Chapter 21: Simple Love

  Huang Xianzheng scolded the Mongols with a string of curses, but Yang Ling didn't think so: "Scholar-officials are just timid, should we let the Tartars come and harass us, can only close the gates and defend the city, won't the foreign tribes be even more arrogant?"

  He listened with a respectful expression, his eyes darting around, and saw that Wang Zhongbo and Liu Dianshi were standing respectfully with their hands clasped together, while Jiang Baotou, the commander of the river pirates, looked like a naughty student who had just been scolded by his teacher, his eyes rolling around restlessly. When their eyes met, they exchanged a knowing smile.

  Yang Ling's gaze swept over the several sentries standing at the door, and suddenly a familiar figure flashed in his eyes. He took a closer look, only to see that Han Youniang had also arrived at some point, standing against the wall with her big black shiny eyes staring straight at him without blinking.

  When Yang Ling noticed her presence, Han Youniang subconsciously stuck out her tongue and quietly leaned against the wall. Yang Ling was anxious in his heart, this city might start fighting at any time, when arrows would fly everywhere, she was still a young girl of over ten years old, what if she got hurt?

  Yang Ling glared at her fiercely, nodding his head towards the door. Han Youniang bit her lip and blinked her eyes, clearly seeing his movement but pretending not to know, shifting her gaze to one side.

  Yang Ling furrowed his brow, staring at her without blinking, Han Youniang's face gradually became uneasy, her eyes darting around, and finally met Yang Ling's gaze. Yang Ling raised an eyebrow, then narrowed his eyes, his gaze swept across her face, and then fiercely dug into the lower part, with a threatening tone implicit in it.

  Han Youniang's face suddenly turned red, and since Yang Ling slapped her little butt that day, it seemed to have tasted the sweetness. From then on, whenever she was disobedient, the Yang family law was to spank her butt. At this time, looking at Yang Ling's lively eyes, she naturally knew what her husband meant.

  Huang Lao Fuzi was scolding with flying spittle, when he suddenly discovered Yang Ling was twitching like a convulsion, and involuntarily asked: "Yang Shifu, do you have anything to say?"

  Yang Ling was startled and hastily said: "Ah? No, no, Old Huang is right. Students should respect and obey their teachers."

  Huang Xian Cheng nodded in satisfaction, only to realize that he had been rambling on for half a day without offering any constructive opinions. He licked his lips and began to gather his thoughts.

  Yang Ling glanced at Han Youniang again, seeing her lips pursed into a line, and her enchanting big eyes curved into a crescent shape. He couldn't help but feel a bit disheartened: "I really am too spoiled by this little girl. Originally, she was obedient to me, now not only does she not listen to my words, but also laughs at me."

  Huang Xian Cheng took two steps forward, stood still and said: "Everyone, although the young king has been harassing our borders in recent years, he has never attacked military strongholds. This time the beacon fire is lit, Bo Yan Meng Ke must have a large army coming to attack. Tonight we must be on high alert, wait until dawn to understand the enemy's situation and then make plans.

  He raised his voice and said: "Now the enemy is emerging, the people in the city have already panicked, Feng Xun, you immediately lead your men to patrol the city, strictly prohibit the people from going out on the streets, whoever takes advantage of the fire to loot, steal, rob or spread rumors to confuse our army's mind will be beheaded on the spot, and ensure that the city is not in chaos!"

  "Feng Xunjian was shocked and said: 'This... Your Excellency, without the trial of the three departments and the imperial brushstroke, how can you arbitrarily kill people?'"

  "Huang Xian Cheng coldly smiled and said: 'When the war breaks out, local officials have the right to make decisions, no need to report to the Ministry of Punishment, don't you even know this?'"

  Feng Xun's face turned red, and he hastily cupped his hands and said: "Yes, this official obeys!" He turned around and led a group of subordinates to hurry away.

