Chapter Twenty-Six: The Last Veteran
Wu Ning truly felt a hint of fear; after all, he was dealing with the son of the highest official in Fang Prefecture, while he himself was a fugitive peasant. From his modern perspective, wouldn’t that mean he could be crushed in an instant? Yet, Wu Ning was mistaken—he had forgotten this was the Tang Dynasty, and even more, he had underestimated the boldness of the Tang people.
...
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Wu Changlu had been busy beyond measure lately.
On one hand, he had to select and drill the government troops from various counties in preparation. After all, it was only three months until the birthday celebration of the Prince of Luling, and the important guests from the capital would arrive in Fang Prefecture in no more than two months.
On the other hand, it was also the season of the summer harvest, so Wu Changlu’s own fields needed tending. Ever since Wu Qi’s mother had passed away, Wu Changlu had served as both father and mother, personally overseeing everything from planting to reaping.
Just now, having slipped away from the military office to check on the fields and urge the hired hands to work harder, he had not even left the city before Wu Qi stopped him.
When he heard that Wu Ning had caused serious trouble, he could only hurry anxiously down the mountain pass.
...
“So, you’re saying you had a huge argument with Sun Bo’an?”
Wu Changlu listened to Wu Ning’s report, still not quite reassured.
“He called you a peasant and you made him into a fool? That’s it? Did anything else happen?”
“That’s all!” Wu Ning shook his head immediately. “Just that!”
Wasn’t that already bad enough? The son of the county magistrate, and he was a fugitive—wouldn’t they come after him in no time and tear him to pieces?
“Really nothing else?”
“Really, nothing else!”
Smack!
Wu Ning had just finished speaking when Wu Changlu slapped his thigh, startling him.
“I thought it was something big, and it turns out to be this trivial? You made me rush all the way here for this?”
“Huh?” Wu Ning was utterly stunned, a thought flickering through his mind: My fourth uncle is really something!
...
“A couple of youngsters exchanging a few words—so what if it came to blows?” Wu Changlu looked at Wu Ning, who seemed both frightened and astonished. “Such a trivial matter, and you want to bother the grown-ups about it?”
“Coward!” he said, turning to leave.
Wu Ning protested, “But, that’s Sun Hongde’s son, the county magistrate’s son!”
“So what about Sun Hongde? Is he going to eat you alive?” Wu Changlu stopped, his face fierce.
“Look at you, cowering like that, always worrying about your own skin! Now you’re afraid? What were you thinking before?”
Wu Ning fell silent, realizing his uncle wasn’t really scolding him, but teaching him—he was about to say something important.
Sure enough, seeing Wu Ning’s abashed expression, Wu Changlu lost the urge to scold further. He turned back and sat down.
“First, you need to understand something. In the Tang Dynasty, especially here in Fang Prefecture, the county magistrate may be important, but there are people above him—more than one, in fact!”
“Heh.” Wu Changlu chuckled at his own words, thinking he might have been too harsh on Wu Ning just now.
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After all, Wu Ning barely left the house, spending his days cooped up in the mountain hollow; no one had explained these things to him, so how could he understand?
Softening his tone, he asked, “You think the county magistrate is the highest official in Fang Prefecture, don’t you?”
“Yes,” Wu Ning answered honestly.
“Wrong, my foolish child! Just think, whose influence in Fang Prefecture is truly unrivaled?”
“It’s the Chief Secretary of the Prince of Luling’s household, Wang Hongyi!”
“…”
Wu Ning was taken aback. Now that his uncle mentioned it, it did make sense. Wang Hongyi, though only the chief secretary of the prince’s household, might not outrank the prefectural governor in title or practical power, but there was something special about his position.
Put simply, with a deposed former emperor and a royal prince of the Li family stationed here, would Empress Wu really trust just anyone? His chief secretary had to be someone she trusted absolutely.
No need to overthink it—anyone could guess that only someone trusted by Empress Wu would be appointed.
Wu Changlu continued, “Wang Hongyi may not hold the highest office, but he has the ear of the court. His connections and standing in the capital are far beyond what the prefectural governor could match.”
“He’s the real power in Fang Prefecture. Not only does he run the prince’s household, but he meddles in all county and prefectural affairs. As for Sun Bo’an’s father, he can’t even get a word in, let alone intervene.”
