Chapter 150: Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" / Are You the One

 FlamingoBees 

Translating Chinese Historical Dramas for your enjoyment... and mine! :)

Home    :    Novels

 Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" / Are You the One

 

 Chapter 150: 

 

Although the rain was heavy, the camp had dug drainage ditches and piled sandbags around it, preventing water from flooding in and allowing any excess water inside to drain out. After such a downpour, the camp would surely remain safe and sound.

With the rain pouring down, Cui Xingzhou didn’t have to go to the camp to drill the soldiers and could enjoy a well-deserved break at home. Although Beihai was hot, the weather turned chilly during the rain.

Mian Tang had already prepared some Huadiao wine she brought from the capital, heating it with hot water.

Her future brother-in-law, Li Guangcai, had purchased two plump ducks in the village, planning to borrow Li Mama’s culinary skills to prepare some aromatic roasted duck that would sizzle with delicious oil.

Li Mama certainly didn’t disappoint with the fat ducks. Not only did she smoke and roast them over fruitwood, but she also made thin pancakes to go along with the meal.

So the whole family gathered around, enjoying the sound of the rain outside while sipping wine and eating roasted duck and hot dishes. Little Yi'er was now able to sit steadily, so he joined them at the table, leaning against his father. His big, round eyes followed his father’s chopsticks, eagerly waiting for him to pick up meat to feed him, drool starting to trickle down from the corners of his mouth as he opened it wide in anticipation.

Unfortunately, Mian Tang reminded Cui Xingzhou, “Don’t feed him; he already had a bowl of meat porridge earlier. We need to save his appetite!”

As a result, in the end, Little Yi'er could only suck on his fingers, watching his parents and his aunt and uncle eat.

During the meal, Mian Tang brought up the matter of Cui Fu and Li Guangcai’s marriage. Cui Fu replied calmly, “I’ve already discussed it with Guangcai. Since our marriage contract was signed in the capital, given the current war situation, we should keep it simple. All we need is for the two of you to act as witnesses, and we’ll be married.”

Cui Fu was entering her second marriage, so a simpler approach made sense, but it was Li Guangcai’s first marriage; would it really be appropriate to handle it so simply?

Mian Tang couldn’t help but shift her gaze toward Cui Xingzhou.

However, Cui Xingzhou and Li Guangcai clearly didn’t share the delicate sensibilities typical of women, and they both found it quite agreeable. Li Guangcai chuckled, saying, “I think during a wedding, the bride has to wear all those hairpins and can hardly eat for half the day, which is exhausting. Now that we’re in Beihai with hardly any relatives or friends, there’s no need to go overboard and tire Fu'er out.”

Mian Tang raised her cup in admiration, thinking that it was entirely Li Guangcai’s own strength that kept him single for so many years.

His considerate words were nonsensical. What woman would ever despise showing off her beauty in public?

However, Cui Fu, having been burdened by her previous marriage, felt a bit disheartened. This time she agreed to Li Guangcai’s proposal to escape the entanglements of the Guo family and to ensure Jin’er’s safety by moving far away.

That was why Cui Fu didn’t seem particularly invested in a grand ceremony for her second marriage. Yet, Mian Tang couldn’t explain this to Li Guangcai, as it would only make him sad.

After dinner, Mian Tang mentioned it to Cui Xingzhou. He shrugged dismissively, saying, “When it comes to living as a couple, what does appearance matter? It’s about whether you’re compatible in private. If Li Guangcai can’t win my sister’s heart, after the war, I can just find her someone else!”

Mian Tang felt that sometimes this scoundrel prince’s words carried the arrogance of a bandit! What would happen if Li Guangcai was simply dull and unaware?

Seeing Mian Tang’s disapproving look, Cui Xingzhou shot her a sidelong glare and added, “But don’t you dare entertain any funny thoughts; once you marry me, you can forget about trading up!”

Mian Tang was rather impressed by his domineering attitude, so she played along, “No swapping, no swapping! Let’s see when you can’t keep me anymore… Ouch…”

Before she could finish her sentence, she was knocked down by the arrogant bandit: “Dare to say I lack the ability? Looks like you’ve gained some courage! Let’s see how I can keep you! Ouch, why are you biting me again?”

In an instant, their playful laughter mingled with the drizzling rain outside, wrapping them in a cozy atmosphere.

However, after just a moment of warmth, it would soon be hard to find again once the rain stopped.

After the heavy rain stopped, the pirates once again began to land and plunder.

Originally, these pirates had disguised themselves as merchants, traveling from Jiangsu and Zhejiang along the coastal roads to Beihai, conducting trade with the local populace. However, upon discovering iron mines in the area and noticing the local government’s weakness, they shed their merchant disguises, armed themselves, and seized control of the iron mines. The local authorities and tribal leaders tried to encircle them several times, but they were soundly defeated.

From that point on, the pirates began to burn, kill, and plunder. They even engaged in human trafficking, with many women being abducted and sold to Japan and other places.

After every heavy rainfall, the pirates would conduct a raid. The muddy roads following the rain made it difficult for military vehicles to traverse. If the government sent out large forces, their movement would be cumbersome, allowing the pirates to plunder and flee before the troops arrived. On the other hand, if they dispatched smaller units, while they could move quickly, it wouldn’t be effective, as they would easily be overwhelmed and scattered by the pirates.

Before the rain, the pirates had already sent scouts to patrol the area, and upon seeing several beautiful young women in Longyuan Village, they decided to head straight for it after the rain.

