I was forced to cultivate immortality when I just wanted to lie down

Chapter 278 Civil and Military Achievements, Urgent Letter Needed

During the reign of Emperor Yongzheng, the regional military governors (jiedushi) held great power.

Zhu Sheng, the Prince of Changting, had his only son, Zhu Yong, who changed his name to Zhu Yong and rose from humble beginnings to conquer the local military. He then led his troops south and occupied four prefectures in just two years. Those who saw the Xiang Army in the north all said that their army was well-disciplined and had the momentum to swallow mountains and rivers.

Now, Weizhou, which is one of the nine important border towns, has been mostly under the control of the Beixiang Army.

The character 襄 has the meaning of taking off one's clothes to cultivate the land. The Shuowen Jiezi says: 襄 is the invigorating state of taking off one's clothes to cultivate the land, which has the meaning of being high-spirited and upward. It can also be used to mean high, remove, help, or achieve.

Zhu Huai'an took his troops to Xiangjun to tell the world that the Northern Army was fighting for the people. He changed his name to Zhu Yong and started from the bottom of the army, which was equivalent to taking off his fine clothes and joining the army as a commoner, and was on the same side as the common people.

At this time, Wu Wencai, who had just been promoted from a junior compiler in the Hanlin Academy to the position of magistrate of Danchi County two years ago, was worried in Weizhou.

"I have studied diligently for ten years and endured many hardships before finally rising to prominence and becoming a county magistrate. Now, only two years later, Weizhou has been captured by the rebels. What should I do when the rebels breach the city walls?"

Beside him, the clerk of the yamen offered a suggestion: "Sir, the rebels are powerful. If we abandon the city now and retreat back to the capital, it will still be in time."

"Withdraw? Abandoning the city and fleeing is no different from deserting. Besides, if I leave, the people of this county will be left without anyone to care for them. If trouble breaks out, how many families will be torn apart?"

On the city wall, Wu Wencai, now sporting a short beard, no longer possessed his former high spirits, but instead exuded a sense of vicissitude and composure. He sighed, "Now I only hope that the Beixiang army is truly as rumored, and will not harm a single dog or pig among the common people."

"Does the lord intend to surrender?" The clerk's eyes lit up, and the military officers and guards beside him also cast their gazes toward him.

The Beixiang Army was fierce and invincible. Many counties and prefectures in Weizhou surrendered without a fight, while those who insisted on being enemies of the Beixiang Army mostly met with bad ends.

A merciful general cannot command an army; once the two armies clash, many things will spiral out of control and become irreversible.

Of those present, only a handful were truly willing to fight to the death; the rest dared not gamble on the whims of the Northern Xiang Army.

Wu Wencai glanced at the clerk and the garrison officer, and said quietly, "I am a subject of the Great Yong Dynasty. I have achieved what I have today because of the court's favor. If I surrender without a fight, wouldn't I be an unfaithful, unfilial, unrighteous, and unjust person?"

"So, what does Your Excellency intend?"

Wu Wencai reached out and touched the city wall, gazing at the dust and smoke in the distance. His eyes were deep as he said, "Commander Zhang, bring me the bow!"

The guard hesitated for a moment before handing the bow to the magistrate.

Wu Wencai looked at the approaching sandstorm in the distance.

As dusk fell, a troop of soldiers in black armor stood solemnly like a forest, their exposed blades gleaming coldly. The clanging of their armor produced a resounding sound, and the soldiers stood as steadfast as pines and mountains, their disciplined bearing inspiring awe even in the gods and spirits.

Below, a loud-voiced flag bearer stepped forward, raised a golden flag on horseback, and ordered the county magistrate and military officers of Danchi County to immediately open the gates and surrender.

Wu Wencai drew his longbow, gritted his teeth, and fired an arrow at the army outside the city!
The flag bearer below was startled, thinking that a highly skilled martial artist was about to intimidate him!

The flag bearer hid under his horse's belly and spurred it backward, but the arrow only traveled halfway before its momentum waned and it stuck in the ground.

