Chapter 15 - He Is A Man

Although the Jiangnan Weaving Repository Navy had the four words, ‘Jiangnan Weaving Repository’, in front, in reality, the officials of the Jiangnan Weaving Repository could not take any action against the Navy; even Jiangnan’s division official did not have any power to do so.

A few years ago, when the Navy just got founded, the emperor seemed to have casually mentioned that all Navy-related matters had to be reported to him directly.

What he said could be taken both ways. On a bigger scale, it meant that the Ministry of War and the cabinet had no authority to meddle with the Navy’s affairs. Great Scholar Mu Zhaotong, who was part of the cabinet, could place his precious son within the Navy, but he definitely did not dare to interfere with any of the Navy’s affairs.

Hence, even though the general of Jiangnan’s Garrison B, Bai Shangnian, was a Class A Third pin General, which was two ranks higher than Zhuang Yong, with a Class B Third pin ranking in between them, he did not have the authority to meddle with the Navy’s affairs.

In all nineteen divisions of Great Ning, apart from Jingji, all the division officials were Class A Second pin officials. Jingji’s division official was a Class B First pin official. Every division had a garrison. Apart from Jingji’s Garrison A, when it came to equipment and the accomplishments of the troops, only the Four Borders’ combat troops and the capital’s 80,000 elites had an edge over Garrison B.

Garrison B’s general, Bai Shangnian, was rumored to be on close terms with Great Scholar Mu Zhaotong. Hence, Mu Zhaotong was not worried about leaving his son in Jiangnan.

However, now that his son got disfigured - his scar stretched all the way from his chin to his ear, his originally handsome face was considered to be ruined. If this news got to his father, he would definitely be extremely furious. Even Bai Shangnian would not overlook this matter.

Nonetheless, before the news got out, the person who flew into a rage first was Zhuang Yong.

Zhuang Yong did not expect his subordinates to be this daring - taking advantage of the time period he was not in the camp to sneak out to kill someone.

Mr. Shen carried with him Prince Liu’s iron plate early in the morning, and made his way to the military camp to look for Zhuang Yong. He reprimanded him as hard as he could. He had not left; he was sitting in the tent in the center of the camp, behind a folding screen, awaiting his news.

Six people knelt down before Zhuang Yong. They were the soldiers that followed Mu Xiaofeng on his mission; two of them were guards that Mu Xiaofeng had brought with him from home. One of them had been stabbed thrice and was bandaged up at the moment, and the other almost had his neck broken, and had a face that was swelled up like a pig’s head.

“General.”

Mu Xiaofeng did not get on his knees. He lowered his head and cupped his fist. “This only happened because of the two arrogant punks. They insulted the Navy officers and soldiers, saying that we are the trash that got rejected by the military forces in the entire country. How was I supposed to tolerate such humiliation?”

Zhuang Yong looked him in the eye and replied, “Isn’t that true?”

Everybody knew at that time that His Majesty had passed a decree to all the military camps in the country, ordering them to select some soldiers to be transferred to the Navy. However, who would be willing to send their best soldiers? Naturally, they had selected the worst-performing soldiers to be sent to the Navy. Because of that, Zhuang Yong’s rare anger surfaced and he reported it to His Majesty, who lectured them. Thereafter, he bestowed Zhuang Yong with privileges, allowing him to directly recruit soldiers there. Nonetheless, this matter continued to gnaw at Zhuang Yong’s mind.

Over the past four years, the Navy’s training produced results. However, the attitude of those self-centered show-offs were nowhere as good as that of the newly recruited courageous fishermen. This year onwards, these courageous men would become combat soldiers, thus causing the soldiers who got transferred to the Navy to be displeased.

What Zhuang Yong said had made Mu Xiaofeng shut his mouth. He wanted to retort,but words could not come out of his mouth.

“Military Officer Mu, remember this - I did not punish you today, not because you are not at fault, but because your father is the Great Scholar.”

Zhuang Yong passed a memorial, that was on the table, to Mu Xiao Feng. “By not punishing you, it meant that I have disrupted the discipline within the military. I had already written a memorial for His Majesty to demote me. As for whether or not His Majesty has any other punishment for me, I have no complaints.”

“General!”

Mu Xiaofeng looked flabbergasted. He did not expect Zhuang Yong to do such a thing - instead of punishing him, he shouldered the blame instead.

　

“Behave yourself.”

