WSMTATMC C171

Chapter 171

Liu Changyi asked in surprise, “How did you know?”

Chen Qingyan, of course, could not tell the truth. He said, “My cousin is betrothed to Marquis Wuping; I heard a bit of news from him.”

“No wonder. How is the situation in the Northwest now?”

Liu Yaozhi said, “Just as Qingyan mentioned, His Majesty has already dispatched the Jizhou army to provide support.”

Hearing this, both men fell silent, their minds tightening with worry. Having studied history, they understood the profound impact war could have on a nation; a defeat could spell the annihilation of a lineage and the ruin of a state.

“For now, the frontier battles are not something you need to concern yourselves with. Focus on the metropolitan exam first.”

“Yes,” the two responded, bowing in acknowledgment.

After the two departed, Liu Yaozhi took out a confidential letter and examined it carefully. The letter had just arrived from the frontier.

It stated that the Northwestern army had engaged the foreign tribes in more than ten battles, losing more than they won, with heavy casualties.

After reading it, he furrowed his brows, a shadow of concern crossing his face. The situation at the border was far more dire than anticipated.

Since the founding of the Wu Dynasty, there had always been friction with the Qiang people. The origin lay in the Western Prefecture, which had been occupied by the Qiang during the previous dynasty. After Wu’s reconquest, the Qiang frequently harassed the frontier under the pretext of reclaiming cities.

Over the years, there had been countless skirmishes—if not over a hundred, at least eighty—but these had little impact on the court, affecting mostly the civilians near the border.

Last year, the Emperor had prepared to reopen the Tea and Salt Road, dispatching troops to clear remaining Qiang remnants and bandits along the Longxi route. This action angered both the Qiang and many local brigands, who joined forces in October to spark this war.

If it had been only them, they would not have posed a serious threat. However, in November, the Turks allied with them and sent their own forces to invade.

The Turks were composed of eleven tribes, which in recent years had been gradually unified under a khan named Xieli, forming a formidable power.

With all these factors combined, a major conflict was imminent.

In just two short months, the Northwest had already fallen to the enemy in three cities. Urgent dispatches poured into the capital, leaving the civil and military officials anxious, fearing that defeat might allow the barbarians to breach the borders.

That morning, some ministers even suggested ceding cities to negotiate peace. When several concurred, the Emperor flew into a rage, throwing the memorials to the ground and shouting, “Cowards who value life over honor!”

Yet the northern tribes were strong, with well-fed soldiers and robust horses, making the war undoubtedly arduous.

After pondering for a long while, Liu Yaozhi picked up his brush and began drafting letters to various regions in the south, urging them to prepare supplies and reinforcements for the Northwest before April.

“Brother, tell me about the situation in the Northwest,” Liu Changyi asked as he followed Chen Qingyan out of the house.

“I don’t know much. Just two days before departing, I heard your sister-in-law mention briefly that Marquis Wuping was leading troops to aid the Northwestern army.”

Liu Changyi stroked his chin. “Jizhou is thousands of miles from the Western Prefecture. If the court is dispatching troops from there, the situation at the frontier must be extremely urgent.”

Chen Qingyan said, “Not necessarily. Although Youzhou is closer, its forces must guard against the Rouran and cannot be moved freely. Laizhou’s troops are mostly naval and unskilled in land warfare, while the troops in Longyou depend on Tibet. After accounting for these factors, only the Jizhou army is available for deployment.”

“No wonder!”

Liu Changyi wanted to continue discussing military matters, but Chen Qingyan hurried to the study field. “There is only a month until the metropolitan exam. Focus on thoroughly reviewing the essay topics; don’t lag behind the other candidates.”

“Alas, with my abilities, passing as a juren already requires my utmost effort. Even with a month of study, I might not reach the second rank.”

“You still have to try. Last-minute polishing may not be perfect, but it’s better than doing nothing.”

Liu Changyi smiled. “Very well. I’ll continue reviewing the topics, and if I encounter difficulties, I’ll trouble you again.”

Chen Qingyan nodded, saw him into the room, and immediately went inside to secure the door of the study field.

Inside the study field, no new notes had appeared, and the note he had left remained untouched. Chen Qingyan paced anxiously, wondering about the happenings at home.

After a quarter of an hour, a knock on the door startled him. He rushed out to find a servant from the Liu household summoning him for dinner.

During dinner, they did not see Lord Liu, likely busy with official matters. After finishing their meal, both returned to their rooms.

Chen Qingyan attempted to study, but his mind was restless, wandering to various thoughts. Only at the end of the evening did he return to the study field, finally encountering Liu Changyi.

“Ah Ying!” Chen Qingyan exclaimed, rushing forward and grabbing his hand, examining him eagerly.

Wang Ying, equally moved, asked, “Have you arrived in the capital?”

“Yes, we arrived yesterday. On the road, I had no chance to enter the study field, so I didn’t see your messages. Yesterday, I saw them and was quite alarmed. How is Qing’er?”

“Lin Sui and I took her from the Li family, and…”

“What happened?”

“The child contracted smallpox. Lin Sui and I went up the mountain to summon Daoist Master Qingxu for treatment. She is now out of danger.”

