The Battle of You County, following the death of Sima Yue, became the primary focus of attention in the court of Luoyang. However, when the news was officially reported and reached the defense case, the emperor in the palace showed no sign of joy.
The violent death of Wang Jun did bring relief. This ambitious son had a cruel nature, and his Xianbei troops were notorious for their brutality, having massacred the cities of Ye and Chang’an, leaving countless dead. If given the chance to come to Luoyang, there was no guarantee he wouldn’t resort to the same atrocities. With the three provinces of You, Bing, and Ji in the rear no longer in turmoil, it was greatly beneficial for the stability of Luoyang.
However, the ease of this victory in the war raised concerns.
Beside him, Wang Yan, recently appointed as Grand Commandant and still standing at the forefront of the courtiers, spoke in a low voice, “The strategy of sowing discord was indeed ingenious. Your Majesty, after the initial victory in Bing County, preparations should have been made.”
The unexpected death of Sima Yue had not caused any impact on Wang Yan. On the contrary, due to their previous enmity when Sima Yue clashed with Gou Xi, their lack of mutual support had made the young emperor lower his guard. Moreover, with the sudden loss of Sima Yue as the pillar, the court needed someone of comparable status to serve as a replacement. After careful consideration, the young emperor chose to appoint this distinguished figure.
In response to such an appointment, Wang Yan did not decline; instead, he actively assisted Gou Xi in leading troops into Luoyang, driving away Sima Yue’s queen and heir to their respective fiefs. As for whether there might be any mishaps on their return journey, Wang Yan couldn’t care less. With this move, he thoroughly pleased the emperor and the newly appointed Grand Commanders of the provinces of Yu, Yan, and Qing, reaping tangible benefits.
However, this elevation in status did not make Wang Yan appear arrogant; if anything, he became even more restrained. Like at this moment. The incident of Yiyan killing Wang Ping infuriated Wang Yan, and he regretted falling so easily into someone else’s scheme. But using such a casual phrase to describe setting obstacles for the other party seemed to be his style.
Arrangement? What kind of arrangement? Was it dealing with or rewarding? Was this commander of Bing County becoming another Wang Jun, or even Sima Yue, posing a threat to the emperor?
And the “strategy of sowing discord” concealed even more mysteries.
The young emperor’s expression indeed became more solemn. He had just imitated Wang Yan’s method, using a strategy of sowing discord to force the killing of Sima Yue, yet before he could taste the fruits of victory, the Northern Three Provinces were turned upside down with a similar strategy.
It turned out that in this world, there were indeed loyal and talented ministers who couldn’t be swayed by fame, fortune, or wealth. However, such loyal subjects were not loyal to him, the emperor. Even after killing two important courtiers and penetrating into Ji City, exterminating Wang Jun’s entire family, had this Jie general ever regarded the emperor with respect? And was Liang Feng, this fierce Governor, someone he could control?
The seeds of doubt had already been planted in the emperor’s heart. The young emperor had thought that by eliminating Sima Yue, the powerful courtier, and taking full control of the overall power, he could then display his abilities and reorganize the world. But in reality, what happened? Gou Xi showed no intention of coming to the court, tens of thousands of troops were still contending for their own territories in Yu and Yan. The Xiongnu had already invaded Yong County, and conquered Hongnong and Shangluo, thoroughly occupying most of Si County. And Yiyan, originally stationed in Hebei to guard Si County’s northern territory, tore off the perfunctory mask and once again returned to his old master.
With all this, sitting alone in Luoyang, was he any different from the emperor of Zhou?
The administrators he personally promoted also showed this appearance. Did he have anyone left whom he could trust?
But even with suspicions, Emperor Sima Tan would not reveal them. After a moment of contemplation, he said, “For the outstanding achievements, Lord Liang may concurrently hold the position of Grand Commander of Ji County, with a fief of ten thousand households, and be promoted to the title of General Pacifying the North. The military affairs of You County will be temporarily managed by Duke Duan Wumo, concurrently holding the position.”
With just one sentence, Wang Yan had a clear understanding. Duan Wumo, although a Xianbei, had married Wang Jun’s daughter and suffered losses in Bing County. Surely, he harbored resentment against Liang Zixi. Allowing him to temporarily command You County was a move to suppress the rise of Bing County. Therefore, no matter how many titles and honors were bestowed upon him, the young emperor’s suspicion and dissatisfaction towards Liang Zixi were already hidden.
