activa-t Chapter 50 Good News! Only Tears Could Be Accepted
Chapter 50 Good News! Only Tears Could Be Accepted
March 29th.
Outside Mingde Gate, a mounted messenger waved a command flag and shouted hoarsely, "Breaking news! Hou Junji, the General Commander of the Zhangye Army, has launched a surprise attack on Qilian, leading 20,000 troops and 10,000 servants straight towards the Tuyuhun capital, Fusi!"
The city of Chang'an was in a state of shock.
Hou Junji's expedition was not publicized. Apart from the regular officials, few low-ranking officials knew about it, let alone commoners.
"When were the troops deployed? I haven't heard anything about it!"
"Serves them right! If we don't give them a good beating, the Tuyuhun will think that the Tang Dynasty is all talk and no action."
"This sounds like a lone army advancing deep into enemy territory? Minister of War Hou Junji doesn't seem to have the experience to lead an army independently, does he?"
The common people of Chang'an were discussing it enthusiastically, as if everyone could say a few words in the Hall of State Affairs.
No one was worried that Hou Junji would suffer a loss. After all, since the capture of the Turkic Khagan, the people of Chang'an were in high spirits and felt that the Tang army was invincible.
Occasionally someone would bring up the fact that Hou Junji was once a poor family, but no one cared.
If he wins, that's the path Hou Junji came from, not his dark history.
The news that the Tang Dynasty had taken the initiative to attack Tuyuhun instead of passively defending itself was indeed encouraging.
Inside the Court of State Ceremonial, Dou Fengjie also heard the good news. He then instructed the steward of the North Gate to inform the officials of the Sifang Pavilion to relax the provisions for Luoyang's Gongche Kunchi Ding and his party, as long as they did not leave the Sifang Pavilion.
It's not certain that Chekun Chiding Khan can become the Khan, but it's still possible to be granted the title of Da Silifa, guard Shudun City, and coordinate with Qida Khan Murong Xiaojun.
The matriarch of the Imperial Household Department, Zhan Cheng, trembled with excitement. Her small eyes opened for the first time, though they were slightly moist: "It's done! Shangguan's plan has succeeded!"
From the moment Dou Fengjie threatened Che Kun and Ding, his heart was constantly in suspense, fearing that the Qilian Mountains in Zhangye were a huge trap.
Although Hou Junji is a veteran of the battlefield, if he were to fall into an ambush, the Court of State Ceremonial Affairs would be held responsible!
Indeed, Mu Zhancheng knew absolutely nothing about Hou Junji, let alone had any confidence in him.
He would feel at ease if Cheng Yaojin led the army.
That's called word-of-mouth.
The steward of the Duke of Lu's mansion strode into the Court of State Ceremonial, his once arrogant face now filled with obsequiousness: "Duke of Zan, my matriarch requests your presence at the mansion for a talk."
After finishing his shift, Dou Fengjie, along with Dou Shang, Dou happy, and three donkeys, followed the steward of the Duke of Lu's mansion toward Daozhengfang.
Ah Lu, who enjoys a happy life every day, is becoming increasingly sleek and shiny, and his size is not much different from that of an average horse.
After entering Wutou Gate, Dou happy and his servant tied A-Lu and his family of three to the stable, and then happily followed Dou Fengjie to pay their respects to Lady Dou, the Grand Lady of Lu State.
Compared to the previous few months, Madam Dou was still in good spirits, only her silver hair had turned a few more white.
"Sit down, there's no need to be formal with family."
"Butler, get some snacks for Dou Xi. The child is young and has a sweet tooth."
Lady Dou sat in a round-backed chair, patting the armrest with her hand.
"Thank you, Madam. May you live a long and healthy life."
Dou Xi's mouth became especially sweet when she heard there was something delicious to eat.
This greedy cat!
"Nephew, I heard that Fifth Brother has brought good news; he has already crossed the Zhangye River and is heading straight for the capital of Tuyuhun?"
"My aunt is just a woman, she doesn't understand these things, she just wants to know if Goro is in danger?"
"After all, only 20,000 to 30,000 men invaded Tuyuhun, while they had hundreds of thousands of men."
Dou Niangzi was somewhat anxious and insecure.
A mother worries when her son travels a thousand miles; it would be a problem if she didn't worry.
