Last night's drunken revelry made the soldiers relax a lot. What followed was strict and boring military training. Every morning for training, Yang Zhen would send out a patrol team in the afternoon to patrol the nearby farmland to keep track of the agricultural irrigation situation.
Just like that, after another two months, the weather gradually turned cold and it was autumn.
On this day, Yang Zhen led a small group of soldiers to patrol near Dujiang Weir. They heard the sound of a horse's hooves, and then a knight entered their sight. When Yang Zhen saw the knight, he smiled and asked,"Niu San, why are you here? Didn't I ask you to guard the camp?" Niu San had already been promoted to the position of captain by Yang Zhen, and he often led soldiers to patrol or guard the camp.
Niu San immediately got off his horse, but he didn't have time to bow. He said,""You should go back quickly. There's someone in the military camp who wants to see you. He says it's very important.”
Seeing Niu San so nervous, Yang Zhen asked,""Who is it?"
" I don't know him," Niu San said." He wouldn't tell me even if I asked him. He just kept asking to see you."”
Yang Zhen said," Niu San, help me patrol this section. I'll go back and take a look. He Ping, let's go!"”
Yang Zhen and He Ping mounted their horses and rushed back to camp. When they arrived at the military camp, Yang Zhen strode into the tent. As soon as he entered the tent, a person's back entered his sight. Yang Zhen felt a little familiar and asked,"You want to see me?"
When the person heard Yang Zhen's voice, he immediately turned around and stared at Yang Zhen. His eyes were so gentle and excited. When Yang Zhen saw that person, he was first shocked, then he said happily,""Why is it you?"
"Why can't it be me?" Yang Zhen, are you alright?"
At this moment, He Ping entered the tent and saw an unfamiliar man standing in the military camp. He was dressed in a blue robe. His figure was as thin as his, but his skin was much fairer and more delicate than his. His appearance appeared very delicate. That person glanced at He Ping. Only then did Yang Zhen realize that He Ping had come in. He immediately said to He Ping,"He Ping, go out first. Don't let anyone in!”
He Ping received the order and walked out of the tent. "General Guan, I didn't expect you to come here!" Yang Zhen walked forward and cupped his hands.”
That person was Guan Feng. Ever since she had fought Yang Zhen three times in Hanzhong, she had developed feelings for him. This time, she had specially come to find him. For more than a year, Yang Zhen and Guan Feng had been writing to each other. Although they had only met once, in the letter, the two of them had become good friends. He would think of her every day, thinking of her letters asking about his well-being. Ever since his mother passed away, no one in this world cared about him anymore.
Guan Feng was naturally a little excited. Seeing that Yang Zhen's skin was darker than the first time she saw him, her eyes suddenly became watery and she sobbed,"Yang Zhen, you've tanned and lost weight.”
Seeing Guan Feng's tears, Yang Zhen didn't know what to do. She was familiar with him in the past, but now that she was standing in front of him, he felt especially awkward. Seeing Guan Feng's pitiful look, Yang Zhen felt very uncomfortable. He walked to Guan Feng's side and reached out to wipe away the tears on Guan Feng's face. Guan Feng turned from crying to laughing. She wiped Yang Zhen's face and said,""Look at you, your face is covered in dust.”
"General Guan, aren't you stationed in Hanzhong?" Yang Zhen asked with a silly smile. Why are you here?"
"You still call me General Guan?" Guan Feng asked.”
"If I don't call you General Guan, what should I call you?”Yang Zhen was stunned.
"You can call me Feng 'er," Guan Feng said.”
Yang Zhen mustered up his courage and finally called out the two words "Feng 'er". Guan Feng agreed, looking very happy. She said to Yang Zhen,"Zi Yuan, I've been here for so long. Are you going to let me stand here forever?"”Yang Zhen quickly helped Guan Feng to her seat and sat opposite her. He looked at Guan Feng foolishly and felt that she was very different from before. She was more charming. Guan Feng blushed when she saw Yang Zhen staring at her blankly. She lowered her head and asked,"Zi Yuan, why are you looking at me like that?”
Yang Zhen felt that it was a little rash, so he shifted his gaze away and looked around, but he would glance at Guan Feng from time to time. Guan Feng's voice rang in his ears. She said,"The troops in Hanzhong have been replaced. The Prime Minister has mobilized 30,000 troops to exchange. I have been in Hanzhong for more than a year and miss my mother and brother very much, so I asked to come back.”
When Yang Zhen heard this, he thought to himself,""In the past year, Zhuge Liang, the Prime Minister of the Han Kingdom, ordered all the troops to open up wasteland while mobilizing elite troops to guard the border. He gathered most of the troops on the Chengdu Plain and used the limited land resources to open up wasteland. The grain harvested in one year can be used as the country's expenditure for three years.”
"I heard from my brother that you're now the commandant of Diannong, and you're stationed in Dujiangyan, so I came to see you."”
Yang Zhen had once heard from Wei Yan that he had seen Guan Feng with his own eyes. Although Guan Feng was a woman, she often wore men's clothes. She had a strong personality and was quite like her father, Guan Yu. What he did not expect was that this time, she was not as strong as the first time, but had more tenderness. Perhaps this was how a woman should be.
