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Chen Province Battle
T/N: Translated by Jen on Broken Jinsei! Please do not repost my translations! All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Afterwards, when North Rong attacked the Chen province, the war situation was once dire for a period of time. The triviality of the discord between Cheng Yanling and Qii Feng as husband and wife, compared to the severity of the war, naturally wasn’t worth mentioning. Even though Cheng Yanling still had suspicions, but under the circumstances of not having any conclusive evidence, she still wasn’t able to raise questions towards Qii Feng at the time. Once it was explicitly brought up, marital strife, the family clan becoming enemies, all were still trivial matters. The most crucial problem was possibly destabilizing the army’s morale in the middle of a war, losing their footing. The consequences truly were too difficult to predict. That’s why, at the time, Cheng Yanling’s main preventative measure was to dispatch her own troops, strengthening the surveillance on Qii Feng.
Just, in that eight month long war, from the battles with North Rong and from their military tactics, one wasn’t able to clearly tell that North Rong had obtained some crucial information or intelligence, especially in the attack on Yulong Pass. The gunpowder and crossbow that has been meticulously researched in the Chen province army for more than ten years still, just as expected, played an enormous role. North Rong army’s main strength still came from their fine breed of warhorses that had astonishing endurance, as well as the North Rong people’s bravery and fierceness.
That’s why, back then, in the first six months, Chen Yanling even once assumed that Qii Feng and that outside mistress of unknown origins were merely just an ordinary extramarital affair of an official family descendant, and may not have necessarily touched upon that much intel and military secrets.
However, right when there was still a month before that major battle ended, Cheng Yanling began to discover that the personal troops she dispatched over to watch Qii Feng have started to go missing one after another. Even she herself encountered two assassination attempts. The enemy’s deployment was ruthless and seasoned, even very knowledgeable towards her whereabouts and certain residences’ layout.
Thus, just like a record once reported to the Central Secretariat for keeping, in the ninth month of Tianxu year 10, the Chen province once carried out a large-scale inspection and purging of spies in the rear. Although using the excuse of training the soldiers and reinforcing the troops to pacify the soldiers and the people, the inspection was still aimed at the North Rong spies.
At the time, there were also results. Just, the forty-six spies that were found in the end all died, either dying from suffering heavy injuries in the struggle, or choosing to commit suicide upon seeing that they will soon get captured. During that process, Qii Feng even personally killed five North Rong spies. Similarly recorded in the Central Secretariat’s records was that because of this, Cheng Guangling and the other high-ranking officers of the Chen province greatly praised Qii Feng who has never been considered that brave.
Looking back at it now, clearly, at the time, unknown as to whether he’d gotten bribed or threatened, Qii Feng had already started working with North Rong in secret. That’s why, he killed the personal guards Cheng Yanling arranged, even wanting to kill Cheng Yanling. Just, after their secret plan failed, he instead killed the spy to preserve himself.
Afterwards, in the Yulong Pass battle, Qii Feng died under the enemy’s crossbow on the battlefield. Originally, Cheng Yanling had the intention of retrieving his remains, but the North Rong army had used fire to attack. Countless bodies all got burned beyond recognition, so by the time the battle ended, going back to clean the battlefield, they were truly unable to find Qii Feng’s corpse. Only a bloodstained helmet could be brought back. This was also why the Qii family was able to denounce and even question Cheng Yanling afterwards.
Once Cheng Yanling had these old affairs, as well as the past events of when North Rong and the Chen province army’s interior started showing signs of collusion, recounted upon the imperial court, the court officials, aside from going into an uproar, also had many doubts.
On one hand, it was just like the explanations Madam Qii gave either secretly or openly in the capital, all just a one-sided statement. Cheng Yanling’s current explanation was also just Cheng Yanling’s own saying in this matter. Now that Qii Feng was already dead, having all the blame pushed onto a dead person, this in itself just wasn’t very convincing.
On the other hand, if what Cheng Yanling was saying was all true, then why weren’t these words directly voiced in the eleventh month, instead dragging out until now after the new year?
Also, conspiring with the enemy, such a serious matter, since able to trace back to Tianxu year 10, this early of a time, then should’ve directly reported it to Xuan Emperor after the war back then, how can you delay until now?
Perhaps, in this matter, there’s still the Cheng family’s failure to detect, or some other inside story and ulterior motive.
