Chapter 78
Chapter 78
[The Male Chauvinist’s Victory – 19]
After considering the matter from every angle, Li Jiangxue had finally devised this plan. She would exploit her rebirth and knowledge of important events from her previous life to construct a lie. It would both gain her cousin’s attention and cloak her in an air of mystery. Now she had told the lie, only for her audience to disbelieve her. How could she not grow anxious?
“Cousin, I am not lying. Everything I said is true!”
After Li Jiangxue died in her previous life, her soul had drifted to Yan Hongguang’s side. She had personally watched him unite north and south and ascend the throne. Six or seven years had passed in this fashion. Even a pig would have absorbed something from the experience, much less a human being.
She might not understand many finer details, but she could give a reasonably complete account of Yan Hongguang’s campaigns in his previous life: the routes he had taken, the battles that had gone poorly, and the warlords who would raise rebellions.
Liu Che knew that she spoke the truth, but he deliberately intended to pry open her mouth. He placed a hand on her shoulder and said helplessly, “Jiangxue, don’t do this. It is true that you poisoned Jiangyue that day, but it is also true that you have already been punished. I will not rake up old grievances again. There is no need to tell such a lie.”
Then he added, “I still have things to do. I will visit you tonight, all right? Be good and go back.”
“Cousin, believe me!”
Li Jiangxue grew frantic. Seizing his sleeve, she dragged him toward her courtyard. “Let us speak somewhere else!”
Liu Che displayed the right measure of helpless indulgence and allowed her to pull him inside. After dismissing the servants, she began to reveal the events of her previous life: Chen Xian causing trouble again in the south; Liu Che campaigning north several times after taking control of military power; the difficult battles he fought against the Northern Dynasty and the hidden losses he suffered; and the bravery of the Guan brothers…
At first, Liu Che listened with casual disinterest. By the end, however, his expression had grown solemn. “Jiangxue, is everything you said true?”
Seeing that he finally believed her, Li Jiangxue sighed in relief and replied coyly, “Cousin, don’t you know me? I understand nothing about such matters. If Heaven had not revealed its secrets to me, how could I possibly say all this?”
She retained some caution. She feared that if she revealed everything today, she would have nothing left to say in the future and lose his favor again. Thus, she spoke only of events that would occur within the next two years and concealed the rest, intending to reveal them gradually. That would make her cousin favor her longer, allowing her to become pregnant sooner and gain a child to rely upon.
Liu Che saw through this little scheme but did not especially care. Only a fool refused a free advantage. Anything that saved him trouble was welcome. Why else had he married the Li sisters and allied himself with the Li Family in the first place?
But it was impossible for him to tolerate Li Jiangxue endlessly because of this.
If she behaved obediently, he would coax her for a while longer. If she caused trouble again, he would kill her and be done with it. He was indeed curious about the events of the previous life, but paying an enormous price for that knowledge would be absurd.
Yan Hongguang had managed to ascend the throne alone in the previous life. Now Liu Che had taken his place, backed by the Guan brothers and an entire space full of SSRs. Could he possibly fail?
What a joke!
Liu Che quickly made his decision. His expression softened, and he coaxed Li Jiangxue in a gentle voice for a while. That night, he slept in her room.
The next morning, Li Jiangxue appeared radiant in the principal residence. She claimed to have come to pay her respects to the mistress, but in truth she intended to announce her triumphant return to everyone in the Yan household’s inner residence.
Li Jiangyue acted as though she did not hear the barbs hidden throughout Li Jiangxue’s words and dismissed them with a smile. Lady Lu could not be bothered with her. Claiming that she needed to return and accompany her daughter, she bowed to the mistress, rose, and left.
The remaining concubines came from humble backgrounds. They all followed Li Jiangyue’s lead and understood how to conduct themselves. No matter what Li Jiangxue said, they responded with smiles. In the end, she found the entire exercise dull and left resentfully.
That afternoon, Lady Lu carried her daughter to the principal residence and asked with unconcealed surprise, “She truly rose again?”
“There is nothing strange about it.” Li Jiangyue looked gentle as she clapped to encourage her son to stand and take a few steps while holding the bed. “She did wrong in the past, but the lord already ordered her punished. Why cling to the matter forever?”