Zhuang Yong gestured to Mu Xiaofeng. “You may leave. You are not allowed to leave the camp for thirty days. I’m guessing within thirty days, the news would have reached the capital. As for how upset the Great Scholar would be, it is inappropriate for us to concern ourselves with that.

Mu Xiaofeng was about to say something but Zhuang Yong glared at him. He had no choice but to keep his mouth shut. He bowed and cupped his hand around his fist, before excusing himself.

“Where are the warlord soldiers?”

Zhuang Yong took out an arrow banner of command from under the table. The leader, Yang Qibao stepped forth and said, “I’m here.”

Zhuang Yong tossed the arrow banner of command to Yang Qibao. “Punish these six people via flogging.”

“Yes, sir!”

Yang Qibao cupped his fist and received the command. He turned around and instructed his subordinates to take the six people away. Just as he was about to leave the tent, Yang Qibao suddenly remembered that he had forgotten to ask something. He turned around and asked, “General, how many times do you want them to be flogged?”

Zhuang Yong got up and walked to the back. “Till they die,”

Yang Qibao’s face went slightly pale; he had been with General Zhuang for more than four years, but it was his first time hearing those three vicious words from his mouth. The general had always had the nickname ‘scholarly general’ as he was always refined and cultured. He must have been very furious today. He cupped his fist once more and turned around. His back was filled with cold sweat.

　

After turning the folding screen around, Zhuang Yong sat down. He shot a glance at Mr. Shen and said, “What do you think?”

Mr. Shen lamented, “You said I’m shameless, but today, I realized that you’re more shameless than me.”

Zhuang Yong smiled and asked, “Why?”

Mr. Shen replied, “The reason why you did not punish Mu Xiaofeng is because you know that it would be bad to offend Great Scholar Mu Zhaotong. By writing a memorial to His Majesty to punish you instead, shouldering the blame, even if Mu Zhaotong was more shameless, he cannot do anything to you. After all, you protected his son. On the surface, it seemed as though you shouldered the blame, but in truth, you have completed eradicated it.”

Zhuang Yong said, “If not, then what was I supposed to do? You want me to beat up Mu Xiaofeng on behalf of your two babies?”

Mr. Shen got up. “It’s ok, thanks, but even if you beat up Mu Xiaofeng, it’s enough to avenge for my two babies. You don’t know…”

Zhuang Yong was in a slight daze. “It’s still not enough?”

Before Mr. Shen left, he took the two jars of tea leaves with him. “Still not enough even if you include these.”

Zhuang Yong responded, “When it comes to being shameless, you’re still number one.”

Mr. Shen smiled wifely and left. However, worry was hidden behind that smile of his.

　

There was a small boat waiting at the riverbank of Nanping River. Shen Cha Yan and Shen Leng were sitting in the boat, waiting for Mr. Shen to return. Shen Cha Yan’s eyes were slightly red, as she applied the medication on Shen Leng’s wounds. She thought about how Shen Leng’s life would have been in danger if she did not suddenly think about accompanying Shen Leng to the market to buy vegetables earlier today. When she thought about not having that idiot, Shen Leng, in her life anymore in the future, her hands and feet went numb.

Shen Leng moved his arms a little. It hurt a lot, but fortunately, they were only superficial - his muscles and bones were fine. He stuffed a steamed meat bun into his mouth. “If we don’t eat this, it’s really going to get cold.”

Shen Cha Yan replied, “You think I’m as simple-minded as you?”

Shen Leng said, “Ease up a little.”

Shen Cha Yan retorted. “Isn’t that pig the most eased up one?”

Shen Leng said earnestly, “Perhaps the sheep was reluctant.”

Originally, this was not considered an intelligent joke, but when Shen Cha Yan thought about how Great Ning destroyed Nanyue over a few sheep, she could not help but laugh. Shen Leng looked at her and thought to himself that she looked pretty when she laughed, and that in the future, he would definitely make her laugh every day.

Mr. Shen carried a roasted goose and some cooked meat, as well as a pot of wine, and got onto the boat. After he sat down, he told the boatman to make a move.

“How did it go?” asked Shen Cha Yan immediately.

Mr. Shen replied, “Let’s talk at home.”

The three of them went silent. The mood seemed to be somewhat solemn. Shen Cha Yan knew that there were some things that Mr. Shen did not want to openly say in front of the boatman. Hence, she controlled herself. In the midst of the strange silence, she noticed a hand reaching into the greaseproof paper bag before tearing off a piece of goose leg, which the owner of the hand started to chew on it.