Near Longyuan Village, the pirate leader, Onizuka Ichiro, instructed his capable subordinates to take a portion of the pirates to Longyuan Village while he led the rest to a nearby hillside to rest and regroup.

As the pirates approached the entrance of Longyuan Village, several villagers looked up and, with cries of alarm, quickly turned and fled into the village. Soon, the sounds of doors slamming shut echoed through the area.

The leading pirate laughed heartily and said to his companions, “These villagers are truly foolish! They think closing their doors will keep us out!”

In the past, when they raided, the villagers would scatter in all directions, requiring the pirates to put in considerable effort to catch them. The other pirates joined in laughter, echoing his sentiment.

Drawing his sword, the leading pirate shouted, “Charge in! Grab the girls! Take the silver! And make sure to drive away all the cattle and sheep!” He led the charge, and the other pirates surged forward, rushing into the village.

The leader burst into several houses, only to find them empty. He was puzzled; he had clearly heard the doors slam shut moments ago, and hadn’t seen anyone leaving the village. Just as he pondered this, he charged into another courtyard. As he opened the door, he found a robust man clad in rattan armor standing inside, with a sword propped against the ground.

The robust man saw the pirate and let out a hearty laugh, saying, “You guys are awfully slow! I’ve been waiting here so long that I’m bored out of my mind.” He listened closely, hearing only the sounds of chaos—things being overturned and the jabbering of the pirates—and continued with a laugh, “Haha, looks like I’m lucky! The others haven’t found you yet, so I’m the first to do business with you!” With that, he drew his large knife and charged at them with ferocity.

The pirates were puzzled, thinking they could easily report back to their leader after dispatching this man. However, once the fighting began, they quickly realized that the robust man’s strength and speed were overwhelming; they were no match for him. In just a few moves, he had knocked one of them to the ground. 

Meanwhile, sounds of battle erupted around them, mixed with the screams of pirates meeting their end. The soldiers who had arrived at Beihai were suffering from illness due to the unfamiliar environment and lacked the spirit to fight. In contrast, the hidden soldiers in the village, clad in rattan armor, were like tigers unleashed, fierce and unstoppable against the pirates.

The pirate leader, Onizuka Ichiro, was sitting on the hillside when he suddenly sensed something was off. He faintly heard sounds of battle and quickly stood up, pulling out a single-lens telescope to look down at the village.

To his alarm, he saw the entire village engulfed in chaos, with the sounds of fighting ringing out. The subordinates he had sent down to loot were nowhere to be seen.

Realizing the situation was dire, Onizuka Ichiro hurriedly led his men back to report to their leader, Eikushi-ji.

Eikushi-ji was unlike other wandering pirates; he came from a noble background but had always been rebellious, breaking free from his family's constraints to become a pirate at sea. 

Having occupied an island in Beihai and opened an iron mine, he had earned royal commendations at a young age, restoring his family’s glory and amassing a growing number of followers.

He had thought that Beihai was firmly in his grasp, but the sudden appearance of the Great Yan army caught him off guard. They had already set up an ambush in Longyuan Village, striking before he could react.

Now that the unexpected strength of the reinforcements had become clear, Eikushi-ji decided to investigate the situation further. A few days after the battle in Longyuan Village, he changed his hairstyle and donned the clothing of a local fisherman from Great Yan, using a wide-brimmed hat to hide his face as he ventured into Cangwu County to gather intelligence.

As Eikushi-ji chose a small hill, using the cover of the jungle, he looked down with his telescope to see the military camp of the Great Yan army.

The camp was bustling with activity. Tall and strong soldiers formed a square formation, all dressed in leather armor, standing tall with their long spears raised or swords sheathed at their sides. Despite the sounds of shouting and battle coming from behind, none of them turned their heads. Their discipline and spirit were entirely different from any troops he had seen before.

Frowning, Eikushi-ji adjusted his telescope for a better view when suddenly he froze.

He spotted a horse-drawn carriage parked at the side of the formation. As the curtain of the carriage was lifted, a slender young woman in a sheer dress stepped out.

In the sunlight, her delicate hair cascaded down in a few loose strands, her fair skin faintly blushing like tender bean curd, and her unpainted brows were elegant, while her cheeks naturally glowed with a rosy hue. Her bright eyes, not yet smiling, curved slightly at the corners.

Eikushi-ji had previously seen paintings of beautiful women sent from Great Yan, always thinking such exquisitely featured ladies were mere figments of imagination.

However, that fleeting glance from the hillside made him realize that true beauty existed in the world, far surpassing those depicted in the paintings!

Unfortunately, captivated by her beauty, he did not notice the sunlight reflecting off his telescope, which caught the young woman’s eye.

She frowned slightly and looked straight at him. As their eyes met, he felt his heart race.

But before he could fully process his emotions, the young woman suddenly bent down, took a crossbow from one of her guards, and gracefully positioned it, as if playfully experimenting with how to use it, her posture resembling that of a musician tuning an instrument...

Just as Eikushi-ji was lost in admiration, her gentle eyes transformed abruptly, revealing a fierce glint as she aimed directly at him and released a bolt!

The arrow shot toward him with a whistling sound, flying swiftly through the air!

© translations belonging to  flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.

•••

Prev  :  TOC :  Next

https://ko-fi.com/flamingobeestranslations

https://twitter.com/FlamingoBee2009

Thank You For Reading <3