You have truly caused me great suffering!

Chapter 91 Dowry for Marriage
Early June.

Chen Shao and Yeli Chongshan fought a great battle on the plains. The battle lasted until dusk, when both sides withdrew their troops.

The next day, they regrouped and fought again.

Both sides displayed formidable fighting prowess, leaving the surrounding chieftains, landlords, and clan leaders trembling with fear.

After three days of fighting, Yinzhou City was captured, and the defending troops suffered heavy casualties.

Those who were unwilling to surrender to the Song Dynasty had no choice but to flee north and seek refuge in Xia Prefecture.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Zhong Shidao led his army north and swept across a large area of ​​land south of the Wuding River.

Yeli Chongshan retreated to the vicinity of Xia Prefecture, fortified the city, and awaited peace talks between Song and Xia.

At this point, all the land south of the Wuding River and north of Hengshan Mountain belonged to the Song Dynasty.

Yanzhou, Youzhou, Yinzhou, and Suide form a fan shape that surrounds Xiazhou.

The situation suddenly became clear, and just as Chen Shao had planned, he had achieved his goal for this stage.

As dusk fell and the sun set, Chen Shao's army encamped on the banks of the Wuding River.

The felt tents stretched out like mushrooms that suddenly appeared on the riverbank, extending endlessly.

Behind the camp, the fortress was already under construction. Chen Shao really liked this tactic; it allowed for a slow, methodical advance, squeezing out the enemy's living space.

Furthermore, it can gather and settle the surrounding people, freeing them from their original tribal constraints and truly making them people under its rule.

Given the current situation, it was unlikely that the Xiazhou troops would launch another risky attack, but Han Shizhong still followed the rules meticulously, digging trenches and setting up barricades to prepare for defense.

The journey of a thousand miles has come to an end, with only one step remaining, leaving no room for error.

The Song Dynasty's campaign against the Xia Dynasty was not without its moments of unstoppable advance, only to be ultimately defeated by the Xia, who drove them back from Xingqing Prefecture to Fuyan Road.

Along the banks of the Wuding River, Chen Shao strolled along, gazing at the spring scenery of the poplars and the clear springs and green oases in the distance. He rubbed his hands together and instructed, "Be cautious in everything you do here. It's better to suffer a loss than to act rashly. The Western Xia is unpopular, and its recent defeat has already begun to weaken it. The surrounding tribes will gradually come to our aid."

"Beware of Xia Zhou resorting to desperate measures."

Han Shizhong nodded. "Don't worry, General, I know what I'm doing."

Chen Shao threatened, "If anything goes wrong here, you can go back to Youzhou City and I'll arrange a minor official position for you so you can retire there."

Han Shizhong was startled and quickly patted his chest to assure him. He appeared rough and tough, but was actually a clever fellow, and also proud and opinionated.

At this time, he was making great achievements and winning battle after battle; it was the time for a man to rise to prominence.

Chen Shao fears nothing but his eagerness to achieve merit, which might lead him to follow his example and seek fortune through risk, and launch a preemptive attack on Xia Prefecture.

Don't be fooled by Chen Shao's constant risky tactics; it's because he started from a very low point and had no other choice. When he could secure a victory, he wouldn't want to take any risks at all.

Han Shizhong laughed and said, "General, don't worry. These are golden words of advice. I, Han Shizhong, have really taken them to heart this time and will absolutely not ruin your important plans."

Chen Shao nodded slightly to bid farewell, then mounted his horse and led about a hundred riders towards Youzhou.

Upon returning to Youzhou, Chen Shao was greeted by people waiting outside the city. He then followed them into the city.

The mansion prepared for him was originally the residence of the Governor of Youzhou, and it was cleaned inside and out several times.

By this time, the setting sun had been blocked by the tall walls of the prefectural government, and the front hall and courtyard were shrouded in shadow. Only the mansion built on the high platform was still bathed in the last rays of the setting sun.

Chen Shao and his personal guards led the way across the paved path in the middle of the courtyard, heading towards the stone steps of the mansion. He was still wearing his armor and had a sword at his waist.

Chen Shao couldn't help but press his sword and slowly walk up the stone steps to the high platform.

Stepping out of the shadows, the warm afterglow immediately enveloped me, the light suddenly brightened, and the world seemed to open up even more.