Now, they couldn’t take direct action against him, but tactics still needed to be employed. Wang Yan, more than anyone, understood the intelligence of the young emperor before him. If this intelligence were constantly suppressed and threatened, it would turn into suspicion. Was a clever and suspicious emperor easy to deal with? Once he gained power, Liang Zixi would have his own troubles.
Keeping his thoughts hidden, Wang Yan respectfully accepted. Soon, the envoy carrying the imperial decree for rewards left Luoyang and headed towards Bing County.
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After staying overnight at Fukou Pass, Liang Feng drove back to Lu City. Due to the numerous injuries on Yiyan’s body, he needed urgent rest. Therefore, Liang Feng abandoned his plan to return to Jinyang and decided to stay in Shangdang to handle unresolved matters.
Concerned about this decision, Duan Qin said, “Lord, it would be better to return to Jinyang early. Bing County has just been stabilized, and it’s crucial to reassure the people.”
“Bing County is stable, but Ji County will still take some time. If I am not in Jinyang, Sun Biejia will have more freedom to act.” Liang Feng did not heed the advice and responded calmly.
Hearing this, Duan Qin had to revert to official matters, “As General Yi mentioned before, during the chaos at Camp Xia, some soldiers from the Tiger and Wolf Camp took advantage of the confusion and fled. About half returned to Zhao County, while some went to Ye City. The casualties should not exceed 1,100. Unfortunately, no bodies or military tokens were left behind, making an accurate count temporarily impossible.”
Military tokens are a clear proof of identity for the soldiers of the Liang family. If they die in battle and their bodies cannot be recovered, the tokens can be collected to mark a grave. However, the perilous journey this time prevented the retrieval of most soldiers’ tokens.
Liang Feng sighed softly, “Once the soldiers from Ye City return, we will recount the numbers. The names of all confirmed deceased soldiers will be recorded in the military records. Additionally, the Tiger and Wolf Camp soldiers who participated in the battle will be promoted to three ranks, their military land doubled, and their dependents will be supported by the Provincial Governor’s residence. Those without heirs can adopt successors, and those with heirs can directly enter the Chongwen Academy for education.”
This reward was the highest treatment, and these individuals were mostly from the main line of the main line, some even preceding those recommended by Duan Qin. With such significant losses, they deserved serious consideration.
Duan Qin nodded, adding, “Regarding General Yi, given his official position, should we…”
Before he could finish, Liang Feng waved his hand, “General Yi is severely injured. Let Zhang He take over the command in Ji County. We’ll have to wait for the Emperor’s decree, and there might be significant changes among the officials in the province. We’ll make detailed arrangements when we return to Jinyang.”
This was a matter of course. If Ji County were taken, a comprehensive setup of officials would be needed to take over governance. This was a massive undertaking that couldn’t be decided with just a few words.
However, Duan Qin’s concern was not about this. After hesitating for a moment, he finally lowered his head, “This subordinate will go make arrangements.”
After dealing with official matters briefly, Liang Feng didn’t stay long in the main hall and went directly to the rear courtyard. Now that Cui Ji’s family had moved into the Prefectural Governor’s residence, there weren’t many empty courtyards left. Liang Feng occupied only one. He unceremoniously arranged Yiyan in a side room, claiming it was for the convenience of medical treatment.
This might be a bit irregular, but Yiyan was undoubtedly the hero of this major battle. Liang Feng’s generous treatment didn’t provoke any objections.
Without returning to his own room, Liang Feng pushed open the door of Yiyan’s bedroom. Seeing the person on the bed, he was slightly stunned, walked over, and reached out to catch the other’s chin, “Did you shave? Did you do it yourself?”
Yiyan’s face had already returned to a clean state. The messy stubble was cleaned up, and even his hair had been washed. Hair washing was undoubtedly done by a maid, but the beard was not neatly shaved, with a few cuts on the cheeks. Clearly, someone had taken matters into their own hands.
Fingertips brushing over the person’s face, Liang Feng shook his head, “Your hands are not nimble yet. Why didn’t you let the servants do it?”
