Chapter 780: Hidden Concerns of a Military Family

Mengzi County, Lian’an Prefecture, Yunnan.

After several battles in Jiaozhi, Mu Sheng had always launched his campaigns from Mengzi County, so the area was accustomed to the sight of large armies stationed there under strict security. It was well known throughout the land that Grand Tutor and Duke of Yingguo, Zhang Fu, had led three expeditions to Jiaozhi and served as commander four times. Yet Mu Sheng had also resigned from his post several times, almost always in defeat. To protect the Mu family’s reputation, the imperial court chose to keep these failures hidden. As the Prince of Yunnan, Mu Sheng could not allow the local people to look down on him, so he made even greater efforts to conceal these setbacks. When Mu Sheng arrived this time, from the military and civil officials accompanying him to those in the prefecture and counties, everyone flattered him generously.

“The illustrious reputation of your military family spans two generations. This time, the emperor has only asked you to lead troops in support—clearly, he believes a bigger gun isn’t needed for such a task.”

“That’s exactly it! Marquis Anyuan has been given the title of General for Subduing Barbarians this time, while you hold the title of General for Conquering the South. It would be inappropriate for you to lower your status to follow him. Besides, those rebel troops are nothing but petty scoundrels who will surely be wiped out in one fell swoop—there’s no need for you to step in.”

“Ever since Jiaozhi was pacified, it’s been over a decade since we’ve seen the Duke of Qian in Mengzi County. Everyone here misses him quite a bit.”

As a newcomer, although Mu Sheng ordered that the people not be disturbed, the prefectural and county officials, along with local gentry and wealthy people, kept inviting him to banquets. After refusing many times, he could no longer ignore them entirely. So, more than ten days after his arrival, he went to one banquet for the first time, accompanied by a few of his subordinates. He remained indifferent to their excessive flattery, and over time, those local gentry grew embarrassed. On the other hand, since Mu Sheng respected scholars and often quoted classics in his conversations, a few civil officials of proper background enjoyed talking with him and eventually admired him greatly, causing a faint smile to appear on the Duke of Qian’s face.

After the banquet, Mu Sheng returned to the military headquarters of the Mu family in Mengzi County, escorted by a large number of personal guards. After suppressing the rebellion in Jiaozhi alongside Zhang Fu and being granted the title of Duke of Qian, Mu Sheng failed to defeat Chen Jianding and failed to capture Chen Jikuo. Since the 13th year of the Yongle era, he had not been to Mengzi County again. Yet, the military headquarters was still repaired annually by people from the Mu family’s household, remaining even neater than the prefectural or county government offices.

Upon arriving at the entrance of the headquarters, Mu Sheng dismounted immediately, and someone stepped forward to take his heavy cloak. The rest surrounded him as he entered the main gate. At the second gate, most of his attendants stopped there, with only a few trusted personal guards following inside. After washing his face inside, holding the hot tea brought by a servant, he shed his usual silent and serious demeanor and chatted cheerfully with a few people before asking, “Are there any updates on the situation in Jiaozhi?”

“My lord, it’s still the same news as before. It is said that Marquis Anyuan has already led his troops from Jiaozhou Prefecture to Qinghua Prefecture. Military provisions are transported by sea, but since we need to secure Haidong Prefecture and various coastal ports, the number of troops on both sides is not large… Please forgive my boldness, but compared to the several military campaigns in Jiaozhi during the Yongle era, the number of troops this time is indeed smaller. If my lord remains in Mengzi County without taking action, some in the court might gossip. Moreover, if Marquis Anyuan wins, they might think my lord has gained credit for nothing.”

“I know Liu Sheng’s temper—he’s impatient. If I were to lead troops there now to interfere, he would think I’m trying to steal credit! I don’t seek credit, but I certainly don’t want to make mistakes!” Mu Sheng smiled faintly, thought for a moment, then ordered, “Send the front army commander with five thousand troops to enter Jiaozhi via the right bank of the Tao River first. I’ll bring the rear troops and assess the situation in a few days before moving forward. There’s no need to rush. Although Liu Sheng is brave, Jiaozhi isn’t something that can be conquered just with bravery. He might face some difficulties!”

All of Mu Sheng’s personal generals knew his temperament, so they remained silent. Seeing Mu Sheng look tired, they took their leave one by one. Outside, the youngest, Bai Yong, muttered softly, “After all, the Mu family are noble warriors. Jiaozhi is right next to Yunnan. If we have to send troops from outside to quell unrest every time, will my lord eventually lose favor with the court?”

The others understood that what mattered most was not gaining favor in the court but maintaining the Mu family’s reputation. However, compared to the former prince Mu Ying and the highly skilled previous Marquis of Xiping, Mu Chun, Mu Sheng’s military skills were rather average, and his attainment of the title of Duke of Qian was somewhat due to luck. So, they simply exchanged sighs.

