Stealing the Ming Dynasty [Complete] - 3

In Chapter 3 of "The Gentle Land is the Hero's Tomb,"

after Sun Degong gave the order, he suddenly noticed that Huang Shi's face had become very stiff. He asked curiously, "Huang Shi, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, nothing," Huang Shi chuckled twice and quickly called to his personal guards, "Hurry up and thank the lord."

"Thank you, Lord Sun."

"Good," Sun Degong said to Huang Shi with a smile, "Commander Huang, let's go in too."

"Yes."

The two walked one after the other, and Sun Degong joked with a smile, "Huang Shi, you're a commander, yet you dare to come to my house for dinner empty-handed. Aren't you afraid your men will laugh at you? In the future, your men will follow suit and come to your house empty-handed, hahaha."

After the laughter, Sun Degong suddenly realized that the person behind him was silent. When he turned around, he found that Huang Shi had already stopped and was about ten steps away from him. Although he couldn't see Huang Shi's face clearly, he saw that Huang Shi was trembling all over. Sun Degong stopped laughing. His face darkened as he walked back to Huang Shi and hissed, "Huang Shi, what's wrong? Did I say something wrong?"

"What you say, sir, is naturally correct," Huang Shi replied quickly, but the barely suppressed anger still startled Sun Degong.

Sun Degong tried to calm himself. He glanced around; everyone else was keeping their distance. "Huang Shi, speak freely." "

This subordinate wouldn't dare. This subordinate has nothing to say," Huang Shi knelt on the ground, his words humble, but the anger in his voice showed no sign of abating.

Sun Degong snorted heavily, his tone turning unfriendly: "Commander Huang, you were promoted by me personally, and I have treated you with great kindness. I don't know where your resentment comes from. However, I don't believe I have wronged Commander Huang in any way. Today..."

Sun Degong had only been making a casual joke, but Huang Shi's outburst was baffling. He was about to reprimand Huang Shi for his strange temper when he saw Huang Shi suddenly raise his head, his eyes filled with anger, making him unable to finish his sentence.

"I don't believe I have wronged you in any way, sir." Huang Shi's voice suddenly rose eight octaves. He tried his best to recall the hardships and dangers he had faced since arriving in the Ming Dynasty, and finally felt his eyes warming up: "The tasks you entrusted to me, sir, no matter how dangerous, how, how..."

Huang Shi stopped there, only staring angrily at Sun Degong, his chest heaving violently. In the bright firelight, Sun Degong noticed the glistening light in Huang Shi's eyes. He was extremely surprised, and his tone softened instantly: "Little Huang, what's wrong? Let's go to the study and talk about it slowly. You can tell me anything; don't you trust me?"

Earlier, when discussing the matter with Zhao Manxiong, Huang Shi and Zhao Manxiong agreed that the old adage "truth comes out when drunk" was too cliché; words spoken in anger were far more believable. As the saying goes, a man doesn't easily shed tears; if he could squeeze out a couple of tears, the effect would be much better.

So Huang Shi immediately retorted angrily, "Of course I trust you, sir; it's you who don't trust me!"

This loud voice startled Sun Degong. He quickly glanced around; this unusual behavior seemed to have attracted the attention of nearby servants, who were already gathering to watch. Sun Degong quickly waved them away: "How can I not trust you?" "Your

Excellency sent me to Liaoyang, and I had no objections. Your Excellency wanted me to betray… to do whatever you wanted me to do, and I never objected. But Your Excellency always probed repeatedly, fearing I might have ulterior motives, and I never complained… I'm just Your Excellency's dog. If Your Excellency doesn't trust me, then take my life!" Huang Shi spoke angrily for a long time, his voice growing louder and louder.

Sun Degong was increasingly alarmed; Huang Shi's long rant was truly filled with resentment. The core idea was that Huang Shi felt he was being unjustly suspected, and Huang Shi believed that his merits should not have led to such suspicion.

Having completely calmed down, Sun Degong commanded in an unquestionable tone, "Let's go to the study."

Once in the study, Huang Shi's anger seemed to have subsided; aside from constantly cursing himself for deserving to die, he repeatedly apologized. Sun Degong was no longer interested in such pleasantries. He had finally managed to get the gist of the matter out of him after much effort.

After understanding the situation, Sun Degong discovered that Huang Shi was clearly under immense pressure. He now saw everyone as either Wang Huazhen or someone sent by Sun Degong to spy on him, hence his charade. Tonight's incident with the personal guards was the trigger. What was said unintentionally was taken to heart by Huang Shi; his words had been interpreted as a warning.

Understanding the whole story gave Sun Degong a secret sense of relief. In his eyes, Huang Shi was still a novice, and Sun Degong believed that Huang Shi was on the verge of a mental breakdown, torn between his "desire for wealth and power" and his "fear of punishment." Although Huang Shi's wariness made him somewhat uncomfortable, he believed that now that he had found the root of the problem, solving it wouldn't be difficult.

"Huang Shi, do you know why I summoned you today?"

"This subordinate doesn't know," Huang Shi answered honestly.

"It's to let my wife meet you. She'll be coming out at the banquet later, and she wants to hear your words and insights."

"This, this..." Huang Shi looked up, staring at Sun Degong with an incredulous expression.

"Yes," Sun Degong smiled encouragingly at Huang Shi, "Huang Shi, you are my confidant, that goes without saying, and I'm very satisfied with your character. My daughter is sixteen, and I want to betroth her to you. She's my legitimate daughter, so my wife wants to meet you first." "My

lord," Huang Shi was so excited he could barely speak, "This subordinate, this subordinate..."

"No need to say more, it's good that you understand." Sun Degong smiled kindly, "Originally, this matter was supposed to be discussed after my wife met you, but since you have a grudge, I'll tell you now."

After deliberately altering his expression, Huang Shi rose and knelt before Sun Degong, intentionally taking a deep breath: "My lord, I was originally just a lowly soldier. Without you, I am nothing, nothing at all. I've heard the saying: 'First comes the discerning eye, then the exceptional horse.' To me, you are like my own parents. Now you've betrothed your daughter to me, and I have no way to repay you." Having

said this at length, Huang Shi paused to catch his breath: "Heaven above, earth below, gods and ancestors as my witnesses, if I ever forget Lord Sun Degong's kindness, may I be struck by lightning, my bones utterly destroyed; may my ancestors' tombs be disturbed; and may my descendants be men who become thieves and women who become prostitutes!"

It seemed Huang Shi had won over Sun Degong's wife, for within two days Sun Degong indicated that Huang Shi could come and propose marriage. Sun Degong's eldest daughter had truly gone all out. Since Sun Degong and Huang Shi became engaged... The way Sun Degong's personal guards looked at Huang Shi was no longer just jealousy, but also contained a hint of obsequiousness.

Today, when Huang Shi visited Sun Degong's residence, he once again received this treatment. While waiting outside the study, he suddenly noticed a girl dressed as a maid staring at him intently from the corridor. Huang Shi naturally didn't dare look too closely at Sun Degong's inner circle, only occasionally glancing at them out of the corner of his eye. Unexpectedly, the girl was quite poised and confident, even scrutinizing him for a long time without any restraint.

After a while, the girl gracefully walked over. While Huang Shi was still stunned and at a loss for words, she bowed deeply to him and said, "May I ask if you are Lord Huang Shi?"

Huang Shi hurriedly returned the salute, "I dare not presume, it is indeed I. May I ask what brings you here, Miss?"

The girl bowed again and said respectfully in a soft voice, "This servant is not a young lady, Lord Huang, you flatter me. May I ask you a few questions, if I may?"

What followed was a series of questions about Huang Shi's culinary preferences, which continued until Sun Degong came out. The girl then called Sun Degong "Master" before leaving.

Even if Huang Shi were as dull-witted as an ox, he could guess the maid's identity. Sure enough, upon entering the study, Sun Degong bluntly told him, "This is my daughter's personal maid. My wife and I have decided to include her in her dowry. She is very clever and capable; you can entrust her with managing the affairs of your household."

Before Huang Shi could express his gratitude, Sun Degong clapped his hands: "Alright, now let's get down to business."

...

"Zhu Youxiao's appointment of such an incompetent person is tantamount to handing Liaodong over to the Jin Dynasty; it's also fate. What is there for you to worry about, sir?" During their private discussion, Huang Shi noticed Sun Degong's apparent concern and spoke dismissively.

Every time Huang Shi addressed the Ming emperor by his name, Sun Degong would shift uncomfortably. This time was no exception. Huang Shi noticed that neither the rebellious Han generals nor the Jurchens of the Later Jin, nor even Huang Taiji, were as brazen as he was. In this era, everyone had a deeply ingrained sense of hierarchy; addressing the emperor by his name was something the ancients found difficult to do.

The unease that Huang Shi's jarring address had caused Sun Degong took a while to completely dissipate. However, his momentum remained consistently affected, and in the ensuing discussion, he almost entirely accepted Huang Shi's views and opinions. As Huang Shi took his leave, he noticed some complex emotions in Sun Degong's eyes. As time passed, Huang Shi's confidence grew, and the relationship between the two transformed from one of complete subordination to one of semi-subordination and semi-cooperation. Huang Shi believed that Sun Degong had sensed this as well.

Back at his lodgings, Yang Luhu rushed over to help Huang Shi remove his cloak and armor. Other guards brought him food and tea; Huang Shi never drank alcohol, and the guards quickly became familiar with this trait of their commander.

While sitting down to eat dinner, Huang Shi asked Wang Yong, "Tomorrow afternoon, I'm going to Liuhewei. Have my clothes and the gifts I'm going to deliver been prepared?"

"Prepared, sir." Yang Luhu knew that Huang Shi took this matter very seriously, so he had bought all sorts of gifts well in advance.

With Huang Shi's sponsorship, Zhang's second son is finally getting married. Since there are no auspicious days in December, the Zhang family has chosen a more acceptable day at the end of November—tomorrow. Huang Shi has prepared a generous gift for this occasion.

(End of Chapter 3)

The Land of Gentleness is a Hero's Tomb Chapter 4:

Old Zhang had always hoped Huang Shi would recruit the Zhang brothers into his ranks, but Huang Shi, after careful consideration, realized that what he was about to do was still very risky. If anything happened to the Zhang brothers, he felt he wouldn't be able to explain it to Old Zhang. Most importantly, those two big-mouthed Zhang brothers weren't exactly reliable. Therefore, Huang Shi resolutely refused Old Zhang's repeated requests. This time, he specially prepared a gift, hoping to slightly appease the Zhang family's resentment. He was clearly doing them a favor, but he couldn't say it out loud, which made Huang Shi very unhappy.

"Alright, you'll all come with me tomorrow, wearing your best clothes."

"Yes, sir."

The next day, Huang Shi arrived at Liuhe Guard with all eight of his personal guards. Their armor was gleaming, and their scarlet cloaks commanded the respect of the guards and their families. For good luck, most Chinese people choose to have their weddings in the morning, but here, like all the other guard posts, the wedding procession and banquet began in the afternoon.

Huang Shi was invited to the seat of honor, and his personal guards were given the best food and wine. However, he simply offered a toast, remaining silent and smiling as the others frantically made merry in the bridal chamber. After the newlyweds entered the bridal chamber, Old Zhang, standing beside Huang Shi, hesitated for a moment before speaking to him.

"Shi Tou." Old Zhang spoke softly now.

"Uncle Zhang, please speak." Huang Shi was pleased that Old Zhang still used that form of address. The neighbors had already insisted on calling him Commander Huang, and those less familiar with him even tried to call him Lord Huang.

"Could my younger brothers go to Guangning to broaden their horizons?" Old Zhang brought up the same old question again.

The timing of this question gave Huang Shi a headache. He shouldn't say anything discouraging today, but then again, today was definitely not the time to ask such a question. It seemed Old Zhang was determined to get his way. Huang Shi couldn't think of a good answer for a long time. Seeing the disappointment gradually filling Old Zhang's eyes, he finally steeled himself:

"Uncle Zhang, you know my personal guards are all appointed by higher authorities. There is one named Zhao Manxiong, but he wasn't originally a military household member, so I can't arbitrarily transfer soldiers from the garrison."

"Yes, yes, Shitou, I know you have difficulties, I know," Old Zhang reluctantly expressed his understanding. He always said this when Huang Shi refused him.

Old Zhang's disappointed expression made Huang Shi feel a pang of sadness. This was his savior, yet he had to make him so sad, especially on his son's wedding day. Huang Shi remained silent for a long time, while Old Zhang invited him to eat and drink. He looked at this kind man who had helped him build a house and even helped him find a wife. Huang Shi finally succumbed to the traditions of the time, no longer caring about his children's happiness.

"Uncles and aunties, I have a few words to say," Huang Shi stood up, his booming voice immediately drawing everyone's attention. "Today is a joyous day, so I hope to take this opportunity to finalize another happy event."

