48. You should consider fighting yourself
"You should consider fighting the rebels yourself." Su let her eyes sweep over the vast maquette, which now held more blue flags, some were accompanied by yellow or green flags. Yan also stared at the maquette, taking in the different positions and seeing all the possible movements in his minds eye, but when Su told him to consider fighting, his head shot up to look at his wife: "Why? The Marquis and his captains are more than capable of fighting and defeating them. Especially with the new troops." Su walked to Yan and handed him the small jade amulet. Yan looked at it closely, seeing his mark stamped into the jade. "Xin told me that those resisting the 'requests for unfair trade' pray to the God of War with this amulet. This amulet…" Su handed the other amulet, the little pouch to Yan: "…is used by those who have given in. It contains dried plants, and is supposed to let the Ghost warriors pass you by without getting hurt. Xin doesn't like that the villagers are superstitious but she told me she won't berate them, because it gives them hope. They have listened to the stories and folklores of the God of War and now those that are loyal to Liang believe their God of War will save them. Let's use that to our advantage, as the dowager Empress told us a while ago. If you as God of War can defeat these rebels the loyalty of this town to Liang could be strengthened. And the villagers will know that Liang will still defend them." Yan remained silent considering what Su had said, the situation in the village and out in the wild where the Ghost Army in the guise of three different rebel groups was building a strong army. They had to act and act quickly.
He thought of Su's words about using the story of the God of War to their advantage. He had never really like listening to the stories of Prince Qi, the God of War. The stories always exaggerated the glory and the actions they never gave an accurate report on what it was really like to fight wars. The stories always only spoke of him and never about the brothers that fought with him, without whom these battles and wars could not be won. But he couldn't disregard Su's words and he had to admit that her idea could work. He came to stand next to Su, he placed his hand on her waist and turned her attention to the maquette. He pointed out a few flags and places as he explained the situation: "The movements of the three rebel groups had not made any sense to me earlier. They didn't follow any of the usual or unusual military tactics and yet they managed to weaken the position and strength of our armies stationed here. However when you consider the three groups as one entity, which I only realized after seeing some blue flags mixed with the yellow, their movements do make sense and their goal becomes clear. Look here, the yellow group operates near the border town, those that we captured carried their mark. They don't fight in the village, but their presence does require extra soldiers from the main army of the Marquis. This enabled the blue group to attack the troops send to the village enroute to the village. Which caused the army to send extra men to the village. These numbers seem inconsequential, but many more of these small incidents took place leading to a notably weaker army here." Yan pointed to the military camp of the Marquis. "The actions of one rebel group gave the other rebel groups opportunities to weaken the army by taking actions no one could foresee. As far as we know there is no communication between the rebel groups. But if we consider these separate groups as one entity, all these actions do make sense and I think they receive orders from elsewhere which would explain why no communication between these groups was found. I think they are getting ready to more aggressively take action. The Marquis agrees with me. Under normal conditions rebel groups will fight to establish themselves in a certain region, gain control and govern over lands they claim as their own. If that were the case here we would expect to see them try and get some villages as established living space, that would be the rebel group near the border town. Which could indicate they want the border town, which makes sense especially if this is the Ghost Army operating. The most logical step for them would be to launch several attacks on the army here, which they will hope will draw the soldiers from the border town, leaving it easy to take over. I'm expecting that the activity of the rebels in town will diminish, maybe even stop completely, giving the villagers and the Marquis a false sense of security, allowing them to remove the soldiers from the village when they are needed in the army. Leaving the village vulnerable for a full out attack from the yellow rebel group." Su silently listened to the explanation, understanding what her husband said, but knowing he could see the patterns, actions and consequences more clearly. She looked up, taking in her husband from the side and said: "What are you going to do?" Yan continued looking at the maquette and decisively said: "I'm going to do what you suggested… I can give you three days to solve the case of the Tong family. On the fourth day Xin and Zhu will ride to the capital, I can't delay it anymore. Xin will travel as a man. I would prefer to send you with them, but I need them to travel hard and fast. They have to reach the capital in five days. I can't put you through such a hard journey."
