You have truly caused me great suffering!

Chapter 75 Family Heirloom Jade Bracelet
Richard led his troops back to Xingqing Prefecture.

There were many deserters on the road.

When they arrived at Xingqing Prefecture, they had less than 10,000 men left, but they were all elites among elites.

Many tribal leaders simply led their troops away from the main force and returned to their respective tribes, waiting for the noble lords in Xingqing Prefecture to determine a new victor.

Because they were cavalry, they retreated quickly. Richard did not forget to defend various cities along the way, but even so, the Western Army still managed to take away a lot of territory.

However, the closer they got to Xingqing Prefecture, the more the Western Army reverted to its old ways, each conserving its strength and unwilling to launch a desperate attack on the city.

Once the offensive halted, the Western Xia people along the way became prepared.

This hard-won fighter jet is about to be wasted again.

Tong Guan was riding a horse.

His face was grim. He had originally planned to take this opportunity to march straight into Shuofang, but his army stopped advancing when it reached Yaode City.

Zhao Liangsi also noticed something amiss. He came from the Liao Dynasty and was single-mindedly determined to help the Song Dynasty destroy the Liao.

Unexpectedly, the Song Dynasty's northwestern army also completely disregarded national affairs and only cared about its own private interests.

This greatly disappointed him.

"Commander Xuan, Han Shizhong's 10,000 men who went to attack Yanzhou have returned. Should we let them go?"

Zhao Liangsi also hesitated. He could see that it wasn't just the Western Army that was preserving its strength; Commander Xuan was doing the same.

Everyone wants others to fight, but now the only one showing responsibility is Chen Shao, whom I've always looked down on.

Tong Guan, his face cold, straightened his back from his horse and sighed, "Why can't I just stay here and fight the war in peace? Of my ten parts of energy, only one part can be put into the battle, four parts are to fight these military leaders and generals, and five parts are to look back at Bianliang!"

He was filled with remorse, and for once, he showed his true feelings.

During the last New Year offensive, he was in Bianliang spending the New Year with the emperor, so this feeling of despair was not yet obvious.

He was on the front lines this time, and it was a great situation. He had already planned that two armies would march straight into Shuofang, take Xingqing Prefecture, and destroy the Xia bandits. It was just around the corner.

However, none of the troops were willing to advance.

Should we send our victorious army to the front lines?
After ten years of hard work, how could the 30,000 soldiers who were raised and trained be able to survive in the Northwest after they were all wiped out?

Now that I have these personal guards, none of these troublemakers in the Northwest are convinced of my authority. If I didn't have these trusted soldiers, how arrogant would they become?

If they can't defeat them, then the people of Bianliang will have to slowly negotiate with the Western Xia.

Tong Guan was frustrated, fearing that while he was vying for the title of king in the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun, the Western Xia would once again cause trouble.

Conquering Liaodong and seizing Yan had become the most important thing in Tong Guan's mind, and everything else had to give way to this.

With his eyes closed, he went through the situation in Western Xia in his mind once again.

Since we're afraid they'll cause trouble, we might as well give them a problem that they have to get rid of first.

Yanzhou!

If Yanzhou City can be defended, Western Xia will not have the energy to hinder its progress.

We must give Chen Shao enough support so that he can gain a foothold in Yanzhou and keep the Western Xia at bay.

Once we conquer Youyan, or even destroy the Liao Dynasty, we will be allied with the Jin and Jurchen, and our military might will be at its peak. Turning our troops back will make it as easy as taking candy from the Western Xia. Moreover, Chen Shao in Yanzhou is also a bridgehead.

Tong Guan breathed a sigh of relief. Since they couldn't take down Western Xia, this was the best solution.

Chen Shao was extremely loyal to me, and he was capable; he was able to hold out for so many days in such a harsh place as Hengshan.

If we station him in Yanzhou, those troublemakers in the Western Army will surely be happy to have someone to shield them from the front.

If you, Western Xia, don't let me live in peace, you won't have an easy time either.
-
The spring breeze brings warmth.

Wild grasses sprout anew, treetops sprout new buds, and flower buds on branches are ready to bloom.