A handsome young man served tea. Dou Fengjie took a sip and smiled as he said, "Aunt, as I mentioned before, my fifth cousin is very capable in battle. While he may not be the most outstanding in the world, he is absolutely capable of protecting himself."
"The real problem is distribution. My nephew specially invited a family friend of the emperor to be the military supervisor, to share the burden with my fifth cousin."
"Just wait patiently for his triumphant return."
Lady Dou patted her chest lightly: "Hearing you say that, your aunt can sleep peacefully now."
"Come, grandson-in-law, greet your cousin, Duke Dou Fengjie of the State of Zan."
The young man smiled and bowed with his hands clasped: "Zhang Wenguan from Wucheng, Beizhou, greets Duke Zan."
"Hey, my fifth cousin has found a perfect son-in-law after all!" Dou Fengjie exclaimed in admiration. "Is Zhang Wencong, the Imperial Censor, your elder brother?"
"I never expected that the Duke of Zan would know of my elder brother's humble origins." Zhang Wenguan's eyes were full of smiles. "Thanks to my father-in-law and the Duke of Zan, my original assignment as Military Advisor of Bingzhou has been changed to Military Advisor of Yongzhou."
Zhang Wenguan was reassigned from his position as a ninth-rank military advisor in Bingzhou to a lower-ranking eighth-rank military advisor in Yongzhou. This change from a local post to a post in the capital region allowed him to fully enjoy the benefits of his father-in-law Hou Junji's military achievements.
Even if Zhang Wenguan doesn't become Dou Fengjie's crony, it's perfectly acceptable for him to show slight favoritism within his authority.
Dou Fengjie originally thought that Hou Junji could only find an ordinary person to be his son-in-law, but little did he know that he would become a person who would be remembered in history.
No wonder Hou Junji looked so smug.
With Zhang Wenguan around, there would be someone to stop Hou Junji from doing something foolish, so Dou Niangzi wouldn't have to worry too much.
If it can't be stopped... that's fate.
"Our Dou family of Xianyang fled from the Central Plains to the grasslands, joined the Xianbei, and then returned to Xianyang with the Xianbei. After several ups and downs, we finally returned to our homeland and restored the Dou surname," Dou Niangzi recounted the past.
Ga?
Dou Fengjie paused for a moment, realizing that the excuse of "I am a barbarian" seemed a bit difficult to say aloud.
So, they weren't originally from the grasslands, but rather Han Chinese who fled there?
Dou Fengjie couldn't distinguish between truth and falsehood, and could only accept whatever the elders said.
Just like experts say, manure shouldn't be dumped into people's fields, the common people can only accept it with tears in their eyes!
"Brother Dou Jing was a bit unreasonable before, nephew, don't take it too seriously. There are only a few branches of the Dou family in Xianyang in the court." Lady Dou finally revealed her purpose.
So it was because Dou Fengjie said "eating off the descendants of the childless"!
Dou Dan was used to playing dumb and trying to smooth things over, so he didn't care about these words at all.
Dou Jing, on the other hand, has a more fiery temper; it's said she was so angry that she couldn't sleep well for several days.
"Aunt, I don't want to make things difficult for them. At most, I'll cut all ties with them. But it concerns Father's reputation, and they haven't uttered a single word. They're so heartless." Dou Fengjie would also complain.
Lady Dou pointed at Dou Fengjie: "You're always trying to cheat! You know perfectly well that the Emperor just wants to keep you in check."
However, that is not something that can be used to slander the reputation of the late examinee.
At this point, Dou Fengjie was still very curious about what the consequences would be for the Huazhou sorcerer Daoxin, and whether he could still bewitch Li Junxian.
Li Junxian, a former subordinate of Wang Shichong, was undoubtedly a skilled warrior, but unfortunately, he was not aligned with any faction, and no one spoke up for him after his death.
As for Princess Yongjia, her fervor finally subsided after the incident with the sheep dregs.
Tsk, one day I'll come up with the Hundred Insect Feast, Cow Dung, Shit-Flavored Fish Sauce, and Honey Chicks, and then I'll make her give up completely.
Then, how she played or whether she had enough fun was none of Dou Fengjie's business.
When that ruthless Helan Sengjia takes over, all will be well.