C23. Hearts & Habits.

C23. Hearts & Habits.

Why are you doing this?

What is the purpose?

In an instant, Yuan Li recalled the horrific scene he had witnessed during the day: war, bloodshed, the cries of the people, and the eyes filled with despair.

However, Yuan Li quickly regained his composure. He wasted no time and immediately transformed his expression into one of anger, while speaking in a low voice, "Chu Hechao, what do you mean?"

"I mean no harm, but it is best to be cautious when discussing such matters. That's why I came up with the idea to bring you here to hide," the man chuckled silently, his handsome face marked with traces of dampness. "With your great talent, if you have any ambitions, just say the word, and I, Chu Hechao, will follow you without hesitation, not uttering a single word of refusal."

Do you think I believe you?

Yuan Li sneered, "I have already stated once, I want to protect my home and country! That is my greatest ambition! Chu Hechao, you clearly know my aspirations, so why are you trying to persuade me here like this? Even if you are a great general in the North, the future Prince of Chu, a highly regarded lord, you shouldn't humiliate others like this!"

As he spoke, his voice grew louder, filled with suppressed anger. Yuan Li, fueled by the frustration he had been holding back, found himself venting it all on Chu Hechao.

The man frowned, surprised by his sudden outburst, "Sister-in-law, your words are too harsh, I—"

"Enough!" Yuan Li interrupted him.

The usually good-natured man's smile faded, his face becoming devoid of expression. Despite his youthful appearance, he exuded a commanding presence. Yuan Li, drenched in sweat, seemed slight and fragile compared to Chu Hechao, but his aura overshadowed him.

With tightly pursed lips and fiery eyes, Yuan Li's once gentle face became vibrant and lively.

"Chu Hechao," Yuan Li raised his gaze, his eyes fierce despite the water droplets clinging to his eyelashes, as he locked eyes with Chu Hechao. He spoke firmly, "You brought me to Yuzhou, seeking my help to stabilize the situation. Yet, as you seek my assistance, you also continuously test me. Was my shot today a mistake?"

His face turned grim, "I prevented the deaths of many cavalry for you, do you still feel it's not enough? You claim we are family, but have you ever treated me as family? You want me to change Yuzhou, yet you fear my intentions. Chu Hechao, dare to ask yourself, are your actions crossing the line?"

Each question he asked was more piercing than the last.

Chu Hechao lowered his head, the shimmering water casting reflections on his back. In the darkness, Yuan Li couldn't discern his expression, but Chu Hechao remained silent.

Yuan Li pushed Chu Hechao away, coldly stating, "I did not expect to be treated this way after my contributions. If you truly do not trust me, just say so, and I will return to Luoyang. I only ask that you refrain from testing me in this manner again, as if you do not consider me family, I still regard you as a brother."

With a contemptuous huff, he briskly left.

Some time later, by the river.

Chu Hechao stood alone in front of the stones.

"Out of ten people who speak of protecting their home and country, only one may actually do so. The rest are using this excuse to benefit themselves," Chu Hechao suddenly muttered quietly, as if explaining himself.

After a moment, he muttered to himself, "Even Yang Zhongfa, who has been with me for eight years, I would still have doubts about him."

Turning his head, he calmly watched the direction in which Yuan Li had left.

Chu Hechao had always been a lone wolf, aware that his temperament was not endearing. Even his own parents did not like him, but Chu Hechao had grown accustomed to this.

He had grown up through struggles, experiencing numerous betrayals and deaths. The defense of the Northern Zhou Dynasty weighed heavily on him, with the threat of the fierce Xiongnu and Xianbei beyond the borders.

Chu Hechao could not afford to trust anyone completely. At the slightest suspicion, he could turn ruthless without hesitation.

He turned to look at the distant torches and bonfires.

Undeniably, he admired Yuan Li, but he also harbored deep-seated fears of him.

This sudden emergence of the son of the county magistrate of Ruyang, who had taken over the Chu family overnight, was favored by his parents and trusted by his older brother. However, Chu Mingfeng's trust in Yuan Li did not necessarily mean that Chu Hechao also fully trusted him.

