Le Zheng Gong almost vomited blood from his lungs. He overturned the table in front of him with one palm and issued an order to attack Wei Shao’s camp. Zhang Yan and others advise him that Wei Shao was so insidious that he must have taken precautions not to move his troops rashly.

After a long time, Le Zheng Gong’s anger in his chest gradually dissipated. He walked back and forth in the tent several times, then said: “You all are correct. This grudge, I’ll remember it! We’ll settle it later! Pass my order, quickly pull out of the camp and return to Hanzhong!”

……

Meanwhile, after receiving the news that Le Zheng Gong employed Zhu Zeng, Xing Xun was unwilling to give up. In the morning, he sent Ding Qu to the west camp to ask for Zhu Zheng. Ding Qu not only did not get the man, but they also mocked him. Ding Qu couldn’t put up with his anger and added dishes in front of Xing Xun after he returned. He said although Le Zheng Gong nominally surrendered to Xing Xun, he boasted about his achievements and superiority. Even his son was superior and did not put Xing Xun in the eyes.

Xing Xun felt upset and immediately asked someone to summon Le Zheng Gong for questioning. Suddenly, he got a report there was movement in the west camp. He sent people to see what was going on. The report said Le Zheng Gong had ignored him and retreated to Hanzhong.

Xing Xun was furious and ordered Ding Qu to catch Le Zheng Gong. Since Le Zheng Gong had already decided to save his own base, he did not take Xing Xun’s words seriously. He sent Le Zheng Jun with a lieutenant to hold the fence at the junction of the two battalions and accelerate his retreat.

Ding Qu wanted to break through the fence, but Le Zheng Jun was not a soft person. He would not allow him to cross the border. The two sides immediately began to fight and exchange swords and halberds. The East and West camps, formerly allied forces, killed each other and stained the fence with blood. Hearing the news, Xing Xun became increasingly furious, throwing cups and breaking jars, and ordered the army to form up and fight with Le Zheng Gong.

Zang Chang dissuaded him and said, “Your Majesty, don’t you know that there are priorities? The most important person to capture during Your Majesty’s northern expedition is Wei Shao, which is still not yet done. At this time, if Your Majesty fails in this internal battle, Wei Shao will reap the benefits! Since Le Zheng Gong wants to go, let him go. After Your Majesty has destroyed Wei Shao, deploy the army to conquer Hanzhong, capture Le Zheng Gong alive, and charge him with the crime of deserting the battle!” The rest of the men also tried to persuade him.

Xing Sun was convinced and suppressed his hatred. Then, he ordered the troops to return and intensify their alertness to prevent Wei Shao’s sudden attack.

……

That night, Le Zheng Gong burned all the food and provisions that were inconvenient to take away due to the hustle. Overnight, the West Camp’s tents all over the mountain disappeared into thin air. The snow was ablaze with fire. The soldiers of Wei Shao’s camp on the opposite side of the Yellow River can see clearly with the naked eye.

In Wei Shao’s tent, the sound of laughter thundered. Wei Shao was sitting in the middle. Gongsun Yang, Li Dian, Li Chong, Zhang Jian, Wei Quan, and others sat beside each other, mentioning the fire in the western camp across the river, laughing.

“Is Rong Yan safe?” Wei Shao asked, “It is better to return early. Otherwise, after a few days, when Le Zheng Gong learned that Yang Xin and Guo Quan only sent five thousand men, I’m afraid he will be disadvantaged.”

“My Lord, don’t worry.” Gongsun Yang said, “I have already coordinated with him. He has the trust of Le Zheng Gong, and his life is safe for now. Rong Yan cannot leave yet. If he leaves now, he will make Le Zheng Gong suspicious and lose all his previous achievements. Once there is a suitable opportunity, he will return to the camp.”

Wei Shao nodded: “This time, Le Zheng Gong hits the scheme, all thanks to Rong Yan. The military advisor must remember that he has great merit. Reward him after the war.”

Gongsun Yang promised.

