Chapter 119
**Chapter 119: The Frontier**
General Shen Mieyue knelt to receive the imperial edict. After reading its contents, he immediately ordered someone to summon the Zhen Nan Marquis, Shangguan Xuan, from Cangcheng, a hundred miles away, for a meeting.
That night, the cold moon hung high in the sky.
Shangguan Xuan rode in with a small troop, accompanied by his strategist, Zhao Qing. They arrived quietly at the city gates. In his twenties, Shangguan Xuan sat tall on his horse, his dark robe billowing in the wind, looking remarkably handsome. Having fought on the frontier for a long time, his skin had tanned, but the unique aura of a noble from Yanjing still lingered about him.
At the city gate, Shen Mieyue welcomed him and, glancing aside, caught sight of the slender young man riding alongside Shangguan Xuan.
“Mr. Zhao has come too?” Shen Mieyue raised an eyebrow, not surprised.
Mr. Zhao, whose real name was Zhao Qing, had once been an ordinary boy from Liangzhou. While out gathering herbs, he was ambushed by bandits and was saved by the passing Shangguan Xuan. Grateful, Zhao Qing proposed the design for a “fire gun” and became Shangguan Xuan’s trusted strategist.
Zhao Qing was not skilled at riding; he was frail and often ill. Tonight, he shared a horse with Shangguan Xuan.
Shangguan Xuan dismounted first.
“Ah Qing, give me your hand. I’ll help you down,” he said, his movements smooth and natural.
Under the bright moonlight, a hint of shyness crept onto Zhao Qing’s handsome face. He took Shangguan Xuan’s broad hand and awkwardly dismounted.
In a moment of carelessness, he misstepped and swayed unsteadily.
Shangguan Xuan was quick to react, swiftly wrapping his arms around Zhao Qing’s slender waist and safely bringing him back to the ground.
“Thank you, Marquis,” Zhao Qing said, a gentle smile gracing his lips. Their eyes met, and in that fleeting moment, unspoken feelings began to stir.
Shen Mieyue, a rough and straightforward man, naturally didn’t notice the subtle tension between them. He led them inside to discuss the plan for attacking the three cities of the Yue Kingdom.
In the inner hall, outsiders were dismissed, leaving only a few trusted soldiers.
The group gathered around a sand table, beginning to strategize. Zhao Qing, unfamiliar with military tactics, quietly sat to the side, sipping tea, his gaze occasionally drifting to Shangguan Xuan, warmth blooming in his eyes.
“Why was Prince Yan attacked again?” one soldier scratched his head, vaguely recalling that Prince Yan had been targeted a few months prior.
Shen Mieyue shot him a look: “What do you know? This is the prince’s strategy.”
Every battle needs a reasonable excuse.
Two princes of the Qing Kingdom had nearly fallen to the arrows of Yue assassins—who could tolerate that? Who wouldn’t be furious?
The soldiers chattered excitedly late into the night, finalizing their marching strategies before dispersing. Confidence ran high; the Qing Kingdom was strong, and with the formidable “fire gun squad” at their side, victory seemed assured.
“Don’t rush off, you two. Have a cup of tea first. This lotus tea was brought from Yanjing by Yan Yunting. I can’t taste much, but you, young marquis, being from Yanjing, will surely enjoy it,” Shen Mieyue called to Shangguan Xuan and Zhao Qing.
A servant brought in the lotus tea from Yanjing.
Shangguan Xuan took a couple of sips, nostalgia flickering in his eyes. “The most famous lotus tea from Yanjing. Every summer, we gather the budding lotus flowers from Luoyue Lake, peel back the petals, place tea leaves in the heart of the flower, then close the petals and let it sit overnight, allowing the tea to absorb the delicate fragrance of the lotus.”
Zhao Qing also took a sip, marveling at the refreshing aroma of the tea—it was his first time tasting something so exquisite.
Shen Mieyue scratched his head. “You Yanjing folks are all so refined. Even drinking tea requires stuffing the leaves into lotus flowers. I remember my little sister used to dry lotus flowers and steep them in water when she was young, and it tasted terrible.”
Zhao Qing casually asked, “General Shen, where is your sister now?”
Shen Mieyue’s expression fell, his smile vanishing.
A sturdy man like him trembled slightly at the mention of his family. He closed his eyes for a moment. “They’re all gone.”
It was impolite to bring up painful memories, and Zhao Qing fell silent.
Shen Mieyue said, “I will eventually take revenge on those Yue people for my family. Strategist Zhao, I’ve heard you’ve been researching a weapon called a ‘landmine.’ I look forward to your good news!”
Zhao Qing nodded eagerly.
After finishing their tea, Shangguan Xuan prepared to return with Zhao Qing.
Suddenly, Shen Mieyue remembered something and hurriedly retrieved a thick package from a cabinet, quickly chasing after them. “Young Marquis, I almost forgot! Your wife sent a pair of leather military boots for you to take back!”
Shangguan Xuan paused in his tracks.
Zhao Qing’s lips pressed together, his eyes filled with a mix of grievance and reluctance.
Shangguan Xuan turned back to Shen Mieyue. “The boots I’m wearing are fine; I don’t need new ones. General Shen, you can have these.”
With that, Shangguan Xuan lifted Zhao Qing onto the horse and led the cavalry away swiftly.
Shen Mieyue held the brand-new leather boots, his gaze falling on the slightly worn pair Shangguan Xuan was wearing. Those boots had been bought for him by Zhao Qing at the market in Liangzhou, and Shangguan Xuan had grown fond of them, never replacing them.
“Why wear old boots when there are new ones? Yanjing people are really strange,” Shen Mieyue muttered as he returned to the hall.
He examined the new leather boots in his hands.
The stitching was tight and secure, made from the strongest parts of the cowhide, and the outer layer had been treated with tung oil and dried. It was clear that Shangguan Xuan’s wife, far away in Yanjing, had put a lot of thought into these boots.
Shen Mieyue tried on the new leather boots.
They fit perfectly!
He was quite pleased, mumbling to himself, “When we triumph and return to the capital, I must thank this lady properly. Heh!”
The next day, as dawn broke, Shen Mieyue donned the brand-new leather military boots and began to assemble the troops.
The faint morning light enveloped Liangzhou City, and a mournful eagle cry echoed from afar. A robust gray eagle spread its wide wings and descended, landing steadily on Shen Mieyue’s left shoulder.
Clad in armor, with a spear in hand, Shen Mieyue’s commanding voice rang out across the training grounds:
“Everyone!”
“The Yue brats have seized our land, taken our women and children, and trafficked our people! Just five days ago, they even sent assassins to attempt to kill both Prince Yan and Prince Heng! This grudge must be avenged!”
“Prepare the troops for battle, for the glory of Da Qing! Charge!”
The eagle let out a sharp cry, and the battle was on the verge of erupting.
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