novelSusiti Chapter 38 Wives are all kept by other men.
Chapter 38 Wives are all kept by other men.
Inside Xiangzhou City, fireworks lit up the sky as the Longxiang Army soldiers who had entered the city began to treat themselves.
Having just captured the garrison, Li Xuan had no time to inventory his wealth and hurriedly stopped Han Kun, the commander of the capital, who was leading everyone into the city to relax.
Han Kun laughed heartily, "My great hero has arrived! Why aren't you enjoying yourself at the garrison headquarters? These days, which general doesn't keep beautiful wives and concubines? A house full of young women and wives without men are in need of your comfort. Don't disgrace the men of the Longxiang Army! But there are too many tigers and wolves to handle, so you asked us to come and help out?"
The officers around Han Kun burst into laughter. Ever since they entered the city gate, their belts had been tightening more and more. If it weren't for Han Kun, they would have taken off their pants to loosen them up long ago.
Li Xuan cupped his hands and said, "General, you flatter me. I was on tenterhooks as I ventured deep into the enemy city. I only breathed a sigh of relief after you led the Dragon Cavalry into the city. I had no energy left to check on the garrison commander's family. General, I have urgent military news to report."
Han Kun's expression turned serious upon hearing this: "Speak, what other urgent military matters are there?"
Li Xuan forced a smile and said, "General, please restrain your soldiers from harming the people of Xiangzhou."
Before Han Kun could say anything, someone beside him became agitated: "Commander Li, do you know what you're saying? The rule of not sheathing your sword for three days is a regulation, and it's also the Commander-in-Chief's order! You're just a lowly officer, how dare you act recklessly!"
Han Kun glared at the officer who had spoken, then turned to Li Xuan and said, "The brothers have been attacking the city for days, working incredibly hard. It's only natural that they want to make some money after the battle. Even if I were the Commander-in-Chief, I couldn't stand in the way of the brothers getting rich. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to hold this position for even a day. I know you're kind-hearted, but this matter is unchangeable. This is the chaotic world we live in. If you have to blame someone, blame them for following the wrong person."
The officers on either side fawned over him: "The commander is wise." "The commander's words warm my heart." "The commander is indeed the commander, and command is command; the difference is truly enormous."
Li Xuan did not give up and continued to persuade him: "General, His Majesty is still waiting for news in Xiangzhou. Zhenzhou, Dingzhou, and Xiangzhou are important strongholds for our defense against the Liao Kingdom. If Xiangzhou is completely wiped out, there will be a huge gap in the Hebei defense line. When will we be able to restore Xiangzhou's defensive capabilities?"
General, the border region is sparsely populated. Clearing out 10,000 people would only take two days, but gathering 10,000 would take more than a decade. Xiangzhou has become a ghost town. How will we explain this to the Emperor? Are we fighting only to create more trouble for the court?
What's more, since His Majesty ascended the throne, he has governed with benevolence and love for the people, emphasized trust and harmony, won the hearts of the people from all directions, and rectified the discipline of the Imperial Guards—all of which we have witnessed firsthand. If a massacre were to occur in Xiangzhou, how much damage would it do to His Majesty's reputation? Must His Majesty bear the blame for the butcher's actions for us, his subjects?
"General, only our Dragon Cavalry Army dares to keep their swords drawn for three days straight, and only our Dragon Cavalry Army dares to act arrogantly and domineeringly within the city. Do you think we, the Dragon Cavalry Army, can withstand the Emperor's wrath in the future? Times have changed. The Emperor has the ambition to unify the world and will certainly value the reputation of the Great Zhou Dynasty. He will never allow any captured city to be left without a way out. General, please think it over."
Han Kun was chilled to the bone. According to Li Chongjin's orders, the entire Xiangzhou was the territory where the Longxiang Army made its fortune. Therefore, the cause and effect of the destruction of Xiangzhou would naturally be attributed to him, Han Kun.
In chaotic times, human life is precarious and the soul is empty. Han Kun is secretly a Buddhist.
Heeding Li Xuan's advice and looking at the hellish scene unfolding in the city, Han Kun sighed and said, "This is nothing more than the deepest hell. I can order them not to kill, I can order them not to commit adultery. But I can't let my brothers go home empty-handed. How can I seize their property if I don't kill them? Commander Li, you're dreaming. Let all the sins of this city fall on my shoulders. Three generations of generals, and now they have no descendants. I deserve this retribution."
