Chapter 160 – Control

“Lu Xiao, top of every class at the Naval Academy! He can ride horses, steer ships, command troops, and even write articles! I originally wanted to have him under my own command as a deputy general, but now he’s yours!

“Si Xiaosi, a fisherman by birth, handles boats as if they were flat land. He passed the Naval Academy exams and can shoot a musket on a ship with deadly accuracy! A talent like that, I was going to have him as a personal guard by my side, but now he’s yours!

“Guan Wanwan, top of her medical school class! The most outstanding among female students! Not only does she know acupuncture, surgery, and medicine, she can also write articles! I was going to recommend her to the Imperial Hospital as a female physician, but now she’s yours too!

“And Luo Tianyou, Xu Fugui, Zhang Baoshan, all the best of the elite guards, selected to further their studies at the Naval Academy, I’ve placed them all under your command. What else do you want?”

“If you find them unsatisfactory, send them back, I’ll give them to Xu Chun!”

Fang Zijing berated him coldly, clearly aware of every detail regarding Nong Siji’s subordinates. His face was covered in frost, his voice cold and quick.

Nong Siji was embarrassed, coughing lightly. “No…I didn’t say they were useless…I know they’re good…”

But Fang Zijing was filled with indignation, continuing his criticism. “And military equipment, you use new ships, and the guns we equipped on your ships are brand new. Do you know how much it costs to fire a single shot? In that battle at Lulin Bay, you slaughtered hundreds, dragged back some battered ships, did I ever ask you to account for it? You must have pocketed the spoils, leaving us with some scrap metal. And you still want more supplies and rations? You could fool a novice like Xu Chun, but do you think you can fool me?”

Nong Siji, seeing the discussion turn critical, hastily said, “I understand, I understand, I was wrong!”

But Fang Zijing would not relent. “And the battle at Dongsha Island, do you want to see the interrogation records of the captives? They said there were so many supplies and food on the island. How much did you return? Should I investigate thoroughly? Concealing information from the commander-in-chief and pocketing spoils, what punishment should that warrant?”

Nong Siji looked ashamed. “Commander! I know I was wrong! If I had known that Marquis Wu Ying was you, I would never have kept anything for myself, I would have turned it all over to you! I just didn’t know…it was my younger brother’s foolish words, I offended you, please forgive me!”

Fang Zijing angrily said, “Too late! All the supplies must be returned, and the talents as well! And what did you call me earlier? Favoring old generals? What kind of bird? What kind of person? You used to be so precious and dignified, why are you spouting such vulgarities now? I misjudged you! All our past friendship was in vain!”

Nong Siji had a mournful expression. “My Lord Marquis, I was wrong. I got used to speaking directly with those coarse men below. I was so tired from fighting that I lost my mind, I held my breath for too long…I was so oppressed, My Lord Marquis, if I had known it was you, I wouldn’t have been so nervous. You don’t know how tense I’ve been these days, I have no way out…If the court doesn’t accept me…I’m left with nowhere to go, like a beaten dog, how could I maintain my former pride, I don’t know how many people are talking behind my back.”

He then pitifully looked at Xu Chun and Sheng Changtian. “Brother Xu, Brother Changtian, you just watched me make a fool of myself, running headlong into the Marquis’s wrath…How could I have known that the Marquis had considered everything for me, why did the Marquis avoid meeting me all this time?”

Xu Chun smiled. “Brother Nong, the Marquis was really busy, he not only had to take care of your affairs at sea, but also had to manage the land routes, and worry about raising funds, it wasn’t that he avoided you. With bandits threatening us, state affairs come first, the Marquis thought of befriending you, but putting personal relationships aside for the time being was fine, surely you wouldn’t blame him for prioritizing public duties over private matters.”

Nong Siji said, “How could I not know that, but…” His eyes welled up with tears as he wiped them away. “I have no one to talk to…”

Fang Zijing sneered coldly. “It’s only been two months, ‘The way of the general begins with the heart. Unperturbed when Mount Tai collapses before him, unmoved when a deer jumps out from the side.’ You are too soft-hearted in governance and lack patience as a general, I wonder what you can do!”

Nong Siji lifted his gaze and saw Xu Chun discreetly making a gesture with his fingers hidden by his sleeve, mouthing something.

Nong Siji suddenly understood, realizing that Fang Zijing had a soft spot, he hurriedly fell to his knees, grasping Fang Zijing’s hand earnestly. “If the Marquis doesn’t forgive me, I’ll have to apologize with a fagot on my back…I’ll kneel before the Marquis’s tent, the Marquis can beat me with a stick, I’ll kneel until he’s no longer angry.”

Fang Zijing shook off his hand, disgusted. “You stink, don’t get near me! Go wash and change your clothes, perfume yourself, then come talk to me.”

Nong Siji immediately jumped up. “My Lord Marquis, you are truly magnanimous! I’ll go wash right away! Later, I’ll come to apologize to you with a fagot on my back!”

He jumped up, gave Xu Chun a wink, and quickly ran off.

Fang Zijing: “…”

Xu Chun suppressed a laugh. “Brother Zijing, you are truly broad-minded, Brother Nong must have been truly oppressed. He didn’t know it was you, without family or friends, no way forward or back, naturally, he was upset. Even in Jinhai, I sensed a change in his character compared to when we were in the South Seas, I don’t know what kind of life he had last year.”

Fang Zijing said, “What do you know, when I first met him, he came to the auction house to buy things, he couldn’t bear to part with this, and couldn’t bear to part with that, later he bought a staff with the symbols of fortune, longevity, and health, guess who he wanted to give it to?”