"Why this rush? I know you want me back in the capital. If you can let them travel more slowly I'll be able to join them and you won't have to worry about me." By that time Su had placed her hand on Yan's. Yan immediately turned his hand to take her hand in his and then he turned to look in her eyes: "Because in seven days the God of War will lead his troops to safe the border town and defeat the rebels placed there. After that we will join the armed forces at the army base to defeat the other rebel groups. Zhu can't be anywhere near here." Despite the fact that she had complete confidence in the abilities of her husband Su couldn't suppress her worry for him. This would be the first time Prince Qi would fight in a large battle, while she would stay behind. He placed his hand lovingly on her cheek: "Don't worry, I might have been an idle prince to the outside world, I've kept training and I will defeat them."
"I know. Do you want me to stay here or should I also travel back to the capital and await news from you there?" It was clear Su didn't want to leave for the capital. Yan kept caressing her cheek. "I need you, Rushuang and Yunchuan to leave for the county court in the larger town towards the south. The Mingjing Office guards will accompany you. I'm expecting Shuomo shortly. I'm quite sure he'll want to remain here. Yunchuan needs to stay in Liang until the case is solved to make sure no suspicion on her involvement remains. You'll be safe in the magistrate's office. I'll arrange everything tomorrow…Su, can you resolve all your business here within the coming three days?" Perplexed Su looked into Yan's eyes, which revealed he had chosen his words deliberately. "Brother Xie might not have your level of intelligence, but he loves Rushuang and he can see it when something worries her. Also, Feiyun Manor is very effective in discovering information others might want to keep hidden. When he wanted to marry Rushuang he tried to find who he should ask for permission. I understand why she's reluctant to tell her story, but she should. He's her husband, he'll understand. Please talk to her." Sighing Su lowered her head.
"I have been talking to her, trying to get her to tell brother Xie. But ever since she told me the story she's been so afraid of it. The only reason she let me tell you about her father was because of the mark of Xuan. I told her we couldn't keep that from you, but anything else was only to stay between her and me. I made her promise she'd tell when it was getting dangerous. I'm sorry for keeping it from you." Yan lifted her head and said: "Thank you for telling me now, the coroner they met in Rushuang's hometown told brother Xie that the fourth man he saw exiting her home after the murder of her father, was her brother. Rushuang doesn't know Xie knows this. Tell her and ask her again to tell Xie the story of her brother." Yan suggested.
"It won't help. I've often told her it would be better to tell both of you as you're much better able to help."
"Then tell her we've already guessed what's going on. Xie took her to the base today, when they return talk to her, alright?" Su nodded, still skeptical of the outcome of this conversation with Rushuang. A maid came to announce dinner would be served soon, so Yan placed Su's hand in his elbow and together they exited the study. While they walked the short distance to the dining hall, Su explained to her husband why she'd sent some soldiers to retrieve the clothing of the captured soldiers from the cabins: "I noticed that the shoes of the two who didn't say anything were blackened and Rushuang later found some plant materials still stuck to their shoes. The residue isn't from plants near where the cabins where. I had seen a small herb garden which was trampled on in the garden of the Tong residence. The herb garden is on the route from the far side of the workhouse, where the fire was started, to the mine. Xin and the workers would detour that herb garden, but chasing soldiers won't. The plants found on the shoes match those in the garden I'm hoping their clothes might contain more materials to tie them to the fire."
"You mean in the same way we had bene able to retrace Zishou steps to clear his suspicion?"
"Exactly like that. That couple with Xin's recognition of them will be enough to put them in jail."
"Why did you think that we might have already caught those lighting the fire?" Su looked at her husband trying to gauge whether he already suspected and wanted confirmation or whether he hadn't considered what she had considered and wanted to understand her thought process better. "It was a real possibility that those behind this crime sent the perpetrators, because they had seen Xin and would be able to recognize her. Others might kill the wrong maiden. The fact that they went to these lengths to get to Xin shows that they really want to make sure no loose ends remain."
"You truly are remarkable." Su smiled at the compliment and then said: "No more remarkable then you are when it comes to the military and dealing with court officials."
"But I hadn't been able to pick out the third captive as being our best bet to gather information from." Yan commented, while holding Su's hand and arm to help her step over the threshold into the dinner hall.