“Oh…” Wu Ning nodded. So, the county magistrate wasn’t as fearsome as the novels and TV dramas made out.
“Then, does my fourth uncle have connections with Wang Hongyi?” Wu Ning guessed—otherwise, why would Wu Changlu seem so unconcerned?
But the answer surprised him: “No!”
“Your fourth uncle has no desire to associate with such self-serving men.”
“What?” Wu Ning’s anxiety returned.
“Hahaha!” Wu Changlu laughed. “What, you don’t understand?”
“Let me tell you, we’re not afraid—not because we know Wang Hongyi, nor because the magistrate lacks power, but because…”
“It’s because there’s someone above the county magistrate whom he cannot touch, someone he wouldn’t dare provoke.”
“Who?”
Wu Changlu pointed to his own nose, “Me!”
“I am the commander of the government troops of the four counties of Fangling, a proper Zhechong Colonel—why should I fear a mere county magistrate?”
“Wait a minute.” Wu Ning was still confused. “The commander… outranks the county magistrate?”
He meant, could a military official really lord it over a civil administrator?
“Of course!” Wu Changlu’s eyes widened.
“Our Tang Dynasty was founded on military merit—the army holds the land, when has a soldier ever taken a back seat?”
“Sun Hongde may control the taxes and land in name, but I command twenty thousand government troops—it is I who keep this place safe. If his son dares lay a finger on my nephew, I’ll smash his yamen to pieces!”
Wu Changlu’s voice grew louder and louder until he was standing, his beard bristling, his eyes fierce as a tiger’s.
Wu Ning stared in awe, suddenly grasping a profound truth:
This was the spirit of the Tang soldier—fearless, indomitable, never seeking trouble, but never afraid of it!
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Now, at last, Wu Ning understood why the Tang Dynasty had swept across the world, building such a vast empire.
Even though seventy years had passed since its founding and the military’s influence had waned, in the hearts of old soldiers like Wu Changlu, the glory still burned, and the fighting spirit remained—that was the soul of the warrior.
...
“Fourth uncle…” Wu Ning softened his tone, “It was just a quarrel between two young men—it doesn’t warrant smashing up the magistrate’s yamen, does it?”
“Why not?!” Wu Changlu glared. “If they dare bully us in our own valley, do they really think I’m easy to push around?!”
The more he spoke, the angrier he grew. “Damn it! I’ll go to their office first thing tomorrow and demand an explanation! How dare they call my nephew a peasant?”
“Three generations back, Sun Hongde was a peasant too!”
“Calm down, calm down!” Wu Ning hurried forward, wondering why his uncle’s temper was so fierce.
“It’s really not such a big deal—we didn’t actually suffer any loss, did we?”
“It’s only because we didn’t!” Wu Changlu scoffed. “Otherwise, I’d march on their office right now.”
“Eh…”
Wu Changlu suddenly paused, looking at Wu Ning. “How did it end up with you talking me down?”
All this circling about, he’d been led around by this little rascal.
...
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But truly, it wasn’t Wu Ning misleading him. Ever since he’d heard Sun Bo’an’s name, Wu Changlu had been holding in a certain anger—
A soldier must not be bullied!
He was a man who had fought on the battlefield, a veteran who crawled back from piles of corpses.
He knew deeply that the Tang Dynasty was won with the blood and lives of warriors. If the soldiers were gone, who would defend Tang?
This current assignment—guarding important officials from the capital—had made a deep impression on Wu Changlu.
Though the four counties of Fang Prefecture registered more than twenty thousand government troops, even recruiting just two thousand for this guard detail had been a struggle.
The court had granted him permission to recruit two thousand men, but it had taken him more than a month of hard work, running through all four counties, just to barely make the numbers.
The Tang Dynasty was not what it once was—fewer and fewer were willing to serve. Even if they fought for merit, they could no longer earn land.
All the grant lands in the prefectures had long been snatched up by officials and wealthy families, leaving nothing for the warriors.
As for the old soldier households…
Those with money didn’t want their sons risking their lives; those without couldn’t afford the equipment or provisions.
Wu Changlu knew that if he didn’t fight for the rights of these military families, soon there would be no one left to guard Tang.
...