Chapter 7: Marquis Is Back

Chapter 7: Marquis Is Back

After Xiao Qiao left the governors house, which had been filled with music and drums, gradually fell silent and the guests dispersed. Seeing that Qiao Ping was still standing at the gate, Qiao Yue went forward to persuade him to go inside and said, Second brother, Man Man has gone far away. You have seen with your own eyes the magnificent scene in the city. I am really happy for you.

Qiao Ping turned around and said: Eldest brother, I have a question I should not have asked. It has troubled me for a long time, so I take this opportunity to ask. Ten years ago, father sent an army to conquer Li Su, but he did nothing on the battlefield, causing the death of Wei Jing and his son, and thus creating a feud with the Wei family. At that time, did father actually send a messenger to Wei Jing to make a report? That year, brother accompanied father together with the army, you should know.

Qiao Yue was stunned, then his face showed displeasure and waved his hand, saying, Its all in the past. Why do you suddenly mention this? No matter how father handled the situation back then, he always had his reasons. How can we, as sons, have a say in it?

When Qiao Yue replied this way, Qiao Pings suspicions were confirmed in his heart.

Ten years ago, after the incident in Chen County, Weis family mourning. His father Qiao Gui sent Qiao Ping to pay condolences in Yuyang. On top of the funeral hall, the Wei family general drew his sword and angrily confronted Qiao Ping, scolding Qiao Gui for being cunning and unfaithful, for not sending any letters at all. Just sitting on the mountain and watching the tiger fight. Qiao Ping was frightened and thought he could not walk out of the Wei family gate. But he didnt expect Mrs. Xu to reprimand the general in front of him and reassure Qiao Ping with gentle words. When Qiao Ping returned to Yanzhou, he told his father, Qiao Gui, about the situation.

He remembers clearly that his father frowned for a long time, and finally sighed: The Wei family has a woman like this. I am afraid that in the future it will be a disaster for my Qiao family!

Qiao Yue suspected his father had not reported the news ten years ago. His father was very resourceful and ambitious. Although the forces of the Wei family were still in the north of Yan and You, and there was no problem with Yanzhou, but Wei Jing ruled the army strictly and was crowned a marquis for his merits, and had a reputation of being a virtuous man, and famous scholars from all over the world have gone to join him.

Maybe his father thought if the Wei family rises in the future, it will not be good for Yanzhou, so he wanted to use Li Sus hand to remove a hidden problem.

Second brother, the marriage of two families, not only to resolve the discord but also to solve the current difficulties of Yanzhou. What is wrong with it? You should not think about it anymore.

Qiao Ping smiled bitterly. Elder brother, Man Man has been married as you wish. Yanzhou is temporarily rescued. From now on, I hope elder brother works hard to revive our familys reputation, so the people of the county will be benefited, and Man Man will have a support.

Qiao Yue looked sarcastic and said, Of course. Dont worry, second brother.

Wei Liang led a team of Wei family soldiers to escort Xiao Qiao to the north. They travelled by day and rested by night. At first, the journey was smooth. But one day, when they entered the border of Jizhou, and it was about to get dark, the carriage and horses had not yet arrived at the stage court to settle down, and they passed a deserted road with no one around. He noticed someone seemed to follow behind him, and immediately ordered to turn back and check, but the soldiers came back and said there was nothing unusual.

Wei Liang seems to be rude, but actually he is very careful. He didnt make a sound. That night, after building the tent, he guarding Xiao Qiaos room with a sword. The next day, he increased his protection, and the journey became faster. Finally, before the end of the year, he successfully arrived in Jizhou.

Gao Tang, the former governor of Jizhou, is under Xing Xuns control. Killing brutally and destroyed Han Dynasty. He established himself as an emperor. The court has sent several troops to besiege, but Gao Tang has been running for many years. He has a powerful army and horses, and he has taken advantage of the geographical location of Jizhou. Last autumn, Wei Shao raised troops into Jizhou.

Previously, when soldiers came to attack, Jizhou citizens will lose a layer of skin. Even the official army surrounded the village and slaughtered villagers, cut off their heads and hang them on the horse as the head of the rebels to receive credit. They have long been suffering, and when they heard that Wei Shao from Youzhou had arrived, they were scared and left their fields and fled in all directions. The entire village is empty.

After Wei Shaos army arrived, they did not commit any crime. When they saw the wheat fall to the ground without being harvested, the soldiers removed their armor and harvested the wheat and piled it up at the entrance of the village, and caught those stragglers along the road who were plundering for a living.

