Chapter 773: Only Regretting My Youthful Recklessness, Not Leaving Home So Far

Zhang You had been in Jiaozhou for over a decade. During his initial tenure as a deputy general, he took Fang Shuixin as his secondary wife. After returning to the capital, he once again took up his post as the commander here and took in three or four concubines. Some of these women were introduced by his subordinates from the local area, some were descendants of exiled officials, and others were purchased. They had thought they could live a stable life under this commander, but now that the sky above them had suddenly collapsed, they were naturally in great distress. Although Zhang You’s condition had improved somewhat, they all knew the journey back to the capital was long and unpredictable, so they were filled with anxiety.

One day, they heard that the third lord and the eldest young master wanted to see them. Realizing this affected their futures, they forgot their past rivalries and even helped each other before entering the room.

On one hand, they had to receive the visiting civil and military officials; on the other, they had to send people back to the capital to report news, prepare for the return journey, and care for their sick master day and night. In just a few days, Zhang Chao had lost a lot of weight, with deep hollows under his eyes. His father had never mentioned these women to him or his mother in the capital, but everyone knew about them, so he merely glanced at them before looking away.

“Now, my uncle and I must accompany our father back to the capital. When Father was slightly better, he asked me to take good care of you all. He said that if anyone wishes to come with us, they may do so, and Father will grant them proper status.” After a pause, seeing the women hesitating, Zhang Chao added calmly, “If anyone prefers to return home or seek refuge with relatives, please speak up. Those who have served our father well will not be treated poorly.”

At this point, the four concubines exchanged glances, their expressions varying greatly. Earlier, they had been worried that the eldest son might blame them for his father’s serious injury, but now they could breathe easier. Yet, not only was the journey to Beijing long, but it was also uncertain whether Zhang You would survive. Since they had no children, if their mistress decided to sell them or dispose of them in some other way, it was better to make a decision early.

So, a beautiful woman was the first to bow gracefully, speaking in Mandarin that sounded somewhat awkward: “I’m from here. If I go back to the capital with the commander, I might never return. So I want to stay in Jiaozhou Prefecture to be with my parents.”

“The eldest young master is kind. I’m also from the south and can’t adapt to the northern climate. I plan to go to Mengzi County to live with my aunt.”

“I also plan to seek refuge with relatives…”

“I plan to return to my hometown to pay respects at my ancestral graves.”
Hearing this, Zhang Chao nodded. Two maids immediately brought in plates, each holding two silk bags. One was given to each person. Zhang Chao then said, “Inside are one hundred taels of silver. You can exchange it for copper coins or treasure notes for their use. In addition, you may take all your jewelry and ornaments. Those who wish to stay here may go back, while those who want to leave and visit relatives can come with me to avoid dangers on the road.”
These words once again earned him great gratitude from everyone. After they all left, Zhang Chao sighed deeply. Looking at Zhang Zhuo, who had remained silent, he said, “Third uncle, I really owe you a lot this time. Without you, I wouldn’t have been able to arrange even these things properly. Our father served in Jiaozhi Town for many years. Aside from those heavy items, treasure notes, and imperial gold and silver, he had nothing else.”
“What’s the value of this money? Don’t you know your father’s temperament? Even when we went to Kaifeng to deliver gifts, he just packed a whole box of things without caring whether they were useful or not. He never paid attention to financial matters, as his salary and income from his fiefs were sent home and managed by your mother. Those items like ivory, rhinoceros horn, and tortoiseshell are indeed valuable, but seeing how he kept them, it’s clear he didn’t take them seriously. He can’t possibly use them to pay people off, right? So, are you ready to set off tomorrow?”
“Mm, I’m just waiting for my third brother to return.”
“What needs to wait for me to return?”
Zhang Yue pushed aside the curtain and entered the room. Seeing his father and Zhang Chao there, he quickly bowed and then apologized, saying, “The army is about to march in, and there are so many matters outside that I can’t be of much help. I’m truly sorry, second uncle and eldest brother.”
“If you keep saying that, I’ll feel utterly ashamed.”
Seeing Zhang Chao hesitating, Zhang Zhuo nodded at Zhang Yue and pretended to go out to check on things. As soon as he left, Zhang Chao took a deep breath and bowed deeply to Zhang Yue. Caught off guard, Zhang Yue was initially stunned before gradually understanding.
“Eldest brother, is there something you want to tell me?”

