Chapter 54: Parting Before Departure |
Song Shi'an had told his mother before that he wouldn't return home in order to achieve complete reconciliation with his father.
And the moment he arrived, Song Shi'an knew for certain that his goal had been fully achieved.
A broken mirror could never be made whole again.
So the only way forward was to completely shatter the mirror full of cracks and replace it with a new one.
Regret was the catalyst to accelerate this process.
On this journey, he needed to become completely one of the Sixth Prince's trusted confidants in order to control his own fate.
But a war was never fought only on the front lines where blades met.
He needed backing.
And while the Song clan and the Cui clan weren't solid enough, as long as they could provide even the slightest resistance...
After Song Jing left, Song Shi'an sat in his seat and picked up the newly purchased novel, opening it with one hand. But his thoughts had already begun to wander:
"Father, I'm going to gamble—for both your wealth and mine."
......
Outside the city walls, at a separate residence.
Standing outside the courtyard, Song Jing knocked on the door ring.
After a moment, a plainly dressed woman holding a small child opened the door. Upon seeing him, she asked somewhat nervously, "Sir, you are?"
"The Sheng'an Magistrate, Song Jing."
Upon hearing this, she immediately became flustered, setting the child down on the ground before turning to shout back, "Amu! The Sheng'an Magistrate has come!"
After a while, a burly man dressed in plain clothes, bare-chested and covered in sweat, came out. Upon seeing Song Jing, he clasped his fists together and said, "Laoye honors us with his presence—forgive me for not greeting you from afar."
"Captain Zhu, no need for such formality."
Song Jing smiled faintly.
"Please, come in—"
Zhu Qing welcomed him warmly, while the woman hurried off to prepare tea.
Walking into the courtyard and seeing a pile of freshly chopped firewood stacked like a small mountain, along with an axe lodged in a chopping block, Song Jing asked with some curiosity, "The Captain chops wood himself?"
"I'm about to head off to Shuofeng, not knowing when I'll return, so I'm preparing extra firewood so the wife and kids can have less to worry about." Zhu Qing explained with a smile.
"You have no maidservants in the household?" Song Jing asked with some confusion. "A Forbidden Army Captain's salary shouldn't be low, and there haven't been any arrears either."
Though Great Yu also had situations where salaries couldn't be paid, the military was always given priority, especially the Forbidden Army as a central force.
Otherwise, it would shake the very foundation of the state.
Of course, even if salaries were in arrears, the people of Great Yu still maintained an enthusiastic pursuit of entering officialdom.
In ancient times, as long as one became an official, there were plenty of ways to make money—no need to worry about being strapped for cash after taking office.
"My wife isn't accustomed to having others in the house. She's quite capable in daily matters and handles everything herself." Zhu Qing explained with a self-deprecating laugh. "I've embarrassed myself before the Laoye."
"Having fewer people in the house is actually good—peaceful, a rare peace indeed."
When Song Jing said this, he seemed to carry exhaustion in his words.
"Even great noble houses have their troubles, eh."
After a teasing laugh, Zhu Qing led Song Jing to sit at the tea table in the courtyard.
At this moment, the woman brought a teapot and clay cups, pouring tea for the two men.
"Why don't you take the child out to play for a bit, and pick up some vegetables while you're at it," Zhu Qing said.
"No need, I still have some official business to attend to. I'll be leaving shortly," Song Jing said.
"Alright then, you two go out and play."
And so, Zhu Qing sent his family away.
Only the two of them remained.
Zhu Qing's expression suddenly became somewhat serious, and he asked with confusion, "Laoye, why is your son going to Shuofeng?"
Song Jing lowered his head, supporting his forehead with his hand, appearing quite heavy-hearted.
"Then this wasn't the Laoye's intention?" Zhu Qing perceived this and asked.
"But he's already told me, and his mind is made up," Song Jing's thoughts remained heavy.
"Why should a man not carry a Yu saber? To reclaim the mountain passes of fifty provinces. I ask you to ascend Cloud Pavilion for a moment—which scholar has become a lord of ten thousand households?"
Having no great education, after Zhu Qing recited this poem completely and fluently, he looked at the man before him and couldn't help but say, "I was born a commoner, and by luck was among the first to enlist, only then gaining this half-official position in the capital. But Young Master Shi'an was born to privilege, possesses exceptional talent, and just became Jieyuan with such a boundless future. For such a person to gamble his life in war alongside us country folk—it truly commands respect."
"This isn't meant to offend Captain Zhu, nor to mock the soldiers at the front." Speaking of this, Song Jing said with particular pain, "But sending him to Shuofeng—I'm completely unwilling."
