The three parties attacked at the same time. One could guess even with their toes that there was a conspiracy behind this. Someone certainly threaded a needle between these people and let the three parties reach a pact. So, this matter was so coincidental. Who was it? This was too sudden, causing people to get caught by surprise. The information wasnât fully collected. There was no way to know who was behind this.
Now, the only fortunate thing was that Nan Feng didnât participate. Otherwise, Bei Zhou would have been surrounded by enemies from all four sides. By then, even if those in power didnât panic, the citizens would definitely panic.
Dong Lu sent the army because of Xia Yun Xi. Xi Qiâs excuse was because of Yandang mountain. Then, Jurchen tribeâs reason, could it be for the shame of ten years ago?
âWangfei,1 the Jurchen tribe had disappeared for ten years. There must be a reason for their sudden reappearance. Our information should be delivered within the next two days. This is all the previously collected information of Jurchen. Please, take a look at it!â
Nalan Xin took out the information heâd already prepared and handed it over to Feng Qi Qi. It was thick as the height of half a human.
âSu Mei, Su Yue, stay here and help me categorize the information. Single out the most important information that is also related to war. List them separately. Nalan Xin, our Moyu will go find out about Xi Qi. Dong Luâs information is for your Fo Sheng Men. I want to know all the intelligence and information about Dong Luâs sending out the army! Senior Jin Mo, prepare adequate medicine. Wangye2 may personally lead the army!â
Everyone was won over by Feng Qi Qiâs arrangement. However, the last sentence surprised everyone.
âJunior sister, was wangye already prepared to lead the army?â Jin Mo had also guessed that Feng Cang may lead the army. He just didnât know which side he (FC) would go.
âWangye didnât say it. I guessed it. The three sides are surrounded by enemies. Wangye canât go to all three sides at the same time. He would go to one. You, go prepare first lest thereâs no time.â
âGood!â When Jin Mo and Nalan Xin was ready to leave, Feng Qi Qi added, âSenior brother, trouble you to pay attention to Ming Yue Chengâs move in the capital! Although Nan Feng hasnât taken action yet, but it doesnât mean that our area in the south is safe. I will also let Moyuâs people pay attention to Nan Feng!â
âGood!â Seeing that Feng Qi Qi didnât put her guard down against Nan Feng just because Ming Yue Cheng was in Yan capital, Jin Mo nodded. âDonât worry!â
Feng Qi Qi browsed the information about Jurchen tribe all night long.
From the information, Jurchen tribe was a nomadic ethnic group and divided into four big tribes. The life of the Jurchen tribe was very simple at the vast grassland in the north. They grazed in the spring and in the summer. In the autumn, they would plunder the south and go back to recuperate in the winter.
During the former Qin, the Jurchen tribe was a headache to the Qin. Although Qin had used marriage, food and silk in exchange for peace and tranquillity, but the Jurchen tribe wasnât weakened by this. Instead, they became more arrogant.
Then, ten years ago, Feng Cang led the soldiers to the north and penetrated deep in the grassland. It took a year and half. Not only was Jurchen tribe utterly defeated, he also took down Jurchen tribeâs Khan, Ji Sanggu Khanâs head. Since then, the Jurchen tribe disappeared from the north and moved into the desert.
However, after a lapse of ten years, the Jurchen tribe called a hundred thousand men and went to the south. Ji Sanggu Khan was gone. Could it be that his children were leading the soldiers?
When Feng Cang returned to Tingsong building, Su Mei and Su Yue were still reading the information. Feng Qi Qi was so tired that sheâd laid down on the rocking chair. She held the information in her hand, but sheâd already fallen already asleep.
âShh!â
Feng Cang gestured for Su Mei and Su Yue to be quiet. He came softly and quietly to Feng Qi Qi.
Looking at her appearance, she must be very tired. Feng Cang gently kissed Feng Qi Qiâs forehead, feeling heartache.
Just as he was about to cover Feng Qi Qi with the silk quilt, Feng Qi Qi woke up.
âCang, youâve returned!â
âMm! I came back to wash up. In a moment, I need to go to the palace again! Sleep more!â
âGood!â Feng Qi Qi was very tired. She wanted to sleep very much. Just as Feng Cang covered Feng Qi Qi with the quilt, dropped a kiss on her forehead and was ready to leave, Feng Qi Qi opened her eyes and stopped him.