"As you all know, Uncle Zhang saved my life in the wilderness during a blizzard. I, Huang Shi, can never repay this debt, so there's no need to mention it. If Uncle Zhang hadn't helped me find a military position, I, Huang Shi, would still be begging on the streets. Uncle Zhang didn't expect me to repay this debt either, but he made a promise with me." He paused, then continued to the attentive crowd: "Today, I ask all of you neighbors to be my witnesses. My eldest daughter will be betrothed to the Zhang family."

Hearing this, Old Zhang stood up somewhat flustered. Huang Shi's drastic change in status worried him. He hesitated, saying, "I don't know if we'll be a good match." Could

a life-saving debt not even compensate for the difference in social class? Huang Shi was furious upon hearing this. He shouted, "Even if I were to become a mere garrison commander, a lieutenant general, or a commander-in-chief, I would never forget Uncle Zhang's kindness. Heaven above, earth below, and all of you here today are witnesses. As long as Uncle Zhang agrees, this marriage is settled."

On the way back to Guangning, Yang Luhuo pondered for a while and said to Huang Shi, "Sir, I understand your feelings, but there's something I must say. Given your future status, marrying your daughter to a military household is inappropriate. There are many ways to repay kindness, but this is absolutely, absolutely unacceptable. Even a daughter born out of wedlock won't do; you'll be laughed at for the rest of your life."

"I've already said it."

"No one will take it seriously, and the Zhang family wouldn't dare mention this marriage."

Seeing Huang Shi remain silent, Yang Luhuo continued, "Sir, although the Zhang brothers have no merit and their health isn't great, as long as the higher-ups don't ask, transferring one of them to our unit as a battalion commander shouldn't be a problem."

"No," Huang Shi said decisively, "Lord Sun instructed that he wants a vigorous and energetic army. Those who cannot command respect cannot be captains."

"Sir, you must find a way to promote them," Yang Luhuo said anxiously, "If they could become captains or battalions, it might be more respectable."

Huang Shi smiled and sighed, "Sir, you have also been kind to me, so I will repay you in official matters. I will repay the Zhang family's kindness in private matters. Although I distinguish between public and private matters, I still understand the principle of repaying a small favor many times over."

Yang Luhuo glanced at Huang Shi's expression, inwardly disapproving of his superior's attitude: "Sir, you distinguish between public and private matters, I admire you."

Back at his residence, Huang Shi took out a silver ingot and gave it to his personal guards to distribute: "Thank you for your hard work today, accompanying me on this long journey."

"We dare not accept such praise," the guards said, initially taken aback, then burst into laughter: "We also got a meal and drinks, didn't we?"

“You don’t dare to drink freely, drinking like this is just suffering.” Huang Shi stuffed the silver into Yang Luhuo’s hand: “Take this and divide it up or buy some wine. You’ve made me look good today, I’m very satisfied, that’s a merit!”

Because Huang Shi had already told Sun Degong that he would be attending the wedding banquet, Sun Degong casually asked how the drinking had gone the previous day after inspecting the troops, noting that he didn’t seem hungover at all. Huang Shi admitted that he rarely drank, and while chatting with Sun Degong, he recounted most of what had happened the previous day.

“Transferring the Zhang brothers here is indeed not a big problem.” Sun Degong pondered for a moment and said the same.

“It’s a business that could cost us our lives, how could we be careless? Once the big thing is done, are we afraid there won’t be an opportunity?”

Sun Degong also remembered what Huang Shi had said before: if the Zhang brothers refused to join, Huang Shi would have no choice but to kill his saviors. This was rather unreasonable, and Sun Degong naturally didn't want to complicate matters further: "Speaking of which, Huang Shi, when do you plan to marry my daughter?"

Huang Shi smiled sheepishly: "Reporting to my lord, it's up to you."

"Are you kidding? How can I decide such a thing? That's too unlucky. You're not marrying into the family, so of course it's your decision." Sun Degong looked at Huang Shi in surprise for a moment, then smiled and teased: "Do you want to marry into the family? If you do, I certainly won't object."

"My lord is too kind, I don't deserve it." Huang Shi also laughed: "But I really don't know anything about this, could you please give me some pointers on a date?"

"No." Sun Degong refused decisively: "You find someone to set a date yourself, then give it to me. If I object, I'll say so later, but I won't give any opinions beforehand, it's too unlucky."

"Furthermore, if the Zhang family ultimately refuses to serve the Great Jin, you must not marry your daughter to them," Sun Degong emphasized. "If the Zhang family's child cannot rise above others, I will absolutely not agree!"

Huang Shi wasn't actually in a hurry to marry Sun Degong's daughter, because he had already made up his mind to assassinate Sun Degong. However, before taking that step, he needed to ascertain whether the girl valued her father or her husband more.

(Chapter 04)

The Land of Gentleness is the Tomb of Heroes (Chapter 05

) "But how can I be satisfied with just a few hundred taels of silver?"

After thinking about his words for the evening, Huang Shi lowered his head, took a deep breath, letting the fragrance of tea fill his chest, and then slowly sipped it—his favorite way of drinking. The guards gathered in front of the gate, eagerly awaiting Yang Luhuo's return. They all knew that Yang Luhuo would bring back a considerable sum of money for tea—a necessary bribe to their superior and to appease his personal guards.

A few days ago, Huang Shi's prospective father-in-law, Sun Degong, gave him a lucrative post. To be precise, Sun Degong shared a large portion of the lucrative post that Wang Huazhen had offered him. Wang Huazhen put Sun Degong in charge of the annual audit of Guangning Town. This task had to be completed before the end of the year, and

December was a busy month. In addition to dealing with military pressure from the east, Wang Huazhen, the governor of Liaodong, also had to supervise officials at all levels to settle the year's accounts. At the same time, as a high-ranking official of the court, he also had to preside over a series of quasi-religious activities such as praying for snow and thanking Heaven. He also had important work to educate the local people. A large number of elderly people needed the governor to visit them before the end of the year, the elderly needed to be cared for, members of the imperial family needed to be presented with gifts, and nobles needed to send gifts. When Huang Shi saw the busy Liaodong governor's office, he realized for the first time that local officials in the Ming Dynasty also had a hard time.

This December was particularly busy. With the dust settling on the Korean War, the Later Jin became hungry for intelligence on Guangning. A large number of spies were dispatched to try their best to gather intelligence on the city's defenses and garrison. In less than ten days after taking office, Gao Bangzuo, the prefect of Guangning, arrested four groups of spies.

Wang Huazhen, seeking to win him over, assigned the town's annual inspection work to Sun Degong, who in turn assigned the inspection of all weaponry to Huang Shi. The officers in charge of these inspections usually deliberately found loopholes, then waited for bribes to come their way. Therefore, Huang Shi's personal guards were overjoyed upon receiving this assignment.

However, their smiles soon faded. Huang Shi meticulously inspected each military camp, checking the numbers without missing a single one. The situation became chaotic, and even his own guards repeatedly reminded him to be lenient, but Huang Shi returned all the items submitted by those being inspected.

Yang Luhuo quickly reported to Huang Shi that he was already being cursed behind his back. Everyone said that Huang Shi, this new official, was a pack of starving wolves, determined to take a bite out of them. During the day, the faces of the officers accompanying Huang Shi on his inspection were already very grim.

Huang Shi sipped his tea while flipping through the ledgers in his hands. "...The ledger lists 3,600 spears, but there are actually 2,325, a shortage of 30%; the ledger lists 1,500 bows, but there are actually 812, a shortage of 50%; the ledger lists 653 sets of armor, a shortage of 70%..."

He had already read these shocking figures to the city gate treasury officers and captains that afternoon. What impressed him most was that these officers remained unfazed while he read the numbers. They all complained about the quality of the weapons, essentially saying that the weapons were breaking down and had to be discarded.

They even hinted to Huang Shi that if he were truly capable, he could use this annual review to get the weapons reissued to make up the shortfall.

That afternoon, Huang Shi had listened to these words with a smile, but now he could only sneer. These past few days, he had inspected all the soldiers—all the soldiers! Less than 10% of the soldiers could name the firearms, and only three or four out of a hundred soldiers knew how to use them.

He had raised this issue as a serious matter that afternoon, but the officers being questioned were even more assertive than him.

"We have nothing to train with. Brother Huang, you're new here and don't know many things. We can't use gunpowder and other equipment without orders from above,"

he recalled a Guangning officer retorting, a reason that surprisingly garnered a chorus of agreement.

Huang Shi's endless stream of questions elicited all sorts of bizarre explanations, and the argument raged on until evening. Finally, Huang Shi laid it all out on him: they could explain these reasons to the Liaodong governor in person, which somewhat quelled their arrogance.

The eldest of the officers tried to smooth things over, suggesting they all go for a drink and put work aside for now. Huang Shi, without any courtesy, readily offered some excuses; he had already discussed this with his personal guards. They unanimously agreed that if Huang Shi went into battle shirtless, it would be detrimental to their bargaining.

When he clearly stated he wouldn't go, the officers finally showed some admiration, realizing that Commander Huang was no novice. What followed was predictable: the captains of the officers' personal guards collectively invited Yang Luhuo for drinks. As Yang Luhuo left, he patted his chest and assured Huang Shi, "Don't worry, sir, I will definitely argue my case."

The captains of the personal guards could demand exorbitant prices and then negotiate down to the bottom. No matter how fiercely these subordinates argued, it wouldn't damage the harmony among colleagues—this was an unspoken rule of the Ming Dynasty.

On the desk lay the results of his calculations. Arabic numerals were easy to use, and the four arithmetic operations weren't difficult for Huang Shi, but the results still astonished him, prompting him to recalculate again and again.

Suddenly, a commotion arose at the door, mixed with excited shouts. Huang Shi guessed it was Yang Luhuo returning, and sure enough, his voice soon rang out at the door.

"Come in."

"Yes—" Yang Luhuo, his face flushed, rushed in, drawing out his words.

"Let them all in. No need to eavesdrop at the door."

A large group of guards poured in, all beaming. It seemed they had struck it rich this time.

Huang Shi asked with a grin, "You've made quite a bit, haven't you?"

Yang Luhuo rubbed his hands together, grinning as he replied, "It's all thanks to you, sir. We did manage to get some money for drinks, but you certainly wouldn't care about such a small amount."

"Nonsense! Why would I take your money for drinks? Just stop asking me for tips!"

The guards immediately started clamoring, insisting on getting more, otherwise, wouldn't the renowned Commander Huang seem too stingy? It took Yang Luhuo a long time to continue reporting his progress to Huang Shi. The condition for tonight was two hundred taels of silver in exchange for a satisfactory inspection report.

Huang Shi was very clear about one thing: if he refused bribes, his subordinates would be very dissatisfied. History records the fate of such fools; honest superiors were betrayed or even killed by their subordinates. Officials who refused bribes not only threatened the positions of others but also blocked their own subordinates' path to wealth, and they couldn't even offer gifts to their superiors. If a person offends everyone around them, they are destined to achieve nothing.

“I intend to report the facts.”

As soon as Huang Shi spoke, he saw the expressions of his personal guards change, their smiles freezing on their faces.

“But they can spend more money to talk to Lord Sun, and I will not only get no money but also no credit.”

These words made the guards' faces relax again, but if their lord was so reasonable, what did he mean by what he said earlier?

“Therefore, I must get Lord Sun Degong’s support.”

Disbelief and suspicion began to appear.

“My lord, you are wise, two hundred taels is already quite a lot. I argued with you all night to get this price.” It was Yang Luhuo who spoke, afraid that Huang Shi might doubt his abilities.

“I set this price first, and then I dared to ask for the money for the wine!” It seemed that Yang Luhuo was also worried that Huang Shi might misunderstand his loyalty.

Huang Shi picked up a draft from the table with his left hand, flicking the paper with his right index finger:

"These missing items, worth tens of thousands of taels, at least tens of thousands of taels of silver! Just the few thousand-man squads at the East Gate alone have a hole of tens of thousands of taels!"

The guards faced Huang Shi in silence, and finally Zhao Manxiong spoke up: "Sir, this wasn't accumulated in a year or a term, and it's quite a lot..." "

I know that a lot was bought by the soldiers themselves, not to mention their superiors also need to pay tribute." Huang Shi impatiently interrupted Zhao Manxiong, waving the paper:

"But how can I be satisfied with a few hundred taels of silver?"

Huang Shi's ambition stunned the guards, and they hesitated for a long time before tentatively asking:

"Then what does the sir mean?"

(End of Chapter 5)

The Gentle Land is the Tomb of Heroes Chapter 6

Sun Degong paced back and forth in the study, flipping through a thick report in his hand. Huang Shi, the Deputy Commander of Guangning, stood ramrod straight at his desk. The sound of pages turning sent shivers down his spine; this was the culmination of many days' work.

The report contained detailed equipment information for each unit, along with Huang Shi's statistics on training and morale, and figures on bribes received by various officials. At the end of the report was Huang Shi's analysis based on this data, ranking the units according to their overall combat effectiveness.

