Chapter 63

Everyone saw that the government offices and yamens in Biyang City were being refilled. Even the tailors on the street were so busy they wished they had grown three heads and six arms, as the newly appointed officials all needed official robes made. It was no small amount.The night patrols and military outposts were reestablished, and Biyang City began enforcing the Curfew Laws from the old Northern Wei dynasty again.

Law-abiding citizens naturally obeyed the curfew. After all, what proper person would be out wandering the streets at night anyway? sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ N0vᴇlFire(.)nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

But after all, the curfew had been neglected for too long, and some rogues and chivalrous rascals were still not used to it, repeatedly breaking curfew at night. According to the laws of the former Northern Wei dynasty, those who broke curfew were mercilessly beaten to death, and the city's public order immediately improved.

Compared to the great oppression felt in previous days under the Blue Shirts Army, after the curfew was implemented, there was a feeling of peaceful tranquility that put people's hearts at ease.

Some elderly people were quite nostalgic, "It used to be like this before. You young ones wouldn't remember. Back then, Tang Prefecture had a Governor, and Deng Prefecture had a Military Governor, and the Xuanhua Army had tens of thousands of troops... Alas, later they were all gone. Even the Emperor was replaced. Oh, that's right, which family is the current Emperor from?"

Hoofbeats and footsteps could be heard from Main Street, not rushed but steady. Very loud, clearly a large group of people.

The common people all rushed out to the street to watch.

They saw the Lady Governor fully outfitted in battle armor. Although a woman, her fierce aura was even stronger than the group of young generals around her.

The Blue Shirts Army was the same as usual, forbidding and uniformly orderly, giving a tremendous oppressive feeling.

The long column of troops left south out the city gate under the seeing-off of the common people.

Many people buzzed in hushed discussions, asking each other, "What is Lady Ye going to do?"

"What else could she be doing, of course she's going to conquer other places."

"Do we know where she's going first? My uncle's family is in Tongbai, and it's chaotic over there, it'd be great if she went there first."

"Hmph, does it matter what I say?"

Of course the thoughts of the common people could not influence Ye Suijin's plans and arrangements.

They spent the first night camping outdoors, and on the second day Ye Suijin said, "This time going out, don't expect to relax, we must force march and try our best to fight field battles."

Previously they had mainly been training troops, taking advantage of their greater numbers to bully others, steadily and unhurriedly.

In Ye Suijin's eyes, it was all child's play, not real warfare.

"Cloud Flying, come over and explain to them again," she called Zhou Junhua.

Zhou Junhua was already used to it, and no longer demurred, directly telling the young masters, "Out there, there's not as much time to prepare. When you really encounter the enemy, it will have already begun from the moment the scouts report back.

"At times like this, you can't even set up proper formations, it's purely a contest of strength.

"Remember this old saying - when two armies meet on a narrow road, the braver wins."

"Seventh Son," Ye Suijin called out.

Seventh Son immediately tensed his body: "We must be flexible and adapt to changes!"

"Ninth Son," Ye Suijin called the next one.

Ninth Son also tensed his body: "We must react decisively and resolutely, without hesitation."

Ye Suijin nodded, then looked to Tenth Son, "And you?"

Tenth Son's weakness was a little different from his brothers'. He scratched his head and grinned foolishly, "Don't run too happily and leave the troops behind."

Duan Jin couldn't help laughing and thumped Tenth Son's shoulder. Tenth Son made faces at him.

Fourth Uncle Ye looked at one and then the other, and had to admit these whelps had more experience than him.

He also noticed Ye Suijin seemed to glance at him, and he too tensed his body.

After Ye Suijin finished briefing them on the situation ahead, and had assigned the troops, she assigned Zhou Junhua to Fourth Uncle Ye.

When the others had gone to assemble their troops, she called Zhou Junhua over and whispered, "This is my uncle's first time, keep an extra eye on him."

Oh great, so after teaching the young ones, now she had to babysit the old guys too. Was she here to be a nanny for their family?

Zhou Junhua respectfully said, "I understand, My Lady, don't worry."

They increased their marching speed, and before half a day had passed, scouts reported: "Enemy ahead, five li."

Ye Suijin said, "Fifth Son, Seventh Son, flank them from both sides. Fourth Uncle, Tenth Son, charge with me. Ninth Son, cover our rear."

Fourth Uncle Ye gripped his spear, feeling his palms were a little sweaty, and hurriedly wiped them on his pants.

Ye Suijin also gripped her spear, and looked back once: "Uncle, guard my side."

Fourth Uncle Ye hurriedly tightened his grip on the spear and nodded. Still feeling uneasy, he said: "Can Little Ten handle it?"

Tenth Son was so angry he cried out, "Fourth Uncle! You look down on me!"

Even his own father didn't dare underestimate him now!

Ye Suijin laughed gently and told Fourth Uncle Ye, "He is the vanguard general of my future army, Uncle, don't belittle the young."

Tenth Son slapped his saddle and said, "Sixth sister is right!"

Everyone laughed.

The banners were raised and orders were given.

Everyone sprang into action.

The horses' hooves thundered as they ran faster and faster.

If viewed from high above, one would see the troops had divided into three prongs, like a trident stabbing fiercely forward.

These enemies had also heard that the Ye family of Deng Prefecture was sweeping through Tang Prefecture. But after the Ye family had taken Biyang City, they stopped.

They had been occupying this place for several years now. How could they lightly abandon it? In the end, they still harbored false hopes, thinking that with the Ye family having taken such a massive city, they should stop to recuperate and digest their gains for now.

