The Duke of Shu Han began guarding Jingzhou in place of Guan Yu.

Chapter 252 The Timing and the Circumstances
On the way back to the city, Miwei and his wife rode in the same car.

Unlike the usual seated and standing carriages, most of them have an open structure, with at most an umbrella.

The "chariot" used by female noblewomen in the Han Dynasty had curtains covering the front and sides, leaving only the rear open for ventilation.

It offers better privacy.

As soon as Mi Wei got into the car, he subconsciously sniffed.

Guan Linghui raised an eyebrow upon seeing this and said:

"Do you like this powdery scent?"

Mi Wei embraced his wife tightly, his expression unchanged.

"Apart from Wushan, there are no clouds."

Guan Linghui chuckled and moved closer to her.

"How did the talk with Master Xu go?"

Mi Wei: "He has the heart to follow the Shu bandits, but not the courage to do so."

When whispering secrets to your wife, there's no need to be particular about etiquette.

Guan Linghui: "Want to try again?"

Mi Wei shook his head slightly:

"That's not necessary."

"Including the Lu Yu family, whom he recommended before his departure, I don't plan to send anyone to test them."

Guan Linghui: "Why?"

Mi Wei: "It was the time, it was the situation."

"Actually, I could tell from the fact that Shi Guangyuan was willing to stay in my household as an administrator."

"Whether people yearn for the Han or for the Wei, the scholars of the Central Plains ultimately still have their hearts set on the Central Plains."

"In fact, it's not just scholars from the Central Plains. Which official under heaven doesn't care about this land?"

"This is a historical inertia that has formed over the past four or five hundred years since the Qin Dynasty."

"If we cannot have either Chang'an or Luoyang, our dynasty will always give people the feeling of being in a corner of the country, and the people of the world will not regard Your Majesty as the true emperor of the Central Plains."

"Therefore, whether or not one can win over talented people depends on two things: laws and regulations, and military affairs."

"The gains and losses of these two are most directly reflected in the current struggle over Guanzhong."

"If we can obtain Guanzhong, even if I don't actively recruit them, they will come to submit on their own initiative."

"If we fail at the last minute, even if Xu Gong is on good terms with me today, he may very well turn against me tomorrow."

"Judging from this, his initiative to meet with me today is probably because he knows that Guanzhong may change hands, and he is eager to find a way out."

"This is ultimately a good thing for us."

Guan Linghui nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

He then recounted his conversation with Xu Miao's daughter:

"I have already inquired and confirmed that Master Xu's daughter has indeed consulted with several matchmakers about marriage proposals."

"But due to the recent war, nothing came of it."

"Moreover, all those mentioned were from the local gentry families, and there were no Wang families from Hongnong Lake County."

Mi Wei had already guessed this outcome while he was in the temple, and could only sigh slightly at this moment.

Unfortunately, my chance to be with Wang Jun was not yet over.

At this moment, Guan Linghui suddenly raised her slender finger and poked his face, asking:
"Does my husband want to take a concubine?"

Mi Wei was taken aback upon hearing this, and said seriously:
"As a husband, I have the world at heart; how can I indulge in women?"

"Aren't you afraid of being recorded in history in the future, and then being criticized by novelists and critics for this and that oppression?"

Guan Linghui was already used to her husband's occasional puzzling remarks, so she simply ignored his authoritative words and became serious:
"How can Xu Gong's trial balloon today be merely a way to obtain an unclear promise about the future?"

"A good man has the world in his heart and will not be distracted by personal feelings for his children."

"But people might not think that way."

Mi Wei was a smart man after all, and he immediately realized what was going on:

"Does what you're saying mean that Lord Xu actually intends to form a marriage alliance with me?"

Guan Linghui: "Otherwise what?"

Mi Wei asked doubtfully, "But she is his legitimate daughter, how can she be given to me as a concubine?"

Guan Linghui countered, "Xu Gong, Shi Gong, and even Lu Gong, whom we haven't contacted yet, all hold positions of two thousand shi in Wei. Why should they be relegated to a minor post in Liangren Prefecture?"

