As if a startled swan, graceful as a winding dragon.
This was the most direct feeling for the younger woman before them.
As for the other woman, it was clear they were sisters, their features so delicate, so exquisitely beautiful.
The elder sister’s skin was fairer than snow, her eyes like pools of clear water, and when she glanced around, she possessed an elegant and lofty demeanor that captivated and humbled onlookers, daring them not to be disrespectful.
Yet, within this coolness and spirit was a captivating charm that made one’s heart yearn.
This woman was none other than Zhen Jia, the eldest daughter of the Zhen family.
The younger sister, clad in white robes and a white skirt, her ink-black hair cascading down like a waterfall to her slender waist.
Her peerlessly beautiful face was like a flower fairy of the mountains, detached from worldly affairs, exuding a moving ethereal beauty.
Her eyes flickered, holding only a profound sense of calm detachment, as if the words "striving for victory" were alien to her.
Such a woman could only be described in four words: pure and refined, peerless in her grace!
Who else could this woman be but Zhen Luo (Zhen Ji), the youngest daughter of the Zhen family?
"This humble girl, Zhen Luo, greets Your Majesty, my brother-in-law, and all the esteemed officials..."
Zhen Luo spoke gracefully...
Her pearl-white teeth, like jade shells by the sea, her dimples like small pools, her captivating eyes shimmering, a faint jasmine scent exuding endless youthful vitality.
However...
Brother-in-law?
This address caused Yang Xiu and Sima Yi to start. They instinctively looked towards Lu Yu... thinking that the brother-in-law Zhen Luo mentioned must be Your Majesty, but then they realized it was incorrect, because Zhen Luo... had said, "Greetings Your Majesty, greetings brother-in-law..." so then...
Instinctively, Yang Xiu and Sima Yi looked at Guo Jia.
Indeed, Guo Jia wore an expression of self-satisfaction. He lifted the wine gourd at his waist and took a sip...
Zhen Jiang snatched the wine gourd away, "Husband, do not be rude in front of His Majesty!"
These words... confirmed it!
Now... Yang Xiu and Sima Yi exchanged glances and both gave Guo Jia a thumbs-up. It was widely known... that the five daughters of the Zhen family were all exceptionally beautiful. They had never imagined that the elder sister had been "plucked" by Guo Fengxiao. Guo Jia... Guo Fengxiao, truly lived up to his reputation, he certainly had something going for him.
"Madam Zhen, please do not blame Fengxiao. It was I who specially permitted Fengxiao to drink in front of the court. He is the only one in the Great Wei with this privilege. It does not count as improper conduct in court!" Lu Yu explained with a smile.
Zhen Jiang gracefully bowed to Lu Yu, "Your Majesty bestows too much grace upon my husband, which is why he is so ill-mannered!"
Many writings mention that the Zhen family was a family of merchants.
In fact, the Zhen family was not a merchant family at all. The father of the five Zhen daughters, Zhen Yi, had served as the Magistrate of Shangcai. The Zhen family was a typical bureaucratic family. The five Zhen daughters were well-educated from a young age and placed great importance on etiquette...
"Let's not discuss this anymore..." Lu Yu said with a smile, "Madam Zhen, Miss Zhen... perhaps you could tell us about the origin of this 'sand table map'!"
"It's like this..." It was Zhen Luo's turn to speak. Five years ago, when Great Wei and Ba Shu began trading, my sister and I were the first to dispatch merchant caravans to establish contact with Ba Shu... Of course, as merchants of Great Wei, the Zhen family's caravans were closely monitored by Ba Shu, especially within the cities and counties. However... Ba Shu was desperately lacking in resources, especially the clans!
"There are a large number of clan members in Ba Shu. They helped us sell our goods throughout Ba Shu, especially in the mountainous regions... It was precisely because of this that the merchants we dispatched drew complete topographical maps of all of Ba Shu! Including... armories in the mountainous regions, granaries, as well as the watchtowers and catapult emplacements built by Ba Shu!"
Zhen Luo's words were soft, and she appeared somewhat frail, yet the content of her speech shocked Sima Yi and Yang Xiu.
To map out the most accurate terrain of Ba Shu through commercial means?
How could such infiltration be defended against?
But.
...
Yang Xiu's eyes darted as he raised a question.
"This is not right. Even if one can reach many barren lands in Ba Shu by selling goods, this sand table... clearly details the locations of garrisons and the number of troops stationed in various parts of Ba Shu, even the defense forces of each city and county are clearly revealed. These... cannot possibly be discovered simply through the process of selling goods, can they?"
"Indeed..." It was Zhen Jiang's turn this time. "If it were just us, we might not have been able to do it. But... there are also clan members, and people from various ethnic groups within Ba Shu. They have suffered greatly under these 'invaders'! Whether it was the Eastern Zhou faction in the past, or Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang now, they are all external invaders. They care only about their own interests, and the original people of Yi Province cannot enjoy this part of the benefits, nor can the clan members. They are like endless exploitation..." Zhen Jiang paused...
Guo Jia paused...
