Standalone Northern and Southern Dynasties

Chapter 357 Wife's Help
It was getting late, so Hulu Jin did not continue the pursuit, but ordered to set up camp at the edge of a forest not far from a water source.

Hulu Ahu followed his brother and inspected the last wounded soldier before dragging his tired body towards the tent.

Fighting is a very tiring thing.

Just standing on the battlefield wearing armor is a very tiring thing. There are also various bad situations during this period, such as the uncomfortable feeling of sweat and blood covered in the armor, and the fear between life and death. This is still the infantry in the formation. If it is cavalry, they must concentrate highly on controlling the warhorse while finding loopholes to launch attacks on the enemy.

In ancient times, any famous general had energy and physical fitness far beyond that of ordinary people.

Hulu Ahu admired his brother very much. After a hard day of fighting, he still visited the wounded soldiers and prepared for the next day's battle after returning to the camp.

"Ahu, if you accumulate more military merits tomorrow, you can be promoted to regular soldier. Do you want to be a cavalryman or an infantryman?"

Hulu Ahu was stunned for a moment. Although he was Hulu Jin's younger brother, Hulu Jin was strict in military management and even his own brothers had to start as auxiliary soldiers.

First serve as an auxiliary soldier, then a regular soldier, finally a captain, and then a brigade commander of a century.

Next up is the captain who commands a battalion of a thousand men, and above that is the lieutenant general who leads an entire army.

Before going to the battlefield, Hulu Ahu's dream was to be a cavalryman, but after entering the barracks, he realized the cruelty of the battlefield.

Those killed today were all cavalrymen.

In today's favorable battle, the infantry casualty rate is very low.

But for a cavalryman on horseback, just one mistake could result in his death on the battlefield.

Among the three cavalrymen who died in battle today, one of them lost control of his horse and was killed by the enemy because he advanced too far.

The other was hit in the face by a stray arrow.

The last person accidentally fell off his horse while chasing the enemy after the victory and was trampled to death by the horse's hooves.

Even Hulu Jin, who was an expert in martial arts and riding, was injured today.

Seeing his brother hesitate, Hulu Jin said:

"With your body and temperament, it's too dangerous to be a cavalryman. You'd better be an infantryman."

Hulu Ahu lowered his head, but his brother's next words made him raise it again.

Hulujin said:
"Ahu, do you want to study?"

read?

Hulu Jin's tribe was also a large tribe. Although he did not follow Emperor Xiaowen to Luoyang, his ancestors were also Yanchen, and there were Chinese classics in his family.

When he was a child, Hulu Ahu also learned to read, but later his family fell into poverty and he stopped studying.

Hulujin said:
"If you can make a contribution this time, I will use it to exchange for your study in Chongwen Pavilion. If you still want to join the army, you can be a military commander. If you don't want to join the army, you can be an official in the local area."

Hulu Ahu thought of the military commander who was very popular among the people. He heard that he was an orphan and was taken in by the general to study in Chongwen Pavilion.

Thinking of this, Hulu Ahu nodded quickly and said:
"Brother, I want to study."

Hulu Jin touched his brother's head, grinned and said:
"You've come at a good time. When we were on the grassland, we had no other choice but to practice martial arts."

select.

Hulu Ahu finally understood why the situation now is different from before, because everyone has a choice.

When Hulu Jin surrendered to Su Ze, he had a choice: to be settled as a herdsman or to join the army. Su Ze did not force him and his tribe to fight on the front line.

Now Hulu Ahu also has a choice. He can choose to join the army or study, and even if he is awarded an honorary title, he can choose to go back to herding.

This is the choice, instead of just rolling endlessly in the pile of dead bodies on the battlefield.

It turns out that choosing is such a luxury.

Hulu Ahu clenched his fists and cherished his current life even more.

Early the next morning, Hulu Jin received Su Deng's military order that Su Qinmingda's army was already a hundred miles away from Xincheng. Their mission to wipe out the rebels was cancelled, and they immediately set out to return to the camp.

The soldiers dragged their spoils and calmly withdrew from the camp. The battle was finally about to begin.
-
In Yongle City, Su Ze wanted to spend time with his wife and son when he had time these days, but was driven out of the bedroom by Princess Chenliu.

"The soldiers on the front line are fighting for their lives. How can you, as a general, indulge in pleasure? What will your subordinates think of you?"

"Of course, my son has someone to look after him. I also have the ladies with me. Why are you joining in the fun here?"

Su Ze was driven out of Baizhang Tower by Princess Chenliu and had to live in the military camp to concentrate on the war in Qinzhou.

It takes a year to gather troops and a year to grow and prosper. When all this is converted into war strength, the advantage over Mozhe Tiansheng, the rebel army, is overwhelming.

However, Su Ze's shogunate was still very busy, because defeating Mozhe Tiansheng was easy, but settling Qinzhou was a complicated matter.

Qinzhou had been in turmoil for three or four years and had suffered great damage. After Mozhe Tiansheng surrendered, Su Ze faced the refugees and defeated troops from Manchuria.

As Su Ze's first battle to "take over Guanzhong", he must set an example for other regions and demonstrate the capabilities of the shogunate.

Su Ze was once again immersed in a sea of ​​meetings and paperwork.