Towards these doubts, Cheng Yanling clearly wasn’t the least bit surprised. The young female general slightly glanced to the side, her long brows raising like a sharp blade, “Prior to obtaining conclusive evidence, to presumptuously accuse of treason, firstly, there’s the suspicion of framing the good and loyal, and secondly, it will destabilize the army, affecting the morale of a hundred thousand Chen province soldiers. The soldiers in the Chen province border town eat in the wind and sleep under the skies, guarding Yulong Pass, defending the peace and prosperity of Great Sheng, prepared to spill their blood and die for the country at all times. From the general above, down to the foot soldiers below, everyone’s resolution is all the same. Inside the extravagant city walls of the capital, sire hears the wind and pushes the waves, sees the cloud and splashes the ink, in any case, framing others doesn’t require any effort. You also don’t need to have your back given to your comrades, needless to have your life handed over to your general, no need to be prepared to give up your life and face death at all times under a command, so you naturally feel that something like treason can be casually said, casually spread, and casually asked.”
The imperial censor that got directly stared at by Cheng Yanling immediately turned red all over, the veins on his neck all about to explode. He instinctively looked at his colleagues by his side, practically retreating half a step before stubbornly retorting, “This……….this path of displaying one’s loyalty and dedicating oneself to the country, it varies from person to person……….For us to speak forthrightly and profess loyalty, that is also showing loyalty to the ruler!”
“Speaking forthrightly means nothing more than having your thoughts inside said aloud. Even if honest, it doesn’t reduce its stupidity.” Cheng Yanling snorted, turning around again, once again facing Xuan Emperor, clearly stating, “The reports from the Chen province in regards to searching for spies and tracing information about the enemy every year and every month to this day since Tianxu year 10, the Central Secretariat all have a secret file on record, asking your Majesty to please examine.”
Pausing for a moment, she once again looked around at the court officials, “As for my report at this time, why it was delayed until now, it’s because prior to leaving the Chen province in Tianxu year 14, I’d already made preparations to bait the snake out of the hole, so when returning to the north again this time, I’ve already caught an important person.”
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
The court officials were in even more of an uproar, but there were also those that once again mentioned, even if Duanyi Xianzhu is eloquent, stating this many arguments and acting as such, for traitors to appear in the Chen province army, this in itself is just the main commander’s failure in duty. Now, no matter what, it’s all just mending the pen after the sheep are lost.
And on the other hand, North Rong folks were formidable, also constantly having ambitions towards Great Sheng, so it’s impossible for them to not fully be on guard against Great Sheng. Starting from the beginning of the twelfth month to now, Duanyi Xianzhu had headed to North Rong for over a month, yet actually able to escape unscathed like this without a hair out of place, even saying that she had an important spy captured back?
No matter how overwhelmingly valiant, it’s still truly too legendary. How is one to know that the person captured back isn’t the throwaway scapegoat prepared under Cheng Yanling’s collusion with North Rong, specifically coming over to distort the truth, deliberately misleading?
These words actually can’t be said to be completely unsupported. The primary natural border between North Rong and Great Sheng was precisely Yulong Canyon. If not directly passing through Yulong Pass and Qibei Pass to enter North Rong, then one will need to cross the mountains and climb the ridges. Although unable to say that it was completely without difficulty, it was indeed extremely dangerous.
Especially at the end of the year, North Rong’s climate was even colder than Great Sheng’s. In a little over a month, Cheng Yanling was actually able to infiltrate into North Rong and then capture back the spy, even letting the other side not detect anything at all. This indeed was a bit too impressive.
As such, after this point was raised, even Xuan Emperor’s brows seemingly moved a little. Aside from Xun Che whose gaze was still tranquil, seemingly completely unfazed, the rest of the court practically all looked towards Cheng Yanling.
Cheng Yanling hooked the corner of her lip, “Who said that I went to North Rong?”
Practically at the same time, including Xuan Emperor, everyone all had their eyes turned towards the young Chief Secretary of the Central Secretariat, Xun Che, this Wen’an Marquis heir who was even younger than Cheng Yanling, and in the past year, had generated endless controversy.
