Chapter 936: Luoyang is Under My Protection
Bai Yuan emerged from the tent of Cao Wenzhao and his nephew, heading back into the city. He had barely reached the city gate when he spotted Fan Shangzheng walking out. The two men met, quite coincidentally, right there.
Fan Shangzheng waved. "Mister Bai, how are General Cao and his nephew's injuries?"
"They're fine now," Bai Yuan smiled. "Full of spirit, they're already back to their usual spirited banter and bickering over minutiae."
Fan Shangzheng's expression was blank, but he quickly dismissed it. "Never mind," he muttered, lowering his voice. "Another imperial army unit has retreated to Luoyang. I need to handle the situation. Mister Bai, would you care to join me?"
Bai Yuan raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And who is it that's retreated this time?"
Fan Shangzheng replied, "He Renlong's forces."
He Renlong was no stranger to the people of Gao Family Village. Years ago, he had escorted three thousand surrendered rebels, captured by Hong Chengchou, to the Huanglong Mountain Prison and even toured the Huanglong Mountain Labor Reform Camp himself.
Bai Yuan frowned, and the Heavenly Lord, observing through him, seemed to frown as well. Back then, the man once known for his ferocity, He Renlong, would relentlessly hunt down and slaughter rebels, an invincible terror to them. Yet now, he was "retreating in defeat."
It just goes to show, as they say, 'thirty years east of the river, thirty years west'; never scorn the impoverished rebel.
The two men left the city together, heading south. After a short journey, they saw a dejected army camped by the main road. Two crooked banners fluttered limply above them: one bearing the character 'He,' the other 'Gao'.
The air itself seemed to reek of defeat, an awkward and palpable despair.
Just as Fan Shangzheng reached the camp entrance, He Renlong and Gao Jie emerged to greet them.
He Renlong bowed. "Your Excellency, Governor! This humble general suffered a temporary setback. We have withdrawn to the outskirts of Luoyang to regroup. Once our soldiers are rested and their morale is restored, we shall resume our pursuit of the rebels."
Fan Shangzheng nodded. "My thanks for your efforts, General."
As both were imperial officials, they fell into their own conversation, while Bai Yuan, for his part, curiously studied Gao Jie.
Gao Jie was, in fact, an old acquaintance of Gao Family Village. Several years prior, when rebel activity still plagued Shanxi, Gao Jie, under his alias Fan Shan Yao, had led his forces in an assault on Pingyang Prefecture, then defended by Wang Er and Bai Mao.
At that time, the Heavenly Lord had even issued a decree: "If he's handsome, aim for his face."
The incident had become a legendary jest among the Gao Family Village troops, with many soldiers later using it as an ice-breaker in conversations. Bai Yuan, having naturally heard the tale, was particularly keen to finally see Gao Jie in person.
This was his first time seeing him with his own eyes.
He looked left: *Tsk-tsk*, quite impressive, truly handsome.
He looked right: *Tsk-tsk*, still excellent, devastatingly handsome.
Bai Yuan couldn't help but sigh inwardly, *Damn, does he actually look better than me?*
Gao Jie finally spoke, a hint of annoyance in his voice. "What in the blazes are you staring at?"
He looked perfectly fine when silent, incredibly handsome even. But the moment he opened his mouth, a wave of crude boorishness instantly washed over them, a truly wild, untamed aura.
Bai Yuan's heart sank, then soared with triumph. *Hahaha! No, this won't do. He might be handsomer than me when he's quiet, but once he opens his mouth, I'm undeniably the more dashing one!*
Bai Yuan retrieved his fan, flicking it open with a flourish to cover half his face, revealing the characters for 'Gentleman' emblazoned upon its surface. He chuckled, "I've long heard that General Gao Jie is a dragon among men, as handsome as Pan An. To see him in person today truly surpasses all imagination."
Gao Jie, missing the underlying sarcasm, assumed he was being complimented. He puffed out his chest, declaring proudly, "Hehehe, a handsome man never has to serve himself food."
Bai Yuan feigned innocence. "Oh? And why not?"
Gao Jie guffawed. "Because women do it for me, of course! Hahahaha!"
Bai Yuan replied, "Truly, I am deeply impressed."
