novelraw Chapter 248
Chapter 248
Chapter 248: Fishing
As someone who quite values his life, Wei Yu would not easily set foot on the battlefield.
Although he was indeed curious to watch the commotion, whenever he thought about the chaotic mess that was Donghai Commandery—with officials, noble families, Japanese pirates, and merchants all colluding—Wei Yu just knew it was a bad idea.
Just listen to what Doctor Shi said earlier: even a low-status medical family could conspire with behind-the-scenes people to abduct people across the entire prefecture?!
One can imagine just how chaotic Donghai Commandery was.
Wouldn’t it be better to stay in Qian Commandery? It was nearby, and information arrived quickly. Wei Yu felt he was just looking for trouble by personally running off to the neighboring Donghai Commandery.
Besides, what could he do once he got there?
He wasn’t a commander of troops; it was enough to have Yi Shisan sneak around and quietly gather information while watching the events unfold. His father had even sent the chief commander over; if Wei Yu went himself, he’d just be a nuisance to the commander.
In terms of self-awareness, Wei Yu considered himself quite competent.
When he heard that the Imperial Court’s troops had already arrived in Donghai Commandery, reportedly to suppress the Japanese pirates, Wei Yu was sitting by a small stream, fishing with his hands in his pockets. Yes, fishing.
After toiling over tables and desks writing teaching materials for more than half a month, following the theory that no one should make things hard for themselves, Wei Yu took a look at the diligent doctors working at the city gate, made a resolute decision, and the next day sneaked out with Fang Sheng to the countryside for some fresh air.
He was playing the bait-and-hook by the little river, while the guards in the back were busy hunting, making fires, and grilling.
A guard who stayed behind in the city rode over and reported some gathered news.
“Master, the scouts report that the Imperial Court troops have arrived by boat in Donghai Commandery. The chief commander is Cheng Yuan; he was formerly a Lieutenant General of the Right Military Guard. His father once served as the Grand General of the Southern Expedition… The Imperial Court claims they are there to suppress the Japanese pirates. Since arrival in Donghai Commandery, they have not directly engaged in battle with Cao Ji.”
Having fished for a long time without even seeing a single weed, Wei Yu threw down his fishing rod. “Where’s Yi Shisan? Has he gathered any evidence from Donghai Commandery? If so, hand the evidence directly to Cheng Yuan.”
Although the Imperial Court knew about Cao Ji’s crimes, knowing was one thing—apprehending the thief with recovered stolen goods was another!
Without direct evidence, even if the Imperial Court wants to brand it a rebellion against loyal subjects, many people across the nation remain in the dark. Donghai Commandery was under Cao Ji’s control; he silenced the upper class from speaking out, and the common folk dared not resist.
A popular uprising isn’t that simple: no food, no weapons, no soldiers—such a rebellion is just empty shouting, ending only in bloody suppression.
Thinking about Yi Shisan all the way over in Donghai Commandery, Wei Yu furrowed his brows.
That kid’s tricky tactics were steadily improving. Now, separated by thousands of miles, no one knew what trouble he might stir up in Donghai Commandery… Hopefully he wouldn’t cause a mountain of problems for the family again.
Wei Yu smacked his lips and called Fang Sheng over, “Fang Sheng, is my roasted rabbit leg ready yet?”
The former Deputy Commander of the Gray Guards and now the dedicated barbecue chef—Fang Sheng—remained silent.
Wei Yu stared hungrily at the rabbit leg in his hand sizzling with oil. “Come on, hurry up. Your master is really hungry.”
Fang Sheng handed him a flatbread.
That bread was the kind guards often ate on the road: rough and hard on the throat.
Wei Yu glanced at it and declined with an awkward smile. “No thanks, I know you’re looking out for me, and I appreciate the thought, but next time don’t bother—I want meat.”
Fang Sheng: ……
Expressionless, Fang Sheng pocketed the bread again.
Rabbit meat was quite delicious, especially when grilled until oily, and with Fang Sheng’s Imperial Chef-level barbecue skills—tsk, truly tasty.
As Wei Yu sat cross-legged gnawing on the rabbit leg, the sound of galloping hooves approached from afar.
He glanced up leisurely.
Yes, another guard coming with a report.
Previously the information came from one side; this time it was from the other side, so the news might differ.
The arriving guard dismounted and reported, “Master, Eldest Highness is leading troops from the Daichuan Commandery direction!”
“What?!”
Immediately choking on his rabbit meat, Wei Yu stared at the messenger, dumbfounded.
“My Eldest Brother is coming? Really coming? Dad actually sent Eldest Brother here?!”
Wei Yu couldn’t eat the rabbit meat anymore.
He tossed the bones into the fire, took out a handkerchief to wipe his hands, and asked the messenger, “Where is Eldest Highness now? How many troops?”
The messenger handed Wei Yu a letter taken from a carrier pigeon. “This was written by people left behind in Wufu County.”
Wufu County? That’s the area near Daichuan Commandery. The pigeon flight took about half a day or so?
Wei Yu had a rough idea. He unfolded the letter and skimmed it quickly.
There wasn’t much content—just recorded the time Eldest Prince passed Wufu County, the composition of his troops, and how many men.
“Huh, my Eldest Brother has been dispatched to do logistics?”
There were quite a few supply wagons in the unit. If it’s not transporting grain and handling logistics, what else could it be?
Wei Yu shook his head. “What devotion—Dad sends his son to fight, but at the last moment he doesn’t advance to the front line. Instead, he’s leisurely hauling supplies in the rear? Didn’t they say the troops don’t move without the provisions arriving first? Tsk, makes no sense. I wonder what Cheng Yuan is even doing then. But regardless, the grass ("grass" has the same pinyin as "Cao", but different intonation) chickens ("chicken" has the same pinyin as "Ji", but different intonation) will get impatient and soon be eaten.”
Grass chickens?
Fang Sheng cast a sidelong glance at His Highness, who was muttering to himself.
His Highness often meddled in trivial matters, but sometimes his words made sense.
Not sure if this was some kind of strategy, Wei Yu burned the letter in the fire after reading it.
The letter from Wufu County described the troop’s journey along the official road, traveling day and night, taking at most two days to arrive… Eldest Brother would be here soon.
Knowing Eldest Brother was coming, Wei Yu had no more interest in fishing.
He clapped his hands and called to the guards, “Eldest Brother is coming. Pack up and get ready to leave.”
Unlike the silent and unobtrusive Third Brother, the Eldest Prince carried the demeanor befitting the eldest sibling.
What did being the eldest brother mean?
The eldest brother is like a father; the Eldest Prince naturally showed off and asserted authority in front of his younger brothers—it was only right and proper.
Wei Yu wasn’t sure whether Eldest Brother knew that going to battle was partly because of some “encouragement” from his younger brother.
If Eldest Brother agreed willingly, fine. But if not, Wei Yu thought it best to keep things low-key.
If Eldest Brother ever found out about his involvement, given how high up the Emperor was, no one—including their father—could do much about a fight between brothers.
Wei Yu felt a bit uneasy.