Since Lady Lu was close to her, Li Jiangyue offered an extra piece of advice. “Now that she has regained favor, do not oppose her openly. Take a step back, and the sea and sky will broaden before you. Never stray onto the wrong path. You are the mother of our family’s eldest daughter. Who would not regard you more highly for that? The child is what matters most. When Yuanxia grows older, the lord will not allow her maternal family to remain ordinary commoners, if only for his daughter’s dignity.”
Lady Lu answered with utmost respect, “Yes. This concubine understands.”
Li Jiangyue did not wish to quarrel with her legitimate elder sister, while Lady Lu deliberately gave way. For a time, Li Jiangxue enjoyed unrivaled prominence and reentered the social circle of Shouzhou’s official wives and daughters.
Events did indeed unfold exactly as Li Jiangxue had predicted.
In the sixth month of that year, Chen Xian, who had previously fled with his trusted soldiers to the offshore islands, returned in force. Within half a month, he captured several cities in succession. He entered Yuyao through Jiakou, broke through Shangyu, and once again planted his banners in Kuaiji. Before long, he advanced on Wuxing, his blade pointed directly at Jiankang.
Liu Che had already served in Shouzhou for three years, and the time had come for a new posting. After repeated debate, the court finally issued a decree changing Yan Hongguang’s title from General Who Pacifies the North to General Who Conquers the South and appointing him Inspector of Xuzhou, with command over military affairs in the five prefectures of Shouzhou, Yangzhou, Xuzhou, Yanzhou, and Yuzhou.
Although Liu Che was heading south to take up his new office, suppressing the rebels came first. With warfare raging, he did not intend to bring his family. Li Jiangxue remembered that each of his campaigns lasted at least a month and sometimes half a year. How could she surrender such a fine opportunity to enjoy his favor alone?
She pestered him relentlessly, insisting on accompanying him. Finally, she invoked the knowledge Heaven had granted her and said she would certainly be able to help.
Liu Che’s gaze remained calm and unruffled. After watching her performance for a while, he finally nodded his agreement.
When he had previously gone to Kuaiji, he had still been merely the Inspector of Shouzhou. Jin Miao had looked down upon him because of his own aristocratic lineage. Now Liu Che returned to the same place as a regional hegemon holding military power. No one dared neglect him in the slightest.
Even Li Dongshan personally led the welcoming party three li beyond the city gates. The moment he saw Liu Che in the distance, he hurried forward with an eager smile and repeatedly called him his worthy son-in-law.
Liu Che remained seated on his horse. Holding his riding crop, he asked indifferently, “When did Father-in-law arrive?”
Li Dongshan had not expected the son-in-law who had always treated him with exceptional respect to behave this way. After several stunned moments, he assumed Liu Che had not recovered from the exhaustion of his journey. Forcing a smile, he replied, “Some time ago.”
Then he added, “These gentlemen are all relatives by marriage from our clan. Worthy Son-in-law, allow me to introduce you…”
Introducing clan relatives by marriage was only a pretense. In truth, they intended to follow behind him, pick up military merit, and raise their families’ status.
Liu Che sneered. Without saying a word, he swept his riding crop sideways and led the way into the city.
Li Dongshan received a mouthful of dust from the cavalry’s tails. Humiliation swept over him as though he had been slapped in public. His expression darkened with anger. The other Li clansmen also looked displeased. They exchanged glances, but no one spoke first.
Liu Che entered the city with his guards. A carriage followed at the rear of the procession, and its decorations suggested a woman rode inside.
His son-in-law had gone ahead, so Li Dongshan instinctively assumed his daughter must be in the carriage behind him. He wiped his face with his sleeve and approached with a deeply displeased expression. “Jiangyue, do you know what is happening? Has Yan Hongguang lost his mind? How dare he treat me this way?!”
The carriage curtain lifted, revealing a bright and lovely face.
Li Jiangxue looked at him mockingly. “Official Li, I fear you are disappointed. Your beloved daughter is not here and cannot answer your question.”
Li Dongshan had never expected his eldest daughter to be inside. His expression turned dazed for an instant, then conflicted and melancholy. “Jiangxue, you…”
“Do not call me Jiangxue!”
Her voice was filled with mockery. “What? Now that I have risen and all of you have fallen, do you regret it? Unfortunately, it is too late!”