âCang, ten years ago, when you killed Ji Sanggu Khan, did you miss his children?â
âJi Sanggu Khan had two sons and one daughter. The eldest son was eighteen years old. He had already been killed by me. That year, the daughter was eleven years old. Sheâd almost died under my sword. As for his youngest son, I didnât see him. He had been taken away. It was said that his youngest son was only six years old that year. Now, he must be sixteen years old.â
âOh...,â Feng Qi Qi nodded. âI just thought that without Ji Sanggu Khan, who could unite the four great tribes and send an army? Who would be the one leading Jurchen tribeâs people this time?â
âIt must be Taji Guli, Ji Sanggu Khanâs daughter.â
âOh?â Originally Feng Qi Qi was very sleepy. Now, she heard that a woman led the army. Her spirits immediately went up. She sat up and wanted Feng Cang to talk about this Taji Guli.
âSince young, Taji Guli had been raised like a man. At three, she could ride a horse. At five, she learned equestrian archery. At seven, she shot a white bird of prey. At nine, she captured a white wolf in the desert and was known as the pearl of Jurchen tribe. Ji Sanggu Khan once said that this daughter of his was comparable to three sons. He also said, that if he passed away, he would pass the Khanâs position to Taji Guli.â
Feng Cang sat behind Feng Qi Qi and let her lean on him. He massaged her back and shoulders to soothe Feng Qi Qiâs muscles.
âCan a woman inherit the Khanâs place?â Hearing Feng Cang say that Feng Qi Qi was very curious about the Jurchen tribe. Although, from the history of the previous life, there was also a Jurchen tribe, but it seemed that the two Jurchen tribes were very different, ah!
âThe Jurchen tribe had always admired heroes. The reason why Ji Sanggu Khan was able to unify the four tribes was because he was very powerful when he was young. He was also matchless at equestrian archery and very brave. Taji Guli was even more powerful than her father. At a very young age, her prestige far outnumbered that of her older brotherâs in the Jurchen tribe. It could be seen that the color blue is made out of indigo but is more vivid than indigo.â
The color blue is made out of indigo but is more vivid than indigo: the student surpasses the master
âThat year, if it wasnât because sheâd faked her death and let me put my guard down, in this mainland, there may no longer be a Jurchen tribe.â
What Feng Cang said, Feng Qi Qi had already learned from the information.
Taji Guliâs muscles and bones had been injured by Feng Cang during that battle. Sheâd simply faked her death by lying on the ground. Later, when no one noticed, she killed a soldier of the eagle troop, took his horse and escaped. Although Feng Cang tried to catch up with her on horse and shot her in the back, but in the end, she still escaped. He didnât expect that the little girl had survived and led the rest of the Jurchen tribe into the desert to hide.
Had to say, when she looked at the information, Feng Qi Qi admired Taji Guli very much. An eleven-year-old girl could actually be so strong, so tough and so unwavering. It seemed that she was a strong enemy.
âCang, if the one who is leading the Jurchen tribe is really Taji Guli, then presumably she came here for revenge. However, now itâs spring. Spring was generally their time to rest, feed the horses and herd. Why didnât they wait until fall when the horses are strong before going to the south? By then, they could also plunder and go back to spend the winter. Wasnât this always their custom? Now, theyâre coming to the south in spring. Isnât this very disadvantageous to them?â
Feng Qi Qi asked so many questions in one breath. Feng Cang laughed softly. It seemed that she really had read that information.
All that information, she mustâve looked at them the whole night! This little woman really didnât know how to take care of herself! It was just, that she was able to see the critical point at a glance made Feng Cang had a feeling that heâd gotten a confidante. Usually, women only knew the four corners of the roof and fight and scheme against each other. However, his woman actually knew so much. To get such a woman as a companion, how lucky was he?!