Zhang Chao didn’t reply right away. Although it was daytime, thick double-layer bamboo door curtains were hung in front of the house, and thick mosquito nets covered all the windows, making the place extremely dim. Only the flickering oil lamp illuminated a small area in front of the two brothers. After a long silence, Zhang Chao finally said with difficulty, “When our grandmother passed away, though I was sad, I also realized how kind she had been to me. But after all, our father was still alive, and the family still had a pillar to hold it together. So my younger brother and I felt we had someone to rely on, and there wasn’t much pressure. It wasn’t until now that I understand what it really feels like when everything collapses.”

Having grown up with Zhang Chao since childhood, Zhang Yue naturally understood that the two brothers had always been impulsive and reckless by nature. After all, their father was a military officer with a bright future outside, and later became a nobleman. Their mother brought a generous dowry, and their family owned plenty of fields and shops. Even many official meritorious warriors might not have lived as comfortably as they did. Moreover, with the Gu family protecting them at first, and now that the Gu family was gone and Zhang You, who was far away in Jiaozhou, was the real head of the family, the brothers didn’t have to worry too much. Although Zhang You had now passed the most dangerous period, if things went as Physician He said, he might never be able to fight in battles again, and the responsibility would surely fall on the two sons. Even if Zhang Chao didn’t inherit the title, bearing such a heavy burden all at once would surely feel different.

“Don’t worry. We’re blood relatives. Big brother, you can’t think I’d abandon you and our father just like that.”

“I know how close you are to Uncle Third. This time, he rushed to Jiaozhou Prefecture without hesitation to stay with Father through the toughest times. Father also told me that what pleased him the most was that our family didn’t engage in internal strife like some large, multi-generational families. He was most grateful to have brothers like Uncle Third… These days, Father keeps telling me to be independent and strong, and to help my younger brother maintain our family’s reputation! Third brother, I’ll be going back to the capital with Uncle Third to take care of Father tomorrow. No matter how reckless and foolish my younger brother and I were in the past, from now on, we will change completely and live up to the Zhang family’s name! When you return victorious, we brothers will definitely be your strongest backing. Do you believe that?”

The more determined Zhang Yue spoke, the more resolute his tone became. He even placed his hands on his own shoulders. Zhang Yue couldn’t help but put his arms around Zhang Chao’s shoulders and nodded firmly. “Of course I believe you! Don’t worry. Wait for me in the capital!”

Only then did Zhang Chao show the rare smile these days, and he added, “Dad is somewhat more energetic today. Every time you came back before, he was either asleep or too weak to speak. So before you left, he wanted to see you one last time. I won’t go—otherwise, as soon as Dad sees us together, he’ll glare at me and compare me to you, a man who doesn’t even resemble a human!” Carrying the insult of “not resembling a human” in mind, Zhang Yue walked with a bitter smile toward Zhang You’s bedroom in the back yard. Since departure was set for the next day, all personal belongings had already been packed and loaded onto vehicles; some heavy items had been sold, and the rest were given to subordinates in the general’s residence, bringing joy to many. Thus, the now-empty bedroom contained only simple furniture—all the ivory and rosewood carvings were gone, even the silver hooks on the bed curtains had been taken away.

Previously, in addition to dispersing the concubines as ordered by his father, Zhang Chao had also given each of the local maids silver to let them go home. Only two young maids without family wanted to follow him to Beijing, but they weren’t there either at the moment. The only servant present, Zhan Fu, helped Zhang You sit up, kowtowed, and then quietly stepped back.

Zhang Yue sat down on the small stool by the bed. Seeing Zhang You gaze at him intently, still thin but retaining his usual commanding presence, he felt a stir in his heart. It was the first time he had seen Zhang You sober since arriving in Jiaozhou Prefecture. After taking a deep breath, he didn’t know what to say.

“I know. Seeing me like this must make you feel uneasy and probably blame yourself. But there’s no need for that. Throughout my life, I’ve been determined to succeed, so I’ve long been accustomed to fighting for merits on the battlefield. Besides, it was my own choice to come here—Emperor Taizong thought I was suitable! Others may see this as a barbaric land, but everything I have comes from here. This is where I started, and now it’s where I’m stepping back. If anyone is to be blamed, it’s me for being careless—no one else is to fault!”

Hearing these straightforward words, Zhang Yue felt much of the gloom in his heart dissipate. He couldn’t help but exclaim, “Uncle, you truly are a magnanimous man!”