They had not seen each other in years, yet his daughter’s words were utterly heartless. The faint warmth Li Dongshan had felt at being reunited with his own flesh and blood vanished completely. Recalling his son-in-law’s attitude, his eyes filled with suspicion and ferocity. “Did you incite Hongguang to turn against the Li Family?!”
Li Jiangxue froze slightly. She looked at her father’s tightly pressed lips and rigid jaw and knew he had reached the height of fury. Secret delight rose in her heart, and she immediately admitted it. “What if I did? Unfortunately, there is no medicine for regret in this world!”
She dropped the curtain with the satisfaction of having avenged a great wrong. “Let us go too. Cousin must be growing impatient!”
Li Dongshan’s face was livid, and his fists clenched. After a long while, he finally forced two rigid words through his teeth. “Vile creature!”
A rabble remained a rabble. Even two years could not change that fact.
Once Liu Che arrived, he first inspected the army and stabilized morale. Then he summoned his trusted subordinates to discuss the campaign.
Li Dongshan was a civil official. He had shamelessly volunteered only to cling to his son-in-law and obtain some military credit. Instead of embracing the right thigh, however, he had pressed his face against a horse’s backside. Before all his relatives, he had lost both face and dignity.
Already unhappy, he deliberately opposed Liu Che inside the command tent. If Liu Che said one thing, he said another. If Liu Che called something good, he called it bad, contradicting him at every turn.
Liu Che said, “There is no need to attack Yang’an. We need only pass through…”
Before he finished, Li Dongshan sneered. “Why not attack? These rebels have already raised the banner of revolt. Why would they allow you passage? Young men should not take everything for granted!”
Liu Che glanced sideways at him. “Official Li, did you look at the map before farting through your mouth? Yang’an is still under our control.”
Cheerful laughter erupted throughout the command tent.
Li Dongshan: “…”
His face reddened as he straightened and peered at the map hanging nearby. Sure enough, the mark on Yang’an indicated that it belonged to their own side and had plainly never fallen.
Knowing he had embarrassed himself, he looked deeply awkward. Yet anger born of humiliation made him demand, “If Yang’an remains in our hands, why did you say there was no need to attack it?”
Liu Che replied indifferently, “I was merely stating reality. I truly wasn’t trying to argue with Official Li. After all, I could hardly have guessed beforehand that you would come here without even looking at the map of the current situation.”
Everyone roared with laughter. Li Dongshan’s plump face turned even redder. His lips moved as he tried to defend himself, but Liu Che raised a hand and stopped him.
“Official Li, you should close your mouth,” Liu Che said. “You only have one face. Try to lose it a little more sparingly.”
Li Dongshan: “…”
Li Dongshan was furious. The moment the meeting ended, he rose and left. Back at his lodgings, he turned the matter over repeatedly and concluded that falling out with Yan Hongguang now would bring the Li Family nothing but harm. After much hesitation, he thickened his skin and went to seek him again.
His son-in-law might presently favor Jiangxue and dislike the Li Family because of her slander, but Jiangyue was also a daughter of the Li Family and had given birth to his legitimate eldest son. Could he truly favor a concubine over his wife and allow that vile creature to incite him in matters of such importance?
Li Dongshan had long been accustomed to looking down upon his son-in-law. Even now, while trying to make peace, his tone remained stiff. “Worthy Son-in-law, I know you favor Jiangxue. You heard her slander, decided we were heartless, and are therefore deliberately making things difficult for the Li Family. But you must consider what she did back then. She insisted upon marrying you as a concubine and even staged that farce of a suicide attempt. If she were your daughter, would you still dare keep her?”
Liu Che: “…”
Liu Che could not understand what he meant. After several stunned moments, he said in astonishment to his old companions, “What the hell? This idiot doesn’t think I’m targeting the Li Family for Li Jiangxue’s sake, does he?!”
Zhu Yuanzhang replied, “Looks like it.”
“…” Emperor Gaozu said, “Don’t overestimate his intelligence. Seriously.”
Liu Che was speechless, but his thoughts moved quickly. He immediately looked tender and said with profound affection, “But Jiangxue did all of that for me! She was willing to cast everything aside to marry me. She would rather kill herself than give up. How could I not love such a woman?!”
“…” Li Dongshan: “????”