They did not expect the Ye family would come so swiftly and unexpectedly.

There was no other path left for them now.

When two armies meet on a narrow road, the braver wins!

Not only was this Fourth Uncle Ye's first official battle, it was also the first time he fought side by side with Ye Suijin.

The enemies grew closer and closer! They could already make out their forms!

His niece and nephew suddenly spurred their horses faster, Duan Jin also speeding up alongside them.

The horses of both sides flashed by each other like lightning.

Fourth Uncle Ye watched wide-eyed as his niece's silver spear pierced through the oncoming general's heart. She did not even withdraw her spear!

That nine chi long serpentine spear, like an arrow loose from the bowstring that could no longer turn back, pierced through the enemy's body and out the other side!

In the instant they crossed, in the next instant, Ye Suijin had already gripped the spear shaft from the exit wound in the man's back.

She shouted fiercely! The nine chi long spear pierced through the enemy's body of flesh, pulling back out from his back, the entire length dyed red, moving in her hand like a bloody dragon, straight at the throat of the second foe!

Fourth Uncle Ye had always known his niece was fierce.

But he did not know Ye Suijin was this fierce.

In the instant the vanguards crossed, he was shocked by Ye Suijin's valor.

A daughter of the Ye family!

Such powerful beauty!

It was as if the bloodline of their ancestors had awakened. The tension and unease vanished in an instant, and boundless heroic spirit suddenly rose in his heart.

He too was a son of the Ye family. And he was her elder.

Fourth Uncle Ye roared furiously. His long spear shot out, and the enemy suddenly felt empty space beneath him as his warhorse charged forth, his body lifted into the air, actually plucked from horseback.

The long spear swung across, the corpse smashing an enemy soldier from his horse to be trampled cruelly underfoot.

Ye Suijin glanced over in the midst of fierce battle. Black horse, silver spear, raging like thunder.

Shedding his old self and emerging anew.

This was the Ye Chong, Ye Feng Hall of the Deng Prefecture Ye Family Army.

The Ye Feng Hall that she was familiar with.

Her Fourth Uncle had returned to form.

Good news continually arrived in Biyang city. By the end of the year, the Ping clan and Huayang had both been swept. Tang and Deng Prefectures were basically linked.

Teacher Yang understood very clearly that for a newly occupied city, the hearts of the common people were most important.

Every time there was a victory report, he would publicly announce it and share in the commoners' joy.

Biyang City gained new vitality. Even the businesses left behind by the former wealthy households, the shopkeepers all clearly saw how things stood, and shook off their previous calculations and dejection, and earnestly went about their proper business.

Lady Ye had said people would come to take over later, so they had to perform well. Only then could they keep their positions when the new owners arrived.

Brand new county and peace preservation offices were established, all new faces.

The marketplace became orderly and regulated. No one dared to bully and dominate the market anymore. The commoners coming and going all felt at ease.

Even the execution grounds looked so clean under the first snowfall, as the city was dressed in silver white and the earth a pristine expanse.

The common people hoped Lady Ye would spend New Year's in Biyang, but from inquiring in the government offices they heard that Lady Ye had returned to Deng Prefecture to spend New Year's in the Ye Family Fort.

After all, the Ye Family Fort in Deng Prefecture was her roots. For New Year's, who wouldn't want to go home?

"Does this mean she'll spend next year here?" many asked.

After all, Biyang was the seat of governance. It had been too rushed this year, but next year Lady Ye's family members would definitely relocate here right?

They returned to Ye Family Fort before the Lunar New Year, and Tenth Son asked, "Sister, we'll spend next New Year's in Biyang right?"

Since Biyang City was chosen as the administrative center, naturally everyone would have to move there in the future. They had received so many grand mansions in Biyang, enough to house them all.

Ye Suijin replied, "Maybe."

"Huh?" Tenth Son was puzzled. "Why 'maybe'?"

Ye Suijin said, "In June, could you have imagined Biyang becoming our family's base? The next new year is a year from now. Who knows where we'll be in a year?"

Tenth Son scratched his head. "You're right."

He added, "I feel bad for my dad, spending New Year's alone."

Ye Suijin consoled him, "We'll switch his post after New Year's."

Tenth Son said, "It doesn't matter if we switch his post or not. I'm just afraid he'll be an old man with a young heart, and go find a wife in Shangma."

Everyone laughed heartily.

Zhou Junhua had returned to Shangma on leave.

Fourth Uncle Ye had already heard about Zhou Junhua's "exploits" from others, and he also laughed and scolded him a few words.

The gates of Ye Family Fort were wide open, and Third Son and Fourth Young Master came out to welcome them from ten li away.

"Third Brother," Ye Suijin pulled her reins and went forward, looking him up and down carefully, and nodded, "You're looking spirited."

Third Son looked at her in surprise for a moment. The siblings looked at each other for a while, and Third Son nodded.

Ye Suijin smiled contentedly.

Actually, it wouldn't have been a problem to have the family move to Biyang City before the new year.

But starting with Third Son, Ye Suijin began to reflect on herself - she had been too impatient.

She had used her twenty years of hardened, steely heart to forcibly push her brothers to grow up, ignoring the bearing capacity of their young hearts.

As the eldest brother, Third Son had done and endured the most.

Yet he never said anything.

Neither in his past life nor this one. Such was his disposition.

As the eldest brother, he believed it was his duty to shoulder the burdens for his younger sister.