Standing on the platform, gazing into the distance, one can see the entire mansion clearly.

Near the front of the mansion gate, there were buildings such as residences, offices, and barracks. The residence of someone like Chen Shao would definitely be guarded by soldiers, perhaps not many, but they must be the elite of the elite.

Even Liu Yanqing's residence in Fuzhou was protected by the most elite troops of the Fuyan Army.

Because the Western Xia and the Song Dynasty not only fought on the battlefield, but both sides also liked to send spies to assassinate or win over high-ranking officials of the other side.

Entering through a gatehouse to the north, one finds a large courtyard, which is one's own inner residence.

Behind the inner residence were two smaller courtyards, the purpose of which Chen Shao did not know. Perhaps they were intended for children to live in.

Chen Shao didn't plan to stay in Youzhou for too long, so he didn't care much.

However, in the western courtyard, there is a very tall watchtower, taller than the gate tower of the mansion and the corner towers at the four corners of the wall; it should be the tallest building in the mansion, with a high and narrow top.

That watchtower was very well built; it was exceptionally tall and offered a wide view. I reckon that once you climbed up, you could get a clear view of the entire city.

As they walked, squads of guards stopped one after another to stand watch over each of the outer residences.

Only a small portion of the setting sun remained in the west; the sunlight was highly saturated, a fiery red. While the crimson glow was vibrant, its rich, less glaring color seemed to possess a deeper, more profound quality.

Chen Shao was filled with mixed feelings at this moment, and he felt a strong sense of pride and admiration for the ideal man.

With this return, he finally has his own territory.

Although the territory was not large, it had soldiers, warhorses, trade routes, and fertile land. It was far from the Jurchens, the Western Xia was already weakened, the Khitans were preoccupied with their own problems, and the Mongols were still in their infancy.

There's a lot to be done!

There’s a lot to be done!
We will gather our strength here, and when our army is strong and well-equipped, we will go and confront the Jurchens!
Looking at the entire Song Dynasty, his official position wasn't high, but in this small area, his word was law!

Even Tong Guan's arrival couldn't make a difference.

Upon entering the inner courtyard, Zhao He asked, "Master, Madam Li is on her way from Yanzhou. The prefect of Youzhou has prepared some maids for you. Is that alright?"

Chen Shao quickly waved his hand, "I'll sleep with Da Hu tonight."

"Invite all officials of the seventh rank and above in the city later. I have something to instruct you on."

At this time, things were still not stable, and Chen Shao was afraid that someone might take a risk, so he kept Da Hu by his side at all times.

After washing up with hot water, Chen Shao put on his soft armor underneath and his official robes on top, then went to wait in the front hall of the residence.

Before long, Yang Cheng, Mei Zang Canrong, Dongyang clan chief Dongyang Long, and more than ten others came in one after another. When they found that Chen Shao had already taken his seat, they came over.

Finally, Canrong's clothes no longer exposed his buttocks. He was dressed in a Han Chinese robe, his face was ruddy, and he was in good spirits. He stepped forward and knelt down with a thud, performing a grand salute and saying, "Greetings, my lord!"

Upon hearing the address, everyone glanced at each other discreetly without uttering a sound.

Chen Shao laughed heartily, "My lord?"

What an old-fashioned title! The old folks on the grasslands are so traditional. He laughed and said, "I'm just a mere military governor, what right do I have to call myself 'Lord'? Don't rush. Everyone here is in a higher position than me. It's not too late to call me 'Lord' then."

Everyone follows you, Chen Shao, hoping to get promoted and make money. They love to hear that, so Chen Shao went along with them.

Upon hearing this, the crowd quickly became agitated, and several people, suppressing their excitement, bowed and said, "Greetings, Master."

"Greetings, Commander."

Most of the Qiang and other Hu peoples referred to themselves as "master," while Han officials called them "military commanders."

Chen Shao nodded, not wasting a single unnecessary word correcting everyone's way of addressing him. Call him whatever you like; after a while, everyone will eventually agree on how to address him.

However, he couldn't be too humble at this moment; he had to give his people something to look forward to with their loyalty.

Chen Shao looked at Yang Cheng and asked, "I was appointed by His Majesty as the Commissioner of Dingnan Army. Grand Commandant Zhong captured Yinzhou City, which has belonged to Dingnan Army since ancient times. Have they sent anyone to ask you to take over?"