Li Dongshan stared dumbfounded for a long while, then angrily exposed the truth. “The suicide attempt was false. She staged it!”
Admiration appeared on Liu Che’s face. “She obtained the greatest advantage at the smallest cost. As expected of the woman I love!”
“…” Li Dongshan: “????”
Shocked and furious, Li Dongshan demanded, “Yan Hongguang, are you truly determined to turn against the Li Family for that vile creature? Do you know what price you will pay? Do you care nothing for Jiangyue or your legitimate son?!”
“Vile creature?”
Liu Che flew into a rage. “Silence! I will not allow you to insult my Jiangxue that way!”
“…” Li Dongshan: “????”
You lovesick fucking idiot! Everyone blinded by love deserved to die!
Li Dongshan stormed off, seething with fury, his face twisted savagely.
Liu Che: Hehehe.
…
After several years in this world, Liu Che had gone from personally leading every charge to commanding a forest of generals. A campaign against rebels like this no longer required him to fight in person. He divided up the missions, issued orders, and remained in the command tent to await news.
Guan Pu had come as well, and Liu Che assigned him a mission.
Li Dongshan had originally brought a group of well-connected younger clansmen to take advantage of the campaign. Now that he could no longer cling to his son-in-law’s thigh, he was cursing his bad luck and unwilling to return without merit. Then he suddenly saw his son-in-law assign troops to his younger brother, and his eyes began to dart thoughtfully.
How old could that boy be? He was tall and robust, but his youthful air had not faded. At most, he was fourteen or fifteen.
Li Dongshan knew that Yan Hongguang had always cherished his two full younger brothers. If he dared send such a wet-behind-the-ears boy into battle without fearing an accident, this campaign clearly involved little danger.
Li Dongshan immediately summoned his own clansmen, assembled the troops he had brought, and led them out.
Liu Che choked on a mouthful of tea and nearly coughed himself to death. Question marks filled his head.
Li Dongshan, you’re sending those crooked melons and cracked dates from your family to challenge my future Marquis of Changping? Did Liang Jingru give you that courage?!
He laughed in anger. Knowing Li Dongshan would not listen to advice, he felt no pity for the Li Family’s useless scions, only for the soldiers beneath them. He therefore ordered men to follow at a distance. If nothing happened, so much the better. If trouble arose, they could provide timely support.
Events proved Liu Che’s concerns entirely correct.
Upon meeting the enemy head-on, Guan Pu led a detachment of light cavalry into their ranks like wolves among sheep. His surprise assault left the enemy in utter chaos. Li Dongshan’s nephews and younger clansmen, meanwhile, entered like chickens among tigers and were beaten half to death.
Both metaphors involved animals, but just as wolves and huskies were practically different species, the contrast between the two sides was tragic.
That evening, after reviewing the gains and losses, Liu Che smiled. Then his face turned cold, and he ordered the men who had fled before the enemy taken out and beheaded to uphold military discipline.
Li Dongshan had left Jiankang full of ambition. If he returned with several urns of ashes, how could he explain matters to his relatives?
Before his plea could leave his mouth, Liu Che’s cold gaze swept over him. “Official Li, an incompetent general can kill a thousand soldiers. You recommended every one of these men. Now they have cost us troops and generals. Had I not sent men to follow at a distance and rush forward when the situation turned bad, how many soldiers do you think would have returned alive?!”
Li Dongshan looked embarrassed and smiled awkwardly. Just as he prepared to humble himself and plead for mercy, Liu Che’s expression turned stern. He shouted, “Men! Seize him immediately and give him thirty strokes with the military rod to uphold military law!”
Li Dongshan’s expression changed dramatically. He was about to argue, but the soldiers gave him no opportunity. They charged forward like wolves and tigers, seized him by the arms, and dragged him outside.
Military punishment was brutal. How could a pampered scholar like him endure it?
After thirty full strokes, Li Dongshan had gone limp as mud and seemed nearly mashed into the ground.
“…” Li Dongshan: “????”
The pain had originally sent half of Li Dongshan’s three souls and seven spirits flying away. After hearing those words, however, he forcibly dragged them back.
What did that vile creature’s beating have to do with me? Why should I have to taste the same thing?
Meow, meow, meow???
