Destroy Jin and conquer Song, and carry the Northern Expedition through to the end

Chapter 673 Moisturizing things silently

As evening fell, Luo Huaiyan returned to his home in Qushan County. The father and his two sons were overjoyed to be reunited.

Luo Shenyan happened to be on leave and returned to visit his family, which goes without saying. Luo Guzi had just been appointed as the prefect of Xuzhou, in charge of all river repairs in Shandong's western route and the water management department, which could be considered a promotion. At this time, he was handing over the affairs of Haizhou.

Luo Guzi and Liang Qiu, one in charge and one in charge, first conducted an on-site investigation of the Sishui River, whose channel had been taken over by the Yellow River, and formulated various diversion or sand-diversion plans to lay the foundation for the complete management of the Yellow River later.

This is destined to be a difficult task.

Luo Shenyan also had a tough time.

Since the local military commander took office, the regular field army has finally been able to operate freely.

The jurisdiction of the state governor and the circuit governor covered military garrison, defense, and local security management. If a foreign enemy suddenly invaded, the local military commander could organize troops for defense.

The left wing of the Jingnan Army led by Luo Shenyan can also leave Lianshui and gather in Jinan Prefecture for centralized training and mobilization.

This means that after a brief reunion today, the family of three must part ways and go their separate ways.

According to proper court custom, Luo Huaiyan should not have taken up an official post at this time, but should have served Luo Guzi while studying for the imperial examination.

But given Shandong's prevalence of makeshift troupes, such trivial matters are hardly worth mentioning.

After a hearty meal, the father and his two sons drank tea and discussed matters in the study.

"Eldest brother, you are in the most danger this time. The Jingnan army is the foundation of Shandong. If the great battle begins, you will still have to go to the front line."

Luo Shenyan smiled and said, "That will be two years from now. There will be another major battle only after the people's livelihood and military strength have recovered."

Luo Guzi put down his teacup, shook his head and sighed: "This is what Lord Wei and Liu Dalang said to appease the people below. We hope to have two years to recover our strength. But didn't we think the same way last year?"

“We want to live a peaceful life, but the Jin and Song countries may not think the same way. Moreover, the Song emperor has just been enthroned, and the Jin country is divided into east and west. Who knows what they will do? If the time comes, we will have to act whether we want to or not.”

Luo Shenyan's expression was solemn, but what could he say?

As the commander of the main field army, if he didn't step up when the battle started, who else could?

Facing his father and younger brother, Luo Shenyan didn't even dare to utter a single boastful word.

It's common for a true man to die in battle. This is fine to say to your comrades, but to say it to your family would only cause them unnecessary worry.

"Father, let's not talk about me anymore. What kind of job does Erlang have this time? Is he about to officially enter officialdom?" Luo Shenyan changed the subject.

Luo Huaiyan shook his head and said, "Father, elder brother, I cannot say."

Luo Guzi wasn't angry: "If you can't say it, then you can't say it. Since it's a secret, the fewer people who know about it, the better."

Luo Huaiyan opened his mouth, but his voice remained somber: "Your son is going on a long journey and will not be able to stay by your side to fulfill his filial duty, Father..."

Luo Guzi immediately waved his hand: "Don't say anything more, and don't let me know where you're going. If I need to know, Liu Dalang will tell me himself."

"The key now is..." Luo Guzi looked at Luo Huaiyan: "Second Brother, you must go home for three months within two years and settle your marriage. Don't argue, I will personally explain to Liu Dalang then."

"If you don't like the one you want, then I'll find you a suitable wife from a similar social class."

Luo Huaiyan was both amused and exasperated.

When Luo Shenyan saw his second brother get the short end of the stick, he felt no schadenfreude, but rather a chill ran down his spine.

Sure enough, Luo Guzi immediately turned his attention to his eldest son: "As for you, Dalang, you're getting married this year."

"Father...but..."

Luo Guzi glared at him and said, "Do you think I don't know? You and a nurse in the army have taken a liking to each other. Do you have to make a private engagement before telling me so I can propose?"

Luo Shenyan was even more embarrassed: "There is no such thing, Father. At this time, national affairs are of utmost importance, and there is no time to think about personal matters..."

Luo Guzi became even angrier: "Nonsense! According to you, people don't need to get married and have children when the world is in chaos? If that were the case, the Han people would have been wiped out long ago during the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, the late Tang and Five Dynasties, and now this chaotic world."

"Mr. Du Tong..."

"Don't look at Liu Dalang, he will definitely get married this year too! Huo Qubing of the Former Han Dynasty cried out for a long time, 'How can I have a home when the Xiongnu have not been destroyed?', but he also had children!"

Luo Shenyan sighed helplessly, glanced at his second brother who was trying not to laugh, and could only say, "I'll talk to A-Zhen about it when I get back."

"That's more like it." After drinking a cup of tea, Luo Guzi suppressed his anger and slowly asked, "What is the family background of this A-Zhen you mentioned?"

"Huh?" Luo Shenyan's first reaction was that he had been tricked by his father. Just now his father was saying something about 'being engaged in private,' but now he didn't even know the girl's name and family background.

"Hmph!" Luo Guzi snorted: "Do you know that Vice Dean Cao has already written to me, pointing out your inappropriate behavior? His exact words were quite harsh, telling me to warn you that if you don't want to get married, then don't bother me and get lost."