Yang Zhen and Guan Feng had a long talk. Gradually, both of them felt each other's longing for each other, but Yang Zhen did not dare to say anything because he was of low birth and status. According to the current marriage system, it was impossible for them to be together. Secular aristocratic families blocked Yang Zhen's feelings for Guan Feng, but when he saw the person he loved in front of him, one could imagine how he felt.
Yang Zhen let out a long sigh. Seeing this, Guan Feng asked,""Zi Yuan, what's wrong?"
"N-nothing!" Yang Zhen said. Feng 'er, it's getting late. It's not dark yet if we ride back to Chengdu. If we're late, it'll be dark and the road will be difficult to walk.”
"Yang Zhen, are you chasing me away?" Guan Feng jumped up and asked. It wasn't easy for me to finally see you, and you're actually asking me to leave?”
"Feng 'er, that's not what I meant. Don't misunderstand," replied Yang Zhen.”
"Yang Zhen, do you still remember the oath we made?" Guan Feng snapped.”
" Of course I remember," Yang Zhen said." I'll come back to fight you once I'm done practicing my riding skills. How could I forget?"”
Guan Feng changed her gentle attitude and shouted,"Alright then! It's been more than a year. No matter how stupid a person is, they should have practiced well. Let's go out now and have a competition!”
Yang Zhen looked at Guan Feng and suddenly felt that this was the real Guan Feng. This was the Guan Feng that he liked. The gentleness just now was very unfamiliar to him, as if she was another person. Yang Zhen suddenly burst into laughter. Guan Feng asked,"What are you laughing at?"
Yang Zhen said," It's nothing. I'm just happy for you. This is the real you."”
Guan Feng was stunned for a moment. She had thought that men would only like women if they were gentler, so she had learned gentleness from her mother. At this moment, Yang Zhen's words made her realize something. Perhaps he said this because she was unreal. Guan Feng looked at Yang Zhen and saw that there was still a trace of a smile on his cold face. She didn't understand why Yang Zhen would treat her like this. Was it wrong for her to like him? Or was it because of some other reason?
"Yang Zhen, do you like me like this?" Guan Feng asked. Did you chase me away because of my gentleness just now?”
Yang Zhen first nodded, then shook his head, making Guan Feng very confused.
"What do you mean?" Guan Feng asked. Is it wrong for me to like you?" Guan Feng had a strong personality and was straightforward. She grew up in the army. Her father and brother were generals who led troops to war. She was influenced by them and liked to play with guns since she was young. She did not look like a girl at all.
"Feng 'er, do you know?" Yang Zhen replied. I was born in a lowly family and my official position is low. You are the daughter of General Guan Yu, the descendant of a general with a distinguished family background. I'm such a lowly person. How can I be worthy of you?”
Guan Feng chuckled when she heard this." So it's because of such a small matter. Yang Zhen, you don't have to worry about this. I can ask His Majesty to make you a general. At that time, our families will be well-matched.”
Yang Zhen smiled." Feng 'er, I want to be promoted based on my own strength. I don't want to rely on nepotism. If word gets out that I became a general because I wanted to marry you, wouldn't I be laughed at?"”
"Do you know how hard it is to get promoted one level at a time?" Guan Feng asked. Most of the illustrious official positions in the country were held by the Jing State Faction and the Eastern State Faction. The two factions were fighting for power and profit, and the entire court had long known about it. Even the Emperor could not do anything to them. Do you know how difficult it was to advance one level at a time?”
How could Yang Zhen not know about these things? The three sects had already fought for power when the former emperor was still alive. It was just that the former emperor had handled it well at that time, so the three sects did not clash. Yang Zhen was born and raised in Ba Shu. In terms of factions, he belonged to the Yizhou faction. Now, the Yizhou faction had been forced to surrender to the Wei Dynasty after the Left General Huang Quan had been defeated in the Battle of Yiling. Most of the high-ranking officials in the court were from the Jing State faction and the Dong State faction. The Yizhou faction's power had plummeted, and the Jing State faction and the Dong State faction had joined forces to suppress the Yizhou faction, causing the Yizhou faction to gradually withdraw from the court. The two factions were afraid that the Yizhou faction would regain its power and participate in the government. As long as the Yizhou people's military and political officials were under the two factions, their positions would generally be scattered.
When the former emperor passed away, he was afraid that there would be conflict between the two factions, so he entrusted the young master to Zhuge Liang and Li Yan. The division of power between the Jing Prefecture Faction and the Eastern Prefecture Faction was the current state of the country. The Prime Minister was in charge, and the Minister was in charge of the army. However, things did not develop in the way that the former Emperor had hoped. Zhuge Liang let Li Yan guard Yong 'an and first put the Eastern Prefecture faction in a state of awe. Although the Eastern Prefecture faction led by Li Yan had the name of entrusting orphans, they could not return to the capital to participate in the government. As a result, the Minister of Offerings and the Minister of Military Affairs were completely empty. From then on, the power of the Eastern Province Faction started to lose out to the Jingzhou Faction led by Zhuge Liang.