Shen Cha Yan was so mad that she nearly wanted to throw him off boat, and yet, on the other hand, that fella had absolutely no sense of awareness at all. His cheeks were bulging, as he said, “So delicious, really very delicious…”

Mr. Shen laughed, “Since it’s delicious, do eat more.”

Shen Cha Yan thought about how a roasted goose had two legs, she snatched the greaseproof paper bag and tore off a goose leg. “I will eat too!”

Shen Leng carefully reached out his hand. Shen Cha Yan thought that he wanted to snatch the roasted goose from her, and hence, she pulled the greaseproof paper bag to the side, away from him. Thereafter, he used his hand to wipe off some bits of food around her mouth.

Shen Cha Yan stared blankly. “What are you doing?”

Shen Leng lowered his head, eating his meat while giggling to himself.

It was already almost noon by the time they got back to the Daoist temple. Mr. Shen made an exception for today and permitted them to drink some wine, but each of them were only limited to a cup each. However, the cups were very tiny - they each weighed less than two taels.

Shen Cha Yan shot Mr. Shen a glance. “Stingy.”

Thereafter, she lifted the cup of wine and drank it down in one gulp. Shen Leng lamented, “Drinking it like that takes away any ritualistic meaning to it. Doesn’t it take away the solemnity of it?”

　

He wiped his hand with a hand towel, and sat upright. “Thank you sir, for the wine.”

Looking down, Shen Cha Yan had already drank the cup of wine at one go. “Long-winded…”

Shen Leng stared blankly. “M...mine.”

Shen Cha Yan replied, “What’s yours?”

Mr. Shen laughed. The worry in his heart had slightly dissipated after seeing how adorable they looked.

After Shen Leng finished two mouthfuls of food, he placed his chopsticks on the table. He seemed as though he had something to say but was hesitating. Finally, he could not help but say, “Sir, I want to join the Navy earlier.”

Mr. Shen was taken aback. “Why?”

Shen Leng answered, “It seems like Mu Xiaofeng hates my guts. I cut him in the face - it’s a revenge that he will definitely take. However, we cannot predict when this will happen. Even if General Zhuang is well-acquainted with you, you are unable to control the situation. They are hidden in the dark, while I’m out in the open. It is something we cannot guard against. Instead, why don’t we both stay in the light, in the same military camp. What can he do then?”

He looked apologetically at Shen Cha Yan, and noticed that her eyes were already red.

“I don’t agree to it!”

She Cha Yan stood up abruptly, “No matter what you say, I will not agree to it!”

Mr. Shen asked, “Reason being?”

Shen Cha Yan screamed, “I am a girl, we can be unreasonable. I simply will not agree to it.”

After she finished screaming, she ran back into her room, and slammed the door shut.”

Mr. Shen lamented, “She’s used to having you by her side. After you join the Navy, we might not even get to see you once or twice a month…”

Shen Leng lowered his head and started to look dejected. “I know, but it is something I have to do.”

Mr. Shen grunted. “When do you intend to go?”

“Tomorrow!”

Shen Leng lifted his head, “I put it off anymore - it would only make me want to stay.

Mr. Shen stood up. “Go pack your things. I will look for her and tell her.”

Mr. Shen sat there, without moving. He had a dazed look in his eyes.

Mr. Shen let out a long sigh once more. He went to Shen Cha Yan’s room and knocked on the door. Shen Cha Yan did not say anything, and he walked in. He saw her sitting next to her bed; her eyes were red. She wiped her tears forcefully in a fit of pique - she used all her strength to wipe them.

Mr. Shen took a handkerchief and passed it to her. “He’s doing it because of you…Mu Xiaofeng might take his revenge at any moment. Great Scholar Mu Zhaotong would definitely not let his son suffer that much without doing anything about it. If he enters the camp, Mu Xiaofeng would be able to keep an eye on him, and not look for trouble at the Daoist temple. If Mu Xiaofeng continues to be provoked, be it him or his father, Mu Zhaotong, it would be inevitable for you to get hurt when their people come to take revenge…”

Shen Cha Yan lifted her head and her eyes were bloodshot. “Do you think I don’t know what he’s thinking? Why does he insist on shouldering everything on his own? Just because he is a man?”

Mr. Shen stood there in silence for quite a while. He nodded and said, “That’s right, he is a man.”