Wu Wencai dropped his longbow and said, "To surrender without firing a single arrow is to surrender without a fight. Now that I have fired an arrow, I am demonstrating my stance."

“But as a county magistrate, I failed to defend the territory for the nation, and my sins are still unforgivable. From this day forward, I am a criminal of the Great Yong Dynasty, and no longer your magistrate.”

Wu Wencai raised both hands, removed his official hat, and solemnly placed it on the city wall.

The imperial court withheld the soldiers' pay, forcing the Zhenbei Army to defect. The soldiers in various counties and prefectures of Weizhou also suffered the same fate. If it weren't for Wu Wencai's hard work over the past two years, managing the administrative area in an orderly manner and giving extra care to the soldiers, the generals would probably have already defected to the enemy for personal gain!
"Danchi County alone cannot withstand the Beixiang Iron Army. If the people of the county suffer because of me, and the soldiers of the army die in vain, then that would be my sin."

“Commander Zhang, Magistrate Li, my refusal to surrender today is none of your business. If the Beixiang Army blames me, it is solely my responsibility.”

"My lord." The county magistrate and Zhang Shoubei spoke almost simultaneously, but when they watched Wu Wencai walk down the city wall, neither of them stepped forward to stop him.

Only the clerk jogged after them.

"Why did you have to shoot that arrow, sir? If you anger the Beixiang army, wouldn't you be in deep trouble?"

Wu Wencai didn't reply. What he shot wasn't an arrow, but the resentment in his heart!
Despite his lofty ambitions, he ended up in a dilemma.

On one side is the loyalty of the ministers, and on the other is the safety of the people; on one side is the rotten Yong Dynasty, and on the other is the newly risen 'benevolent army'.

How to fight this battle?
"Isn't the advisor afraid of being implicated by me if he follows me?"

Wu Wencai asked.

"You have shown me great kindness, sir. Without you, I would still be a prisoner, unable to clear my name. If you truly wish to fight the Northern Xiang Army, I will gladly risk my life to accompany you!"

Wu Wencai laughed and said, "That's not necessary. If the Beixiang Army is really as rumored, you and I may not be in trouble. At that time, I will retire to the mountains and never enter officialdom again."

When the two returned to the yamen, Wu Wencai had not yet finished instructing his subordinates when the well-dressed Beixiang army surrounded the yamen.

The first officer arrived at the hall and shouted, "Where is Wu Wencai?"

The advisor's face turned ashen; he knew it was all over!
Wu Wencai chuckled and stepped forward, completely unafraid, saying, "I am Wu Wencai, and I shot that arrow from the city wall. Do with me as you please!"

The visitor raised an eyebrow at the composed Wu Wencai, feeling a certain admiration for him. He said, "My commander has a letter for me to deliver to you personally."

After saying this, the officer handed a letter to Wu Wencai.

"May I ask the general's name?"

"His surname is Wang, and his given name is Liang."

Wu Wencai took the letter, opened it quickly, and his eyes widened immediately.

"Zhu"

As soon as Zhu Zi left his mouth, Wu Wencai reacted instantly. He hurriedly put away the letter and said, "Thank you for your reply, General Wang. I will consider this matter further and give you an answer tomorrow."

Wang Liang nodded and said, "Our army has long known that the county is prosperous, the taxes are not harsh, and the criminal justice system is efficient. This is all thanks to Magistrate Wu's effective governance. We hope that Magistrate Wu will continue his benevolent policies to help the people and bring stability to the county as soon as possible."

"General Wang, I am an official of Dayong, and you are from Beixiang."

Wang Liang raised his hand to interrupt, saying, "Magistrate Wu, there's no need to rush to answer. I know you love the people like your own children. What's wrong with governing for a few days for the sake of the city's stability?"

“I have other important matters to attend to and cannot stay any longer. I hope Magistrate Wu will understand.”

"."

Before Wu Wencai could say anything more, Wang Liang bowed, turned around, and left the yamen.

Outside the yamen, Wang Liang walked toward the troops and shouted, "All soldiers, listen to my command! We are a righteous army. Any soldier who violates military discipline and takes even a penny or a thread from the people will be executed on the spot! Those who oppress the people will be treated as treacherous soldiers; those who steal property or take credit will be executed as thieves!"

