General Above I am Below Chapter One “Victorious Return”
Dai Qin recently has a happy event
General Ye Zhao who goes on an expedition for eight years, finally destroyed in the city of the northern migrants, to avenged a past insults not only regained the lost territory but also forced them to bow down.
With the great news, the capital city erupt in joy, civil and military officials all sing praises, wishing one could boast Zhenbei General as the first heroes under the heaven.
Emperor of Dai Qin urgently conferred to General Ye Zhao as the Great General, to return home triumphantly and receive the rewards.
Unexpectedly, another letter come up saying — Zhenbei General thank the emperor favor and humbly beg for forgiveness for being untruthful, admitting that oneself is a female.
The whole world is shocked, an uproar.
The Emperor spurt tea all over toward his most beloved Imperial Concubine Song.
To mention about the Ye family can be considered as a legend, from the foundation of country until now, each generation’s served in the military, a total of thirteen people sacrifices for the country, really is full of loyalty families, thus was conferred down the Duke of Zhenguo t.i.tle.
Eight years ago, when the Man Jin invaded and rampantly robbed at the eighteen provinces, at that time stationed in north desert the mighty Duke Zhenguo, General Ye Zhong on Emperor"s order commanded three hundred thousand soldiers to go on a military campaign, just before departure the Emperor bestowed him a ceremony feast, conferred a medallion token and a signboard plaque of loyalty to the country.
Duke Zhenguo child’s, Ye Zhao who was only sixteen years old requested to vanguard their first army soldier, with ingenious plan the five thousand cavalry managed to broke apart twenty thousands of Man Jin army forces and captured the enemy Commander to submission. With the victory news, Ye Zhao was conferred the Xiao Wei (Military Officer)[1] but Ye Zhong refused the reward.
After that Ye Zhao lead on two thousand cavalry on a night attack, burned down the enemy provision and cut off their escape road. With this victory Ye Zhao was conferred the Youji General (lit.Guerrilla Warfare General), Ye Zhong refused the reward again. Later on, Ye Zhao with twenty thousand armed forces met the enemy head on, beheaded more than two thousand soldiers, captured three thousands war prisoners, a major victories. With the report of success Ye Zhao was conferred the ZhongWu General (lit.Loyal Military General), Ye Zhong still refused and wrote a letter that Ye Zhao in this lifetime does not hope to be a military officials.
The emperor was furious, wrote an imperial decree to reprimand him.
Ye Zhong with no other choice had to received the decree.
The following year, in the vicinity of eight tribes, the Jin"s set up an ambush, Dai Qin General w.a.n.g Shanshui fall on the trap and was defeated. Duke Zhenguo, Ye Zhong took over the border defense, was. .h.i.t by an arrow crossfire and died, the eldest son Ye Xiong and second son Ye Jie was also perished, the enemy ma.s.sacred everyone in the city. Duke Zhenguo furen[2] was unwilling to accept the disgraced on the spot committed suicide.
The world fall in chaos, frontier border defenses was in emergency situation, the entire capital city was under pressure. Ye Zhao inherited father will on his deathbed, was appointed as Zhenbei General (lit.North Guard General). Commanded the army to fight back, leading on the three thousand cavalry to attack on hundred thousand Man Jin soldiers. Alone rushed to the enemy ranks and kill thousand of people and beheaded the famous General of Man Jin, three came out three was killed, the enemy was terror stricken by the news and forced to retreated in defeat. After taking back the city, together with thirty thousand cavalry troops announced the long military expedition, repeatedly attacked and divided the enemy to strangled them, rivers of blood flows, to became known as the "living Yanw.a.n.g"[3]
The Man Jin one by one pa.s.sed on a folk song saying, "Yanw.a.n.g descend, the desert was red, the desert son"s turn to white bones, the desert young child cannot weep at night……"
"This kind of man, how is it possible to be a woman?!" The emperor carrying the scroll repeatedly looked at it more than ten times, trying to find a trace of counterfeit, the result only makes him sorrow.”
He send a letter to the Duke Zhenguo family"s ninety eight years old great grandfather to inquire about.
The old granpa is already senile, suddenly with a dragon tiger vitality clutched the stick and roar: "Ye family have no daughter! Only that one son is with v.a.g.i.n.a!"
Ai……
Ye Zhao really is her mother"s daughter.
The emperor finally gave up, the civil and military officials also to drop the matter.
What to be done?
Many conflicting opinions.
Did not know what to do, the Emperor on the evening went to the palace and consulted with the Empress Dowager.
On the second day, the Emperor decisively tried his best to set an example, made poetry himself praising songs on Ye Zhao great contributions. Ordered Ye Zhao to escort back the prisoners of war, conferred with the t.i.tle Marquis of Wu and the Great General, then a.s.signed to two hundred thousand army troops to defend the city and many more rewards.
Empress Dowager also pa.s.s an imperial decree, bestowing An w.a.n.g second son Xia Yujin as Nanping Junw.a.n.g and to take Marquis Wu, Ye Zhao as the zhengfei (primary/legitimate wife).
People once again is shocked.
This Xia Yujin in the capital is also a well-known figures, ordinary citizens in idle often told three stories about him
Firstly is his physical, Xia Yujin from childhood to lose a father, his body was so frail almost cannot make it alive. The country teacher said he lacked in the n.o.ble qi, his mother then gave him seven shu daughters from the officials as a concubines in an attempt to pa.s.sed him the qi, it was useless after all. After that there was a traveling Taoist monk who did not know where he came from, gave him a method to cure in cultivating vital qi, unexpectedly producing miracles.