“How could she have contracted smallpox?”

Wang Ying shook his head. “We suspect foul play by the Li family. After they took Qing’er, she was left with no caretaker, confined in a storage room, and made to wear a tattered garment.”

“What venomous hearts!”

“Alas, it’s a blessing the child is safe. Now, we can deal with the Li family.”

Chen Qingyan was furious. “They deserve it, for their own—”

Wang Ying interjected, “Enough about them. How was your journey? How is Lord Liu? Are you comfortable there?”

“The journey was smooth. He is stern, and conversing with him made me quite nervous. The accommodations are fine, though; the guest room in the courtyard, with Changyi next door to me.”

“That’s good. Don’t worry about things at home; focus on the exam.”

Chen Qingyan nodded. “By the way, if you have time, bring Yuanbao over. His birthday is coming soon, and I won’t be able to accompany him this year.”

“This little one has cried several times since you left, but has calmed down these past few days.”

Chen Qingyan sighed. “Seeing the note you left yesterday, my heart ached. Were it not for the pursuit of a title, who would willingly be apart from you?”

Wang Ying laughed, patting his shoulder, “Alright, it’s not that serious. I’m not so sentimental.”

Chen Qingyan pouted, “Brother doesn’t miss me.”

Wang Yingwas touched, wrapping his arms around him and burying his head in his shoulder. “I do. The first night you left, I barely slept.”

The two embraced for a while. The system reminded that public time was nearly exhausted, and experience points would soon be spent.

“All right, get some rest. On Yuanbao’s birthday, I’ll bring him over.”

“Okay.”

Reluctantly, they parted, each returning to their rooms.

Chen Qingyan read for a while before extinguishing the lamp, finally able to sleep soundly that night.

Three days later, Chen Qinghuai arrived from Shanzhou. The three brothers met and talked by candlelight deep into the night.

Since Shanzhou was closer to the Western Prefecture, he naturally knew more. Chen Qinghuai spoke gravely of the situation in the Western Prefecture: “This war is unlike any before. The Turkic forces advance fiercely, capturing Tingzhou, Xizhou, and Luntai in succession.

“The army is now assembled at Beiting Protectorate and could attack Chaoyang Pass at any moment. Before leaving, my father had already dispatched all 18,000 soldiers from Shanzhou to the front. Whether the border can be held remains uncertain.”

The Wu Dynasty had enjoyed long-standing peace. This war sounded a much-needed alarm: life arises from vigilance, death from complacency…

February 16 was Yuanbao’s birthday; he was now four years old.

On this day, the family gathered to share a meal. Lin Sui and Lin Qiu had prepared small gifts for Yuanbao, simple items worth a hundred or so wen.

Little Qing’er had also prepared a gift with her own hands: a wooden spinning top, which could spin for a long time when whipped. The children played with it happily in the courtyard.

Chen Rong said to Qing’er, “This child has had a hard life, with no parents nearby. From now on, you must care for her.”

Lin Sui smiled warmly. “Qing’er is obedient and sensible. I am glad she is with us.”

As the weather warmed, Lin Qiu and Chen Rong planned to leave for Longquan County in a few days. Originally, they intended to stay until Lin Sui completed the marriage rites, but with the Marquis away at the frontier, the house could not remain unattended, so they decided to depart early.

That evening, Wang Yingbathed Yuanbao, dressed him in new clothes, and brought him directly to the study field.

Chen Qingyan had been waiting inside. Upon seeing each other, father and son embraced, exclaiming, “Father!”

“Yuanbao!”

After a long moment, they separated. “I missed you so much!”

“I missed you too. Have you been listening to your father while I was away?”

Yuanbao nodded. “Yes.”

Wang Ying said, “The child has been running wild every day with Qing’er and Xiaomai at home.”

Chen Qingyan ruffled his son’s hair. “Play as much as you can now. Once father returns, there will be no time for play.”

Wang Ying asked curiously, “Why?”

“I plan to teach Yuanbao to read.”

“Good!” Yuanbao had long wanted to learn characters. Often he would sneak into Chen Qingyan’s study, picking up a brush to scribble. Even without instruction, he had learned to write his own name by observation.

The child inherited Chen Qingyan’s intelligence, something even Wang Ying had to admit. At his age, Wang Ying had still been playing in the mud.

Yet brilliance alone did not guarantee success in the future.

Chen Qingyan picked fruit with Yuanbao in the study field, then presented a birthday gift from his bosom: a jade pendant engraved with auspicious clouds and peace, which he hung around Yuanbao’s neck.

“In two days, the metropolitan exam begins. During these days, you may not see us. Obey your father, and once the exam concludes, I will come to accompany you.”

“Okay!”

Wang Ying held his hand. “Don’t be nervous about the exam. If it doesn’t go well, don’t be discouraged. There will still be the palace examination afterward.”

“I will manage. I’ll wait for you to come…”

On February 18, the triennial metropolitan exam officially commenced at the Gongyuan in the capital.

The top two hundred scholars from across the nation entered the Gongyuan in orderly succession. Among them, some would fade into obscurity over time, while others would leave indelible marks on history.