Damn it, I'm in the garbage book I wrote

Chapter 882 Little Blackie Joins the Army

Night had fallen, and the hustle and bustle of Chang'an had subsided. Xia Lin had just seen off several agricultural scholars who had come to discuss greenhouse vegetable plans when there was a knock on the courtyard gate.

After the guards whispered something, Xia Lin called out, "Enter."

General Wei strode in, his dark casual clothes still carrying the chill of the night dew. He clasped his hands in a salute and said in a loud voice, "It's late at night, Marshal Xia."

Xia Lin casually pointed to the stone bench, picked up the warm wine pot and poured two cups: "Sit down. This is grape wine from the Western Regions, to ward off the cold."

General Wei took the cup and drank it all in one gulp. He put down the cup and said with a burning gaze, "Marshal Xia, my daughter Tong'er came home today and told me something absurd. She actually wanted to join your army! I have already confined her to her quarters. I have come to apologize. My daughter is just talking nonsense. I hope you will not take it seriously."

Xia Lin swirled his wine glass, his tone flat: "That girl seems quite determined. What, General Wei, do you think I'm unfit for the army?"

"No!" General Wei hurriedly said, "I admire Commander Xia's army! But Tong'er is a girl! Since ancient times, how could a woman serve in the army? Moreover, she is a candidate for Crown Princess. To show her face in public and join the army like this, what about His Highness? What about my Wei family? What will the court think? This is simply absurd!"

Xia Lin put down his wine glass: "General Wei, your eldest son, Wei Quan, is doing quite well under Wang Zhuoheng, isn't he?"

General Wei was taken aback, a hint of pride flashing across his face, which was then covered by worry: "Yes... but Quan'er is a man, it's his duty to defend the border! Tong'er, she..."

“Aren’t men and women all Chinese citizens?” Xia Lin interrupted him: “We have female soldiers in our army for a long time. They are skilled in communications, medical care, and reconnaissance. Women are meticulous and may not be inferior to men. Wei Tong is a good girl with strong bones and courage. She has the potential. She doesn’t want to be confined to the inner quarters and compete for favor. She wants to earn her future through her own abilities. Her ambition is stronger than that of many spoiled brats.”

General Wei was speechless, because Xia Lin's words meant that he had already agreed to Wei Tong's request to join the army. Since things had come to this point, General Wei really had nothing to say, and his attitude softened a bit.

Xia Lin looked at him, lowered her voice, and said with a hint of persuasion, "Old Wei, let's be frank. Right now in Chang'an, is it more beneficial for the Eastern Palace to have multiple unwilling Crown Princesses, or for it to have multiple allies who represent the military and firmly stand on the Crown Prince's side?"

General Wei was startled and suddenly looked up.

Xia Lin continued, "The position of Crown Princess is coveted by too many people. Even if Wei Tong is selected, the Wei family will immediately become the target of everyone's attacks. What will happen to the other families in Guanzhong, and those conservative court officials? Their fate is unpredictable. But if she joins our army, the nature of the situation changes. It's not just a gesture, but also a demonstration of power. If she can establish herself in the army and make contributions, she will be one of the most direct sources of support for the Crown Prince. This power is much more substantial and lasting than that of a Crown Princess who is confined to the inner palace and subject to others' control. And let me be frank with you, the mother of my child and I, that is, Your Majesty, actually prefer Wei Tong. Do you understand what I mean?"

These words struck him like a thunderbolt. He had previously only been preoccupied with propriety and saving face, never considering such matters so deeply. A daughter wielding real power under Xia Lin might truly be a greater asset to the Crown Prince and a more secure guarantee for the Wei family's future than the precarious position of Crown Princess! Moreover, his eldest son was already in the Northwest Army; if his daughter were to enter Xia Lin's system…

Seeing his changing expression, Xia Lin knew the time was right, and lazily added fuel to the fire: "Of course, if you really feel it's a loss of face and you can't bear to see your daughter suffer, then just pretend I didn't say anything. After all, even if I've already given you a heads-up, there will be dangers for anyone who joins the army, and the general probably understands that too, since we all come from military backgrounds."

