Chapter 854 - 68: The Gu Clan in Seclusion, A Thorny Path

Northern Border.

This place is now where the wars across the realm rage the fiercest.

Not only are the Jurchen tribes counterattacking, battles on the Liaodong Peninsula itself are also incessant.

Wanyan Digü’s eye for opportunity is indeed outstanding; almost at the very first moment he managed to forge alliances of various tribes in Liaodong to a certain extent, to jointly oppose the Great Song’s armies.

This truly won him quite a few openings.

Not only did it block the Song Army’s offensive, it also expanded the base of his rule; one could say he used this thoroughly to open up battle lines against the Song Army.

In fact, the Song Army has had several chances to directly sweep away this rebellion.

After all, the Great Song’s strength is there for all to see.

Especially right after the war began, the Jurchen tribal forces were simply no match for the Song Army; yet unfortunately, the internal strife within the Great Song nowadays has become far too fierce.

All sides, in scrambling for merit, have wantonly squandered countless opportunities.

Only thus has the situation across the Northern Border reached its present state.

It is worth mentioning that—

Yue Fei is now serving as a general within the Song Army on the Northern Border!

Yes, as a general!

Compared to Yue Fei in the original history, the present Yue Fei has improved considerably in almost every aspect; this naturally allows him to stand out rapidly within the entire Song Army.

Especially as a student from Julu Academy.

This status has further given him the chance to climb quickly upward; once he displayed his own capabilities, he naturally attained this position.

And Yue Fei did not reject this.

Because of the influence of Gu’s School, he knows very well that only by constantly raising his status can he accomplish truly great deeds; thus he tacitly accepts all this!

But to say his situation on the Northern Border is particularly good would not be entirely accurate.

The internal struggles are constantly affecting him.

And as for this struggle—

No matter who it is, once they reach a certain level, even if they are unwilling, they are destined to be drawn into it.

Just like Yue Fei now!

Song Army main camp.

In the central command tent, the charcoal in the brazier crackled; the Great Marshal on campaign in the Northern Border, Vice Director of the Secretariat Zhang Pu reclined sideways on a tiger-skin cushion, not wearing armor, leisurely stirring tea foam with his cup lid without even lifting his eyelids.

In front of him, Yue Fei, travel-worn from the road, was reporting the military situation with a solemn expression.

"Reporting, Marshal: this officer has been scouting for days on end, and has ascertained that the main force of the enemy chieftain Digunai of Wanyan Digü, lacking supplies, is currently concealed in the vicinity of Heishui Valley to rest. His followers are exhausted, and their vigilance is more relaxed than in the past."

"This is heaven-sent opportunity. This officer requests permission to lead my five thousand Beiwei Army on a night raid; we are certain to shatter his main force in one stroke and capture and kill this cur!"

His words rang out like metal.

Yet Zhang Pu seemed not to have heard this crucial intelligence concerning the course of the war. He still sipped his hot tea unhurriedly; only after a long moment did he gently set the teacup down on the table, making a soft "tock" sound.

He raised his head, yet his eyes did not fall upon the map of the battlefield; instead, with a gloomy, scrutinizing look, he cast a cold gaze toward Yue Fei.

"Yue Fei," his voice was not loud, yet carried the pressure unique to one in high office, "the matter of sending troops, we shall not speak of for the time being."

He leaned slightly forward, his eyes sharp as blades, his tone suddenly turning frigid: "This commander asks you: three days ago, you punished the Captain of the Valiant Cavalry Camp, Zhang Jun, with twenty lashes for ’cowardice before the enemy and disturbing local order’, stripped him of his rank, and sent him back to his native place... Did such a thing occur?"

The atmosphere in the tent fell silent at once.

This Zhang Jun was the nephew of one of Zhang Pu’s favored concubines. Normally, he relied upon Zhang Pu’s power to idle away his time in the army, always arrogant. This time, being severely punished by Yue Fei under military law, once the news came back, Zhang Pu lost face and had long since nursed anger in his heart.

Yue Fei’s brows knit slightly, but his expression did not change; he responded straightforwardly: "Such a thing did occur."

"Zhang Jun’s unit encountered a small squad of enemy raiders; before fighting, they scattered in rout, causing the villages on the flank to be plundered. According to military law, he should be beheaded."

"This officer, considering it his first offense and that there was indeed enemy presence, has already dealt with him leniently."

"Leniently?" Zhang Pu let out a cold laugh, then suddenly slapped the table hard, making the teacups rattle. "A fine ’lenient handling’!"

