Refusing the Marriage Alliance, I Founded a Dynasty - chapter 5

The whole world knows that the Marquis of Boyuan once aroused the Sage Emperor’s suspicion, and with the instigation of petty men, was eventually stripped of his military command and sent to serve as an official elsewhere. The Sage Emperor, however, showed special grace and allowed him to retain eight hundred household troops.

If the goal was to force the Young Lady of the Meng Clan into a Marriage Alliance, three thousand soldiers would have sufficed.

Yet no one knows how vast Yuezhou is, nor how, when my father first arrived, he faced a dissolute army, endless rebels, and cities where the people could barely survive. No one knows what iron-blooded methods he used to bring Yuezhou to its current state.

Even fewer have ever wondered where those captured rebels ended up.

General Zheng was killed by my arrow, and the remaining soldiers fell into chaos. Yet he was indeed a capable man, and must have made arrangements long ago. After his death, his Deputy General immediately took his place and ordered the attack on the city.

Father sighed, “He is truly Boxian-he does have some real talent. Even his men are somewhat extraordinary.”

Boxian was General Zheng’s courtesy name.

I had no strength to ponder my father’s words. The sight of the fierce fighting made my scalp tingle and my blood boil; I wished for nothing more than to join the battle myself.

Father glanced at me and said to the Retinue, “Bring me my spear.”

The Retinue returned shortly. Father tossed the long spear to me and said, “This is the gift I wish to give you.”

I saluted my father in military fashion. He told me, “Take it, ride out of the city. If you cannot win, then do not return.”

I descended from the City Tower and rode out of the city.

The Deputy General was a man of resolute features. I did not know him, but I knew he was capable.

If he were not, he could not have reacted so swiftly in such a short time and taken the place of the main commander.

I saluted him and said, “General, your young niece is discourteous today. I beg your forgiveness for my offense.”

He shook his head and replied, “Each serves their own master-what offense is there to speak of? Please, Young Lady!”

I answered and charged forward.

The spear is the king of all weapons. Though it was new in my hands today, it felt as if it had accompanied me for years-so natural and easy to wield.

The Deputy General was indeed skilled. We fought several rounds, each gaining and losing ground. I sat calmly on my horse, which snorted, while he looked at me with composure.

“You are unlike any Young Lady I have ever met.

“Good child, today, let me teach you how to fight a man.”

My Spear Technique was taught by my father. The man before me had skill, battle honors, and experience in combat. Yet after a few rounds, I knocked him from his horse with a single thrust.

His face showed the same shock as his now-dead commander, but there was no chance to ask why. I raised his head high on my spear, and at last, the soldiers were afraid.

The main commander was dead, the Deputy General was dead-there was no one left to lead them. Morale plummeted again and again, until finally someone dropped their weapon and fled in all directions.

Today’s battle, I have won.

As the sun set in the west, between heaven and earth, I sat astride my horse, spear in hand, and looked back at the City Tower.

Father stood there. I could not see his face clearly, but I knew he approved of me.

The soldiers who had come with me no longer looked at me with scrutiny or doubt. The Deputy General dismounted and knelt on one knee, the Retinue dismounted and knelt on one knee, and hundreds and thousands knelt on one knee.

I gripped the long spear tightly in my hand.

After today, Meng Yu of the Meng Clan would be a traitor, a criminal for the ages, a femme fatale, a scourge to the nation.

But Meng Yu of the Meng Clan would also be a founding hero, a heroine among women, a champion among heroes, a hero of the world.

Meng Yu would, in the end, make her name known throughout the land.