At this point, the Jiangnan gentry had completely fallen into a disadvantageous position. Recovering the Central Plains and unifying the north was inevitable. Even if they were to remove Emperor Changzhi from the throne now, they could not stop the successive local armies sprouting like bamboo shoots after rain, nor could they halt the iron hooves of the Northern Yan army and Tianfu Army marching northward.
By year’s end, victory reports came frequently. The entire area south of the lower Yellow River was recovered. The Northern Yan cavalry and Tianfu Army successively captured five locations including Qingling and Luzhou, directly threatening the major stronghold of the Zhe and Bohai tribes in Yuanzhou. By the year’s end, the Jiangnan court even sent large quantities of grain and military supplies, generously rewarding the Tianfu Army, with a personal imperial letter from the Emperor addressed to the Jingning Marquis.
When Fu Shen returned to camp in the evening, his hands were numb from the cold. As he lifted the tent flap, a warm fragrance enveloped him.
The normally dark and empty commander’s tent was brightly lit. The “dove” occupying the magpie’s nest was leaning against the bed reading military reports. Hearing the movement, he looked up with a smile and reached out his hand.
With this person present, the simple tent seemed to transform into an immortal palace.
His dry, cold hands were gathered into warm palms. Fu Shen leaned down, deliberately pressing his cold cheek against the other’s face: “Why are you here again?”
Yan Xiaohang brazenly said, “It’s almost New Year. How could I let you spend the night alone? I’m here to warm the bed for the Marquis.”
Fu Shen shook his head and laughed, his face showing helpless indulgence, and was kissed on the chin.
Amusingly, from the commander down to the ordinary soldiers, the Tianfu Army seemed to have decided to cling tightly to the Northern Yan cavalry. Since joining forces in Luoyang, the Tianfu Army had become a small tail of the Northern Yan army. This was partly due to the close relationship between the two commanders, and partly because most of the Tianfu Army was from the capital region and had a natural affinity for the Northern Yan army.