Thinking till here, Feng Cangâs voice got gentler, âQing Qing, giving up the grazing time of the spring and summer to come to the south, presumably, itâs for two reasons. First one is that Taji Guli was impatient to get revenge and wanted to take revenge for her father and brother. So, she didnât care for those. As for the second....â
âThe second possibility is that she had absolute certainty! Someone surely went to the desert and contacted Taji Guli. The three parties agreed to send the army at the same time to let you be badly burned about the head and overwhelmed. Then her chances of winning would be much higher!â
Badly burned about the head: hard-pressed/ under pressure
âClever!â Feng Cang tapped Feng Qi Qiâs nose. âQing Qing said everything I wanted to say!â
âCang, if itâs really the second possibility, then the âcontact personâ is really amazing! He instigated for Xia Jin to take revenge for his daughter and let Longze Jing Tian become the crown prince and instigated him to build his own merits to consolidate his position. Taji Guli was honing her strength for the revenge for her father and brother.... Cang, who do you think this person is? Could it be Misha?â
âImpossible.â
Feng Cang shook his head, âSuppose Misha is Lian Sheng. Then, he only had the mind to look for Yi Lian now. A war wouldnât benefit him in any way. He also didnât have the opportunity nor the time to do this. Moreover, heâs in Yan capital now. If he was the contact person, he wouldnât let himself stay in such a dangerous place. Besides, our people have watched over him for so long. If there was something unusual about him, we wouldâve found out.â
Feng Cangâs analysis was justified. After hearing it, Feng Qi Qi nodded, âIt was just, if it wasnât Misha, I canât figure out who has such a hatred towards Bei Zhou...â
Seeing Feng Qi Qi frown, Feng Cang reached out to flatten her brow, âQing Qing, donât think too much! Hand these things over to me. What you need to do now is to go sleep! Yesterday, you didnât sleep for the whole night. I havenât hit your butt yet! Now, youâre about to become a mother and you still donât know how to take care of yourself. Even if you donât consider for yourself, you should think about our child, ah!â
Hearing Feng Cang, Feng Qi Qi laughed shyly. She had been busy. She had forgotten that she was pregnant. No wonder she was so sleepy!
âGood! Iâll listen to you!â Feng Qi Qi kissed Feng Cangâs lips. âI and the child will wait at home for your return!â
âGood! I will wait till youâre asleep before going to the palace!â Feng Cang helped Feng Qi Qi lay down and covered her with the silken quilt. His big hand gently patted on the quilt as though he was coaxing a child to sleep. Donât know if it was because Feng Qi Qi was too sleepy or that Feng Cangâs technique was too hypnotizing, but in a moment, Feng Qi Qi was asleep.
Looking at Feng Qi Qiâs calm and peaceful face, Feng Cangâs heart became warm. The feeling of having a wife was so great!
He slowly pulled down the curtain and went to Su Mei and Su Yue, âYouâve also worked hard for the whole night. Go rest for a while! Donât tired yourselves out!â
âYes!â Su Mei and Su Yue stood up. Along with Feng Cang, they retreated.
After closing the door, Feng Cang called Su Mei. Su Yue knew that guye3 had something to say to Su Mei. She took the initiative to leave Tingsong building first.
âSu Mei, you and ah Kangâs wedding may be affected by the war. Ah Kang wants your marriage to be postponed first and have the wedding when the war is over. What do you think?â
Feng Cang said this with great difficulty. Wanyan Kang couldnât face Su Mei himself. So, he asked Feng Cang to be the middleman.
The moment she heard that it was Wanyan Kangâs idea, Su Mei didnât think so much, âWangye, tell him, Iâm willing to wait for him! If he wants to go to war, Iâm willing to follow him!â
âGood...,â Feng Cang nodded.
When he went back to the palace, Feng Cang was immediately pulled aside by Wanyan Kang. âCousin brother, how did the things go? Did little Mei er4 agree to postpone the wedding?â
âYou, this brat is lucky. Not only did she agree to postpone the wedding, she also said that if you went to war, sheâs willing to go with you!â
The moment he heard Feng Cang, Wanyan Kang almost cried, âCousin brother, this canât be! I was afraid of going to the battlefield. I...I was afraid of delaying her. So, I postponed the marriage. Why was it that you went to talk with her, it had become that she was going with me to the battlefield?!â
1. Wangfei: main wife/consort of the prince of first rank
2. Wang/wangye: prince of first rank
3. Guye: son-in-law, used by the servants of the female family
4. Er: term of endearment