I did it all for the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 88 Taking Over Moling!

Han Yin's departures always seemed to be closely related to Zhou Yu's military campaigns.

When Han Yin left last time, Zhou Yu broke through Danglikou, Hengjiangjin, and Niuzhu camp in succession, crossing the Yangtze River in an incredible manner, giving Liu Miao's army a foothold in Jiangdong.

It's the same this time.

Just as Liu Miao had seen Han Yin off across the river, news arrived from Zhou Yu—

"Moling has fallen!"

The military intelligence report, consisting of only four large characters, invigorated Liu Miao!
"Leave!"

From now on, Liu Miao finally has a real base where he can do his thing!
Liu Miao returned to Dangtu overnight and told Lu Kang and the others the news. Lu Kang was overjoyed to hear it!

"As expected of Zhong Shan, I knew I hadn't misjudged him!"

“I have already ordered my clansmen in Wu County to go to Danyang. In the future, Zhongshan will settle the refugees and they can be ordered around at will!”

The investment that the Lu family of Wu Commandery made in Liu Miao was no longer limited to money and food, but had risen to the level of "people".

Clearly, from this day forward, Lu Kang has made up his mind that the Lu family of Wu Commandery and Liu Miao should share both prosperity and ruin!
"Thank you, Lu Zhongyi!"

"Between you and me, why should there be any thanks?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Shi, Lu Yi, and Lü Meng all smiled.

Only Lady Lü was still somewhat puzzled, and whispered to her son, "Ziming, is it a good thing that our husband has conquered that Moling?"

Lu Meng nodded excitedly and, drawing on his recent studies, gave a thorough explanation from a military perspective of the importance of Liu Miao's occupation of Moling, such as its strategic position over Jiangdong, its fertile land, and its role in stabilizing the people...

Unfortunately, although Lü Meng spoke well, Lü Shi had never been literate and was completely confused by what he heard.

Lu Yi, who was standing nearby, stepped in to help: "Aunt Lü, to put it simply... we have a home now."

I have a home now...

Lady Lü finally understood! She happily embraced Lü Meng and Lu Yi, saying, "So that's how it is!"

Both Lü Meng and Lu Yi were a little embarrassed. Lü Meng even shyly pried Lü Shi's hand away, saying, "Mother! I'm all grown up! I can't always act like this! What kind of behavior would it be if others saw this!"

"You brat! No matter how old she is, she's still your mother! Besides, who else is she right now?"

Liu Miao stepped forward, laughing loudly, and patted one of the people's heads, asking, "How did you get along? You didn't fight, did you?"

"No."

"Does Father think we're still little children?"

Liu Miao's words drew a joint protest from Lu Yi and Lü Meng.

Lu Yi: "Although Ziming was unable to study due to his family's previous circumstances, he is diligent and eager to learn. He is never complacent about his progress or proud of his advancement. He always maintains a learning attitude, which is precisely the kind of character that only a general can possess!"

Lu Meng blushed slightly: "I am far inferior to Boyan. Boyan is humble and modest. We study together every day. When I encounter problems I don't understand, I ask the teacher for help, and Boyan asks the teacher for help as well, so that I won't be embarrassed alone. His composure is something that I, his older brother who is five years older than him, can not match."

However, unlike Lu Yi, Lü Meng didn't only speak of the good things and never the bad—

"However, Boyan's temperament is a bit too cautious! He's like an old man all day long... With a personality like yours, how will you lead an army and keep those arrogant and fierce generals in check in the future?"

Even when Lu Meng reprimanded him, Lu Yi smiled and kept nodding...

Even Liu Miao couldn't bear to look at him like this, so he decisively went to Lu Yi's ear and whispered something indescribable—

"Ziming called you an old man, don't you really want to beat him up?"

"Ziming has always acted roughly, Boyan, you must have had a hard time to tolerate him, right?"

"Now that your grandfather is backing you up, don't you really want to give him a beating?"

"..."

These whispers were not only heard by Lu Yi, but also by the Lu family members standing nearby.

Madam Lu playfully shoved Liu Miao: "Other fathers teach their brothers to be harmonious, but you, instead, are stirring up trouble?"

Liu Miao laughed loudly: "What brotherly harmony? It's all an act! I don't believe that Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu had such a bad relationship before, but now they still turn on each other in an instant, don't they?"

"Between men, there are some things that are hard to say aloud, so it's better to fight them than to say them out loud. Don't you think so, Lu Zhongyi?"

Lu Kang was fine at first, but upon hearing Liu Miao's words, he immediately felt a throbbing pain in his tailbone.

Only then did Liu Miao realize something was wrong...

I have a feeling that there's something wrong with the number of my family members!

After counting and counting, it always feels like someone is missing...

Who's missing...?

Oh!
Liu Miao then remembered that he should probably have another wife!
"Where is Madam Yuan? Is she still throwing a tantrum?"

Madam Lu and Madam Lü exchanged a glance, both seeing helplessness in each other's eyes.

"What? Does she bully you guys usually?"

"That's not true."

Madam Lu sighed: "But after all, Madam comes from a wealthy family, so she is always a bit more pampered than ordinary people."

