Rebirth: My Healer Wife Owns Superpowers

Chapter 290: Chapter 290: The Supreme Art of War is Subduing the Enemy Without Fighting
 

Qi Yue could very well understand what he meant, and immediately turned crimson with embarrassment. She buried her face in Zhao Xiyan’s shoulder, remaining silent, wishing ardently that they could reach the Furong Courtyard sooner.

Unfortunately, reality seemed to conspire against her.

As the couple entered the backyard, they encountered the house steward leading a group of servants busy sweeping around.

“The weather has cooled, and there are many fallen leaves. Make sure everything is tidy. The mistress and master both relish cleanliness, and who knows how they might reward you after seeing everything in perfect order…”

Upon hearing footsteps, the bustling servants immediately halted, their eyes darting around in panic, unsure where to look.

Caught by the sight of Zhao Xiyan embracing Qi Yue as they entered from the outside early in the morning, the steward also froze for a moment.

By the time he collected himself, Zhao Xiyan had already carried her past.

The servants, initially restrained, now burst into joviality, squinting and smiling as they watched the couple’s departing figures.

“Where are the master and mistress going?”

“Seems like they’ve come from outside? Did you see the grass on their clothes…”

“Grass on their clothes, you mean the master and mistress didn’t sleep in the mansion last night but were in…”

The steward heard this and felt a twinge in his brow; grabbing a broom from the ground, he motioned to some people.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ƝονǤ0.ᴄᴑ

“Stop spreading rumors! Didn’t you hear the soldiers marching out to battle last night?”

The crowd chuckled and dispersed, resuming their work with bowed heads.

Yet, their eyes still moved around, continuing their chatter.

“Look how loving the master and mistress are!”

“Even in battle, they never forget to be together.”

“Yes, the master even carried the mistress back!”

“…”

Unable to stop them, the steward just followed their lead.

Originally thinking that Qi Yue was carried back because she might be injured, he considered calling a doctor. But then he remembered she was a renowned Divine Doctor and recalled Zhao Xiyan hadn’t summoned a doctor, so he dismissed the idea.

While listening to the servants gossiping, he hid his smile and sternly urged everyone to continue working.

Being abandoned at this place to watch over the courtyard, he had encountered a good master like Zhao Xiyan, who, bearing no grudges, allowed him to stay and work diligently.

All the talk was overheard by Qi Yue.

With her keen hearing, especially alert to this matter, she hadn’t expected to catch their words exactly, which embarrassed her even more.

Regardless, the two had not yet officially married.

Upon their arrival at the Furong Courtyard, a few early-rising servant girls spotted them and giggled as they retreated.

Qi Yue wanted to get down and walk by herself, but Zhao Xiyan pressed her down, carrying her to the small couch before setting her down.

“Don’t rush to get down. Be careful, as your legs might be numb.”

Zhao Xiyan helped her to sit properly and then called for the housemaids to bring hot water for washing.

“Once they’ve finished preparing, you can get down, wash up, and then go to sleep. I have to leave.”

Truly stunned by his fussing, Qi Yue knew he still had matters to attend to from last night and urged him to leave quickly.

“You go ahead, I’m very sleepy.”

“Alright, I’ll come to check on you after I’m done.”

“No need, I’ll find you after I wake up.”

“That works.”

Zhao Xiyan then smiled at her again and strode away with his long legs.

As soon as he left, Qi Yue felt as if a great weight had been lifted off her.

Everything about Zhao Xiyan was perfect, except that he tended to coddle her as if she were a delicate lady, treating her as though she were a three-year-old child!

The maid and older women quickly prepared the water, and Qi Yue washed up and went back to sleep.

Meanwhile, Zhao Xiyan returned to Qingyue Pavilion to change his clothes and went to the council hall to hear reports about the results of last night’s actions.

“Master, last night, my regiment of a thousand soldiers captured thirty thousand soldiers!”

“Master, last night, my division from the western route of a thousand soldiers captured thirty-five thousand soldiers!”