Guo Jia continued her words, "So, when the Zhen family's goods are sold to them, and as familiarity grows, they talk about the customs and traditions of Great Wei, the living conditions of the people here, and even mention Your Majesty's policies, including the imperial examinations, the abolition of the head tax, and the reduction of the poll tax to land tax. These make the ethnic groups of Yi Province yearn for them. Over time, in Yi Province... the Zhen family has become more than just merchants. In cooperation with the Way of the Five Pecks of Rice... they have become a massive organization, collecting all intelligence from Ba Shu and reporting it back!"
So that's how it is...
Upon hearing this, Sima Yi and Yang Xiu showed expressions of immense disbelief.
Who would have thought that the Emperor's influence had already infiltrated Ba Shu over the past five years? These infiltrated forces... were more than just a Cao A Dou!
This...
Isn't this "attacking the heart"?
"Therefore!" Lu Yu finally spoke, "The sand table before us has been drawn up by completely comparing it with the topographical maps of Ba Shu. I intend to move it to Chang'an to centrally coordinate the matter of the decisive battle with Ba Shu!"
"Your Majesty is wise..." Sima Yi and Yang Xiu said in unison.
Lu Yu continued, "Zhongda, you will be responsible for this Lizhi Road. Your opponents are Zhao Yun, Wang Ping, and Ma Su. I don't have many instructions, only two points: do not overestimate Ma Su, and absolutely do not underestimate Wang Ping!"
As he spoke, Lu Yu pointed to the narrow Lizhi Road on the sand table...
With Zhen Luo's explanation, the sand table now... looked much more reassuring.
And there were three places where branches could emerge...
They bypassed Mi Cang Road and Zhitong. These... if one did not grow up among the clan members in these mountains, who else would know?
"Your subject dares not disobey the wise decree, nor disgrace my sect!" Sima Yi cupped his hands.
Lu Yu's words turned to Yang Xiu again, "The Intercepting Army has a grave responsibility. Since Zilong has gone to Lizhi Road, the liaison with the Gan family will entirely depend on the Intercepting Army! The Gan family is the sharpest blade I have buried in Ba Shu!"
"Your Majesty, rest assured, your subject has made all arrangements," Yang Xiu cupped his hands.
Finally, Lu Yu turned his gaze to Guo Jia, "Jinniu Road, Lizhi Road, and Mi Cang Road, in my opinion, are all minor skirmishes. What will truly determine this decisive battle is..." Lu Yu's finger traced from Jinniu Road, to Lizhi Road, to Mi Cang Road... and finally followed Chengdu's Motianling to that extremely treacherous and towering "Motian Leng".
"Fengxiao..." Lu Yu's words became earnest. "After five years of training, this special forces camp of over a hundred men under my command will be entrusted to you. However, I must recommend one person to you. Among this special forces camp, there is an exceptionally outstanding young man named Jiang Wei, who is capable of great use!"
Hoo...
As these words left his mouth, the entire hall fell silent.
All eyes were fixed on Guo Jia. It wasn't the recommended "emerging" Jiang Wei...
Rather... His Majesty's long-planned, this most outstanding special forces camp, this most treacherous "Yinping Road", this most, most... most important mission, was still entrusted to Guo Jia?
If it were anyone else, they would be overwhelmed with gratitude...
But Guo Jia, "Haha..." he laughed, "Did Your Majesty promise me that after pacifying Ba Shu, you would permit me to travel the land with my beloved wife...? And also... Your Majesty's promised thousand jars of fine wine must not be broken!"
Guo Jia said this... Lu Yu smiled, "Are you also like Wang Jian of the Warring States period? You're making conditions with me before even setting out..."
"If I don't speak, how can it work?" Guo Jia sighed, "In the past, King Qin gave Wang Jian four hundred thousand troops, entrusting his very life to him. Now that Your Majesty is entrusting this special forces camp to me, its power deep behind enemy lines is no less than four hundred thousand troops. Shouldn't I, like Wang Jian, ask Your Majesty for a thousand jars of fine wine?"
"Haha..." Lu Yu burst into laughter, "A thousand jars of fine wine is not enough, it should be at least ten thousand!"
"That's a deal then..." Guo Jia's lips curved wider.
Zhen Jiang sighed beside him, but then she thought of Zhen Luo and looked at her with a wistful gaze.
Just then.
"That's all for today..." Lu Yu waved his hand. The detailed deployment will await my arrival in Chang'an! Everyone, lift your spirits, the decisive battle has begun!"
"Yes!"
Yang Xiu, Sima Yi, and Guo Jia cupped their hands. Zhen Jiang and Zhen Luo bowed. The group slowly withdrew.
But... just as Zhen Luo stepped out of the "Taiji Hall," Lu Yu's voice followed.
"Miss Zhen, please stay..."
Hmm...
This single sentence caused both Zhen Jiang and Zhen Luo to stop. Zhen Jiang gave Zhen Luo a meaningful glance, as if she had something to tell her...
Zhen Luo gritted her teeth. She turned around to meet Lu Yu's captivating gaze.
"Let's go..."
Guo Jia patted Zhen Jiang's back, and the group exited the Taiji Hall.