Yang Cheng shook his head.

Chen Shao tapped his forehead with his finger, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Send someone to go. Never mind, I'll go get it myself!"

Most of the people in the hall were somewhat worried. Would the territory that the Zhong family army had worked so hard to conquer, spending a lot of money, food and troops, really be given to you?
Chen Shao knew they would give it to him.

We're just discussing the terms.

If the Zhong family were to seize this territory, the imperial court would be in an uproar.

Their territory was entirely under the control of Western Xia, and with the emperor far away, they were not afraid of the court's suspicion.

Farming is different.

They were also quite different from other Western Army generals.

The Zhong family ancestors were great Confucian scholars who valued family traditions highly and would not easily betray the Song Dynasty.

Therefore, all they could do was try to reduce the court's suspicion of them.

Such a large territory might be coveted by other Western Army generals, but the Zhong family dared not take it.

Chen Shao knew he had to hurry, otherwise the court would order him there in advance and send troops to relieve him. Once the deed was done, it would be too late to do anything.

He lowered his head and began to think about how to get Yinzhou back from Zhong Shidao.
-
Yongle City, Zhong Mansion.

Zhong Shidao was old, and this expedition happened to take place in hot weather, which caused him to catch a cold and feel dizzy and uncomfortable.

He was lying on his daybed at home, chatting with Master Zhong.

The underlying message was simply how Yinzhou should handle the situation.

This is the most important thing right now. Although capturing Yinzhou is the biggest victory in recent years, if it is not handled properly, it could very well bring disaster to the Zhong family.

Having managed the Northwest for so many years, the Zhong family could easily take over Yinzhou City for the time being.

They have plenty of capable men under their command, all of whom are battle-hardened and experienced. They are sent to Yinzhou to temporarily manage the area.

Zhong Shidao led his troops home early, refusing to stay in Yinzhou.

Just as Chen Shao had thought, they were also afraid that the court would be wary of them, and were already preparing to submit a memorial to the court, urging it to send someone to take over the newly conquered territory as soon as possible.

Of course, this was just a means for them to express their loyalty. Who would the court send?

There is no army that, once dispatched, can immediately defend Yinzhou.

Tong Xuanshuai's victorious army was generally capable, but everyone knew that Xuanshuai's heart had long since left the Northwest and had flown to Youyan.

Zhong Shidao had thought hard about who would be the best person to guard this territory, and the conclusion he came to was one that annoyed him.

The best outcome would be if Chen Shao took over Yinzhou.

Firstly, it was perfectly legitimate, as he was appointed by the imperial court as the Commissioner of Dingnan Army, and Yinzhou was within his jurisdiction.

It's just that we hadn't won the battle yet.

Secondly, Chen Shao rose to power suddenly and had no solid foundation. Moreover, Western Xia was not completely destroyed, so there was no fear of him becoming too powerful. No matter how arrogant Chen Shao was, he would not put himself in a situation where he was attacked from both Western Xia and the Song Dynasty.

Even if Chen Shaohe and the Zhe family of Fugu, or the Yang family of Linzhou, were to establish their own independent regimes, it would be better than becoming another Western Xia.

In their hearts, there was even a very malicious idea: it would be best if Chen Shao and Western Xia continued to fight.
In this way, the Western Army will not be disbanded, nor will it need to be at the forefront.

The veterans who fought for so many years can now retire and return to their hometowns, and there will no longer be so many widow villages in the Northwest.

“Brother, why doesn’t that brat Chen Shao send someone to demand it?” Zhong Shizhong sneered. “If he comes to demand it, we’ll have something to say when the court asks about it in the future.”

Zhong Shidao, with his headband wrapped around his neck, was helped up by a maid and said with a smile, "When we attacked Yinzhou, he was fighting Yeli Chongshan of Xiazhou. He probably didn't have time to deal with it, or he didn't expect us to take Yinzhou so quickly."

"Although I haven't met Chen Shao much, judging from his past actions, he will definitely come to demand Yinzhou."

Zhong Shizhong recalled that Chen Shao had sent someone to mock them for not daring to send troops, and he harbored deep resentment. "This man's character is truly worrisome. He was originally a stubborn and unruly soldier from the countryside, and he rose to his current position thanks to Tong Guan's promotion. As soon as he has a little bit of troops and territory, he turns against Tong Guan."