“Master, last night our three divisions, with a thousand troops, captured thirty thousand soldiers!”

The tall one, the short one, and the skinny one excitedly reported last night’s achievements.

Zhao Xiyan nodded in satisfaction.

Overall, for the thousand men they had, capturing thirty to forty thousand was quite impressive.

This time, besides leaving four thousand to defend the city, about twenty thousand others had been dispatched.

If the other dozen divisions also achieved this result, the purpose of this operation would have been achieved.

“Has the fat one not returned yet?”

“Master, the fat one led three thousand troops to Shifang Mountain; it might not be over so soon,” the tall one finished and added another sentence.

“But rest assured, Master, Zhao Tai and Zhao Chong have already gone there with the Imperial Guard Officer. There should be no problems!”

“Hmm.” Zhao Xiyan nodded, glanced at the other generals, and asked them to continue reporting their victories.

The tall, short, fat, and skinny quartet were the most outstanding generals under Zhao Xiyan, having followed him from the beginning. Therefore, they always reported first.

Since the fat one had not yet returned, the others came forward one by one.

“Master, my sixth division, with a thousand troops, captured twenty-six thousand soldiers.”

“Master, my ninth division, with a thousand troops, captured twenty thousand soldiers.”

“Master, my sixth division, with a thousand troops, captured eighteen thousand soldiers.”

“…”

All divisions had captured at least ten thousand.

In total, excluding the hundred thousand troops stationed at Shifang Mountain, nineteen out of the two hundred thousand troops besieging Yecheng under Song Chengye had been captured.

Zhao Xiyan was still very satisfied with this outcome.

Although he had told the tall, short, fat, and skinny to capture them all, deep inside, he never believed they could accomplish it.

Ultimately, it was Qi Yue’s “appeal to kinship” that proved very effective.

“How have those villagers who volunteered to call back their sons been settled? Have they all returned to the city?”

Seeing the query, the tall one stepped forward to report, “Master, the villagers are eager to recognize their sons and do not plan to return to the city!”

The short one also stepped forward and said, “Master, what should we do next? Many people in Yecheng want to take their sons home. They kneel and beg for your permission to let them go!”

The skinny one seized the opportunity to present a new view.

“Master, according to my observations, among the two hundred thousand captured Donggao Army soldiers, the old are too old, and the young are too young, making them unsuitable for enlistment. This effort seems a bit futile!”

Zhao Xiyan, however, shook his head slightly.

“The paramount strategy of war is to quell conflict, regardless of profit and loss.”

He pondered for a moment and then ordered, “You all go back, have everyone sign their names; those who want to stay may do so. As for the unwilling, give each a string of copper coins and send them away. Those returning to Yecheng should be treated the same, but verify their identities carefully, and execute any spies mercilessly!”

“Yes, Master!”

All generals took their orders and walked out noisily!

Zhao Xiyan then signaled the scribe to draft a public notice explaining how the prisoners were dealt with and the battles fought the previous night, to be posted on the city gate.

“Make it clear and understandable, so the public can rest assured!”

“Yes, Master!”

Meanwhile, the Military Supply Officer, also under orders, was shouting at people as they carried out dozens of boxes of copper coins and several large carts of white rice, followed by a flock of sheep, heading majestically to the outskirts of the city.

As they passed the city gate, the defending soldiers were somewhat baffled and kept discussing.

“What’s with the Master this time? Previously it was always just releasing them, why issue money now?”

“Exactly. Though a string of copper coins isn’t much, we’re essentially giving money to our enemies!”

“I heard it was the lady master’s idea.”

“Why though? The lady master is after all a woman; perhaps too kind-hearted.”

“What do you know? My buddy is an Imperial Guard Officer; he told me that although the lady master is kind-hearted, her tactics are even smarter.”

“What does that mean?”

Several soldiers gathered closer, eagerly staring at the Imperial Guard Officer’s buddy.