"Commander Huang," Sun Degong, having put down the report, addressed him by his official title—a first for them alone together—"Did you write this report?"

"Yes, I wrote it myself."

...

Five days earlier, when Huang Shi went to report to Sun Degong, Sun Degong had immediately chuckled and cursed, "You little rascal, you've made quite a bit of money this time, haven't you?"

Huang Shi, however, gave a serious look to the guards surrounding Sun Degong and requested a private conversation. After everyone had left and closed the door, Huang Shi handed over the report worth tens of thousands of taels of silver from the east gate. With a suspicious look on his face, Sun Degong took the report without even looking at Huang Shi's face and sighed,

"Little Huang, you're new here and there's so much you don't understand. Things can't be done this way."

"Please enlighten me, sir,"

Sun Degong explained earnestly. If he were to submit such a blunt report, Huang Shi would be drowned in criticism. Indeed, Wang Huazhen would be furious, but the law doesn't punish everyone, and the matter would ultimately fizzle out. Only Huang Shi himself would suffer, and perhaps Sun Degong as well.

At the time, Huang Shi seemed completely unconcerned. Sun Degong earnestly warned him that governorships are short-lived, while colleagues are lifelong, even multi-generational, neighbors. A soldier who offends his colleagues might die without even knowing how.

Sun Degong's long-winded explanation was shattered by Huang Shi's single sentence: "What colleagues? Colleagues of the Ming Dynasty?"

This question left Sun Degong speechless for a moment before he recovered from his stunned silence. Sun Degong wasn't stupid; in fact, he understood immediately. He immediately grabbed Huang Shi's report and read it again, his voice trembling as he spoke.

After Huang Shi assured him that the data was absolutely true, Sun Degong's trembling went beyond just his voice. He slammed his hand on the table, causing everything on it to fall to the ground: "A great achievement!"

Setting down the report, Sun Degong's voice regained its composure and confidence: "Huang Shi, there are less than ten days until the end of the year. Are you confident?"

"Please rest assured, sir. I will complete the task assigned to me even if I have to forgo food and drink."

"Good." Sun Degong clapped his hands, summoned his personal guards, gave them a few instructions, and soon his men arrived in droves.

"I have discovered numerous flaws in this year's annual review, and it is not entirely truthful. Therefore, I reject the review and order a re-examination." Sun Degong said loudly and forcefully, then roared amidst the bewildered expressions of the crowd: "Huang Shi!"

"Your subordinate is here, sir," Huang Shi roared back.

"Huang Shi, Commander of Guangning, listen to my order! I hereby appoint you as Deputy Commander-in-Chief, fully responsible for the retrial. I expect a detailed report within five days."

"Yes, sir, I obey."

Although he anticipated the order would quickly spread throughout Guangning Town, Huang Shi was still surprised to find that his personal guards and entourage had all heard the news when he rode back to his quarters.

Yang Luhuo and the other guards couldn't hide their astonishment. Last night, when Huang Shi said he was going to ask Sun Degong for the right to conduct a city-wide investigation, they all thought he was boasting. They never expected him to actually do it, and even bring back a fourth-rank Deputy Commander-in-Chief. At this moment, Huang Shi felt their gazes were filled with admiration and excitement. He smiled and asked a few of his personal guards, "How was it?"

"Your Excellency is truly awe-inspiring; we are filled with admiration."

This nonsensical compliment made Huang Shi laugh heartily for a long time, then he waved his hand arrogantly: "Begin the review immediately."

The following days in Guangning City could be described as chaotic. Huang Shi relentlessly pushed the several battalions temporarily assigned to him by Sun Degong to conduct thorough investigations, while Huang Shi himself constantly launched surprise inspections, checking their work on a whim. The next day, one battalion commander was found to have made a private deal with someone. Huang Shi reported this to Sun Degong without hesitation, while the other battalions watched in horror as Sun Degong ruthlessly stripped the battalion commander of his post and replaced him with a trusted confidant.

"Commander Huang, this is my investigation report," the North Gate garrison said tremblingly, handing over a stack of data.

After receiving the report, Huang Shi pressed his finger on the paper, moving it word by word, occasionally asking questions. The guards sat down beside him with abacuses and quickly began tapping away, the crisp sound of the beads causing the guard's facial muscles to twitch. Huang Shi, on the other hand, sat leisurely, sipping tea and watching the guard's sweat pour down his face.

After an unknown amount of time, the sound of the abacus beads finally stopped. Huang Shi glanced at the guards' reactions and uttered four words: "No problem."

"I'm glad Commander Huang is satisfied." The forty-something-year-old captain let out a sigh of relief, wiping the sweat from his brow. Yang Luhuo saw him out the door.

When he returned, Yang Luhuo was still tossing a piece of silver in his hand: "Sir, these past few days I've earned more tea money than most people earn in a lifetime. One comes in, and another goes out—it's unheard of!"

As the review progressed, the morale of Huang Shi's men grew higher and higher, which pleased him greatly. Huang Shi hadn't figured out who Sun Degong had sent as his mole, but he figured winning him over was only a matter of time. The day's work left him exhausted. "What about the others?" he

asked. "Those who were investigated got even more," Yang Luhuo said, grinning as he massaged Huang Shi's back. "Several more came to offer bribes today, and I managed to coax some of the idiots back. Sir, let me give you a number."

"No need," Yang Luhuo replied, "I don't have time for that. You handle it." Yang Luhuo's military-style touch was clearly unsuitable for a shoulder massage, and Huang Shi struggled. "

Why are you using so much force? Get lost." "My lord, please forgive me," Yang Luhuo immediately jumped away. "I'll find you someone skilled with a sharp hand, how about that?"

Seeing the eager look in Yang Luhuo's eyes, Huang Shi's refusal turned into, "Just one?"

"Understood, I'll get right away."

Huang Shi then summoned Jin Qiude and ordered him to follow Yang Luhuo. After that incident, Jin Qiude had become another trusted bodyguard. With a gloomy expression, Jin Qiude accepted the order and left. He secretly monitored Yang Luhuo's movements and reported back to Huang Shi—Yang Luhuo went directly to the brothel to gather men and didn't go anywhere else along the way—this naturally included the location of Sun Degong, which Huang Shi suspected.

After tireless efforts, Huang Shi finally managed to deliver two reports to Sun Degong in time. One was for Wang Huazhen, which Huang Shi bought for a good price. The other was for Sun Degong, which was equivalent to giving it to the Later Jin, or what Sun Degong called a "great achievement." As for the original data, Huang Shi wrote it down in English and Arabic numerals, certain that no one could understand this method of recording.

"Very good, very good," Sun Degong murmured seemingly unconsciously, his gaze returning to Huang Shi's report. "Commander Huang wrote it very well."

Huang Shi felt that Sun Degong's last look at him was somewhat strange. After leaving the study, he tried to figure out what that expression meant.

"Young Master."

A girl's voice sounded in his ear.

(End of Chapter 6)

The Land of Gentleness is the Hero's Tomb Chapter 7 The

pure white jade ring shone softly in the sunlight. Huang Shi gently held it, feeling its cool touch. The smooth outer layer of the jade gave an illusion of transparency, and the silk-like threads inside changed shape with the movement of his fingers, like a wisp of smoke trapped inside, still slightly rising.

Silk-like threads—thoughts, a very nice symbol. Huang Shi reluctantly put away the jade ring. The maid who brought it stood quietly beside him. She maintained a slight smile, watching Huang Shi put the jade ring into the silk pouch before asking softly, "Young master, do you like it?"

"Very beautiful, please thank Miss for me." Huang Shi returned her a smile. When the maid handed him the gift pouch earlier, he had intended to take it away according to Ming Dynasty custom, but the maid said that Miss hoped he would open it in front of her. Although it was a little strange, he did as she said. The jade ring in his hand looked quite valuable.

The servants around them kept their distance, suggesting that this young lady's personal maid held considerable power in the Sun household. However, she was unusually obedient to Huang Shi, even more so than before. Huang Shi guessed that the girl already knew she would be part of the dowry, and naturally wanted to perform well in front of the future head of the household.

Feeling confident in his position, Huang Shi straightened his posture, adopted the air of a head of household, puffed out his chest with an air of authority, and asked sternly, "Is there anything else?"

"Replying to the young master," the maidservant curtsied obediently, her soft voice ringing out again, "This servant dares to say, Miss says the young master must understand the meaning of this jade ring.

What meaning? Could it be Yang Guifei? Impossible." Huang Shi was stunned, a multitude of thoughts racing through his mind: a poem, a lyric, or a couplet? Could Miss Sun be one of those girls who read too many romance novels, like Huang Shi's female classmates in junior high who were addicted to Qiong Yao novels, always trying to use the so-called romantic plots in the books to embarrass the boys who secretly admired them?

What romance novels of this era mentioned Yang Guifei? Huang Shi frantically searched his memory for some classic ancient novels he had read: *The Jade Futon*, *Jin Ping Mei*, *The Monk with the Lampwick*, and so on, but he couldn't recall the origin of the name "Yu Huan."

What was its meaning?

Huang Shi pondered for a long time, sighed inwardly, and was about to tell the maid that he didn't know. When he turned his head, he saw the maid beside him looking at him eagerly. Her large eyes were fixed on him, her lips were slightly pouting, and she looked a little nervous. This playful expression suddenly reminded Huang Shi of someone, a girl with a similar background to the person in front of him—Hong Niang.

"Jade is valued for its firmness, smoothness, and unwavering nature—"

Huang Shi drawled, observing the expression on Hong Niang's face. The maid's slightly tense expression vanished instantly; her upturned chin returned to its original position, her long eyelashes fluttered a few times before drooping, hiding her watery eyes behind them. Her lips pursed, revealing a hint of a smile.

"Looks like a fan of *The Romance of the Western Chamber*," Huang Shi thought with relief, smiling as he continued, "It is valued for its unbroken cycle."

Unwavering, unbroken—does such love truly exist? Huang Shi smiled at her joyful face and said, "Go back and tell Miss this." "

Yes." The matchmaker nodded vigorously, her clear, girlish voice filled with indescribable joy.

Huang Shi smiled helplessly and walked away without looking back. He kept chuckling to himself on the way, drawing several surprised glances from Jin Qiude, who had come with him. The Sun family girl knew perfectly well that whether she answered or not, she was still his woman, yet she still insisted on putting him in a difficult position; even funnier was that maid—it should be your mistress who's happy for her husband—not some clueless soldier, and you, a mere maid, are happy? What's going on? I didn't realize this girl was so close to her mistress.

When I stood in Sun Degong's study again, it was already the third day of the Lunar New Year. The year had passed uneventfully. Before the New Year, Sun Degong had been promoted to Lieutenant General, and during the New Year, Huang Shi paid his respects to his wife again

with the respect due to a nephew. The meal was sumptuous, and since Huang Shi didn't drink much, Sun Degong didn't force him to drink more; he only had a couple of cups before letting him go. In the study, Sun Degong held a military order in one hand and was loudly reading it aloud

. It was Wang Huazhen's commendation order for Huang Shi: "Huang Shi of Guangning Army has served diligently and achieved outstanding results. This governor is very pleased to hear of this. Our Great Ming's military administration rewards merit and corrects mistakes; this is why our army is invincible. Huang Shi is hereby awarded ten taels of silver, five bolts of cloth, and a precious sword. Recommended by Lieutenant General Sun Degong of Guangning, Huang Shi is hereby appointed as the Training Commander under Lieutenant General Sun Degong of Guangning." "May he never forget the nation's deep kindness and diligently perform his duties. This order is hereby issued. Governor of Liaodong, Great Ming Dynasty." "

Another fourth-rank military officer position is in hand. Theoretically, the position of Training Commander is responsible for training the soldiers under Sun Degong's command, but Huang Shi knows that its more practical significance is as a staff officer to the rank of Assistant General. It's also a midway point and an essential step on the path from low-ranking officers like Qianzong and Bazong to higher-ranking officers like Youji and Assistant General.

" This commendation order will be immediately circulated throughout the army. "

After Sun Degong finished reading it, he released the order, letting it float lightly onto the desk. Huang Shi and Sun Degong exchanged glances, neither glancing at the falling order. Huang Shi didn't ask about the rewards mentioned in the order, and Sun Degong seemed to have forgotten about them as well. The two silently looked at each other, each trying to glean something from the other's eyes."

These rewards were also in exchange for Huang Shi's report. Although his report to Wang Huazhen was not entirely accurate, it did contain an analysis of the team's combat strength. Furthermore, it used statistical tables from later times, clearly distinguishing each number. Wang Huazhen knew nothing about military affairs, and this writing style was both novel and concise, making him very happy. After inquiring about the details from Sun Degong, Wang Huazhen scolded Sun Degong for being stingy, saying that the old man had directly given Huang Shi a fourth-rank military commander in a moment of joy.

It was Sun Degong who broke the silence first: "If you do a good job as the training commander, the next step is to become a guerrilla general. As for whether you do a good job or not, that's entirely up to me, the assistant commander. You little rascal, you're almost a general yourself!"