"Our Commander Xuan is usually so clever, but in the end he misjudged him."

Compared to Chen Shao, it was obvious that Zhong Shizhong harbored greater hostility towards Tong Guan. Thinking of how Tong Guan had fainted from anger at him, Zhong Shizhong couldn't help but chuckle.

As he laughed, he realized that his older brother had a serious expression on his face and seemed to be thinking about something.

Suddenly, Zhong Shidao opened his eyes and asked, "That Chen Shao also has his unique qualities; it seems he doesn't have a legal wife yet?" Zhong Shizhong was startled, stood up, and said, "Brother!"

"It wouldn't be a bad thing for our Great Song Dynasty to have another prefecture and valley."

The Zhe family of Fugu ruled over a region for a much longer period than the history of the Song Dynasty.

The Zhe family was relatively loyal to the Song Dynasty, guarding the borders for the Song and holding hereditary governorships for nearly 200 years. They made great contributions in resisting the Liao and defending against the Xia.

Moreover, the Zhe family had intermarriages with almost all the military families in the Western Army, and they also liked to intermarry with the literati of the Song Dynasty. In fact, back then, a man from the Zhe family even married Su Shi's cousin.

"Brother, if we were to form a marriage alliance with him, wouldn't we be afraid of arousing suspicion from the court?"

Zhong Shidao sighed and said, "Does the court need this reason to be suspicious of us? If it weren't for the Western Xia invading the border sooner or later, which of these military leaders in the Northwest would have been spared from being dismissed?"

"When the birds are all gone, the good bow is put away; when the cunning rabbit is dead, the hunting dog is cooked. If the day truly comes when the Western Army is weakened, we must find a place for our clansmen to live."

Zhong Shizhong pouted, angrily stroking his beard, occasionally uttering a curse.

It was only in front of Lao Zhong that he would occasionally reveal such an unsteady side of himself.

He himself was well aware that even without a marriage alliance with Chen Shao, the court would no longer need the Western Army and would take away the military power of the warriors.

My elder brother has also started learning from the Zhe family; we need to prepare early.

Master Zhong thought to himself, "Old Zhong was the most loyal man in the past. He would never do such a thing, nor would he even have such a thought."

Since Tong Guan came to the Northwest, his elder brother has changed a lot under his subtle influence.

Perhaps it was because they had seen the court's various actions, which were truly disheartening.
There are some things the two brothers understand without saying aloud. The marriage alliance with Chen Shao is just one action by the elder brother; he intends to lay many such hidden lines in the Northwest, and it doesn't necessarily have to be for any specific purpose.

It's simply giving future generations another path to choose from; which path they choose is their own business.

“That’s good!” Zhong Shizhong said, “Chen Shao and Liu Yanqing are related. We can send someone to Liu’s residence to ask.”

Zhong Shidao said, "No need, I've already sent someone to inquire."

Xiao Zhong glared at his older brother, who had already made up his mind but was still pretending to ask him.

It made me really believe that I had the right to participate in decision-making.

However, it's reasonable to listen to him when it comes to family matters.

"How many unmarried women are left in the clan?" Zhong Shizhong asked.

The descendants of the Zhong family, especially in their generation, have truly failed to bring about a flourishing lineage.

Old Zhong fought his whole life and had two sons who died on the battlefield at a young age.

Xiao Zhong has one son still alive, but no daughters or granddaughters.

"Chen Shao is so young, it seems that only my younger sister is a good match for him."
-
The inner courtyard of the Zhong family mansion.

Inside a spacious courtyard, the doors and windows were newly covered with silk paper, the beams and pillars were freshly painted, and the decorations were elaborate and luxurious.

This style, unlike the other residences in the Zhong family mansion, belongs to Zhong Shidao's uncle, Zhong Yi.

Zhong Yi is Zhong Shiheng's youngest son. Although he is Zhong Shidao's uncle in terms of seniority, he is a few years younger than him.

The uncle and nephew grew up together and had a deep bond.

Zhong Yi was a forthright and principled man who loved reading. He was strict in disciplining his troops; when he gave an order, his soldiers would risk their lives without flinching. In every battle, he knew both himself and his enemy, and if he estimated that he could not win, he would not send troops, thus winning every battle.

