At the camp site.
A messenger arrives with letters. Commander Yan receives the letter and takes it to General's quarters.
Commander Yan outside General's quarters, "General, message from the capital have arrived."
General Guoqiang : "Come in."
Most were anticipating a reply about the reinforcements. They were at wits end using guerrilla tactics to counter act the enemy. The progress thus far included, creating divergence in order to lure the enemy out and and take the resources stored in the beacon towers of the Juyong Pass walls. Then engage in notorious battle where the army strength of the enemy was reduced. Guoqiang army would attack from varying positions at various intervals and would always retreat at intervals, keeping they enemy confused. They would attack at the wall at the northern gate and then suddenly disappear, then attack at a different location, then again disappear. This tactics have proven tiresome for the enemy as they are exhausted by being on alert, not known knowing when they will attack. But this is all just delaying and not giving much results. They needed more soldiers and more armoury, to finally put an end to this battle.
Commander Yan comes in the tent. Commander Chu, Commander Yang and Superintendent Wan were already present in the tent.
Commander Yan : "There are two letters for you, General."
Commander Yang : "Two!?"
Commander Chu : (mocks and laughs) "Aide Fan wrote so much that one letter couldn't suffice?"
Commander Yang : "Oh! wait it was your marriage General, day before yesterday! It must be about it."
Commander Chu : "It must be eventful. Read out loud."
Commander Yan : "One letter is from Aide Fei and another is from a lady."
Commander Chu : "General's WIFE!"
Commander Chu : "Show it to me." While the excited duo of Yang and Chu both hurdle Commander Yan for the letter. Chu is able to successfully take the letter from Yan before he could even take it off the envelope, Superintendent Wan stood behind him and snatched it from Commander Chu. And gave it to General, who was sitting at the table.
Superintendent Wan : "Do not, interfere in the matters of husband and wife (to commander Chu and commander Yang). Congratulations General." And leaves tent.
General Guoqiang : "I've started to think that our camp lacks discipline. We need to start a very a new strict training regime."
Commander Chu : "No need, General!"
General Guoqiang : "Leave my tent. Now! All of you."
Before the three left the tent they all bowed and wished general, "Congratulations General!" And left the tent.
Guoqiang first opened the lady's letter, who is supposedly his wife. The letter reads:
"To General Xu Guoqiang
On the day of the wedding, a change of events occurred. General was to be wedded to my elder sister, due to certain turn of events, my elder sister is wedded to your brother.
This letter is to formally introduce myself to General. I, Lu Wei, is the second lady of the Lu family. I'll be in your care.
I have placed a sword tassel in the envelope, do use it as pleased. I hope your wellbeing and safe return.
Signed Lu Wei."
Guoqiang thought to himself, 'Lu Wei? Hmmm.' He goes through the letter once more and smirks at the word general. 'She called me general and not husband?' he thought. And not one place she addressed herself as wife. 'Is she unhappy with this marriage?' These were the thoughts Guoqiang had when he read his wife's letter. He was surprised that wedding that was not desired by the lady, yet he received a letter, that somehow made him feel content.
He took the tassel out of the envelope, and it was like a change of season for general. It's a kind gesture, but there is no simple meaning behind it now. It was given by his newly wedded bride for his safe return and for good luck. Brought a smile in his face. It was a pleasant gift but there was only one problem. General Xu Guoqiang did not use a sword but a glaive. His glaive was placed on a holder. Guoqiang tried tying the tassel at the hilt where the pole and the curved blade met. It took him two tires to have it properly fasten the tassel there, without it budgeting and falling loose. He was pleased. He sat down again at the table to read the next letter from his Aide Fei.
"General
When I returned to the mansion, I hired helpers to clean the pathway from entrance of the moon gate to the main structure and the courtyard. I brought new table at the main hall and cleaned Generals, room and decorated with red just how a bridal chamber should look like. I outdid my self too. (General scoffed and thought he always wants appreciation for small things, a belly rub and he would reach cloud nine.)
