The Legend of Concubine's Daughter Minglan

Chapter 79

In January of the second year of Chong De, General Gu Tingye, who was appointed by the Emperor, led 3,000 infantrymen and 1,000 cavalrymen to leave the suburbs of the capital and march south. He lay an ambush in Luqiao town, Yang County, Shandong Province. After the battle started, he commanded the cavalry to charge the rebel army three times and cut the army in the middle. The morale of 30,000 rebels dropped. Prince Jing personally led the crack troops to flee north to Zhuang Prefecture.

In February of the same year, Gu Tingye sent half of his soldiers to help the garrison of Zhuang Prefecture to confront the enemy. Then he headed the light cavalry to march south day and night and lay in wait in Lingyan Valley, south of Xu Prefecture, where the routed troops were bound to pass. He made full use of the terrain and defeated the rebel army with a force inferior in number. The imperial army wiped out more than 13,000 rebels and caught Prince Jing's accomplice, Prince Tan alive. After that, he ordered the garrisons of Yue Prefecture and Malong Prefecture to deal with the remaining rebels.

In late March, Gu Tingye led his army north to join forces with the troops led by General Shen Congxing who was Empress Shen's younger brother. They made a joint attack on Prince Jing's remnant troops in Zhuang Prefecture. Prince Jing was soundly defeated and his remnant troops fled in disorder. From then on, local garrisons opened the city gates and went out to annihilate the remaining fugitive rebels. In April of the second year of Chong De, when Prince Jing fled to Mount Xiaoshan, his bodyguards killed him and surrendered. The battle called "Mutiny of Prince Jing and Prince Tan" lasting for nearly half a year finally ended.

......

In May, flowers bloomed during the warm spring and Yongtong Canal was safe for ships. All the roving rebels and bandits were dealt with. Old Madam Sheng returned to the capital by ship with Minglan and Changdong. Minglan had encountered the pirates on the way to Youyang. But the return journey was smooth and peaceful. Bright red blossoms and green willows along the river bank looked beautiful. Swallows flew back to north in the clear sky. The beauty of the scene filled Minglan with enchantment.

Old Madam Sheng, Minglan and Changdong often sat in the wing-room on the two-story ship, brewing a pot of tea, eating fruits, talking cheerfully and humorously. They looked at the busy boatmen on the banks and the mariners who kept loading and unloading, feeling relaxed and peaceful as if the rebellion had not happened a few months ago.

"Changdong, after drinking this cup of tea, you should go back to your room and study hard. Don't leave your room until we get home." Old Madam Sheng said as she sat on the soft couch and looked out of the window to admire the view.

Changdong blushed with shame. Minglan immediately put in a good word for him, "Grandmother, Brother Changdong hasn't got lazy in the study these days no matter how chaotic the situation outside was."

"I know," Old Madam Sheng said, "Your father told me that he wanted Changdong to attend the imperial examination holding to admit young scholars in February of this year. But Changdong missed the chance to test his ability because of this rebellion."

Minglan gave Changdong a pitying look. He was only twelve years old. Changdong put down the teacup and looked at Minglan with an air of martyrdom. Old Madam Sheng ignored her granddaughter and grandson's imploring expression and continued, "Master may get annoyed because Changdong missed the Child Examination. So he will probably give Changdong a quiz as soon as we return home. We will arrive in the capital in a few days. So he'd better make a last-minute effort for the quiz."

Changdong was clear-headed and knew that Old Madam Sheng was reminding him to study hard for the quiz. He respectfully made a bow to his grandmother and went back to his room to study. Minglan looked at his figure disappearing and sighed, "A grey-haired aged person who still studies intensively will realize that it's useless to read poems and books..."