Li Xuan hurriedly said, "Looting the entire city to satisfy the soldiers doesn't require everyone to personally rob. I have a way to ensure everyone gets a share of the money."
Han Kun asked in surprise, "Do you really want the people of Xiangzhou to offer it up themselves?"
Li Xuan nodded and said, "That's right, the government in Xiangzhou is still intact. We just need to put a knife to the Xiangzhou officials and order them to pressure the elders to plunder money, cloth, valuables, and livestock from every household. Only leave grain and salt for the people. In this way, we can collect money and also protect the people of Xiangzhou. If they hate us, they will hate the local officials first. They will hate the elders first, which has nothing to do with us. The officials will be satisfied just the same."
Of course, it's best to avoid taking the blame. Han Kun, watching the increasingly bright fireworks in the city and recalling the various actions of the Emperor since his ascension, closed his eyes and ordered: "All troops, take them back and guard the four gates. Each army commander shall assign officers to accompany Commander Li to collect money within the city. The city's wealth must be distributed to every soldier within the next two days. If a soldier doesn't receive money, an officer is not allowed to take any; if an officer doesn't receive money, I, Han Kun, will not allow him to take any. Those who disobey orders will be killed; those who commit rape and plunder will be killed; those who burn down houses will be killed."
As a commander who shared weal and woe with his soldiers, Han Kun, with his prestige in the army, managed to pull the troops back from the city. Although the soldiers didn't understand, they reluctantly gave him face, but morale remained restless. Some muttered, "Commander Han is truly a man from a temple; he values merit over wealth. Let's wait two days for now, considering he hasn't withheld anything. I wonder how much money he'll get in those two days."
Han Kun dared not be negligent. He led his personal guards to patrol along the city wall, talked with the soldiers, and even led the Buddhists and Taoists in the army to perform rituals for the wronged souls in the city.
On the other side, following his orders, officers from various armies were assigned to accompany Li Xuan to the county government office to find the county magistrate.
The county government office was deserted, so they dragged the magistrate and his wife out of the well in the backyard.
The poor magistrate was surrounded by a group of fierce-looking, blood-soaked officers, nearly foaming at the mouth, and didn't even care that his wife was being groped and groped by the officers next to him. After Li Xuan gave the magistrate some instructions, the magistrate hurriedly mobilized officials at all levels to raise money for the army.
Two days later, the people of Xiangzhou had collectively lost a lot of weight, and they didn't even have a single intact piece of clothing left.
Under Han Kun's personal supervision, the soldiers of the Longxiang Army were surprised to find that the amount of money distributed from above this time was more than what they had earned by doing themselves. They cheered and said that they had learned something new. They praised Han Kun for his wisdom and said that it was more exciting to follow him. They could sit back and get money without lifting a finger. Where else could they find such a good deal?
Little did anyone know that Han Kun was already leaning weakly against the parapet, and said with a wry smile, "The younger generation is really something else. I've been scared to death these past two days. One wrong move and the whole army would have turned upside down. Amitabha, Master above, your disciple has finally done something good."
However, Han Kun's decisiveness and risk-taking paid off handsomely. Guo Rong greatly praised his ability to control the army, maintain discipline, and protect the people of Xiangzhou, and bestowed upon Han Kun the title of Marquis of Xiangzhou, a hereditary title, in recognition of his achievements.
Those around him congratulated him, but he merely breathed a sigh of relief, without much joy. What use was a worthless marquisate? Oh, at least he could receive an extra three hundred bolts of silk each year.
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On the day Han Kun ordered the troops to retreat, Li Xuan finished his work as the county magistrate and finally rushed back to the garrison headquarters. As the biggest spoils of this siege, Li Xuan and Li Ji's troops guarded the garrison headquarters and the nearby "high-class residential area" very tightly.
Don't misunderstand, they weren't acting as security guards for the "high-ranking people" in the city. Rather, as models for the initial assault on the city, the looting here was carried out by two commanders under the leadership of Li Xuan and Li Ji.
Outside the garrison headquarters, Li Ji was waiting for Li Xuan. Upon seeing him, Li Ji immediately complained, "Brother, we've lost out big time."