“What do you mean, ‘big man’? Though I’m a warrior, my heart is more sensitive than anyone else’s. Otherwise, how could I have reached where I am today?” Zhang You gave a bitter smile and then let out a long sigh. “Drinking, singing, drawing my sword to fight enemies—unbeatable wherever my blade points—these are the traits of famous generals in novels. Perhaps such people existed in past dynasties, but which military officer these days isn’t extremely cautious? I’m far away in Jiaozhi. As long as I treat those civil officials well, I won’t face any obstacles, which is better than being in the capital. Moreover, by managing this barbaric land well, I have this achievement as a guarantee. As long as my descendants don’t do anything outrageous, they can continue to live safely generation after generation. That’s my goal. So, after striving for excellence for half my life, even though things have turned out like this, I have no regrets!”

Perhaps it had been a long time since he’d spoken so freely, Zhang You got carried away and poured out many of his thoughts. In the end, he said solemnly, “You’ve always been mature for your age. There’s nothing much else I need to remind you about, except one person you need to be careful with. Mu Sheng, the Duke of Qian, is regarded by outsiders as a quiet, studious, and upright gentleman. But when it comes to scheming, not even the high-ranking officials in the court can compare to him. Your father dealt with him over matters of money, so you must know how shrewd he is. The Mu family rules Yunnan forever, and the people there serve them just as officials serve the court. As far as I know, the Mu family owns thousands of acres of land in Yunnan. Mu Sheng isn’t good at warfare. If things go well in battle, his credit is undeniable. But if things go poorly, be wary of him abandoning you and retreating first with his troops!”

Seeing Zhang Yue only appear slightly surprised before nodding seriously, Zhang You took a breath before slowly explaining, “Although you’re a civil official now, the ancestral rule established by Emperor Taizu is that nobles are not allowed to interfere in court affairs. So, you’re actually the most important person in our Zhang family right now. Mu Sheng will surely try to win you over, so you need to be careful. As far as I know, the amount of gifts the Mu family gives to the powerful officials in the court is beyond imagination for others. Even though I wasn’t a noble back then, he still went out of his way to personally arrange my marriage to the daughter of the Mangshi chieftain as my second wife. How much more so for others? Mu Sheng has given away many such women, but that marriage was beneficial not only to him but also to me, so I agreed. But you still need to be on guard.”

The Mu family is an established noble house, while the Zhang family is a newer one, but the two families have a good relationship. Moreover, Mu Sheng’s daughter is married to Zhu Yong, the Duke of Chengguo, and the Wang family is also related to the Zhu family. In short, the three families are connected through marriages. Faced with Zhang You’s calmness when talking about Fang Shuixin and his sincere earnestness when reminding him, Zhang Yue was slightly stunned, and his nod this time seemed somewhat unnatural.

Zhang You noticed this and added, “So, my father originally advised me to return to Guangzhou to recuperate. After much thought, I decided to take a detour to Yunnan and spend some time recuperating on Mu family land before returning to the capital. That way, Mu Sheng would be more restrained… Apart from his wife, other women are just for pleasure. It turned out I was wrong that time, so I don’t want you to repeat my mistakes… Your great-uncle is now the Grand Tutor and Duke of Yingguo, holding the title of the highest-ranking noble, unable to move freely. From now on, the Zhang family depends on you!”

Mu Sheng, the Duke of Qian who would succeed in leading the troops, is currently stationed in Mengzi County, Lin’an Prefecture, which is the forefront of Yunnan’s entry into Jiaozhi. When Zhang Fu first entered Annam, he was still the Marquis of Xiping and quite young, with a bit of arrogance. But after being suddenly promoted to duke, reaching the pinnacle of a subject’s status, he became more aware of his own limitations in leading troops and tended to back down in difficult situations. Just like now, with the upheaval in Jiaozhi, many under his command advised him to volunteer to lead the troops, but he remained unmoved, more concerned about other matters.

“Report—”

A shout from outside suddenly woke him up. After giving an order, the main door was pushed open, and one of his trusted generals brought in an urgent letter. Upon seeing that it was written by Zhang Zhuo and Zhang Chao, who were about to escort Zhang You out of Mengzi County and stay in Yunnan Prefecture to recuperate for a while, his expression changed. After thinking for a while, he looked at the general in front of him.

“Send someone to inform my wife. Tell her to ensure proper service is provided while Yangwu Bo and the others rest in the Cuihu Mansion—no negligence allowed! Also, she should take care of all household matters properly to avoid any complications!”