"Do you know who he is? Do you know whose face you have slapped?!"

He stood up, walked a circle around Yue Fei, his tone full of mockery and oppression: "General Yue, you are from Julu Academy, versed in the classics; you should know the principle that ’punishments do not reach the great officers, rites do not bend to the common folk’."

"Some things, you must learn to be flexible about!"

"Advance and retreat, the way of civil and military."

"If you act with such harsh severity, without any human consideration, how are the officers under your command to truly submit to you? How are your colleagues to work with you?"

He sat back down again, his tone seeming milder, yet carrying an indisputable rejection: "As for Heishui Valley, the enemy situation is unclear. How can we move lightly?"

"If we fall into the enemy’s plan to lure us deep and suffer heavy losses, can you bear this responsibility?"

"Speak of this no more. You go back and properly rectify the discipline of your own troops!"

"Do not again... overstep your bounds!"

As he spoke his final words, a trace of mocking smile could not help but show upon Zhang Pu’s face.

Yue Fei’s fists clenched tight at once.

Looking at Zhang Pu before him, his gaze suddenly grew conflicted, as though hesitating over something; yet in the end he had no choice but to steady himself, then left without a word.

He had already run into this far too many times!

Here on the Northern Border, far too many golden opportunities had already been wasted!

It was not only Zhang Pu who was like this.

The twists and turns within the Song Army on the Northern Border are by no means as simple as they appear; nearly everyone is a shackle upon Yue Fei.

Back in his own camp, the grim, killing atmosphere and strict order were worlds apart from the languor of the central command tent.

Deputy General Niu Gao, who had long been waiting outside the tent, immediately came forward to greet him. Straightforward and impatient by nature, he saw Yue Fei’s face set in somber lines and already sensed something amiss, yet still clung to a last shred of hope and asked in a low voice: "General, did the Marshal... approve our request to send out troops?"

Yue Fei did not halt his steps. He only slowly shook his head and walked straight into the command tent.

Niu Gao froze on the spot, then a rush of hot blood went straight to his head. He charged into the tent after Yue Fei, unable to suppress his anger any longer, and growled low: "Again like this! Again like this!"

"A fleeting chance at victory, while that Digunai of Wanyan Digü grows stronger and stronger. They... in their eyes besides those petty powers and interests, do they still have half a thought for the great affairs of army and state?!"

"Are they still worthy of the soldiers on the front lines who throw away their heads and spill their hot blood?!"

"These parasites are simply... simply outrageous!"

The more he spoke, the more enraged he became. He tore off his own helmet and slammed it heavily to the ground with a muffled "clang", his chest heaving fiercely.

Yue Fei silently walked to the table, resting his hand on the cold edge of the map; his knuckles turned slightly pale from the force of his grip.

He did not stop Niu Gao from venting, for that indignation and helplessness surged just as violently in his own heart.

How could he not be heartsick? How could he not be furious?

Only he knew even more clearly that in this place, anger cannot solve any problem.

He could indeed move troops on his own authority.

Yue Fei had great confidence in his own strategic eye; as long as he acted, he was certain he could win.

But he also knew that even if he won, he would definitely be punished.

Yue Fei was not afraid of such things.

Yet he had his worries: he feared that he would be transferred out of the Northern Border. If that happened, this land of the Northern Border would then have no hope at all!

That was something he could not endure!

Countless thoughts rose and fell in his mind without end; at this very moment, even someone of Yue Fei’s disposition felt an exceptional exhaustion.

The many entanglements of war and politics left him utterly weary.

But just then, the tent curtain was gently lifted. A personal guard stepped quickly inside, presenting with both hands a seemingly ordinary yet tightly sealed visiting card, his voice tinged with something unusual: "General, someone outside the camp has sent in this card, saying that... an old acquaintance has come to visit."

Yue Fei frowned slightly. At such a time, in this place, what old acquaintance could there be?

He took the card; to the touch it was a special thick paper.

The moment he laid his hand on this sheet—

Yue Fei’s expression changed unconsciously, clearly already guessing something.

He knew this paper very well.

It was Julu paper commonly used by the Gu Clan’s younger generation, its feel having a marked difference from other papers.

And the name written upon it was likewise no surprise to him.

Almost instantly, Yue Fei felt as though struck by lightning and sprang to his feet!

"Quick!"

"Take me to him!!!"....

....

(ps: On my knees begging for monthly tickets—brothers, please support more; Yu is endlessly grateful.)