Li Xuan asked blankly, "Loss? Where did I lose money?"
Li Ji smiled bitterly, "When I came down from the city, I encountered a group of bandits coming up to reinforce the city. The leader was the rebel general. I bumped into him hard, and he was still breathing at the time. But after I found out the general's true identity, I went to check on him, and he was already dead. There's a huge difference in rewards between beheading a general and capturing the general alive. Damn it, it's all our fault for not understanding the local dialect. We didn't pay attention at the time."
Li Xuan breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Alright, alright, get all the wealthy families here to boil water for the brothers to bathe. There weren't any facilities outside, but now that we're in the city, the brothers should at least get a good soak and feel comfortable. Have the wounded been taken care of? Have the fallen brothers been properly buried? With so many things to do, you still have time to regret things. It's a fight to the death on both sides; just surviving is a blessing. Stop dreaming."
Li Ji quickly replied, "I've made all the arrangements. I've cleared out a house, and all the wounded soldiers are being cared for in good houses. Because of their sturdy armor, no brothers died in this battle. The others are taking turns bathing, and the kitchen is preparing meals. Even your bathroom is ready, Brother Xuan. The only thing I haven't arranged for female attendants to serve you is..."
Li Xuan said irritably, "Get lost! Are you just here to laugh at me? Are there any women left in this family?"
Li Ji chuckled and said, "They're all alive and well, none of them are dead. And none of them tried to kill themselves. Brother, what should we do with these people?"
Li Xuan glanced at him and said, "Of course we should sell it. Even a few more strings of cash would be good."
Li Ji looked troubled, coughed, and said, "How about we let them go home? They're all concubines from local families, it's quite pitiful. How much can concubines from the frontier fetch? We don't need to make money off women."
Li Xuan walked straight into the mansion, asking as he went, "Tell me, have you taken a fancy to someone? Whether you take them or not is your business. Why are you being so hesitant? But just now..."
Li Ji quickly assured him, "No, no, I just got married, and my wife is waiting anxiously at home. How could I do such a heartless thing? I just heard that the relatives of such disgraced generals are punished by being sent to the camp to work as camp prostitutes. Alas, isn't that a terrible sin?"
Li Xuan smiled contentedly without speaking, leaving only the sound of the two brothers' footsteps in the corridor. They quickly arrived at the place where the women were being held. The moment they pushed open the door, they clearly saw the women tremble. One of the women tightly covered the mouth and nose of a child who looked to be about four or five years old to prevent him from crying out.
There were six women inside the gate, all in their prime and of good quality. The one with the best looks, in particular, seemed to have been pampered, and her figure was truly alluring, even causing Li Xuan, who had come from Guangling City, to pause for a moment.
Li Xuan, regaining his senses, asked, "Where is the mistress of this place?"
The only concubine, who was holding a child and was the least attractive, said, "Reporting to the General, my lord has not married. He often says that the world is in chaos, and women are all married for other men. If another man's wife falls into his hands, he has gained; if his wife falls into someone else's hands, he has lost. In order not to suffer losses in the future, he simply does not marry."
Li Xuan didn't react at first, but after a while he coughed and said, "Oh no, I forgot I can't understand the language here either."
The alluring and beautiful woman replied in fluent Mandarin, "Reporting to the General, what the Second Concubine just said was..."
Switching to official language seemed to have the same effect—these shocking words and avant-garde values left Li Xuan speechless, unsure of what to say.
Taking a breath, Li Xuan said, "The general behind me is my cousin. He pleaded for you, asking me to let you go home. Do you still have a home?"
Of the four concubines present, all were overjoyed. One of them said, "Thank you, General, for your mercy. Your kindness is beyond repayment. I come from a good family and had a happy marriage, but this wicked villain took me away by force. He even slaughtered my entire husband's family, saying that he felt uncomfortable knowing I still had a husband. Fortunately, thanks to your mercy, General, I still have my family to return to."
The other three overjoyed concubines seemed to be in the same boat, all of them wives who had been abducted. The previous owner of this mansion was indeed someone who only profited and never suffered any loss.
Speechless as he was, Li Xuan instructed Li Ji to make arrangements, giving each woman two bolts of silk and allowing them to take a bundle containing their personal belongings home. After the four women left, weeping and wailing, Li Xuan asked the concubine holding the child what had happened.