Mi Wei replied matter-of-factly, "It is because I, as the Governor of Yuzhou, am in fact the powerful governor of Jingzhou, spanning a thousand miles. The power of my subordinates, the Prefect and the Chief Administrator, is no less than that of an ordinary prefect."

Guan Linghui shrugged, indicating that this was indeed the case.

Mi Wei had already realized it.

And I thought of even more.

In truth, given Xu Miao's hesitant and indecisive nature, he might not readily agree to a proper marriage. And taking a concubine, after all, is a private matter that cannot be openly discussed.

There's not even a need to go home and ask your parents for permission.

That would give both sides more options than they could choose.

This is perfect for the current slightly changed relationship between the two sides.

He simply didn't understand why his wife was encouraging him to do this, and finally couldn't help but ask:
"Does my wife really want me to take a concubine?"

Guan Linghui rolled her eyes and said, "If my husband doesn't take a concubine, how can I have the energy to ride horses and hunt!"

The tiger's body trembled.

It finally dawned on me.

I still felt suppressed, as expected.

……

……

Traveling thousands of miles to the battlefield, crossing mountains and passes as if flying.

The northern wind carries the sound of the watchman's clapper, and the cold light shines on the iron armor.

In the tenth month of winter, when the north wind rose, the banner of General Zhang Fei of the Han Dynasty was finally raised on the city wall of Chencang.

Jiang Wan touched the wall in front of her; it was icy cold, and she couldn't help but shiver.

As a native of southern China (Lingling, Xiangxiang), he could never adapt to the cold weather in the north.

What was even harder to adapt to was General Zhang's habit of wantonly whipping his soldiers.

More than once, officers and soldiers have come to him to plead their innocence.

Although he tried his best to enforce the law impartially, the military magistrate could only restrain Zhang Fei's subordinates, but could not control Zhang Fei himself.

What can I do?

While he was pondering, a subordinate commander came to inspect the city.

His appearance was fairly decent, but there were several whip marks on his face, which disfigured him and made him look somewhat ferocious.

Jiang Wan remembered that the other person's name was Zhang Da, and took the initiative to step forward and say:
Where is Zhang Cheqi?

Upon hearing Zhang Fei's name, Zhang Da instinctively trembled and said respectfully:

"He was in the official residence this morning, and should be resting now."

Jiang Wan snorted upon hearing this:

"Sleeping soundly in broad daylight, you must have been drinking all morning, right?"

Zhang Da chuckled, which was taken as tacit agreement.

Jiang Wan's face darkened immediately, and she pointed to the whip marks on the other person's face:

"Did he make this yesterday?"

Zhang Da quickly shook his head: "Zhang Cheqi did not punish him yesterday."

"That's the one we had the other day," Jiang Wan snorted again.

"To punish someone without cause is against military discipline!"

"General, do not worry, Wan will surely seek justice for you!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Da was deeply moved and quickly pulled Jiang Wan aside to persuade her:

“Zhang, the cavalry commander, is still drunk and in a foul mood. If we try to persuade him now, it might bring trouble upon Gongyan!”

Jiang Wan waved his hand and said, "I am the military judge appointed by the Emperor. If I cannot uphold justice for you gentlemen and enforce military law, wouldn't I be failing the court?"

"If I do suffer physical pain because of this, at least I will have a clear conscience!"

After saying this, he strode down the city wall.

As Zhang Da watched his departing figure, his expression suddenly became complicated.

……

Before long, Jiang Wan arrived at the main hall of the county temple in the city.

Zhang Fei indeed lay down among a cluster of jars and pots, the air thick with the smell of alcohol.

Without saying a word, Jiang Wan ordered the servant to boil water for Zhang Fei to wash up.

Zhang Fei awoke with a start as soon as the water began to boil.

He got up in a daze, and when he saw that it was Jiang Wan who had arrived, he immediately grinned and said:

"Gongyan, you've come at the right time! The wine from Xinfeng in this region lives up to its reputation. Come and have a taste."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wan stepped forward, picked up a jar of leftover wine, gently shook it, smelled it at the mouth of the jar, and put it down.

He asked solemnly:

"This wine is exquisite. General, you are a high-ranking general of the nation and have received the Emperor's great favor. Why do you not offer it all to His Majesty, but instead only care about your own enjoyment?"

(End of this chapter)