  Huang Xian-cheng said again: "Hong Ban-tou, take your men to the postal relay station warehouse immediately and inform them to send rolling logs, rattan shields, tung oil and slaked lime to the four city gates."

  Hong Bangtou responded with a bow. Huang Xiancheng then said to Liu Dianshi, "Liu sir, please have some of the prison guards from the main prison reassigned, and notify the street and road heads to select able-bodied men to dig pitfalls and set up anti-cavalry stakes inside the east, west, and south city gates. If the battle becomes intense, these men can also go up on the walls to assist in the fighting."

  He then said to Wang Zhu Bo: "Wang sir, you are in charge of guarding the county government office, reporting military information, and also responsible for arranging meals for soldiers three times a day."

  Yang Ling listened to the arrangement of Huang Xian Cheng, and only then did he feel satisfied. He had just seen Minister Min's bravery and fearlessness, and his own passion was also stirred up, feeling that fighting a fierce battle with the Tartars would be a worthy cause for a man.

  At this time, calm down and listen to Huang Xianchang's arrangement. He thought that whether attacking or defending, he must first have a stable rear. If the people in the city are allowed to gather on the streets, spread rumors, disturb the military spirit, and spread small news all over the sky, fear will spread like a plague. When the time comes, the people will be scattered and cannot be pacified.

  Moreover, there are only over 200 officials and soldiers in the city now. If we don't start making preparations immediately, it will be too late when the time comes. I was originally just a low-ranking officer, how could I understand these things? Almost messed up the big deal.

  The officials left in a hurry, and Jiang Butou looked around to find that only his own troops were left. He rubbed his nose and smiled, saying: "Lord Huang, the Tartars are still causing trouble outside the city walls. I'll take my men to inspect the city walls, farewell."

  Huang Xianzhong nodded his hands, saw them off, and let out a long sigh. He sat down at the table and said to Yang Ling: "Yang Xiangnian, don't you think that this time I'm being overly cautious and timid?"

  Yang Ling poured a cup of tea for him and said respectfully, "Huang Lao, as a young student, I was impulsive and followed Minister Min to the city head when I saw his bravery.

  "Upon reflection, it seems that Huang Lao's arrangement was indeed appropriate. Magistrate Min is now the parent official of this county and should consider the overall situation and prioritize the greater good. If he were to act solely for temporary satisfaction, it would be a loss. As his student, I have not fulfilled my duty to advise him. Now that I think about it, I am truly ashamed."

  Huang Qiyin smiled wryly and said, "Don't look at the few barbarians outside the city, they are launching a direct attack on our military fortress this time, and their ambition is great. A good man should make achievements and defend his territory, this is a great opportunity for you, and you're still young, you should temper yourself more."

  Yang Ling saw Han Youniang sneaking out of the building and hastily replied, "Yes, no need for Master Huang to instruct me, I will take responsibility. Master Huang rest for a while, I'll go outside to check the defense layout."

  Huang Qiyin stroked his mustache and nodded in satisfaction, while Yang Ling hastily came out, only to see a small figure quickly hiding into the shadows at the corner of the building, unable to help but laugh.

  The snow had not stopped yet, and this was the highest point in the city. The mountain wind between the two peaks in front poured in from here, with strong winds and dense snow. Yang Ling slowly walked to the bottom of the tower, took a deep breath, narrowed his eyes and looked up at the sky, letting the cold wind mixed with snowflakes hit his face, not making a sound for half a day. The biting mountain wind blew his robe into a flutter.

  The Tartars under the city had stopped their harassment, and far away on the ground, five huge bonfires were lit. Yang Ling's eyelids jumped, a mere hundred or so people could not take down Ji Ming Yi, they braved the wind and snow to wait under the city, was there another large army coming to attack?

  In the shadow of the wall, a pair of bright eyes stared at Yang Ling. The wind and snow battered his slender body, and Han Youniang finally couldn't help but walk out, tugging gently on his sleeve, saying in a low voice like a child who had done something wrong: "Husband..."

