MLMD -Chapter 245 Lu Xiangsheng’s Thoughts

The atmosphere inside the main tent was heavy. Lu Xiangsheng sat silently in his chair, lightly tapping his right hand on the tabletop, while Yue Yang sat properly at the lower end of the table, eyes fixed on the enormous map before him, as if trying to read every detail to perfection.

Time passed slowly, and Lu Xiangsheng’s expression gradually returned to normal. He looked deeply at Yue Yang and said with a weighty tone, “Zhenghong, these are difficult times. Our Ming dynasty is in a season of troubles, and it is precisely when we must unite and contribute to the state. You must not act in a way that betrays the court or the emperor.”

Seeing the fatigue etched on Lu Xiangsheng’s face, Yue Yang felt a surge of sympathy. This senior minister had poured his heart and soul into sustaining this fragile dynasty. In later generations, he would be remembered as one of the most admirable generals of late Ming, and Yue Yang was no exception in his respect. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have repeatedly supported him with weapons, armor, and supplies without seeking any reward.

Now, Lu Xiangsheng spoke to him in a tone that was almost pleading, even cautionary. How should he respond? At this moment, Yue Yang did not know.

After a long pause, Yue Yang finally said, “Governor Lu, as a servant of the Ming, I naturally owe loyalty to His Majesty. However, Governor must also understand that I have a family. If there are treacherous men who act against me, I cannot simply stand by and let it happen. I hope Your Excellency can understand this.”

Lu Xiangsheng remained silent for a long moment, then leaned back heavily in his chair, as if the previous words had drained all his energy. After a long while, he quietly said, “I understand. It’s late. You should return and rest.”

“Yes, Governor, please rest early as well!” Yue Yang stood, cupped his hands in salute, and turned to leave the tent. As he stepped out, he knew that Lu Xiangsheng would certainly think of him as someone seeking to consolidate military power for his own purposes. Yet Yue Yang did not regret it. He knew all too well that in such chaotic times, good men seldom had good fates. He had too much to protect and could not be like Lu Xiangsheng, a loyal minister. If he showed even the slightest weakness, the hungry wolves around him would pounce immediately and tear him to pieces.

After Yue Yang left, Lu Xiangsheng remained seated, motionless like a statue. Some time later, faint footsteps were heard from behind. A middle-aged scholar emerged from behind a folding screen—Yang Tinglin, Lu Xiangsheng’s aide in painting and documentation.

Yang Tinglin stared at the direction Yue Yang had disappeared and slowly said, “Governor, this Yue Yang is becoming remarkable indeed. Compared to the last time in Yingzhou, his demeanor is even steadier now, every movement exudes the aura of a great general. I can be certain that ten years from now, he will become a figure of immense influence in our Ming dynasty.”

Without lifting his head, Lu Xiangsheng replied, “Do you think I am unaware? Yue Yang truly is talented. It’s just a pity—he doesn’t seem entirely loyal to the court and harbors some ambition. That is what troubles me.”

“Ah… Governor, you are overthinking it,” Yang Tinglin said lightly. “In my humble opinion, Yue Yang is already far better than many generals. Though he expanded his forces without authorization and appears to consolidate power, who doesn’t do the same in these times? Chen Xinjia wanted to wipe him out in one blow. How could Yue Yang not retaliate? You are being too harsh on him. Think about it—if this had happened to some generals in Liaodong, when the imperial decree came, would they not have rebelled immediately?”

“Alas…” Lu Xiangsheng sighed deeply, forcing a bitter smile. “Perhaps this is what is meant by love and concern mingled with responsibility. I sincerely hope that one day someone will lead the Ming’s iron cavalry to sweep away the bandits and restore a clear and just Ming. But as it stands, perhaps I have wished too much.”

Facing Lu Xiangsheng’s sigh, Yang Tinglin could only shake his head helplessly. To him, Lu Xiangsheng’s hopes seemed a bit fanciful—the Ming’s ailments were deeply rooted, and one or two men alone could not resolve them. Yet at this moment, he could not dampen the sentiment, so he could only remain silently on the side.

While the two men were locked in quiet reflection, fifty or sixty li from Liangxiang, on a small hill locally called Little Liangshan, several people lay in quiet concealment. In front of a few large trees, a young man with slightly darkened skin focused intently on the open plains below.

It was already very hot in June, yet the young man was still bundled in a half-new, half-worn outfit, wearing a northern-style felt cap. His plain face and slightly dark skin made him look, at first glance, like any ordinary northern farmer.

But anyone who spent time with him would notice a glint of sharp intelligence in his eyes. Beneath his bulky cap, a helmet peeked out, and a thick curved blade hung from his waist. Only then would one realize that he was no ordinary man. A cool wind blew over the hilltop, fluttering the hem of his clothing and revealing iron greaves beneath.

The young man stood motionless, peering through binoculars without blinking. He watched the plains for a long while, seeing Qing scouts riding by in small groups. Finally, he exhaled slowly and said, “Since last night, the Tartar scouts have suddenly increased. It seems their main force is moving out of Changping.”

An older man dressed similarly beside him replied casually, “That’s certain. The Tartars are greedy by nature. They won’t be content with just occupying Changping. Of course, they will move south. Leaving a hundred thousand troops idle in Changping—what foolish commander would do that?”

Two others, standing nearby in the same attire, nodded. “Squad Leader Bai, we’ve been out for several days, and our provisions are almost gone. Shouldn’t we head back?”

The young man leading them was Bai Kai, Yue Yang’s subordinate in the Night Unbound unit. Though still officially a squad leader, these years of military life had tempered the once-innocent young man into a cold and disciplined warrior.

Bai Kai had been out for several days with little success. They had hoped to capture a few prisoners, but the Qing scouts now often traveled in groups of ten or twenty, making it difficult to strike. As a result, Bai Kai still did not have a clear understanding of the Qing forces’ movements, and his frustration was beginning to mount.