Gao Jie then asked, "You don't look like an official. What's your affiliation?"
Bai Yuan smiled. "My name is Bai, and I oversee the local militia."
"Oh, a militia instructor, then?" Gao Jie mused. *Luoyang is 'the center of the world,' after all. The wealthy here are as numerous as cattle, and influential figures abound. To be managing the militia in such a place, he must surely belong to an esteemed clan.*
When he was a rebel, he specialized in plundering prominent families, but now, as an imperial officer, he had to completely reverse his approach and actively curry favor with them.
Gao Jie cupped his fists respectfully. "Mister Bai, I look forward to your guidance in the future."
Bai Yuan chuckled. "The feeling is mutual."
With the greetings concluded, Bai Yuan turned back to find Fan Shangzheng and He Renlong had also finished their discussion.
The two reunited, and Fan Shangzheng leaned in, lowering his voice. "He Renlong just told me that, for some unknown reason, his imperial unit is constantly singled out for attack. The rebels pursue him relentlessly, day and night, even splitting their forces to encircle him from all sides, as if they won't be satisfied until he's eliminated. It's left He Renlong utterly bewildered and embarrassed, which is why he had no choice but to retreat and defend Luoyang. He's completely at a loss."
A chuckle escaped Bai Yuan. *Ah, you haven't seen the infamous Gaojia News segment about the 'Dashing General' being cuckolded,* he thought. That particular report, which had incidentally featured Gao Yingxiang, had been aired only once within Gao Family Village before being abruptly halted, subsequently circulating only among the core leadership. Fan Shangzheng wasn't yet 'core' enough to be privy to such scandalous details.
Bai Yuan, choosing not to elaborate, merely let out two cryptic chuckles. Only after he stopped did he feel a twinge of impropriety. *This 'rites' aspect of a gentleman's six arts,* he mused, *I might just have to strike that one from my ledger.*
As the two continued their awkward exchange, Li Daoxuan, outside the diorama box, found himself contemplating a significant question.
Gao Jie had entered his field of view!
Now, Li Daoxuan merely needed to reach down and strike, and Gao Jie would be eliminated.
But...
Was that truly the right thing to do?
Gao Jie was unlike most pacified rebels.
Most pacified rebels merely feigned submission. After their supposed pacification, they would merely bide their time, gather strength, and then, seizing the opportunity when the Manchus invaded and imperial troops were redeployed north, they would invariably rise again, plunging the realm into chaos.
But Gao Jie...
According to historical records, he was genuinely pacified.
After all, having cuckolded Li Zicheng, genuine pacification was his only path. Returning to the rebel army was no longer an option; he was utterly committed to rehabilitating his reputation.
Indeed, he never rebelled again. Instead, he served as a fierce vanguard for the imperial army's bandit suppression, clashing with rebels across the land. Ultimately, he even rose to become one of the renowned "Four Garrisons of Southern Ming," representing the last bastion of hope for the Southern Ming court in resisting the Qing invaders and reclaiming the realm.
Of course, that hope perished with Gao Jie's death.
To reach down and instantly strike such a man dead now would feel rather unjust.
Perhaps, with careful guidance and discipline, he could still become a force for good?
How would he know without trying?
Li Daoxuan, with a sudden shift of focus, projected his consciousness into the embroidered image of the Heavenly Lord on Bai Yuan's chest. He spoke, his voice resounding in Fan Shangzheng's mind: "Fan Shangzheng, you needn't trouble yourself with He Renlong. The one you truly need to watch is Gao Jie."
Fan Shangzheng questioned, "Oh? What about him?"
The Heavenly Lord's voice echoed with divine authority. "This man is a pacified rebel, yet he knows nothing of proper conduct. You must guard against his arrogance and ferocity, his disregard for military discipline, and his propensity to allow his troops to plunder the populace..."
Fan Shangzheng snapped to attention. "Oh, you're absolutely right! I must go and warn him immediately."
"A mere warning may not suffice," the Heavenly Lord stated. "Present him with a copy of *The Heavenly Lord Dao Xuan's Tale of Demon Extermination*. Let him see it, and tell him that Luoyang is under my protection."
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