9. The cudgel of the Duhu Fu Shi (Vice Director of the Imperial Guards)
The Huns' invasion each time would slaughter the military and civilians on the border. On the roads where the Huns passed, houses were burned down, people were killed, and there was no one in sight. Wild beasts howled around the villages, a desolate scene.
Jiang Cai, Wang An, Du Lu, Zhang Wan, Li Li, and the frontier soldiers were angry but also helpless. Wang An clenched his fist and said, "I must stop the Huns' invasion of the border." Wang An felt a wave of emotion in his heart. He had always resented Hu Yinyin, unable to let go of it. Now, with a sudden clarity in his chest, he thought that his own small difficulties were nothing compared to the suffering of the country and nation.
There are still many meaningful things waiting for me to do in this world. After this invasion, the imperial court knew about the tragic situation on the border and understood the incompetence of the Youyang Jiedushi (a military governor). They immediately replaced the original Jiedushi with a young female general. When the news spread, all the soldiers sighed, thinking that since ancient times, they had never heard of a woman leading an army, nor had they ever heard of this female general having any actual combat experience. Therefore, the soldiers and civilians on the border were worried about the future.
However, all of this has nothing to do with Wang An. He always hopes to buy some military books to increase his own military knowledge. Now that he has money in hand, he immediately uses the money to buy a lot of books. He also visits old border people and old soldiers nearby to understand the situation.
Jiang Cai and others were fortifying the works every day. After the new Jiedushi took office, he issued all the back pay that was owed to the soldiers, as well as their helmets, armor, uniforms, cotton clothes, and bedding. The entire Youyang army was filled with gratitude towards the new Jiedushi, and they began to wholeheartedly support him.
The beacon tower of Wang An was a scene of busy activity, although the craftsmen had built most of the project, but there were still a few parts that needed to be completed by hand. Zhang Wanli wiped his sweat and said to Wang An: "Wang brother, we are all sweating profusely, you may have a weak body, but can't you come down and lend a hand? Even if it's just some light work, or even just wiping our sweat and pouring tea?" Wang An shook his head and said: "Not now, I have more important things to do." Jiang Cai asked: "What is it?" Wang An replied: "I am thinking about the border defense problem." Du Lu said: "Wang brother, didn't you think about this problem yesterday?" Wang An was taken aback and said: "I made a mistake, I am thinking about the gains and losses of the imperial court." Li Li said: "Wang brother, didn't you also think about this problem the day before yesterday?" Wang An looked embarrassed and said: "Mistake, mistake, I am thinking about life." Jiang Cai laughed and said: "I think you are not thinking about life, but how to give birth" and nodded towards the back.
At this time, a young girl walked out of the beacon tower. She was slender and had an exceptionally beautiful appearance. Compared to her, Hu Yingying was like an ugly duckling compared to a swan. Jiang Cai and others were immediately shocked when they first saw her. She came over and warmly greeted Jiang Cai and others, saying: "Brothers, you are all tired, come and have a drink of water." Jiang Cai and others hurriedly approached, took the water she handed over, and took the opportunity to get close to the beauty's fragrance. Wang An shamelessly asked: "What about mine?" The beautiful woman said with a bad tone: "I didn't prepare water for hooligans." Wang An solemnly said: "You're wrong, I'm a gentleman, not a hooligan." The beautiful woman rolled her eyes at him and ignored him, causing Jiang Cai and others to burst out laughing.
This beauty is the new Jiedushi, named Liu Jiao Jiao. After taking office, she often secretly visits various military camps. The soldiers in the camps forget themselves when they see the beauty and answer her questions honestly, allowing her to gain a comprehensive understanding of the situation in the camps. However, some soldiers have ulterior motives towards her and make indecent advances, at which point her bodyguards step out to protect her. Shortly after she leaves, those soldiers are arrested, taken to the main camp, and flogged until they promise not to repeat such mistakes. Before releasing them, Liu Jiao Jiao warns them not to reveal her true identity or bully women again, otherwise, they will be castrated and sent to serve as eunuchs.
When Liu Jiao came to Jiang Cai's beacon tower asking for lodging, Wu Chang immediately agreed, but a ugly-looking person came out in opposition. Wang An said: "A military stronghold should not accommodate outsiders casually." In the end, under Liu Jiao's tearful attack, Jiang Cai and others softened their hearts, so they let her stay despite Wang An's opposition. However, Jiang Cai and others also made concessions to Wang An's suggestion, only allowing Liu Jiao to live on the beacon tower, while her guards had to camp outside.
Liu Jiao thought that after driving away her guards, Wang An's true face was finally revealed. Wang An suggested searching Liu Jiao because in his opinion, she was extremely suspicious. Such a beautiful girl came alone to such a dangerous battlefield, which was unusual in itself. Whether it was the Xiongnu outside the pass, the bandits nearby, or the soldiers at the border, they would not let go of a beautiful woman. Taking such a great risk without a proper reason was truly extremely suspicious. Moreover, Liu Jiao also volunteered to stay and guard the military stronghold, making her purpose even more suspicious.
Wang An suspected that they were scouts sent by the Xiongnu and suggested sniffing Liu Jiao's body to see if she had the smell of the Xiongnu. Liu Jiao was furious in her heart, but then thought that sniffing wouldn't hurt anything. However, Liu Jiao had already hated Wang An deeply in her heart and vowed: "When I get back, I'll have the guards arrest this soldier and whip him personally, making him regret his actions." After sniffing, Wang An said: "I'm still not at ease. How about this? Let me search your body to see if you're carrying any weapons or other items to dispel our suspicions of you."