Chen Yuexian and Liu Guanglie, along with several maids and servants, saw Chen Shao and his entourage off from the mansion. She came from a military family; her parents had died early, and she had worked as a doorman for some time. She knew more about the Northwest than Li Shishi, a pampered young woman raised in Bianliang.

The position of prefect was indeed a high-ranking official position that I never dared to dream of before.

But that's Yanzhou.
Knowing that Chen Shao was determined to go, Chen Yuexian didn't try to dissuade him. She took out a jade bracelet from her sleeve and put it into Li Shishi's hand.

"This is a bracelet passed down in our family. It can't compare to the items in Tokyo, so please don't look down on it."

Li Shishi was flattered and dared not accept it, so the two of them started to tug at it. Finally, Li Shishi carefully put it away and said, "When my husband is married after all the proper betrothal rites, I will definitely give it to my new bride."

"If it's said to be for you, then it's for you. No one can take it from you."

Liu Guanglie rolled his eyes from behind. Wasn't this bracelet something he was asked to buy the day before yesterday?

To keep this incredibly wealthy woman in your Chen family, Mother is truly something.
Back in the carriage, Li Shishi opened her small cabinet and casually put the bracelet inside.

"Let me see," Chun Tao said, extending her hand.

Li Shishi slapped her hand and glared at her.

She had a vague feeling in her heart; her husband's aunt was being a little too enthusiastic, which made her seem less sincere.

She didn't mention a word about her time in Bianliang, nor did she ask about her family background or her parents.
It was obvious that she knew everything and felt that she shouldn't ask those questions, thinking it would hurt her.

Deep down, she probably felt that period of her life was unbearable.
The bracelet I just gave myself doesn't seem to be a family heirloom. The jade bracelet has a clear, translucent texture like rippling water, with not a single fibrous inclusion inside, and it feels warm to the touch.

Li Shishi knew her stuff; this bracelet was worth at least a hundred strings of cash.

The young man's family was just a military household; she had already heard about it from Aunt Dong when she was in Chenjiazhuang.

How did they come to have such a bracelet passed down through their family?

However, Li Shishi was not angry. She felt that it was enough that her aunt respected her.

We won't have many chances to meet in the future, so if we do meet, there's nothing wrong with being polite on the surface like this.

She doesn't really want to open up to people; it's too tiring.

It was much easier to be with my husband. Although he was young, he was very sincere to me.

Suddenly, Li Shishi felt a chill in her heart. She was able to see through her aunt because she had more experience than her. If she had never seen wealth and power, she would have been deceived by her.

Is my husband lying to me?

She couldn't help but feel anxious again. She didn't regret giving up wealth and status, but she was afraid of entrusting herself to the wrong person.

After the carriage had been traveling for a while, Chen Shao caught up on horseback.

Once aboard the carriage and the curtain was lifted, Chen Shao laughed and said, "Don't listen to my aunt's nonsense. There's no such thing as a family heirloom bracelet. I don't even know about it."

"I bet it's brand new, bought to make you happy."

Li Shishi stared at him intently, then suddenly smiled, a genuine and exceptionally sweet smile.

She took the jade bracelet out of the cabinet and put it on her left wrist. Since arriving in Chenjiazhuang, she hadn't done any heavy work, and the skin on the back of her hand was still smooth. With a gentle push, she put the bracelet on.

Shaking her fair wrist, Li Shishi laughed and said, "From now on, it will be a family heirloom!"

Chen Shao then took out another gold necklace and personally put it around her neck, leaning closer to close the tiny gold hooks at both ends of the necklace.

Li Shishi immediately smelled a faint scent from his chest, a slight smell of sweat, not fragrant, but for some reason she found it very pleasant.

Chen Shao's action caught a glimpse of Chun Tao, who was sitting next to him with a resentful expression.

Chen Shao moved his lips slightly, and Chun Tao's eyes widened. She looked around guiltily, then gave him a light, fleeting kiss.

Her chest was pounding, her face flushed, and she found the whole thing incredibly novel and exciting.

(End of this chapter)