A slight blush appeared on Yiyan’s face as he whispered, “I’m not used to letting others shave for me…”
Liang Feng raised an eyebrow, “You’ve got quite the courage, not afraid of cutting your face.”
This remark made the blush recede a bit, seemingly genuinely embarrassed. Yiyan said, “I won’t be so reckless next time…”
Liang Feng interrupted him, “With injuries on your body, don’t fuss over these things. We’ll talk about it when the wounds heal.”
With that, he released Yiyan’s cheek. Not surprisingly, he noticed a slight dimness in those gray-blue eyes. This kid really changed. Liang Feng couldn’t help but smile wryly in his heart. Whether it was because of the embarrassment from crying that day or his body’s exhaustion, Yiyan had been unusually obedient these past two days, almost like he was delicately cherishing a dream. He seemed afraid that any carelessness would shatter this hard-won beautiful dream again.
This level of care made Liang Feng somewhat at a loss. If it were any other day, he might have teased a bit. However, considering Yiyan’s injuries and the doctor’s advice to restrain emotions temporarily, Liang Feng decided to ease off. The two of them, in their interactions, seemed to return to a state of mutual respect and courtesy, as if they were guests.
However, Liang Feng didn’t have much complaint about this “slow” progress. To be honest, he needed some time to digest and adapt as well. For Yiyan, this was quite sudden. Wasn’t it the same for himself?
Take it slow and go with the flow.
“Deputy Clerk Duan has already investigated. After the Battle Cry, about a hundred people managed to escape. The ones who died in this battle will be generously rewarded and compensated,” Liang Feng shifted the topic.
Upon hearing this, Yiyan’s expression dimmed even more, “The Tiger and Wolf Battalion has suffered a significant blow, and it may be difficult to restore its former glory.”
“As long as there are survivors, the organization won’t disappear. Instead of diminishing, the Tiger and Wolf Battalion will expand. This light cavalry victory, an example of one defeating a thousand, will be passed down through the military records. Now that we’ve allied with the Tuoba tribe, horses are no longer an issue. Let’s train another formidable army.” Liang Feng’s expression became more solemn.
Honorary titles have always been the soul of the military. When establishing the three major battalions, Liang Feng carefully considered these matters. The brutal and heroic war history would only be passed down with the military’s name, becoming the source of honor and military spirit. With this kind of spirit, the organization would never disappear; it would only become stronger and more cohesive as time passed. Yiyan’s performance in this battle truly lived up to the name of the Tiger and Wolf Battalion!
Yiyan’s breathing became a bit hurried, and he lowered his eyes slightly, “Thank you, Lord.”
This battle had taken down most of the veterans of the Tiger and Wolf Battalion, an elite force he personally led. It made Yiyan feel a lingering guilt. However, the difficulties and madness of this battle were unavoidable. The combination of the two became a kind of torment. The Lord’s words were not only a comfort to himself but also a great solace for those brothers who lost their comrades in arms.
Seeing Yiyan so moved, Liang Feng’s heart also twisted. He had fought many battles, and he could recall them clearly, but this was the first time he felt such a profound impact. The Battle of You County was undoubtedly a challenging one.
Gently patting his arm, Liang Feng said, “Rest a bit more. I’ll wake you up for lunch.”
Having traveled for so long, Yiyan’s feet were rubbed raw, and, more critically, he seemed to have two fractures in his lower leg from the previous fall. It was unclear how he managed to walk back to Si County. Now, firmly bandaged, he couldn’t step on the ground. Coupled with extreme fatigue, he spent most of the day sleeping on the couch.
Yiyan nodded but didn’t lie down immediately. Instead, he reached out, gently grasping Liang Feng’s fingers. “If my Lord has nothing to do, stay with me for a while.”
Stay with him and watch him sleep? The hand he lightly held had numerous calluses, rough as sandpaper, and the palm was wrapped in countless bandages, much like himself—crossing the boundary between life and death, forcibly pieced back together. Liang Feng didn’t pull away; he let him hold it. “I’m here. You can sleep.”
With the promise given, Yiyan finally lay back. It didn’t take much effort for him to slip back into a deep sleep.
The hand was dry and slightly warm due to inflammation. However, just this simple touch eased Liang Feng’s heart. Leaning back, he adjusted to a more comfortable position. The intertwined hands remained connected without loosening.