The least attractive concubine rambled on and on. After the beautiful older woman translated, Li Xuan roughly understood. This woman was pleading to live and die with the garrison commander's child.
Years ago, the concubine's entire family was driven to desperation by war and should have become withered bones by the roadside. It was the town magistrate who gave her parents ten bolts of silk to buy this concubine, allowing her parents to receive medical treatment, although they still died of illness.
But the town magistrate still arranged a proper funeral. For a woman from a poor family to receive such treatment, she had already sworn to live and die with the town magistrate.
After remaining silent, Li Xuan summoned the captain of the garrison commander's personal guards and ordered his concubine to marry the captain and jointly raise the garrison commander's five-year-old child.
The concubine and the captain of the personal guards were moved to tears, but they made a request. This town had a terrible reputation locally, known for its many evil deeds. To save their child, they had to flee to another place. They wondered if Li Xuan would take them in, and were willing to become his servants and tenants, hoping only for his protection to raise their child.
Li Xuan sighed and nodded in agreement. Although they hadn't acquired any land yet, as an official, he would eventually need estates; he would ask his wife to settle them then.
Now only the last concubine remains, who has a calm demeanor and can speak official jargon.
Li Xuan asked her, "Were you also kidnapped? Is your husband's family still around?"
The concubine calmly said, "General, you may know whatever you wish to know. It's getting late. Let me help you undress and bathe, and warm your bed."
This behavior alerted Li Xuan. Could it be some kind of assassin trying to take advantage of his most vulnerable moment?
With a sense of unease, Li Xuan refused, saying, "In my military campaigns, I have always been meticulous in my conduct, never harming the slightest thing, not even women or children. If you have family, then take this silk and go home to reunite with your parents. If not, I have some brave men among my troops who are short of wives, and I can act as matchmaker for you. I will cover your dowry and betrothal expenses."
Li Xuan's behavior surprised everyone present. Could this person really be a compassionate bodhisattva?
Li Xuan was bewildered by their stares and pointed at the beautiful woman, asking, "Quickly, do you have a family? I have no time to waste."
The beautiful woman sighed and began to recount her story: "I was originally the daughter of a wealthy family and was engaged. But one day, while out in the street, I was spotted by a local military officer who killed my fiancé's entire family. He then entered my house with a bloodstained knife and my fiancé's head, and took me away. From then on, he tormented me in various ways every day, making my life a living hell."
Later, the garrison commander of Xiangzhou learned that his subordinates were keeping beautiful women and not sharing them with him. He found an excuse to kill my first man's entire family, and I was brought into this mansion to serve new men, or perhaps shared with his subordinates. Later still, the garrison commander who fell to that general's sword rebelled and killed the previous garrison commander. My life became easier; I didn't even have to change my bed, I just continued to entertain guests.
Today, General, you have not accepted me. Now I know that there are still upright generals in the world. On the contrary, I am unworthy of you.
After a long silence, Li Xuan slowly asked, "How old are you this year?"
The woman paused for a moment, then smiled bitterly, "If the general hadn't asked, I almost wouldn't have remembered how old I am. Come to think of it, I should be nineteen this year. When I was abducted from my home, it was my fifteenth birthday."
Li Xuan glanced at the concubine's overly mature appearance, beneath which lay a pair of eyes that had seen through the vicissitudes of life. He turned and walked out, saying, "Get up. Since you still have your family, go home and reunite. The chaos of this world will eventually end, and demons and beasts will not last long. You will all have peaceful days ahead."
Seeing that Li Xuan had truly spared her, tears finally welled up in the usually calm eyes of the beautiful woman. She knelt down and kowtowed three times to Li Xuan, saying, "May your descendants be as noble as the Great General!"
In the evening, the locals, who had been busy all day, cautiously went out to fetch water.
"Heavens above! The mutinous soldiers ran away after only a short while."
"Why are you running around? Still watching from the city walls. Now the authorities are here to collect money. Well, at least you're not risking your life. Hey, who's that soaking in the lake?"
"Isn't that the Chen family's daughter? I heard them arguing at home yesterday. How could their daughter have jumped into the lake?"
"Could it be that she was defiled and couldn't think straight? She was once the most talented woman in Xiangzhou, and many young men were in love with her."