Sun Degong's address returned, and his tone became intimate again. Huang Shi kept the changes in mind, pondering the hidden information:

"It's all thanks to the magistrate's promotion, but... what's so great about being a general in the Zhu family?" "

Is that so?" Upon hearing this, Sun Degong carefully took out another piece of paper: "How about this? This is a reward from the Khan."

Huang Shi immediately jumped up, respectfully accepting the paper with both hands. In front of Sun Degong, Huang Shi never hesitated to show respect for the Later Jin and contempt for the Ming Dynasty. There was only one chance; the more complacent Sun Degong was, the greater his chances of winning.

This was Nurhaci's reward to both Sun Degong and Huang Shi. The higher-ups highly praised Huang Shi's efficiency in gathering intelligence, and repeatedly commended the accuracy and timeliness of the intelligence. One diligent effort had earned him rewards from both the Ming and Later Jin dynasties simultaneously; the praise from both sides made Huang Shi quite proud.

Sun Degong handed Huang Shi a sealed letter: "This is from the Fourth Prince, and only you are allowed to open it."

"Yes."

Huang Shi took the letter with his head down, a hint of doubt flickering in his eyes. There seemed to be something strange in Sun Degong's tone—was it jealousy or something else? Huang Shi pondered his own thoughts and tucked the letter into his bosom.

(End of Chapter 7)

The Land of Gentleness is the Tomb of Heroes Chapter 8

The flames greedily licked the paper, and the violated letter changed color as if startled. Huang Shi stared at the letter that was beginning to yellow; it curled up, trying to avoid the oil lamp.

This thick stack was a letter from Huang Taiji, who expressed interest in the forms and methods Huang Shi used when counting supplies and personnel, asking many questions about them. The tone of the letter was very friendly, and it also pointed out Huang Shi's various shortcomings in calculating combat strength.

Huang Shi brought the letter closer to the fire, and the paper crackled and groaned, the yellowed pages covered with densely packed Chinese characters. Flames leaped from the meticulously written calligraphy, and Huang Shi shifted his fingers until a stinging pain shot through his fingertips.

He finally tossed the flame aside, the light illuminating the last corner of the paper he clutched. On it was Huang Taiji's powerful signature, identical to the handwriting on the main text.

The signature was swallowed by the flame before Huang Shi, the red light reflecting in his dazed eyes. Those eyes seemed to see a scene: Huang Taiji writing furiously by candlelight, occasionally pausing to glance at the report beside him, then thoughtfully writing down his opinions, finally signing his name heavily at the end of the letter.

"To be repaid with the kindness of a patriot, one must first be treated as one,"

Huang Shi murmured, quoting Huang Taiji's last words to him. He could have served Sun Degong, he could have served Mao Wenlong, he could even have served Chongzhen, but he dared not serve Huang Taiji.

"My ambition is to conquer the world, but you are too strong; you will devour me whole."

The firelight dimmed and went out; a gust of wind blew, and ashes swirled in the air.

"I'm sorry, you treat me like a national hero, but I cannot repay you in kind."

Wang Huazhen's praise further enhanced Huang Shi's prestige among his subordinates; the commander was only one step away from becoming a guerrilla. In Yang Luhuo's words, he had seen several hereditary centurions who struggled their entire lives to become guerrillas, and he had also heard of a common soldier who had climbed to the rank of centurion in forty years. But a soldier like Huang Shi, who was about to become a general in less than a year, was something he never dared to dream of.

"It's not a hereditary military rank, so it's nothing. Besides, I'm not the first one." Faced with the flattery of his personal guards and subordinates, Huang Shi remained indifferent.

"Sir, that soldier took forty years, forty years to reach the rank of Qianzong (a military rank), and those guerrillas were all originally Baihu (a military unit). You, sir, have only been in office for a year. Forget about being a general, even a hereditary Qianhu (a military unit) is just around the corner!" After Yang Luhuo finished speaking, the personal guards and bodyguards around him nodded vigorously.

The lifelong dream of low-ranking military officers in the Ming Dynasty was to obtain a hereditary military position, so that their descendants could become landowners among the military households, and even if they joined the army, they wouldn't have to start from the bottom. However, even for a lucky family, it would take several generations of hard work to achieve the goal of a hereditary Baihu (a military unit) or Qianhu (a military unit).

"A hereditary commander of a thousand?" Huang Shi raised an eyebrow. He remembered Mao Wenlong, this lowly soldier who rose from beggar to become a hereditary Pingliao General in just a few years. "Do you think this is all I can achieve?"

Looking at his apologetic subordinates, Huang Shi smiled and tossed out a big reward: "In two years, when I become a hereditary commander of a thousand, Yang Luhuo, and you all, you must become hereditary commanders of a hundred to avoid disgracing me."

The excited guards were full of anticipation. Huang Shi was rising like the sun, and in the past few months, his brilliance had made his colleagues in the Guangning Army afraid to look him in the eye. Generally, such rapid promotion would attract countless schemes and exclusion, but their superior was too fast; his competitors hadn't even had time to react before being left far behind.

The military families of Liaodong had all noticed this rising star. Since Huang Shi's promotion seemed unstoppable, naturally many hands reached out seeking friendship. Sun Degong's family was a prominent military clan in Liaodong, with recent generations producing either commanders of ten thousand households or guerrilla generals. The news of Huang Shi's marriage alliance with his family was a strong signal: the Liaodong military group was beginning to accept and acknowledge him as a young officer.

Sun Degong suggested that Huang Shi divide his soldiers into two battalions of centurions, promoting two centurions and six captains to control them. Huang Shi objected, considering his personal guards lacked sufficient merit to become centurions, and even captains were a stretch. He also feared being sidelined if Sun Degong appointed centurions.

"Sir, I will manage my troops well,"

Sun Degong finally yielded to Huang Shi's initial disobedience and challenge. The Guangning Commander, personally appointed by Wang Huazhen, indeed had the right to speak loudly in his territory. This disobedience might have led to his superior making things difficult regarding military pay, but both Sun Degong and Huang Shi understood that Sun Degong had no grounds to do so.

"My subordinates want Yang Luhuo, Zhao Manxiong, and Jin Qiude to gain experience, and then select two of them to become official captains."

Whether it was Sun Degong's own scheme or Huang Taiji's appreciation of Huang Shi, it determined that Sun Degong could only win over Huang Shi, not suppress him. At this time, Sun Degong somewhat regretted not arranging for his daughter to marry Huang Shi sooner. Huang Shi, on the other hand, ordered Yang Luhuo, Zhao Manxiong, and Jin Qiude to serve as acting captains, where they would accumulate merits until they obtained the official captain or captain qualifications.

These three personal guards acted as captains, each in charge of fifty soldiers, while Huang Shi himself commanded fifty men. Acting captains did not have personal guards and were not formally appointed, as Huang Shi believed that this would make it difficult for them to establish their own independent power. Huang Shi's personal guards were very happy about this, because it made Huang Shi's attitude clear: no one else could be allowed to challenge the officers under his command, and each personal guard seemed to see the day when he would become an officer himself.

Of course, it's always a bizarre and ridiculous sight for a commander to have only three deputy commanders under his command. The lack of officers at all levels reduces control over the army, easily leads to isolation between officers and soldiers, and makes it harder to cultivate mutual trust and reliance. But this is Huangshi's policy; this is the price Huangshi must pay to consolidate its territory and achieve absolute freedom of action.

On the fourth day of the Lunar New Year,

"May your lord live a long and healthy life!"

In the military camp, soldiers' toasts rose and fell. Over two hundred men were enjoying a large amount of pork and rice wine, their intoxicated state a joyous celebration for their commander, Commander Huang Shi, who had brought them all this, expressing their sincere delight.

Their beloved commander smiled broadly, waving back in response to his men's salutes, though inwardly he regretted his shortcomings in winning over the army.

In this era, Ming soldiers were deeply ashamed, psychologically considering themselves inferior commoners. Many were so impoverished that they had to sell their wives and children. Therefore, during festivals like the Spring Festival, when they commemorated their ancestors, their poverty prevented them from offering any decent sacrifices, making them feel they had utterly disgraced their ancestors.

Huang Shi's men fared slightly better; they pooled their newly received resettlement allowance and military pay to buy pork and flour. The northerners made dumplings, while the southern soldiers bought rice and wine. Jin Qiude secretly reported to Huang Shi yesterday that these impoverished soldiers shed tears during the ancestral worship ceremony, firstly because they hadn't offered such lavish sacrifices in a long time, and secondly because they needed to quickly distribute the food—it was their New Year's Eve dinner.

"If only I had paid for these soldiers to have a grand ancestral worship ceremony," Huang Shi sighed inwardly, regretting his miscalculation. He had assumed these soldiers, now receiving their pay, would have a comfortable New Year. He reminded himself that in this era, bestowing favors on soldiers was far less important than bestowing favors on their ancestors.

After leaving the camp, Huang Shi summoned Jin Qiude and Zhao Manxiong to his side, his first words being: "Jin Qiude, are you convinced now?"

Jin Qiude had originally suggested that Huang Shi reward the troops on New Year's Day, a custom of the Ming Dynasty where even the most stingy officers would buy some wine and meat to reward their subordinates. Not only Jin Qiude, but Yang Luhuo had also made the same suggestion.

Hearing Huang Shi's question, Jin Qiude looked at Zhao Manxiong with admiration, who smiled smugly. Zhao Manxiong had firmly opposed visiting the soldiers on the first day of the lunar month; he deliberately wanted the soldiers to misunderstand Huang Shi and to believe they had a stingy officer for the past two days.

"They've been cursing a lot these past two days, haven't they?" Huang Shi asked Jin Qiude with a smile.

Jin Qiude was responsible for secretly gathering information on the soldiers' morale and the situation in other camps. The most generous officer in the Guangning army had given each of his men a jug of wine, an ounce of pork, and two qian of silver. Huang Shi's men had received nothing, and naturally, they were envious and resentful. This resentment had fully fermented on the second and third days, and according to Jin Qiude, they had even been cursing Huang Shi's ancestors.

"Haha," Huang Shi laughed heartily upon hearing this, "They should be ashamed now."

Today, Huang Shi had brought each man a pound of pork and a chicken, with plenty of wine. He had also given them an ounce of silver. Zhao Manxiong pretended to know nothing, loudly proclaiming that New Year's wine was hard to come by and they had only just managed to gather enough today. He even apologized to the soldiers on behalf of Huang Shi.

"Exactly," Zhao Manxiong said smugly, "They've been mocked by their allies for days, and tomorrow they'll definitely mock them tenfold. Besides, they certainly have the right to mock others."

The soldiers' rewards today were probably ten times the average, and Huang Shi had almost spent all his money preparing these things. Huang Shi didn't need money; he needed soldiers to die for him: "Indeed, the one who laughs last laughs best."

"Your Excellency is wise." Jin Qiude flattered Huang Shi, then clasped his hands in a fist salute to Zhao Manxiong: "Brother Zhao is insightful."

Huang Shi hadn't brought Yang Luhuo today, but instead had him take two men to guard the house. The group had just returned to Huang Shi's residence when they heard a woman's angry scream:

"Yang Luhuo, you go eat shit!"

(End of Chapter 8)

A gentle embrace is a hero's grave. Chapter 9:

The girl stood in the center of the courtyard, tears welling in her eyes.

The guards were all embarrassed, but Huang Shi didn't speak, so they could only sneak back.

Upon entering, Huang Shi immediately recognized the girl; she had been gesticulating wildly and venting her anger on the guards who remained behind. Seeing Huang Shi, the caring matchmaker instantly transformed into the obedient girl Huang Shi had known before. The obedient girl tucked her hands into her sleeves and shuffled over to greet Huang Shi.

She brought a letter; seeing Huang Shi was absent, she wanted the guards to go find him, but she insisted on personally delivering the letter to Huang Shi. Three guards were ordered to watch the house properly; it wasn't an important matter, so they naturally couldn't go looking for Huang Shi. As for the military camp, they certainly couldn't bring a respectable woman there. And that's when she threw a tantrum.

After hearing what happened, Huang Shi was so angry his arms trembled. All his hard work in winning people over, was it all just to be scolded by a mere maid? The guards' handling was perfectly correct. She was just Miss Sun's personal maid; what was wrong with her now? How dare she reprimand her own guard captain like that? This girl was far too immature!

"What are you making a scene for? Can't you just wait for me to come back?"

The voice was loud and the tone harsh. The little girl, like a startled deer, clutched her chest and took a step back, her face filled with fear. Then, she said pitifully, "This servant knows she was wrong, please punish me, Master." Her voice choked as she spoke, and large tears welled up in her eyes.

A woman's tears are more powerful than a dragon's flames. Startled, Huang Shi was at a loss and could only comfort her.

"It's all my fault, Master. You're too kind." The obedient girl smiled gently, then pulled out an envelope: "A letter from Miss."

Huang Shi took the letter and casually said, "Thank you."