People praised him, saying, "To gain righteousness is better than two hundred thousand elite troops!"

Unfortunately, such a valiant general died ten years ago. When he was fifty, his wife passed away, and he remarried a daughter of the Zhe family.

Lady Zhe was widowed not long after she arrived. She was not a refined and indifferent person; she liked luxury and loved excitement.

So, although Lao Zhong was frugal, he would occasionally give money to the family out of consideration for his uncle.

The weather was hot, and Madam Zhe woke up early, dressed in soft, comfortable casual clothes. She leaned against the couch, gently fanning herself with a round fan in one hand and patting a white cat in her arms with the other.

She was tall and slender, with delicate, willow-leaf-shaped eyebrows, red lips, rosy cheeks, and a delicate nose. The morning light filtered through the thin gauze, illuminating her fair and radiant face, giving her a languid charm.

She was only a teenager when she married into the family. She was a young woman in her early twenties, and with her luxurious lifestyle and good maintenance, she had a plump and rounded figure.

Her skin was fair and delicate, incredibly alluring. Her two slender, straight legs were half-bent and half-extended on the couch, and one could vaguely see the shimmering pink glow and smooth, captivating beauty beneath her skirt.

An older maidservant approached and whispered, "Madam, Master Zhong has arrived."

"Which Mr. Zhong?"

"Master."

Zhe opened her eyes and asked, "Didn't Uncle Yi go to the front lines to fight? When did he come back?"

Although Zhong Shidao was old enough to be her father, given their seniority, the Zhe family always addressed him by his courtesy name.

However, this Lady Zhe was young when she married into the family, and she was from an older generation. After she arrived, her husband fell ill and died soon after. No one was qualified to discipline her anymore.

Therefore, she was quite special in the Zhong family. She acted entirely according to her mood. It was already quite good that she didn't call Zhong Shidao by his courtesy name or even his childhood name.

It's also possible that she didn't know.

"I can't refuse to see Uncle Yi here. Please help me change my clothes."

The maids adorned her with jewelry and applied makeup to her; their skillful movements showed that it was not something she had done overnight.

Before long, Zhe Shi was adorned with gold, silver, and jewels, dressed in fine clothes.

Upon arriving at the front hall, as expected, Zhong Shidao was sitting there, and he stood up upon hearing footsteps.

“Auntie,” Zhong Shidao greeted respectfully.

In fact, although he and Zhong Yi are uncle and nephew, they are like brothers, and they were never so reserved when they were together before.

Zhe nodded, sat at the head of the table, and said with a smile while holding a round fan, "I heard you went to the front line again. Poor old bones, are you alright?"

"Thank you for your concern, Auntie." Old Zhong felt uneasy and just wanted to finish speaking quickly and leave. "Is Twelfth Sister alright?"

Uncle Zhong Yi had a daughter with his deceased wife in his early years, named Zhong Lingxi, who was the twelfth in Zhong Shidao's generation.

"What do you want with her?"

This nominal daughter had a distant but not close relationship with the Zhe family, though on the surface their relationship was quite good.

At least they greeted each other daily and never argued. Although Lady Zhe was a bit flamboyant, she wasn't unreasonable; she even occasionally showed a bit of kindness.

But in Zhong Lingxi's eyes, this stepmother was more like a child, while she herself was more like her 'stepmother'.

Zhong Shidao was eager to leave, so he said, "My little sister has reached marriageable age, and I have found her a suitable match. I came to let you know."

After hearing this, Lady Zhe was taken aback, thinking to herself that it was indeed true, as she herself had gotten married around the same time.

Although she wasn't close to her stepdaughter, they spent every day together, and she found herself feeling a little reluctant to part with her.

She was a straightforward and fearless person, and said directly, "How old are the men you marry? Don't end up like me, living the life of a widow right after you get married."

These words were a genuine expression of emotion, and Zhe Shi even managed to squeeze out quite a few tears.

"Back then, I believed the nonsense spouted by the elders in the clan, who said that although Zhongyi was middle-aged, he was still strong and healthy. Who knew?"