The vice dean, whose real name was Cao Zhe, was the vice dean of the medical school. He had stood up for the military doctors and nurses several times, so it was quite normal for him to write a letter to reprimand them at this time.

The army was filled with Buddhist temples. While other armies might have had prostitutes accompanying them, the Han army's military ideology and discipline dictated that there could be no prostitutes in the logistics camps. Back then, Li Ling, feeling the army's fighting spirit was weak, had all the prostitutes killed. How could the Han army do that now?

Of course, if the soldiers are stationed in a certain place and the surrounding people engage in trade or prostitution, the military judges generally do not interfere and have no way to interfere.

This resulted in an extreme abundance of males in the Han army. Apart from the women who came with the army to earn money by washing, sewing, and cooking, there were also some women in the field hospitals.

Naturally, these doctors and nurses are the most precious of all, and anyone in the military who dares to violate them will be executed.

But what is even more natural is that some high-ranking officers who are not yet married will inevitably develop feelings for these women after spending a long time with them.

Of course, there will be instances of starting a relationship only to abandon the person later, or leaving their spouse and children behind. Military officers and judges cannot handle such cases on the spot and can only report them to higher authorities.

During this period, Cao Zhe had many lawsuits with Han army officers.

Now that Cao Zhe has learned of Luo Shenyan's affair, he immediately wrote to Luo Guzi to explain the situation.

Although from an official standpoint, Luo Shenyan was a veteran of the Loyal Army and a favorite general of Liu Dalang, and Cao Zhe absolutely did not want to clash with such a person, he also needed to maintain the status of the field hospital within the army.

One or two unsavory incidents are one thing, but if it keeps going on and on, the field hospital should just be renamed the field brothel!

“Ah Zhen…” Luo Shenyan’s face flushed slightly: “Ah Zhen’s real name is Wang Congzhen. She is from Huaixi. Her entire family was wiped out when the Jin invaders marched south. She hid here and there until we drove away the Jin invaders. When she had nowhere else to go, she joined the army to do sewing and washing work. Later, she was recruited into the hospital. After that, her Ninth Team followed the Left Army.”

Luo Guzi stroked his beard and sighed, "She really is a pitiful girl. Our family has few rules, so since neither of her parents has passed away, we will naturally consider Vice Dean Cao and Professor Yang as her elders. I will personally speak with them, and we will hold the wedding within two months."

Luo Shenyan hesitated to speak, but seeing Luo Huaiyan's amused expression, he couldn't help but feel a surge of malice: "Father, I have no more problems here. Why don't you let Erlang go to the medical school for a visit and find a good match?"

Before Luo Huaiyan could retort, Luo Guzi angrily shouted, "What do you take the medical school for? A place where you can do whatever you want with women? Get out of here!"

Despite being a major military commander and a rising political star about to assume important responsibilities, the two brothers could only cower and run away in disarray in front of their father.

After they went outside, they looked at each other and then laughed.

"Do you think Father is so angry because he lacks a caring person by his side?"

"Perhaps. My father is in his prime; he should remarry."

"Get out of here!" Hearing the angry roar from the study, Luo Shenyan and Luo Huaiyan dared not stay any longer and immediately ran back to their respective rooms.

Reunion time is always short, especially when all three members of a family are officials traveling far from home.

On the third day, Luo Huaiyan left home and boarded a sailboat at the port of Qushan County.

Here, ten Han soldiers from Lianghuai were already waiting. They were in different cabins and did not know that each other was there.

These people were carefully selected; they not only had families and businesses in Shandong, but also had an irreconcilable feud with the State of Song.

For example, one of them, named Su Kuan, was once a Song soldier who later joined the Jingnan Army and fought against the Jin army in the Huai River region.

After the war, in accordance with military policy, Su Kuan was allocated a piece of land in Huaidong. However, as soon as he began to cultivate it, it was seized by wealthy households in collusion with the Song government. They even slaughtered the entire village where the refugees were being resettled.

This man had no goodwill toward either the Song or Jin dynasties. If it weren't for the Jingnan Army's timely intervention to clear up the encroachment on the land in the Huai River region, Su Kuan might have already raised the banner of rebellion in Huaidong.

"Su Kuan, your identity is the head clerk of Guangyuan Trading Company. Guangyuan Trading Company has now established itself in Lin'an. After you arrive, go directly to the West Market to find a Guangyuan Trading Company shop, tell their manager that you are from your hometown, and give him this letter. The head manager will naturally arrange work for you."

"Here!"

"Don't try to contact others; people will contact you in the future."

"Here!"

"Also, as I explained before, only when someone comes to you with this token can they be considered one of our own."

"Here!"

Su Kuan had already memorized the pattern on the token in Luo Huaiyan's hand, but he still examined it carefully.

Luo Huaiyan nodded and placed a package in his hand on the hammock in the cabin: "There are household registers and money inside, be careful."

After saying that, Luo Huaiyan walked out of the cabin, looked around to make sure no one was there, went to another cabin, and pushed open the door to enter...

"Set sail! Set sail!"

"Weigh anchor!"

Amidst the sailors' boat songs and chants, Luo Huaiyan felt a movement beneath his feet, and the sailboat headed out to sea.

If all goes well, the ship will arrive in Lin'an in thirteen days.

The goods on board will bring a small windfall to a few wealthy families, while the dozen or so passengers will disappear into the Song Dynasty like ink falling into the sea.

(End of this chapter)