Wu Wencai walked out of the yamen, just as soldiers of the Beixiang Army were passing by on the street in front of the yamen. When soldiers and civilians met on the road, the soldiers stood upright like pine trees with their swords at their sides, their eyes fixed straight ahead. The houses were closed and peaceful, with only the sound of horses' hooves pounding the dust and the clanging of armor, leaving no trace in the wind.

Wu Wencai exclaimed from the bottom of his heart: "The roots of military discipline are deeply planted here, as firm as a mountain. They truly deserve to be called a benevolent and righteous army! My Great Yong!"

The advisor joked, "This is a good thing. At least you can be the county magistrate for a few more days, right?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Wencai sighed again.

If he were to actually govern the county for the Beixiang Army for a few days, he would truly become a traitor and rebel, with no way to turn back.

Recalling this, Wu Wencai hurriedly returned to his study and took out the letter that the commander of the Beixiang Army had given him.

The envelope was addressed to Brother Wencai.

Upon opening the envelope, the contents of the letter were roughly as follows—

Dear Brother Wencai:
The current Yongzheng Emperor is corrupt and the people are suffering. You, sir, possess great talent; how can you bear to see the world fall into ruin? My brother Xu Qing once gave me a brilliant plan, and now he has come to my side. Soon we will raise the banner of righteousness together and plot a great cause. You have long harbored lofty ambitions; why not join my army and participate in this righteous undertaking? The joy of our past gatherings should transform into a call for reform; let us join hands and work together to sweep away the filth. I sincerely invite you to join me; I await your swift decision.

Respectfully submitted by Zhu Huai'an

Wu Wencai frowned, pondered for a long time, and finally clenched his fist and muttered to himself, "Brother Xu has always been wise and farsighted. If even he approves of Brother Zhu, I might as well pledge allegiance to Bei Xiang."

Qianzhou, the seat of Pingqiu County.

Wu Zhiyuan, who was on high alert and ready to deal with the Nancuo bandits at any moment, also received a letter—

Brother Zhiyuan, this is to inform you:
The court is now utterly corrupt. Extravagance reigns, treacherous officials hold sway, and the wise and foolish are indiscriminately treated, leading to widespread suffering among the people. I heard that you, my brother, were upright and honest in Pingqiu, but now corrupt officials are rampant, and loyal ministers are hard to find.

Brother Xu Qing and your younger brother Wencai are both wise and righteous, and have already pledged allegiance to me, joining me in raising the banner of righteousness. If you hesitate, you may miss this golden opportunity.

I know you are upright and righteous, and I sincerely hope you will come soon so that we can work together to restore order to the court. The world is in turmoil, and we must save the people from this suffering.

This is an urgent message; I await your arrival with the utmost eagerness.

—Zhu Huai'an, bowing deeply.

After reading the letter, Wu Zhiyuan hesitated for only a moment before writing a reply.

The inscription reads: "The emperor is corrupt and the people are suffering greatly. My brother, Wencai, and I, along with Brother Xu, have raised the banner of righteousness to save the people. This is truly a matter of great righteousness. How could I, your foolish brother, not know this?"

However, things have changed drastically. The barbarians of Nancuo harbor malicious intentions and are preparing their troops to march north and launch a surprise attack. Pingqiu is a crucial strategic location for this northward advance, and my humble abode is precisely where their military might is headed.
The barbarian soldiers were brutal, leaving cities and towns in ruins wherever they went. If a city was abandoned and fled, the women and children of the entire county would be slaughtered.

Please wait a moment, brother. After I have driven out the barbarians and protected the safety of the people in the city, I will rush to join you in our great cause.

May Heaven and Earth condemn those who break this agreement!
Wu Zhiyuan wrote this with tears in his eyes and bowed deeply.

A few days later, in Linjiang County.

Today is the last day of the charity performance by the opera troupe. On stage, plays such as "Saving the Baby," "The Cat God," and "The Eight Banners General" are performed in turn. Liu Su'e and Xiu Niang also sang the last of the seven acts of "Protecting the Baby."