Chu Hechao and Chu Mingfeng were not the same type of people. Chu Mingfeng was a pure scholar, but Chu Hechao was not. While Chu Mingfeng trusted Yuan Li with the rear of the Chu residence and the Prince's mansion, Chu Hechao could not bring himself to do the same.

The Prince and the Yang shi did not favor the second son for no reason.

But one who is alive must bear more burdens, with the weight of the nation and countless lives resting on his shoulders, his considerations had to be more extensive.

Chu Hechao withdrew his gaze and immersed himself in the water, pondering the words Yuan Li had uttered, repeating them over and over to himself. However, as he practiced, with a sudden splash, he stood up from the water, his face stern, and strode purposefully onto the shore.

*

The convoy escorting military funds did not delay in Beixin County, swiftly moving towards Jixian after taking the prisoners and surviving residents of Beixin County with them.

Ten days later, they finally arrived at their destination.

During these ten days, Yuan Li never looked at Chu Hechao, nor did he exchange a word with him. He would ignore Chu Hechao's presence, being icy towards him one moment and laughing with others the next.

Chu Hechao initially didn't worry about Yuan Li's prolonged anger. He had publicly taken Yuan Li away before, and Yuan Li had forgiven him after just one request, so surely his behavior was not as severe as kidnapping him.

At first, all seemed fine, as Chu Hechao did not rush to seek forgiveness from Yuan Li. But as Yuan Li continued to ignore him repeatedly, Chu Hechao couldn't help but focus more on him, his gaze passing over Yuan Li several times a day, his furrowed brow deepening.

After being ignored for three days, Chu Hechao, with a hardened expression, bit his lip and patiently went to apologize to Yuan Li, who refused to see him.

Even today, as they walked to Jixian, Chu Hechao still didn't receive a single glance from Yuan Li.

Even Yang Zhongfa noticed something amiss. He watched the expressionless and tense Chu Hechao then glanced at the jovial Yuan Li ahead with Liu Jixin, cautiously approaching and asking, "General, are you and Master Yuan having a falling out?"

Chu Hechao scoffed, a sarcastic smile forming, "Falling out?"

Yang Zhongfa shuddered, turning his face away and covering his eyes. "General, please don't smile like that, it scares me."

Chu Hechao: "...Come here."

Yang Zhongfa approached, earnestly advising, "General, a good person like Master Yuan wouldn't easily get angry. You must be really impressive to anger him. Count, it's been five or six days since Yuan Li last acknowledged you, right?"

Chu Hechao smiled wryly, devoid of any amusement in his eyes. "Ten days."

Yang Zhongfa gasped, "Ten days!"

He was a bit loud, causing the other officers to turn and look at him.

Chu Hechao's cold demeanor was intimidating as he harshly whispered, "Shut up."

Coughing, Yang Zhongfa scolded those around them, "Go away, all of you, go far, the General and I have something important to discuss!"

Once the others had distanced themselves, Yang Zhongfa lowered his voice and continued to inquire, "General, what on earth did you do to have such a falling out with Yuan Li?"

Chu Hechao watched Yuan Li's figure, lips pressed into a tight line, uninterested in responding.

Unable to decipher his thoughts, Yang Zhongfa tentatively suggested, "What if I call Yuan Li over, and you both have a good talk?"

Chu Hechao's gaze swept over him.

Realizing the situation, Yang Zhongfa turned and called out loudly, "Master Yuan!"

Yuan Li turned at the sound, seeing Yang Zhongfa smiling beside Chu Hechao, beckoning with a whip in his hand.

Chu Hechao stared directly at Yuan Li, his expression unreadable.

Yuan Li approached calmly, avoiding eye contact with Chu Hechao, and focused on Yang Zhongfa instead. "Mr. Yang, is there something you wish to discuss with me?"

Glancing at Chu Hechao inadvertently, Yang Zhongfa said, "Master Yuan... it's like this."

He rubbed his hands together, clearing his throat. "I have a matter I'd like to discuss with both you and the General."

Yuan Li tilted his head slightly, observing Chu Hechao holding the reins. "What is it?"