Unexpectedly, the obedient girl immediately curtsied: "This servant doesn't deserve it."

Damn his habitual way of thinking; in this era, it's not customary to say thank you. Superiors can't say it, and subordinates don't need to. Unfolding the letter, the core sentence was: "This concubine will go to the city gates tomorrow to walk in the snow." Besides that, it also specified the departure time, and only the obedient girl would accompany her.

Is it a date? Huang Shi nodded: "I understand. Thank you for your trouble. Go back early."

"It's all what this servant should do."

The obedient girl smiled brightly and left gracefully. Before leaving, she glared fiercely at Yang Lu Huo, making the boy's face turn white. Huang Shi found it amusing and couldn't help but tease, "A grown man, being scolded so badly by a sixteen-year-old girl, aren't you afraid of being laughed at?"

He then burst into laughter. Unexpectedly, Huang Shi's words didn't elicit any laughter from anyone. He coughed awkwardly to stop, seeing his personal guards staring at him in disbelief. "Did I say something wrong?"

Yang Luhuo stammered, "Sir, isn't she Miss Sun's personal maid?"

"Yes." Huang Shi asked curiously, "What's wrong?"

"...Nothing."

Just as Huang Shi was about to ask again, Zhao Manxiong spoke up, "Sir, what did the letter say? Is there anything we can do for you?"

"Yes, I'll need to trouble Brother Luhuo tomorrow."

Early the next morning, Huang Shi took Yang Luhuo out of the city. In this era, the sky was blue, and the snow was pure white. There were very few houses on the outskirts of Liaodong. Soon they arrived at the temple mentioned in the letter. From afar, Huang Shi could see two people waiting there. Although he couldn't make out their faces, the one in the back vaguely resembled his daughter. Both were

looking at him. Huang Shi felt a little embarrassed that the woman had arrived first. He knew he wasn't late—men in the 21st century didn't have the opportunity to develop the habit of being late for dates. He remembered a snowy date from his previous life; they were supposed to be at 6:30, but the girl made him wait in the snow for three hours. There was an even more outrageous time when he made a phone call from downstairs at the girls' dormitory and had to wander around in front of the receptionist for an hour before finally seeing her. A simple, self-righteous excuse about needing to change clothes left Huang Shi speechless.

As they approached, Yang Luhuo lagged behind, and Huang Shi dismounted. The girl immediately introduced him in a low voice, "Miss, this is Lord Huang."

"Greetings, Lord Huang." The girl addressed as "Miss" immediately curtsied.

"Greetings, Lord." The girl changed her address again.

"Greetings, Miss Sun." After returning the greeting, Huang Shi secretly peered over Miss Sun's shoulder.

As he looked around, Miss Sun said with her head bowed, "Lord Huang, my servants are not nearby. I have them wait by the temple where I am offering incense."

"That's good. I was afraid of tarnishing Miss's reputation." Huang Shi said, scrutinizing the person before him. The girl's head was bowed, and apart from her smooth forehead, he could only see long eyelashes and a small, firm nose. Her young body was wrapped in a light silk skirt and fur coat, and a faint fragrance of face powder wafted in the spring breeze.

"You flatter me, Lord. I was merely out offering incense, admiring the plum blossoms and enjoying the snow. Our meeting was purely by chance." Miss Sun's voice was as gentle and calm as water. The little girl had already retreated far away. Huang Shi glanced at Yang Luhuo, gesturing for him to go and protect her. Yang Luhuo pointed to his nose in surprise, and Huang Shi glared at him again.

Yang Luhuo quickly nodded and bowed as he went over. Huang Shi then led the horse and Miss Sun slowly along, the girl carefully keeping a step behind him. In this delicate atmosphere, Huang Shi didn't know what to say. Even the quietest women he'd met before were far more lively than this. Although Huang Shi had a bellyful of jokes from banquets, he knew he absolutely couldn't use them at this moment.

However, Miss Sun seemed quite content. She gradually raised her head, and Huang Shi stole glances at her several times, noticing the smile growing deeper and deeper. She seemed to be a very traditional Chinese woman. Huang Shi made a preliminary judgment in his mind: such a traditional woman would probably be more devoted to her husband. If he could win her over, he wondered if she would become completely devoted to him.

The young lady, of course, was unaware of Huang Shi's lewd thoughts. After walking slowly for a while, she suddenly said softly, "I've heard that you, sir, are very knowledgeable. I'm quite bored in my boudoir. Could you tell me some of your experiences?"

As a modern man from the 21st century, a time when women have come to power, Huang Shi naturally lacked the courage and integrity to disobey a woman's orders. He racked his brains to recall all the strange tales he had ever heard. Then, he embellished them, adding the atmosphere of the Ming Dynasty.

However, this kind of improvisational work was extremely mentally taxing. Coupled with Huang Shi's anxiety about the effectiveness of his stories, his anxiety made him even more nervous, and his stories and jokes became increasingly dry. Several bland jokes left Huang Shi feeling quite disheartened. He stammered through jokes that were so cold they were practically freezing, making even Huang Shi feel like his water was turning to ice. Fortunately, Miss Sun seemed to enjoy it, and the air between them was filled with the clear, cheerful laughter of a young girl.

When Huang Shi didn't look at her directly, Miss Sun laughed heartily, even touching her chest with her hand; but as soon as Huang Shi turned his head, Miss Sun quickly covered her mouth with her sleeve, while carefully tucking a strand of hair behind her ear with her other hand. Even as her shoulders trembled with laughter, Miss Sun maintained her elegant gait, which made Huang Shi realize perfectly well: this girl didn't really enjoy listening; ostensibly he was trying to amuse her, but actually she was trying to please him.

"Why did you stop, sir? I was enjoying listening to you very much,"

Miss Sun said, stopping as well as Huang Shi when he suddenly stopped, looking at him with a beaming smile.

Huang Shi looked around and spotted a dilapidated temple that was clearly deserted. Pointing with his riding whip, he said,

"Miss Sun, how about we rest there for a while?"

"Ah!" Miss Sun gasped softly, then covered her mouth and lowered her head, her fair nape quickly turning pink. She made a sound almost like a mosquito's buzz:

"My lord, what do you want me to do there?"

(End of Chapter 9)

The Land of Gentleness is the Hero's Tomb Chapter 10

What's this brat thinking?

Just now, Huang Shi saw Miss Sun tremble strangely, a barely perceptible hint of pain flashing in her smile. Unbeknownst to them, they had already walked several miles; Huang Shi had only remembered that he shouldn't make a woman with bound feet walk for too long.

Caught off guard, Huang Shi remained silent for a moment. The girl's ears flushed crimson, and she continued softly, "I am deeply grateful for your kindness, sir, but your servant and my maid are still following behind. Besides, I belong to you, sir, so there's no need for..."

Her voice trailed off, almost inaudible, her earlobes so red they seemed to bleed. Her submissive posture made Huang Shi's heart skip a beat, leaving him dizzy.

"Is that so?" Huang Shi chuckled, rushing forward to scoop up the petite, charming figure. Miss Sun trembled slightly but then stopped moving, glancing around anxiously, as if afraid someone might suddenly appear in the seemingly deserted wilderness. Huang Shi carried her into the dilapidated temple.

He sat her down on the ground, and the girl struggled to sit down as well.

"Shh, don't move. I was worried you were tired after walking for so long, and I saw you seemed to be in some pain."

Miss Sun let out a soft "ah" again, her head drooping even lower, her ears turning even redder, so shy she wanted to bury her head in her arms: "Thank you for your kindness, sir. I am a little tired, but chatting and laughing with you makes me feel better."

Huang Shi tightened his arms: "The ground is cold, you'll get sick."

The girl obediently stopped, squirming in Huang Shi's arms: "Thank you for your kindness, sir, I am very grateful."

"You still call me 'sir'? Change your address." Huang Shi couldn't help but tease the person in his arms.

The girl wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face behind Huang Shi's shoulder. After a moment's hesitation, she whispered in his ear, "Yes, sir."

It tickled; the warm, soft flesh in her arms stimulated Huang Shi's senses. Just as he was about to take further action, the girl's gentle voice came again: "Sir, tell me about the Huang family's ancestors."

"Why did you think of that?"

The girl's tone seemed somewhat surprised. "Sir's ancestors are naturally my ancestors, and of course I want to know their great achievements."

"Then let's start with my father. My father was a teacher." Huang Shi's father taught physics, a term that didn't exist yet. "

So, father-in-law was a teacher." The girl's tone seemed somewhat unexpected. Huang Shi then remembered that he had said he was a beggar and had never given a detailed account of his background. No wonder this girl only asked about the Huang family's ancestors and not his parents; she was afraid he would feel embarrassed.

Seeing that Huang Shi didn't continue, the girl wriggled again: "Master, please let me down, let me massage your shoulders and legs."

"No need."

"Does Master dislike me?" The girl's tone became very aggrieved.

"Not at all." Huang Shi chuckled and released her. The girl ran lightly to the back and massaged his shoulders comfortably. During this time, Huang Shi selectively told some stories about childhood fun and elders. This time, the person behind him was not smiling, only occasionally uttering a word or two of praise:

"Our Huang family ancestors were indeed extraordinary."

The fragrant love that filled the entire temple intoxicated Huang Shi. It was the first time he had felt so relaxed since arriving in this era. For a moment, he almost let down all his guard. However, he finally asked a question he had prepared beforehand, a question he had been asked countless times, a truly awful question: "If your father and I were both seriously injured (the original question was falling into the river), who would you save first?"

The girl behind him hesitated for a moment: "Of course, it would be Master. My mother will take good care of Father."

"What if it had only been you then?"

The fingers on her shoulder paused, and after a long silence, the girl's tone became somewhat anxious: "Master's question is difficult, please don't make things difficult for me."

This wasn't a reliable person. The warmth in Huang Shi's heart gradually cooled. He subtly pulled the girl back into his arms, intending to comfort her so she wouldn't repeat what she shouldn't have said to Sun Degong. As Huang Shi hugged her, he noticed the girl's hands repeatedly flexing and relaxing. He picked them up and saw that her fingers had been massaged until they were pale

, showing signs of spasms in the current temperature. Tenderness surged into Huang Shi's chest once more. The corrupt and backward feudal society was truly devastating to women. No wonder women demanded liberation; how could they not be liberated? He couldn't help but kiss the girl. Her cheeks, lightly touched, quickly lost all color, becoming translucent, before immediately turning the color of a ripe rose.

“Alright, I know the answer just by looking at your hands,” Huang Shi smiled. “Actually, I was just asking casually. You’ll be a member of the Huang family from now on, and I secretly hope you value the Huang family more than your own family.”

“Yes, a woman follows her husband, that’s the proper way.” The girl leaned shyly and weakly against Huang Shi’s chest, her eyes already closed.

Just as Huang Shi was feeling somewhat relieved, the girl suddenly added, “But there’s also the saying ‘anyone can have any man,’ which is the complete opposite.”

The phrase “anyone can have any man” startled Huang Shi. This shouldn’t come from a lady’s mouth. He tentatively asked, “What did you say? Anyone can have any man?”

“Yes, anyone can have any man.” The girl used the phrase without any shame, opening her eyes and asking in confusion, “Master, don’t you know this phrase?”

“No, tell me.” Huang Shi lied without blushing or skipping a beat.

The girl immediately recounted the story, one that Huang Shi had never heard of before. It seemed to be a family tragedy from the Zuo Zhuan, where a son-in-law plotted to murder his father-in-law, causing the daughter immense grief. In her confusion, she asked her mother: "Who is closer, my father or my husband?" Her mother replied: "He can have any man, but my father is the only one. How can they be compared?" The daughter then revealed her husband to her father, who preemptively killed his own son-in-law.

After telling the story, the girl was already heartbroken: "That woman was so pitiful. She had to choose between her father and her husband;

it was so painful." "Do you think she did the right thing?" Huang Shi felt a chill run down his spine. It was a parable tailor-made for him. In his previous life, "he can have any man" wasn't used this way, but clearly, the term hadn't evolved by the Ming Dynasty.

The girl shook her head: "Master, please don't ask such questions that I don't need to consider. When you asked that question just now, I immediately thought of promiscuity. I don't want to think about such painful things."

Now that their relationship was much closer, Huang Shi was less reserved in his words, and he even brought up some jokes he'd shared with his cronies at the dinner table in his past life. The girl's face kept changing between pale and flushed as she listened, but since their relationship was already established, she couldn't get angry at her husband, nor could she do something like covering her ears—a "betrayal"—so she could only cover her face and chuckle.

So this is how enjoyable it is to be a rogue! This carefree, uninhibited striptease was quite enjoyable for Huang Shi. After all, she was theoretically supposed to spend her whole life with him, and if Huang Shi insisted on taking her, she probably wouldn't dare risk displeasing her husband.

However, the story the girl had just told made Huang Shi wary. The Zuo Zhuan's assessment of that unfortunate son-in-law was, "He plotted against a woman, and he brought it upon himself."