General Wei took a deep breath, his eyes hardening, and clasped his hands in a fist salute, his posture now even more humble: "Marshal Xia's words have enlightened me. I was indeed naive. Everything is up to Marshal Xia's arrangements! But what about His Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince..."

"I'll talk to them myself." Xia Lin waved his hand and laughed, "Go back and tell that little black-skinned guy to be prepared to suffer. Our army's rules don't apply just because she's the daughter of the Wei family."

General Wei clasped his hands in a deep fist salute: "This subordinate understands, thank you for your kindness, Marshal Xia! That child knows how a soldier should behave, and she is never spoiled, so please rest assured, Marshal Xia."

He turned and left, his steps steady, yet his back conveyed a sense of lightness as if he had been relieved of a heavy burden.

The news of General Wei's nighttime visit to the Eastern Palace was like a boulder thrown into water; though the ripples did not create a great wave, they were enough for the astute nobles of Chang'an to detect a shift in the political climate.

The atmosphere at the court assembly the following day was unusual. Officials' gazes darted between General Wei and Crown Prince Li Zhi. Li Zhi stood calmly as always, while General Wei seemed oblivious to everything around him.

After the court session ended, Third Sister summoned Xia Lin and Li Zhi for a private audience.

Inside the Ganlu Hall, Third Sister looked at Xia Lin with a weary expression: "I heard you abducted the Wei family girl to your army?"

Xia Lin chuckled and sat down. "How can you call it abduction? It's just that Little Blackie has lofty ambitions, and I, as an elder, have to support him. Besides, Wei Quan is doing very well under Wang Zhuoheng, and his sister coming here is a case of a sister following in her brother's footsteps. It's a story of loyalty and righteousness! Moreover, Zhi'er will be going to the military camp for training soon, so won't the two of them still be together then?"

Third Sister suppressed a laugh and put on a stern face: "Do you... know the turmoil this move will cause in the court? How will Guanzhong interpret it? With the selection of concubines imminent, are you just adding to the chaos?"

"Adding to the chaos?" Xia Lin's smile faded. "Wei Tong went to the military camp, specifically my camp. It may seem like she left, but in reality, she's staying in a more secure way. This means the Wei family will be more determined to stand by Zhi'er's side, and that support is far more powerful than the Crown Princess who constantly tries to hinder us. Those shrewd people, don't they understand? There are plenty of people with big heads among them, but there are even more smart ones."

He looked at Li Zhi: "This is also a signal to Zhi'er. The future path doesn't necessarily follow the old ways; breaking the rules can sometimes have surprising effects. Besides, your time in the army will be about one term later than Xiao Heipi's, so it will be good to have senior female soldiers to guide you." Upon hearing this, Li Zhi immediately stepped forward: "Mother, Father is absolutely right. Sister Wei's ambitions lie elsewhere, and forcing her to stay is pointless. I am happy for her that she can join the army. This matter may make the selection of a concubine easier. People's hearts are won over by reality, not by empty reputation."

Seeing that her son and father were so in agreement, San Niang remained silent for a long time before sighing softly, "Fine, you two are in cahoots, what can I say? But if anything happens to Wei Tong in your army, I'll never let you off the hook."

"Don't worry!" Xia Lin patted his chest confidently, "I'll definitely discipline her even more than her brother!"

The news spread quickly, and people in the court and even among the common people were discussing that Xiao Heipi was going to join the army, and that he was going to join Xia Lin's army. This was quite interesting, and all sorts of speculations naturally emerged.

Inside the Pei residence, Pei Situ remained silent for a long time upon hearing the news, staring at the lone "general" piece on the chessboard. He had originally thought his opponents would be the Cui family or the Wu family woman, but he never expected the Wei family to so drastically change their position and gain a more advantageous advantage in the blink of an eye. A heavy sense of powerlessness gripped him.