When they returned to the courtyard where they rested, the older Su Ming said softly, “There’s no need to worry about losing court favor. Over the years, my lord has sent so many gifts to the capital—they weren’t given for free. My lord may not be very skilled in warfare, but he has no doubts among those above and below him. Not to mention those powerful officials, even we all own quite a lot of land and live more comfortably than many officials!”

All four of them had ancestors who fought under Mu Ying and Mu Chun and were hereditary generals of the Mu family’s estate. Now, each of them owned dozens of hectares of land, and their families lived a wealthy and peaceful life. To be honest, they weren’t eager to go to the battlefield to seek advancement—though becoming an official outside the estate seemed free, it weakened their ties to the Mu family estate, and they would be looked down upon outside. Why go through that trouble?

Although Mu Sheng commanded the troops throughout Yunnan and had generals of various ranks under him, it was these close confidants who would first discuss important military strategies and present their conclusions to Mu Sheng for his consideration before summoning all the generals to hold a meeting. Having grown up studying and training in martial arts, even noble youths would not demand such strictness. Though they had returned to their rooms, they continued to discuss matters by lamplight. Once everything was settled, Su Ming couldn’t help but yawn.
“It’s late. We still need to accompany Lord to review the army tomorrow. Everyone, go back and sleep!”
As soon as he spoke, there was a rapid knocking at the door. All four were startled. Bai Yong, who was closest to the door, rushed forward and opened it. The person outside didn’t even have time to explain and said straight away, “Uncle Bai, military reports have just arrived from Jiaozhi. Marquis Anyuan achieved a great victory in Qinghua Prefecture, defeating over 30,000 enemy soldiers and beheading thousands. Please report this to Lord as soon as possible!”
As he spoke, he handed over the urgent military report, then added hurriedly, “Also, someone reported outside the county town that Marquis Yangwu and his party have arrived at Heyang Pass!”
Hearing this news, all four realized they probably wouldn’t be able to sleep that night. After brief discussion, Bai Yong immediately led people to Heyang Pass to welcome them, while Su Ming and the other two took the military report and went straight back to see Mu Sheng. That night, the light in Mu Sheng’s room in the headquarters stayed on all night, and the streets, under curfew, remained restless as the loud sound of horse hooves disturbed many people’s sleep. It wasn’t until early the next morning that Mu Sheng’s three other confidants, along with over a hundred men, rushed out of the city. Only then did the people who had been discussing the matter all night stop talking, and even those in the government offices could only whisper among themselves.
At noon, a large group entered the city gate, leading a carriage straight to the street opposite the headquarters. By then, the entire street had been cleared of civilians by the troops. Duke Qian Mu Sheng personally stepped down from the steps to greet them. Seeing several servants carry a person down from a special carriage on a rattan stretcher, he hurried over. The person’s face was terrifyingly pale, and he seemed much thinner and older than before, which filled Mu Sheng with concern.
“My elder brother has guarded Jiaozhi for many years. It’s truly unfortunate that he suddenly faced such misfortune. He must have suffered greatly.”

Seeing Mu Sheng speak so earnestly, Zhang You couldn’t help but smile bitterly. “I brought this upon myself… If I hadn’t been careless and negligent, I wouldn’t have been struck by that poisoned arrow, ruining years of stability in an instant. I’ve already asked my third brother to draft a memorial to take blame on my behalf. I only hope that Marquis Anyuan will achieve success this time, and that Brother Jingmao will also have a smooth journey. My third brother originally wanted me to go to Guangzhou to rest for a while, but Physician He said the climate in Yunnan Prefecture is more suitable for my current health, so I have no choice but to trouble Brother Jingmao.”

“What kind of relationship do we have that we need to say such things?”

Mu Sheng shook his head and then noticed the middle-aged man beside Zhang You. He had never met Zhang Zhuo before, but Mu Xin had written about him so often that his ears were almost calloused from hearing how capable this man was. As a result, he had quite a bit of correspondence with Zhang Zhuo. If he had been just a talented scion from a wealthy family, he would have shown some respect out of concern for money, but with Zhang Zhuo’s excellent son around, his attitude naturally became even more respectful. After sizing him up, he smiled and said, “So this is Brother San Shi?”

Although he didn’t hold any titles, Zhang Zhuo was now a second-rank official, so he remained very polite to Mu Sheng, responding with a warm smile. Before they could exchange many words, one of Mu Sheng’s aides praised the harmonious relationship between him and Zhang You, brotherly and respectful. Hearing this, Mu Sheng grew suspicious and quickly pulled the silent Zhang Chao forward to avoid feeling uneasy.