Xun Che faintly smiled, his handsome, fair, and scholarly face appeared to be much more gentle than Cheng Yanling’s. However, the keenness and sharp glint in his gentle gaze nevertheless made others similarly apprehensive, “In the Chen province army, someone colluding with the outside from the inside, it isn’t just an overnight matter. Because of how deep its roots are, one thus cannot act rashly, otherwise, it will affect the Chen province army at its core, and certainly also endanger Yulong Pass. Under imperial orders, I headed to the Chen province to investigate this matter. Actually, on the twenty-fourth of the twelfth month, I’d already secretly reported to his Majesty that the Qii family is greatly suspicious, including the deceased Qii Feng, the currently still alive Second General Qii Kang and Third General Qii De. Not to keep from everyone, when I discovered that the clues pointed towards the Qii family in the Chen province, I also had the fortune of experiencing two assassination attempts, even leaving behind a scar on my arm, very much scaring my wife.”
Pausing for a moment, he continued with a smile, “At that time, I’d also once asked his Majesty to confirm. His Majesty is wise, deciding to investigate this matter to the end. The Qii family clearly were also prepared, so I thus decided on this strategy with Duanyi Xianzhu. On the surface, it’s saying that xianzhu went to North Rong to pursue the enemy, but in reality, after I returned to the capital, xianzhu hid in the Chen province under a disguise. The actual time spent outside of Yulong Pass was probably less than four hours.”
This time, aside from the high ministers of the Central Secretariat and the cabinet ministers who already learned of the matter a day in advance, for the rest of the officials, their expression already turned into shock. Even the soft whispers previously all thoroughly went silent.
Cheng Yanling at this time once again followed-up, her cold sneer increasingly sharp, “The most important witness I brought back is the new noble that has currently already married into North Rong’s Hai clan tribe, Little General Qii who has now changed his name into Rui Feng. Just now, which minister said that this might be the throwaway scapegoat sent by North Rong for the sake of collaborating with our Zhenbei General Manor?”
Qii Feng is still alive?
At this time, the Prime Minister, Ying Duke, finally stood out, bowing and reporting, “Asking your Majesty to issue a decree, having this case handed over to the Judicial Court and Ministry of War to handle together. Madam Qii, who is currently in the capital, has greatly spoken about and spread rumors regarding Duanyi Xianzhu’s personal affairs. It appear as if just idle conversations between the womenfolk of the back manor, but in reality, it’s undermining Duanyi Xianzhu’s personal character, slandering a female general of the Chen province. Her motives and intentions are no longer just personal complaints, instead harboring treason, destroying my Great Sheng’s Chen province army’s pillar. Asking your Majesty to clearly investigate this matter, also asking your Majesty to clear Duanyi Xianzhu’s name, and also grant favor to the female generals and female soldiers in the Chen province army that have sacrificed their lives for the country.”
Pausing for a moment, he also added, “This subject feels, during the founding of Great Sheng, there was Chengtian Empress and the Great Ancestor[1] going on expeditions together. In Xiang Emperor’s era, there was also Xiangmin Empress Ming-shi battling together with Xiang Emperor in the Chen province, taking back Yulong Pass from North Rong, preserving the peace and tranquility for our Great Sheng’s later generations, and the northern regions free from worry. Our court has Grand Elder Princess Zhaoning risking her life to oversee the battle, and also Duanyi Xianzhu fighting the enemy to defend the country. It can be seen, in the military and in battle, the female generals’ contributions and sacrifices all aren’t inferior to men. Asking your Majesty to bestow honor and grace, letting the daughters of noble military lineages and the brave and loyal women among the people all have a way to serve the country.”
[1] The posthumous title for the founding emperor
T/N: It’s important to note that the Ying Duke Manor is Ming Jincheng and Ming Jinrou’s maternal family.
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the AUDACITY to sell info to the enemy, try to assassinate his wife, fake his death, run away with his concubine and still let his family slander his ex-wife……this is too disgusting! does that mean in the past life he got away with it for so long? what a sinister man. I’ve never been more upset to not have a torch or a pitchfork emoji 😔
What happened in the past life is pretty unclear since the mutiny didn’t occur. Although he most likely didn’t run away with the mistress because she was pretty much his blackmailer, as the spy she ran away long before he faked his death.
The original text used 入赘(ru zhui) which means he married into the wife’s family and in the text the wife’s family is a powerful noble clan, so when he turned to the enemy country he most likely got into connections with one of their nobles and married one of their daughters.
Thanks for the chapter, Jen!💖
🤔By the way, typo alert: causally said, causally spread, and casually asked
The “causally” should be “casually”
Thank you, fixed!