Secondly is his character, An taifei[4] early widowhood had loved her younger son the most. Since young because of his sickly body was spoiled dearly, accustomed to extreme pampering made his temperament wild. All day long with the sc.u.m companion lads, idly playing fighting c.o.c.k, dog’s, crickets, dice gambling and also a regular customer in the courtesan house. Such talented prodigal young master, except playing out anything else was not interested to do.
Thirdly is his appearances, very magnificent, to described his look it’s simply capable to cause the downfall of a country. The most noteworthy incident was his first time to visited the famous in the capital the Xiao Guan Hall.[5] A bold wealthy customer unaware of his ident.i.ty was so smitten by his celestial beauty, stake a lot of money and jewels to redeem his body…… was so frightened he swore that day that his most hated in life is old man! After that never again to step a foot into that building.
Xia Yujin because of his notoriety, his wedding was dragged again and again, now already turned twenty two years old, matched with the twenty four years old bad reputation woman Ye Zhao, was exactly such a pair.
Empress Dowager was extremely satisfied with the result.
The Emperor was extremely satisfied, the old w.a.n.gye, the country n.o.bles and their furen were satisfied; the unmarried prince and the n.o.bles heir were also satisfied.
Only the An w.a.n.g manor is not happy with this news, the entire household in grief.
An taifei, Zhang shi dressed in a lotus embroidered with black carp dress, on her head adorned with a neat glittering silver jewelry, embracing Xia Yujin who was in her bosom, said, “My son ah, you are so unlucky, why this bad news. .h.i.t you in the head? This kind of daughter in law, how can you be with? ”
An w.a.n.gye, Xia Yuque dragged his injured legs limply came to persuade: “The Empress Dowager said Marquis Wu is an incomparable honorable person, not any kind of person can be with. This wedding was chosen by the Empress Dowager herself, even Imperial Concubine Song did not object it. Now the imperial decree already comes out, marrying Ye Zhao was already a final matter, mother you must obey it."
An taifei looked at him and said: “Those n.o.bles was distressed for their own clan son, unwilling to take the living Yanw.a.n.g as wife, your father already pa.s.sed away and you are also crippled…… cannot attend the royal court, ourselves here are not worthy at all, naturally is going to be pushover. My poor Yujin ah……"
Xia Yuque lowered his head, in heart he felt this second brother manner is too inferior, n.o.body helps one another, Empress Dowager hobby to acts as a matchmaker and exploit the useless person to stop a loophole. Also thinks that mother was usually bias, his heart felt somewhat pleased. Then he deeply sighed opens mouth and said: “Ye Zhao joins the army for many years, n.o.body discovered the true body, must have looked tall and mighty, big round waist, sharp eyebrows tiger like eyes, right?"
"No, I don"t want to marry." Xia Yujin complexion changed unsightly again.
Xia Yuque again said: "Empress Dowager decree, which can not marry? Although hearsay that she was a cold blooded murderer, thousands of thousands prisoners are directly buried alive, live person was skinned out and drink their blood. However younger brother will eventually be her husband, after married into the home, presumably can moderate the violent temper, abide to be virtuous female, learning how to be a good daughter-in-law, so don’t worry. "
Xia Yujin’s face was black as the bottom of the pot.
Actually everyone have heard all kinds of terrible rumors about Ye Zhao, folk sometimes used it to scare the children. Concubine Yang still look calm, only her lips look pale in color. The other two tongfang[6] was already scared off their gut, holding his thigh crying all out.
Xia Yujin sneered:" Mei niang, didn’t you said apart from my heart you don’t care other things, in future will you nicely to wait on the young master wife?"
Mei niang tremble: “This servant to seduce Young Master is this servant wrong, this servant knew mistakes, Young Master please looked into that this servant had served since childhood and show mercy, even if this servant is beaten out, married off to be lower concubine for disfigured men also can."
Xia Yujin sneered again: " Xuan er, didn"t you said wanted to be through thick and thin with me, even death cannot be apart?"
Xuan er lose her wits: “Servant… servant is a fox spirit! Shameless! You can take this servants to beat with plank and sell out! Sell to whoever you want, that is servant fate. If provoke the young madam, she demand for my skin, she will personally peel it! "
Xia Yujin hands trembling so hard and dashed out of the house.
After a moment, splash a sound of water.
Old servant shouted: “Help! Young master jump into the lake! "
Notes
[1]In ancient Chinese military, “將” when p.r.o.nounced jiang4, means General. Below it, there was 校尉 Xiao Wei, a rank just below the General. It seemed to be a combination of officers ranging from Lieutenant to Colonel, there was no distinction in ancient China, there’s only one rank called Xiao Wei(Military Officer) below the General.
[2]furen is a mistress or madam/lady. Used for both married women and t.i.tled women. A married woman is referred to as __shi to tell their maiden clan name.
[3]Yanw.a.n.g (King Yan/King Yama) is East Asian mythology G.o.d known to judge the dead and preside over the h.e.l.l’s.
[4]Taifei is a t.i.tle for consorts of a deceased Emperor or w.a.n.g (prince)
[5]Xiao Guan (小倌) meaning little groom is a male prost.i.tutes. They stay in the place called Xiao Guān Guǎn (小倌馆 little groom hall) a service establishments equivalent to the courtesan house.
[6]Tongfang is the lowest rank in concubine. They need to called themselves as nubi (slave servant).