Dressed in plain attire, sitting erect on his horse, his hair tied back neatly, Yuan Li exuded a cold demeanor even Yang Zhongfa could discern.

Yang Zhongfa looked at Chu Hechao, unsure of what to say, prompting Yuan Li to finally glance at Chu Hechao.

With just that fleeting look from Yuan Li, Chu Hechao involuntarily smirked, murmuring, "Sister-in-law..."

With just two words spoken, Yuan Li turned his horse around, leaving a trail of dust behind, leaving them both behind.

Chu Hechao's demeanor hardened instantly.

Yang Zhongfa felt like slapping himself, quickly moving away from Chu Hechao, fearing the wrath of this volatile man.

*

As they entered Jixian, apart from the onlookers along the road, officials of Guangyang County, who had received news earlier, awaited them respectfully at the gate of the city.

Jixian is the center of Youzhou, where the Prince Chu's Estate in Youzhou is located.

The Prince Chu's Estate has been uninhabited for many years, with no servants inside. It was only when the officials of Jixian learned of visitors from Luoyang that they hastily sent servants to clean up the Prince Chu's Estate.

The procession of a thousand riders halted in front of the Prince Chu's Estate, where Yuan Li's three hundred servants efficiently untied the ropes on the carriages and began unloading their belongings.

There was a bustling activity with people coming and going, as Yuan Li stood in front of the residence and instructed the servants on where to place the belongings.

Shortly after, Han Jin hurried over to find him, "Master Yuan, important matters are being discussed in the study, and they are waiting for you to join."

Yuan Li handed his weapons to Guo Lin and followed Han Jin briskly to the study.

Inside the study sat officials from Guangyang County, including the county magistrate, deputy magistrate, commander, and clerks, among others. In addition to them, there were also two generals, Yang Zhongfa and Yuan Congyun.

As Yuan Li entered, Chu Hechao casually introduced him to the officials. The officials of Guangyang County promptly rose to greet Yuan Li warmly, who reciprocated the gesture and sat in the top left position beside Chu Hechao.

Once settled, Chu Hechao got straight to the point, concisely discussing how to pacify the rebellious forces in Youzhou.

When talking about quelling the rebellion, the officials of Youzhou naturally agreed.

The county magistrate, Cai Jicong, who was over fifty years old, bowed respectfully, "The two rebel armies are currently ravaging the areas of Shanggu and Liaoxi. If the General is planning to lead troops against them, I wonder if the military expenses will be provided from Guangyang County or if the responsibility lies with the respective county magistrates of those areas. This year, due to these rebel armies, harvests in various regions have been greatly damaged. However, I can see that the General has brought quite a sum of military funds."

Chu Hechao coldly chuckled a few times and then turned to Yuan Li, "What do you think, sister-in-law?"

Yuan Li smiled slightly and then changed the topic, "At the beginning of the year, Youzhou sent the accounts of the previous year to Luoyang. Upon reviewing them, I found discrepancies, so I brought them back. Since I will be staying in Youzhou in the future, it is necessary to scrutinize these accounts carefully to ensure that a large province like Youzhou can adequately supply rations to the thirteen thousand soldiers in the northern border. County Magistrate, don't you agree?"

The expression of the officials suddenly changed, and they all lowered their heads. County Magistrate Cai Jicong sweated profusely on his forehead and was about to offer some explanation when Yuan Li signaled for the account books to be presented.

The account books, wrapped in luggage, were slowly opened by Yuan Li, revealing several thick ledgers.

No one anticipated that on his first day in Jixian, he would confront them so directly and incisively. As they looked at the stoic Chu Hechao, beads of sweat rolled down the faces of the officials, fear and trepidation mingling in their eyes.

The dismissal and appointment of Youzhou officials were controlled by the Prince Chu's Estate, with Chu Hechao leading a thousand-strong army stationed outside. With both military power and authority, they held sway in this turbulent era.

Previously, they dared to act in Youzhou because they relied on the fact that Youzhou lacked Chu family members and required their management. But who could have foreseen that the newly arrived Yuan Li from the Chu family would come directly to oversee Youzhou!

