present, both sides occupy one camp each, facing each other from left and right.

Zhang Yong asked, “My lord, when shall we deal with that Dong Du?”

“Tomorrow.” Wei Jing tapped his desk with his index finger—everything that needed to be done was already in place, and it was time to launch the final battle.

Bao Zhong had also sent word to the Second Master He. After the siege was lifted, communications were restored. Following an exchange of letters between Wei Jing and the Second Master, Wei Jing learned that the latter had requested to personally accompany the forces suppressing the state troops and was currently on his way.

Upon hearing that Wei Jing had broken the siege in time, Second Master He was overjoyed. Moreover, when he learned that Bao Zhong’s injuries were so severe that survival was in doubt—and that the matter of a successor now loomed—he naturally chose Wei Jing, a man he had long greatly admired, as his candidate. He sent word instructing Wei Jing to ideally take care of Dong Du before the state troops could arrive—and to pass the blame along—so that they could then proceed according to Bao Zhong’s earlier plan and, in one fell swoop, seize control of Anyang County.

The Second Young Master He was already making his way toward Gucheng; once success was achieved, he would strongly advocate appointing Wei Jing as the new Governor. With the plan set and the overall situation decided, Dong Du could now step aside, having done his part.

Wei Jing declared, “Send out orders: Tomorrow at the third watch prepare the meal, and at the fifth watch deploy the troops to encircle Dong Du according to the agreed plan!” The order was immediately relayed, and the battle preparations proceeded orderly.

Wei Jing asked Han Xi, “How are things on my wife’s side?”

“All is well,” Han Xi replied with hands clasped in greeting. “She has sent her message, instructing us to take meticulous care of your daily needs—we must not neglect this in the slightest.”

Touched by his wife’s concern, Wei Jing’s lips curved into a smile. Though he had been on campaign the whole time, his thoughts were constantly with her. Fortunately, the battles were almost over, and he would soon go to fetch her. Yet he couldn’t help but worry—this rapid march must have been hard on her.

The next day, at Eagle’s Beak Slope, shrouded in swirling morning mist, Shao Qing was gazing downward. The position was excellent—easily defendable, difficult to assault, and concealed—yet it offered a clear view over a vast open field between the East and West camps. Thanks to her frequent correspondence with Wei Jing, she naturally knew that today would be the final battle. Although his letter assured her that he would come to pick her up by this evening—or, at the latest, tonight—with a tone of unwavering confidence in victory, she still couldn’t help but feel worried.

These past few days were her first time watching a battle.

The clashes of cold weapons were fierce—shouts of “kill” echoed through the air, and blood stained the yellow earth red. Although she couldn’t see every detail clearly, she could vividly imagine the “shh” sound as weapons pierced flesh.

Although Wei Jing’s martial prowess was indeed awe-inspiring, the battlefield did not hinge solely on individual strength; what truly mattered was the indomitable spirit, and his was unmistakable.

Lost in her wandering thoughts, she suddenly heard the deep, heavy, and muffled “bang bang” of cowhide drums beating in unison. The sound carried far, as if it were striking directly at the heart.

Then came the shouts from below—the two armies immediately fell into fierce combat. Shao Qing held her breath and stared with wide eyes.

Fortunately, the Eastern Camp quickly gained the upper hand; from early morning until noon, victory was evident. In the end, the central troops of the Dong army descended into chaos. Standing nearby, Ji Huan declared with absolute conviction, “Dong Du must have died in battle.”

Wei Jing would never allow Dong Du to live; with the center in such disarray, the experienced Ji Huan recognized the outcome at a glance.

Our side had won.

Shao Qing was overjoyed: “That’s wonderful!”

In her excitement, she felt a momentary dizziness and swayed slightly. Ji Huan, Wang Jing, and the others were startled and hesitated to rush to her aid—but fortunately, Shao Qing quickly regained her composure.

Wang Jing then asked in a hurry, “Madam, do you need any medicine?”

The medicine he referred to was the one prepared by Yan Ming.

After Shao Qing’s last bout with her chronic illness, Wei Jing had him come over to take her pulse. Yan Ming reiterated the old saying that her head condition was merely a sequela of an impact—it needed time to recover slowly on its own and wasn’t too serious, as long as she didn’t experience another hit before she was fully healed. The disadvantages of medication far outweighed its benefits, so there was no need for her to take any.

However, this time, Yan Ming still prescribed her some medicine because he could tell that Shao Qing’s nerves were constantly on edge. Her head ailment, triggered by emotional agitation, left her unable to relax, and her head kept aching faintly—medicine was needed to ease the pain.

“I’m fine. I don’t have a headache,” she insisted.

After taking the pills for nearly half a month, Shao Qing had almost recovered; now, her primary complaint was simply extreme fatigue.

Physically and mentally exhausted, she felt an unrelenting sense of weakness surge from deep within her body. Having ridden non-stop for so long, she was indeed a bit physically drained; her hip still throbbed with a faint soreness, but fortunately, with her usual strength, she could overcome it.

Yet there was another matter weighing on her heart. It was about Wei Jing.

After witnessing the salt boat set sail that day, Wei Jing was tormented by guilt for not pursuing revenge first—he felt he had let down his mother, brothers, and nephews. His heavy, unrelieved thoughts troubled him for a long time, making her uneasy. So, she eagerly hoped that this plan would go off without a hitch, allowing them to capture Anyang County smoothly.

Sighing, she hoped that once Anyang County was captured, he would no longer be troubled by this matter.

Now that victory was assured, Shao Qing’s spirits soared. Smiling, she said, “If we win by noon, there’ll be no need to wait until evening—we should be coming down the mountain already.”

Wei Jing should be arriving soon to pick her up.

Feeling elated and considerably less fatigued, she walked briskly and remarked, “Let’s pack up our gear; we’re nearly ready to go.”