The news spread, ten to one hundred, and before long, people who had escaped to take refuge have returned. Some of the young and strong volunteered to join the army. The people along the way, unlike the usual, welcomed Wei Shao army into Jizhou by beating gongs and drums.

Wei Shao gathered peoples hearts, like a tiger with wings. And with several battles, Gao Tang has lost some cities and finally retreated to Xindu and stayed quiet.

Wei Shao was in no hurry to attack and stationed his troops down. At the beginning of the year, after besieging the city for several months, he took Xindu in one fell swoop. And Gao Tang, in desperation, cut himself down and died.

The people of Jizhou heard the news and ran around, pushing the oldest and most respected of the elderly to pleading with Wei Shao to stay on.

Wei Shao was told there were still remnants of Gao Tangs army outside of Xindu who were abusing the countryside. There were many of them, so he responded to the peoples sentiment and continued to station his troops to sweep away the remnants of the rebellion.

The court refused because fearful of his expansion, and ordered him to withdraw his troops from Jizhou, and Wei Shao did so.

When the court sent several officials to Jizhou, the people blocked them outside the city gates. The people were furious. After several times, the court could do nothing about it, so they had no choice but to comply with the public opinion and let Wei Shao take over the leadership temporarily.

Wei Shao then entered Jizhou again. The people welcomed him, and now it has been nearly a year.

Recently, Wei Shao was in Xindu. Compared with Yuyang, Xindu is closer, so the place of marriage is set here.

The Tantai Terrace was really high, even higher than the city walls. Standing on the observation deck at the top, she could see a wilderness beyond the city walls as far as the eye could see.

The last few days before the end of the year, it snowed.

At noon, the snow stopped, and the sun came out, surprisingly bright.

Xiao Qiao nestled in her room and dozed off for the afternoon. In the evening, she went up to the Tantai Terrace.

In the last few days, she would ascend the Tantai Terrace to wait for the sunset.

Beyond the city walls, there is an endless wilderness. Watching the sunset at the end of the wilderness and swallowed completely into the horizon. If she was a poet, she might write a poem that can be passed down to future generations.

There is nothing difference between this dusk and the previous, but the roofs are covered with a layer of snow like cotton. The streets are dotted with black and white. The white is the snow, black is the original color of the road after the pedestrian trampling melted snow. As usual, people take advantage of this last moment before the light goes down. Pick and carry, cart, walking at a brisk pace several children happily piled up the snow in the alleys corner. The sound of laughter seems to reach this lofty building above.

Its getting dark! Its so cold! The wind is blowing like a knife! There is a fireplace in the house, Lady, go down!

Chun Niang was fat, and after climbing a few dozen stairs, she was a little out of breath, so she persuaded Xiao Qiao and added a fox fur cloak to her.

Chun Niang had never left the warm climate of East County in the first half of her life. At first, she was a little unaccustomed to the climate here and stay in her room from morning to night.

The wind at the top of the Tantai building was really strong. Xiao Qiao closed her hands to her mouth. Puffed a few warm breaths and pressed her frozen cheeks with her remaining warm palms. She turned around and was about to go down with Chun Niang when a faint wave of sound came from the direction of the sunset in the distance.

The sound was vague and Xiao Qiao thought she was hearing things. But soon, the sound became clear. And it came somewhat unexpectedly, as if a muffled thunder rose from the ground.

Xiao Qiao could not help but turn her head to look again.

Beyond the city walls, the white wilderness, which had been dead as if asleep, suddenly awakened. A snow fog seems to be swept up by the wind, like a blanket covering the sky, blocking the horizon of the half-round sunset, with flags hidden in between.

What is that?

Chun Niang followed her line of sight and her eyes widened and her voice sound frightened.

Xiao Qiao continued to look.

The sound of muffled thunder became clearer.

She finally saw clearly that it was a large group of cavalry, thousands in number, and was rapidly racing towards the city, and as they traveled closer, the sound was already like a thunderstorm.

The Marquis is back

The Marquis is back

In the sound of the horses hooves that shake the ground, a moment later, the foot of the city wall at the entrance of the city suddenly shouted loudly. This cry drummed with the wind, a higher than a sound, sent to the twilight sky of the ancient city of Xindu, also reached Xiao Qiaos ears.

The people on the street also heard it and stopped in their tracks. After a short period of silence, they hurried in the direction of the city gates in unison.

Marquis is back! Marquis is back!

The whole ancient city stirred up. And people ran out of their houses, running to tell each other.

After Xiao Qiao arrived in Xindu and spent half a month nestled in the Xin Palace, in this snowy sunset, Marquis of Yan, Wei Shao, finally returned to Xindu from Bo Ling, which was hundreds of miles away.