At this time, his soldiers came to report that Zhu Zeng had arrived. Wei Shao then had him brought in. Zhu Zeng was tied up and entered the tent when laughter came from inside. He saw about ten people sitting in the tent. The candle flame was bright, illuminating a long purple sandalwood screen. Piles of various documents and papers were on the shelves beside the screen.

Behind the desk sat a man of only 24 or 25 years old, not wearing a helmet, a gold crown tying his hair, soft armor with locks and rings, and a hanging sword in his waist. His face was heroic, facing slightly sideways. He sat opposite a beardy skinny man, talking and laughing, extremely dashing. Hearing people report that Zhu Zeng had arrived, the man stopped joking, turned his face, and looked over him.

Zhu Zeng guessed that this young man should be Wei Shao. He never thought Wei Shao, the rumored northern overlord, would be such a distinguished figure with a dragon posture. He was dumbfounded for a moment. When the young man stopped joking and sat up straight to look toward him, he felt Wei Shao’s battlefield aura coming to his face. His heart turned aghast, not daring to look at the man behind the desk. He felt desperate. Knowing that Wei Shao set up such a chain of traps to frame him and finally make Le Zheng Gong retreat, he must have guessed that his strategy of sending troops to help Xing Xun was out of him. He should hate him to the bone. He was so foolish to fall into his hands, ready to be executed.

Unexpectedly, Wei Shao got up from behind the desk and went to him, untied the ropes that bound him with his own hands, and laughed: “I have wronged Zi Yi to solve my problems. Do you blame me?”Zhu Zeng raised his eyes and saw Wei Shao smiling, momentarily stunned. He then looks at the other people in the seat. They were all looking at him, smiling.

Wei Quan said: “My Lord knows that you have great talent and can’t bear to see your head cut off by the sword, so he sent troops to rescue you.”

Zhu Zeng was enlightened and convinced, immediately kowtowed, and said: “I am grateful to the Marquis of Yan. Zhu Zeng willing to join the army, to serve the Marquis of Yan!”

Wei Shao laughed loudly and ordered someone to get wine for him to drink. After a few introductions, he asked his soldiers to send Zhu Zeng off.

The rest of the people in the tent withdrew one after another. Finally, Gongsun Yang was the only one left for questions about Yanzhou.

Xing Xun’s army restrained in this area. When he was at a standstill with Wei Shao, he ordered Zhou Qun from Ren City, who had attacked Yanzhou before, to attack Yanzhou again.

Qiao Ping led the army to counterattack and repulsed Zhou Qun. Xing Xun was upset and sent additional men to launch another attack. Then, the Green-eyed General sent his troops to assist Yanzhou. After a vicious battle, not only was Yanzhou saved, but Zhou Qun was also killed in the chaos. Wei Shao received the news yesterday.

“My Lord does not need to worry much.” The two battles have shown that Yanzhou has been strengthening its army for the past two or three years and is no longer weak. They are in the same situation. The weather was getting better, and the opportunity to fight was at hand.

They talked about the war until it was late at night. Wei Shao himself sent Gongsun Yang back to his tent. He felt his heart drifting as he returned to his tent. He turned around, stepping on the creaking snow beneath his feet as he marched toward the regiment gate. The soldiers outside the regiment gate saw him coming out and hurriedly saluted.

Wei Shao slightly nodded, untied his cloak, and draped it to a young soldier of sixteen or seventeen, which still had not yet taken off the childish face. Wei Shao patted him on the shoulder, then walked out of the regiment gate and ascended the nearby snow-covered hillock above, engulfed by the night of the Yellow River Road.

Wei Shao deeply inhaled a breath of cold and fresh air. Then, he slowly exhaled the foul air in his chest, and finally, his eyes cast to the northern night sky stood silently for a long time. She should be giving birth soon. Perhaps he couldn’t accompany her in time for the childbirth. But he would give this victory as the best gift to her and their child, who will soon come into the world.

……

Under the envious gaze of his companions, the youth, who received Marquis’ cloak, suppressed his excitement and gazed longingly at the top of the hill. To fight for the Marquis, even if the blood stains the yellow sand, he will not hesitate. The youth said to himself.

T/N: Previously, I translated Zhou Qun as Zhou Army. I was mistaken. Zhou Qun is the name of a person.