"Come on, she's served countless men. If she had something on her mind, she would have committed suicide long ago. Why would she wait until today? Let's get her out of the water. We still need to wash clothes in this lake later."
The next day, Li Xuan received a message from Li Ji: the concubine's family had fallen into poverty because she had been abducted by someone years ago and subsequently bullied by the military officer and garrison commander who had taken her. Her parents, ashamed by the gossip among their neighbors, regarded her as a jinx and refused to let her into the family. Overwhelmed with grief and despair, the concubine threw herself into the river and committed suicide.
Li Xuan remained shocked for a long time before saying, "If I had known, my personal guard would have gotten away with it. Alas, what a tragedy! If I had known this would happen, I should have sent someone to visit her family first. How could there be such heartless parents?"
Li Ji smiled bitterly, "The soldiers here are truly incomprehensible. They think that robbing people is profitable, and after robbing people, they continue to rob their fathers-in-law to make even more profit. Since the fathers-in-law have no money, they bully and humiliate them for fun. No wonder they all regard beautiful daughters as jinxes."
Li Xuan asked in surprise, "What about the other concubines? Didn't they go home too?"
Li Ji said strangely, "They can't go back. Four young women knelt outside the house all night, without eating or drinking. Only one family opened the door and gave her some clothes, telling her to fend for herself. They have no daughters and dare not have any more. This morning, they all came back crying and begging to be taken in. I've already arranged for my personal guards to officiate their wedding when we get back. Everyone else was able to come back, so why did that one want to commit suicide?"
Li Xuan sighed, "When suffering reaches its extreme, death is a relief. Of all these concubines, her background must be the best. She can speak Mandarin, and her demeanor is refined; she was clearly a well-educated lady from a prominent family. Over the years, she has been reduced to a plaything, passed through the hands of many men. Now that she cannot return home, it is only natural that she would choose to commit suicide."
Looking back now, Xiangzhou is truly a strange place. Look at the garrison commander's concubines—the one from the poorest background and least attractive is the one he's in love with, while the ones from better backgrounds don't even spare their fathers-in-law. The more refined the young lady, the more these soldiers hate and exploit her. This isn't like seeking women, it's more like revenge. Go and take her away, hold a funeral. Perfect, I'll write a eulogy for her, to rectify the city's customs, purify the people's hearts, and plead for the wronged soul.”
On that day, Li Ji held a funeral for the woman in the city. Li Xuan personally wrote a eulogy, mourning the woman's tragic life, flawless character, outstanding talent, and pitiful beauty. He pointed out that the various evils were not borne by these poor women, but rather were imprinted on the chaotic world.
In times of chaos and moral decay, absurd events never before imagined occur one after another, and everyone is a victim. It is precisely because of the harm caused by chaos that people should love themselves and others more, rather than becoming accomplices in the chaos and harming the more pitiful and innocent.
The world is in chaos, wolves and jackals rule, beasts roam freely, emperors are repeatedly captured, and princes are slaughtered like straw. Even renowned ministers and generals cannot preserve their reputation and integrity, serving many different states and changing allegiances. Why should we expect weak women to avoid bringing disaster upon their families and to maintain their chastity?
The lessons of the past are painful enough, and the blood and tears shed cannot be taken back. It is hoped that the people of Xiangzhou in the future will be able to take heed and not let suffering destroy human relationships, not let wounds reopen, and not create new tragedies.
Perhaps it was because Li Xuan and Li Ji spoke out for these suffering women, or perhaps it was a genuine change of heart. The women's families finally came forward to reunite with them. The family also took the coffin of the woman who had committed suicide back to their home cemetery, erected a tombstone, and buried her. Li Xuan's gentle demeanor contributed to the submission of the people of Xiangzhou, and with the people at peace, the search for their wealth proceeded more smoothly.
Upon hearing of Li Xuan's actions, Li Chongjin, who was stationed outside the city, couldn't help but scoff: "Southerners, regardless of gender, are all gentle and tender. This time, heading south, I'll definitely find twenty beautiful southern women. If men are this eager, I wonder how pleasurable it must be for women. Let's go, capturing the Liao general is a great achievement; we need to go to Xiangzhou to report to the emperor."
With a sneer, Li Chongjin took a deep look at Xiangzhou, and the name Li Xuan was deeply imprinted in his heart.