Chapter 381: Chapter 21: Farewell, the Deepest Longing (First Update)
Susu, accompanied by many officials, gentry, and townspeople of the Hami Guard, watched Hong Sheng in his bright armor, mount his tall horse.
Hong Sheng cupped his hands in salute to everyone, then silently bent down to adjust the jade crown on his son’s head, and glanced at Susu, his eyes filled with unspoken words.
What needed to be said had already been said last night, and the things to be instructed had been instructed. Hong Sheng wanted to hug his wife before leaving, but until he stepped out of the house, the opportunity never came.
Now, in front of others, it was even more impossible. He could only give his wife a deep look before turning his horse to leave.
Susu held her son’s hand, watching Hong Sheng’s figure grow smaller with the rising sun, finally unable to hold back the tears of farewell.
Even though you haven’t gone far, I am already consumed by thoughts of you.
This scene, this deep affection, made everyone present feel quite sad.
...
Susu was momentarily emotional, looking down to fight the tears back, wanting to be a firm support for her mother, turned her head and dried her tears with a handkerchief, then with her son, bowed to the villagers, "I’ll be depending on all of you from now on!"
Let alone ordinary townspeople, even the officials present couldn’t surpass Susu’s rank, how dared they accept her salute? Naturally, they avoided it repeatedly.
Leading the group was Hong Sheng’s trusted aide, now promoted to Deputy Commander of the Hami Guard, Zhang San, "Sister-in-law, you really humble us! If anyone dares to hurt you and your child, they must first step over my dead body." Other remaining generals echoed his sentiment.
The County Magistrate of Hami County bowed to Susu, "Lady Su has great righteousness, we will rely on you much in the future, you mustn’t belittle yourself."
After exchanging several courteous words with everyone, Susu said, "The house has prepared food and drinks; please, uncles, do us the honor of enjoying them. Also, the banquet is about to be served, please eat and drink well, elders and villagers."
Five tables were arranged in the outer courtyard, personally attended by Mantou. Although young, Mantou was very orderly in handling affairs and had Ling, Shu Xin, and Long Jiao by his side, putting Susu’s mind at ease as she returned to the inner courtyard.
Ling acted as Hong Sheng’s personal secretary, essentially his advisor. He was supposed to accompany Hong Sheng to Tartar, but Hong Sheng couldn’t feel at ease about Susu and their child.
Besides, Ling was quite averse to risking his life for the Emperor’s face, so Hong Sheng decided to leave him behind.
There were still five hundred Vanguard Soldiers left in the Hami Guard, officially entrusted to five Hundred Commanders who followed Hong Sheng’s direct orders, but these five were all avid followers of Ling due to being intellectually overwhelmed by him.
If there were really any deeply hidden traitors left in Hami Guard, five hundred Vanguard Soldiers would be sufficient to protect Susu and her child in breaking through.
This was the worst-case scenario, having any chance, Susu would rather not abandon her people to escape herself, but not Mantou.
Luckily, now both Shu Xin and Long Jiao were openly assigned to Mantou’s side from the shadows by Susu; if the worst were to happen, just those two would be able to discreetly lead Mantou away.
...
In the spring of the fourteenth year of Kangping, the Northwest Army began its counterattack after being unexpectedly seized of two important towns by Tartar. In merely five days, they pushed the joint Tartar-Wala forces out of the Great Chu border, entering Tartar territory, while thirty thousand more troops gathered at the Wala border.
Wala sent fifty thousand troops to join with Tartar’s hundred thousand troops, yet there was mutual distrust and no cooperation between them.
During the initial siege, they didn’t gain much advantage, losing nearly one-third of their troops.
Now, seeing the situation unfavorable, they even considered retreat, almost driving Batraj, who had personally come to lead the Southern Expedition Army, to rage.
Meanwhile, Susu received a secret note sent by Qin Miao.
She was retained in Shangjing by Batraj, not only as a prevention, but also as preparation to use her, the Great Chu’s Princess Yonghe, as leverage in case of bad circumstances.
Yet, once Batraj departed, she was the highest in the Royal Palace; even though she was a Great Chu Princess, she was also acknowledged as the Queen by Batraj, thus could send out secret words.
Batraj planned to personally lead the expedition against Great Chu, cleansing his disgrace of being captured by Hong Sheng with Great Chu blood.
Batraj further promised promotions and wealth: if any Tartar warrior injured Hong Sheng, they would be rewarded a hundred taels of silver;
If any Tartar warrior could sever any of Hong Sheng’s limbs, the reward would be a hundred taels of gold;
If any could render Hong Sheng half-dead, the reward would be a thousand taels, plus promotion to Fourth Rank General;
If any could kill Hong Sheng, the reward would be ten thousand taels, plus promotion to Third Rank General;
If any could capture Hong Sheng alive, gold, silver, and jewels were the least of concerns; a nobility title was certain.
Such rewards would surely inspire courage among the men.
The soldiers in the Tartar army, especially the middle and lower ranks, fantasized about capturing Hong Sheng alive and skyrocketing in status, thus the whole army’s morale was aroused.
Batraj planned to lead the expedition personally, leaving the regency to the rapidly rising Prince Yin of recent years in Tartar—Boertiechina Aleta, known in Hami as Bai Family Master Bai Wansan.
Letting him return to Tartar alive was Prince Ke’s gravest mistake; it could indeed be called releasing a tiger back to its mountain,
Especially after Batraj had openly broken his promise, where Prince Ke killed Bai Lili, Aleta already knew this news, sparking speculation on what mad action he might take.
Upon receiving this news, Susu tightened surveillance over Bai Family’s women.
Even though the Bai family’s residence was almost completely burnt down in a fire, the setting aflame was in Bai Wansan’s occupied main courtyard, and when half of Bai House was burning, the fire was already under control.
Hong Sheng feared secret chambers or hidden passages within the Bai House, thus when Bai House lacked "heirs" to retain property, he bought the Bai’s ancestral home, thoroughly searched inside and out, but except for an empty secret chamber, nothing else was found.
Nonetheless, Susu couldn’t believe the Bai family, which lurked in Hami for sixty years, did nothing, so a Snake Guard always lurked in Bai’s ancestral home.
Now learning that it was Prince Yin as Regent, Susu hoped fervently she was merely fearing shadows. Otherwise, if there really was an undiscovered secret passage, Hami would face danger!
In the previous war aiding Batraj in defeating Bashahan, Liu Dusi had witnessed the benefits of "repelling the enemy at the gates" and focused hard this time on pushing the front lines toward Tartar’s side.
Meanwhile, Hong Sheng took five hundred Vanguard Soldiers to disguise as they dispersed and infiltrate towards Tartar’s depths under his cover.
Thus, a legend about the "Ghost" began circulating within Tartar’s inland.
The legend spoke that the Ghost might be a man, a woman, an elder, or a child, might be one person, or might be a group.
Any caravans or tribes that had witnessed the Ghost were utterly wiped out.
Had it not been for a merchant who survived by playing dead and went mad revealing fragmented words, everyone would’ve believed it was truly the Ghost claiming lives.
Soon, this legend reached the Northwest, and while Susu was teaching her son to read, she heard it and laughed, softly telling Mantou, "Your father will be back soon!"