“Since arriving in Jiangdong, I have not changed my old customs and take a hot bath every day… Just now, I used this as an excuse not to come and greet my husband.”

Liu Miao: "..."

He thought Madam Yuan had done something utterly rebellious, but it turned out she just needed to bathe every day? "Okay, I understand!"

"Since she loves taking showers so much, I'll go and shower with her today."

Liu Miao went from the front hall to the back courtyard, where a room in the center was shining brightly.

As you approach, about three steps from the door, you can smell a faint fragrance of pepper and orchid.

Gently opening the door, the pale gauze screen on the outside, as thin as a cicada's wing, was damp, vaguely revealing the profile of Madam Yuan.

Her slender waist, curving upwards, swayed like a willow branch. At this moment, Madam Yuan was standing in a wooden tub, forcefully stretching her arms behind her back to wash herself.

Upon seeing this, Liu Miao sighed again.

Madam Yuan had already puffed out her chest to its limit, but judging from the size of the area on the plain gauze screen, it was still only a tiny bit, clearly beyond redemption...

After several attempts, Madam Yuan discovered that even with her best efforts, she still couldn't clean her back. Frustrated, she threw a tantrum: "If this were my home in Runan, someone would surely come to help me. Unlike here..."

Before she could finish speaking, Madam Yuan suddenly felt a chill down her back, followed by a large hand pressing against it. She exclaimed, "Who is it? Who let you in?"

"If someone helps you scrub your back, you should politely say thank you, instead of asking who they are or how they got in, understand?"

"Oh, thank you."

After thanking her in a daze, Yuan suddenly realized—something was wrong!
With a scream, Yuan immediately crouched down, splashing water everywhere!
"Why is it a man?"

"Nonsense! You didn't marry a woman!"

Liu Miao wiped the water off his face, spat on the ground, and frowned: "How much spice did you put in? The water's salty. Are you pickling yourself?"

"You're the one pickling yourself!"

Hidden in the water, Yuan Shi shielded herself with her hands from something that wasn't even there. Her long black hair cascaded down her shoulders as she warily watched Liu Miao through the mist: "What are you doing here?"

However, as soon as she finished speaking, Yuan realized she had said something foolish, so she simply put her mouth into the water and blew bubbles.

But when Madam Yuan saw Liu Miao begin to undress, she jumped back in surprise: "What are you doing?"

"Of course I took a bath! What else could I do?"

Seeing that Liu Miao had removed all his clothes, Madam Yuan closed her eyes.

Unable to suppress her curiosity, Yuan opened her eyes again, but it was too late, as Liu Miao had already entered the wooden tub.

"Phew! Comfortable!"

Liu Miao had been traveling non-stop these past few days and was already exhausted. Now, as he soaked in the hot water in the wooden tub, he felt as if his fatigue melted away and he was merging into the water that rose and fell with their breaths.

At this moment, Yuan's mind went blank. The usually eloquent woman was now unable to utter a single word and could only stare blankly at the ripples spreading in the wooden tub.

The wooden bucket wasn't very big to begin with, so Yuan and Liu naturally fit together.

Yuan could already feel the distinct difference between the skin of the opposite sex. This difference made Yuan both fearful and curious, wanting to stay away, and curious and wanting to get closer. Unfortunately, the narrow wooden tub prevented Yuan from having any of her thoughts, and she could only obediently maintain the position she had just started in.

After soaking for a while, Liu Miao felt the comfortable feeling of weakness slowly disappearing before opening his eyes.

"Ugh?"

Liu Miao was only an arm's length away from Yuan Shi, and he could clearly see that Yuan Shi's originally fair and jade-like skin was now filled with an unnatural pink.

"You can change color?"

However, this time, Madam Yuan did not retort as before, but maintained her original posture...

"Brush~~~"

Liu Miao simply stood up, and this time Yuan Shi finally reacted, shakily raising her head to look Liu Miao straight in the eye.

“You come from a wealthy family, but you have already married me, Liu Miao. As the saying goes, ‘A woman follows her husband wherever he goes,’ so even if you don’t want to, you have to accept it.”

"But don't worry, now that you've married me, Liu Miao, I will naturally protect you for the rest of your life! No matter what happens outside, you will always be my legal wife."

Liu Miao knew that his integration with the Yuan family would likely be very difficult.

But no matter how difficult it is, there must be a beginning.

And tonight, that begins!
"Well? Now it's your turn to wash my back, isn't it?"

……

……

The next morning, Liu Miao got out of bed looking exhausted.

When Chen Yu came looking for Liu Miao, Liu Miao was startled: "You didn't sleep a wink last night?"

"No, it's only at midnight."

Although Liu Miao had prepared himself for the difficult process of getting along with the Yuan family.

But he never expected it to be this difficult!
So, it's still better to have a beautiful woman!
Chen Yu looked Liu Miao up and down suspiciously, even leaning in to sniff him: "Hey? Zhongshan, why do you smell so nice today?"

"roll!"

Liu Miao pushed Chen Yu away, stretched his back, and tried to rouse himself again.

"Target: Moling, all troops, proceed!"

"From this day forward, I, Liu Miao, finally have a solid foundation!"

　I need to see the doctor tomorrow morning, so the noon chapter will be a little late.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)