  Yang Ling sighed, lowered his head and gazed at Han Youniang's bright eyes, gently lifted her tender face with a warm smile, and said: "Youniang, you know martial arts, it's convenient for one person to escape. If the city really breaks, you can take advantage of the chaos and escape back to Yangjiaping... No! Go back to your mother's house instead."

  "Master, what are you talking about? No matter what happens, I will of course be with you. How can I abandon my husband and escape alone?"

  Yang Ling smiled, feeling a little sentimental and reluctant to part with her. It wasn't until this moment that he realized, although there was no passionate love or romantic affection, but somehow this lovely girl had quietly taken up residence deep within his heart.

  He likes the girl, but dares not accept her affection. Sometimes he can't help but be intimate with her, and sometimes he deliberately keeps a distance from her. All these contradictions are because he knows how short his life is, so he'd rather maintain the current situation.

  Borrowing a corpse to return the soul, reversing heaven to change fate, was never easy to begin with. The beacons lit on New Year's Eve made him realize that his own calamity-filled reincarnation was about to start again.

  He let out a sigh, his fingers gently stroking Han Youniang's pure and delicate face. Her cheeks were cool as ice and smooth as jade. A hint of tenderness flashed in Yang Ling's eyes, and he suddenly couldn't help but tightly hug Han Youniang in his arms, as if wanting to crush her. He murmured: "How fortunate I am to have tied this knot with you... It's good that way. If I had endured two years of suffering, my heart would surely ache even more. Youniang, promise me, if the city cannot be defended, you must escape and find a good family to marry into. Don't let me worry about you in the underworld."

  He mistakenly thought that the end was near and couldn't help but reveal his true feelings. However, Han Youniang misunderstood him, thinking that her husband had decided to share life and death with all the people in the city, and even if the city was broken, he would not escape, but she still worried about being alone and helpless with no one to take care of her, and the man she loved suddenly rose to a heroic figure in her heart.

  She tearfully hugged Yang Ling, clinging to his chest and said: "Husband, rest assured that assisting the adults in defending the city is enough, I am your woman, no matter where you go, I will follow you. If you are not here......", she choked back a sob: "Then I will also follow you to the nine springs below, and will not live on in secret!"

  Yang Ling listened and felt anxious in his heart, pushed her away angrily and said: "Damn it, what do you know? What's the use of accompanying me to death? I only want you to live, how can you be so foolish..."

  The lanterns hanging on the corner tower illuminated Han Youniang's face full of tears, and Yang Ling couldn't help but feel a pang in his heart, unable to utter another harsh word.

  Han Youniang's eyes were brimming with tears as she lifted her head, and in a childish yet sincere tone, she said: "Youniang understands, Youniang knows that husband is fond of me and pitied me. But does husband know that from this life on, Youniang has been one with him in heart and soul? If husband were not here, what would be the point of Youniang's existence?"

  Yang Ling's heart suddenly skipped a beat, under the faint red light, he suddenly discovered that this delicate and pure girl had a mature and enchanting charm between her eyebrows. Is it that all the beauties in the world will have this kind of innocent yet mature charm that comes from within?

  "Little girl, little girl......", Yang Ling sighed emotionally, and once again held her in his arms, his forehead against her bangs. The red lantern on the corner tower swayed, the light and shadow were blurred, and the hug between them blocked out a small world that only belonged to each other. The fierce wind and flying snow suddenly became distant, the strong intimacy made their hearts calm and quiet.

  "In this world, I'm afraid there won't be another woman who can move me like she did," Yang Ling thought involuntarily.

  Han Youniang tightly hugged the man who loved her: "Heaven has given me the best husband", she thought contentedly, with a smile at the corners of her eyebrows and eyes.

  Snowflakes quickly covered two embracing people with a layer of pure white attire.