"That's only because you didn't know the significance of the amulet he held. Besides you hadn't heard Xin's whispered words, that the men was from the town and his parents had disappeared, so you didn't have the information I had to form the right conclusion. Now let's hope Xie's men can find the precise location of the rebel base, with the information he got." While they looked around Yan replied Xie estimated it would take two to three days to find the location. The couple saw that everyone was already present, except for Rushuang. Su commented on the Rushuang's absence. "I also noticed. Brother Xie doesn't seem to be happy." Yan said as he turned Su to walk to Xie.
"Brother Xie, where is Rushuang? I haven't seen her since you returned from the military camp. She knew we would interrogate the captives and I expected to see her so I could tell her what we'd found." Su inquired, she saw how Xie looked away just before answering, but it wasn't quick enough to hide the pain in his eyes. This motivated her to really try and persuade Rushuang to tell Xie about her brother. The situation might not be dangerous in terms of mortal danger to their lives, but it was clearly becoming dangerous in terms of the relationship between Xie and Rushuang and that was much more troubling. "Oh, she wanted to freshen up and she had some business she had to attend to. She told me to go here first, she would soon follow." From the corner of her eye she saw the servants start to bring in the dishes. "I'll go get her." Su said, but Yan stopped her: "I'll ask Fei Yuan, you are going to sit down and not tire yourself out. You're going to need your strength these coming days." Sensing that resisting would be futile Su let Yan do as he had said.
Dinner was subdued, everyone knew the situation at the border was much more dangerous then they first had thought. After dinner Yan took everyone to the study of the marquis, except Xin, who bade everyone a goodnight, they gathered around the maquette. There Yan explained the situation and what was going to happen the following days. "Anyone who has business to be dealt with here, please make sure it's dealt with within these three days." As he said those words Yan saw several of his friends furrow their brows, indication more business needed to be dealt with then he had thought. The others also clearly took his words as a sign that they were discharged and took their leave. Su managed to intercept Rushuang and with a quick glance to her husband, steered her to an empty pavilion. Zihou had lend his arm to Yunchuan to accompany her to her room, presumably. Zhu and Xie also left, which left Yan with the marquis who was still bend over the maquette.
"Marquis, I would like to ask you something about the battle of Honggu." Yan started, remembering Xie's tale about the missing soldier.
"I imagine you have many questions still about Honggu, as do I. But your question now seems connected to my army as you waited for all others to leave. What is your question?"
"Did you refer soldiers to the troops of Liang Cheng?" Yan saw the hesitation in the marquis, before he countered with an other question: "Why do you ask?"
"I've told you about the second report on Honggu that Su and I found. I've spent weeks rooting out all the differences and finding explanations for them. Luckily some officers of his army still remained and with the death of Liang Chen, Liang Feng and Prince Yun they were willing to be open about the battle of Honggu and what happened then. The discrepancies and differences were mostly explained by the betrayal. However there is one thing that I haven't been able to get resolved. There appears to be a soldier missing. Xie has been able to verify the name, only to find later that this name was false and taken from a dead boy several villages to the north of Honggu. This soldier only started in the army of Liang Chen a month before the battle, which suggests this soldier was referred to their army by another army general. The direction and state of military camp at that time suggests he came from your army. I am sure you are aware that I have many official and unofficial means for getting the information I require. I hope that I won't need to return her afterwards to request an explanation from you." The marquis heard the threat in Yan's words.
"Today Lady Xie asked some interesting questions and I've answered them to the best of my ability. I would not treat Prince Qi any differently."
"The information Rushuang required differs from my question. Did you refer soldiers to the army of Liang Chen before the battle of Honggu?" The marquis remained silent for a short while and then said: "There is someone you should meet. I need two days to get him here. Can you give me that?"
"As I told the others, we have three days to finish the business that needs to be finished here. This business I need to finish here, I can give you two days." The marquis bowed and took his leave. Yan sighed, once more glancing over the maquette. He didn't need to. He knew the place of the troops, the possible actions and movements were imprinted in his mind. He had no need for the maquette any more.
Yan stepped out of the study and took in a large breath of fresh, crips evening air. He took in the tranquil mansion stretched out before him. He hoped it would remain this peaceful. Then he saw Su and Rushuang in one of the pavilions, even from a distance he could see that the conversation was heated and he firmly believed, as he saw Rushuang shake her head, that Su was trying to persuade her to tell Xie about her brother. Even though he understood her reluctance to tell Xie, Yan found himself irritated at her stance. From the information they had gotten during the investigation of her father, it was evident there was a link with the Ghost Army and now it was imperative to get all the information on the actions of the Ghost Army as soon as possible. Surely Rushuang understood this? He walked up to the pavilion where Su and Rushuang were standing and took the time to get here to calm down.
