Chapter 371: Chapter 11: The Beacon Fires Ignite (Part 2)
Upon hearing Susu’s words, Hong Sheng’s eyes widened in shock and fear, shaking his head vigorously, "Susu, please, don’t say that! How could I put our family of three in danger? I’d rather die myself than harm even a hair on you or our son.
Prince Ke’s actions are akin to negotiating with a tiger; I have not taken this lightly. A general in the field may disregard military orders. Liu Dusi has already warned all garrisons to fully prepare for war."
Susu felt somewhat relieved, "What about the Yangwei Escort Agency?"
Hong Sheng looked at Susu with some frustration, "Prince Ke is no fool; he has already identified the traitor. This time, he’s just turning their plan against them!"
He was unaware that his wife knew more than he thought, even uncovering the presence of a spy within the Yangwei Escort Agency.
It seems that Prince Ke’s suspicions were not unfounded; indeed, the Ruan Family had a hidden secret department.
However, he wasn’t concerned about that; he was saddened that his wife had kept so many things from him and still doubted him.
Hong Sheng was truly heartbroken this time! It’s a bitter feeling when someone puts their heart and soul into treating someone well, only to be questioned in return.
Thinking of this, Hong Sheng, a grown man, actually had his eyes turning red, then he cursed himself for being unpromising, truly "caught up in emotions, short on heroism!"
Upon hearing this, Susu’s face immediately reddened, knowing she had misunderstood Hong Sheng and hurt his feelings.
Seeing that he was so angry that his eyes turned red, she wanted to apologize quickly, but thinking that he kept such big things from her, she couldn’t help but feel upset.
"I don’t want to be a parasitic vine, nor do I want to be merely decorative. I wish my strength to come from within myself.
I would be proud because of you, and I hope you will be proud because of me. I don’t want to be just an accessory with beauty and nothing else.
I think we both need some time to calm down. Since the war has started, you should move to the military camp for now!"
"Susu..." Hong Sheng called out in shock, but upon seeing Susu’s tired and indifferent gaze, he fell silent.
When did the girl, always so calm but actually quirky, become so cold and deep?
"Hong Sheng, I always thought myself as someone without great ambitions, just like a landlord’s wife, eating, sleeping, and finding hobbies for amusement.
But there’s always something unexpected forcing me to fight, to scheme. These hands, still white as jade, but only I know they are stained with blood!"
After speaking, Susu smiled faintly, all emotions in her eyes turning into indescribable composure, "I just want you to see the reality! When we got married, I told you I’m not as you imagined. Do you remember what you said?"
Hong Sheng recalled the words Susu shared with him the day after their wedding night, and his own response became blurred over time.
"You said you married me because you had affection for me, and you told me to be myself, to do whatever I pleased, eat what I like. The Northwest is so vast, you could also take me to travel around."
Speaking of it, Susu remembered the time when she was touched by Hong Sheng’s silliness.
And now, it’s not that she doesn’t love him, it’s just that Hong Sheng demanded too much, so the once simple Susu, who only wished to be a landlord’s wife, finally became a conventional lady of high standing.
"Susu, I..." Hong Sheng, with reddened eyes, tried to explain something, his lips trembling, but ultimately he couldn’t utter a word.
His feelings for her hadn’t changed; he knew he would only love Susu in this lifetime, and there would only be this one woman for him. But his original promises had indeed withered over time into mere words.
A man’s fervor for power is not something beauty can obstruct; loving beauty over ambition is only an excuse for failures.
Susu took a breath, "It’s fortunate that I haven’t become someone I hate, fortunate that we still love each other, fortunate that there’s still time.
So let’s part ways for a while, you go be the legendary hero, and I will do what I should do."
Susu blinked, with an unspeakable innocence and playfulness, "Hong Sheng, I love you, I’ve always known!"
With that, she quickly walked out, "Come back when you’ve remembered the original me!"
Hong Sheng, watching the woman like a gust of wind, murmured to himself, "Susu, I love you too!"
...
On the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month of the thirteenth year of Kangping, the Yangwei Escort Agency was caught trading a large quantity of grain, salt, and a small amount of ironware with the Tartar at the Hami border by Commander Zhang Yuanli of the Great Chu’s Hami Guard, found with irrefutable evidence.
Afterwards, Yin Shi, the Chief Escort Master escorting this shipment and a friend of Hong Sheng, confessed that the owner of the goods was Prince Ke, while the intermediary was Hong Sheng, the Commander of the Hami Guard.
They were unaware of who would ultimately receive the goods upon reaching the Tartar, but they knew that these items would be exchanged in batches for about eight thousand warhorses.
With the amount involved in these strategic materials reaching as high as 200,000 silver taels, it could warrant a charge for treason against the nation, enough to exterminate nine generations.
However, it involved a prince and a frontier military officer, making everyone too cautious to act rashly.
Upon receiving the news, Liu Dusi promptly detained all involved personnel and sent an urgent report to the Emperor.
The Hong Mansion was, of course, implicated, but Mrs. Du Si provided protection for Susu and her child, bringing them into the Governor Mansion, leaving only Hong Sheng imprisoned.
The entire Hami Guard was in panic, like startled birds, with many military officers detained awaiting the court’s trial.
But even the fastest urgent message would take a month to reach the Capital from Xinjiang, slower than the Tartar cavalry.
On the twenty-third of the twelfth lunar month, the traditional Chinese Little New Year’s Eve, under the cover of night, the Tartar army, which had quietly advanced to the border, launched an attack on the Hami Guard.
The defenders at Heiyuan Castle on the Great Chu border lit the beacons at the first moment,
while Hong Sheng, who should have been in prison, was now dressed in bright Mountain Pattern Armor, riding a tall steed, looking at the truly treacherous Zhang Yuanli, waved his hand, "Take him away!"
Zhang Yuanli, even when captured, couldn’t believe he had been discovered. Now coming to his senses, he shouted, "I don’t believe it, I don’t believe it, how could you have known it was me?"
Hong Sheng looked down at him, "The Bai Family has been deploying in Hami for sixty years; did you really think we believed they did nothing? Initially, I didn’t know who it was either, but you exposed yourself!"
Zhang Yuanli then understood that the smuggling transaction between Prince Ke and the Tartar had always been bait.
After the soldier dragged Zhang Yuanli away, Hong Sheng drew the sword by his side, "Sound the horn, close the city gates, follow me to annihilate the Dalu!"
The deep sound of the horn resounded, as the Tartar Vanguard Army watched helplessly as the heavy iron gate closed.
Shouts rang out from the dark night, "Kill! Kill! Kill!"
Soon, beacons were ablaze, drums roared, weapons clashed, and the battle cries soared to the heavens.
The prepared Northwest Army of Great Chu gave the attacking Tartar troops a head-on blow.
The leading soldiers shouted in Mongolian, "Not good, it’s a trap!" "Retreat, retreat quickly!" but it was too late!
As the saying goes, "Lure the enemy deep, close the gate to beat the dog." The two-year-long border war between Great Chu and Tartar officially began at Heiyuan Castle.