Huang Shi now believes that in ancient times, when Confucian feudal ideas like filial piety were rampant, discussing with someone how to betray their father was undoubtedly a foolish act. In modern society, where Confucius has been thoroughly refuted and trampled underfoot, such a thing would be much easier.

"Let's build up the atmosphere a bit more, then I'll take advantage of her," Huang Shi secretly decided.

(End of Chapter 10)

The Land of Gentleness is the Tomb of Heroes Chapter 11

"Did you come out without your father's knowledge today?"

"Is Master mocking me?"

Hopefully, it was her own decision, Huang Shi comforted himself. If it was Sun Degong's plan, then she'd be in danger if she went back and described him.

A voice kept urging him in his heart—to get some information out of her, and then do something she couldn't say aloud.

Miss Sun was still a young girl after all, too easily coaxed out of her by Huang Shi. After chatting for a while, she began to reveal her true feelings. What bothered Huang Shi most about these secrets was that the girl genuinely didn't like hearing his initial, sordid stories. However, traditional ladylike values prevented her from displeasing her future husband. According to her mother, she should listen attentively to whatever her husband said, even if he praised his concubine's beauty, she should agree.

But Miss Sun clearly hadn't fully heeded her mother's teachings. When Huang Shi felt the time was right and intended to make his move, she refused to submit obediently. A few kisses on the cheek were fine, and some hugging was acceptable, but she struggled fiercely the moment Huang Shi touched her belt.

Perhaps the timing wasn't right, so after Huang Shi stopped, he continued to build the atmosphere, and the girl returned to her submissive state. But when Huang Shi felt it was about time, he encountered fierce resistance again.

This resistance prevented Huang Shi from effectively "silencing" her, which made him uneasy. Furthermore, he felt embarrassed; regardless, a woman's refusal after a man's advances is a great blow to his dignity.

Seeing Huang Shi's face darken, Miss Sun burst into tears. Both master and servant were adept at this kind of manipulative tactic, so Huang Shi could only comfort her, "I'm sorry, it was my fault. I shouldn't have been so disrespectful."

The girl sobbed, "No, it's all my fault, it's all my fault."

"Your fault? What fault did you commit?"

Miss Sun was still in Huang Shi's arms, but her body had shrunk into a small ball, her face covered with her sleeves: "It was my improper behavior that caused you to misunderstand me, sir. I deserve to be beaten. And I couldn't even satisfy you, sir, so I deserve even more!"

Huang Shi rolled his eyes at the logic. From the beginning, this girl hadn't taken the initiative; it was all his doing. In the end, all the blame fell on her. No wonder women in this era always accepted their misfortune when insulted and were unwilling to call the police. However, having said this much, Huang Shi couldn't do anything more. He could only pat the young girl in his arms who had bravely admitted her mistake, indicating that he forgave her and wouldn't pursue the matter further.

After saying this, the girl immediately stopped crying and smiled, leaning closer and sweetly saying, "My lord is so generous, I am deeply grateful."

Huang Shi's heart skipped a beat; he knew he'd been tricked again.

The girl, seemingly seeing through Huang Shi's intentions, whispered in his ear, "I will belong to you sooner or later, my lord. After we are married, I will serve you with all my might and make amends."

The temptation of what he could not have, coupled with the promise of a bright future, made Huang Shi realize that although times had changed and moral customs were vastly different, the methods clever women used to manipulate men remained the same—old-fashioned, but very effective.

Miss Sun's words eased some of Huang Shi's worries. Since it was impossible to go any further, he had no interest in staying any longer: "We've been here too long, let's go back."

"Alright, my family must be getting impatient, I need to hurry home too."

"Ah, right." Huang Shi then remembered that the Sun family was still waiting in front of that temple: "Look, I forgot, why didn't you say so earlier?"

The girl looked at Huang Shi with eyes full of smiles, her tender affection almost overflowing: "Master, you haven't had enough yet, how could I dare to mention leaving?"

After the two stood up, Miss Sun immediately knelt down to tidy Huang Shi's clothes. Huang Shi couldn't pull her up no matter what he did, only hearing the girl softly say, "This is all my duty."

If she was sent by Sun Degong, then nothing Huang Shi said would matter, and he wouldn't care about saying another word, since he could only assume that she was meeting her husband privately of her own volition: "What happened today is a secret between the two of us, don't tell your mother."

Understanding that this was Huang Shi's instruction to her, Miss Sun seemed a little surprised, but still shyly agreed.

"A promise?"

"Yes."

After leaving the dilapidated temple, they saw Gua Bao Bao and Yang Lu Huo waiting at a distance. Yang Lu Huo spread his cloak on the ground for Gua Bao Bao to sit on, and stood upwind to shield her from the wind. When Huang Shi approached, he saw that he was already shivering and his face was ashen. Why

was he being so nice to a maid? As Miss Sun walked over, Huang Shi turned his face away, trying to hide his gloomy expression. He had just considered another possibility: could the young lady and maid be imposters?

Impossible. Why would anyone allow their daughter to appear in public? Besides, doing so would mean the other party already knew the marriage was doomed. His own suspicions made him laugh wryly.

Huang Shi helped Miss Sun onto his horse, and Yang Luhuo immediately led his horse over. Huang Shi told him to take the horse to Guabao, and Yang Luhuo obeyed. However, Guabao couldn't climb on. Yang Luhuo held the reins but didn't offer any help, acting as if nothing was wrong.

Huang Shi, who had been observing coldly, suddenly spoke up: "Yang Luhuo, help her!"

Upon hearing this, Yang Luhuo stared wide-eyed, and Guabao stopped trying to climb onto the horse, staring blankly. Huang Shi heard someone on horseback tug at his sleeve. Turning around, he saw Miss Sun bowing apologetically, saying, "I haven't disciplined her properly, please punish me, sir. This girl has been with me for ten years, please forgive her for my sake."

In this era where men and women were not supposed to have close contact, Huang Shi guessed that his words might have driven the girl away. He coughed, leaned closer to Miss Sun, and whispered, "I didn't mean anything by it. You know I come from a poor family and don't know much about etiquette." Miss Sun

's expression was still somewhat uncertain, and she asked hesitantly, "Does Master dislike her? If Master dislikes her, I naturally wouldn't dare to take her as part of my dowry." "

Haven't she been with you for ten years? Of course, it's up to you. I just saw how hard it was for her to mount the horse."

Miss Sun carefully observed Huang Shi's expression for a while, but didn't see anything unusual. She figured Huang Shi still wanted to teach the girl a lesson, but he was unwilling to say why. However, it didn't seem like a serious problem, so she would just tell her to be more careful in the future. She gestured to the little girl, who immediately ran over and kept apologizing to Huang Shi.

Huang Shi casually made a few excuses, indicating that he forgave her. Then he tried to lead the horse for his fiancée, but this caused Miss Sun to exclaim, "How can you do this?"

This caused everyone to blush again. In the end, Yang Luhuo led the horse, and the little girl followed behind with her head down. Huang Shi rode another horse himself, observing that the little girl and Miss Sun's expressions remained natural and normal even after the girl had followed the horse the whole way. It was

n't until they parted that Miss Sun's expression became strange. Huang Shi noticed that she had gestured to the little girl several times, and now the little girl looked at him as if he were a mouse looking at a cat.

Having made a fool of himself quite a bit today, Huang Shi sighed and went directly to Miss Sun's side, quietly apologizing that he really didn't understand anything and that if there was anything, it would be best to speak frankly. The girl was still somewhat suspicious, so Huang Shi immediately invoked the greater good—the principle of marital unity—to overpower her, finally understanding what she wanted.

It turned out the girl wanted a souvenir. Whether it was a custom of the time or something she'd picked up from romance novels, the male protagonist was expected to give a token of love or a keepsake when parting. Huang Shi knew this had evolved into photographs in later generations, but the problem was he didn't have a camera. He

did have a sword, but giving it as a gift seemed inappropriate; he'd never heard of giving pistols or grenades as gifts on dates in the future. Besides, he had some loose silver and copper coins, but in a feudal dynasty, that was even less acceptable. The brilliance of humanity was suppressed by the corrupt and backward Confucianism, so respectable young women didn't engage in compensated dating.

When Huang Shi presented her with the plum blossom he'd spent so much time choosing, he saw a hint of disappointment in her eyes; her ability to conceal it wasn't yet masterful. Having discovered the problem, he naturally wanted to get to the bottom of it. Although the girl repeatedly assured him she loved the gift, Huang Shi refused to believe her now.

Finally, he understood that giving flowers wasn't very fashionable in this era, and in such situations, people usually gave something that could last a long time. The girl felt that something that only lasted a few days or a couple of weeks was somewhat unlucky, and when she had to tell the truth, she sounded a little mournful: "The plum blossoms will wither soon. "

Huang Shi was speechless.

"You are very fortunate, sir. Miss Sun is truly elegant and refined." After they parted, Yang Luhuo immediately congratulated Huang Shi. He had followed Huang Shi for a long time, so he winked rather brazenly and said, "You and Miss Sun chatted for so long; you must have had a very enjoyable conversation."

Did no one understand what he was really thinking? Huang Shi found Yang Luhuo's usually humble smile now lewd: "It was just a chat, really." "

Oh—" Yang Luhuo drawled, then quickly retorted, "Did I say something wrong?"

"Hmm—hmm, no." In the midst of their banter, Huang Shi recalled an anecdote from the late Qing Dynasty: spending three hours a day in Tie Liang's daughter's boudoir was interpreted as performing spear-holding drills. "What if I said I was just performing swordsmanship? Would you believe me?"

Yang Luhuo looked at him strangely for a long time. "Since you say so, sir, I naturally believe you." "

Sir, you are indeed exceptionally strong, so wielding a broadsword for several hours is no problem! A full two hours! You are truly a hero!"

Yang Luhuo exaggeratedly finished speaking, then gave a thumbs-up, making Huang Shi burst into laughter, the slight unease in his heart washed away by the laughter.

This bodyguard seemed to be one of his own; since that was the case, he would definitely not dare to tell anyone else. If he were to spread rumors, he would never dare mention his legal wife; he would only say that he was as strong as an ox, could spend four hours in a brothel, and then ride a horse without batting an eye. Such things would still make a man proud.

However, there was still a doubt that needed to be dispelled.

Perhaps it could be used to his advantage.

(End of Chapter 11)

The Land of Gentleness is the Tomb of Heroes Chapter 12

"I often speak without thinking, I'm quite muddle-headed, and I don't understand social etiquette. Now I'm sincerely asking for your advice. Just now I said I wanted you to help that girl onto the horse, and you all reacted strongly. Why?" Huang Shi's tone was very sincere. Although he had basically confirmed the girl's identity, he still wanted to confirm it one last time.

Yang Luhuo stopped smiling and looked at Huang Shi for a long time, then suddenly burst out laughing again, bowing and cupping his hands: "Sir, you flatter me. You are a man who does great things, naturally you wouldn't pay attention to such trivial matters."

"Please speak freely."

"Yes, Your subordinate obeys." As Huang Shi's first personal guard captain, Yang Luhuo's status was naturally very different; during this time he had been Huang Shi's right-hand man: "Sir, do you still remember the scene yesterday when Miss Sun sent her maid?"

Yesterday, all of his personal guards were extremely respectful to the little girl, but today, Yang Luhuo, even though he was freezing, still shielded her from the wind. Huang Shi asked casually, "Are you all afraid of her?" "

Yes, our lord is a hero who doesn't care about trivial matters, but we can't compare to him. We all know very well who we can and can't offend." Yang Luhuo smiled ambiguously as he spoke, "We might dare to offend the Madam a little, but we certainly wouldn't dare to offend the Second Madam."

"The Second Madam?" Huang Shi exclaimed in surprise, scratching his head in confusion, "I come from a poor background, and I'm not afraid of you laughing at me, Yang Luhuo. I never even dared to think about getting married. I really don't understand this stuff at all. Please explain it to me properly."

Yang Luhuo was a little puzzled. This kind of thing should be clear to everyone in the Ming Dynasty by now—his lord was usually as shrewd as a monkey, so why didn't he understand even after all this explanation?

In the Ming Dynasty, ninety-nine out of a hundred personal maids who accompanied their wives in the dowry would become concubines of the head of the household. For someone like Huang Shi, who didn't have a concubine, it was almost certain he would become the first. Due to limited technology, the Ming Dynasty lacked contraception, meaning the wife could easily become pregnant, eventually leading to marital intimacy. Wealthy masters naturally wouldn't resort to contraception and would often take concubines. The wife, responsible for choosing concubines, would naturally select from those she trusted.

These dowry maids were usually the wife's personal maids from her youth, so they were honored to take on this important task: keeping an eye on their husbands during this crucial period. Wives felt more at ease using these maids: they didn't worry about rebellion and were relatively obedient, effectively building up their support network.