A long time passed. "Say something!" Guan Feng said when Yang Zhen didn't answer.”
"What do you want me to say?" Yang Zhen looked at Guan Feng.”
"Do you really want to go up level by level?" Guan Feng asked.”
Yang Zhen nodded. Guan Feng said," Alright then. I won't force you. I just want you to know how stupid this idea is. Don't regret it."”
"I definitely won't regret it," Yang Zhen said. As a man, if he relied on a woman for everything, he would not be able to survive. He might as well kill himself.”
"I understand how you feel," Guan Feng said. Do you know how I got the title of general? My second brother, third brother, Zhang Bao, and Zhang Shao all relied on their father's influence to obtain their official positions. However, we have never been ashamed of this because after we were appointed, we have never violated any laws or military regulations. I only hope that you can think about it carefully. With your talent, it's more than enough for you to be a general. Why don't you want to be promoted earlier?”
"Feng 'er, don't say anymore," Yang Zhen said."My background is different from yours. Although you don't belong to any faction in the court, you are all descendants of famous generals. Your loyalty to the monarch and your love for the country are known throughout the country. But I am different. I am just a soldier. I am already very happy to be able to become the commandant of Dian Nong. As long as the country needs me, I can go through fire and water. However, this has nothing to do with official positions. A person's path is one that they walk on their own. I don't want to rely on anyone.”
"Zi Yuan, do you know how you got the title of Commandant Dian Nong?" Guan Feng suddenly burst into laughter.”
When Yang Zhen heard this, he hurriedly asked,""How did you get it?"
"Normally, once a guard enters the Imperial Guards, they will never be released unless there are special circumstances." General Zhao Yun and General Chen Dao were the exceptions. They were both outstanding commanders of the White Ears. I think you know this better than me, right?”
Yang Zhen nodded. Guan Feng continued,"Do you still remember the letter I asked you to bring to my second brother?”
"Of course I remember. Could it be that my release is related to that letter?”Yang Zhen asked suspiciously.
"That's right. I asked my brother to help you with this in the letter because you said that you were the happiest and truest in the military camp." You also know that the Prime Minister has always hoped that the Yizhou Sect would not be able to regain their power, and you happen to belong to the Yizhou Sect. Therefore, his brother begged the Prime Minister for three months before the Prime Minister agreed.
When Yang Zhen heard this, his mind was suddenly at a loss. He had thought that the previous emperor had already arranged everything. He did not expect that there would be such twists and turns. He looked at Guan Feng and saw that she was looking at him, her eyes filled with warmth. "Zi Yuan, no matter what, I want to help you, so don't blame me for doing this." Guan Feng continued. If you are afraid of marrying me because your background and official position are too low, I will take the initiative to ask His Majesty to confer you the title of general. This way, you can be with me. Promise me, okay?"
Yang Zhen was at a loss, completely at a loss. For a long time, there was no sound in the tent. Guan Feng looked at Yang Zhen affectionately, hoping that he would agree to her request. Yang Zhen was stunned, his mind in a mess.
Suddenly, Yang Zhen shouted and ran out of the tent. Guan Feng didn't know what was wrong with him, but she was worried about him and chased after him. He Ping, who was outside the tent, heard Yang Zhen's shout and saw him and Guan Feng running out of the camp one after the other. He felt a little uneasy and immediately chased after them.
Yang Zhen's mind was in a mess. He thought that his life had been arranged by someone else, like the previous emperor. He did not expect that his official position had also been requested by someone else. His heart was extremely chaotic. He kept shouting like a madman and ran forward desperately. Behind him, Guan Feng and He Ping called him, but he couldn't hear them at all. He only cared about running as if he was running for his life. He ran faster and faster, and gradually left Guan Feng and He Ping far behind.
He ran into a forest and weaved through the trees. Perhaps he was tired, but he stopped. His entire body went limp on the ground. He looked up at the sky and let out a long cry. The birds in the forest were completely frightened and flew away. He knelt down and looked up at the sky, shouting,""Why? Why? Why? Why me? I don't like being arranged like a doll. I'm a person, not a doll!”
"Of course you're not a doll, but you're not human either.”A voice came from the forest.
In the midst of the chaos, Yang Zhen heard this and asked,""Then what am I?"
"You are a corpse, a corpse without a soul.”The voice sounded again.
"Why am I a corpse?" Yang Zhen asked.”
"Hahaha!" The laughter gradually approached Yang Zhen's ears. It sounded so sinister and terrifying." Because you're going to die soon. Death is your true destiny!"
At this moment, many masked men in black walked out from all directions. Each of them was holding a steel knife, and only one of them was holding a folding fan. The man in black holding the folding fan shouted,"Kill them!" The men in black swarmed forward and charged at Yang Zhen with their sabers raised.
Yang Zhen's mind was still in a mess. The man in black was approaching step by step, but he was muttering to himself,"Is only death my destiny?”
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。