"The bottom of the well is cold, the wind is like a knife! My child... do not cry, do not disturb. Mother's blood warms your spring coat, mother's soul guards you until dawn."

"Guardian Angel! If you have pity on my son's life, which is as worthless as grass, please lead that kind-hearted person to save him from this desolate place!"

On the last day, the embroiderer, who possessed Sun Erniang and went on stage to perform with Liu Su'e, sang with a peerless voice that struck the hearts of everyone as soon as she opened her mouth.

The voice was like peeling silk from a cocoon, its sharp points seemingly piercing to the bone, and the fluttering of the plain white sleeves seemed to convey unspeakable sorrow.

The embroiderer sighed three times, her voice trembling and drawn out at the end, then suddenly lowered, turning into a faint sob. It was truly a heart-wrenching cry, every word filled with emotion!
As the final note faded, a faint, almost imperceptible breath escaped, as if the singer was heartbroken and unable to continue.

Tears soaked her dress, heartbroken and devastated, who could understand the pain she felt?
"My goodness, where did this famous actor come from?"

Many soft-hearted women in the audience were moved by the atmosphere on stage and burst into tears.

Even the toughest of men looked up at the sky and remarked on how strong the sandstorm was today.

Xu Qing watched Liu Su'e and her apprentice Xiu Niang perform on stage and felt a similar sense of admiration.

If this level of performance were used to entertain guests, it would surely receive rave reviews!
When the entire performance of "Protecting the Baby" ended, the audience was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

It was unclear which loud-voiced idiot broke the silence by saying "good" before finally uttering it.

"Great! What a show!" Zhao Zhonghe took out the silver ingot he had just picked up from his pocket and threw it onto the stage. In an instant, the audience below threw copper coins, jade pendants, silver, bracelets, felt hats, towels, and all sorts of other things onto the stage, regardless of their price.

The martial arts actor in charge of collecting the money had never seen anything like this before, and even the troupe leader, who was watching the play with the county magistrate from below the stage, wished he could go up and help in person.

When the night performance began, the leading actors in the opera troupe no longer went on stage. At this time, only an old man with half of his body buried in the ground swayed onto the stage, then picked up his gavel and slammed it on the table, flicked his folding fan, and began to tell the story of Baosheng Niangniang and Mao'er Shen, which was not sung in the opera.

This was a closing act that Xu Qing had specially come up with. The performance of the embroiderer and Liu Su'e on matinee's daytime show was so outstanding that nothing seemed quite right for the evening performance. After much thought, he decided to talk about things outside the play, as a supplementary side story.

This way, not only will people be willing to listen, but they won't feel bored just because there are no shows at night.

Xu Qing was sitting in the front row of the audience, enjoying the show, when a man wearing a corrugated hat and a wide long gown, but with a body as thin as a stick, approached him.

"Here is a letter from the sect leader. The messenger is in a great hurry and insists on delivering it to the sect leader personally."

"What about that person?"

Xu Qing lowered his voice and asked the red-tailed macaque.

The latter chuckled and said, "I tossed it aside and it was snoring away. I found the letter in his clothes."

"."

Xu Qing shook his head, got up and went to the side of the stage, and looked at the letter by the light of the candles.

Dear Brother Xu,
Now, the Yongzheng Emperor is in decline, and treacherous officials run rampant. My brother, a man of wisdom and understanding, must be deeply concerned about the nation's demise. Brothers Wu Wencai and Wu Zhiyuan have already joined my ranks, working together with one heart and one mind to carry out this righteous cause. If you too will submit, great things can be accomplished; even amidst the flames of war, a new era can be ushered in. I recall the elegance of the flowing wine cups on the winding stream, and now I embody this heroic aspiration. I invite you to join me; do not hesitate.

Respectfully submitted by Zhu Huai'an

Xu Qing curled his lip, reached out and unleashed a burst of yin fire, burning the letter to ashes.

Why does this chubby kid only dream all day long?

(End of this chapter)