Due to Zhang You’s weak health, the welcome banquet was omitted. After settling him in a sunny courtyard, Mu Sheng met with Zhang You and Zhang Chao to discuss leaving Lin’an Prefecture for Kunming. He mentioned that he had already arranged for them to stay at the Cuihu Mu Wang Mansion, where the picturesque scenery was ideal for recovery. Zhang Chao, who used to be impatient with guests in the capital, watched as Zhang Zhuo handled everything with ease and humor. After they parted, he couldn’t help but ask hesitantly along the way, “Uncle San, could you teach me about social etiquette?”

Zhang Zhuo, who was walking ahead with his head down, suddenly froze. He turned around and sized Zhang Chao up, his expression turning strange. He knew Zhang Chao’s temperament all too well; it wasn’t surprising that he would ask other questions, but to ask him to teach social etiquette… Seeing that Zhang Chao didn’t seem reluctant at all, he felt a bit relieved.

It’s already extremely difficult to cultivate one’s own integrity in this world, let alone protect an entire family. Zhang Chao understood this well; even though Zhang You was still severely injured and not yet recovered, he would surely be happy upon hearing this!
“There’s no need to teach such things. If you’re willing in the future, spend more time with me attending meetings and social gatherings, and you’ll naturally learn. Well, it’s getting late now. Hurry back and be with your father. In case anything happens, you can immediately summon Doctor He.”
Seeing Zhang Chao nod in agreement and bow respectfully before leaving, Zhang Zhuo felt all the fatigue from the journey over the past month vanish instantly, and his steps even became lighter. As he briskly returned to his own quarters, the servant who had led the uncle and nephew back hurried back to report everything they had discussed to Mu Sheng.
At the Mu family’s mansion, only Su Ming remained among the four generals. After hearing Mu Sheng’s words, he waved his hand to send the man away and then sat there in thought, his brows tightening and relaxing alternately as he unconsciously fiddled with his beard. With a quick thought, he said with a smile, “My lord, the eldest son of the Marquis of Yangwu is well-known for his recklessness and carelessness. Seeing his father in such a state, he naturally felt a sense of responsibility. There’s no other meaning to his words—just Lord Zhang’s concern for him.”
“Don’t you understand?” Glancing at Su Ming, Mu Sheng spoke slowly, “Just yesterday, my wife had a letter sent from the capital. Don’t you know what it said? The emperor wants to bestow honors on his relatives. This should have been the best opportunity, but the Duke of Ying actually accused his own younger brother in front of the emperor, saying he was irresponsible and unfit for duty. As a result, Zhang Rui’s promotion was halted. Zhang Jie also acted cowardly, claiming he was not competent enough. The two direct brothers of the Duke of Ying, seeing this, switched Zhang Xinyou from a civil position to a military one, effectively ending his chances. The Marquis of Yangwu is in a similar situation. If Zhang Zhuo treats his two brothers and nephew better, he can gain both reputation and practical benefits. He has the ability to manage affairs, and his son has the talent to become an official. There’s no reason why he can’t rise in the future!”
Seeing Mu Sheng explain everything himself, Su Ming smiled and said, “My lord is so far-sighted. How could I compare? But it makes sense. Emperor Taizong also nurtured Zhang Yue repeatedly, preparing him for the emperor’s use. Since he has achieved many merits, his future success is inevitable. Does my lord mean to offer further assistance?”

“I already did my best to help with Gu Xingzu’s matter back then; now there’s nothing more I can do. War is merciless—only his own luck will decide… If he’s lucky enough to achieve great feats and return to the court, he’ll at least enjoy prosperity for decades. That’s when it would be worth investing heavily. Over the years, the court has indeed valued the Mu family’s veteran generals, but all those who spoke well of me didn’t do so for nothing. By the way, I heard your niece was in mourning before; has she just finished her period of mourning?”
As soon as these words were spoken, Su Ming, standing in the shadows, froze momentarily, his shoulders trembling slightly before he lowered his head. “It’s fortunate that my lord still thinks of this child. But she lacks fortune—she finished her mourning before we launched the campaign and, under her mother’s arrangement, has already married an officer from the late lord’s entourage.”
“Married? Well, she truly lacks fortune. I thought your niece might be more reliable, and she wouldn’t be a disgrace matched to such a talented man. He’s already a high-ranking official in his own region before turning thirty; upon returning to the court, he’ll surely become a minister. If only he had been granted a title already—then things would be easier to predict… He should have been granted a title by now…”
Su Ming stayed in the room to discuss matters for a while longer. Hearing that Mu Sheng wanted his wife to choose beauties to give to Zhang Zhuo, he felt even more uneasy. Finally, when Mu Sheng grew tired and went to rest, Su Ming personally escorted him back to his room. On his way back, he couldn’t help but sigh deeply. It’s understandable to build good relationships with the powerful in the court, but why rely solely on women? Isn’t the woman in the Mu family’s mansion by Cuihu still causing trouble? Moreover, although there are those in the capital who speak well of the Mu family, there have also been some unconfirmed bad news these days.