Chapter 24: Discussing Official Business with Jiang Wan in the Carriage

Once the matter was settled, Zhao Mang gestured toward the armor on the ground and ordered, "Li Dabing, take our spoils of war."

They were in dire need of such supplies, and the camp’s regular rewards never included them. He certainly wasn't going to leave these treasures behind.

Outside the military tent, the soldiers were still gathered. Seeing Zhao Mang walk out with his head held high, they broke into cheers. The fact that he hadn't been dragged out in chains proved his innocence. A man of such formidable capability was bound for a limitless future. It was best to leave a good impression now; one never knew if they might end up serving under him one day.

Zhu Wuneng, who had been waiting impatiently, stepped forward and slapped Zhao Mang on the shoulder. "I knew you’d be fine, kid! Your strength is such that killing twenty Tibetan thieves is just the beginning." He leaned in, lowering his voice. "Who did you offend in the army to have such a trap laid for you?"

Zhao Mang looked at the rugged man before him, recalling the veteran he had sparred with just that day. He grew interested. The man was frank, upright, and possessed no small amount of skill. It was the perfect opportunity to recruit him into his own ranks.

Zhao Mang laughed heartily and pulled the man into a bear hug. "Brother, I see you have a remarkable constitution and impressive skills. Why not join my unit? We can kill Tibetan thieves together and make a name for ourselves. What do you say?"

Zhu Wuneng was stunned by the enthusiastic embrace and the invitation. He stared at the young man, dazed, and stammered, "Are you... being serious?"

In this frontier camp, there was little to do after the morning roll call, and few trained with any real vigor. Life was excruciatingly dull. Compared to the thrill of hunting Tibetan thieves and earning military merit, he had long grown impatient with the status quo. Now that this opportunity had presented itself, his voice trembled with excitement. "Then I! I pledge my life to follow you, Commander Zhao."

The soldiers had heard the proceedings from inside the tent; the lad was now a *Duizheng*—a proper commander. In less than a month, no one else had risen so quickly. Following him was sure to lead to a bright future. Zhu Wuneng's initiative acted as a catalyst, prompting the surrounding men to clamor for a place under Zhao Mang’s command.

They all wanted to follow Zhao Mang to slay the Tibetan thieves. After all, what hot-blooded man didn't want to earn military glory and increase his wealth to provide for his family?

The incident soon passed. Zhao Mang, now leading a full complement of soldiers and carrying his share of the rewards, returned to Dunzi Peak. To his surprise, he spotted someone unexpected waiting outside the camp: Jiang Wan.

Seeing her, all the gloom from the previous events vanished. "What brings you here?" he asked softly.

Jiang Wan glanced at the men behind him. Instead of answering immediately, she stood with her hands behind her back, acting the part of a shy young lady.

The soldiers behind Zhao Mang were stunned. "Commander Zhao, I never realized your wife was so beautiful!"

"No wonder you're so fierce; without that kind of skill, you’d never be able to hold onto a wife like that."

Zhu Wuneng immediately gave the man a sharp rap on the forehead. "Is the sister-in-law someone you can gossip about? Get back in line!"

The man rubbed his head and fell silent. The soldiers dispersed, rushing into the camp and leaving Zhao Mang and Jiang Wan to their reunion.

Jiang Wan walked up to him and rolled her eyes. "Do you really not know why I’m here?"

Zhao Mang laughed and took her hand—it was soft to the touch. They began to stroll around Dunzi Peak.

"You mentioned last time that you were promoted to *Huozhang* (platoon leader). How did you end up with so many men today?"

Zhao Mang squeezed her hand. "Just yesterday, ten more Tibetan thieves showed up. So, I was promoted to *Duizheng*."

Jiang Wan looked at him, startled. "You weren't hurt, were you?"

Zhao Mang patted her head. "Silly girl, how could those thieves ever hurt me? But what about you? Did you bring enough guards? Tibetan thieves roam these parts often. You should have stayed safely at home waiting for my return."

Jiang Wan gave his chest a soft punch. "Wait for you to return? By the time you get back, I’ll be an old woman!"

Zhao Mang pulled her into his arms. "Dapeng and the others already know what to do. This time, you just need to take them back, mark out a plot of land, and run the experiments."

Jiang Wan looked at him with wide, pitiful eyes. "I know! I even brought you some grain and supplies this time. Is that all you have to say to me?" She pouted, feigning anger.

At that moment, they had completed their loop and returned to the edge of the camp. Jiang Wan’s carriage sat quietly some distance away. Seeing it, Zhao Mang’s resolve wavered.

"How could that be? I have missed you dearly."

With that, he swept her up into his arms. Jiang Wan was taken by surprise, her face flushing red as she struggled in his grasp. It wasn't until he carried her into the carriage that she stopped, burying her face in his chest, too embarrassed to look outside. The area was close to the camp, and sentries were still patrolling the watchtowers.

The horse hitched to the carriage seemed annoyed, stamping its hooves restlessly on the ground.

...

An hour later, Zhao Mang’s voice drifted from inside the carriage. "Wan'er, I plan to expand the camp three times over. And I want to reclaim some fields. What do you think?"

Jiang Wan replied weakly, "I support whatever you do. But for now, my Jiang family’s ventures are stretched thin. I need you to strive for a higher rank. The family’s resources will naturally tilt in your favor."

Zhao Mang thought for a moment. "What must I do for you to help me?"

Jiang Wan gasped, "Be gentle..." before adding, "Fine, you win... I will arrange for people to escort the supplies over when I return."

Half an hour later, she continued, "Oh, by the way, I have something serious to tell you. Zhenzhen seems particularly interested in studying how to grow vegetables, wheat, and millet. She has been so diligent lately, asking me for all sorts of books. It’s as if she’s suddenly had a breakthrough! Also, you need to give me your birth date and time this time."

"Are you serious? But I’m only a *Duizheng* right now... Would your family be willing to marry you to me in this state?"

Jiang Wan said softly, "Whether I marry you or not is for me to decide."

A moment later, the two stepped out of the carriage and walked toward the camp. Jiang Wan’s face was flushed, and a bead of sweat clung to Zhao Mang’s temple.