Xu Chun vaguely guessed. “To his father, the king?”

Fang Zijing: “Exactly! Can you believe he lacked judgment? Most rulers abhor aging, yet he wanted to give his father a walking stick! I happened to be sitting next to him at the time, surprised that he bought this thing, he told me it was for his father. He said he recently made his father angry and wanted to give him a valuable gift as an apology, just as his father had fallen ill and was walking unsteadily, he thought the walking stick was nice.”

“I saw that he seemed high-born, in such families, the relationship between father and son is often sensitive, so I kindly gave him advice, suggesting he give a bronze ancient tripod instead, which isn’t too expensive.”

“He was somewhat puzzled, but still bought it. After a while, he came over and told me that his father was very happy to receive the tripod at his birthday celebration. But later, he felt it was a pity that he hadn’t given the walking stick, so the day after the birthday celebration, he gave it to his father…”

Xu Chun and Sheng Changtian couldn’t help but laugh.

Fang Zijing said, “That’s the extent of his insight. Later, as we interacted more, I learned of his identity, knowing he was good at warfare, not hogging all the credit for his achievements, nor shirking responsibility for his mistakes, he was a straightforward man. I was curious whether he could really succeed to the throne smoothly. Indeed, I watched him offend his own father without realizing it, always courting disaster.”

Xu Chun said, “I know Brother Zijing has a soft heart, you must have given him a lot of advice over the years, otherwise, how could a straightforward person like him remain in the position of crown prince for so many years without being overthrown.”

Fang Zijing said, “Being good at warfare and having a sense of righteousness is his advantage, he has a good reputation in the army, I advised him to speak less and privately recruit talented people. At that time, he saw the three of you and was delighted by your talents, asking me if there was any way to recruit you, but on that day I recognized Dinhai, realizing that you were probably acting on the Emperor’s orders, so he couldn’t recruit you.”

Xu Chun didn’t expect that twist, laughing. “So that’s how it was, precisely because he wanted to recruit us, I had the chance to meet Brother Zijing, it’s fate.”

Fang Zijing was startled, remembering the opportunity that led him into the world. His once leisurely yet stagnant life, akin to stagnant water, had now plunged into the arena of fame and fortune, the maze of cunning and deceit, battling with countless others.

It was a game of intense maneuvering and balancing, constantly playing mind games, exhausting himself in the tightrope walk between life and death, exerting his influence amidst the chaos, watching fleets and armies be reduced to ashes…This feeling was truly…exhilarating.

Fang Zijing suddenly smiled slightly, the previous anger vanished, giving him a closer feeling towards Nong Siji and Xu Chun, as if fate had destined their encounter and friendship. He smiled gently. “Don’t mind that simpleton, take care of your injuries, Sheng Changtian will set out tomorrow, going to Minzhou to raise funds, I demand that this war ends within half a year, plan accordingly. The Sheng family is the local power, with Sheng Changzhou and Zhang Wenzheng helping you there, it shouldn’t be difficult.”

Sheng Changtian hastily agreed, but looked worriedly at Xu Chun.

Fang Zijing said, “Yuanlin will stay with me, don’t worry. I suspect that when the imperial decree returns, you will have a real military post, your previous title of General Yangwei was just nominal, now it’s better. Follow Nong Siji in a couple of battles, and you’ll get the hang of it. Let Nong Siji and I lead you, ensuring safety, that’s the Emperor’s intention, who knew you would fight a battle on the way…It’s actually good, saving me the trouble of coming up with an excuse for you. The spoils you brought back indeed boosted morale, take advantage of the momentum to push forward, the situation is promising.”

Xu Chun was invigorated. “Whatever Brother Zijing says!”

Sheng Changtian also agreed.

Half a month later, Xu Chun’s wounds had healed considerably, and sure enough, the imperial commendation arrived from the capital, rewarding all the meritorious officers. Among them, Xu Chun, the Inspector of the Jinhai Customs Office, was commended for raising funds and defeating pirates, appointed as Deputy Commander of the Jinhai Military Commandery, still responsible for raising funds and logistics, and leading the Jinhai Navy, subject to the overall command of the Zhejiang-Min Province Governor-General, cooperating in the anti-pirate efforts.

Arriving with the imperial decree was a private letter sent by a guard for Xu Chun.

“Hearing of your victory in your first battle, I am greatly relieved. However, I am worried that you, newly promoted, are eager for success and disregard your own safety.

“You are at sea, while I am in the palace. I oversee everything, yet cannot share a boat with you; I possess the wealth of the seas and lands, yet cannot monopolize your heart. Thinking about it, I feel quite melancholic.

“All I can do is pray to heaven and ancestors, wishing you invincibility in battle and boundless blessings.

“Since your departure for battle, I have fasted to pray for the army’s safety. If you are unfortunately injured, I will pray to heaven, fasting for three days, drinking only water, to show my sincerity.

Xu Chun: “…”

He touched his shoulder, feeling guilty. Was it too late to instruct Dinhai not to report his injury to Brother Nine? This move of Brother Nine’s was rather harsh, how could the Emperor, a thousand-golden body, treat himself so poorly? Just for an injury, he would fast…What if something happened…Xu Chun shivered slightly. His initial enthusiasm to unleash his potential, roam the battlefield, and kill enemies to serve the Emperor, now felt restrained, as if tied down by a rope.

He had been caught by Brother Nine’s weakness, taking a piece of paper to write a letter to persuade Brother Nine, but wracking his brains, he imagined Brother Nine looking at him coldly but affectionately, all the sweet words seemed useless, he was momentarily at a loss for words, unable to start writing.