Because it was a normal birth, Princess Chenliu was able to get out of bed with the help of Luzhu three days later. Under the careful care of the medical officer, Princess Chenliu's complexion was even better than before the birth.

However, she did not stay in the backyard to breastfeed her child. Instead, she turned the birth into an important political event.

As the mistress, the wives of Su Zechen's subordinates were successively recruited into Baizhang Tower by Princess Chenliu. This was not just a visit from ordinary families, but an important activity to swear the existence of the heir.

Women who had children discussed their experiences in raising children, while those who had not yet given birth listened to their predecessors' discussions with red faces. When the Empress Dowager Wenming was alive, the Northern Wei imperial palace was bustling like this every day.

For the wives of these ministers, attending parties every day is also a very important matter.

Based on the principle in women's circles that whoever is absent will be badmouthed, everyone insisted on attending the party to avoid becoming marginalized in the small circle.

The information heard at the party and the relationships established may be opportunities for your husband.

Moreover, the circles of these women are divided into different levels according to the status of their husbands.

The most inner circle, naturally, consisted of those who could enter the inner house and talk to Princess Chenliu.

A dozen ladies of lower status gathered in the small hall outside the inner house, waiting to be summoned by Princess Chenliu from time to time.

"The wife of the Hou family is here."

A young woman walked into the small hall and everyone stood up.

"Hello ladies."

This is Hou Jing’s new wife, the concubine of Longxi Li.

Hou Jing did not have a very good reputation among Su Ze's subordinates, but this lady from the Hou family was very influential in the circle.

Everyone looked at her with envy.

Langjun is highly valued by the general and is even entrusted with the important task of attacking Qinzhou. He has a bright future ahead of him.

Her maiden family was from the Jia family, a noble family. Nowadays, no one dared to bring up her status as a concubine's daughter. Instead, people from the Li family often visited Hou Jing's mansion.

Hou Jing's parents had both passed away, so she had no aunts or uncles to serve. As soon as she got married, she became the mistress of the household, and she did not have to endure the bullying of her aunts, sisters-in-law, or sisters-in-law.

Moreover, this Li girl was well-spoken and could chat with the noble Princess Chenliu. This alone made others dare not offend her.

Ms. Li's maid brought a lacquer box and took out some snacks from it to share with everyone, and everyone thanked her again.

Only then did she take her maid into the inner room to chat with Princess Chenliu.

"She is indeed a lady from a noble family."

After Miss Li left, the ladies ate her snacks and expressed their feelings.

Because of the outstanding performance of the Li girls, even the daughters of the Longxi Li family became popular. Not only Li Gou's unmarried daughters, but other women of marriageable age in the Longxi Li family were targeted.

The Li girl walked into the inner room, and Feng Shu's wife was holding Su Ze's son and coaxing him to sleep.

In the small hall, Ms. Li is a top star, but in the inner house, she is just an unknown figure.

Feng Shu's wife was an old acquaintance of Princess Chenliu when they were in Luoyang. It was Princess Chenliu who persuaded the couple to leave Qinghe Prince Yuan Yi and go to Guanzhong to join Su Ze.

Feng Shu's wife was also a woman from a Hedong noble family. She was also talented and beautiful. Most importantly, she had given birth to three sons, and all three were very healthy. This was the most boastful thing among women.

The daughter of the Li family had not given birth yet, so she was killed by Lady Feng.

The one humming the song nearby is another Li. She is the wife of Yu Jin, the prefect of Gaoping County, the granddaughter of Li Chong, the former general of cavalry, and the daughter of Li Shizhe, the current governor of Hezhou.

She and Princess Chenliu are both old people from Luoyang, but Yu Jin now has only one daughter, so her status is lower than that of the lady of the Feng family.

The people who were talking to Princess Chenliu were the wives of Su Chao and Su Liang. They were also members of Princess Chenliu's Luoyang Poetry Society, and their husbands were also important officials in the shogunate.

As a concubine's daughter, Ms. Li knew the principle of keeping a low profile. After entering the inner house, she sat quietly aside without any intention of making a noise to attract attention.

Newborn babies sleep a lot, so after coaxing the child to sleep, Luzhu immediately took the child in, and naturally the wet nurse followed her to the back house to rest.

At this time, Princess Chenliu raised her voice and said:
"The soldiers on the front line are fighting for their lives. The general has already moved into the barracks. Although we are women and children, we also have to share the worries of the men at home."

Everyone nodded. Those who could sit here were not stupid. The fate of their families was tied to Su Ze's general's mansion, so they naturally understood the interests involved.

Feng first said:

"A few days ago, my husband's nephew wrote to me, saying that he brought a group of Yongzhou scholars to Yongle City. In addition, our Feng family is willing to provide 10,000 hu of grain to reward the army."

Princess Chenliu nodded. Ten thousand hu of grain was not too much, but not too little either.

Ever since Feng Shu became an official in Guanzhong, some of the descendants of the Feng family in Bohai went to Guanzhong, purchased land and started their own families.

After the rebellion broke out in Hedong, Bohai was also affected, and most of the Feng family members moved to Guanzhong.

For such a big family, contributing 10,000 hu of grain is not actually a lot, but what Princess Chenliu needs is just an attitude.

(End of this chapter)