Furthermore, the Ming Dynasty was a matriarchal society. Although the wife had absolute authority in household affairs, she couldn't be in the public eye all day; the management of the household was carried out through trusted confidantes like these personal maids. This custom had practically become an unwritten rule. Wealthy families would choose personal maids for their daughters who were not only intelligent and reliable but also beautiful and refined, thus helping their daughters gain favor and secure their position.

Although Huang Shi had some vague understanding of these customs, Yang Luhuo, being a person living in this era, explained them to Huang Shi, making these etiquette habits completely clear. He recalled his several meetings with Guai Baobao, no wonder she had acted so strangely back then; it turned out that while she was nominally serving as the young lady, she was actually observing her husband for her own benefit.

"Madam is far from the emperor's reach; if the Second Madam dislikes anyone, she'll be in deep trouble," Yang Luhuo reiterated his fear of Guai Baobao more than that of Miss Sun.

Everyone foresaw Huang Shi's rise in rank and the expansion of his family. If he stayed at home, it would be the Second Madam's territory. Even if he was sent out as a lower-ranking officer, if the Second Madam complained to the First Madam, the two of them would still find it unbearable. Yang Luhuo suggested an even more despicable tactic: going to Huang Shi and complaining that someone had harassed her. That alone would be enough to ruin the unfortunate fellow.

The normal procedure today was for Huang Shi to go and help the "good girl" onto the horse. If Huang Shi refused to do so in front of Miss Sun, then she would have to follow behind. This was easy to explain; the unwritten rule had taken root. Miss Sun, the "good girl," and Yang Luhuo all determined their social standing and relationships based on their distance from Huang Shi.

Huang Shi pondered Yang Luhuo's words. Very well, this person could basically be ruled out as a suspect. He felt Zhao Manxiong was right; he was feeling guilty and seeing everyone as a traitor to Sun Degong.

"My lord, you've really put me in a difficult position today. Adding to that, I angered the Second Madam yesterday. If she holds a grudge, I'll be in big trouble." Yang Luhuo said with a wry smile, laying the groundwork before getting straight to the point: "My lord, may I say that you were angry because of what happened at home yesterday?"

"Why?"

"I have my own motives. I plan to secretly tell the Second Madam about this. She'll definitely be grateful."

Huang Shi couldn't help but chuckle. He was such a lowly person, yet his household was filled with so many schemes and plots. "Alright."

"Thank you, my lord. I'll go tonight. This is good for you, my lord. The guards will think you're not interested in women. Oh—" Yang Luhuo quickly added, "Of course you're not interested in women, my lord. I just want the guards to know how much you care about them."

Yang Luhuo didn't realize that the suspicion he'd just cleared up had been added back. Huang Shi's first thought was that this kid was trying to tip him off.

Of course, it could also be the truth, and he might be afraid that his sweetheart would realize he'd been deceived and be grateful in

return. Huang Shi pondered for a moment, deciding that whatever the possibility, it was best not to refuse: "Of course, you're right. Go and spread the word for me, let everyone know that I was very dissatisfied with the Second Madam's reprimand of my personal guards, and that I took revenge for them." "

Yes," Yang Luhuo happily agreed.

Huang Shi accepted his thanks with a smile, unaware of Huang Shi's deeper meaning.

Everyone would ask about the details, and thus, his secret meeting with Miss Sun would spread, possibly reaching Sun Degong's ears. Regardless of whether it happened or not, those who heard about it would assume that his relationship with Sun Degong was now inseparable.

Huang Shi hoped that Sun Degong would believe he had no ulterior motives and forget about Miss Sun's reputation, or perhaps he had never considered it at all. But in any era, would a husband disregard his wife's reputation? What would happen if these things fell into the eyes of those with ulterior motives?

On the twelfth day of the first month of the second year of the Tianqi reign (1623), an urgent military report arrived from Liaodong spies: the Later

Jin had launched a major offensive against Guangning. In the original historical record, Huang Shi remembered that it was around this time that the Later Jin launched their large-scale attack on Guangning, decisively destroying the Guangning army.

At this time, just like in Huang Shi's own timeline, Wang Huazhen, the governor of Liaodong, had already submitted a memorial requesting permission to fight. The memorial was sent to all military garrisons of the Ming Dynasty in the form of an official gazette. Guangning, as a border garrison directly under the Liaodong governor, further disseminated this information to officers at all levels through a special dispatch.

"I am willing to lead 60,000 troops into battle and wipe them out in one fell swoop! I dare not claim credit for the victory, but I wish that the soldiers who participate in the campaign be generously rewarded, that the people of Liaodong be granted ten years of relief, that the extra pay be removed from the country, and that I may retire to the mountains and forests. That would be enough for me! Even if things do not go as planned, the casualties will be considerable, the enemy will not recover, and I will be assured that there will be no more worries for Hexi. After a short time, I will use three routes to press them down and annihilate the enemy. I also wish to make an agreement with you, Jingchen: the angry frogs should be used as a warning, but they should not dampen the morale of the soldiers; the hard work should be remembered, but it should not discourage the soldiers' willingness to take on their duties. However, after crossing the river, any soldiers who fail to defeat the enemy and flee back should be killed. I will be free to handle the military affairs as I see fit. If all commands must be reported before action is taken, then there will be no hope. If you find my words unacceptable, I beg you to dismiss me and place the responsibility solely on you, so that you may focus on the restoration and not be hindered by me."

Huang Shi finished reading these impassioned words softly and sighed. At this time, the Manchu population of the Later Jin was less than 200,000, with only 60,000 adult males. Nurhaci, resorting to desperate measures, had no more than 30,000 to 40,000 Manchu soldiers. Wang Huazhen's plan was to inflict "comparable casualties"!

If this could be achieved, with the 60,000 troops of the Guangning garrison, plus the river defense forces and local garrisons totaling 130,000, Wang Huazhen could easily exhaust the Later Jin's manpower. Unfortunately, in the original history of Huangshi, the 60,000 troops of the Guangning garrison caused almost no losses to the Later Jin.

Wang Huazhen painstakingly planned a counterattack, wanted to recover Liaodong, and wanted to quell the rebellion, but this disastrous defeat would not only take his life but also nail him and his pro-war views to the pillar of historical shame. On

the 16th day of the first month of the second year of the Tianqi reign, Nurhaci's army departed from Liaoyang and headed towards Haizhou. Guangning scouts immediately sent messengers to report to the Liaodong governor.

"The Jurchens have 20,000 combat soldiers, the Han army has 10,000 combat soldiers, and 40,000 logistics and labor personnel, totaling about 70,000."

Huang Shi briefly read the military intelligence report to the three acting captains and solemnly issued the order: "Immediately prepare and mobilize all soldiers."

"Yes, sir."

The silver that Huang Shi had swindled from Huang Taiji had long been given to the armory custodians, and the annual bribes were spent as soon as they arrived, all of which were exchanged for equipment.

"An army is raised for a thousand days, but used for only one," Huang Shi thought. His two hundred men weren't raised for this major battle; their sole purpose was to kill Sun Degong.

"I can't change this crushing defeat. Even if I told Wang Huazhen, he would never believe me. I'd just lose my life in vain." Huang Shi used this excuse to soothe his guilt—guilt for his inaction in the face of impending doom.

After much deliberation, Huang Shi concluded that Sun Degong was most vulnerable when he launched his rebellion in Guangning. At that time, he openly abandoned his pretense and clearly pledged allegiance to the Later Jin, thus avoiding any potential backlash from Huang Shi.

Furthermore, Sun Degong's thousand men needed to subdue the troops of Gao Bangzuo, the prefect of Guangning; the guards of the Liaodong governor; and control the fifteen thousand garrison troops and various city gates of Guangning, making his forces highly dispersed.

As Sun Degong's confidant, Huang Shi was confident he could successfully launch a surprise attack. He flipped through his annual audit records once more, the number of cannons and the stockpile of gunpowder clearly written in English.

Huang Shi stroked the records as if stroking the cannons themselves: "Now it's up to you." "

If I can't handle Huang Taiji, surely I can deal with Sun Degong?" Ever since he suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Huang Taiji, Huang Shi had abandoned the idea that the ancients were easy to defeat.

But now, seeing that the plan was going smoothly, that he had gained Huang Taiji's trust, and that he had a well-trained army, Huang Shi became somewhat complacent: "Dealing with Sun Degong is just reporting back to Huang Taiji about one city, hahahaha."

The next day, the Later Jin army marched out of Haizhou, heading straight for the Liao River.

On the same day, martial law was declared in Guangning Town.

(End of Chapter 12)

The Land of Gentleness is the Hero's Tomb Chapter 13:

"I have been entrusted with the important task of vanguard by Lord Wang. Tomorrow, my Guangning army will be stationed at Zhenwu. Gentlemen, please return and prepare. Huang Shi, you stay here." After issuing orders in the military camp, Sun Degong called Huang Shi to return to his residence to discuss confidential matters. Sun Degong went home to change clothes, and Huang Shi waited outside the study.

Guai Baobao sneaked over, wanting to speak, but Huang Shi gestured for her to be quiet, so she hid to the side and waited.

Huang Shi knew what she wanted to say, and after informing Yang Luhuo, he also reported back. According to him, before he could even speak, Miss Sun summoned him for questioning. After hearing his account, she rewarded him with several taels of silver, and Guai Baobao was extremely grateful. These past two days, Yang Luhuo had already begun to publicize how Huang Shi had avenged those three personal guards.

After entering the study and closing the door, Sun Degong smiled at Huang Shi: "Is my daughter trying to tell me and her mother again that she wants to go snow-walking? This time, don't expect my wife to agree. Snow-walking has been going on for almost three hours. Huang Shi, you've got some nerve."

Huang Shi opened his mouth to explain, but Sun Degong didn't give him the chance. He spread out a map of Liaodong. "Let's get down to business."

"What are your orders, sir?"

Sun Degong seemed very relaxed, calmly looking around Guangning, Haizhou, and other places for a while: "Little Huang, come and see. This is Zhenwu, and this is Haizhou. Our position is very safe."

Huang Shi looked at the map for a while, then pointed to the main road leading to Guangning: "Has no one suggested going to Xipingbao? In my opinion, if the Guangning army really wants to take the initiative to attack, their deployment point tomorrow should be Xipingbao!"

...

In Huangshi's original history:

On the 21st day of the first month of the Tianqi reign, the Later Jin army took advantage of the frozen Sancha River to cross the Liao River. The Guangning army's river defense forces collapsed completely in less than half a day. On the main road leading to Liaoyang, Xiping Fort blocked the Later Jin army like a rock.

…

Sun Degong glanced at Huang Shi quickly: “Little Huang, your judgment is very accurate. Luo Yiguan mentioned Xiping Fort, but I objected, so Wang Huazhen let him go. The Guangning Garrison headquarters is going to Zhenwu.”

Huang Shi: “…”

“Are you wondering how I could argue with General Luo?” Looking at Huang Shi’s expression, Sun Degong smiled: “Xiping Fort is indeed the most direct and most likely route of advance, but I told Wang Huazhen that we cannot be complacent about the Jin’s surprise attack, so it is safer to deploy the main force in Zhenwu, where we can coordinate with all sides.”

Huang Shi nodded repeatedly at these words. It was indeed a prudent deployment, but he knew that with Sun Degong, this big traitor, the Later Jin would definitely take the main road and go straight for Xiping Fort. He hesitated and said: “General Luo is a fierce general of the Guangning Army. With him here, Xiping Fort will probably be difficult to take.”

"Indeed, indeed. Commander-in-Chief Luo Yiguan is indeed a fierce general, but Xiping Fort is not his direct subordinate unit," Sun Degong explained nonchalantly. "Wang Huazhen ordered that the well-equipped Guangning Garrison headquarters should remain with him, so Luo Yiguan had to go alone. Xiping Fort only has the river defense troops. It would be strange if Luo Yiguan could command a group of generals he had never seen before."

...

Huang Shi's personal opinion: If the three thousand garrison troops of Xiping Fort obeyed Commander-in-Chief Luo's command instead of repeatedly going into battle on their own, wasting most of their limited forces in a few counterattacks, then perhaps they could hold out until reinforcements arrived. "

...

But the distance from Zhenwu Fort to Xiping Fort is only an hour's journey," Huang Shi raised his final question. "Once the Xiping scouts confirm the Khan's army's route, they will immediately report to Wang Huazhen. Can the Khan take Xiping Fort in time? If not, the Khan will be caught in a pincer movement by the 60,000-strong Guangning army."

"That's why I called you here today." Sun Degong smiled mysteriously, his finger pointing to several ink dots on the map—all located between Xiping Fort and Zhenwu Fort. Huang Shi nervously leaned over to look, knowing that the important point of the day had arrived.

...

"Master—" As soon as Huang Shi left the study, Guabao led him to a secluded spot in the courtyard.

Guabao bowed but didn't stand up. Before she could finish her sentence, her voice trembled with tears: "This servant knows she was wrong. Please forgive my scolding and beating, Master."

"Don't call me Master. Your master now is still Lord Sun, isn't he?"