Time passed, and in this vast hall, only Lu Yu and Zhen Luo remained.
Hoo...
With a deep, heavy sigh, Zhen Luo could feel her heartbeat...
And with the sound of "tap, tap" footsteps, Lu Yu had walked around the "sand table" and approached her.
Perhaps due to nervousness, or some other reason, a few strands of Zhen Luo's three thousand strands of hair near her temples appeared somewhat disheveled.
The Son of Heaven, Lu Yu, had already reached out to tidy them for her. This startled Zhen Luo... When had a Son of Heaven ever tidied the hair of a commoner woman?
"Your Majesty... this commoner..."
Before Zhen Luo could speak, Lu Yu's words had already cut her off.
"Miss Luo, you have worked hard for these five years, and you have been wronged!"
Yes...
Lu Yu had never forgotten Zhen Luo...
He remembered their first meeting was when the Zhen family, to avoid entanglement in the conflict between Cao and Yuan, sent their five daughters to Xu Du. It was there that Lu Yu met Zhen Luo.
Subsequently, Zhen Luo sold "Wushi San" for Lu Yu to the Southern Xiongnu, Xianbei, and other places, in exchange for tens of thousands of fine horses... This woman had made great contributions in pacifying the northern frontier, quelling the Wuhuan, and eliminating foreign threats!
Lu Yu kept this merit in his heart.
Initially, at the beginning of his reign, Lu Yu had intended to make some gesture...
Or perhaps directly bring Zhen Luo into his harem.
But... in order to cooperate with Great Wei's plan, the Zhen family again dispatched Zhen Luo to the Shu region, using the trade between Wei and Shu... to draw the most accurate maps for Great Wei.
In the blink of an eye...
Five years had passed. Lu Yu could not recall...
When he last saw Zhen Luo, but if one were to speak of the most selfless and willing contribution, none of the women by Lu Yu's side could compare to her.
As if light clouds hiding the moon, as if a flowing wind returning the snow...
Zhen Ji always gave people a sense of excessive beauty and excessive dedication, a "beautiful" sacrifice... This moved Lu Yu.
"Your Majesty... this commoner is not wronged."
As she answered, Zhen Luo thought of five years ago, when she heard about the trade between Wei and Shu, she had resolutely begged her elder sister to send her to Ba Shu!
How could Zhen Jiang not understand her younger sister's thoughts...
She only asked, "Is this still for... him?"
Zhen Luo nodded.
She asked again, "Is it worth it for him?"
Zhen Luo did not answer...
Two months later...
She sat in a carriage, passing through the treacherous Shu road. Her face showed the dust of travel, clearly indicating a long journey.
She was in the prime of her youth, a time for joy and carefree happiness, yet her countenance was subtly tinged with melancholy, as if sorrow had crept in, affecting her brows and heart, with no way to avoid it...
She did not know why she was doing all this either, but she was determined... she had to do it.
She felt that she should do something for that man?
As the saying goes, meeting Lu Yu once... ruined a lifetime.
"Miss Zhen Luo is not young anymore..." Lu Yu's sudden remark caused Zhen Luo to instinctively bite her lip. She seemed to have guessed something.
"Your Majesty..." Zhen Luo murmured.
Lu Yu let out a soft sigh, "Stay this time. In this vast Wei palace... I have built a 'Luoshen Palace' for you! The mistress of this Luoshen Palace is only you!"
This... Zhen Luo's large eyes blinked repeatedly. She had never expected... that His Majesty would... even in his busy schedule.
Also... also...
But... Zhen Luo still shook her head. She bit her lip, "Your Majesty, please grant this commoner one request!"
"Whatever you say, I will grant," Lu Yu's tone was also incredibly gentle.
"May I ask that this 'Luoshen Palace' remain vacant for a few more years? This commoner wishes to do something for Your Majesty's great endeavor of unification..."
Zhen Luo's words moved Lu Yu, even touched him!
In a wine shop within Jianmen Pass, Ba Shu.
Some soldiers and local residents sat around a table, chatting about something.
"Have you heard... His Majesty sent General Zhang Fei and Military Advisor Fa Zheng to Yanmen this time... One civil, one military, they are powerful, aren't they?"
"Powerful my ass? Whether the northern expedition wins or not has nothing to do with us, does it? We're still stationed day and night, training or stationed, with no rest time at all. If this goes on, my wife at home will run off with another man!"
"Sigh... there's no other way! We are one province against Great Wei's twelve provinces. How can we compare? Naturally... we soldiers have to be used as three people each? When is there time to rest? Damn it... you're thinking too much!"
"By the way... do you know how soldiers in Great Wei serve?"
"How do they serve?"
"The merchants from Great Wei mentioned that they get two days of rest every seven days, and three meals a day, with flatbread for every meal!"
Ugh...
Upon hearing this...
The soldiers and civilians in Jianmen Pass... their eyes all went straight.
Damn it, serving as soldiers and eating rations, what kind of life do Wei soldiers lead? What kind of life do Shu soldiers lead? Damn it, no comparison means no harm!
...
...