The day of the wedding I was surprised, when the bride was changed. But later I was informed by Madam's maid Fu Lin that it was your intended bride, who wished to marry Xu Da and that's how Madame came to us. Eunuch Dai said at the Lu residence that the decree never mentions which son is to marry which daughter. As long as there is a union between the two family tied in marriage the decree is fulfilled. Therefore the exchange took place.
Madame is so nice. I got some details about Madame. Her maid-in-waiting spoke when we were clearing the dining area after Madame retired for the day, on the wedding day. Madam's name is Lu Wei, she is the youngest of the Lu family. Madame is eighteen years old and her sister who is the older sister, is nineteen. Unlike the rumours made, Madame is not the illegitimate daughter of court historian Lu. Madame is the niece. Her mother was his older sibling. Her husband died early followed by herself, that is how Madame was without her parents and ended up staying with her uncle.
I'm glad Madame Wei is your wife, you would have been miserable with the other one. (this perplexed Guoqiang, Fei is very straight forward and a god judge of character, he is also someone who doe snot trust anyone so easily. Yet so far from the letter he is already faithful to Lu Wei, she had his trust and loyalty, which means she is a person of good character.) You should have been here madame was so beautiful in her bridal attire, you missed the fairy depart from the heavenly realm to live in the mansion! When you come back we shall ask Madame to wear her wedding attire again so you could see for yourself (He should have been a wandering storyteller instead of joining the army, thought Guoqiang.)
Madame let us have the food with her which I prepared like you said for the wedding day. Also I didn't mean to eavesdrop when Madam and her maid were talking, but they have made quite a vivid description of you. Bald, one-eyed, four teeth, Madame has a good sense of humour.
But the next day was a frustrating day. Xu family did not respect Madame, after the tea ceremony they did not let her sit at the table for breakfast and it was sparked by her sister. I contained myself. But Madame is such a flower she didn't wilt at such a display of misconduct.
Also Madame, shifted her things to another room. She said she will keep your room vacant for when you return. I will look after Madame so you need not worry General.
Signed Chen Fei."
General thought for a while, so much had already happened at the Xu residence. His intended bride desired his brother, therefore her younger sister married general. She was already disrespected at the mansion. His absence gave them the reason to act out of character. He took out paper and brush to write to house in-charge Yi about this misbehaviour towards his wife, then he stopped himself. He should not act rash here. If he were to call out Xu family for their behaviour maybe they will trouble his wife even more and he won't be present to defend her. Its better for her to resolve and live there without any trouble. General responded to his wife's letter and to Aide Fei. And he stepped outside with his glaive showing off his new trinket.
The lot was seating outside General's tent itself anticipating him. They were eager to know the contents of the letter.
Commander Chu : "General, what did the lady say?"
"Wife." Corrected, General Guoqiang.
Commander Yan : "What did the Madame say?"
General Guoqiang : "She wishes for my well-being and safe return."
Commander Yang : "And what did Fei say?"
General Guoqiang : "That my bride changed. The eldest married Xu Da."
Commander Chu : "So the brides got interchanged. We should have been there to see this!"
Commander Yan : "The youngest is wedded to you, so how young is Madame?
General Guoqiang : "Eighteen."
They did not react much to it, although there was five years gap between General and his bride. But they did not point it out.
Superintendent Wan : "So now general is married. You three should also consider settling."
Commander Chu : "I cannot. It's like having rice congee for the rest of the life. I want variety."
General Guoqiang : "Yan, duel with me."
Commander Yan : "Yes, General."
They were stunned at the sudden request for duel. Why does he want to duel at this time of day? Said Commander Yan.
Superintendent Wan : "Motivation from his wife, I suppose." Superintendent Wan seems to be the only one who noticed the red string around General's weapon. When Commander Yang and Chu followed his gaze, they saw it too.
Commander Chu : "What's on his glaive?"
Commander Yang : "A gift from Madame. He wants to show off."
General swayed his glaive more stylistically to see his wife's gift sway in the wind along with his glaive. He was much too pleased.