Liu Jiao naturally made a pitiful expression, launching an attack with her beautiful eyes filled with tears. Jiang Cai and the others were immediately conquered and opposed it. Wang An helplessly said: "If you don't let me search your body, then you can take off your clothes yourself to prove your innocence." Jiang Cai and the others immediately admired him, thinking that scholars who behave like rascals are truly impressive, with a bright and justified appearance. Wang's shameless behavior is indeed a model for us. Jiang Cai and the others' admiration for Wang An was endless. Liu Jiao naturally wouldn't agree, and after debating for a while, Wang An finally had to give in.
Liu Jiao's face turned red with rage as she shouted at Wang An, "I don't have any contraband, so I don't need to take off my clothes. Can I stay here now?" But Wang An shook his head again and said, "No way, if you won't let me search your body, then I'll just have to smell it again. Earlier, I didn't quite catch the scent, but there's a strong fragrance of perfume on you that's covering up other smells. Take off your outer clothes and let me take another sniff."
Jiang Cai almost fainted as he thought to himself, "Brother Wang is really something else." Liu Jiao couldn't take it anymore and shouted loudly, "Get out, you rascal!" Jiang Cai also couldn't bear it and said to Wang An, "Brother, isn't that enough?" But Wang An firmly shook his head and said, "Big brother, I'm 100% sure this woman is suspicious. Look at how she's letting me smell her again and again, and constantly throwing flirtatious glances at men. She's either a prostitute or a jiān (a type of seductress). Have you ever seen any respectable woman behave like this?"
Jiang Cai was taken aback as he thought to himself, "Brother, you're really something else, playing the part of a rascal with such confidence and righteousness. You're truly one of a kind." Liu Jiao shouted loudly again, "Get out!" In her eyes, Wang An was already a dead man.
Jiang Cai and others hastily pulled Wang An out, thinking that if Wang brother stayed here, something unknown would happen. From then on, Liu Jiao Jiao was not polite to Wang An, Wang An was still trying to get Liu Jiao Jiao to show her fox tail, constantly looking for her weaknesses, these fell into Liu Jiao Jiao's eyes and became Wang An is still a reckless and cunning person with an unrepentant heart.
Liu Jiao watched them renovate their beacon tower, wondering about their intentions, so she persisted in staying and observing seriously. Liu Jiao rested alone in a room while the other male soldiers stayed in another room. Suddenly, Wang An jumped up and shouted "Enemy attack!" The other soldiers also jumped up and shouted "Enemy attack!" Liu Jiao was woken up by them with sleepy eyes, and without putting on her outer clothes, she rushed out and asked loudly: "What happened?" Wang An said: "The Xiongnu cavalry is attacking again, probably tens of thousands of people." Liu Jiao hurriedly looked forward, but she couldn't see or hear anything. She asked: "Where are they?" Suddenly, she felt a pain in her head and fainted. Liu Jiao's last thought was: Who would dare to hit the Jiedushi's concubine? Jiang Caiyan suddenly discovered that the one who hit the concubine was Wang An. Jiang Caiyan secretly thought: For such a beautiful woman, Brother Wang really has the guts to do it. I must stop him and not let him... this beauty. Wang An said: "Quickly bring ropes and tie her up! The enemy is invading, leaving these unidentified people inside is quite unsafe. Later, we'll go and trick her two guards into coming in and capture them, they are all spies!" Jiang Caiyan and others were stunned, but they had always trusted Wang An's judgment, so they immediately followed him into action.
When Liu Jiao woke up, she found that she and the guard were tied up. Suddenly a strange thought occurred to her, thinking that the guard was skilled in martial arts, how could he be easily caught by a few small soldiers. Wang An and others lit the beacon fire to report to the inside of the pass, according to the regulations of the beacon tower, when the enemy army came to attack during the day, they would raise smoke, and at night, start a fire to report to the inside of the pass.
Liu Jiao still hadn't found the enemy, and in a fit of rage, she shouted: "You're lying about military information, this is punishable by death!" Wang An heard this and came to Liu Jiao's side with Jiang Cai. Wang An asked: "We lied about military information, at most we'll just get beaten up, it won't be punished by death." Liu Jiao disdainfully said: "That was in the past, but after the new Jiedushi took office, this rule was changed to punishable by death. You're all waiting to be beheaded!" Wang An said to Jiang Cai: "Big brother, did you hear that? Such military secrets, how would an ordinary woman know about them? She knows it so clearly, what do you think she is?" Jiang Cai and the others had been suspicious of Wang An's actions earlier, but now they completely believed him. Jiang Cai said: "I almost got cheated by her." Wang An said: "Big brother, you've never been cheated by a woman before, it's not your fault." Liu Jiao said: "Jiang big brother, let me go quickly!" She felt ignored. Jiang Cai asked: "Brother, how should we deal with these dogs?" Wang An said: "This woman has an extraordinary demeanor, her status in the Xiongnu must be quite high. Later when the Xiongnu arrive and pass through this place, we'll use her to threaten the enemy. If they don't retreat, we'll kill her." Liu Jiao felt dizzy for a moment - using me to threaten the Xiongnu? How did you come up with that? Liu Jiao quickly said: "I'm your new Jiedushi, I came here on an undercover mission. You must believe me!" Suddenly she felt a pain in her head. Liu Jiao was furious in her heart: "Wang An, you hit me with a hidden stick again."