Zhu Qing had praised Song Shi'an highly, acknowledging the rare spirit of self-sacrifice among noble youth.
But if he went along with such words, it would be too insincere.
And his sincerity was fully felt by Zhu Qing, who looked toward the door and sighed, "Laoye, I too am a father. I can understand your feelings. If my own son were being sent to his death, I absolutely wouldn't be willing either."
The ideology of loyalty to the sovereign and love for country was only written in books.
But real history existed outside those pages.
Hating the Qi bandits and killing the Qi bandits were two different things entirely.
Much less asking me to go kill them.
"This journey—is it certain death?" Looking up, Song Jing asked anxiously.
Even the military people had no confidence at all?
When asked, Zhu Qing looked toward the door, then back at Song Jing, and asked calmly, "Laoye, of nearly a hundred captains in the capital, why was I chosen?"
"......"
How could Song Jing not understand?
Would anyone with any family background be sent to a dangerous battlefield?
"Today's conversation—I must ask the Laoye to keep it absolutely confidential." Zhu Qing clasped his fists together in request.
What he'd said was all truth.
But if these words got out, he could be charged with the crime of 'shaking military morale.'
Of course, if Song Jing had also spoken to him in official platitudes, he wouldn't have said so much.
"Captain, rest assured—my lips are sealed."
After making this promise, Song Jing asked this professional, "Is there any thread of hope for survival?"
"There is." Zhu Qing said. "Wuwei hasn't fallen yet. If Wuwei can delay long enough, and Shuofeng has a famous defensive general who resists with all his might and holds out until winter, Ji Yuan will naturally withdraw his troops."
The implication being: others going might have a chance, but the Sixth Prince going definitely had none.
Why not have a famous defensive general go?
Because even if a famous general like Xiao Qun defended the city, there was still an extremely high possibility of it falling.
Losing the city and having a great general killed in action as well—that would be maximizing the losses.
Better to pull back the defensive line in advance and prepare defenses for the next wave of attacks.
"I... understand."
Song Jing nodded his head heavily.
Then he slowly stood up.
Zhu Qing looked up at this Third Rank official before him.
"Captain Zhu, everyone thinks Shi'an is greedy for glory and fame, which is why he's walking into this certain death. But truly, it's not like that." Song Jing shook his head and reflected, "The fault—it all lies with me."
"What fault does the Laoye have?"
Zhu Qing was confused.
"He's the eldest son of the family, and I once loved him dearly. But later, after my wife bore my younger son, I showed excessive favoritism. Add to that my wife's domineering nature—for the sake of household harmony, I frequently neglected Shi'an. Whatever achievements he gained, I gave no acknowledgment. At the slightest mistake, I would beat and scold him."
Speaking to this point, Song Jing beat his chest in anguish: "Today when he made his decision, I asked him why. Do you know what he said?"
Zhu Qing shook his head, watching the other man intently.
"He said, 'This son will definitely not disgrace Father's illustrious name.'"
Song Jing's eyes already glistened with tears.
When these words were spoken, Zhu Qing's heart shook.
It was Magistrate Song's favoritism that had driven his son to death.
"Shi'an being like this—it's all my doing."
Song Jing sighed deeply, filled with regret.
If Song Shi'an died, he would die on these words: 'This son will definitely not disgrace Father's illustrious name.'
"Captain Zhu." Song Jing looked at him.
"Laoye."
Zhu Qing fully felt this father's remorse, and his attitude became extremely serious.
Then the other man suddenly knelt on one knee, clasping his fists in salute, his voice trembling: "I beg you—protect my son's safety."
"Laoye, please rise!"
Zhu Qing hurriedly helped him up, saying with utmost seriousness: "You and I are both fathers. If you don't think me unworthy, I'm willing to regard Shi'an as my own son and do everything in my power to protect his safety!"
"Thank you, thank you."
Wiping the corners of his eyes with his palm, Song Jing expressed his gratitude repeatedly. Then he bowed in farewell: "Jing will not disturb the Captain's harmonious time any longer."
"Laoye, take care."
Zhu Qing clasped his fists in a military salute.
The two men parted ways.
Today's conversation with Song Jing made Zhu Qing think of himself as well. He looked up at the loquat tree planted in the courtyard a couple years ago, which hadn't yet borne fruit. And he himself wouldn't be there to see it bear fruit, which made him sigh deeply.
"Papa!"
At that moment, his young son came running in happily from outside.
Zhu Qing bent down and opened his arms, embracing the child.
"The uncle from before gave this to me."
His son pulled something from his pocket and handed it to Zhu Qing.
Opening his palm, it was a heavy solid gold crouching tiger.
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