Cui Situ flew into a rage, smashing a tea set on the table: "You idiot! Fool! You've destroyed your own foundation! You've handed over your immense wealth to others!"

Afterwards, the two Situs unexpectedly met up. They sat in the teahouse and stared at each other for a long time, but neither of them could say anything. If they could not find a way to break the deadlock, even if the Crown Princess was chosen, it would not be of much use. The Wei family had already taken the lead and chosen sides. This operation of deeply binding interests directly transformed the Wei family from an ordinary military upstart into a staunch supporter of the Crown Prince.

If they don't have a way to break this deadlock, they're probably already doomed.

Meanwhile, the Shandong and Jiangnan gentry, while astonished, cautiously observed the situation and realized that the power structure in Chang'an was changing rapidly, the Crown Prince's influence was growing in an unexpected way, and the situation was becoming stranger than ever before.

In the study of the Eastern Palace, Li Zhi and Xiao Wu played chess.

"Senior sister, what do you think of Wei's matter?"

Xiao Wu, holding the white piece, pondered for a moment before making his move: "Master, this is a calculated move. Sister Wei joining the army may seem like she's escaping the vortex, but in reality, it binds the Wei family even closer to Your Highness. Guanzhong loses a powerful ally, while Your Highness gains a capable assistant. Moreover, this move demonstrates Your Highness's principle of selecting people based solely on talent, regardless of gender or conventional rules. This will greatly benefit the attraction of truly talented individuals."

Li Zhi nodded: "Father always said that governing a large country is like cooking a small fish; the heat and ingredients must be just right. Sister Wei is a new ingredient, bringing out a different flavor." He paused and looked at Xiao Wu: "But... I'm afraid Senior Sister's burden will be even heavier."

Xiao Wu naturally understood the underlying meaning. With the popular candidate Wei Tong gone, her trusted senior sister, who lacked a prestigious family background, was bound to be pushed to the forefront, bearing the brunt of both open and covert attacks.

She smiled slightly, then gave a mischievous laugh: "Your Highness is overthinking things. Those in positions of power should focus on their duties. I, Xiao Wu, only know my responsibilities and try to share Your Highness's burdens. But Your Highness, with Zhang Jianzhi's arrival approaching, you should prepare to be met with his powerful masculine energy."

Li Zhi recalled his father saying that Zhang Jianzhi and Xiao Wu had different ideas and chuckled: "I hope that Brother Jianzhi and Senior Sister can complement each other, rather than being incompatible like fire and water."

"When it comes to ideological disputes, we can simply seek common ground while reserving differences," Xiao Wu said calmly. "Your Highness, listening to both sides will lead to a clear understanding."

A palace attendant came to report that Miss Wei Tong was requesting an audience.

Li Zhi and Xiao Wu exchanged glances, both surprised. "Please."

Dressed in neat Hu clothing, carrying a small bundle, Wei Tong strode in with excitement. He first clasped his hands in greeting to Li Zhi, then grinned at Xiao Wu, saying, "Your Highness! My father has agreed! Commander Xia sent me to say goodbye. I will report to Commander Xia's new army guard camp in the west of the city tomorrow!"

Her joy was pure and infectious. The complex emotions brought on by Li Zhi's scheming faded away, and he sincerely smiled and said, "I wish you a bright future and success in the army. Come back and visit often when you have time."

"Definitely!" Wei Tong nodded vigorously and looked at Xiao Wu: "Sister Wu, I'm leaving!"

Xiao Wu smiled, got up, took the small package he had prepared, and handed it to her: "It contains some commonly used wound medicine and insect repellent. Life in the army is tough, so take good care of yourself."

Wei Tong accepted it, clasped his hands in a fist salute again, turned around and left with light and firm steps, like an eagle about to break free from its cage and soar.

Watching her figure disappear, Li Zhi remained silent for a moment, then said softly, "That's... fine too."

Xiao Wu sat back down in front of the chessboard, picked up a chess piece, and stared at the board, lost in thought.

(End of this chapter)