Moreover, who could have predicted the emergence of rebellious forces causing turmoil everywhere!

In this chaotic era, with Chu Hechao commanding a force of one hundred and thirty thousand soldiers, he could easily pacify Youzhou. It was feared that if held accountable, these officials would be powerless to resist and face only one fate - death.

Witnessing their predicament, Yuan Congyun and Yang Zhongfa sneered repeatedly, finding it satisfying to see them in distress.

When the hundred and thirty thousand army ran out of food, they were the first to ask the county magistrates of Youzhou for supplies. However, the amount of food they received was extremely inadequate, just enough to sustain the army until they returned from Luoyang with more supplies.

Despite their frustration, they were helpless. With no one in charge of the rear, they couldn't confront these officials openly to avoid causing chaos in Youzhou.

But they never expected Yuan Li to come in so boldly, causing them embarrassment right from the start, which made them chuckle with disbelief.

Chu Hechao's eyes also twinkled with amusement, "I didn't expect my sister-in-law to bring the account books. I wonder, where did you find discrepancies?"

This question made the officials lower their heads even further.

They were afraid.

Of course, they were afraid. While the cat's away, the mice will play, but now that the cat is back, how could they not tremble in fear?

Yuan Li knew what they were thinking, which was why he intentionally challenged them with the account books in front of Chu Hechao.

Taking a ledger from his luggage, he looked at the officials, scanning their expressions, before focusing on the county magistrate. With a gentle smile, he inquired, "Cai Yi, the Magistrate of the Luoyang Shire, is he perhaps related to you?"

The elderly county magistrate, Cai Jicong, was taken aback by Yuan Li's sudden question and familiar name, causing his vision to blur for a moment. After a pause, he nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, the Magistrate of the Shire and I are both of the Cai family."

"My late husband had some acquaintance with the Magistrate of the Shire, and before leaving Luoyang, I had tea with him a few times," Yuan Li lied nonchalantly, "Since he is a relative of the Magistrate of the Shire, it's only fair to show some leniency."

Turning to Lin Tian, he gestured for a brazier to be brought over.

Lin Tian fetched the brazier and placed it in front of Yuan Li. With a smile, Yuan Li lifted the account books and held them above the brazier, gazing directly at the officials. "Since I have just arrived in Youzhou, let's not dwell on the past. Let's burn these account books, it's not a big deal. But after this, when the General pacifies the rebel forces, I trust all of you will promptly provide the military funds without delay, right?"

The officials clenched their teeth but quickly stood up and respectfully vowed, "Master Yuan, rest assured, we will do our utmost."

"Doing your utmost is not enough," Yuan Li casually tossed a ledger into the brazier and toyed with another in his hand, "Precision and punctuality are crucial from all parties."

The officials exchanged glances, their eyes lingering on the remaining account books. Taking a deep breath, they bowed in unison, declaring, "We shall not betray your trust, Master Yuan."

"Excellent!"

Yuan Li commended, tossing the remaining account books into the brazier before helping each official to their feet. The governor, catching his breath, bowed to Yuan Li once more, his voice trembling with gratitude.

Cai Ji had grasped the situation by now. Yuan Li had likely planned to burn the account books all along in exchange for their commitment to providing military supplies.

The mention of the Lieutenant Governor of the Capital Region was merely a superfluous gesture, an opportunity to openly gain Cai Ji's favor.

At this point, Cai Ji was utterly confused. How had he, without realizing it, incurred a debt to Yuan Li?

And it was a debt that had to be repaid. Otherwise, he would be branded ungrateful, his reputation tarnished beyond repair.

With this scene concluded, the officials dared not linger, hastily bidding farewell.

Yuan Li, hands clasped behind his back, watched their retreating figures, a sly smile playing on his lips. Suddenly, a voice echoed from behind, "Enjoying yourself?"

Yuan Li's smile vanished instantly, his face hardening as he strode out with firm steps.

Chu He Chao stood there, his expression unreadable. In a fit of frustration, he crushed the teacup in his hand.