She was beaten because she was caught poisoning the mistress of the household. You, Yan Hongguang, ordered the punishment. Now that the two of you are in love again, you’re dumping all the blame on me?
Li Dongshan’s expression twisted savagely, and his fingernails dug directly into the ground. As he was lifted like a lump of mud, he saw an execution taking place not far away.
Several young clansmen who had accompanied him were forced to their knees. The executioners raised their blades and brought them down. Heads rolled far across the ground.
Li Dongshan felt a chill against his neck. He screamed inwardly and began trembling uncontrollably.
Yan Hongguang, you ungrateful bastard! What a ruthless heart!
Li Jiangxue, first you trampled upon the clan’s reputation, then deceived your parents. Now you have even incited that beast Yan Hongguang to deal me such a vicious blow. Your heart is a hundred times more poisonous than his!
Hatred and resentment nearly boiled inside Li Dongshan. Covered in cold sweat and deathly pale, he lay on his stomach through the night, groaning in pain. The vicious light in his eyes grew ever stronger.
If the two of you show me no benevolence, do not blame me for showing no loyalty!
You truly love each other, do you? You will cast aside everything for that vile creature?
When forced to choose between that vile creature and your future, which will you choose?!
Li Dongshan sneered.
Liu Che had kept men watching Li Dongshan’s lodgings. Several days later, a subordinate finally reported that Li Dongshan had sent a confidant out of camp and secretly toward Kuaiji. Since Chen Xian’s army was stationed there, the scout had not dared follow far and turned back midway.
Had Liu Che provoked Li Dongshan into secretly allying with Chen Xian to make the suppression campaign fail?
The suspicion made Liu Che more vigilant. Unexpectedly, the next day someone reported that Li Dongshan’s confidant had brought back a group of men. Judging by their dress and bearing, they appeared to come from the army. Li Dongshan had also been unusually active over the past few days and had secretly sent men to inquire about the Right Madam’s whereabouts. He seemed particularly interested in her routine.
Li Jiangxue had always loved the limelight. Now her husband was the highest-ranking local official, while her half sister had not accompanied the army. How could she let such an opportunity pass?
She dressed splendidly every day, conducted diplomacy among the official wives, and reveled in the flattery of local bureaucrats’ female relatives.
If Li Dongshan truly wished to learn her movements, it would not be difficult.
Liu Che stroked his chin for a while and began to understand. His gaze turned profound. Summoning a confidant, he instructed quietly, “Send men to watch that group. Find out whether they know the identity of Li Dongshan’s confidant.”
If they knew, so be it. If they did not, why not take the opportunity to buy one and get one free?
Li Dongshan’s plan was to collude with Chen Xian and have Li Jiangxue abducted. If Yan Hongguang advanced, his true love would be lost. If he retreated, he would suffer a great defeat and severe damage to his reputation. Either way, Li Dongshan would not lose.
He knew the matter was extremely serious. If Yan Hongguang learned of it, he would hate him bitterly. If Chen Xian discovered the truth, the rebel might use it to threaten him and force him onto the bandit’s ship. Thus, he ordered his confidant to conceal his identity and explain only that the two sides were cooperating for profit and would separate immediately afterward.
Cunning as Chen Xian was, he never guessed that the man secretly cooperating with him to abduct Yan Hongguang’s beloved concubine was that concubine’s own father. He merely assumed that Yan Hongguang’s repeated military achievements had angered officials within Southern Liang, and that someone wished to make him stumble.
He only needed to send a small squad to cooperate. Success would yield an enormous profit, while failure would cost merely that squad. After briefly considering the matter, Chen Xian immediately agreed.
Li Dongshan gave Li Jiangxue’s travel routine to Chen Xian’s subordinates, then settled back confidently to await the show.
Their own forces relocated in the meantime, and Li Dongshan was carried elsewhere with them. He thought nothing of it. Lying on his stomach inside a carriage, he gleefully waited to see Yan Hongguang and that vile creature suffer. Halfway through the journey, however, the carriage suddenly stopped. A short burst of fighting and shouts arose outside, frightening him badly.
When silence finally returned, the carriage door was violently flung open. Instead of his attendants, a group of tall, powerfully built men with savage expressions appeared.
“Damn it! Besides that little woman, we caught a huge fish too!”
“…” Li Dongshan: “????”