Zhong Shidao couldn't listen any longer. He coughed violently a few times, stood up and said, "Aunt, please don't be offended. I haven't been feeling well these past few days, so I won't say any more. I'll have your nephew's wife speak."

Zhe quickly covered her face with a round fan and said unhappily, "Oh dear! Coughing at this time must be due to wind-heat. You're already sick, what are you doing here? Be careful not to catch it from me, it's not a pleasant feeling. You should leave now."

"Let's go, let's go quickly."

Zhong Shidao stood up, wiped his head, and left. His whole body was originally weak and numb, and he was in great pain, but at this moment he walked incredibly fast.

Back in his own courtyard, Zhong Shizhong wore an amused expression, clearly having anticipated his fate.

The two brothers sat together and talked about some trivial matters.

In another courtyard, Madam Zhe, preoccupied with her own thoughts, came to her daughter's small courtyard.

Pushing open the door, I saw a young girl reading. She was wearing a lake-green cardigan with a short-sleeved shirt over it, and a light yellow skirt.

With its straight legs propped on the table, and one chair leg touching the ground, it watched with great interest.

Hearing the door open, she looked up with a smile, "Why are you here, stepmother? There are some candied fruits on the table, please eat them yourself."

Madam Zhe wiped away her tears and said, "Still eating? I came to see you, because I won't be able to see you again."

Zhong Lingxi raised her head, sat up straight, and asked nervously, "Stepmother, don't scare me. Who said anything to you?"

"My dear nephew has found you a marriage partner; he's going to marry you off!"

Zhong Lingxi jumped to her feet, her face filled with terror. "Really? Is this for real?"

Her bright eyes suddenly became blank, and she seemed lost in thought.

Madam Zhe sighed and said, "Of course it's true, but don't worry, I've already told him to find you a young one, so you don't end up like me, living the life of a widow after marriage."

"My lord, a messenger has arrived from outside the city. Chen Shao, the military commissioner of Dingnan Army, has sent someone to say that he wants to visit us and is on his way."

The two brothers exchanged a glance upon hearing this.

Zhong Shidao laughed and said, "It seems you're coming from Yinzhou."

"He's really greedy!" Zhong Shizhong sneered. "What did I tell you? He was bound to lose his composure, but I didn't expect him to come in person."

"If this marriage is successfully arranged, then Yinzhou will be my little sister's dowry, and all our hard work in conquering it will not have been in vain."

Zhong Shidao chuckled, "You should go and greet him yourself. After all, he is now the Chengxuan Envoy, and it is not appropriate to neglect him."

Thinking of the possibility of a marriage alliance, Zhong Shizhong's hostility towards Chen Shao lessened somewhat. Upon hearing this, he stood up and said, "Since Old Zhong has spoken, how dare I, Zhong Shizhong, not go?"

Chen Shao rode up from outside the city, his sincerity evident.

Although they came empty-handed this time, the gifts they brought to the Zhong family were quite substantial.

Now that he has integrated Yanzhou and Youzhou, he is about to do business extensively with the Central Plains.

The two original transportation hubs were Hongzhou and Yinzhou, both of which were used as springboards to attack the Song Dynasty.

However, it can now be used as a hub for trade with the Central Plains.

Sending more goods from Yinzhou would allow the Zhong family army to earn some money. The generals of the Western Army basically support their own troops, so this offer is actually quite generous, and they are not worried about not agreeing.

However, he had previously followed Tong Guan and acted too realistically, which caused some unpleasantness with the Western Army.

I'm afraid these two brothers will hold a grudge.
At the city gate, a group of people stood. Chen Shao raised his hand to shield his eyes from the sun and looked out into the distance.

"It seems like a very grand occasion!"

His mood immediately improved. The Zhong family was being so polite; they certainly didn't intend to break ties with him.

At least, it's a situation where negotiations are possible!
As long as they are willing to talk, things will be much easier. We are willing to pay any price to get Yinzhou.

Upon getting closer, Chen Shao was surprised to find that the person waiting for him was none other than his husband, Master Zhong.

Chen Shao really didn't expect this.

He quickly dismounted, tossed the riding whip to his personal guard, and clasped his hands in greeting, saying, "Young Master Zhong! How could I trouble you to come and welcome me?"

Zhong Shizhong gave him a complicated look.

At least he looks good, and he is indeed young enough.
(End of this chapter)