"Rushuang, brother Xie has already discovered what you've been trying to keep from him. Now you have this information from the marquis which neither you nor I understand. Yan could help us with this, but you have to tell him everything. I'm not keeping this from him. I can't do that to him and you shouldn't do that to brother Xie." Su was so focused on Rushuang that she didn't see Yan come up to the pavilion. Rushuang also didn't see him, so when he asked with what he could help them, both turned around in surprise. "Brother Pei." Rushuang cried and Yan merely looked at her, his face showed noting of his emotions or thoughts , but Su could guess them.
"As Su already told you, both brother Xie and I have a clear understanding of what you have been trying to discover. Both you and Su have personal business which you can handle yourself, but you also have husbands who can help you. Don't disregard them. This business has connections with the Ghost Army, I need to know, so we can counter attack effectively and stop this army from threatening Liang, as it is doing now. What has the marquis told you about your brother?" When Rushuang still hesitated Yan firmly said: "Sister Rushuang, I do not have time to wait for you. In a few days I'll lead our army to defeat these rebels. Can you bear the responsibility if something where to happen to your brother or any of our soldiers which could have been prevented with the information you have not shared with us?"
"Alright…" Rushuang finally relented and told Yan: "My brother got listed with the marquis army six year ago. Five years ago we received the report that he had perished at Honggu, the report was sealed with the marquis's mark. Four years ago my brother returned to me and my father, alive. We weren't allowed to tell anyone and he remained hidden until the night my father was forced to die. I haven't seen my brother since, but I have received signs that he remains alive. I've asked the marquis for reports on the enlisting, reported deaths and deserters. My brothers name only appears on the enlistment of six years ago. He is not amongst the reported deaths or deserters. According to these reports the should still be in the army stationed here, but no one here knows of him. How could that be?" Rushuang looked at Yan imploringly and he understood that she hoped there would be an honorable option she didn't know about.
"He could have been transferred to another army, there should be a record of that. Leave it with me. I'll aske the marquis. Rushuang, talk to Xie, he worries about you. I'm sure if you tell him the whole story, he'll understand."
"Alright, have a good night. I'll leave first." Before she turned Su pressed her hand and encouragingly nodded to Rushuang, who returned the gesture with a thin smile. As she walked away Su sank down on one of the benches in the pavilion. She placed her elbows on the table in front of her and rested her head on her hands. She would have preferred to rest her head on the table, but her belly wouldn't allow that anymore. Yan sat down next to her and consolingly placed his arm around her shoulder and pulled her to his side. "She was so stubborn about this, normally I can persuade her to tell you or Xie or to wait and see what happens, but this time…Nothing could make her change her mind."
"Don't worry, she's gone to talk to brother Xie now. I'll talk to the marquis and we'll figure out what happened to her brother." Su lifted her head and looked into Yan's dark, loving eyes. "This isn't over after you've defeated the rebels, is it?" His soft smile indicated he knew it wasn't a question, but rather a statement. "No, it isn't. Trying to build an army on foreign soil is a risky strategy, that almost never results in success. Those behind the Ghost Army would never gamble on it succeeding, they've been operating and creating chaos much too long to risk annihilation this easily. NO, they are building the army in their homeland, Beirong. These rebel groups were sent to try and weaken our army here and gain control over the border towns. Control over the border towns allows the real army easy crossing across the border and weakening the army bases here allows then to easily advance to niner lands. Defeating both goals will be a blow to them, but won't stop them from pursuing their goals." Su sighed and looked at the darkening evening sky: "Do you know what their goal is?" Yan also looked out to the evening sky, gazing at the moon: "No, not yet. The moon looks beautiful tonight, let's enjoy it and leave our worries for tomorrow." Su hummed in agreement and let her head rest on Yan's shoulder. A short time later Yan felt Su get heavy and a sideway glance confirmed his suspicion that she had fallen asleep. Under their joined hands Yan felt their child move. "Rest easy, I'll take care of your mother, little one." He said and then he carried Su to their room.