"Yes, son-in-law." Guabao cursed herself for abusing her power. Her slender figure trembled, as if a gust of wind could blow her away. After scolding herself, she pitifully glanced up at Huang Shi, and when she realized he was also watching her, she immediately lowered her head like a frightened bird. The fierce demeanor she had shown towards the guards that day was completely gone.

It was such a pity this girl didn't have a chance to act in movies. If acting was just to cover up Yang Luhuo's lies, then this was enough. But Huang Shi wanted to glean some information from the girl, so he continued: "You're telling the truth."

"Yes, this servant will never dare to do it again."

Huang Shi wouldn't believe her words of "never dare." As long as power remained in a pyramid structure, those around those in positions of authority would always have a natural advantage. This was the so-called "a seventh-rank official before the prime minister's gate," meaning that those who worked on construction projects were less valuable than those who drove cars for leaders, and those who fought in the Gulf were less valuable than those who played golf with the president.

"You must feel very wronged," Huang Shi was looking for a way to deal with her, because he was determined to find out Miss Sun's true reaction from her.

The girl said firmly, "This servant is not wronged."

She really wasn't an honest girl! Huang Shi had no choice but to abandon the idea of asking directly: "Then how do you know that's what made me angry?"

The good boy immediately recounted the mental journey of a penitent, how he reflected on his words and actions after returning home, how he had a flash of inspiration, how he confessed to Miss Sun, and finally, how his soul was sublimated with Miss Sun's help and encouragement, and how he resolved to unite closely around Miss Sun, who is also the future Mrs. Huang, and work hard to do his best to build a better Huang family.

"Oh, I see." Huang Shi tried his best to suppress his laughter. This little girl was really funny. But the thought only flashed through his mind for a moment, because he was surprised to find that the girl handled the situation well, and there were no flaws in this long passage.

"Did Yang Luhu tell you?"

"No," the obedient girl answered immediately, then timidly asked, "Why do you say that, Master?"

Her reaction was quick, and Huang Shi began to get impatient: "Am I right?"

"No. Ah—I'm sorry for being so forward, but it really wasn't anyone who told me."

"I only told Yang Luhu about this, you don't need to hide it anymore."

"I don't know anything about Yang Luhu, and I didn't hear it from anyone else." He

hadn't realized she was such a loyal girl. A sense of frustration kept welling up in Huang Shi's heart, and this feeling made him say loudly, "Don't come into my house if you don't answer honestly! Tell me quickly whether Yang Luhu told you, or you can go and say goodbye to Miss."

The obedient girl lowered her head, her shoulders trembled slightly, but she still insisted: "No."

Helpless, Huang Shi's anger burst out of his throat, and he shouted, "Excellent! I won't ask anymore. Go back and tell Miss that you don't need to come with your dowry."

(End of Chapter 13)

The Land of Gentleness is the Tomb of Heroes Chapter 14

These past few days, Huang Shi had asked many people about the living conditions of wealthy families in the Ming Dynasty. Therefore, he knew that the plight of a maidservant sold into servitude was tragic. After being sold by their parents, they were raised by outsiders from a young age, suffering enslavement and hardship.

Those of the beauty caliber of "Good Girl" would inevitably become playthings of masters, young masters, or even cousins, like the maid Huang Shi had played with at the Liaoyang spy's place. Once they were tired of her, she would be given away like an object to a servant, a servant, or even sold to human traffickers.

"Good Girl" was one of the very few lucky ones among these unfortunate people; a young lady's maidservant didn't have to worry too much about being abused. If she could successfully win the favor of her mistress and parents, such a maidservant would have won the best future a maidservant could hope for: becoming a head maidservant in her dowry.

After all, few families would push their own daughter into a pit of fire, so a dowry meant a promising future; there was no need to worry about hunger or being discarded like a rag after being used. The children of the second wife wouldn't suffer much bullying either, at least their status in the family wouldn't be too low. Although she wouldn't have freedom of marriage, who in this era had a choice?

However, the good girl's life was ruined by Huang Shi's words. She slowly raised her head, her lips tightly pressed together, her bloodless nostrils flaring rapidly, her eyes wide open to hold back tears, filled with grievance and sorrow. Huang Shi turned his head away, his face stern. The bitterness in her gaze penetrated the distance between them, flowing into Huang Shi's eyes, then into his mouth and throat, making his chest feel as if he were suffocating, making him unable to bear watching any longer.

"Yes, son-in-law."

A voice, desperately suppressing emotion, reached his ears, followed by the good girl's rapid breathing and the rustling of her clothes as she stood up.

“Wait,” Huang Shi called out, suddenly realizing he was tormenting a poor girl. Anger quickly subsided, replaced by shame and remorse.

Huang Shi took a breath and turned to stare intently at Guai Bao. She stared back at Huang Shi's mouth, her hands tucked into her sleeves and clasped around her stomach, her back slightly hunched forward. Though she tried to open her eyes wider, tears still welled up.

“I’m asking you one last time, really the last time. Who? Who told you why I’m angry?”

Guai Bao closed her eyes, tears instantly forming two streams that fell like broken pearls down her face. She could no longer suppress her sobs, and her clasped hands parted to cover her mouth. After sobbing for a long time, she began to squeeze out a series of incoherent syllables:

"Really, no one, son-in-law."

After saying that, she closed her eyes and tightly covered her mouth, but the wailing that escaped still broke Huang Shi's heart. He said to himself, "It must have been Yang Luhuo who told you. I haven't told anyone else..."

"No," the sweet girl loosened her sleeves and said, sobbing uncontrollably, "Son-in-law, you've wronged a good person." She

really was a very loyal girl. The sweet girl crying with tears streaming down her face filled Huang Shi with guilt. He thought to himself that he was also an upright and honest man, so why did he always have to resort to these schemes and tricks, and always have to use women as a breakthrough?

"Don't try to deny it. You think you can fool me with such a small amount of cunning? I'm not stupid, and you shouldn't think of me as stupid either. I hate it when people treat me like a fool." Huang Shi paused after saying that.

The little girl cried even harder: "This servant didn't..."

"Shut up! If you dare lie again, I'll really kick you out." Huang Shi said harshly, which immediately silenced the little girl, even stopping her crying. The little girl opened her eyes, her mind racing, trying to figure out the meaning of Huang Shi's words.

"You're very loyal, so I've decided to forgive you. Being loyal is a good thing, so I don't intend to pursue it further." After Huang Shi finished speaking, he saw the little girl's hands return to their position clasped around her stomach, her dark eyes darting around. He snorted, and the little girl immediately lowered her head in obedience, listening to him continue: "But lying to me is wrong no matter what. Go back and ask Miss for punishment."

"Yes, Master." The address was restored, and the little girl's tone returned to normal.

"I didn't make things clear before, but I'll make it clear to you now—you're not allowed to lie to me, especially after you came as part of my dowry, absolutely not!"

"Yes, Master." The little girl nodded immediately, her voice becoming lively again.

"Stop grinning, be serious." Huang Shi said with a straight face, but he couldn't help laughing first. Guai Bao glanced at him, then covered her mouth, but this time she was laughing.

"Alright, your master is leaving now. But I want to hear you say it yourself: You will never lie to your master again."

"I will never lie to your master again from now on."

"What if you do it again?"

"I will accept your punishment if I do it again." Guai Bao answered quickly.

"I know I was wrong this time."

"This servant

knows I was wrong." "Good, don't treat me like a fool."

"This servant wouldn't dare."

"You say you wouldn't dare, but you still did it.

" "This servant was momentarily bewitched.

" "As expected, Yang Lu Huo was right." Huang Shi sighed after saying that. Guai Bao's astonished expression amused him, so he flicked her nose: "You're such a strong girl, but I still managed to get the truth out of you."

"Ah. Master, so you were trying to trick me." Guai Bao deflated like a punctured balloon.

The more Huang Shi looked at her, the cuter she seemed. He couldn't resist reaching out his right hand and pinching her cheek with his index and middle fingers.

The feel was wonderful. Huang Shi paused, his expression gradually changing. His fingers moved to her lips, his index finger resting between her lips, his middle finger pinching her lower lips. Feeling the hot, soft touch between his fingers, Huang Shi shuddered violently, his throat suddenly going dry, and he swallowed hard.

His gaze followed his fingers slowly downwards, gliding over her smooth face and neck, the touch icy cold. Hidden behind her collar, Huang Shi swallowed again, took a step forward, his left arm slipping under his armpit behind his back, pulling the girl closer to him, his right hand sliding down to grasp her waist.

"Master," she called softly.

"Hmm?" Huang Shi's left arm encircled the girl's waist, his right hand stroking her buttocks, as he casually responded.

"Master," she called again.

"What is it?" Huang Shi's lingering gaze moved upwards, noticing the little girl also looking at him with a raised eyebrow, her lips curving upwards, exuding a captivating charm that made a man's heart race. Her long eyelashes framed eyes that shimmered like water.

Huang Shi's breathing grew heavier. He looked around, then pulled the little girl behind the artificial hill.

After being dragged behind the hill, Huang Shi impatiently turned her around and pushed her towards it. Pressing the girl down, he grabbed her shirt and tried to pull down her trousers. Unexpectedly, she began to resist, her left hand bracing against the rock face, her right hand gripping the slipknot of her belt tightly.

"Master, not here."

"Let go." Huang Shi tried to pull his pants down but failed. The man, burning with lust, growled in a low voice, pressing his left hand on the girl's left shoulder as she leaned against the wall, preventing her from standing. He then wrapped his other arm around her waist and tried to pry her fingers off.

"Master, not here." The obedient girl refused to let go.

"Shut up, you've got me all fired up. You have to do it."

The obedient girl, not daring to shout, struggled desperately, but still couldn't break free from the tall, strong man. She braced herself against the wall and suddenly turned and bit the hand on her shoulder. The sharp pain made Huang Shi yell and release his grip, letting go of the girl in his arms.

The obedient girl immediately turned around and rushed over to check Huang Shi's hand—blood was seeping from under the teeth marks.

"Master, please forgive me. If this were at the Huang residence, I would certainly be at your service." The maid quickly pulled out her handkerchief. "Miss has been wanting to write to you, and I'll deliver it to her then."

"How did you know? You're lying to me again," Huang Shi asked irritably. Miss Sun was one thing, but this maid had fought so fiercely, even biting him.

"Miss was scolded and cried," the maid explained hastily while bandaging Huang Shi's wound. "Miss felt very wronged and probably wanted to tell you, Master."

"Crying?"

After their struggle, the maid's attitude had changed drastically, and she reported everything to Huang Shi. After Miss Sun and Huang Shi's secret meeting, Madam Sun said nothing, but Sun Degong came and talked to his daughter for a long time. When he left, his daughter was already weeping.

She had previously complained to her mistress, saying that once the betrothal was complete, she was a member of the Huang family, and there was no need to make a fuss.

"By the way, Miss seems to have said that Master will have to send another betrothal gift in the next couple of days for it to be considered complete," the obedient child said with a puzzled look. "What's the rule about two betrothal gifts? I asked, but Miss didn't answer. Master, are you going to send another betrothal gift in the next couple of days?"

"But I have to go home today to prepare for the expedition." Huang Shi sneered. The army was to depart for Zhenwu Fort in an hour, and he was still acting crazy in the enemy's home. He straightened his clothes and strode away, without telling the obedient child that this was the betrothal gift Sun Degong wanted, and without looking back at the enthusiastic gazes behind him.

"Madman, madman, I'm really crazy." Huang Shi kept cursing himself on the way home.

(End of Chapter 14)

(End of Chapter)

Side Story:

"The National History Records of Emperor Taizu"

In the early years of Emperor Taizu, he was a subordinate general of Sun Degong. Degong harbored extraordinary schemes and admired Emperor Taizu's wisdom and courage. He then promised his daughter to Emperor Taizu, arranging a marriage. His despicable nature is beyond description.

Emperor Taizu, unsuspecting, gladly obeyed. Later, Degong trained elite troops and built a powerful army, demonstrating Taizu's great strength.

Degong then led a rebellion, shaking Liaodong. Taizu regretted his actions too late; the battle raged, and the wind and clouds changed color.

In his later years, Taizu said, "The great disaster at Guangning was also my fault. Historians should record it truthfully, as a warning to future generations, to those who do not know people, and to those who are misled by women."

The historian respectfully replied: "

By imperial order, I record this truthfully:

Degong was a wise general at the time, and Taizu trained his army for him—this was reasonable; Degong promised Taizu his daughter, and Taizu repaid him with gratitude—this was affection; Degong betrayed the Ming and instigated rebellion, and Taizu angrily confronted him—this was righteousness."

Historians do not agree with Taizu's shame.

Some say: "Beauty is a source of disaster, and women mislead people." But even if King Zhou had the same mind as Taizu, could he have been bewitched by Daji? The rest died, their kingdoms perished, and they became a laughingstock to the world. Historians believe it is unacceptable to blame a woman instead of reflecting on the king's mistakes.

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